Good morning. I own a flat that is situated above a cinema, arts workshops, meeting rooms and bistro. The cinema have applied to extend by Building on the council owned car park. The council I understand we’re are the ultimate landlords and were involved and built the cinema and flats ? ( not sure where […]

I have a problem with my freeholder, a large national company. I live in Cyprus so am not on the spot so to speak. The leaseholder in the flat below mine in the UK which I rent out, contacted my agent to say the roof had been damaged in the recent storms and the agent […]

The tenant has caused damage to my property during an emergency. I have just had a call from my management agent regarding a block of apartments they manage for us, which are currently let out to students on an AST. Apparently one of the tenants got locked in the bathroom last night and was in […]

The RLA has welcomed the Government’s rejection of an application by Brent Council to extend its licensing scheme for privately rented housing. This follows a similar ruling last month when an application by Liverpool City Council to renew its citywide landlord licensing scheme was rejected. The Residential Landlords Association argues that such licensing schemes are […]

I want to sell a property which has a difficult tenant. I would like to know what happens if he does not let potential viewers access to the property? Are there any documents can I get the tenant to sign which could/will make the tenant cooperate in allowing agents access to the property for viewings […]

I am just about to have the five year DEIC Report done on a block containing 4 one bed flats. We use the same electrician we have used for years, but even he is confused about the plastic board replacement to a metal one. Does he HAVE to replace the plastic boards if he feels […]

I have been a part time BTL landlord for many years managing my portfolio of 10 plus residential properties myself, all of which are mortgaged . With the advent of the zero tax relief policy I decided to go Ltd Company route. I placed 7 of my properties into the limit company leaving 3 in […]

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 […]