Page 379 – Property118

House price growth records unlikely to last

7th April 2022

The latest Halifax House Price index reports March recorded the biggest monthly increase since September last year with house price growth of 1.4%. The average property price has now reached £282,753, meaning two years on from the first lockdown, house prices have risen by £43,577. The South West has now overtaken Wales as the UK […]

Does our tenant have to pay CGT after 10 years?

7th April 2022

A few months ago an email was sent to our PDPLA (Portsmouth and District Private Landlord Association) mentioning that tenants must start paying CGT (Capital Gains Tax) after 10 years in the same home! It vaguely rang a bell, so I had a look at our tenancy records… O dear two tenants are in the […]

HMO market values still holding up despite regulation headwinds

6th April 2022

Market analysis from Octane Capital, has revealed that the current market value of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) currently sits above wider market values, suggesting that new licensing laws have had a limited impact on the appetite for the often perceived trickier path to building a buy-to-let portfolio. Licensing changes surrounding HMOs have been rolled […]

Tables turned on Acorn

6th April 2022

Sheffield landlord, Mrs Zobia Rafique, has settled her legal case for harassment, defamation and breach of data rights against pressure group The Association of Community Organisations for Reform Now (ACORN). What was initially a low-level disagreement with a tenant, Ms Aya Hoez, over the return of a £300 deposit, turned into a campaign of harassment […]

New Right to Rent Code of Practice

6th April 2022

The Home Office has issued guidance for landlords, and letting agents on the introduction of new Right to Rent immigration checks coming into force today 6th April 2022. Click here From 6 April 2022, landlords can use Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT) via the services of an IDSP to complete the digital identity verification element […]

They want me to photograph tenant?

6th April 2022

Hi all, My brother took on an HMO and after various issues with the council which I sorted out we are left with one issue, which is on the go. One flat contains a 35yr old single man with serious mental health issues. They kept sending Council tax demands to my brother to pay despite […]

TOMORROW NIGHT: Do you know how to find Below Market Value property?

6th April 2022

Do you think it’s possible to find discounted (Below Market Value) properties in this booming property market? Other investors are finding discounted deals in a booming market, which proves that it is possible.  Even if it’s not always easy to do. If you could save Tens of Thousands of pounds off the purchase price of […]

Updating RICS guidence for lenders to assist borrowers affected by Cladding issues

4th April 2022

In a joint statement with UK Finance and the Building Societies Association (BSA), RICS has issued new guidance to lenders to clarify the current lending position for properties with fire safety issues in blocks of flats over 11 meters. Click here The statement indicates Providing the mortgage application meets all the lender’s other policy and […]

Commercial rent – what to charge?

4th April 2022

Hi, I’m stumped! I have looked at various websites and all give weird and wonderful formulae that are confusing contradictory and I am going around in circles. All I want to know is how to assess what the current market rental rate is for shops on a particular high street I know it is based […]

Can I buy the freehold to my flats?

4th April 2022

Hi, I own 8 flats in a block which is all of the flats in the block. I have been told I can buy the freehold because I own more than 50% of the individual flats. However, I have also been told I can’t because I am not resident within the block and the 50% […]

Solicitors failing to pass on Service Charges?

4th April 2022

I purchase my property nearly a year ago now and my solicitor’s company is refusing to pass on the Service Charges which I had paid to them for the management company as part of the completion. The sale required an indemnity policy (as the vendor had laid wooden floors in the property which breached the […]

Letting to a company who won’t vacate?

1st April 2022

Hi, We own an apartment which has been rented to a Portuguese company for four years, with no problems. The company’s business is in arranging accommodation for its clients. However, the lease period expired on 25th March 2022, and we gave them notice to quit two months prior to that in accordance with the lease […]

Ftashare tenants most worried about rental increases during cost of living crisis

1st April 2022

New data from SpareRoom reveals 96% of renters are concerned about the rising cost of living with the cost of rent (86%), increasing energy bills (84%) and the price of a weekly shop (68%) tenants’ main concerns Homeowners are also concerned, with 95% saying they’re worried about living costs rising. Key concerns are energy bills […]

Finding it hard to find property deals?

1st April 2022

Do you want to become a more successful property investor? If yes, then you need to get really good at finding great deals in your area.  It is the number one skill you need to learn. Most people search online, go to estate agents, or attend property auctions looking for potential property deals. Whilst there […]

Unfreeze the Local Housing Allowance to cover average rent

1st April 2022

Over half of private tenants relying on Universal Credit to pay their rent have a shortfall between the amount they receive and what they pay for their housing. It comes a year after the Government froze housing benefit rates. Official data suggests that 56% of private renters relying on Universal Credit have an average gap […]

Detached property prices have performed best through the pandemic

31st March 2022

The latest Nationwide House Price Index shows UK house price growth surged to its highest level since 2004. Annual house price growth in March increased to 14.3%, from 12.6% in February with Wales remaining the strongest performing region and London the weakest. Detached properties have increased by nearly £68,000 since the start of the pandemic, […]

The National Landlord Register is coming

31st March 2022

As mentioned in the Levelling Up White paper the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has released a job advert for the role of Policy Advisor – National Landlord Register. Click here The summary of the job states: The Leasehold and Private Rented Sector Directorate is leading on an ambitious reform programme at the […]

Government grants for corporate landlords to install EV charge points

30th March 2022

The government scheme for EV chargepoint grants gives financial support to buy and install electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints at residential or commercial properties in the UK: Click here for the full details. The grant amount is per chargepoint socket installed and provides up to 75% of the cost towards the purchase and installation of a […]

TONIGHT: Struggling to find property deals?

30th March 2022

Live online TONIGHT (Thursday 31st May) at 8pm! Brand new training all about how you can find better property deals in your area. If you are struggling to find great deals, or don’t know what to look for, or just want to find even better deals, then you really need to join this live training […]

Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

Failing Social Housing providers to be named and shamed

29th March 2022

The government will “name and shame” failing social housing providers as part of major reforms to give residents a stronger voice and drive up standards. This means social landlords providing sub-standard housing and services would be publicly called out on the government’s website and across social media channels. Measures announced also include a Resident Panel […]