New plans supported by over £150 million in new government funding will make it easier and more affordable for people to build their own homes, the Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced today. The ‘Help to Build’ scheme will ensure that self and custom home building can become a realistic option to get onto the […]

I’m about to start a battle with Rosinca Mortgages. Today I woke up and opened a letter from Rosinca, and  I am incandescent because they’re threatening to repossess me. My calm response to my distressed daughter was “Sweetie – let them bring it on”. Why should we innocent customers suffer? As far as I am […]

A theoretical question for a hypothetical tenant living in an HMO. Let’s assume the tenancy agreement was for one year, commencing on 1st January 2021 and ending on 31st December 2021. The landlord’s HMO licence is a five-year licence and expires on 1st July 2021 (midway through the tenancy). I understand this would be an […]

Mark Alexander’s latest video interview on Ranjan Bhattararya’s “Succeed IN Property” YouTube channel has just been released and you can watch it right here. If you’ve watched one of their previous video’s, chances are that you will have watched them all. They really are quite addictive, probably because the content is so incredibly insightful, well […]

A quarter of young people making Buy Now Pay Later repayments haven’t been able to pay for food, rent or bills as a result, Citizens Advice has found. New research from Citizens Advice shows 45% of 18 to 34 year olds in the UK have used Buy Now Pay Later in the last 12 months. […]

New Permitted Development Rights will take effect from the 1st of August 2021. Class MA New Permitted Development Rights offer Commercial Property Investors new opportunities to profit from the commercial to residential strategy. We’re talking Class MA, an absolute game changer!  Savvy property investors in the know will be able to profit massively. In this […]

Is it illegal to deduct mortgage interest on someone else’s mortgage, or have I been badly advised? An experienced and mature tax adviser suggested that my unmarried partner should gift me 1% ownership of her HMO into a bare trust, in order that I may legitimately deduct all the interest on the HMO’s mortgage with […]

I already have a rental property in the UK let to one tenant. I am now considering buying a property in the town where my son will be studying in Scotland so that he can live with a couple of his friends. I know that buying and renting out a property for multiple occupation in […]

I own two flats in a small block of four flats. There is a Managing Agent for the Freeholder. They don’t do anything, there is no cleaning of the communal areas, no window cleaning, no gardens to maintain etc. However, last year they suddenly started to charge ‘Service Charges’ of over £500 per flat. We […]

Research from property management specialists, Keller Williams UK, has found that the majority of leasehold homeowners consider service charges unfair, with a lack of transparency around how they are spent also a prominent issue. Along with ground rents, service charges will be paid by some leaseholders to cover the cost of maintaining the building in […]

The temporary adjustments to the right to rent check introduced on 30 March 2020, due to COVID-19, are ending. From 17 May 2021, you must check the prescribed documents as set out in the right to rent code of practice and the landlord’s guide, published on GOV.UK Click here This means that when carrying out […]

The good landlord quiz, designed by Hamilton Fraser Total Landlord Insurance and answered by more than 3,000 landlords, has found that, despite common misconceptions, most landlords are doing everything they should and more to be a good landlord. This includes being flexible with rents, proactive at maintenance and responding to tenants within 24 hours. It […]

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has appointed two experts to lead an independent review of the system for testing construction products. Former government adviser and construction expert Paul Morrell OBE will be the chair of the independent panel, along with legal expert Anneliese Day QC. The review, announced earlier this year, will examine how to strengthen […]

Rent guarantees and upfront cash payments from local authorities are most effective in opening up the private rented sector for people receiving benefits according to major new research from the Centre for Homelessness Impact, the Behavioural Insights Team and the National Residential Landlords Association. The study found these approaches had the greatest positive impact on landlords’ openness to renting to people […]

Shelter is urging the government to bring forward the Renters’ Reform Bill based on two survey samples of only 553 or 551 private renters, both possibly skewed by how the data is collected Shelter go on to extrapolate in their press release: New figures by YouGov released today show 39% of private renters, equivalent to […]

I am looking to sell a rental property which I updated and improved some years ago. I am wondering what items (if I do further refurbishment prior to sale) can be included as a capital expense against capital gains tax as opposed to maintenance, repairs and refurbishments on rental income. Unfortunately, I cannot find an […]

Moneyfacts UK Savings Trends Treasury Report data, not yet published, reveals that the number of deals available to savers has contracted to a record low, at a time when savers would hope to see a boom during ISA season. Average rates rest at record lows, as fixed offerings dipped lower, however some variable rates remained […]

A new government-backed mortgage scheme to help people with only 5% deposits get on to the housing ladder is available to lenders from 19 April 2021. First announced at the Budget, the scheme will help first time buyers or current homeowners secure a mortgage with just a 5% deposit to buy a house of up […]

I moved back to the UK 7 years ago from Cyprus. I have dual citizenship for both countries. I bought a flat in Cyprus in 2003 where I lived until 2013 when I moved to the UK and moved into my partner’s house until today 2021. I sold my flat in Cyprus in 2019 and […]

Tuesday 20th April Join Simon Zutshi, founder of property investors network and Author of Amazon No 1 property best seller “Property Magic”, on this 90-minute live training all about how you can increase your cash flow. If you don’t have any HMOs yet you must attend this free training. If you do already have HMOs […]

Hi Everyone, I am an HMO landlord for many years in Leicester. The local Authority who does a very good job and is very helpful in my opinion has increased the HMO fees for a licence from £650 in 2016 to £900 currently. This seems a very large increase, therefore, seeking advice. If I refuse […]