Hello, I have just had my offer accepted on a 3-bed end of terrace property that includes an attached 1-bed annex. My solicitor tells me to talk to my accountant for the stamp duty calculation as homes with an annex can be more complex. This is my 8th buy to let, so I know of […]

I am raising funds to buy a new main residence and wonder if my original flat is not rented, but left unoccupied by my wife and me, can we simply sell the property without being in breach of let to buy conditions? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanking you in anticipation. John

We have stood guarantor for a rental property for almost 2 years to allow the tenant to build up their credit rating. Up to now, the AST has been renewed every 6 months, and we have had to resign as guarantor. The landlord has now decided not to renew the lease and allow it to […]

House raffles continue to pop up on a regular basis, offering the chance to get on the property ladder for the cost of a lottery ticket. But are they really the bargain of a lifetime? Or are they just a con? Does anyone actually win? And do the house raffle companies actually expect anyone to? […]

The Halifax House Price Index report for May shows continued strong inflation, with the annual index up 9.5% this month on last year. The average UK property price now stands at £261,743 with Wales continuing to be the region with the strongest price growth. The monthly price increase was +1.3% and quarterly +2.4%. Russell Galley, […]

I own a leasehold flat and the Freeholder ran the services and maintenance through a management company that he set up and there was an annual maintenance charge made. The Freeholder has now dissolved the management company, and consequently, I do not pay anything. However, because there is no management company in place I cannot […]

I have come to the end of my 5 years fixed mortgage product. At the time of taking the Mortgage, there was no such definition of Portfolio or Non-Portfolio Landlord (the one who owns more than 4 properties). I simply decided to switch product with the same lender and I own exactly the same number […]

A council has explicitly announced it’s “on the side of tenants against landlords”. Totally ignoring the fact that landlords are its citizens too. And citizens they are legally required to serve! To date, this council boasts that it has stolen £320,000 worth of housing by way of rent repayment orders in respect of tenants who have […]

Anyone knows anyone else in the same boat, please spread. Many many tenants have done nothing wrong, but imbecile Govt and Councils are making it so hard for those that haven’t got a problem. I have offered to pay my tenants’ deposits so they can buy their homes after becoming disillusioned with the PRS. I […]

Hi all, Does anyone know the textbook answer on dealing with the following? Despite numerous ignored phone calls and letters from myself and my gas engineer, we are unable to gain access to carry out this year’s gas safety certificate. The certificate is now well overdue and I have been fobbed off by my local […]

I posted a few weeks ago about issues in a relatively new block – around 6 years old. Sadly nothing much has moved on, but we are pushing forward with the RTM and working with the management company to get some work done, however, we have totally stalled with the EWS1. There is no cladding, […]

After the Dogs and Domestic Animals (Accommodation and Protection) Bill proposed by Tory MP Andrew Rosindell was killed off by putting better use of Parliament to deal with the pandemic as a priority, the pet advocacy organisation, AdvoCats, is drawing up battle plans for a second private members bill to outlaw the banning of pets […]

I have a small property portfolio and also insurance policies for my home, car, horsebox, pets etc etc. Each policy offers the addition of legal fees for around £35. I suppose my first question is, how necessary is this insurance for rental properties? I’ve never needed to make a claim (if I had a policy), […]

I am a landlord and have forfeited a commercial lease, but my tenant has applied for relief from forfeiture. We are still waiting for a court date, however, the council is now pursuing me for business rates. I have explained that the tenant has applied for relief from forfeiture and sent the council the court […]

I’ll briefly set the scene: I am one of 13 leaseholders in a block of flats. There is a block management company with 4 directors, 3 of whom are leaseholders (me being one). In addition, there is a managing agent appointed by the freeholder. One of the directors of the managing agent is the 4th […]

Fred Harrison has been quoted in the Daily Mail and This Is Money as the British author and economic commentator who correctly predicted 1990 and 2008 property price crashes. Harrison is now predicting house prices will continue to rise until a crash happens in 2026! What does everyone else think? Harrison claims he has mapped […]

Many people will have heard on the radio over the Bank Holiday weekend reports about the eviction ban ending. A Joseph Rowntree Trust claim that 800,000 households face losing their homes was repeated throughout the day. Not once did Radio 4 or Times Radio mention rent arrears. Not once did they say that many landlords […]

Hi, We recently acquired a flat (no mortgage) – the flats we wanted do not come on the market very often, so we have bought it around 5 years before we are ready to exit London and move into it. We have no intention of buying more properties. So I am an Accidental landlord. We […]

The latest Nationwide House Price index released for May is showing double-digit annual house price growth of 10.9%, the highest level in nearly seven years. The new record average house price now stands at £242,832, up £23,930 over the past year. Prices are also up 1.8% month–on–month, following a 2.3% rise in April. Robert Gardner, […]

Hi everyone. I live in my house in Wales and currently have two lodgers sharing my house and am thinking of taking a third, which would make a small HMO. I’ve checked with my local authorities and I don’t need an HMO licence, but does anyone know what my legal obligations are aside from having […]

Shelter claims the lifting of the current ban on evictions by bailiffs on the 1st of June will leave thousands of private renters across England facing eviction this summer. Shelter has released new research on insecurity in the PRS it claims to show: 1.8 million private renting adults in England (22%) are worried they will […]