Page 474 – Property118

2nd BTL 2 bed Vs 3 bed?

2nd July 2020

Hi all! Just hoping for a little advice or even a ‘what you would do not his situation’ approach. I’m a relatively new landlord and getting my second property, so I have zero experience with decisions like this. Property is in Leeds city centre. Was about to jump in on a 2 bed (new build) […]

Are two rent increases within a year possible?

2nd July 2020

I increased a rent of a few of my flats in March (pre covid nightmare!) but still to UNDER the LHA rate. Since then the LHA rate has been raised significantly, so can I raise the rent again still under the capped rate? I questioned this with RLA precisely due to the fact this is […]

Is this a Cunning Plan?

2nd July 2020

I own a leasehold flat on a long lease. I have rented to the same tenant for 17 years. She wants to either let two bedrooms or grant licenses to two individuals to occupy those bedrooms. She resides in the third bedroom. She manages the property. If the flat would otherwise be an HMO is […]

Eviction ban to end 24th August

1st July 2020

A Government Minister confirmed that the eviction ban will end and courts will begin to hear possession cases from 24th August to the relief of many landlords in the PRS. Responding to a series of parliamentary questions, Lord Greenhalgh, a Minister at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has said that from the […]

Why are developers failing to raise private investors funds?

1st July 2020

6 things you need to know if you are serious about raising finance from private investors. Lets start with “What do private investors want to know?” Whether you are looking to kick start your property journey or scale your property business, raising money from private investors will help you reach that next stage. The challenge […]

Use property to pay for private school fees?

1st July 2020

Hello, Consider the following scenario: Person A has £100k to pay towards school fees over the next 5 years. Fees are 20k per year (6,700 x 3 terms). On the basis that Person A has the lump sum up front is there a model, using residential BTL property to fund the fees or at least […]

GOV.UK crown logo representing UK government consultation on EPC reforms

Electrical Safety Standards from 1/7/20 new tenancies and 1/04/21 existing

1st July 2020

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require that landlords have property electrics checked at least every 5 years by a properly qualified person. The electrics must meet standards and landlords must give their tenants proof of this. click here to view Local authorities may impose a financial penalty of […]

Are we overlooking anything?

1st July 2020

Hi, we are the flying freeholders of a flat ( with 3 leased garages below) all with 59 years remaining on lease. One of the garage tenants wishes to sell their house which includes this leased garage. Their solicitor enquired if we would be willing to extend the term of the Lease. Currently we receive […]

Nationwide House Price Index grinds to a halt

1st July 2020

The Nationwide House Price index for June has been released and is showing annual house price growth has ground to a halt as the impact of the pandemic filters through with prices down 0.1%. This is the first negative annual growth since 2012 and prices also fell 1.4% month-on-month, after taking account of seasonal factors. […]

Generation Rent is wrong

1st July 2020

Generation Rent is wrong to argue that homelessness will treble due to rent arrears built as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis it has produced today wrongly assumes that landlords are doing nothing to support tenants to stay in their homes where rent arrears are building. Independent polling for the National Residential Landlords […]

Red question mark standing out among a pile of grey question marks, symbolizing clarity of purpose.

Breach of Tenancy Agreement or a months rent?

1st July 2020

Tenant’s Benefit Assessment Period (BAP) is 12 – 11th of the month, paid on the 18th. As I have issued a S21, she has ‘retaliated’ with emailing me her own ‘Notice to Quit’: “I Give you notice that I intend to quit and deliver possession of the premises at XXX On the 17th July 2020 […]

Most radical reforms to planning system since the Second World War

30th June 2020

Build Build Build: Boris Johnson says he will make the most radical reforms to the planning system since the Second World War, making it easier to build where people want to live. New regulations will give greater freedom for buildings and land in our town centres to change use without planning permission and create new […]

ARLA write to Secretary of State for Justice over possessions backlog

30th June 2020

ARLA Propertymark have written to Robert Buckland QC Secretary of State for Justice voicing concerns over how the massive possessions backlog will be handled when/if the eviction ban is lifted on the 23/08/2020 and is calling for government to urgently develop a “robust and co-ordinated strategy to ensure no one is denied or delayed the right […]

Savings rates worst in a decade

30th June 2020

The velocity of savings rate cuts on variable rate deals during the first six months of 2020 is officially the worst in over a decade for savers. Due to these relentless rate cuts, savers are being urged to act and switch if they are getting a poor return on their hard-earned cash. Indeed, the latest […]

Expensive insurance due to sensitive 3rd party information?

30th June 2020

My freeholder is responsible for building insurance for a flat that I own in a building with 8 flats. The insurance premium is 3 times (£450) what I pay for a similar flat about 200 yards away (£175). When I challenged this, the freeholder refuses to disclose any other quotes obtained due to “sensitive 3rd […]

Neighbour might object to Airbnb?

29th June 2020

I own two little cottages at the end of a terrace accessed by a shared doorway to road (historically an open alley). Normal for Cornwall! The neighbour holds the freehold of the two dwellings roadside (but only owns one flat) so we have shared responsibility for the front door and shared hallway.  My end of […]

Veterans to be prioritised for social housing

29th June 2020

New government measures to ensure access to social housing is improved for members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families have been announced this Armed Forces Day (27 June 2020) by Housing Minister Christopher Pincher. The government has today set out how councils should ensure members of the Armed Forces and veterans who need […]

Urgent tenancy help required please?

29th June 2020

Hi I moved into temp accommodation in Nov 2019 (self catering holiday home) as waiting to purchase a house. House purchase fell through and had to look for new place (due to move mid July). The owner of the holiday home changed the use of the property to a normal tenancy from the 1st April […]

The Truth About Lease Options

29th June 2020

Video explaining the Truth About Lease Options: I am joined by Simon Zutshi and together we explain how lease options are such a valuable tool in today’s market and how to make them work when investing in UK property. Please click below: A very powerful video for all looking to invest in UK property. 

Meet Mark Smith (Barrister-At-Law) at the Virtual Property Exhibition

26th June 2020

I would like to invite you to join me, live online on Wednesday 1st July, as part of a virtual property exhibition, which has been organised by the property investors network (pin) and Your Property Network (YPN) magazine. This is going to be a full day of online presentations, from 9.15am to 5.30pm, with various […]

Lobby MPs on consequence of 5 month ban on repossessions

26th June 2020

Landlords are being rallied to lobby their Members of Parliament to highlight the consequence of the five month ban on repossessions, due to end on 23 August. The National Residential Landlords Association and Landlord Action are joining forces to encourage landlords affected to tell their MPs about the impact it is having and the need […]