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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Interest Rates have risen by half a percent, to 2.25%. What does this mean for UK property prices and our housing market and how will this affect property investors? How high will interest rates even go? What should you do now with your existing buy to let properties? Stay tuned.

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Hi, Is there value from incorporating a buy to let portfolio where there are no bank borrowings? We have a small portfolio of three let houses and an industrial yard with no borrowings and the total value is about £1m and the rentals are about £50k pa. a) The original purchase price in the last […]

The Bank of England has increased interest rates in the UK by 0.5 percentage points, to 2.25% – that’s the highest level for 14 years. The move has been made in a bid to tackle soaring prices and the rates are now at their highest since 2008 when the global financial crisis was at its […]

Hi Guys and Gals, Can’t find a clear answer to “is a CO2 detector required for a modern balanced flue combination gas boiler installed in a purpose-built cupboard on a landing?”. Some say yes and some say no. The house in question, 10 years old, has a gas hob/electric oven in kitchen and gas boiler […]