Page 491 – Property118

CGT on selling a Buy to Let property after divorce

7th February 2020

Hi, I am after a bit of advice. I purchased a Buy to Let property in 1998 for £14550 on a mortgage in my name only. I married in 1999 and we then went on to buy a couple more BTLs. We divorced in 2008 when I had to remortgage this particular flat along with […]

Evicted tenant with no savings but £5k pm consultancy work?

7th February 2020

I have evicted a tenant 9 months ago after getting a CCJ for possession and money. The Court order states about £20,000 owed. She has no car, savings or wealth but is earning over £5K a month from freelance consultancy work. If I take her to court from “Enforcement” is the Judge likely to grant […]

Government scheme to cut cost of First Homes by a third

7th February 2020

Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick, has announced plans cutting the cost of some new homes by a third. The First Homes scheme will see a discount locked into the property to ensure more first-time buyers benefit in years to come. Local people unable to afford a home will be able to buy in their area, rather […]

R.I.P. David Knox – A.K.A. “Appalled Landlord”

7th February 2020

Our dear friend, David Knox – A.K.A. “Appalled Landlord” passed away on 21st January 2020. He was probably best known by Property118 readers for publishing his investigative work and critique of the ‘so called’ housing charity Shelter, the lack morals and underhand practices of which he despised. He published 50 articles on Property118 over a […]

Small Claims Cat and Mouse games?

6th February 2020

To cut a story short… Bad tenant trashes flat and leaves with rent arrears. Legal process begins. Court dates where I attend and she doesn’t – still no resolution. Situation is now that it has been moved to small claims track court with a hearing date of early March. I KNOW she wont turn up […]

Summerhouse, Annex, Studio? Could I rent to a lodger?

6th February 2020

I’ve had plans drawn up for a conversion of my outbuilding into an open plan bedroom/kitchen with separate shower room. The outbuilding replaced a garage under permitted development by the previous owner. It is comparable to a good sized single garage. I’ve had builders etc. round and with all the required changes (to meet building […]

New area for me – Block of flats help?

6th February 2020

I am pretty experienced with property and tend to do all my own building work. I run semi and terrace BTL’s, but I am thinking about buying a large old house converted into 7 flats. This type of thing will be new for myself and so any pointers on what I should be thinking about […]

BBC Two’s three part-series into Universal Credit

6th February 2020

On Tuesday 4th February we saw the first of BBC Two’s three-part series about ‘Universal Credit: Inside the Welfare State’. Universal Credit is the biggest overhaul of the welfare state in a generation. It was designed to simplify the benefits systems and encourage the unemployed into work. However, since its introduction, Universal Credit has been […]

Cornwall searches for Landlords to help stop homelessness

6th February 2020

This week Cornwall Housing Private Lets starts its search for more landlords, with a range of services, to increase the number of safe and secure homes in Cornwall and help prevent anyone from sleeping on the streets. Through partnership working with Cornwall Council, Cornwall Housing has been successfully awarded funding under the Rapid Rehousing Pathway […]

Not getting too old for this!

6th February 2020

The latest research by tenant deposit replacement scheme, Ome, has looked at the cost required to secure a rental property for the growing trend of over 60s opting for the rental market over homeownership and what percentage of monthly income this initial step requires, as well as how it compares to younger generations. With high […]

Buying Freehold of shared garden

5th February 2020

Hi, we own the ground floor flat in a two flat Victorian house. We have a 900+ year lease. The upstairs flat is let out and the property freehold belongs to the landlord. We would like to buy the freehold of the garden or exclusive use by licence or contract if this possibility exists. I […]

Landlords contribute £3.61bn annually into local economies

5th February 2020

Aldermore’s new buy to let research2, surveying 1,000 UK-based landlords, highlights the important contribution landlords make to their local economy with eight in ten (81%) turning to a local tradesperson when their property requires work or renovation. Landlords spent on average £1,443 in the last 12 months on services such as plumbers, builders, letting agents […]

Pockets where rental yields have lifted post tenant fees ban

5th February 2020

The latest research by lettings management platform, Howsy, has looked at which pockets of the buy-to-let market have seen the biggest uplifts in rental yields since the tenant fee ban came into force as part of the Tenant Fees Act 2019 back in June of last year. Howsy looked at the average rental yield by […]

Newbie renting to Universal Credit claimants?

5th February 2020

I have been browsing this site and found it to be very useful with lots of handy information and a great bunch of valued members – so I decided to join as well! I am having a few issues (with the agent & tenant) and I would like to seek some opinions on the issues. […]

Giving personal guarantees for a limited company?

5th February 2020

After buying a number of properties in joint names, my wife and I formed a company in 2019 to continue to build our portfolio. Both mortgage companies that we have used have asked for us to sign personal guarantees and mandated that we receive independent legal advice before we sign the guarantee. I have been […]

Low LTV costs?

5th February 2020

I have two BTL interest only mortgage, which are coming to an end and I need to find another provider. Unfortunately, the LTV has changed considerably as the flats have reduced in value and in order to find another decent mortgage rate I will have to reduce the mortgage amount by £65000 from my savings […]

Right to Rent checks carried out by Agents

4th February 2020

The property agent did the Right to Rent checks on a tenant when they initially issued a 12-month tenancy contract to the tenant. The property is fully managed by the Agent. At this point the tenant’s visa did cover for full first 12-month tenancy contract. However, when property agent renewed the tenancy contract for another […]

Using a property investment LLP for school fees planning purposes

3rd February 2020

Our client was a higher rate tax-payer and also owned four properties in his own name with the benefit of mortgages. Accordingly, he was affected by the restrictions on finance cost relief. His wife is also a higher rate tax-payer, so there was no scope to save tax by forming a partnership and allocating profits […]

Failed EPC Due to assumed no insulation?

3rd February 2020

I am at a loss where to go to rectify my EPC rating. The engineer that came out to assess has rated my flat (converted Mill in 2007) a G3. He has given zero stars for Insulation walls & Ceiling. The stone walls are 2 foot thick which I believe are dry lined but my […]

Tax implications of remortgaged loan used for BTL purchase?

3rd February 2020

15 years ago, I purchased a BTL property for £300k and financed this with £130K re-mortgage against my home and a £170k BTL 20 year interest only mortgage, (my home mortgage is also an interest only). For the past 15 years I have been claiming tax relief on both mortgages, to offset my costs (subject […]