Page 378 – Property118

EPC and Economy 7 Immersion Heaters?

14th April 2022

Can anyone advise how to heat water for an all-electric flat to comply with a reasonable EPC rating? The previous EPC stated ‘Hot Water- Electric Immersion, off peak – Average. But recommended an insulation blanket on an already insulated tank. The blanket was added & the ‘Hot Water’ part of the assessment went to ‘Very […]

Do I have to provide a cooker and hob?

14th April 2022

Hi everyone, I let all my properties on an unfurnished basis. However, someone has now told me that I am required to always provide at least an electric cooker and hob? Is this correct? Is there legislation to confirm this and would it be a requirement by a local authority? Many thanks DSR

Carpets and Redecoration to increase sale value – Capital or revenue cost?

14th April 2022

Last year I had 2 properties vacated and decided to sell them both. I have owned both for around 16 years and they have been tenanted during that time To improve the resell value, I had both redecorated and new carpets throughout Normally I would put both the redecorating and replacement carpets as a revenue […]

£5 billion agreement with major developers to fund building safety repairs

13th April 2022

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Michael Gove have revealed an agreement that will see industry contribute £5 billion to address the building safety scandal. Michael Gove has agreed a solution with the housing industry that will see developers commit a minimum of £2 billion to fix their own buildings. Industry will […]

Helping your tenants to pay the rent

13th April 2022

Would an extra £10,000 per year help your tenants pay their rent? If any private landlords still have (or accept) tenants in receipt of welfare benefits, or on low incomes, it is in your interest to ensure that your tenants are receiving the maximum benefits that they are entitled to. Why? so they: Have more […]

Agents insisting on their own AST?

13th April 2022

Do you have to use an Agents own AST for a tenant find service? For a tenant find service it is normal to reference the applicant you select and prepare the tenancy, arrange signing, collect deposit and lodge with the DPS as well as serving all compliance documentation. I have used a very good agent […]

Non-compliant fire doors and further fire safety issues?

13th April 2022

Having had a Fire Risk Assessment a few months ago, it seems the first since the building was completed (a conversion of an office block), we now find that apart from the usual rubbish fire stopping, possible cladding issues we are also facing a huge bill for non-compliant fire doors. Some doors have been made […]

House of Commons Committee report – Regulation of private renting

13th April 2022

The House of Commons Committee have today 13th April 2022 released their report investigating the regulation of the Private Rental Sector (PRS). This includes recommendations to the government that they have two months to respond to. Click here for the summary and to download the full report. The summary concludes that: “The sector is failing […]

We agree with Committee’s concerns about postcode lottery tackling criminal landlords

13th April 2022

Responding to the publication today of the Public Accounts Committee’s report on the regulation of the private rented sector, Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, who provided oral evidence, said: “Today’s report rightly makes the case for a comprehensive, data-driven strategy for the private rented sector. Too often reforms have been […]

Article 4s Blocked PD Window of Opportunity

12th April 2022

A Window of opportunity now exists for property developers in areas with expiring Article 4 restrictions? The Housing Minister, The Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP, has asked a number of London Boroughs to revise their article 4 applications rejecting blanket Article 4 applications across Boroughs. Royal Kensington and Chelsea believed as a small council they […]

Homes for Ukraine sponsors will not lose council tax discounts

12th April 2022

Households who become sponsors through the Homes for Ukraine scheme will not lose their council tax discounts thanks to legislation coming into force, Minister for Refugees Lord Harrington has confirmed , 11 April 2022. Regulations will protect sponsors’ council tax discounts for single persons and limit the impact on council tax payments for those sponsoring […]

Extra layer of Management with RTM?

12th April 2022

We have just been successful with our Right to Manage ‘bid’ and the handover is in June. What is concerning a number of us is that our current management company is managed by and answers to a property management company, not the Freeholder – who also holds the contracts (as in the porter’s contract). It […]

Inherited tenant refusing to correspond?

12th April 2022

I purchased a property 6 weeks ago with a tenant in place on a 12 month AST. The previous landlord said he was a good payer and up to date with all the rent. I have tried everything possible to get in touch with him via telephone, text, letter and visits to request payment of […]

New pensioner Landlord – How do I pay rental income tax?

12th April 2022

We are accidental Landlords having failed during Covid years to sell the flat we moved from in DEC 2019. We began renting on the 1st Nov 2021 and need to pay tax to the DWP/HMRC. Does the letting agent inform DWP/HMRC and then my wife and I get a letter from them with a Unique […]

Adding debt to credit report?

12th April 2022

Hi all, I had a bad tenant who left the property still owing a lot of money in outstanding rent. Unfortunately, I could not claim from the tenant’s deposit because the DPS sided with her. She left to go back to Czechoslovakia and I would like to add the debt she left to her credit […]

Treasury to recognise Stablecoins and develop Cryptoasset strategy

11th April 2022

The Treasury has announced moves to recognise ‘Stablecoins’ as a valid form of payment and part of wider plans to make Britain a global hub for Cryptoasset technology and investment. This is part of a package of measures to ensure the UK financial services sector remains at the cutting edge of technology and includes: introducing […]

32% of sales agreed fell through as market becomes more cautious

11th April 2022

32% of property sales fell through before completion between January and March of this year, according to new figures from Quick Move Now. Of the sales that failed, 25% fell through because the buyer struggled to secure mortgage finance, suggesting that lenders are beginning to show more caution in light of rising interest rates and […]

Mould after grant funded insulation?

11th April 2022

Hi Everyone, I have a property owned for almost 3 decades. Recently I have had mould appearing on the inside wall below the front ground floor window. Despite painting over with anti-mould paint the mould keeps reappearing. I have a suspicion that it is connected to the insulation which was done approx 10 years ago. […]

These landlords sold 75 BTL properties in less than 2 weeks with tenants still in situ

8th April 2022

There’s no doubt that now is the time to start downsizing our property portfolios. With many of us reaching our 50s and 60s, the property machines we built have become more of a financial burden than a financial gain. Taxes, legislation changes, the cost of meeting new regulations, £10K refurbs, incorporation costs… the list goes […]

No-one should be criminalised simply for having nowhere to live

8th April 2022

The government is set to repeal the Vagrancy Act which has been in place since 1824 making it an offence to sleep rough or beg in England and Wales. Begging is harmful to those involved and can have a detrimental impact on wider communities. The government wants to bring forward a new strategy that builds […]

Licencing – Financial tsunami incoming?

8th April 2022

With Selective Licencing now coming to Birmingham I have been trying to get a grip on what this means financially by reading other landlords’ experiences/demands by councils to achieve certain requirements. Has anyone managed to get a ball park figure of what it has cost them to ‘upgrade’ a standard property to tick all the […]