The latest Rental Demand Index for Quarter 3 from Howsy, has revealed that demand for rental homes across the UK’s major cities has increased +13% since Q2. Howsy’s index looks at rental listings across all of the major property portals, taking an average demand score for the nation’s major cities based on where has the […]

Citizens Advice has issued the following advice if you are a student in privately rented accommodation who wants to move out and end your tenancy. What are your rights? Generally, you are liable for any rent due until the end of your fixed term (and any guarantor may be pursued if you don’t pay). Some […]

We recently had an EICR, which highlighted some C2 failures. It was difficult to arrange the EICR, and now proving even more difficult to agree on access with the tenant for the remedial work. Being fairly minor in nature, these are not major issues that will take a long time or cause great disruption. Meanwhile, […]

We are in the process of negotiating a lease surrender with a retail tenant. They wish to split the value between a Reverse Lease Premium and Dilapidations. Is anybody able to suggest what the tax implications could be for us as Landlords if we were to opt for the value to be attributable as a […]

Dear All, I have a HMO and I have complied with all regulations including Smoke Alarms, Fire Doors, Fire Extinguishers etc and I have completed Fire Risk Assessment. Based on Fire Risk assessment all minor actions have been dealt with. Accordingly, I have EICR, Gas Safety, Floor Plans, EPC in place. In total, I have […]

The latest summary of market health from Benham and Reeves, has revealed that the market stood firm in Q2 despite the broader turbulence of lockdown. Data from the top four house prices indices to give an overall view of market health based on buyer and seller expectations via mortgage and asking price data, as well […]

Anyone in this group belong to a landlord association? Question for NRLA why are they not more vocal in the lack of furlough support by the government for landlords. Landlords get no support whatsoever! No support at a time we cannot evict and have to pay more tax it’s so unjust. Why aren’t they shouting […]

I have a 2-bed flat where the rent is £640 pcm. The tenant is part working and on UC. As she can pay 5 weeks deposit herself and RIA, the Local Authority have said they can’t help her further. I am just waiting for her to allow me to talk to DWP direct about her […]

Regarding the law passed by Sep 2020 – The Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development and Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 (S.I., 2020, No. 632) Without planning permission, the freeholder can add two stories onto existing blocks of three stories or more. What are our options to fight this absurd gift to freeholders? For […]

Rishi Sunak has outlined additional government support to businesses and workers impacted by coronavirus with a package of measures that will continue to protect jobs and help businesses through the uncertain months ahead as the spread of the virus is tackled. The package includes a new Jobs Support Scheme to protect millions of returning workers, […]

Responding to the Chancellor’s Winter Economy Plan, Chris Norris, Policy Director for the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “We welcome the Government’s measures to subsidise wages. We warned that the end of the furlough scheme ran the risk of many households facing further difficulties in paying their rents. Today’s announcement is an important first step […]

A self-made North East property entrepreneur has launched a new consultancy and podcast in a bid to help other would-be developers on the road to a property career. In estate agent Tony Fairs’ podcast Property Talk on the Tyne, he will share his own tips from inside the industry, plus cautionary tales from new developers […]

The latest research from Howsy, has revealed that since lockdown (March), average rent levels have dropped in seven out of 10 areas of England and Wales. Howsy looked at the average rent paid between the start of the year and lockdown and found that on average, the cost of renting had climbed 2% with just […]

Hi all, I’m considering selling my main residence and moving into a rental property I own. Given I will be selling my main residence, if I buy another within 3 years, will I be able to claim the stamp duty refund? Or will it not apply because I’ll be moving into the rental property I […]

I would prefer to long term lease my properties to a local HA/Charity to give those really in proper need some stability. I realise there will be a lot more homeless to come, especially those who have never been in this situation before with furlough about to end etc… But… I can’t find any HA/Charity […]

In discussion with a planner, I was notified that the latest local plan had been recently approved. The plan includes a charge of £50k for every new dwelling approved by the London Borough of Hackney. This is in addition to the Community Infrastructure Levy and a section 106 agreement. The Consultation period was early 2016 […]

In a Hm Treasury press release Rishi Sunak is taking credit for house sales rising 15.6% in August following the introduction of the stamp duty holiday. However, Rishi does not point out that HMRC annual sales figures are down 23.9% and a great deal of the August increase can be account for by pent-up demand […]

Renters affected by coronavirus will continue to be protected after the government extended the ban on evictions for another 4 weeks, meaning in total no legal evictions will have taken place for 6 months, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced on 21 August 2020. The government also intends to give tenants greater protection from eviction […]

Finally, the courts officially reopened, after six months of suspension. Some cases on possession matters will be prioritised including: Anti-Social Behaviour, Domestic Violence and Rent Arrears totalling over a year. We suspect there are about 55-60k possession cases in the court system now, with 30k of them being Social Tenancies. We have now received this […]

Benham and Reeves, has revealed the best boroughs for student rental demand, despite predictions of a rental market decline due to a lower level of students heading to the capital. London’s higher education providers accommodate 16% of the UK’s university students each year, and as many as 32% of the capital’s students come from overseas. […]

I am thinking of purchasing a property currently used as offices and converting them into residential. Property bought in 1998 and owner uses this as offices as he always has done. Previous to this the current owner believes it was a shop with residential accommodation above, but VOA only goes as far back as 2010 […]