Modular construction is the process where building components are produced in a factory, before being transported to the site for assembly. The pieces arrive already finished, minimising the amount of technical work required onsite. It is not a new concept, but in recent years the method has seen a surge of popularity, with both housebuilders […]

SpareRoom’s Q3 2019 Rental Index ,a comprehensive overview of how the rental market is performing across the country based on nearly 300,000 room listings, reveals the cost of renting a room in the UK remains steady, up just 1% on last year to an average monthly rent of £600. The fact that rents remain largely […]

The Home Office have issued updated guidance on the 8th Oct for landlords and letting agents taking proof of right to remain in the UK and entitled to rent for the following nationalities below. Click here for the full updated guidance. “Nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA may […]

8th October, 2019 Boris Johnson MP, Prime Minister, 10 Downing Street, WESTMINSTER, London SW1 2AA   Dear Boris, SELLING BTL PROPERTIES  I have a two-bed terraced house in Whitstable which I have agreed to sell to a first-time buyer who presumably was previously a tenant. The house was purchased “off plan” in 2003 and has […]

I have just received an email from Bristol City Council regarding my recent license application for one of my HMOs and I also just paid them £1050.00 for the pleasure. I list here the accompanying 37 conditions (yes really 37 of them) I have to follow. I really think whoever wrote these conditions has no […]

Landlords are concerned that the Government has announced it will abolish section 21. Labour and Liberal Democrats are also in favour. I may written elsewhere about why abolition is a very bad idea: ‘Removal of Section 21 Housing Act 1988‘ The fear of it is already causing landlords to pull out of the market. What […]

Introducing rent controls in Manchester would choke of the supply of homes to rent making it more difficult of tenants to find a place to live. That is the warning from the Sale based Residential Landlords Association as a new report calls for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to have powers to implement forms of […]

Courts across the country are failing to follow their own rules when it comes to the speed of dealing with repossession cases. According to the civil procedure rules which provide a code to ensure courts deal with cases justly, the courts are expected to ensure cases are “dealt with expeditiously and fairly”. The rules show […]

The Government consultation on “A new deal for renting: resetting the balance of rights and responsibilities between landlords and tenants” closes on 12th October. I would urge all landlords to make a submission: Click here. You can also email your submission and any comments to [email protected] Below is an extract from my submission 1. The Government […]

Shelter do it again! Screw the vast majority of decent tenants that is, by their support for the Tenant Fees Act. It is now not possible for a landlord to agree to a surrender of a tenancy without either: a) breaking the law, or b) being out of pocket So no landlord in his right […]

I have a tenant that is scheduled to have their apartment floor redone, but they will need to move out during the works. The management company have approved the costs of everything, but where is this person to stay for the 2 weeks that they need to do the work. The tenant is disabled and […]

Rarely does a week go by when the media doesn’t contain a story relating to Universal Credit and the impact it is having on claimants and landlords alike. It can be difficult to cut through the noise and know exactly what the truth is. Then, just last week, the media reported that the Labour Party, […]

I have never had any tenants claiming Universal Credit before. However, this time I have had a lot of inquiries from prospective renters on Universal Credit and even some from people who have working guarantors. What are people’s experiences taking on UC claimants and what are the added risks in readers experience? Many thanks Nav […]

All deposits must have been registered with a government backed tenancy deposit scheme, these schemes are Deposit Protection Service MyDeposits Tenancy Deposit Scheme At the end of a tenancy as a landlord, the deposit should be returned to the tenant within 10 days once an agreement has been reached as to how much the tenant […]

RICS have published a clear and impartial fire safety guide to highlight the responsibilities of landlords and tenants in keeping properties safe regardless of the type of home they live in. RICS releases guide clearly explaining landlords and tenants’ fire safety responsibilities. RICS believes a basic understanding of fire safety for all can reduce number […]

I have a flat which is leasehold in a block. The management company run block issues. I’ve got an issue where someone else’s washing machine waste is draining into my bathroom via my shower drain. They got a plumber in who says the drains aren’t blocked and the pipes have been laid incorrectly causing this. […]

First-time landlords looking for a buy-to-let mortgage will find there is even more choice available than ever before. There are currently 1,474 buy-to-let mortgages available to first-time landlords, an increase of 297 in the last 12 months. The research from Moneyfacts.co.uk also confirmed that the average fixed rates for two and five year buy-to-let mortgage […]

It is no secret that many landlords have had issues with DWP’s maladministration such as delays in setting up APA’s resulting in rental loss, some landlords turn to experts for assistance and to take the matter further by making a complaint to DWP on their behalf. Once a complaint is made to DWPs complaint team […]

Unveiled by the Housing Secretary, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, the Future Homes Standard will see polluting fossil fuel heating systems such as gas boilers banned from new homes by 2025 and replaced with the latest generation of clean technology such as air source heat pumps and cutting-edge solar panels. Ministers will also consult on […]

Two homeless people died every day in England and Wales last year. Today, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released new figures on the number of homeless people who died in England and Wales in 2018. The figures show: • In 2018, an estimated 726 homeless people died in England and Wales, with 692 […]

I was wondering if anyone could give an opinion please: We own 3 apartments in a block. There is a commercial unit plus our 3 flats only. We are besieged with rats throughout the building, mainly in my 3 units. The Freeholder says its not his responsibility as nowhere in the lease does it state […]