I have just found out that a tenant has moved their two sons into my property. The tenant is on Housing Benefit, not Universal Credit, and I understand I am legally obliged to report this (I have no doubt there is a false claim/s as a result). It now transpires that the Council have known […]

Councils in England will have more freedom on how they spend the money from homes sold through Right to Buy, to help them build the homes needed in their communities, under reforms announced 20 March 2021 by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick. Today’s package will make it easier for councils to fund homes using Right to […]

The number of homes being built since the lifting of the first period of national coronavirus restrictions continues to rise, latest housebuilding figures published show. New data shows new housing starts were estimated to be 42,110 in the latest quarter (October – December 2020), a 16% increase on the previous quarter (July – September 2020). […]

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has voted unanimously again to keep the Bank Base Rate at 0.1% with no change to the quantitative easing programme. The inflation rate is not expected to return to the target of 2% until late spring and remain there until past the 3rd quarter. Therefore, it was unsurprisingly […]

Hi, I have a Property Partnership set up with my wife for the last 2 years with 50/50 split but due to personal change in circumstances, we need to change this to 75/25. Considering the income is from rental properties, so Investment income and not trading income, we can’t make a simple change on the […]

Hello – I had a tenant who rented a room in a shared house. She received housing benefit and was supposed to pay top-ups of £10 a week or so, which she rarely did – around £1,000 owing. She did a runner last month, leaving the place in a dreadful state suggesting abandonment, but with […]

Dear members, On 16.03.21 I have emailed the following letter to, scotland.complaintsresolutionteam1 @dwp.gov.uk, for a new formal complaint to them regarding the UC housing cost of one of my tenant which is a situation I face regularly with tenants on UC during an end of the tenancy. The circumstances are no less than benefit fraud […]

The Welsh government will extend the current restrictions on evictions, which are due to expire on 31 March, to the end of June 2021 although the restrictions will, as with other coronavirus restrictions, be subject to regular review during that time. The restrictions will prevent, except in specified circumstances, attendance at a dwelling-house for the […]

Research by Shelter indicates 14% of adults in England are more worried about becoming homeless due to the pandemic. Eleanor Wilson, a Shelter helpline adviser recruited in response to the pandemic, said:“People are frightened, they’re scared they might do the wrong thing, they don’t know their rights, and they’re really worried they will lose their […]

The Tenant deposit protection scheme has turned down my claim for what the tenants have acknowledged being a missing brand-new fridge freezer and sofa. They reported it to the police as stolen. The DPS has suggested I take legal advice. Does anybody know whether or not I can claim against the guarantors in the County […]

In a landmark decision, the Upper Tribunal (Lands) has confirmed that the judgement of the First Tier Tribunal that “Rent Arrears must be accounted for BEFORE rent is eligible to be reclaimed under a Rent Repayment Order (RRO).” This Judgement of the First-Tier Tribunal (in a case defended by Des Taylor of Landlord Licensing & Defence), […]

I’m a small incorporated landlord with a portfolio of 40 individual real estate units, namely garages. I am now considering liquidation of the company with an obvious route being selling the garages on an auction as individual lots. Having a naturally inquisitive mind I’m trying to invent other options of achieving the same result. I’m […]

Liz Barclay, A former BBC broadcaster, has been selected to lead a government campaign to tackle late payments to small businesses. Barclay told the Times “We need a real culture change around business payments. People who have already delivered goods and services have to be able to turn their attention to their next client and […]

I am unfortunate to be given 2 Notices of improvement and a Prohibition notice because an enforcement officer decided to hand-deliver an Inspection Notice to my residential home. Incidentally, we were under self-isolation for none symptomatic covid -19. The officer staked in his car until he saw my wife come out to put the rubbish […]

Quick query about stamp duty. My wife and I own 4 properties 50/50 as tenants in common. We have a partnership (not an LLP) i.e. our self-assessments show income from partnership to declare this property income. We want to keep the ownerships as 50/50 but want to split the partnership to 80/20 so take advantage […]

The past year has been tough on most due to COVID, however, Landlords can take heart from a very healthy insurance market that continues to compete for their let buildings and contents insurance. The cost of landlord insurance depends largely on the insurer that you speak with. Axis, Channel, Accelerant, Ocaso and Arkel are all […]

I take a stroll down the high street and share what to look for when searching for retail property to convert to residential use under Permitted Development Rights. Watch this video to find out for yourself, and join us this Sunday for a FREE live 90-minute masterclass where you can learn more on the subject! […]

The latest Rightmove House Price Index shows the Greatest excess of demand over supply over the past ten years, pushing up the average price of property coming to market by 0.8% (+£2,484) this month. The Number of potential buyers enquiring about each available property on Rightmove in the month is at a record 34% higher […]

Like many leaseholders up and down the land, the development I live in has a few parking issues (albeit manageable ones). These are caused by leaseholders owning more than X vehicles (contrary to the terms of the lease), and is a bit more of an issue currently due to the increase in people working from […]

I’m looking to buy a commercial property for my wife’s business in our local town, and I’ve found a property in the town centre which is ideal. The commercial property is listed as freehold, however, there’s a flat above the shop which already has a leasehold in place, with someone else according to the seller. […]

I’m a little confused about the legal side of HMO at your own home or private residence. My home is a bungalow. In early 2016 I completed a loft conversion which gave me two bedrooms(one en-suite) a bathroom and a small box room upstairs. The intention was for my partner’s son and family to live […]