And so the EPC witch-hunt begins: Threatening fines of up to £5,000 for any rental property with an EPC lower than Band E, councils are now using artificial intelligence to pull together all manner of records and information to cross-correlate properties on the EPC register with ratings F or G so that they can issue […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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, 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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, […]

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: […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]