Page 341 – Property118

You need to be Precise with Precise Mortgages?

6th December 2022

I wanted to share a recent experience I’ve had with Precise Mortgages, which other borrowers/prospective borrowers/IFAs may find of interest. 5 years ago I bought a BTL property with a 75% loan from Precise Mortgages, fixed for 5 years at 3.39%, through our SPV limited company. The product was coming to the end of its […]

Additional HMO licensing coming back in Greenwich?

6th December 2022

Greenwich had an Additional HMO licensing scheme from 1st October 2017 to 30 Sept 2022. No review of the success or failure of that scheme has been published. Despite that they are consulting on a new scheme click here If the first scheme was so successful why would a further scheme be needed? If it […]

joint tenancy agreement contract property118.com

Is a new tenancy needed when one party of a joint tenancy leaves?

6th December 2022

Hello, I have a joint tenancy – a couple now splitting up – and one of them has left the house and no longer wants to be on the agreement, since they have to rent somewhere else. Their split was on good terms, and they have been excellent tenants so far (for three years or […]

RTM Settlers Court Nightmare decision for leaseholders?

6th December 2022

The Settlers Court supreme court judgement is we believe totally unfair and unreasonable. This decision enables RTM (Right to Manage) companies to only manage their building and not any common parts i.e. gardens etc. This takes away a key reason for RTM to manage their building and surrounding areas some of which may not be […]

unite union workers on strike marching property118.com

Shelter staff start ‘unprecedented’ two-week strike

6th December 2022

A bitter pay dispute has seen more than 600 workers at Shelter start two weeks of strike action. A union rep has condemned the charity’s management as ‘heartless and hypocritical’. Staff at the housing and homeless charity are fighting for a better pay deal than the 3% that Shelter has imposed. Workers complain that their […]

Council slammed after moaning about its 8,000-strong homeless list

6th December 2022

A frustrated landlord has hit out after a council revealed that the housing crisis in their city is so bad that 8,000 households are waiting for a home – but they won’t engage with local landlords to help resolve the issue. Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live, the council’s portfolio holder for housing, Toby Neal, said that […]

Rogue tenants databases?

5th December 2022

Hello, I read a lot about Rogue Landlords Databases but nothing about Rogue Tenants Databases. Does any one know of any? It does seem that tenants from hell are at liberty to trash properties, run up huge arrears, obtain tenancies by deception and walk away without being punished yet landlords can be prosecuted for very […]

Bakewell in Derbyshire Dales money for poor quality rented homes property118.com

Councils get £1.21m to tackle poor quality rented homes

5th December 2022

Three councils have been handed £1.21 million of government cash in a bid to tackle poor quality rented homes over the next two years. The Derbyshire councils have been handed the money by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in a bid to help those areas with the ‘greatest need’. The councils are […]

To Let sign outside rental flats illustrating high demand in Wrexham’s rental market

Lettings agency issues?

5th December 2022

Hello, I am looking to move away from my current Lettings agency on a number of properties I own as I have become very unhappy with their levels of service. The agency has also just been sold to a large well know London based Lettings / Sales business (beginning with F) and the personal touch […]

The number of middle-aged tenants rockets

5th December 2022

The number of middle-aged tenants who are privately renting in England has rocketed by 70% in the last 10 years – that’s more than any other age group. The findings from Paragon Bank highlight that half of those aged between 45 and 64 want to buy a home, but just one-fifth of them are saving […]

man laying loft insulation property118.com

Free loft insulation schemes?

5th December 2022

Hello, I have excellent long term tenants in Wales. They have two young children and like most people in their position finances are a bit tight at the moment. I’ve kept the rent well under market value and fitted a new boiler a couple of years ago. Does anyone know of any free loft insulation […]

Serco contract was a train wreck!

5th December 2022

So like many landlords in the UK, I’ve been presented with the Serco offer to house asylum seekers in my houses. They make a pretty good case; large company, strong covenant, high rent paid monthly and up to 7 years tenancy term. Sounds good, right? WRONG! After a full-blown refurb converting a 3-bed to a […]

Knight-themed Landlord Crusader logo symbolizing landlord advocacy

Landlords – Should we sell up or shut up?

2nd December 2022

Most landlords will have spent a lot of time and money on housing tenants, whether it’s in just one property or a massive portfolio. But, has the time come to give all of this up? I don’t know whether we should sell up or shut up. And here’s why. Leaving aside the fact that house […]

Right to Buy London landlords councils agents tenants property118.com

Labour supports ‘Right to buy’ – but not in Wales

2nd December 2022

In an interview with iNews, the Shadow Housing Secretary Lisa Nandy says Labour supports a council house tenant’s right to buy their home. She said: “Under former leader Jeremy Corbyn, Labour had pledged to end the right to buy scheme. But, under Sir Keir Starmer’s stewardship, that’s no longer the case. “Labour supports the principle […]

Rip-off council tax bills for HMO tenants set to end

2nd December 2022

A bid by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to re-band individual HMO rooms for council tax purposes looks set to end after an amendment to a Bill by Conservative MP, Caroline Dinenage. She was compelled to act over growing instances of councils handing individual tenants living in an HMO a council tax bill. Usually, a […]

Tenant looking at EPC on tablet property118.com

Tenants prepared to pay more for energy efficient homes

2nd December 2022

Tenants are willing to pay a 13% premium for an energy efficient home as low carbon homes with sustainable features become more important than the size of the property, research reveals. Legal & General Capital say their findings will help landlords, local authorities, developers and registered providers wanting to invest in environmentally friendly properties. The […]

Rents begin to cool down – but voids start to rise

2nd December 2022

It wasn’t just the weather that cooled down in November as research reveals that rent prices across England also dropped – but voids began to rise. That’s according to Goodlord who point out that while winter is traditionally a quieter time for the lettings sector, rent prices remain significantly up year on year. The firm […]

Property expert warns landlords rushing Section 21 evictions before ban

My ITV News interview with Dan Hewitt

1st December 2022

Hi Property118 readers, Wednesday night in my ITV News interview with Dan Hewitt the main narrative of the story was that tenants are being evicted because LHA rates have been frozen till 2024, so arrears are rising. However, it started off by saying Paul Shamplina is serving an eviction notice 4 weeks before Xmas. What […]

workman improve epc in a rented home holding a display property118.com

EPC policy…the road to tenant hell?

1st December 2022

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Like being obliged to have an EPC to rent a property. So, I’m a landlord and a homeowner. I have in the distant past been a tenant. When I buy a home, I get a full survey to tell me about the structure of it, whether […]