Moneyfacts reacts to Bank Base Rate increase to 0.5%

4th February 2022

Moneyfacts.co.uk has analysed the average rates offered across savings and mortgages and considers what this decision may mean for consumers moving forward. Rachel Springall, Finance Expert said: “Mortgage rates are on the rise, and this base rate rise may come as disappointing news to borrowers who are not locked into a competitive rate. Lenders are […]

Landlords are their reducing leverage requirements

4th February 2022

“Since the end of lockdown, we’ve seen an increasing population of landlords who do not wish to leverage their properties as much as they may have done previously. As a responsible lender, we have launched some 50% and 60% LTV products to cater for this market and reward this prudent approach. “In addition, we made […]

Bank of England emblem symbolising decision to hold the Base Rate at 5%

Bank of England increases Base Rate to 05%

3rd February 2022

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted by a majority of 5-4 to increase Bank Base Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 0.5%. The members of the committee that voted against actually wanted to increase the rate by 0.5 to 0.75%, so the Doves actually prevailed despite the increase. The MPC also […]

Property Partnership 2% Stamp surcharge as Overseas buyer?

2nd February 2022

Hello all, To explain my situation, I am a UK citizen, but currently living in Hong Kong. I already have a number of properties in my own name (bought before I left the UK) and am now looking to establish a company with my cousin, who is based in the UK. I have the money […]

Lenders keen to cater for First Time Landlords

2nd February 2022

The choice of buy-to-let deals available to first-time landlords (FTL) has grown at a time when demand is rife for rental properties, according to the most recent research by Moneyfacts.co.uk. As product availability has recovered in the wider buy-to-let (BTL) sector following the impact of the pandemic, so too has the number of products on […]

Existing Decent Homes Standard is not the right vehicle

2nd February 2022

Responding to proposals in the Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ White Paper that private rented homes will be required to meet the Decent Homes Standard, Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association said: “Every tenant should have the right to expect properties to be safe and secure. The existing Decent Homes Standard however is […]

Contract or deposit first?

1st February 2022

For those of you that manage your own properties (without using an agency etc), what is your sequence of events when you have a person(s) interested in taking a room or a property? I ask this because I am having an abnormal amount of people saying that want to take a property and asking for […]

Section 24 question? – BTW Osborne I’m not going to give up and sell!

1st February 2022

I’d welcome readers’ thoughts on an issue I have discovered with S24 that was not immediately apparent (to me at least) and I am wondering if I (and my accountant) have right or wrong. In summary: I thought S24 meant I would benefit from a 20% deduction for loan interest. However, this appears not to […]

Landlord Action launches rebrand

1st February 2022

Today, eviction and housing law specialist, Landlord Action, launches a new visual identity to celebrate the transformation of the business over the years and to support its expansion as it moves to offer a wider range of legal services and expertise to the property sector. The launch includes a brand-new website, which is now live, […]

January house price inflation at 11.2%

1st February 2022

The latest January Nationwide House price index is reporting the strongest start to a year since 2005 with inflation running at 11.2% up from 10.4% in December with January prices up 0.8% month-on-month. The average price of a home in the Uk now stands at £255,556 Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s Chief Economist, said: “Housing demand has remained […]

What is the best Landlord accounting system?

1st February 2022

Hi All, As a Landlord, I have been using Rent Central software for my accounts up until now. However, it has now ceased operating and I need to find an alternative I would like to ask what everyone else is using please and if they find it easy to get on with. If anyone has […]

White piggy bank tipped over with coins spilling out, symbolising rent arrears and financial loss

Top savings deals vanish

31st January 2022

The start of 2022 has seen some of the top rate deals vanish from the saving market, according to the latest analysis by Moneyfacts.co.uk. Indeed, since the start of January, both market-leading deals and several deals that placed in the top 10 have been withdrawn. Since the start of 2022, several easy access accounts, notice […]

The wildfires are out but are disputes on the horizon?

How often should a Fire Risk Assessment be upgraded?

31st January 2022

Hi everyone, I own a property in a Victorian building with four other owners. We had a fire risk assessment carried out in 2013, and I am wondering if there is a legal requirement to have this upgraded or reassessed, assuming the original recommendations were implemented at the time? Many thanks Lusso Editor’s Note: From […]

Tricky lease situation/nightmare?

31st January 2022

Hi, I realise I need professional assistance for this, which I plan to do in the following weeks, but I am wondering if anyone has any advice. – I bought a property with a short lease of 26 years remaining. The property was approx £100,000 with an estimated cost of £70-80,000 to purchase the freehold. […]

Ending ground rents for new, qualifying long residential leasehold properties

31st January 2022

Leasehold reform in motion with the first groundbreaking leaseholder reforms becoming legislation, ending ground rents for new, qualifying long residential leasehold properties. Independent Buying Agents, Haringtons, reflects on the long-requested need to transform leasehold agreements and what impact this will have on the property sector.  Nina Harrison, London specialist at Haringtons comments, “This first stage […]

Happy Tax Day, BUT NOT FOR ALL

31st January 2022

If you are a private (unincorporated) landlord, 31st January 2022 was the last day to pay your tax on your rental profits for the 2020/21 tax year without incurring penalty interest. Were you shocked at your tax bill this year? Below is an example of a private rental business owner who consulted us last Summer. […]

Avoid potential problems as a result of pending carbon monoxide safety legislation

28th January 2022

UKALA has cautioned Landlords and letting agents to act now to avoid potential problems following the announcement that the government intends to pass legislation to extend the requirement to install carbon monoxide alarms in all rental properties in England with fixed combustion appliances. Previously the requirement only applied to solid fuel appliances. Social housing will […]

Let to Buy condition on not being Freeholder?

28th January 2022

We have Let to Buy (LTB) mortgage offers, but they are conditional on the freehold not being held in my name. How can we get past this with minimal tax implications and expense? Time is of the essence as we have a new build we are due to exchange on very, very soon. The freehold […]

London Property Prices In 2022

28th January 2022

What’s in store for London Property Prices in 2022? In this video, I’m going to be sharing with you some of my predictions, and I’m also going to share with you my top tips on where you should be looking to invest to make property investment profitable in London. Please click on the video below: