The Belvoir Q4 rental index, prepared and analysed by TV property expert Kate Faulkner, shows significant regional variations in rents, and a slight average decrease of -1.25%. However, Belvoir is predicting that rents are likely to increase at a faster rate in the second half of the year. “Belvoir’s rental index tracks advertised rents and […]

As of 1st April 2019 all PRS letting agents are required to carry Client Money Protection (CMP) which safeguards Landlords and tenants against an agent going into liquidation or absconding with rental payments, deposit or other client funds. A fine of £30,000 can now be imposed upon any agent not found to be a member […]

I have a two bedroom flat in a large purpose built block in the city centre. Two beds, lounge, kitchen, family bathroom and en-suite to main bedroom. Basically it is a standard two bed residential apartment all on one floor. I have always had a sole tenant or a couple in occupation until now. The […]

I would like to update all my old tenancy agreements and some of them are now 4 years old. The deposits are protected with ‘My Deposits’ and are nominated as rolling tenancies – does writing a new contract require another deposit protection fee? Are there any other implications I need to consider? Many thanks Tracey […]

If HM Government (HMG) wishes to halt the mass exodus by Private Sector Landlords then it must Organise the Tax System in a more Businesslike Fashion. The first thing it needs to do is to restore Tax Relief on BTL Mortgage Payments to the Headline Rate. In simple English whatever rate the Landlord pays that […]

The Scottish equivalent to Stamp Duty “LBTT” is the same as in England and Wales. However, the 4% additional rate of LBTT in Scotland (1% higher than in England and Wales) does not apply when six or more connected transactions complete simultaneously. Such transactions also benefit from Multiple Dwelling Relief. To illustrate this point, a […]

Three years after this article was first published in March 2019 an update has been added to show the impact and outcomes of our recommended restructure. This case study is based on a Merchant Banker resident in Central London. For the benefit of his retirement and legacy planning he has been building a UK rental […]

With the world economy suffering a slowdown, research shows people still have great trust for investments backed by ‘bricks and mortar’ and property continues to be a popular asset class with investors. Why is this? Unlike other asset classes, property enables you to gear your investment through investing a percentage of your cash rather than all […]

The Landlords Alliance along with several of our members formally complained to the Information Commissioner about the application process for a selective licence from Sefton council. In essence our concerns were and are as follows: 1) Sefton ask for unnecessary and excessive information by demanding details of landlords properties licensed elsewhere. Sefton quote the licensing […]

The RLA is calling for more support to help landlords offer longer tenancies after it was revealed almost half the babies born in the UK are starting their lives in rented homes. The figures were revealed in a new report published today by insurance company Royal London. David Smith, policy director for the RLA, said: […]

April Fools day Monday 1st April 8:00pm to 8:30pm, The Kyles Files eposide 4 – Landlords “Jeremy probes the private rented sector. More than three million people are thought to be living in properties that are not only unfit for purpose, but some are even dangerous. Jeremy goes out with council officers as they visit […]

The number of London landlords exiting the market in February, was 125% higher than the national average, ARLA Propertymark reveals.1 Landlords have faced continued legislative change coupled with increasing costs over the last few years, and many are either having to pass the costs on to tenants or exit the market. In February, London was […]

We are a partnership of 4 landlords and have a contract dispute with our supplier of FD30 doors. We had 3 installations done in 2013 in leasehold flats (using our freeholders’ approved supplier) but the freeholder of the blocks has recently failed them after a routine fire risk assessment. One has failed due to physical […]

Last year we became landlords for the first time, and used a  local agent to let out the property on a rent collection service. On the day of signing the contact, we were completely misled about their terms of  renewal and termination , especially since we specifically asked direct questions. We were neither left with […]

A new industry pledge to stop leaseholders being trapped in unfair and costly deals has been unveiled by the Communities Secretary, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, today (28 March). More than forty leading property developers and freeholders, including big names such as Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Homes – have already signed the government-backed pledge, which […]

I bought a sheltered accommodation property for my mum to live in some years ago and is unencumbered. I now wish to transfer part of it to my brother each year to use up my capital gains and will do this by declaration of trust. I could register it at land registry, but with these […]

 ARLA Propertymark is today issuing its February Private Rented Sector (PRS) Report and David Cox, Chief Executive, said: “According to data from the Office for National Statistics4, private rent costs rose by one per cent in the year to February, and our data shows that the number of tenants successfully negotiating rent reductions fell. We warned […]

I’m a small landlord with 2 properties, one of which has a very low EPC (it was an F last time). It has storage heaters and I’ve been told even replacing them with more modern ones, may not change this. It’s a 2 bed, spacious, airy and light 1st floor flat, above a pizza restaurant. […]

Former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith has criticised policies of former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne with regard to housing during conversation at this year’s Landlord Investment Show in Olympia. Iain Duncan Smith MP, former leader of the Conservative Party, made the remarks at a government panel debate at the Landlord Investment Show […]

A panel of experts were unanimous in their belief that there are grounds for optimism in the UK housing market over the next five years, at an opening debate for the Landlord Investment Show 2019 in London Olympia. The Landlord Investment Show 2019 kicked off at Olympia London on March 21st, commencing with a government […]

Tax Efficient Extraction of Profit From Companies For 2018/19 For many years accountants and tax advisers have suggested that director/shareholders should extract profit by paying themselves a low salary with the remainder of their income being extracted in the form of dividends. Although dividends are not deductible in arriving at the company’s taxable profits, they […]