Page 510 – Property118

Government design competition for low carbon age-friendly homes

2nd March 2020

Housing Minister Christopher Pincher has launched a competition to attract the best and brightest talents of the housing industry to design the homes of the future. Small businesses, designers and manufacturers are invited to come forward with ideas for new low carbon, age-friendly homes, meeting the highest standards of design. These homes will be aimed […]

Bank of England emblem symbolising decision to hold the Base Rate at 5%

Coronavirus may trigger Bank Base Rate cut

2nd March 2020

Markets are starting to price in a Bank of England Base Rate decrease of at least 0.25% as central banks around the world marshal what monetary fire power they can against the potential economic consequences of a global Coronavirus pandemic. The next Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting is due to take place on Thursday the […]

Average deposit cost has only increased 5% since 2014

2nd March 2020

The latest research by Ome has revealed how much tenants are paying to secure a rental property and how this has changed in the last five years, as well as how this price increase compares to other items throughout our daily lives. Ome’s data shows that the current tenant is now paying £1,139, a 5% […]

EPC vs Environmental Health?

2nd March 2020

I had an EPC RATED”E”issued November 19 (valid for 10 years), but Environmental health are trying to enforce MEES on lovely small 2 bed flat above shop. I’ve had the same “HAPPY” tenant for last 8 years and showed the Licensing officer the EPC rated “E”. The property was passed for “licensing” however the Licensing […]

Differences of opinion – What do you think?

1st March 2020

In the embedded video below there are a few answers given by the presenters (Mark Smith and Andrew Roberts) that I disagree with. The first is in regards to the pricing of Limited Company Buy-to-Let mortgages vs individual Buy-to-let mortgages. Whilst I agree that at face value there is a difference, in my experience, those […]

Can I use ex-tenant’s parent address to serve court papers?

1st March 2020

As I have written in one of my previous posts one of my tenants left owing £960 in rent arrears. On his last day he said that his father will pay the money owed, but once contacted his father answered that it is not any of his business. The father is self employed and his […]

Limited Company filing nightmare?

1st March 2020

I know Property118 likes a campaign every now and again, well how about this for the next one? Like many others, I’ve gone down the limited company route. When it came to filing my tax comps and statutory accounts online using the HMRC software, I was asked a series of questions. When I answered “Do […]

Which Solicitor is responsible for not recognising restriction on property?

1st March 2020

I have a restriction on a property as security against a loan lent to a property Director of a Company. The property was owned within the company by two Directors. The Director who took my loan has since left the company and the sole remaining director is stating no knowledge of the loan and states […]

Cinema extension adjoining flat?

1st March 2020

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 […]

Freeholder refusing responsibility for roof repairs?

28th February 2020

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 […]

Body sized hole in bathroom escape – Who pays?

27th February 2020

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 […]

Government reject Brent Council application to extend licensing scheme

27th February 2020

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 […]

Selling a property which has a difficult tenant?

27th February 2020

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 […]

Fuseboard Confusion!

27th February 2020

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 decided to go Ltd Company route?

27th February 2020

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 […]

Extra £112m funding for councils to help get people off the streets

27th February 2020

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 report – Huge blow for tenants

26th February 2020

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 […]

£2.9bn increased Councils funding includes rewards for building new homes

26th February 2020

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, […]

Welsh Government want 12 months eviction protection

26th February 2020

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 […]

Multi-Sale SDLT?

25th February 2020

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 […]

Can you split Property Portfolio in two parts to Incorporate?

25th February 2020

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 […]