The cost of landlord licensing schemes in Britain are a postcode lottery reveals new research1 from Direct Line for Business. The analysis of licensing charges between local authorities show a large variance, with the cost of a new licence ranging from just £55 to £1,150, a staggering 21 times more expensive.  In Liverpool, the cost […]

Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 comes into force today 20th March 2019 The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government has released its official guide for landlords. Click here to view the full guide. “The Act applies to the social and private rented sectors and makes it clear that landlords must ensure that […]

The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has net and called for wide ranging reforms to the leasehold system finding the balance of power in existing leases, legislation and public policy is too heavily weighted against leaseholders. Click here to view the full report. The report indicates the current leasehold system is open to abuse […]

Just before tuning in to BBC1 to watch yet another “Greedy, rogue, villainous, money-grabbing landlord programme”, I was watching a trailer for next weeks Kyle Files and guess what? It’s about rogue landlords! I quickly switched channels and on Channel 4 dispatches was just ending. It then showed a trailer for next weeks episode which […]

Mark Hayward, Chief Executive, NAEA Propertymark said: “We’re hugely supportive of the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team’s (NTSEAT) new guidance for agents on referral fees, issued last month. The guidance will improve transparency and provide greater clarity for consumers at a time when markets across all regions need support to boost consumer confidence. “We’ve […]

Following a recent court case in which a landlord’s attempt to regain their property was deemed invalid due to a dispute over a gas safety certificate the RLA is campaigning to protect the rights of landlords to repossess their properties. After initially being granted an order to repossess the property using Section 21 powers, the […]

Responding to news that Zoopla will ban property owners advertising properties to rent as ‘No DSS’ on its website, Chris Town, Vice Chair of the Residential Landlords Association said: “We welcome today’s announcement from Zoopla which comes after extensive campaigning by the RLA. Landlords should not refuse someone solely because they are on benefits, and […]

The UK’s largest landlord exhibition, the National Landlord Investment Show, will return to London Olympia on the 21st March for its 12th appearance at this location. The National Landlord Investment Show is the UK’s leading landlord and property exhibition and offers attendees a chance to connect with thousands of other professionals in the industry, such […]

Joshua Rosenberg, a tenant in Clackmannanshire, has been found guilty and jailed for 12 years in Glasgow’s High Court for attempted extortion, attempted fraud, wilful fire raising and attempting to pervert the course of justice. After moving into the property Rosenberg immediately started sending threatening emails to the two sisters who owned the property and […]

I am trying to help a friend who has 4 BTL properties all owned as an individual (rather than as a company). At present each property has a mortgage ( across the portfolio the LTV is approx 35%). Not looking to take out any additional lending but the endless new mortgage arrangement / booking fees/ […]

Hi Everyone at Property118, One of my rented properties received a visit from an Environmental Health Officer. One of the listed defects is the bathroom, citing the lack of extraction fans. The bathroom has a large window with openings. My question is; am I really still required to install extraction fans regardless of there being […]

Click Here to view on BBC iPlayer Fergus Wilson was on BBC1 Panorama Monday 18th March at 8:30pm. The program is titled “Britain’s Most Controversial Landlord.” Get this programme and hold on to your hats as knowing Fergus it is likely to be a Roller Coaster of a ride! BBC documentary judging the PRS based […]

We have a small HMO of 5 rooms in Stoke-On-Trent. Recently the Valuation Office has brought our property in as 5 separate hereditaments. The property has been regarded as a single dwelling until 5 months ago, with a tax for the entire property, now 5 times higher. We have got the HMO license, but 3 […]

Zoopla has announced it will ban the phrase ‘No DSS’ form listings on its website following pressure from Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Heather Wheeler, and ‘Housing Charity’, Shelter. They are also following recommendations from the RLA and NLA. The ban will be in force as of next […]

The measures, unveiled by the Chancellor, are part of our wider strategy to deliver 300,000 a year by the mid-2020s. The package will unlock large housing sites with targeted £717 million infrastructure funding, reform parts of the planning system and ensure new-builds are more energy efficient, and help the country meet climate change targets. Communities […]

Can any members help with these questions concerning sec 20? We own three apartments in a block of 36 apartments, the Amenity Land Management Company take care of the private roads and car parks and is proposing to spend approx £20k on repairs. The amenity land company members are the 36 leaseholders and another 27 […]

Hi, my son owns a flat that he’s now rented out as he had to relocate for work. He rents a flat in his new location, but he wants to buy and will have to pay the 3% stamp duty surcharge as it will be his second property. Can he form a company and transfer […]

Hi, I am buying a flat as a cash buyer through a LTD company. As I cannot raise enough cash myself, I have asked one of my friends to lend me the money (half of the cash buy + stamp duty + renovation + solicitor costs). We decided that as soon as the building works […]

My question is the best way in which I can extend the term of my own lease. The circumstances are that I own the whole freehold of a terraced house in London which has been split into four flats. I also, separately, own the leasehold interest in one of the flats. I have owned both […]

If a house is let out to a group of 3 people on a signed 10 month contract and one of them is stuck outside uk due to his own fault; – do the other two pay the full rent? – Do I keep the deposit to fulfil as much of the rent as possible […]

The Chancellor Philip Hammond has delivered his Spring Statement today. This was not expected to be a significant fiscal event especially given the lack of clarity regarding exiting the European Union. There was no news regarding any support for landlords in the areas of mortgage interest relief, Stamp Duty, Allowable deductions or regulation. However, on […]