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Close-up detail of engraved eye from British currency representing financial focus and interest rate changes

The Mortgage Market Maze

29th November 2022

To fix your mortgage rate or not. That is THE question of 2022, a year of uncertainty in the mortgage market. Over the past 12 months the Bank Rate has increased 8 times, from 0.1% in November 2021 to 3.0% a year later, the highest level since 2008. This has been driven mainly by the […]

EPC expired with eviction pending?

29th November 2022

Hi everyone, We have a tenant whose EPC has expired (a D) but he doesn`t speak to us, not for any good reason, he just hates landlords (he`s told us) and hates us contacting him about the simplest thing. Notice (S 21) has been issued which resulted in him stopping paying the low rent. We […]

Person researching mortgage options on a laptop while taking notes

Buy-to-let product choice for landlords begins to recover

29th November 2022

Landlords searching for a new BTL mortgage will find product choice within the lending sector is recovering, research reveals. According to an analysis by Moneyfacts.co.uk, the overall buy-to-let product availability, both fixed and variable, has risen by more than 700 options since the start of October, However, there are 300 fewer deals than at the […]

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Councils are ‘trying to catch landlords out’ with licensing schemes

29th November 2022

Licencing schemes are inconsistent across the country with the chair of the Lettings Industry Council accusing councils of ‘trying to catch landlords out’. Theresa Wallace spoke to the Telegraph after the newspaper filed Freedom of Information (FoI) requests with councils. It found that some unsuspecting landlords have been fined up to £45,000 for failing to […]

Agents can access new model Occupation Contracts ahead of Welsh renting law change

29th November 2022

One organisation is providing its letting agent members with access to new model Occupation Contracts ahead of the introduction of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. That’s when agents, landlords and tenants will see the biggest change to Welsh housing law for decades. It is almost seven years since the Act gained Royal Assent and […]

Skipton offers £11m to help landlords with their EPC needs

29th November 2022

Skipton has announced it will give 10 free EPC Plus reports for buy-to-let customers with property portfolios – even if just one property is mortgaged with the building society. At a time when energy costs are rising, Skipton says it is prepared to invest £11m in helping to green the UK’s homes by giving all […]

7 Things to find when you read your lease

29th November 2022

If you’re a long-leaseholder, it is important to understand what your lease terms mean. This article highlights the top 7 things you need to find when you read your lease – and why those things are important to understand. By understanding your lease, you can help to make sure that your leaseholder experience is a […]

Student holding fee refund property118.com

Holding Fee Refund?

28th November 2022

Hello, I’m a student looking for rental properties next year! We paid a holding fee of £400 and haven’t yet signed any lease or paid further deposits, however, we found the letting agent seemed a little dodgy and pushing for payments as quick as possible. Originally we had 7 days to come to an agreement […]

Doodle showing best mortgage rates BTL landlord property118.com

Early Repayment Charge?

28th November 2022

Hello, I currently have a 5 year fixed BTL mortgage with Leeds building society at 2.14%. I am looking to sell the property although I am being asked for an early repayment charge of £3k. Given the base rate is now 3%, and the rate for this same product is close to 6%, I would […]

Woman looking up at a question mark sticky note on her forehead, symbolising uncertainty about renting through a Ltd company

Landlords – what are your suggestions to better the current chaos in the PRS?

28th November 2022

Hello, Every landlord, big or small, must by now have felt the effects of repeated changes to legislation and taxation in regards to the PRS. On any landlord forum you will find lists of landlords giving lists of what is wrong with the system, but I’ve yet to read anybody giving tangible solutions. So, as […]

judge and gavel making a property decision property118.com

Courts and District Judges – Problems?

28th November 2022

Hello, Does anybody else have a problem with the judiciary? I have a judgement debt, but I am pursuing a Charging Order securing the debt against a property he now owns. Straightforward you would think? Go to CCMCC (County Court Money Claims Centre) who agree it can be enforced, but DJ’s simply forward it to […]

Home sellers slash prices to find a buyer

28th November 2022

Since September, 10% of homes for sale have had a price reduction of 5%, as buyer demand slumps by 44%, Zoopla reveals. The property platform also highlights that nearly a third of homes in the South East and East of England – outside of London – have seen asking prices being reduced to attract more […]

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Eviction advice and recommendations?

28th November 2022

Hello, We are just starting an eviction and are looking for the experience of others who have been through this process. A local solicitor has issued the S 21 notice but we expect it to be ignored by our tenant who has always been uncommunicative. A financial settlement/inducement to leave is a possibility, but we […]

Greens demand rent freeze and eviction ban

28th November 2022

An immediate cap on rent increases and a ban on no-fault evictions until at least the end of March 2023 are being demanded by the Green Party. The party says the government must urgently bring forward its promised Renters Reform Bill in time to stave off ‘a winter of evictions and homelessness’. And, they say, […]

landlord looking at epc on tablet property118.com

EPCs in 2028 to include existing tenancies?

28th November 2022

Hello, The govt propose that existing tenancies must have a rating of C or above from April 2028. It will be rather difficult to carry out the alterations needed whilst properties are occupied. Section 21 will have been repealed by then, so as good tenancies cannot be ended, what do they expect will happen? Or […]

Property Investors Awards Winners 2022

28th November 2022

This year, the Property Investors Awards (organised by the Property Investors Bureau) returned to hosting a physical ceremony for its 10th year anniversary with celebrations consisting of an illustrious evening of fine dining and entertainment to announce the winners. The glamorous event took place at the extravagant Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel in Mayfair. It has […]

Joseph Rowntree Foundation Report Of The Private Rental Sector

27th November 2022

Further to my last piece about the Rise of the Private Rental Sector, I have unearthed this Reform the private rented sector and open up access to home ownership and social housing, says JRF | JRF One of the things it says is: “………Setting a strategy for reducing the size of the PRS by rebalancing the […]

Knight-themed Landlord Crusader logo symbolizing landlord advocacy

Why private landlords despise politicians when they target us

25th November 2022

Unlike the Millwall football chant, ‘No one likes us, we don’t care’, I’d just like to say that while no one apparently likes landlords, I do care. However, I despise the tenant groups who shout from the rooftops about how rubbish we all are. I despise the media for not offering a balanced view when […]

50,000 landlords have left the PRS since 2019

25th November 2022

It has been revealed that the UK has 2.74 million unincorporated landlords and in 2020-21 they earned £41bn from rents, but the data also shows that 50,000 landlords have left the private rented sector (PRS) since 2019. The figures from HMRC report in 2021 there were 2.71 million individuals and 300,000 partnerships declaring a rental […]

Change to agreed tenancy end date in writing?

25th November 2022

Hi All, A tenant on a periodic residential recently gave one month’s notice in writing, which was accepted by the landlord. The landlord confirmed the check-out date in writing which the tenant accepted, also in writing. However, the next day the landlord had a change of mind and stated they would prefer a later check-out […]