Page 435 – Property118

Private sale swap with BTL buyback?

27th January 2021

I think the initial part of this plan sounds like a relatively straight forward proposition, but the second buyback part probably not… so, I hope the good people of P118 can point me in the right direction! I’m living in a property that still has a mortgage, but with a sizeable chunk of equity in […]

What is the current situation with evictions?

27th January 2021

I am a small landlord. I had a difficult tenant last spring and I thought we had sorted it all out. She’s been paying on time since then and has now gone on to a periodic tenancy as I did not renew her tenancy agreement. She’s now stopped paying again, and I would like to […]

Can I resolve noisy neighbour issue for my tenant?

26th January 2021

I have a Maisonette that has been let to the same tenant for three years, and she is the absolute perfect tenant. It is a two-level building in an affluent area and there have been a couple living above (not my Flat) for the last two years without any issue. My tenant is now having […]

Alleged Council Enforcement Officer threatening over the phone?

26th January 2021

We are refurbishing a property which is 4 storey house Grade II Listed. Each Floor has Studio Room which comprises of Self Contained Unit. Floor Area is as follows: Basement, Ground Floor, First Floor and Top Floor. The refurbishment commenced almost a month ago and due to finish in about 2 weeks. Background: It is […]

No Respite for Landlords

25th January 2021

The Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space) guidance was a shock to landlords when we heard about it this week. It is a truly atrocious bit of legislation, heaping even more worry and misery on landlords and also likely to have a very damaging effect on the prospects of any potential tenants looking for private accommodation […]

Police have taken the keys off the male tenant

25th January 2021

We have a couple on a joint tenancy who have now separated and the police have taken the keys off the male tenant and given them to the female tenant. She has requested he is taken off the joint tenancy agreement which is now periodic, however, he still has his tenancy rights regardless of the […]

Am I being unreasonable?

25th January 2021

As readers of Property 118 are professionals, what opinions and advice can you offer on whether I’m being unreasonable in holding a widow to the terms of the tenancy agreement. I own a modern retirement (over 55s) flat and for the last 5 years it has been rented to a lovely couple – model tenants […]

Could your buy-to-let company share structure be better?

22nd January 2021

99% of the 228,743 UK Property Investment Companies in existence at the end of 2020 had sub-optimal share structures. Is yours one of them? A sub-optimal share structure in your buy-to-let Limited Company could cost you a fortune in tax. Until recently, the costs of implementing an optimal corporate share structure was beyond the reach […]

How do I collect arrears from Universal Credit?

22nd January 2021

Hi all,  I am still waiting for a possession hearing for almost a year due to covid banned evictions etc. My tenants owe me thousands in unpaid rent, and I’ve just found out from Universal Credit that they had been paying them the housing elements since March last year, which has not been passed on. […]

Is it time to buy ground rents?

22nd January 2021

Given the changed proposed to leasehold/freehold, I’m wondering now if it’s the time to be ‘mopping’ up the Freeholds of a block of flats where I have a few units. The Freehold was applied for nearly a year ago, and I was the ‘white knight’, but now if we are to be able to extend […]

Stop cynical life-threatening licensing money-grab during pandemic crisis

22nd January 2021

Momentum is building against councils pushing ahead with licensing schemes despite the pandemic and despite instructions from the government not to. One wonders why so many councils are going against the Governments wishes and public health concern to instigate policies which, during the crisis will seriously increase the Covid risk to many tens of thousands […]

Complaints about cannabis smells?

22nd January 2021

I have a long term tenant in a block of 8 Victorian flats. The parking and garden arrangements mean the residents can easily see into the ground floor flats as they pass. My letting agent has had 5 complaints over the last 3 months. One neighbour phoned once to say she could smell cannabis from […]

Universal Credit Refusing Direct Payments?

22nd January 2021

Hi, I have been having difficulties with one of my tenants who are in receipt of UC. All rental payments have stopped, and they are not accepting my phone calls. The rent account now shows arrears in excess of 2 months. Earlier in the week, I applied UC under the online application to have the […]

Inclusive heating and hot water not working?

22nd January 2021

I have a few flats in a building that has a communal heating and hot water system – sadly this doesn’t always work. There are major works being done to the block and this has included re-piping the whole building (disaster) new boilers coming up (should have been done 2 years ago) and now the […]

New 2025 green targets for homes

21st January 2021

All homes and businesses will have to meet rigorous new energy efficiency standards to lower energy consumption and bills, helping to protect the environment, the Housing Minister Chris Pincher has announced. Responding to a consultation on the Future Homes Standard, the government has set out plans to radically improve the energy performance of new homes, […]

Approached by a Social Housing Provider?

21st January 2021

I have been approached by a Social Housing Provider to use my property as a domestic violence/women’s refuge now it has become completely vacant. They offer their clients licences as opposed to as AST. I am assuming they also are exempt (and therefore I do not need to apply for ) an HMO licence? They […]

DPS – Refund during lockdown?

21st January 2021

Unfortunately, my tenants have moved out without giving notice. I have reason to believe they have returned to Romania. I had all sorts of problems with utilities etc. and had to get cleaners; decorator; carpets cleaned etc. I am trying to get the deposit returned from the DPS, but I have to fill out a […]

Are you a Mortgage Prisoner?

20th January 2021

A Mortgage Prisoner is someone who cannot switch to another product or to a new lender for their residential mortgage, despite being up to date with their payments. They could be stuck with a lender exploiting them with a high interest rate and not allowing them to take up more advantageous rates. This may be […]

Capitol Riot Suspects Self-Incriminate Just Like Landlords Do Every Day

20th January 2021

Many of the insurrectionists who marched on the UA Capitol building on Jan 6th and violently forced their way into the building stupidly live-streamed their activities or boasted about them via social media. So far, those self-identifying actions have helped law enforcement authorities identify some individuals charged Law enforcement agencies have appealed for information regarding […]

Deciding the way forward for my exit?

20th January 2021

Hi, Having been a landlord for nearly 30 years I have a dilemma in deciding my best exit plan. I have a portfolio of 10 properties (2 houses and 8 flats). They are all interest-only mortgages but on good terms. The portfolio is straightforward enough to run and I self-manage and work hard to have […]

Death of a separated joint tenant during pandemic?

20th January 2021

Hello All, The rented property was originally let around five years ago to a married couple – great tenants and never had any issues with them. During mid-2020, their relationship broke down and the husband left the matrimonial home. Both tenants worked full time and as such, the wife (together with her young children) was […]