Page 545 – Property118

Email to Prime Minister et al

26th February 2019

I sent the following email to the Prime Minister et al and would welcome comments from members: Dear Prime Minister, Leader of HM’s Opposition, Chancellor and Shadow, Housing Ministers and Shadow, Mayor and Hon MPs, As a single HMO-property landlord in Brent, I am writing this email because you, ladies and gentlemen, potentially have influence […]

BTL product choice post Credit Crunch high at 2,162

25th February 2019

While the tax and rule changes imposed on the Buy to Let (BTL) sector over the last few years have heightened the pressures felt by landlords and even forced some from the market altogether. Research from Moneyfacts.co.uk shows that the number of BTL products currently available is at a post financial crisis high. Today, landlords […]

Rent rises on the increase

25th February 2019

ARLA Propertymark is today issuing its January Private Rented Sector (PRS) Report.1 Rent prices: The number of tenants experiencing rent rises increased in January, with 26% of agents witnessing landlords increasing them, compared to 18% in December. This is the highest figure recorded since September, when 31% of tenants were experiencing rises. Year on year, […]

Gold and Silver but all Red tape!

25th February 2019

Southwark Council are proposing with a consultation to rate Private Sector landlords by a grading of ‘Gold’ and ‘Silver’ standard. There are three sets of criteria to both standards comprising the landlord themselves, the standard of the property and the tenancies they offer. There are discounts available on the selective licencing costs, but you must […]

It’s always me me me!

25th February 2019

Further to an earlier post of mine (Click here: I know where the tenant has gone, can I use the info?) asking about tracking down tenants and followed by the disappointment that ‘winning’ brings. I am now trying to get the money that is owed. Is it always the landlord who has to spend money […]

Republic of Ireland advice after compensation?

25th February 2019

My sister has just received a compensation cheque from her lender who had pulled the tracker rate on their mortgage offer and put them on a higher rate. She has her own residence, a BTL and a young family and would love to talk to someone who knows about the Irish market to help her […]

Norfolk police claim trespasser is a tenant?

25th February 2019

Trespasser or Tenant? My local Norfolk police are stating a trespasser in my property is a tenant, because the trespasser claims an unknown party give them a tenancy. At the risk of getting a stupid answer, I will ask a stupid question. Can a person with no legal rights to do so, give another person […]

Cash Incentives, Rent Guarantee and 48 hour let times?

23rd February 2019

Lettingsupermarket.com are always looking to improve their service and have been listening to landlords feedback of exactly what you want to let your property. We are pleased to be continuing our work with Local Authorities and a National relocation company, but we can offer even more to make your let even easier and reliable. Please […]

6 week DPS backlog now entering its 24th week

22nd February 2019

On the 29th of January I posted an article on Property 118 that was titled “6 weeks backlog at the Deposit Protection scheme ?”. Click here to read the article. In it I explained that on the 28th of August 2018 our landlord lodged a dispute with the DPS. That is now 6 months ago. […]

Adding a flat to a small block – HELP!

22nd February 2019

I live on the first floor (2 beds flat) with sole access to the loft and there are two one bedroom flats on the ground floor. I also hold the freehold of the property. I have put an application to convert my 2 bed flat into 2 x 2 bedroom flats. By law we have […]

Leaseholder alterations advice for garden access

22nd February 2019

I am a leaseholder of a ground floor maisonette the freeholder is the local authority. The property only has an upstairs flat built above my dwelling, street view looks like a semi detached house. My maisonette backs onto my personal garden, but to access my garden I have to go out through the kitchen door […]

Action Fraud – TDS Alert

22nd February 2019

Tenancy Deposit Scheme Alert for tenants and also landlords: Action Fraud have received several reports where fraudsters are claiming to be landlords of properties offered for rent online. Prior to a viewing the suspect requests that the individuals pay a deposit and sometimes a month’s rent upfront, claiming that this money will be put into […]

HMRC seasonally adjusted figures show property transactions stable

21st February 2019

There has been a lot of reporting on the fall in the number of property transactions in the last three months. This has been blamed in parts by economic uncertainty and Brexit. However, HMRC UK property transactions statistics up to January 2019 show a numerical fall that when seasonally adjusted is actually quite stable and […]

Dear Universal Credit Stage 1 complaints

21st February 2019

Dear Universal Credit Stage 1 complaints, Today I have ANOTHER payment gone into my bank account from DWP and I have not got a clue who it is for. You are paying for several tenants Universal Credit UC Housing Element HE in my bank now. Some tenants you are correctly putting reference numbers next to […]

Feel good story – TDS

21st February 2019

The Dispute Service (TDS), which operates the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, has been ranked among the Sunday Times’ 100 best not-for-profit companies to work for in 2019. The leading tenancy deposit protection scheme is the only provider in England and Wales to operate on a not-for-profit basis. Every year, the Sunday Times celebrates the best examples […]

£205k plus admin fees Section 20 works?

20th February 2019

I am a leaseholder in a block of flats in London. I have recently received a postal letter from our Managing Agent regarding Section 20 works being carried out on our building. This letter appears to be a Notice of Estimates, and references a previous letter, which I presume was a Notice of Intention that […]

Is this an HMO?

20th February 2019

I would appreciate your thoughts on whether the following will constitute an HMO: My husband and I would like to buy a flat and rent out 2 of the rooms to 2 separate people. We would use a third room for ourselves from time to time when we are visiting London. We would share the […]

Revolut Business Accounts

20th February 2019

Since Revolut started in business they have attracted over 3,000,000 clients with virtually no advertising at all. I am one of them. There are over 50,000 Revolut users in Malta alone, and the population is only 440,000! Their Mastercard has saved me an absolute fortune in exchange rates and commissions whilst I’ve been travelling to […]

Client Money Protect is first government approved CMP scheme

20th February 2019

Client Money Protect, part of the Hamilton Fraser group of companies, has gained formal government approval to operate a client money protection scheme when the regulations go live on April 1st 2019. From April 1st, it will become mandatory for all letting agents and property managers in England to be a member of an approved […]

Early-bird Nottingham off-plan most popular development to date

19th February 2019

We are delighted to bring Property118 readers this early-bird, off plan investment opportunity, ideally positioned close to the city centre of Nottingham.This article was recently published and over the weekend became our most popular development to date for Property118 readers. If you might be interested please contact us soon and we will be happy to […]