Page 497 – Property118

Letting Agent inspection photographs published online?

14th February 2020

We recently had a mid term inspection, usually we like to be present at these inspection. However, this was not possible on this occasion and the letting agent entered using management keys. We have now received the inspection report which describes the property as being in a good, clean and tidy condition and they remarked […]

Goodbye Esther Hello Christopher

14th February 2020

Esther McVey has been sacked from her Housing Minister job and replaced by Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, who becomes the tenth Housing Minister in ten years after Boris Johnson’s Cabinet reshuffle. The Junior Minister role of Housing has become a staging post for rising political stars to get their feet wet or a test […]

What’s causing landlords and tenants to fall out of love?

13th February 2020

The latest data by rental deposit replacement scheme, Ome, has revealed which areas of the UK have seen the biggest uplift in deposit disputes, as well as the areas with the highest number of total disputes raised. Research shows that London is home to the highest proportion of rental disagreements between landlords and tenants when […]

String of data shows government policy failure

13th February 2020

The RLA is claiming claiming that a string of data released today demonstrates the failure of government policy for the private rented sector. The Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors is warning that private sector rents are set to increase by 2% over the next year as a result of the demand for such housing exceeding […]

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

13th February 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 Liverpool Meeting property networking event Thursday 27th February 2020. The event will be held at The Shankly Hotel, Millennium House, 60 Victoria St, Liverpool, L1 6JD The Event hosts are […]

I can do what I want when I want – Wrong!

13th February 2020

I recently read the shocking story about Mr Valentine-Brown who was murdered by his landlady, her partner and two accomplices when they decided they would take the eviction process into their own hands.  Although an extreme case, this story serves to highlight just how quickly problems can escalate when emotions are running high and landlords […]

Welsh government want 12 months protection for tenants

13th February 2020

The Welsh government have introduced a Renting Homes (Amendment) (Wales) Bill that amends the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. The new law would give tenants in Wales a guaranteed minimum of 12 months’ protection against eviction at the start of a new tenancy if they have not breached the terms of their contract. The Bill […]

Parking sign

No parking spaces for redevelopment say Council!

13th February 2020

As painful as the planning process is – the council have approved our plans, but scuppered us with the worse possible restriction if we proceed. How they can come to such a conclusion and feel it is a viable solution. Basically the property is in London (NW10). It is a large Victorian property and we […]

Can beneficial ownership be claimed without the paperwork?

13th February 2020

I have a friend who bought a property 11 years ago, but had to add his mother to the deeds and the mortgage to be able to get the mortgage amount needed. The plan was, or should have been, to hold the property as tenants in common with his mum only owning 1%. However, from […]

Counterclaim to section 8 for unreported mould?

12th February 2020

Help! I have taken a tenant to court (section 8) rent arrears and the court provided the tenant with a solicitor. The tenant is now claiming that the property is not fit for purpose as it has damp mould in various places ( this has never been reported to me). The court case has now […]

Slightly open wooden door with a question mark symbol, representing uncertainty about housing policy.

Tenant refuses to grant access without paying him?

12th February 2020

I am an overseas landlord and have a property that needs minor fixes and gas safety certification. The tenant claims to be a busy person so he can not accompany(open the door) for our contractor to get those done. However, he is willing to charge us £1000 for the time he accompanies(open the door) our […]

Mortgage on ex-LA going at auction?

11th February 2020

I’m looking to buy an ex-local authority flat on the first floor of a 10-storey block in Hackney. The building has several lifts and, in general, is in good condition.  There is no deck access – the corridor where you enter the flat is closed to the elements. But only 16% of the flats in […]

New RICS process to deal with high rise cladding?

11th February 2020

I am at an advanced stage of selling a flat in a building with 6 storeys, but at this late stage my buyer has come forward to tell me their lender will not progress the sale unless my managing agent can produce a certificate confirming the building does not have high risk cladding. This would […]

Milder winters drive a rise in rats

11th February 2020

A national trade body has warned landlords to be on guard as milder winters drive a rise in rats. Cold winters create a ‘natural cull’ of the population, but warmer weather in recent years has seen numbers increase. Now British Pest Control Association (BPCA) has published a new online guide to help businesses prevent problems […]

Online Right to Rent checks coming?

11th February 2020

The Immigration Minister, Kevin Foster MP, responded to a written question by Alex Norris MP (Labour, Nottingham North) asking what plans the Home Office has to update the Right to work checks and Right to rent document checks guidance to allow digital forms of identification to be accepted. Kevin Foster, responded: “When an individual undergoes […]

Government’s First Home scheme could cost British housebuilders £2bn a year

11th February 2020

On the 7th of February 2020, the Government announced plans to cut the cost of a proportion of new build homes by 30% for first-time buyers in order to ‘turn the dial on affordability’. However, the latest research by new home specialists, Stone Real Estate, has revealed that the latest Government initiative, the First Home […]

Deposit free renting isn’t the issue, it’s rental sector transparency

11th February 2020

A BBC investigation has suggested that some letting agents are not providing tenants with the full picture when selling deposit alternative schemes, resulting in ‘hidden costs’ later being charged to tenants. While some tenants have found themselves foul of as much as a month’s rent for not following the guidelines, these replacement schemes otherwise offer […]

Title restriction – Could Bank pull the plug?

10th February 2020

I am in the process of the purchase of a traditionally built 3 bed house freehold title. I Am using a new solicitor on this banks panel. We are near the end of the conveyance with mortgage offer, searches done etc. The title has standard restrictions put in by the Council such as only occupied […]

Break clause taken up by one sharer?

10th February 2020

I have a property which is let on a 12 month AST jointly to 3 sharers. All are named on the tenancy agreement and are specifically jointly and severally liable for rent, compliance with terms of the lease, etc. The break clause, which can be exercised after 6 months is written as follows “….that either […]

Meet Mark Smith (Barrister-At-Law) at NPN’s first event of 2020

10th February 2020

Norfolk Property Network’s first meeting of 2020 will be Wednesday 19th February at the Oaklands Hotel Norwich. I will be joined by Mark Smith (Barrister-At-Law) Hon legal Counsel to Property118 and the co-designer of a range of solutions for business structures wherever you are on your property career. Effective landlord tax planning utilises all available […]

Proposed EPC band C by 2024 for Scottish homeowners

10th February 2020

Scottish Government have issued a further consultation to mandate EPC Band C on all homeowner’s properties offered for sale or which undergo major renovation by 2024, 6 years ahead of the previous target of 2030. The current average rating in Scotland is D61, being 9 SAP Points below the proposed threshold. This is in the […]