Page 362 – Property118

Scotland’s rent freeze will see landlords ‘remove their properties’

6th September 2022

In a bid to help tenants struggling with rising bills, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced a rent freeze for private and public rented properties. The rent freeze starts immediately and will be in place until the end of March next year – and the government will also introduce a moratorium on evictions during […]

Government warned: rental reforms are a charter for anti-social behaviour

6th September 2022

The government’s plans for reforming the private rental sector will become a charter for anti-social behaviour without urgent changes, MPs have been warned. The warning was made by Ben Beadle, the chief executive of the National Residential Landlords’ Association (NRLA), as he appeared before MPs on the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee. The […]

elegraph logo used in rebuttal to article on landlord tax structures

Are you thinking of selling up after Sturgeon’s Rent Freeze?

6th September 2022

The Telegraph Money desk is covering Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement that she will bring in rent caps. We’re looking to talk specifically to landlords who are selling up now as a result of this decision, or who are thinking of selling up, about how this decision will destroy your business plans and profit margins. Are you […]

Hand writing the word "VALUES" in red marker to highlight property valuation topic

Valuations are down?

6th September 2022

After several years of onerous taxes regulations etc. etc. I finally put my London flat on the market for sale. I got the asking price of £550k but the buyer’s valuation is 5% below the asking price at £525k Options could be: 1. Take it on the chin? 2. Remarket it hoping a different valuer/ […]

new scam landlords tenants property118.com

A seemingly new scam for landlords to be aware of

6th September 2022

Hi, I would like to highlight tenants taking advantage of the landlord and Universal Credit and the likes of Shelter, the local housing office and Citizens Advice Bureau being complicit in helping them defraud the landlord and government. In October 21, I let a flat to a ‘Spanish’ couple who were actually Romanian but had […]

More than half of landlords view buy-to-let properties as a 'pension' property118.com

More than half of landlords view BTL properties as a ‘pension’

6th September 2022

Landlords that have reached the state pension retirement age of 65 are generating a net income of more than £10bn, according to new research. The findings come from property consultancy Savills who have analysed the latest English Private Landlord Survey and found that more than half (54%) of landlords in England are using buy-to-let properties […]

Lizz Truss Prime Minister landlords property118.com

Property sector gives its views to the new PM, Liz Truss

6th September 2022

After weeks of campaigning, Liz Truss is the country’s new Prime Minister – and the property industry has already reacted with views on what she should do to help. While Ms Truss has made clear that she wants to cut taxes, she also said during her campaign that she wanted to simplify the planning process […]

Oxford private landlord licensing scheme property118.com

City’s private landlord licensing scheme is launched

6th September 2022

Landlords who rent out private homes in one city are now subject to a mandatory selective licensing scheme – the first one outside of London. And the council has also unveiled plans this week to close a loophole that sees landlords renting out properties as short lets having an unfair advantage over local hotels because […]

Tax penalty for reducing carbon footprint?

6th September 2022

Hi, Like a good number of fellow residential landlords I am exiting the PRS in favour of a holiday let and am currently waiting to complete. For my chosen property, as the hot water demand by holiday guests will be substantially greater than with residential use (think 6 people having a shower at the same […]

Where student landlords can earn the best yields tenants property118.com

Where student landlords can earn the best yields

6th September 2022

The British towns and cities where student landlords can earn the best yields have been revealed. According to Paragon Bank, landlords letting to students can achieve the strongest yields in smaller single university towns and cities. The bank has analysed mortgage applications for properties located in popular student postcodes – and found that student accommodation […]

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Fair Means Equal

6th September 2022

Hello everyone, the levelling up proposed by ministers is good only if it is equally distributed amongst the PRS AND local councils. I used to manage an HMO in Camden, London, where the local council demanded both Grade A and Grade D fire alarms, whilst the very next house, a Camden-owned HMO, had no integrated […]

Buy to let sign outside a residential property highlighting changes in mortgage rates

London rental properties letting within minutes

5th September 2022

One lettings agency in London says that tenant demand is so great in the capital for rental properties that many homes are being let within minutes of becoming available. Benham and Reeves point to demand created by the return of professionals and international students, along with the growing shortage of available properties to rent, for […]

landlord numbers UK increases property118.com

Number of landlords in the UK increases – claim

5th September 2022

Despite the Government’s best efforts, the number of landlords within the British rental market has climbed by 2.4% since 2016/17, research reveals. The findings from Total Landlord Insurance, who examined a Parliamentary answer, show that: There are nearly 2.6 million landlords – a 2.4% increase over the last three years London is not only home […]

letting agents PRS landlords property118.com

Major report will reveal letting agents’ concerns over sector

5th September 2022

Letting agents across the UK are increasingly concerned about lack of stock as well as the state of the economy – as 10% of landlords have already left the sector and more are expected to follow suit in future. More than 2,600 agents, landlords and tenants have taken part in this year’s ‘State of the […]

Campaign to start protecting landlords?

5th September 2022

Hi Property118 readers, I am writing to request if you could share my petition  – on change.org >> Click Here I know many landlords registered may agree with me. National Tenants Database to tackle rogue tenants costing landlords thousands of pounds “Campaign to start to protect landlords, utility suppliers, local councils from the rogue fraudster, […]

Are commercial valuations appropriate for higher yield HMOs?

5th September 2022

I’m hoping to sell my portfolio of 4 x HMOs in Aberdeen. 2 are 5-bedroom flats with a yield of around 8% depending on valuation, but the other 2 properties are larger (12 bed and 9 bed) and have higher yields of 14-15% – again depending on valuation. Is a commercial valuation more appropriate for […]

5-year electrical safety tests for PRS?

5th September 2022

Hi. I have four properties and yes all with recent electrical safety certificates. The solicitors have advised that the certificates do not have a 5-year valid period stating only the date that the certificate was issued/certified. I think they are mixed up. The safety test and certificate is really only valid on the day it […]

flat damage tenant landlord property118.com

Who is responsible for flat damage?

5th September 2022

Hello everyone, A tenant went on holiday for a month, came back and her flat had been robbed. Thieves had damaged the windows and wooden flooring, made a mess elsewhere so a deep clean will be needed. She claims it’s my responsibility to make all good again and organise a clean and fix the windows. […]

rent to buy landlords tenants property118.com

Is rent to buy a good option?

2nd September 2022

Hello everyone, The sale of one of my rental properties fell through at exchange due to the breakdown of the chain lower down. My buyers are still really keen to buy it but need to re-sell their property. They are currently renting and the property they need to sell is empty but requires a bit […]

Landlords Selling Up – An Opportunity?

2nd September 2022

Simon Zutshi is a prolific property investor with an ear very close to the ground, and lately, he hasn’t exactly been quiet about what he believes to be the buying opportunity of the decade. The opportunity has arisen from landlords leaving the market in record numbers. Ever the contrarian investor, Simon is going all-in on […]

NRLA criticises plans for PRS Decent Homes Standard

2nd September 2022

The National Residential Landlords’ Association (NRLA) says that the government should not be considering a move to extend the Decent Homes Standard from social housing to the private sector. Instead, it should be focused on simplifying existing laws that target criminal landlords. When the plans for a Decent Homes Standard for the private sector were […]