The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has approved the appointment of Jeremy Pocklington as the new Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Jeremy succeeds Dame Melanie Dawes who left the Civil Service in February, and has been acting Permanent Secretary since her departure. Secretary of […]

The Scottish Government has announced that they have taken the decision not to introduce the Energy Efficiency (Domestic Private Rented Property) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, which had been due to come into force on 1 April 2020. SLE wrote an open letter to Kevin Stewart, the Scottish Government’s Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, expressing […]

What are lodgers’ rights at the moment? Can their landlords give them a weeks notice as usual, and throw them out onto the streets with nowhere to go? The council isn’t even open! Can someone who knows please clarify this? Thank you. Marie

Hi. I’m sure this is a problem faced by many student let landlords, caused by the current climate. Many universities with on campus accommodation have released students from their contracts 3 months early as Unis are closed, so a lot of the students moved back home to study online. However, students who have signed contracts […]

The Government has finally released on Saturday its full pieced together non-statutory guidance for landlords and tenants during the Coronavirus emergency. Click here for the full 21 page document from MHCLG. The Coronavirus Act 2020 is confirmed to remain in force until 30th September. 1. Rent, mortgage payments and notices seeking possession The purpose of […]

I think the latest TV advert for Shelter is disgusting. Once again giving the impression that they provide housing and once again having a pop at landlords. This time saying a tenant had called and said their landlord had asked them to leave the property in case they got Corona Virus. They really do make […]

To help home movers impacted by Covid-19, mortgage providers will give customers who have exchanged contracts the option to extend their mortgage offer for up to three months to enable them to move at a later date. Stephen Jones, Chief Executive of UK Finance, said: “Lenders recognise that many people looking to move into their […]

The Chancellor, announced a new Self-employment Income Support Scheme to support self-employed people who have been adversely affected by COVID-19. GOV‌.UK has further details about who is eligible for the scheme and how it will work. Self-employed people do not need to get in touch with HMRC as the scheme isn’t yet open for applications. […]

In the latest step to protect individuals and businesses, Rishi Sunak has set out plans that will see the self-employed receive up to £2,500 per month in grants for at least 3 months. Millions of people across the UK could benefit from the new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, with those eligible receiving a cash grant […]

The government has brought forward a package of measures to protect renters affected by coronavirus (COVID-19). With these in force, no renter in either social or private accommodation will be forced out of their home. To ensure all renters are clear on the full package of support that is currently available to them, we are […]

This guidance applies to people buying or selling private residential homes which they intend to live in. Buying and Selling Homes during this stay-at-home period Given the situation in the UK with regard to the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), we urge parties involved in home moving to adapt and be flexible to alter their usual […]

Following Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s announcements about the self employed able to access a taxable grant worth 80% of their average profits over 3 years tax returns – Properties are emptying as tenants/guests are leaving due to the COVID 19 outbreak. What landlords can be classed as self employed? Some landlords perform a trade and pay […]

I have a student HMO. The tenants are still on a fxed term joint and several AST for 10 months commencing 9th Sept 2019. One of the tenants who is Polish has asked to be able to terminate his tenancy early in April subject to travel availability to return to Poland. Is he permitted to […]

I wonder if anyone has any ideas about this. My tenant has been in the house for over 5 years, she has been paying well under the market rate for this time, last year after some complaints of her behaviour from the neighbour I went to see her with the rental agent. I overhauled a […]

I’ve just had a proactive call from a tenant asking if her friend can move into her flat. She is already worried about her job situation and ditto for friend so they want to move in together into my property. Do I simply issue a new contract with both names now on the agreement? Would […]

In my opinion, this short video is the most helpful for landlords so far in the Covid-19 crisis. Comments from readers, in regards to their personal experiences, are very much necessary. Those of you who leave a comment will be able to subscribe to receive email notifications as soon as other Property118 Members leave their […]

Re a pre-action housing disrepair case – the solicitor for the claimant in this case is no longer acting, but is asking each side to bear their own costs due to the landlord getting his own contractor to inspect the property. No damp was found, only minor repairs. Tenant is vexatious and we have problems […]

From today, the Coronavirus Act extends the notice period required for possession using Section 8 and Form 6a (Section 21) from two months to three months. I have worked with landlords for 27 years, been through two recessions and seen the crippling effect that falling into rent arrears can have both on landlords and tenants. […]

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held its previously scheduled meeting for March and voted unanimously to hold the rate at the 0.1% emergency level. MPC summary and policy on tackling Covid-19: “The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) sets monetary policy to meet the 2% inflation target, and thereby helps to […]

Has your business been interrupted by coronvirus? Have you experienced lost or deferred revenue? disruption to your cashlfow? We can help. In the 2020 budget, the chancellor announced a new scheme which provides loan facilities of up to £5m for smaller businesses across the UK, who are experiencing lost or deferred revenues, leading to disruptions […]

This months Baker Street Property Meet is taking place online as an Emergency COVID-19 Property Investors Summit. Its a free to join event with over 1000 people already registered. In this Property Investors Emergency Summit, our experts will give their views on the impact of Covid-19 on different property investment sectors: Ranjan Bhattacharya – Commercial […]