The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has now launched a new online system to allow rent payments, from tenants in receipt of Universal Credit, to be paid directly to Private Rented Sector (PRS) landlords.  The new system for arranging these Alternative Payment Arrangements replaces the two existing UC47 forms cutting the processing time down […]

Rental deposit replacement scheme, Ome, has brought forward the launch of their free to use Rental Wellbeing Helpline this week, as the company’s latest research highlights the sharp increase in the affordability of renting for many UK tenants who now find themselves on furlough due to the spread of the Coronavirus. Coronavirus and its subsequent […]

In this episode Mark Alexander is joined by Mark Smith, Head of Chambers at Cotswold Barristers, to discuss how HMRC’s manuals might be perceived to contradict themselves in relation to definitions on whether or not rental property owners are regarded as running a business. There is no need to reach for your credit card, the Property118 […]

My tenant, under a Periodic Tenancy for her room and communal areas of the flat, is saying “I do have the means in which to be able to give you vacant possession by removal of my furniture and personal possessions.” She hasn’t yet qualified exactly what she means though. BUT she is on lockdown in […]

Hi, I own (leasehold) a flat in a block of 30 flats. Each year the freeholder charges each owner for the insurance on the block, each flat being charged one thirtieth. Over the years the insurance has increased which is reasonable, however it now stands at approx £800pa for each flat. The insurance includes things […]

The government has amended the coronavirus regulations to make clear that people who wish to move home can do so. The guidance provides important public health information to ensure that moving home and key activities around this, such as viewing property, can happen safely. Click here to view the full guidance One of the simplest […]

The government has relaxed emergency Covid-19 rules to allow the housing market to reopen. From today anyone in England can move home if they follow new guidance published by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick. With immediate effect Estate and Letting agent offices can open, viewings are permitted, show homes can open and removal companies and the […]

Generation Rent is wrong to claim that the majority of landlords are failing to support tenants needing help during the COVID-19 pandemic. A yet to be published survey by the National Residential Landlords Association of over 4,500 landlords has found that 90% of landlords who had received a request for support from a tenant responded […]

Our last video on the Bounce Back Loan Scheme and how property businesses are eligible, has given rise to a lot of discussion on Property118 and elsewhere on social media. In this video Andrew Roberts and I return to give an important update including: – Which banks have paid out to property businesses – Clarifying […]

For many years, Property118 and H D Consultants have worked very closely together. The Team at H D Consultants has provided experienced, qualified and fully insured mortgage, life cover and estate planning advice. At this time, whilst more and more people are worried about their current jobs and businesses, and as a consequence, their long […]

I am also self-employed and completed the “Am I Eligible” for the Covid-19 self-employment grant. Got turned down as the profit from property over the last 3 years (even though I got a £1 tax rebate for 2018-19) was more than the profit from self-employment for the last 3 years. Grossly unfair as this “income […]

Leading Landlord and Tenant Solicitors firm, Landlord Action, says that any extension to the ban on evictions, as called for by Labour, could cause financial ruin to landlords who already had possession cases for rent arrears going through the courts prior to the ban.  Some landlords with pre Covid-19 possession cases will find themselves trying […]

New figures from Shelter reveal private renters could face a £55 million a month gap in their rent without extra support from the government during the current coronavirus emergency. The research shows the deficit between people’s rents and the welfare support available to them during the pandemic. The press release goes on to say: Despite […]

I have received a letter from BM Mortgages asking very intrusive questions about how I will repay an interest-only BTL mortgage I have with them and gently threatening to put me on a repayment mortgage (‘ask’ is the way they put it) if I cannot satisfy them that I have an adequate repayment plan in […]

Hi All, I paid £972 for my flat’s annual service charge for 2019 in full last year (as stated in my invoice. This year, the service charge went up to £1300, which I already paid 50%. Now, I just received another invoice of £880 from the managing agent stating it is the service charge balance […]

Our Hon. Legal Counsel, Mark Smith, Head of Chambers at Cotswold Barristers will be presenting an overview of several landlords tax strategies at the Unity Property Professionals Group Thursday the 14th May at 4pm. Property118 Readers are invited to the group Zoom meeting by registering in advance using the link below. Register: Click Here After […]

Labour has set out a five point emergency coronavirus action plan for renters in their press release below: Most people in rented accommodation have no savings and when the current freeze on evictions expires in June, an estimated 2.6 million people are likely to be in rent arrears, according to Citizens Advice. Labour’s measures would […]

Hello, I would appreciate any advice or information about letting a property using definition of C3 (c) please. Let to a small group who don’t fall within C4 use nor meet criteria for C3 (a) or C3(b) any pointers toward relevant noted legal cases would be very welcome? Thanks all, Steve Notes: From planning Portal […]

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has released its 2019 annual report reflecting continued demand from consumers for dispute resolution services. The report reveals TPO received 30,356 enquiries in 2019, up only 4% on 2018. Of these, 5,106 went on to be formal complaints, a rise of 20%. Despite a significant increase in complaints, compensatory awards paid […]

Whilst researching for my latest article ‘Government’s destructive path‘I asked specialist litigation solicitor, and Partner at Helix Law, Alex Cook, what he thinks about the Government proposing to introduce a new ‘pre-action protocol’ to the private rented sector. I already had some knowledge of ‘post-eviction’ mediation, which led me to believe that this would be […]

On this webinar Weds 13th May at 10:45am you’ll be able to get Barrister’s thoughts on HMO issues for free. We’ll be asking the Legal Questions that landlords need answering to Julian Hunt MA (Cantab), a very experienced lawyer in the world of HMOs and author of the only book on HMO proceedings. This promises […]