The Government’s plans to extend the evictions ban could leave private landlords without any rent for up to two years. In a letter to the Prime Minister, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has said that the Government is asking landlords to subsidise struggling renters and rewarding those who are wilfully refusing to pay their […]

In a move designed to punish as many landlords as possible with crucifying Rent Repayment Orders of up to 12 months rent, the City of Westminster has launched a “Find out if you can screw your Landlord” tool on their website. They are obviously using this ‘hook’ to get tenants to ‘grass-up’ landlords who have […]

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced proposals to ensure that firms provide tailored support to mortgage borrowers who continue to face payment difficulties due to coronavirus. During the initial phase of the pandemic, payment holidays provided mortgage borrowers with immediate and temporary support. The majority of customers who have had a payment holiday are […]

I am aware of the potential disadvantages of dealing with tenants on benefits, but wondering how to set the rent on this one. Large flat, advertised at £395 for one person. The previous pair of tenants were paying £475. The working tenant will pay first months rent and deposit upfront and I realise it’ll probably […]

Hi all, We have a problem tenant who has alcohol abuse issues, is behind in his rent and really needs help that we cannot offer to him (although I am trying to work with him through the local support structures for both housing need and alcohol abuse). In short, we really need to end the […]

We have a flat where a meter is not possible so assessed meter charges apply. A tenant was in situ when this was applied, but now he has left, what happens when the next tenant comes in? Do I have a duty to inform the water company of the name and details of the new […]

I tried to help a friend out earlier in the year and took out a sole tenancy AST and she was named as a permitted occupier. The friendship quickly soured and I have been trying to get myself out of the situation. I asked her to vacate the property, but rather than discuss it she […]

A letting agent in Finchley, The London Landlord Limited, has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) for failing to pay an outstanding award of over £6,000, they also failed to pay their membership renewal fees. The Property Ombudsman received a complaint from a landlord who let his property under a guaranteed rent contract to […]

The latest research by leading property recruitment specialists, Rayner Personnel, has revealed that despite the stick UK estate agents receive for their high commission fees, they actually rank mid-table when compared to other prominent property selling nations. Rayner Personnel looked at the average agent commission fee across 28 global nations, factoring in VAT and other […]

UNIVERSITY students believe break clauses should be automatically included in tenancy agreements to protect them financially in the event of a second wave of coronavirus, according to a survey conducted by websites Money Magpie and Save The Student. The break clause would lapse the rental contract, meaning students required to return home if their university […]

After my father died and probate was granted in Jan 2018. I received ‘zero rated’ tax bills for my late father’s shop and premises as a result of transitional relief Etc and only a Single token bill of £300 was issued in May 2020 for part the part-year after probate was granted. A total of […]

I own several BTL properties, and sadly it looks as if the near future holds separation and eventual divorce. This will involve the sale of the BTL properties, and therefore a liability to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) upon realising the gain made on the properties. One option under consideration is for me to go and […]

We let as standard no pets, but I received a request from the Council to house an older lady with a Jack Russell pet Is there anything I can do to protect myself from potential damage and extra cleaning required etc? I know can’t take more than 5 weeks deposit so now what? What could […]

We took a Business Bounce Back Loan (BBL) for legitimate COVID-19 related reasons and would benefit greatly from a CBILS which is now made available for bridging and asset finance to re-finance the BBL + bridging loan which we had to utilise to re-finance an investor when our mortgage offer was withdrawn due to covid/lockdown. […]

With the latest tightening of the noose around landlords necks, will the DWP now GUARANTEE that where direct rent payments are being paid to the landlord, these will continue? I am talking direct payments which have been requested from the start of the tenancy agreement due to the tenant being a ‘high risk’ category as […]

My tenants have been evicted and are refusing to pay outstanding expenses, neither of them work, but they provided a guarantor who can pay the outstanding expenses. The guarantor owns his own business with 2 outlets and appears on the company website. Both the ex-tenants and the guarantor are not responding to any communication. I […]

It’s official. We are in a recession here in the UK and it’s the deepest of any major economy, but why does everything feel so good? Folks are on furlough by day, but by night are happy to pack out bars and restaurants for their state-funded chicken and chips. There have been bounce back loans, […]

The general good practice of ‘always get referenced tenants’ is going to get harder given there will be many renters on the market now who will fail standard referencing, does anyone have any suggestions of how to spot reliable tenants? Mind you I have always taken referencing with a pinch of salt, as over the […]

As a landlord who has always rented to employed people, the prospect now is that I will have tenants who either become unemployed mid tenancy or who are unemployed already as they apply to a new tenancy. What are the actual pitfalls and watch points? I know many landlords avoid tenants claiming benefits as a […]

Hi, I have given a room on rent to a family in my house. They are using a kitchen, bathroom and living space with us. Now they are not paying any rent for the last four months. The normal notice period is one month as per the rental agreement, however, I have served S21 notice […]

The Government has announced a further four-week extension to the ban on evictions until 20th September 2020. In addition, renters will be offered further protection by an increase of notice periods from three months to six months. This is absolutely devastating news for those landlords who already had possession cases ongoing prior to the pandemic. […]