At the beginning of May we responded to a Call for Evidence to an Inquiry by MHCLG. Our ‘evidence’ and criticism of the governments treatment of the PRS in general and more specifically during the Suspension of Possession proceedings was brutal. The First interim report by MHCLG ‘Protecting rough sleepers and renters’ was published on  […]

Do I have to issue a completely new Tenancy Agreement (TA) if the only thing that is changing is adding a tenant’s partner to the contract? The initial TA was set up and agreed – a single mum and two kids. I knew the father of the kids visited on and off, but when I […]

Moneyfacts UK Mortgage Trends Treasury Report data, not yet published, reveals that there are glimmers of hope emerging for the Buy to Lat mortgage market, following the significant initial impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. In welcome news to many landlords, the choice in products has increased, and some higher loan-to-value (LTV) average rates have reduced. […]

I would like to ask whether a signed and witnessed completed Deeds of Grant of Estate Rent, can be changed at a later date by the Residents Association? I am a freeholder on a mixed tenancy development and as the grantor wish to secure the proper maintenance of the works listed with the deeds. The […]

The tenant fee ban transition period ended on the 1st of June 2020 in England. I have ASTs that started before 1st June 2019 and have transitioned into statutory and contractual periodic tenancies started before 1st June 2019. My question is do I need to refund the extra deposit taken before to meet 5 weeks […]

The government extended the suspension of new evictions in England and Wales until 23 August. The extension announced by the Housing Secretary takes the moratorium on evictions to a total of five months. Ministers are also working with the judiciary, legal representatives and the advice sector on arrangements, including new rules, which will mean that courts […]

The NRLA have expressed disappointment at the decision by Ministers to extend the ban on evictions in rented housing by a further two months. It will be a further impetus to landlords leaving the market as confidence is at an all-time low. Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association said: “This decision […]

With the lockdown caused by Covid-19, we saw the UK property market effectively shut down for a period of two months, with only essential moves taking place. Lenders responded by cutting LTVs, reducing product ranges, or closing the door for new applications altogether. For those in the property market, it was an event reminiscent of […]

There is no eviction crisis looming for private sector tenants, as new independent polling shows almost all have been able to pay their rent as usual during the coronavirus pandemic. In the survey of over 2,000 tenants across England and Wales, 90 per cent said that they had paid their rent as usual since the […]

The latest Halifax House Price index is showing on a monthly basis, house prices in May were 0.2% lower than in April and in the latest quarter (March to May) house prices were 0.5% lower than in the preceding three months (December to February) However, house prices in May were 2.6% higher than in the […]

I own a small rental house miles away from me which is fully managed by an agent. My tenant constantly falls into arrears which until now she has eventually paid off, but she either ignores the agents or makes them promises she does not keep so she has caused a constant fuss. After the virus […]

Really need some help or advice please! A close friend has very recently let her property and is now having to deal with everyone’s worst nightmare, a non paying tenant who is very difficult! Long story short the tenant moved in April 6th after pressuring her with all sorts of stories (having to live in […]

This week, Secretary of State Thérèse Coffey took questions from the Economic Affairs Committee on the economics of Universal Credit.  As part of this she told MPs that she does not want to see a return to the widespread use of direct rent payments to landlords with tenants in receipt of housing benefit, despite praising […]

The average person in the UK spends £826 on a week of sun, sea and sand each year, however, with many travel restrictions still in place, a trip abroad is looking increasingly unlikely in 2020. With an average of 2.4 people living in each household, the silver lining is a potential saving of £1,652 for […]

The Mortgage Works (TMW) yesterday launched a Buy to Let switch option for existing customers coming to the ending of their initial deal product terms. To support their existing customers during the emergency lockdown they are also expanding the whole range of switcher products to offer landlords more options to manage their cashflow through the […]

I am hopefully going to buck the trend by asking for advice prior to purchase. I usually see lots of comments about people who have already purchased and why they shouldn’t have done it like, that but like this! Anyway, I am thinking of buying a flat for around £70K. I already have 2 other […]

I signed a 5 year rent to Rent lease for a large property consisting of several flats. I decided to terminate the rent to Rent agreement and gave one years notice, even though the contract was silent on termination, to expire on the contract end date. The sub-landlord failed to serve notice on time for […]

I sold a property in January which I’ve rented out for nearly 30 years, consequently there is a sizeable Capital Gains Tax bill to pay. I was due to complete on another property in March which would have resulted in a significant loss which I would have used to offset against the other property. Due […]

The Bank of England have released their money and credit statistics for April: Click here. Unsurprisingly, weakness in the housing market caused by the pandemic emergency resulted in a tumble in April’s mortgage market activity figures. The number of mortgage approvals for house purchases fell 80% below the February level  to 15,800 ( see chart […]

My wife and I were selling a Furnished Holiday Let with a completion date of 3rd April 2020, in order to take advantage of our 2 x CGT allowance of £12,000 (tax year 2019 – 2020) and not have to pay the CGT until 31st January 2021. However, due to the Government imposed ruling, we […]

I have 2 tenants in my property who each rent a room each and share a communal space. Since living together, they have argued non-stop over really petty things and were contacting me daily to complain about each other. Finally, it escalated in January and in February one of them went to stay with her […]