Hi, I am looking to purchase an empty property. The owner has passed away after a number of years in a care home. The property is in a state of disrepair, and the deceased still shows as the registered owner, but a proprietorship register contains a restriction. 1, the disposition is by two or more […]

New guidance on the measurement of land for development projects such as new housing and commercial development have been published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors 25 May 2021, which defines common measurements used across the built environment and associated metrics such as density. The guidance is now available and will be used by […]

As Sheriffs, we are continuing to monitor transfer times of Orders for Possession from the County Court to the High Court for landlords, and other claimants who want a faster and more effective transfer system.  So, we will be sharing our research with the Property 118 community, and naturally, we would like to hear from […]

I have inherited a property with a regulated tenant of over 60 years standing. I am aware that to gain an EICR the property will require a complete rewire. The property is immaculately maintained and decorated by the tenant. How do I stand regarding making good the damage this will cause and the cost of […]

I have a 2-bed flat which I have rented out to the same tenants since I bought it over nine years ago. As I am now planning to make some changes to my (small) portfolio, I want to sell the flat early in 2023. Does it make sense to give the tenants written notice of […]

A new national design code meaning areas are beautiful, well-designed and locally-led is being tested across 14 areas in England, Housing Minister Christopher Pincher has announced. The code will ensure future developments are beautiful and fit in with local character. It gives local planning authorities a toolkit of design principles to consider for new developments, […]

My tenants have flooded the bathroom using the hand shower in the freestanding bath. Their accident caused water to spill down through to the kitchen and into a wall socket. They now claim they suffered electric shock and say it’s my fault for not fitting a waterproof floor. Who is responsible? I don’t think l […]

I need to replace a bathroom in a property in NW London. It is a total job involving ripping out the existing bath loo and basin, replace a radiator, flooring and some plasterboard on the ceiling, and change a tumble dryer and an airing cupboard round to occupy each other’s positions in an adjoining utility […]

Landlords considering investing or refinancing will be pleased to see the latest data from Moneyfacts.co.uk, which illustrates interest rates for investors are beginning to decrease. Since the start of this month, the average BTL two and five-year fixed rates for all loan-to-values (LTV) have fallen by 0.04% and 0.05% respectively, and since March 2021 by […]

Very sadly a long term tenant has died. The contract was an AST started in May 2005 and rolled ever since. As no new fixed-term tenancy or ‘renewal’ has ever been signed, and as the fixed term tenancy ended (in Oct 2005) I assume it is now a new ‘periodic’ tenancy that has been created. […]

The Office of Tax Simplification’s (OTS) second report recommends that the government consider extending the reporting and payment deadline for the UK Property tax return from 30 days to 60 days. Click here The second report said: Around 150,000 individuals make a disposal of UK residential property each year, 85,000 of whom have a taxable […]

Hi, my tenant is currently in N. Wales, single educated lady with 2 dachshunds and working as a teacher. She is moving to the Exeter/Devon area after 16 June and cannot find a property. She has been a wonderful tenant for 3 years with no issues, which is why I am asking here if anyone […]

I have a rented property with no problems from the electrics over a 10-year period. I had an EICR carried out in December 2011 that was satisfactory. A week ago the electrician EICR checked the house and found some minor problems with the earths plus the need for a new consumer unit and left. Within […]

Hello, I wanted to get some advice on a flat I have in Central London near Canary Wharf. The property is a 2 bedroom new build property (constructed in 2017). It has been occupied by the same tenants since it was built. In addition to the 2 bedrooms, there is 1 bathroom, and a large […]

People who applied for Universal Credit as Covid hit could be subject to a benefits check by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Citizens Advice sets out the need-to-knows on the DWP’s Trust and Protect scheme, and the steps that should be taken to ensure benefits are not withdrawn. What is the ‘Trust and […]

I’ve been a joint shareholder of a freehold company that owns a Victorian block with 4 flats for about 5 years, there are four flats with four shareholders, and I am one of three Directors running the management company. The other two Directors are ‘Directors from Hell’, they have owned their flats for over 30 […]

Hi, I have tenants that, for almost a year, are constantly requesting amendments be made to my property in Wales. For example, I had the property painted and decorated just before they moved in at a cost of £3000. They moved in, and the next day sent me a repair list of 38 items, one […]

Most Tenancy Agreements (TA) state first rent in advance, but what about when this is not applicable? Benefit tenants or Direct Landlord UC payments are always a month in arrears, so how do you get across this dilemma of the working in a TA? Is it viable to ask for two months Rent in Advance […]

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released data for March 2021 shows the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH) rose by 1.6% in the 12 months to April 2021 up from 1.0% to March. This brings inflation levels towards the Bank of England’s medium-term target of 2% without causing immediate short term […]

With the current stamp duty holiday spurring a property market frenzy, house prices have boomed. The latest UK House Price Index shows that the North of England is leading the way, with both the North West (11.9%) and Yorkshire and Humber (10.9%) registering the highest rates of annual growth, while the North East (9%) isn’t […]

Private sector tenants are leaving London in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to new research, landlords renting properties in London were the only ones in the country to report that tenant demand had fallen more than it increased. A survey of National Residential Landlords Association members, conducted by the research consultancy BVA-BDRC, found that […]