Page 432 – Property118

Inflation erosion on savings accounts intensifies

17th February 2021

The number of inflation-beating accounts on the UK savings market has fallen month-on-month and there has been a rise in inflation. The latest analysis from Moneyfacts.co.uk reveals the options available to savers to beat the current level of inflation today. – The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 0.7% during January, from 0.6% in December. […]

Surely I am not the only landlord worried about new EPC requirements?

17th February 2021

Hello, I was wondering if Property118 could shed some light on the new proposed changes to the EPC requirements – my understanding is that over the next few years 2025 onwards, properties in the PRS have to be rated a C as a minimum. Currently, has to be above an E. My worry is that […]

Gap and loophole between content and buildings insurance?

17th February 2021

For leasehold properties, I have recently been advised leaseholders may be exposed to some gap and loophole between home content insurance and building insurance (usually taken by the management company or freeholder). Can anyone with more experience in the field advise how the best we can cover ourselves, please? Case 1. Typically, home content insurance […]

Free Lockdown Learning – 7 things to watch out for with company lets

17th February 2021

Our third and next webinar is with solicitor David Smith of JMW Solicitors. This is David’s second webinar in the series where he will be looking at company lets. A company let is where the tenant is a limited company rather than a living person.  It is capable of being a residential tenancy so long […]

Person surrounded by question marks symbolizing confusion over rent-to-rent issues

EICR work required but I have a section 21 problem tenant?

16th February 2021

Where do you stand if EICR work might need doing, but you have a broken relationship with a problem tenant who scared the electrician away and stated no electrical work will be done in the house? A satisfactory report was given last June with a recommendation to install sockets in bedrooms due to there only […]

The Law Society logo representing its call for more funding to prevent tenant evictions.

Law Society comment on 6 week eviction ban extension

16th February 2021

The Secretary of State for housing, communities and local government has announced that the ban on the enforcement of evictions, save for the most egregious cases, including illegal occupation, false statement, anti-social behaviour, perpetrators of domestic abuse and serious rent arrears of more than 6 months has been extended until at least 31 March. Possession […]

Please don’t post us carpet, taps or mobiles

16th February 2021

A section of carpet, a fully functioning mobile phone and bathroom taps are among the more unusual items sent through the post during tenancy deposit disputes, according to The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS). The DPS said that it had received the carpet from a landlord wanting to demonstrate the iron burn that a tenant […]

ISA rates and choice plunge

16th February 2021

Moneyfacts UK Savings Trends Treasury Report data, not yet published, reveals that the expectations of a promising ISA season may well be dashed this year due to continued cuts to ISA rates. The savings market overall contracted month-on-month and product volumes have now reached their lowest recorded levels, with all average savings rates reaching new […]

Brand new series of ‘Nightmare Tenants Slum Landlords’ starts this week

15th February 2021

The long-awaited new series of Channel 5’s ‘Nightmare Tenants Slum Landlords’ launches on Wednesday 17 February at 8pm.  This 10-part series, filmed prior to COVID-19 restrictions, follows the frontline work of letting agents, eviction specialists and lawyers helping landlords chase rent arrears and get their properties back; as well as council housing enforcement officers clamping […]

Compensation for commercial tenant of more than 14 years?

15th February 2021

My tenant has one year remaining of a five year Lease on my commercial premises which he has occupied on a succession of 5-year Leases for 25 years. He owns and operates a Limited Company (registered at his home) but has always signed the Leases as a private individual. I don’t want to renew the […]

Rishi Sunak considering 6 week extension to Stamp Duty holiday?

15th February 2021

The Daily Telegraph has reported that the Chancellor is under pressure to avoid the Stamp Duty cliff edge on the 31st of March and is considering a 6 weeks extension to the 12th May to allow completion to take place delayed by conveyancing backlogs. A source told the paper: “It is certainly the case that […]

Jenrick extends evictions ban 6 weeks to 31st March

15th February 2021

Renters will continue to be supported during the ongoing national lockdown restrictions, with an extension to the ban on bailiff evictions, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced. The ban on bailiff evictions, which was introduced at the start of the pandemic, has been extended for another 6 weeks until the 31st March with measures kept under […]

Get a Grip!

15th February 2021

Responding to the Government’s announcement of an extension to the ban on the enforcement of most residential repossessions in England until 31st March, Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association said: “Today’s announcement does nothing to help over 800,000 private renters who have built rent arrears since lockdown measures started last year. […]

What to expect in the 2021 Budget?

12th February 2021

What’s coming up in the UK spring budget? And will it be good news for UK property investors? In this video below, I am going to share with you my thoughts on what property investors can expect from Rishi Sunak come March the 3rd. 

Council tax per room for HMO in Nottingham!

12th February 2021

Hello all, I wanted to make fellow landlords and agents aware of a situation we are facing in Long Eaton, Nottingham. A recent ruling by the Valuations Office has ruled that a newly converted building providing 8 luxury ensuite bedrooms (HMO) is to be classed as separate dwellings and each tenant will be liable for […]

Cold Weather Payments

12th February 2021

What are Cold Weather Payments? Tenants facing financial hardship due to Covid-19 may be eligible for Cold Weather Payments. The Cold Weather Payment scheme runs from 1st November 2020 to 31st March 2021. Tenants will get a payment of £25 if the average temperature in their area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0 […]

Repossession claims down since lifting of ban?

11th February 2021

Warnings of a surge of evictions following the partial lifting of the repossessions ban in September last year have proved to be unfounded according to government figures released today. Data published by the Ministry of Justice shows that in the fourth quarter of 2020, the number of claims made by private landlords in England and […]

Government will fund cost of replacing unsafe cladding for all leaseholders 6 storeys and over

10th February 2021

Hundreds of thousands of leaseholders will be protected from the cost of replacing unsafe cladding on their homes, as Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick unveiled a five-point plan which will provide reassurance to homeowners and bring confidence to the housing market. With an unprecedented £5 billion investment in building safety, including £3.5 billion announced today (10 […]

Problems dealing with a Roofing contractor?

10th February 2021

In August last year, my tenant sent me pictures of water coming into the front upstairs bedroom. There appeared to be a leak coming from the Bay. Eventually, I managed to get a contractor to go and look, and he said it needed the Bay recovering, chimney repointing, some guttering needed repairing etc. He quoted […]

Selling Leasehold and Retaining Freehold?

10th February 2021

Hello, I own a house that has been purposely converted into 2 flats. I rent both of the flats out currently. I have owned the property for c25 years I am thinking of selling both the flats on long leasehold and retaining the freehold. How would I calculate what the freehold would be worth and […]

Rents down 8.3% in London but up 2.3% outside the capital

10th February 2021

Hometrack have released their Q4 2020 Monthly Rental Market Report; click here The report confirmed average rents across the UK excluding London rose by 1.4% in the three months to the end of December, taking the annual growth in rents to 2.3%. However, average rents in London are down -8.3% with rental decreases concentrated in […]