Page 352 – Property118
landlord question Ukrainian refugees property118.com

Can tenants take in Ukrainian refugees?

27th September 2022

Hi, I am a letting agent and an unrelated landlord has asked for some advice, his tenants (a couple) have moved in Ukrainian refugees into the rented property without his permission or discussion etc. and they are receiving £350 for this. Surely the tenants should have agreed this with the Landlord? What with wear and […]

Labour ‘demonises landlords’ and will empower tenants

27th September 2022

Labour has unveiled plans to deliver a new renters’ charter and a decent homes standard for the country’s private rental sector. But the criticism at the party’s conference in Liverpool of private landlords has been slammed by one organisation as ‘demonising all landlords’. Lisa Nandy, the shadow secretary of state for Levelling Up, Housing, Communities […]

landlord news TLIC white paper reform property118.com

Fixed-term tenancies MUST remain says The Lettings Industry Council

27th September 2022

The Lettings Industry Council (TLIC) says that if Section 21 is to be abolished under Government proposals, then fixed term tenancies should remain to help negate many of the unintended consequences – whilst still giving tenants more security. The ideas are in a TLIC published a report in response to proposed changes as part of […]

Landlords worry they can’t afford green property upgrades amid rising costs

27th September 2022

Rising costs are piling the pressure on private landlords who say they can’t afford to implement the measures needed to improve their rental property’s EPC rating, a bank says. The Secure Trust Bank has found that investors and landlords fear that they will not hit the government’s proposed energy efficiency targets for their rental homes. […]

Council took action against me after tenant started fire?

26th September 2022

We had a tenant who accidentally set fire to our 4 studio flats causing extensive damage. The council subsequently wanted to interview me under caution for suspected HMO breaches. Out of our depth, we approached Possession Friend and following a Fixed Penalty, Chris appealed to the tribunal. Two fatal flaws in the council’s case were […]

ladlord question AST signed retrospectively property118.com

Can an AST be signed retrospectively?

26th September 2022

Hi, Just going through some tenancies and have come across a tenant who does not have a signed AST on file (or anywhere else). If we were to sign an AST, dated with the original tenancy start date (01.09.2020) but our signatures dated with today’s date, would there be any implications to this? EG, if […]

Rightmove says house prices jumped by £2,587 in September

26th September 2022

The average price of property coming to the market grew by 0.7%, or £2,587, in September to £367,760, the Rightmove House Price Index reveals. The figures show that middle and high-end market sectors are driving price rises, with a new record average asking price of £340,513 in the ‘second-stepper’ category – that is three bedrooms […]

uk landlords news lambeth landlord licensing scheme property118.com

Any Lambeth landlords out there?

26th September 2022

Hi, Are there any other Lambeth landlords reading this please? We submitted our licence fee for their additional licensing scheme in January 2022 and haven’t heard a thing since! I’m now wondering if it is just our application or whether nothing has been done on any application since then. Please can any other Lambeth landlords […]

landlord news u holiday let deals property118.com

Holiday let deals rise as more lenders enter the market

26th September 2022

Buy-to-let landlords will find more lenders have come on board to cater to the growing demand for UK holidays, research reveals. According to an analysis by Moneyfacts.co.uk, there are now more than 300 deals available to holiday let, a growth of 72% since September 2021. The mortgage options for borrowers looking at holiday lets have […]

landlord question rent increase agent property118.com

Rent increase during tenancy agreement?

26th September 2022

Hello, I appreciate this is probably not the right place to ask, but I am a bit desperate for some assistance. Myself and my partner rent a property (and have done for nearly 6 years). We signed a 12 month renewal document (online via docusign) in February this year, agreeing to a £35 per month […]

landlord news uk student property oxford rent repayment property118.com

Student management company ordered to repay £84,000 for unlicensed HMO

26th September 2022

A student accommodation management company has been handed a harsh punishment that will cost them £84,877 for not having an HMO license. The First Tier Tribunal issued a rent repayment order but accepted that the lack of a license was ‘by omission rather than deliberate’. The property, Student Castle in Oxford’s Osney Lane, is purpose-built […]

landlord question night storage meter removed property118.com

Tenant arranged removal of night rate meter in flat with electric heating?

26th September 2022

Hello, Advice appreciated! I have a flat that has no gas, and has electric storage heaters which were on night rate electricity. The tenant left, and we found he had arranged for SSE to change the meter to one without the night rate facility. This was without our permission, and when asked, the tenant said […]

landlords news glasgow rent controls property118.com

City council set to approve ‘points-based’ rent controls

26th September 2022

A tenant-led commission set up by a city council to tackle rising rents has delivered a report with 16 recommendations – including the introduction of a points-based system of rent controls. The commission was created in late 2020 in response to a ‘rent crisis’ and the recommendation for rent controls would be based on standards […]

landlord question negative equity sell property118.com

Long term negative equity problem?

26th September 2022

Hi, I have had a one bed flat for the last ten years, but it has not increased in value. The last tenant been in it for 4 years now. The rent has not increased for at least 7 years. So, negative equity ever since. I cannot change BTL mortgage so interest rates have gone […]

landlord news uk house prices property118.com

House prices fall by as much as £13,000 a month in some areas

26th September 2022

While house prices continue to climb across the UK, some pockets of the property market have seen thousands of pounds being wiped off the average value of a home on a monthly basis, research reveals. The findings come from HBB Solutions who analysed house prices across the UK since the start of the year to […]

Sell your low yielding properties now to avoid financial Armageddon

23rd September 2022

A catastrophic rise in interest rates to 2.25% leaves landlords shocked with £5,000 monthly bills. It’s disastrous news for landlords when things couldn’t get any worse. The decision by the Bank of England to increase the base rate from 1.75% to 2.25%, the biggest raise in 14 years, has left landlords shocked. CEO of Landlord […]

landlord question expat BTL mortgage property118.com

Cheap expat mortgages for UK landlords living abroad?

23rd September 2022

Hi, I own 5 mortgaged rental properties in the UK. Since I am now living abroad I am concerned that when the mortgages are up for renewal, I will not be able to borrow at competitive rates. I can only find a few lenders who will lend to expats and the rates are much higher […]

Shelter calls for the unfreezing of housing benefit

23rd September 2022

Nearly 1.1 million private renters in England – that’s one in seven – had their rent increased in the last month, a report from Shelter reveals. The charity’s research shows millions of private tenants are ‘stretched to breaking point’ and that one in three (2.6 million adults) are spending at least half of their household […]

Doormat with “First Time Buyer” beside moving boxes and two people’s feet

First time buyers to continue renting for two extra years

23rd September 2022

The homebuying dream for first-time buyers (FTBs) has been delayed by nearly two years due to the cost-of-living crisis, research reveals. This means that most of those trying to save for a home of their own will have to continue renting. Aldermore’s latest First Time Buyer Index questioned 2,000 prospective first-time buyers and found that […]

landlord news all-inclusive rent London property118.com

Demand for ‘bills included’ rental properties goes up in London

23rd September 2022

Demand for rental homes across the capital with bills included within the cost of renting has climbed considerably since April, research reveals. The findings from lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, however, highlights that tenants are still paying a rental premium for the pleasure. The firm analysed current rental stock available across London and […]