Hello, The old uPVC windows in the leasehold flat I rent out need replacing but I am not clear if this is the responsibility of the Lessor or Lessee. If it is my responsibility do I need the permission of the freeholder & can they charge for giving this? The lease says: “the Lessee shall […]

I have a £100k interest-only mortgage outstanding on a tenanted property with a value of £150K. I have the money to repay the mortgage outright – it expires in 14 days. Should I repay it all? Repay half? or remortgage the entire amount with TMW @ min 3.5% + arrangement fees? I am trying to […]

Hello, I have recently switched a 1 bed property that I rented out long term rental into a short term rental. Early next year I will have to apply to pay business rates instead of council tax (which my previous tenant used to pay direct to the council). Does anyone have any experience of this […]

Hi all, My landlord in the UK is allegedly abroad but has told the managing agent that he wants all his mail to continue to come to this rented property even though he doesn’t stay here.  Is this legal or is it right? He also insists on having one utility bill in his name. This […]

The Government has announced that the introduction of its flagship ‘Making Tax Digital’ (MTD) scheme for Income Tax Self Assessment has been shelved for two years The scheme was a crucial part of the government’s strategy for tax administration and would mean individuals and businesses keeping digital records and using a software program that is […]

Updated training is now available for letting agents in Wales to help them navigate the Renting Homes (Wales) Act and assist landlords and tenants. The new law is the biggest change to Welsh housing policy for decades, and it simplifies how homes are rented so tenants can enjoy, the Labour-led Welsh government says, greater security. […]

Landlords coming to the end of a fixed-rate two-year mortgage deal are facing a ‘timebomb’ should their investments lose money, and they need to sell. An analysis by Capital Economics for the Daily Telegraph reveals that around 365,000 properties are at risk of making a loss next year and this could trigger a tsunami of […]

For over 30 years now, I’ve rented out a small detached property, 30sq/m according to the EPC, which used to be the bakehouse (large oven still in situ) and washhouse for 3 cottages in front of it. The original outside toilet is still in place for summertime use, and it has large garden tenants can […]

It might go against the media narrative that landlords offer poor housing, but a survey of tenants has revealed that just 10% of them are unhappy with their rented home. The findings from the TDS Charitable Foundation also show that 67.7% are happy and 22.3% of renters were neither dissatisfied nor satisfied with their property […]

Hello everyone, We’ve been advised that from April 2024 we will be required to make quarterly returns and an End of Period Statement to HMRC using software which is compliant with Making Tax Digital systems. Our accountant has recommended Coconut accounting software. Does anyone have any experience with this or any other Making Tax Digital-compliant […]

We have had our flats for over twenty years and they are all in good condition. We have had very little problem with mould until now. Several tenants are complaining and sending photos. I know they have cut down significantly on heating and are not using the tumble drier because they can’t afford the cost. […]

Property118 members seem to love worked examples when it comes to understanding the principles of tax related to finance costs, so that’s exactly what my latest video on the Property118 TV YouTube channel provides. I recorded this latest video below immediately following the Bank of England’s announcement that they had increased interest rates by a […]

I can’t help but wonder what the future is for the private rented sector (PRS) when I look at the combined forces joined up against us. It’s at these times I appreciate the French saying: ‘Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.’ Essentially, it means the more things change, the more they remain the […]

Leading members of the property sector have written to Michael Gove calling on him to address the unsustainable pressures on the private rental sector. They say that Government policy needs addressing to help deliver cheaper rents for tenants – because that is what most tenants want. The letter highlights that more tenants want a cheaper […]

It might come as a surprise to many landlords, but the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has announced a new partnership with Crisis, the national charity for homeless people that has, in recent months, criticised landlords in the private rental sector. The move will see Crisis being able to work ‘more easily’ with landlords to […]

Hello, this is the scenario: Landlord owns and rents a property to students. Landlord is the registered payer for energy bills (gas & electric). Landlord receives Government ‘handout’ for household energy bills but payment is facilitated and paid out via the electric bill as a discount. Tenant agreement is that they pay for gas bills […]

News that the Bank of England has pushed up the base interest rate by 50 basis points to a 14-year high of 3.5% has left many property experts wondering whether property buyers will get more help and whether another rise will be forthcoming. This is the ninth rise in a year as the bank bids […]

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) today voted by 6 – 3 members to mirror the Fed by increasing the Base Rate by 0.5% to a total 3.5% interest rate. Two MPC members voted to keep the Base Rate at 3% and one member voted to increase it by 0.75%. Overall the majority […]

Hello, a tenant has disappeared after a possession order was granted owing thousands in rent. I have requested the deposit at DPS to be paid to me. I have no contact number or forwarding address for the tenant. Does anyone know if DPS will try and find her? Thank you, Dawn

Tenants have seen rents rise yet again with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reporting that rent prices grew by 4% in the year to November. The latest Private Housing Rental Prices index highlights that rents were slightly higher in last month than October’s 3.8%. However, the annual percentage change is the largest recorded by […]

A Government cash pot of £500,000 will help to train and support social housing tenants to have their ‘voices heard’, it has been announced. The aim is to help tenants in England raise issues with their landlord. The scheme will launch in the Spring as part of other reforms that see social housing tenants getting […]