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 Croydon Meeting property networking event Wednesday 17th April 2019. The event will start at 6:00pm until 9:00pm and will be free for guests of Mark Smith that have not previously […]

Here’s a link to the RLA/Pearl’s current survey: ‘State of the PRS’ Q1 2019 quarterly survey that focuses on Welfare Reform issues. This project is titled: “Welfare Reform and Universal Credit: Evaluating the impact on the Private Rented Sector” and the research has been commissioned from Edge Hill University. Click here to open. “This survey […]

The way I read rent arrears is we can not charge unless it is more than 14 days overdue. Thereafter we can charge 3% above BoE base rate. We can no longer charge a fee for letters etc. So assuming average rent in England excluding London of £782, this equates to £1.12 for the first […]

Ministers have so far failed to publish any guidance for landlords about the implications of Brexit for the Right to Rent scheme. Under this scheme landlords are responsible for checking the immigration status of their tenants with the prospect of prosecution if they know or have “reasonable cause to believe” that the property they are […]

Scottish Government were intending to introduce minimum EPC rating effective April 2019. This has been delayed and proposed legislation is that the minimum requirements are now due to come into effect April 2020, initially set with Band Rating E, rising to Band D from Apr 2022, with back stop dates on existing tenancies being 2/3 […]

This 64 minute webinar, recorded live on 6th April 2019 is now available to view on demand and free of charge. The main presenters are:- Mark Smith, Barrister-At-Law and Head of Chambers at Cotswold Barristers Mark Alexander, Founder of Property118 Nicky Kita from Insight Accountancy Services To watch this webinar now, please click on the […]

I bought my house mortgage free 18 years ago to house myself and my 2 kids. I got a residential mortgage with Halifax 14 years ago and built a 2 storey extension to the side of my house consisting of granny annex & double garage. The granny annex was to house my ill mother, but […]

A fifth of the UK population now lives in rental accommodation. The Fitness for Human Habitation Act came into force just last week. This new Act is designed to ensure all rental accommodation meets certain criteria. The rental property must be free of defects and this includes all private rentals, housing association rentals and any […]

Rent repayment orders are a relatively new phenomenon, they occur when a First Tier Tribunal finds in favour of a tenant because a landlord hasn’t fulfilled their obligations, these obligations can include the following:Not protecting the deposit Failure to have the correct license in place at the start of the tenancy Failure to repair after […]

A tenant on a six month Assured Shorthold Tenancy has No Rights other than the right to stay in the house for the Fixed Period. That is made Crystal Clear in the tenancy. Generally, the Period is Six Months, but it does not have to be. After the fixed period the tenancy lapses into a […]

The National Landlords Association (NLA) is reminding would-be tenants to be vigilant when looking for somewhere new to live and to avoid getting scammed. The NLA has been contacted by several people who have been the target of fraudulent activity. Such scams trick people into paying an advance fee to rent a property and, in […]

Landlords are welcoming calls today by a parliamentary committee for tax incentives for private landlords to improve the quality of their property. The recommendation is made by a House of Lords committee looking at the regeneration of seaside towns and communities. Following evidence provided by the Residential Landlords Association, the Committee’s report published today recommends: […]

I have a tenant causing a merry host of issues, but I’m now firmly on the legal (if not expensive) route to get it sorted. The last part of the process will be to get her to tidy up the tip she lives in. Rabbits in cages in the lounge, cats and dogs roaming, commercial […]

As of this month Private landlords under MEES regulation are required to pay up to £3,500 bringing properties to the minimum EPC standard of E. To remain on the exemption register with an EPC rating of F or G Landlords must show the cost of improving the property to an E rating is more than […]

Letter to Nottingham Selective Licensing, Please pass my words onto the powers that be, so they can see what happens in the REAL WORLD on GROUND LEVEL from us that actually house people. Screenshot enclosed of Barclaycard message received today. As you know, I’m gonna be owing you over 4k this week for the License […]

When my Property is sold I intend to devote my energies towards helping Battered Wives. In their lifetime 25% of women will be in a battered relationship and at any one point in time 10% of women are beaten by their partners. The whole approach to dealing with a Domestic Abuse situation is back to […]

Hi all, I am in process of selling a BTL with Mortgage Express. When my solicitor asked for a redemption statement they wrote back saying below: “We have the right to consolidate and take all monies. However, on this occasion we will just charge £5k which will be used across overall portfolio.” I am now […]

As of 1 June 2019, landlords and letting agents in England will only be legally allowed to take the equivalent of five weeks’ rent as a tenancy deposit on annual rents below £50,000, and the equivalent of six weeks’ rent if the annual rent is £50,000 or more on any new or renewed tenancies. Any […]

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government have released their official guidance notes for landlords, letting agents and local authority enforcement officers explaining how the Tenant Fees Act 2019 affects what is now allowed to be charged from the 1st of June. Click here to view the full guidance document. You cannot evict a […]

I’ve been a landlord for six years and have a very good professional relationship with my existing and previous tenants. My properties are all very well looked after and I adhere to all of the required legislation. My problem is, I have a tenant who currently owes me £4000 in lost rent and legal fees […]

Hi I am looking for guidance. I have a tenanted rental property with no mortgage and my main residence is also unencumbered. I can mortgage and raise capital against both properties and also have £250,000 to invest. The question is should I go into a partnership with my wife or set up a SPV limited […]