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Tenants to be protected by government through Christmas and winter

11th September 2020

Renters affected by coronavirus will continue to be supported over autumn and winter through comprehensive measures confirmed by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick. The government has changed the law to increase notice periods to 6 months meaning renters now served notice can stay in their homes over winter, with time to find alternative support or accommodation. The only exceptions […]

YouGov polling indicates 22% of landlords have lost rental income during pandemic

11th September 2020

22% of private landlords with properties in England surveyed have lost rental income as a result of COVID-19 according to new polling. The research, conducted online by YouGov for the National Residential Landlords Association, found that whilst 19% of those questioned had lost up to half of their usual rental income as a result of […]

Meet Mark Smith (Barrister-At-Law) Landlord tax planning strategies – Oxford PIN

11th September 2020

Our Hon. Legal Counsel, Mark Smith, Head of Chambers at Cotswold Barristers will be presenting an overview of several landlords tax strategies at the pin Oxford property networking event Tuesday 15th September The events will be held Online and Attendees can expect first-class speakers and great networking opportunities. For any Property118 readers looking to attend […]

Wolves top the house price Premier League

11th September 2020

It may seem like it just ended, but the Premier League returns this weekend. While there’s a long road ahead before the champions are crowned, estate agent comparison site, GetAgent.co.uk, has revealed which teams take the top spot for buoyant house price growth. They pulled house price data surrounding every Premier League stadium to look at […]

Tenant being evicted to enable “massive repairs”?

11th September 2020

A tenant (local to us but not one of ours) has been advised that she has to vacate to enable “massive repairs”. I do not currently have details of what these massive repairs entail, but the suspicion is that they are actually improvements being labelled as repairs by the landlord as a way of attempting […]

He simply wants to keep it because he’s paid for it?

10th September 2020

Hi. We have a tenant who left a fixed-term tenancy agreement 2 months earlier than his end of tenancy agreement and moved into a larger property nearby. He paid all his rent till the end, but would not hand over his keys or give consent for us to access the property to prepare it for […]

Using ‘Material Uncertainty’ declarations in valuations during Pandemic

10th September 2020

The Material Valuation Uncertainty Leaders Forum (UK) forum was set up by RICS to consider the unique events relating to the global COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on valuation, particularly the reporting of material uncertainty.  The forum has a focus on financial reporting and measures for the accurate and consistent reporting of material uncertainty in […]

Shelter help disabled tenant win second ‘No DSS’ case

9th September 2020

Judge Mary Stacey has ruled in favour of Stephen Tyler in County Court that a Birmingham letting agent unlawfully prevented him from viewing a property on the basis that he was in receipt of housing benefit. Stephen Tyler, aged 29 and disabled, was represented by Shelter solicitor, Rose Arnall, who successfully argued that a blanket […]

Extra 3% SDLT exemption/refund on probate properties?

9th September 2020

Hello peers, My question is regarding exemptions to the extra 3% SDLT (Stamp Duty Land Tax) currently payable on investment properties. Is my understanding correct that the SDLT paid on probate properties is eligible for a refund if they’re turned around and sold again within the year? I appreciate your time! DP Editors Notes: HMRC […]

Government prospectus inviting bids for the affordable housing programme launched today

8th September 2020

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has today announced that the prospectus inviting bids for the government’s investment in affordable housing and new measures to make it easier to get a foot on the property ladder are being launched this week. The £12.2 billion overall investment in affordable housing was confirmed at Budget, which also includes £700 […]

Lease Extension and Marriage Value?

8th September 2020

Hi All, I was hoping for a bit of advice from the community RE. Lease Extensions, I’m a landlord with three properties in my portfolio. Can I confirm that Marriage Value is added to the price of a lease extension when the lease falls *below* 80 years? The reason I ask is I approached my […]

Housing Associations/Charities – want my property?

7th September 2020

I am coming to the end of a 4 year contract with a Managing Agent that has a direct link with the Local Authority to provide emergency/temporary accommodation. I want to move to another Housing Association/charity to do the same, but having difficulty finding one! The LA (Birmingham) says it deals with many, but does […]

HF Assist and Landlord Action to host Rent Arrears and Eviction webinar

7th September 2020

Following the further extension to the ban on evictions announced on 21st August, HF Assist, together with Landlord Action, will be hosting a special ‘Rent Arrears and Eviction’ webinar on 9th September from 10am-11am, designed to help landlords, letting agents and property managers navigate the ever-changing rules on evictions. The webinar will be presented by […]

Meet Mark Smith (Barrister-At-Law) Landlord tax planning strategies – PIN

7th September 2020

Our Hon. Legal Counsel, Mark Smith, Head of Chambers at Cotswold Barristers will be presenting an overview of several landlords tax strategies at the pin Glasgow property networking event Tuesday 8th September and the next day at the pin Sheffield event Wednesday 9th September The events will be held Online and Attendees can expect first-class […]

House Prices up 5.2% on August last year

7th September 2020

The Halifax have just released their House Price index report for August with prices 5.2% higher than in the same month last year. However, there remains a great deal of uncertainty for the market in the coming year. On a monthly basis, house prices in August were 1.6% higher than in July and in the […]

Shameless – Enfield council hikes HMO license fees by an eye-watering 58%

7th September 2020

A new private rental licensing regime in a London borough is being described as “a major step forward in improving living standards” but comes with a 58% rise in some fees for Buy to Let investors and professional landlords and shows that, in reality, the main purpose is £8million of revenue generation for the council […]

How to change AST agreement when husband voluntarily moves out?

7th September 2020

Hello everyone. We have a house we’ve been renting out to the same married couple for over 3 years – both their names are on the AST. The lady got in touch with us recently to say they’d sadly split up and her husband had voluntarily moved out shortly afterwards. She wishes to remain in […]

LDC (existing) HMO C4 Application Rejected – What Next?

7th September 2020

I have a small property in Leytonstone which has been let to 4 Sharers since 2007 and Walthamstow brought in a regulation last year to apply for a change in class HMO (C4). On the website, it mentioned that if it can be proven that this was in occupation by 4 sharers before 2014 then […]

EICR reports and Distribution Boards?

7th September 2020

I have had EICR reports prepared for 2 flats and both of them say that the Electrical Distribution Boards need to be moved although they are both accessible with a small step ladder. I have also had other things that need further investigation, like the location of the ‘supply head’, which I have never been […]

Is the DWP fully complicit in ensuring evictions?

7th September 2020

I sent off a complaint to the DWP regarding them paying the rent direct to a (self declared) vulnerable tenant (drink and drugs, mental health issues, depression, severe medical issues, previous homelessness etc), where even before the tenancy began an MPTL was agreed and put into place. Unbeknown to me he cancels the claim. I […]