Page 428 – Property118

Best for revaluation – vacant possession or sitting tenant?

29th March 2021

We need to revalue our properties as we are planning to change our business structure. So we are trying to plan ahead before a final decision is made on what to do next. Should the properties be valued as vacant possession, or should they be valued with sitting tenants? Which is the most cost-efficient way […]

Green Homes Grant applications canned after 31st March

29th March 2021

The troubled Green Homes Grant Scheme will be closed for new applications after the 31st March this year as announced quietly by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. Following a review, the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme launched last year will close to new applications on 31 March at 5pm. The scheme was […]

Selective Licensing fines for minor breaches?

29th March 2021

Has anyone received a fine or penalty for perceived only very minor potential breaches of selective licensing rules? By minor breach, I mean perhaps not having an Anti-Social Behaviour policy in place or not having PAT tests done or something similar. I know the penalties are meant to be high £5000 or up to £30,000 […]

Land Transaction Tax – Welsh Holiday Let?

29th March 2021

I’m interested in purchasing a B&B in Wales to turn into a Holiday Let. The process is wrought with complications I would be happy to share whilst I learn if anyone is interested. For now, I am hoping someone can advise me on the matter of Land Tax. If I successfully obtain planning permission for […]

Allowable legal costs for tax purposes?

26th March 2021

Hi everyone, I have just been through a very difficult and complicated divorce. I have been a landlord for many years and acquired 8 rental properties, two were in joint names, and as part of the settlement my ex-husband agreed to transfer these to my name. I remortgaged 4 properties to buy him out. My […]

EICR necessary for tenant a year in arrears?

26th March 2021

Hi, I have a tenant who was given a section 8 notice before lockdown last year and because of the ban on evictions, he is still there. He owes a year’s rent. I do not wish to get a EICR test as I do not wish the property to be let out again, and he […]

Anyone used Ground 1 S8 successfully?

26th March 2021

As I understand it you can gain mandatory possession with Ground 2 S8 if… the landlord wishes to move into the property to use it as their main home, and they were the owner of the property prior to the tenant moving in. NRLA state that this does not require the landlord to have lived […]

Purchase of property in Shildon?

26th March 2021

Hi All, I’m in a discussion with a property consultant to purchase a property in Shildon, County Durham (Thomas Street). It is a terraced house freehold. I’m looking for some review on the area since I’m looking into this for investment purposes only. The house is around GBP 33,000 and currently tenanted at GBP 325pm. […]

95% Mortgages Explained – And its not just for First-time buyers!

26th March 2021

Help To Buy is out and the new 95% mortgages are here. With just a 5% Deposit, you can take out a mortgage on a property with a value of up to £600,000 AND it’s not just for first-time buyers! Join me in this video where I explain why this is not just good for […]

One year on from the first ban on the repossession of rented homes

26th March 2021

One year on from the first ban on the repossession of rented homes, new analysis shows that more tenants are likely to lose their homes in the long term as a result. Research for the National Residential Landlords Association has shown that there are an estimated 840,000 private tenants who have built rent arrears since […]

HMO Covid-19 rent reduction conundrum?

24th March 2021

Hey 118ers, I have a contract with a letting agent for my HMO which has a guaranteed rent of x amount pcm. Recently, they have been asking me to reduce the rent due to the Covid-19 situation and in their words ‘the huge amount of people leaving London’. To save the hassle I have agreed […]

Do I have a right to know who lives in my house?

24th March 2021

I recently rented out my property and instructed a letting agent to fully manage it. As we are a family of tradesmen, I like to do any of the maintenance/gas safety checks/electrical certificates myself using my family. Today the letting agent contacted me to say that the gas check was due. I said that I […]

EPC required for HMO where rooms are on seperate tenancy agreements?

24th March 2021

I can’t find a definitive answer and would like some help. I have a non-licensed HMO’s (licence not required) and let the rooms out on separate tenancy agreements. Do I need to provide my tenants with an EPC? As they share all the facilities and only have exclusivity in their individual rooms an EPC seems […]

Alarming Mortgage Transfer Letter?

24th March 2021

I have just received a letter from Amber Home Loans saying that in the transfer of my BTL mortgage to Skipton Building Society I have to accept a change of terms in which the SVR will switch to Skipton’s BTL SVR – currently 4.6%. I can either pay off my mortgage or accept a hike […]

Gas safety certificate should be a legal requirement for all households?

24th March 2021

So, you’re on this property forum because you are probably a landlord, and therefore probably own 2 or more properties either by choice or fate. Back in Dec 1996 I brought my first property to live in and a few years later while trying to help my family I became a landlord. As with life […]

HM Treasury ‘Tax Consultation Day’ – Nothing on CGT or Stamp

23rd March 2021

HM Treasury has published more than 30 tax updates, consultations and documents to, as they declare, ‘strengthen policymaking and modernise the UK tax system’. Click here to read the Command Paper Of potential note for Landlords: In England, many holiday lets are liable to pay business rates, rather than council tax, when an owner declares […]

Membership Renewal – Why would I?

22nd March 2021

Today I received a renewal reminder from NRLA. Although it is true, when I was a new Landlord I found the original NLA useful and supportive, I do not feel they represent the Landlords any longer. Where is their voice for us? It is certainly not being heard – anywhere. Maybe they never represented us, […]

Free Lockdown Learning – 10 tips for dealing with telephone and video hearings

22nd March 2021

Our next webinar is with housing barrister Robert Brown. In this webinar, Robert will be looking at ten tips for landlords for dealing with telephone and video hearings. Bearing in mind that failure to license properties can result in very severe penalties. Essential details: Date: Thursday 25 March 2021 Time: 12.30 – 1.00 pm Cost: […]

Government expects pets to ‘act in a tenant like manner’?

22nd March 2021

Most AST agreements now contain a clause similar to “Not keep any animals, reptiles, insects, rodents or birds at the Property without our written permission (which will not be unreasonably withheld)”. With the government wishing to encourage greater flexibility in the approach to pet ownership, two issues are of concern to landlords: 1. Housing Minister […]

Liquidator costs of transferring from LLP to Ltd?

22nd March 2021

Hi, I used an accountancy firm and 3 years ago now we transferred my 6 London rental properties into an LLP. A liquidator was appointed and the LLP is in liquidation. There was a long delay as the liquidator wanted annual accounts. Now that’s done horrendous fees are being asked by the liquidators+ their solicitors […]