Following the massive election disappointments in England last week, Sir Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet reshuffle has included replacing Thangam Debbonaire as Shadow Housing Secretary with Manchester MP Lucy Powell. Lucy Tweeted: “Really pleased to become the Shadow Housing Secretary – some really big issues to tackle from cladding, housing crisis, private rented sector, homelessness and […]

We own an apartment with a share of the freehold in North London. The block has 9 flats and we are on the top floor. Over the past few weeks another owner has made a request to the block management company that they require a stairlift for easier access. The person is quite elderly but […]

The current Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday has helped deliver a property market stimulus that has far outweighed the immediate response to the 2007/08 financial crisis, according to new analysis by Search Acumen, the property data and insight provider. Despite causing an uplift in activity, the current SDLT relaxation has so far triggered a 7% rise […]

The latest Halifax House Price index reflecting April figures is showing house prices were 8.2% higher than in April 2020 with the average house value now £258,204. On a monthly basis, house prices in April were 1.4% higher than in March and in the latest quarter (February to April) house prices were 0.9% higher than in […]

I had an EICR assessment in October, which stated the property required rewiring. Since then there have multiple failed attempts to get this work started and completed. The tenant had Covid-19 multiple times, then her boyfriend has had it, then a boyfriend’s relative bereavement, relative has changed (the boyfriend is not a tenant), then the […]

The Bank of Englands Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted unanimously to maintain Bank Rate at 0.1% and current levels of Quantitative Easing. This was due to the fall in inflationary pressures caused by global economic activity being more adversely affected by the pandemic than predicted. Twelve-month CPI inflation rose from 0.4% in February to […]

In this month’s UK Property Prices and Housing Market Report, I explain why I believe the current house price boom is set to continue. In this video I share: The eight reasons why house prices are booming – Why The house price boom will continue – When the boom will end What you need to […]

Data analysis by Address intelligence is showing the average return on investment for renting out a property in the UK is 5%, but this varies drastically when broken down city by city. Investing in a rental property in Sunderland can earn an investor 7.27% back in rental payments in year one. The average monthly rent […]

People in England and Wales struggling to pay debts or rent could be eligible to use the Breathing Space scheme, and Government expects around 700,000 people to benefit in the first year of the scheme. Creditors (landlords) are not allowed to contact tenants directly to request payment of the debt or take enforcement action to […]

We are a small group of leaseholders who are also shareholders in the management company that owns the freehold to our flats. I recently took over from the chap who ran the management company as he sold his flat and nobody else wanted to do it. We now have to do some urgent repairs that […]

This is a tricky one – we are a newish development (old offices) of 3 new floors and one existing (residential) on the 4th floor. The 4th floor lease has a clause that excludes them from 1st works to the roof as it was to be provided in good order. Clearly the issue is that […]

Does an EU citizen who arrived in this country six months ago have the right to rent a property without having settled or pre settled status? Advice from our agent who, of course, has an interest in placing this tenant, appears to conflict with what we are reading on Gov.UK web sites. Our understanding is […]

The tenant has moved out and Rent in Advance pays everything up to date, so there are no arrears and everything is squared up. As she left after the Benefit Assessment Period, it will mean I will get her Universal Credit rent paid to me for the last month, but the RIA has already paid […]

So you are buying a buy to let property, but what mortgage should you get? An interest only mortgage or a Repayment mortgage? In today’s video, I’ll explain the difference between an interest only mortgage and a repayment mortgage and which one best suits your needs. SPOILER: The answer IS dependent on your property investment […]

If a tenant moves on should I get a new EICR? I presume if you don’t then the landlord becomes legally responsible for any change that may have occurred during the previous tenancy? I know it’s not normal for tenants to change the wiring, but they do change light fittings and adjust wiring sometimes without […]

Rushed changes made to evictions legislation have meant from today (May 4th) Section 8, and it has been advised all eviction procedures, must include details of the government’s ‘Breathing Space’ scheme or face the risk of the eviction being rejected. This is a debt respite scheme full details of which can be found if you […]

The Nationwide House price index is showing annual price growth increased to 7.1% in April, up from 5.7% in March with a new record high average house price of £238,831, up £15,916 over the last year. Prices jumped 2.1% month-on-month which is the largest monthly rise since February 2004 and annual growth will reach double […]

It has been one hell of a year for Landlords!  A year full of change – which landlords have had to keep up with or face penalties. Not only have there been the changes which we expected – such the new electricity regulations, but an avalanche of other new rules to deal with the pandemic. […]

I have a 70s purpose-built flat which passed it’s EICR 6 months ago. Back then I didn’t have enough funds to get a new consumer unit so was relieved that EICR passed without me having to upgrade, and I was told everything looks safe. Now I’m thinking of getting it replaced (it’s still working fine), […]

The Land Registry recently sent me emails saying there has been activity by a bank on three of my rental properties. They are unable to provide any details except to say “the applications for all 3 properties have now been completed.” They also advised me to download a copy of the register at a cost […]

I had a telephone call from Mortgage Express last night, but I was not able to take it as I was going out to an appointment. They said they were calling back today around lunchtime. Have any other members had such a call out of the blue? What information were they seeking from you? What […]