Page 547 – Property118

Can I place court order eviction on hold again?

26th March 2019

I have a question regarding a section 21 eviction. I have a court order for an eviction which was granted in 2017 before the bailiff turned up we agreed with the tenant that we would put on hold as they had paid up the arrears. At the time we were told we could reapply to […]

TDS inventory guidance ahead of tenant fee ban introduction

26th March 2019

Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) has released new guidance on inventory reports to support landlords and letting agents ahead of the introduction of the Tenant Fees Act in June. Also known as the Tenant Fee Ban, the new law – which will apply to letting agents in England – means tenants cannot be charged for a […]

Right to Rent Farce

26th March 2019

ONE of the Government’s flagship immigration policies has been branded a farce after a court ruling that a landlord who seeks to repossess property where the Home Office tells them a tenant does not have the right to rent, is breaching equalities law. Under the Right to Rent scheme landlords are responsible for checking the […]

Manchester ‘Rogue Landlord Hub’

25th March 2019

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has received £128k from Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to develop a ‘Rogue Landlord Hub’ designed to target landlords and letting agents who flout the law through bad management or by housing tenants within neglected and unsafe homes. The GMCA said: “The rogue landlord hub will  improve information […]

Be a guest of Mark Smith (Barrister-At-Law) – Harrogate

25th March 2019

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 Harrogate Meeting property networking event Wednesday 3rd 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 […]

£46 million to help people off the streets

25th March 2019

Councils across the country will share over £46 million to help get people off the streets and into accommodation, Communities Secretary, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP has confirmed today (25 March 2019). The money forms part of the government’s £100 million Rough Sleeping Strategy and will be used to fund rough sleeping coordinator roles, add […]

Help please – criminal and bankrupt tenant won’t leave

25th March 2019

I still have the tenant from hell. With the councils help I was misled to give a tenancy to this criminal tenant (who has done the same to many landlords before) with the understanding she will pay the rent with housing benefit. I stupidly agreed to let my property. The tenant had some issues from […]

Works carried out without Landlords consent?

25th March 2019

My partner and I were first time buyers and bought a leasehold flat. We went on to swap the bedroom and the kitchen around (they were right next to each other with only a stud wall between them), and we also moved the stud wall 0.5m. The managing agents at the time had been notified […]

SDLT on transfer of mortgaged property?

25th March 2019

I understand that when beneficial interest in property is transferred between spouses the amount of mortgage liability assumed by the transferee is regarded as consideration and SDLT is payable on any amount over the threshold of £125000, but can anyone tell me what happens when: • Spouses hold the property as tenants in common • […]

FTBs taking advantage of slow market

25th March 2019

The NAEA Propertymark is today issuing its February Housing Report1 and Mark Hayward, Chief Executive, said: “With demand at a seven-year low, buyers are approaching the market with caution. As we move into spring, we would usually expect to see an increase in activity, but house hunters are evidently delaying their plans until the impact of […]

64% of portfolio landlords now intend purchasing in a Ltd co.

25th March 2019

Research released by Precise Mortgages shows nearly two thirds (64%) of all portfolio landlords (64%) with more than four properties who plan to purchase more property this year will do so in the name of a Limited company with only 21% intending to purchase in their individual names. Further market statistics show 44% of all […]

HF Academy to run agent workshop on dealing with the tenant fees ban

25th March 2019

At the end of 2018, Hamilton Fraser launched HF Academy, a series of half and full day workshops offering property professionals advice and education covering the full tenancy lifecycle. The next workshop, due to take place on 14th May at Holiday Inn Borehamwood, is ‘Future Proofing Your Lettings Business and How to Deal with The […]

Bank of England emblem symbolising decision to hold the Base Rate at 5%

The Doves have it the Doves have it

21st March 2019

The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee have voted unanimously to hold the Bank Base Rate at 0.75% for another month. From the meeting notes below this seems to be a holding pattern due to uncertainty around how, when and even possibly if the UK will leave the European Union. Along with other factors such […]

Reasons for rent rise above normal this year?

21st March 2019

I am looking for help please with suggestions for best wording to explain a larger rent rise than normal for my tenants this year. I have 2 properties, a house that I rent for £998 and a 2 bed flat for £650. Both are good tenants and cause no issues. I did have 8 properties, […]

Emotive and meaningless words ‘no fault’ referring to s.21 notices

21st March 2019

Last year, Property118 contributor Dr Ros Beck wrote a critique, under the banner of The Landlords Union, of a Richard Bilton/BBC Panorama programme in which he was calling for the removal of S.21 altogether, that questioned and strongly criticised the use of the term ‘no fault’ when describing S.21 Notices. Click here to read the […]

Fergus Wilson’s response to BBC Panorama

21st March 2019

The Remit of the Programme was: What happens to the Tenants when the Landlord Retires or Dies! Why are Private Sector Landlords (PSL) leaving in droves, because of the punitive tax regime! Unfortunately Panorama sacrificed an informative explanation of the reasons for the PSL exit in favour of two “non stories” from tenants and thereby […]

Rent To Rent – Property Owners Beware

20th March 2019

PROPERTY OWNERS who are considering rent to rent (sub-let) agreements need to make sure they have the right property insurance in place. Standard landlord insurance is worthless if you ever need to make a claim on a property that is sub-let. Rent to rent is where the property owner lets the property to a primary […]

Bank managers are a virtually extinct species

20th March 2019

Many years ago, property investors and developers knew their local bank manager and would simply arrange a meeting with them to discuss the various finance options. However, today, bank managers are a virtually extinct species and where they do exist, their knowledge of today’s financial market is very limited. This has increased the need for […]

MHCLG response to ‘Lack of Justice in Housing’

20th March 2019

I have now had a response form Heather Wheeler MP, Minister for Housing and Homelessness, from my letter expressing the lack of justice in housing for landlords. You can read my points made in the series of readers articles below which started: Letter to Gareth Johnson Member of Parliament for Dartford: Dear Mr Johnson, I’d […]

Laws on overcrowding in rental properties

20th March 2019

Alexandra Morris, Managing Director of MakeUrMove, shares details on what landlords need to know on the laws of overcrowding in rental properties.  At the end of 2018, the government introduced details of the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act, which is to replace the Landlord and Tenant Act.  Set to be introduced on the 20th […]