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carbon monoxide alarms

What counts as a new tenancy?

21st September 2022

Hello, The government states that landlord must ensure that smoke and CO2 alarms are tested and are in working order at the start of a new tenancy. It states that a renewed of previous tenancy does not count as a new tenancy. I normally renew with my tenants a new fixed term tenancy agreement when […]

A landlords welcome guide for new tenants

21st September 2022

Giving your tenants a welcome pack will set expectations & ground rules early and could save you a lot of time and money during the tenancy period. You can guarantee that not every tenant is going to understand what their responsibilities are straight off the bat. Making this crystal clear from the start will serve […]

What are fair cancellation terms in Letting Agency contract?

21st September 2022

Dear All, I currently have 3 HMO’s managed by a letting agent who I have been with for nearly 11 years. The owner of the business has sold the company to another local agent. I was notified in writing this past Saturday (The current owner did call me the week before). The transaction has taken […]

landlords news uk rate rises property118.com

25% of borrowers will struggle if interest rates hit 5%

21st September 2022

A quarter of borrowers will not be able to afford their mortgage if interest rates hit 5%, a survey has revealed. With interest rates widely predicted to rise tomorrow (Thursday), it will be the seventh rise since December. And now the Anthony Ward Thomas Attitudes to Moving survey has found that successive interest rate rises, […]

Business figures reacting to conflict as one shouts through a megaphone, symbolising dispute with mortgage lenders

Ground rent notice not received by 18 lease holders?

21st September 2022

Long story short, we had a new landlord who was late sending the march ground rent out and 18 leaseholders did not receive it. We did not know who the new landlord was or any payment details. We made a joint complaint to PDC (property debt collection) who very quickly got involved and even asked […]

Council tax on uninhabitable property driving me crazy?

21st September 2022

Hi all, This situation is causing me real stress and I’m not sure where to turn. I bought a property to completely renovate. I told the council that it would be empty and a valuation officer visited on the 8th of April and confirmed that as there was a kitchen, a bathroom and a boiler […]

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Plight of Scottish tenants revealed as housing crisis deepens

21st September 2022

The housing crisis in the Scottish Private Rental Sector (PRS) is rapidly worsening, leaving thousands of tenants in a desperate situation as they are unable to find accommodation. That’s the view of the Belvoir Group and the firm’s Andrew Jack, from Belvoir Edinburgh, said: “The current situation is incredibly difficult for tenants, and many of […]

Transferring property back to myself?

21st September 2022

Hello, Can you please advise the best way to transfer my flat back to me now? In 2005 I bought my first one-bedroom flat for £265,00.00 getting a mortgage of £238,075.00 2007 I got married and bought a new 2-bedroom apartment with my husband for £440,000.00. I had to sell my first one-bedroom flat to […]

Private rents are ‘stubbornly high’ as homes get smaller

21st September 2022

Rents as a share of income have remained stubbornly high while the average floor space per private renter in England has fallen by 16% over the past 20 years, research reveals. According to Resolution Foundation research, the lost floor space equates to a city the size of Nottingham. The Foundation’s latest Housing Outlook notes that […]

landlord news uk Selective Liecensing Birmingham property118.com

Government approves UK’s largest Selective Licensing Scheme

21st September 2022

The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities have given the go-ahead for the UK’s biggest Selective Licensing Scheme that will cover up to 50,000 homes. The permission has been given to Birmingham City Council to cover all private rented properties in 25 of the city’s wards. Permission was given under the Housing Act 2004 […]

House prices will fall by 4.5% next year

21st September 2022

The UK’s house prices are predicted to fall by 4.5% on average in 2023 – with a peak annual contraction of 6.2% expected in the third quarter. And though house prices will drop – those who are renting currently will not find that property affordability will be something they will enjoy. The forecast is being […]

For sale sign

Selling an HMO?

20th September 2022

Hello, We’re thinking of selling a fully tenanted and licensed 5 bed HMO in Aylesbury. Does anyone have any experience of this process and options to sell with tenants in situ? We’re aware of Vesta and are waiting for a call back from them. We are looking for investors interested in a profitable, well established […]

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1 in 3 tenants consider cancelling their energy bill payments

20th September 2022

Faced with rising bills, 1 in 3 tenants say they would consider cancelling their energy bill payments, a survey reveals. The findings from online lettings agency Mashroom have surveyed 1,000 renters to find out how the rising cost of energy is affecting them. They found that the energy price cap increase is a major concern […]

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Letting agency contract?

20th September 2022

Hi, Since 2004, I’ve rented out a property using a national letting agency. They introduced the tenant, who is still there, and since 2004 they have charged me 8% just to collect the rent. I want to continue with the same tenant but end the contract with the agency. But there is a term in […]

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Questions with an inherited property?

20th September 2022

Hi, I have inherited a property worth £900k with no mortgage. I am converting the house into two flats, I have planning permission and I plan to rent out both flats after the work. I plan to get a development loan and after the work, I plan to get two individual buy to let mortgages. […]

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Most landlords are supporting their struggling tenants

20th September 2022

With most tenants making lifestyle changes to cope with the cost-of-living crisis, it has been revealed that three-quarters of residential landlords (75%) are supporting their tenants. The findings from Shawbrook Bank highlight the steps that landlords are taking with news that 85% of renters have made changes to deal with inflationary pressures and 25% of […]

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Universities help to boost rental yields by up to 2%

20th September 2022

Rental homes that are close to universities enjoy an average yield that is 1.3% higher than those in the wider area – boosting a landlord’s expected annual income by nearly £6,000. That’s according to property developer Stripe Property Group which analysed the average yield available surrounding a university and how this compared to other rental […]

landlord news Grainger rent rises results property118.com

‘Responsible’ rent rises pledged by the UK’s biggest landlord

16th September 2022

Britain’s largest private landlord has pledged to take a ‘responsible approach’ to rent rises for its tenants to help them during the cost-of-living crisis. Newcastle-based Grainger has 10,000 homes in its portfolio and in a trading update, the firm’s rent growth over the past year has risen by 4.5%, while newer properties saw rent growth […]

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‘Enough is enough’ – Another council crackdown on HMOs revealed

16th September 2022

Another council has revealed that it is going to clamp down on substandard HMOs in its area with the council leader telling the meeting, ‘Enough is enough’. The plan for bringing in a second Additional Licensing Scheme has been agreed for landlords whose properties are occupied by three or more unrelated people and they will […]

Rent Control Is Bad News

16th September 2022

Rent controls are bad news for UK tenants and Buy To Let Landlords. Listen up government, it’s time to learn how the private rented sector actually works. With the cost of living crisis continuing to go up, there are calls for some control of rents. This is a disastrous idea for all, stay tuned to […]

Here’s the real question

16th September 2022

How do you really know if something works, and more importantly, whether or not it will work for you? A good place to start is with other investors’ results. If someone has already achieved what you want, then it means that it is not only possible but you could also replicate their success. There are many […]