More rough sleepers are to be helped off the streets and into safe accommodation after an extra £112 million funding for councils, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick. This funding is a 30% increase this year and will be used by local authorities, charities and other organisations to fund up to 6,000 bed spaces and 2,500 support […]

ARLA’s latest PRS report, click here, shows tenant demand reaching a record high in January, with an average of 88 prospective tenants registered per member branch. Annual demand for rental accommodation has increased by 21%, rising from 73 in January 2019. However, landlord supply fell to the lowest level seen in seven months with the number […]

Following a vote in the House of Commons, the government confirmed councils in England will have access to a share of £49.2 billion in 2020 to 2021, an increase of £2.9 billion or 4.4% in real-terms. The settlement will give councils access to a £1.5 billion boost for social care funding and ensures, on average, […]

The Welsh Government wishes to provide greater security for people who rent their homes. This security will be achieved by extending the minimum notice period for issuing a section 173 notice from two months to six months. Currently, the section 173 notice under the 2016 Housing Act operates in the same way as a section […]

I’ve sent the recent article to my account as I have a building in 10 separate units let on ASTs as it reads as though this qualifies for the reduced SDLT – I even called the Inland Revenue who said ‘sounds as though it does’ and sent me the links for this area. It doesn’t […]

We currently have 20 properties, 10 of them in Surrey where we live and remaining 10 in Ashford Kent around 47 miles from our home. As we understand incorporation relief is only available if we incorporate whole of portfolio. We have met 3 of Accountants and 2 of them have agreed that we can split […]

Tenants, including many with children, are finding it harder to access long term homes to rent as Government policy is driving landlords to move into the holiday lettings market, says the leading landlords’ organisation. The warning comes as figures published today show that Airbnb accommodation now accounts for one in every four property listings in […]

Homebuyers who are faced with shoddy building work in their new homes will be protected by a new, independent Ombudsman, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed. The New Homes Ombudsman will step in to help homebuyers with issues from sloppy brick work to faulty wiring and will have statutory powers to award compensation, ban rogue […]

I have just sold a rental property and will be liable for Capital Gains Tax after taking in to account the various tax breaks. I understand the rate payable will be 18% or 28% depending on my other total income. I was wondering if I became a NIL rate taxpayer by investing in Venture Capital […]

DUE TO RECENT EVENTS, THE READING PROPERTY MEET WILL TAKE PLACE ONLINE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE Our Hon. Legal Counsel, Mark Smith, Head of Chambers at Cotswold Barristers will be presenting an overview of several landlords tax strategies for The Reading Property Meet Thursday 26th March 2020. The online webinar will start at 7:00pm. To obtain […]

New regulations raise the prospect of the highest risk rental properties not being covered by a legally binding electrical safety regime for a prolonged period of time. The changes, due to come into force from June this year, will immediately remove the obligation for landlords to carry out electrical safety checks in Houses of Multiple […]

The Nottingham Selective Licensing Fee is £780.00 for 5 years. I paid £460 in October 2018 and was due to pay the final £320.00 in 2021, but after 15 months I sold my property (tenant in huge arrears, UC messed up payments). The total cost per year for the license is £156.00. I am therefore […]

I own and rent out the downstairs of 2 leasehold flats located in Woodford Green, Essex. The owner of each flat insures their part of the building separately as per the conditions of the leases. The water tank servicing the downstairs flat is located in the loft connected to the upstairs flat. It was recently […]

One of my tenants was in rent arrears, then he complained to the council that the house did not have an HMO license. The council inspected the property but everything was fine. In the end I served on the tenant a section 21 notice and he was saying that he will pay the rent. On […]

I have had discussion with my new accountant in relation to Mortgage Product fees which had been incurred both during purchase and remortgage. My understanding is that, Mortgage Product fees forms part of phased Mortgage Interest Relief and should be input in same section on Tax return where you input your total Mortgage Interest costs […]

This week, the final episode of the BBC2’s “Universal Credit: Inside the Welfare State” aired. Amid mounting criticism, DWP opened the door to BBC cameras. Among the various topics on the final episode, the problems associated with advance payments took centre stage. The final episode took place in Bolton, which has unusually high levels of […]

TaxPayers’ Alliance analysis reveals how ministers, officials and ‘Quangocrats’ are wasting taxpayers’ cash funding organisations that lobby the government. From 2017-19, organisations that lobby for changes in public policy received at least £39,584,172. The Report shows Shelter received £15,204,000 between 2017-18 from multiple local authorities, government departments, public bodies and the London Councils Association. This […]

Are there any legal beagles that could help me deal with a deposit dispute? From advice I received a long time ago, I have my limited company give what I thought are lodgers agreement and therefore no need to insure the deposit. As my company is the tenant for the downstairs bar, I was advised […]

The latest research by rental deposit replacement scheme, Ome, has looked at the total sum used as rental deposits and how this compares to the levels of investment pumped into the economy, both at the top line and in various sectors.   Ome’s research shows that last year just over £5.2bn was held in rental […]

Following on from the webinar we held on the 20th November 2019, we have compiled some further questions that were asked by attendees. The webinar was presented by Matt Carter here at The Sheriffs Office and Yezdan Isset from Bolt Burdon solicitors. Is having an EPC mandatory? An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) became mandatory for […]

My live in tenants break clause occurs on the 21st of march 2020, he served 1 month notice 5 days early on the 16th Feb (in writing), stating that he wants to move out on the 16th of March. Although slightly disappointed, we accepted the notice and began our hunt for a new tenant. We […]