A landlord mate has sent me the below issues with Walsall Council and has asked for anyone’s help/experiences: Have any of you had any trouble with the pilot EPC/MEES scheme that Walsall Council has undertaken.  In brief, they are issuing landlords with Compliance Notices with £5000 fines if you don’t comply.  This pilot scheme is […]

The annual rough sleeping snapshot, which shows that rough sleeping has fallen 43% since the Prime Minister has come into office, has been welcomed by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick as a milestone in the effort to end rough sleeping for good. Data published 25 February 2021 shows that rough sleeping has fallen 43% under this […]

The tenant called in with a ‘slight leak in the bathroom ceiling’. He sends a photo and clearly no way this is just a few days old – he then backtracks and says he’s been away for a few days and comes home to it as it is (really – we are in lockdown!?!) The […]

Another disgraceful act of crime committed by another Local Authority that has powers given to them by the Government, but yet choose to do nothing. The Housing Ombudsmen criticises Woking Borough Council for “Severe Maladministration” in a case where an elderly resident is left without any heating or hot water for 3 years, and furthermore, […]

Hi all 118ters, I have had the misfortune of being taken to court by a nightmare tenant who rents a room in a small HMO. The tenant in themselves is not too bad but her boyfriend who has moved in with her (not in accordance with her tenancy agreement) is a foul-smelling weed head. My […]

One of my property EPC scored 76 as C, 5 points away from band B, the EPC report listed the things to do to improve in order to gain certain points towards the EPC score. For example, in my case, a condensing boiler 4 points, LED lighting 1 point, etc. I redid the EPC assessment […]

Hi Everyone, I am currently in the process of purchasing a house as a buy to let investment. However, the environmental report has come back and indicated this property is in a high flood risk area. I had a conversation with the vendor, and he confirmed the property had never been flooded before, but the […]

Hi all, I recently got a possession order from the courts after a year and £15,000 of arrears. My issue is that the tenant was claiming Housing Elements. I informed Universal Credit (UC) several times about the non-payment, during the period and asked for direct payment, but the tenant was quick to lie about the […]

The Renting Homes (Amendment) (Wales) Bill will provide improved clarity on landlord and tenant responsibilities, helping to avoid disagreements and difficulties. The changes mean that from spring 2022, rental contracts in Wales will change so that: Tenants will have the security and stability of a minimum 12 month contract; Minimum notice periods will be extended […]

I am desperately trying to find anything I can use to show to the courts that ANY further delay in a possession claim (as caused by the courts themselves delaying making a final decision/or by the defence continually requesting delays to a hearing) is totally prejudicial to me the claimant. I have a case where […]

Hi, I am looking at buying a property with a problem tenant that won’t allow any viewings or valuations and I have been informed they have stopped paying the rent. I know we could just walkaway. However, the current landlord served them with a section 21 notice last November to end in May we want […]

I had to fire a letting agent after he “misbehaved” with (my) clients´money and all trust was lost. I had to quickly appoint another company to manage tenants. There is no signed Agreement or T&C´s from agent, only a very simple letter instructing him some years ago: 10% commission, he will discuss any works or […]

The latest research from Foundation Home Loans indicates that the imminent, although possibly extended end to the stamp duty holiday is unlikely to deter landlords from further purchases this year, the latest data from Moneyfacts.co.uk explores what those considering investing in the sector as a first-time landlord (FTL) may find. While overall availability has fallen […]

Our fourth and next webinar is with solicitor Robin Stewart of Anthony Gold. Robin will be looking at Rent Repayment Orders – these are made against landlords when they are in breach of regulations – for example, if you have failed to obtain an HMO license – and can be VERY expensive. Robin will be considering […]

The NRLA says the tax system is in urgent need of reform to support energy improvements to rented housing. It comes as MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee last week concluded that the delivery of the Government’s flagship Green Homes Grant scheme has been “poor”. It noted that the eligibility criteria for the scheme: “prevented […]

A very nice apartment block in one of Surrey’s towns is owned by O&H Ltd. They have applied for administration in June 2020, but not much has been passed onto flat’s leaseholders. However, it looks that the things are going to move. The main problem of that block is, although it is not high rise […]

Due to section 24 and being a higher rate taxpayer I am looking to sell one of my BTL houses in Oxfordshire and require some advice regarding the minimum notice period required for the tenants to vacate. The 1 year AST tenancy ends on April 1st 2021 and then goes onto a periodic tenancy with […]

I need urgent advice on the following; I have had tenants in the flat below since August 2018 where I have been served the following enforcement letter from an enforcement officer. The tenants have continuously been complaining about things in the flat all of which have been dealt with. When the property was first rented […]

Hello Everyone, Can anyone clarify the following. Is tax relief on mortgage interest for personal remortgage funds available if : 1. Funds are withdrawn for personal use and not reinvested? 2. Remortgage funds are reinvested, but exceed the purchase price of the properties? The problem of 2. is an established portfolio of long-standing giving large […]

After a lengthy wait to gain possession through the courts from a tenant who has not paid rent since February 2020 we finally succeeded in gaining a Possession Order on 29th Jan 2021. The arrears are significant at over £15,000 and we had hoped to be able to get moving, clear up the place and […]

A long story that involves taking over a property by default, and after some triple checking, I’ve just found out that a deposit a tenant paid in 2010 was not deposited in a scheme at the time (were they even around then?) What’s the best approach now – 1. leave the status quo, ignore it […]