Page 472 – Property118

Ambiguous CMA guidance over student lets

28th May 2020

The Government’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has told Landlordzone that its recent pandemic emergency guidance could cover students lets where public health instructions under lockdown have precluded the use of rental property. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, consumer contracts, cancellation and refunds guidance issued by the CMA on April 30th (click here) states: Where a […]

Does dog clause stack up legally?

28th May 2020

I have new tenants who indicated they may want to keep a dog at the property for which we would make an additional charge in the form of a higher monthly rent. The tenants decided not to go with it at the start of the tenancy, so we added a clause in the AST stating […]

£100,000 Coronavirus emergency donation by Paragon

27th May 2020

The Buy to Let specialist Paragon Bank has split a £100,000 between the NHS, Solihull Change into Action, Age UK and the company’s 2020 charity, Macmillan. Nigel Terrington, Paragon Banking Group Chief Executive, said: “Coronavirus is impacting on all of our lives and we hope this donation will help make a difference to some of […]

£18.49bn of Bounce Back Loans agreed

27th May 2020

HM Tearsury publish management information each Tuesday for each of the three Covid-19 emergency loan schemes schemes (CBILS, CLBILS, BBLS), including: The total number of applications, number of approved applications and the value of loans approved. The applications figure includes approved applications, those applications that are still to be processed, applications that have been declined […]

£1bn fund to remove dangerous cladding to support private leaseholders

27th May 2020

Building owners have been urged to act and put the safety of residents first as the government’s £1 billion Building Safety Fund to remove dangerous cladding was launched by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick. It comes as the government published the prospectus for the fund which will meet the cost for remediation of unsafe non-ACM cladding […]

Rent Repayment Order Offer accepted Pre-Coronavirus?

27th May 2020

Our previous tenants from 2018 submitted a Rent Repayment Order claim for non licence HMO. Initial Rent Repayment Order Letter correspondence from previous tenants solicitor was received February 2020. We then made a financial offer Pre Coronavirus Pandemic, our offer was submitted to the tenants via there solicitor beginning March 2020. In the offer letter […]

Contract only signed by 1 tenant – is it legally binding?

27th May 2020

My tenancy agreement with my current tenants was set up as a 1 year tenancy, then moving to periodic, starting 1 Sep 2019. One of the tenants (secondary tenant) has stated she wishes to move out at the end of June, 2 months earlier than the tenancy agreement end date. Having looked back at the […]

EWS1 requirements mean many flats will become un-mortgageable?

27th May 2020

I have had an offer accepted on a modern (2009) flat, which I was planning to add to my rental portfolio. It’s on the middle floor of a small 3 storey block. However, I’ve now been told that the valuer cannot recommend that the mortgage company lend on the flat because of new certification requirements […]

Tonight’s Baker Street LiveStream: How To Finance Property Deals After Lockdown

27th May 2020

The Baker Street Property Meet Livestream Networking Event is tonight, Wed 27th May at 7pm. Join 1000+ property investors in the UK’s largest online property networking event. Tonight’s theme is ‘How To Finance Property Deals After Lockdown‘ I will host and explore the theme with tonight’s guests: Evan Maindonald, Melt Homes, who will cover the […]

Hemel Landlord Property Network- Meet Mark Alexander Tuesday 26th May

26th May 2020

The network is open to anyone who is interested in Property, whether you are a seasoned investor, new to investing or haven’t yet made that big property leap. We meet monthly to chat about property in a relaxed environment. May 26th 7pm. With additional special guest Mark Smith (Barrister-At-Law) Hon. Legal Counsel for Property118. MEET […]

Savings account loyalty does not pay

26th May 2020

Savers who stay put with their existing savings provider may wish to rethink any sentiment to stay loyal. If savers have an easy access account with a well-known savings provider, they may be earning very little interest on their funds, or even less than the market average. Analysis of live easy access accounts from 15 […]

6000 new supported homes to help end rough sleeping

26th May 2020

Plans to provide 6000 long-term, safe homes for vulnerable rough sleepers to be taken off the streets during the pandemic have been unveiled by Housing Secretary Robert  Jenrick MP. This commitment will be backed by £160 million this year and will support many of the thousands of rough sleepers currently housed in emergency accommodation to move on to more sustainable, long-term housing. By accelerating plans for the £381 […]

Head lessee breach of covenants?

26th May 2020

Can I ask what the remedies are when the Head Lessee in a block of flats breach the lease covenants? The head lessee is also in charge of managing the block (RTM is not possible due to the 25% rule in a mixed use block, i.e. commercial on the ground floor and residential above). I […]

NAPIT electrical testing exceeds new regulation requirements?

26th May 2020

The new NAPIT Trade Association Guidelines for Landlords on “The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020” exceeds the requirement of these regulations. The 2002 regulations come into force from 1st June and require that ECIR test standards to comply with the 18th Edition Electrical Wiring Regulations Inspection and Test requirements. […]

Electrical Installation Condition Report Query?

26th May 2020

I last had an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) done in July 2018 (17th Edition), with a recommended 5 years before the next inspection. I have a two story HMO licence. I have 5 student tenants on one AST that are due to start their second year with me on 1st July 2020, so its […]

FCA proposal to extend mortgage payment holidays to 31st October

22nd May 2020

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced proposals which will continue support for customers who are struggling to pay their mortgage due to coronavirus. The proposal outlines the options firms will be required to provide customers coming to an end of a payment holiday, as well as those who are yet to request one. For […]

Scotland Coronavirus Bill amendments defeated

22nd May 2020

A second Coronavirus bill was passed by Scottish Government 20 May 2020 and thanks to lobbying by Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) proposed amendments to enact a two-year private sector rent freeze; place a two-year ban on tenant evictions for rent arrears.and extinguish rent arrears in cases of extreme hardship as a result of Coronavirus […]

Scotland to reopen housing market in phased plan

22nd May 2020

The Scottish government have released their phased plan for reopening of the economy and have included construction and the housing market: ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): framework for decision making – Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis’ >> Click here  Phase 1: following the 28 May end-of-cycle review of the COVID-19 regulations, if the evidence […]

Person surrounded by question marks symbolizing confusion over rent-to-rent issues

Tenant may refuse to move due to Covid-19?

22nd May 2020

We have three very nice tenants (three individuals) in one of our rental properties who have stayed in the property for years. We are currently selling this property and have found a buyer. The deal is fairly close to the position of exchanging the contracts and we have offered the tenants to move into another […]

NRLA call for benefits to cover rents

22nd May 2020

The NRLA are supporting calls by MPs on Parliament’s Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee to boost the financial support available to tenants during the COVID-19 outbreak. Responding to the Committee’s calls for the Local Housing Allowance to be set at a rate that reflects real market rents, Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the […]