I’m trying to compile a list of top tips specifically aimed at landlords renovating BTL properties. So I’m focusing more on longevity and cost, rather than all the bells and whistles/creature comforts you find in most articles online. I’m also focusing on internal refurbs only, and not major structural issues or extensions. So far, I’ve […]

People claiming Universal Credit are still struggling to pay for the roof over their heads, despite the wait for their first payment being reduced from 6 weeks to 5, new Citizens Advice data shows. 1 in 2 people the charity helped were in rent arrears or fell behind on their mortgage payments, the same number […]

My Husband and I (in our 50’s) bought a house, our first one together. We managed to save up the deposit and recover our credit over 15 years to get a mortgage. Shortly after completing I fell ill and had to move into a bungalow, but I am still working for now. The house has […]

Property ownership comes in two forms: legal ownership and beneficial interest. The two are usually united, but they can be separated. The legal owner of a property is the person who is registered at HM Land registry, whereas beneficial owners are entitled to enjoy the economic benefits of the property, e.g. to occupy it and/or […]

The English Private Landlord Survey profile of landlords shows the average gross rental income for all landlords is only £15,000 and that 61% have a gross rental income of £20,000 or less. By the time you factor in ever increasing costs and taxation it should be obvious that being a landlord is not some get rich […]

So, our property company pays corporation tax at 19%. If we then declare a dividends, due to being a higher rate tax-payers we pay another 32.5% tax personally, and the company receives no tax credit for that. That’s a net effective tax rate of 51.5% – ouch! Having said that, it’s still a lot better […]

The recent discussion over the future of the S21 process makes us wonder what protection does a landlord have when letting via Airbnb et al? What happens if the guest outstays their welcome and stops paying? Airbnb could keep taking card payment until either the card is blocked or runs out of credit, but how […]

With jitters that prices may drop, but still with plans to buy later this year (at reduced prices?), some of our landlords are now capital raising and releasing what they can based on the current (highest?) values, and then planning on using those available funds to snap up the opportunities when they come their way. Many portfolios […]

The consultation into which major reforms to make to private sector tenancies, including the case for a Housing Court, longer tenancies and the future of Section 21, has now ended and the industry awaits the result.  Critics are calling for Section 21 evictions to be banned, arguing that they tilt the balance of power towards landlords. […]

Scotland’s private rented sector (PRS) continued to rise as at Q4 2018, up 5% year on year (YOY), according to the latest Citylets report. Strong demand for properties of all sizes in major cities underpinned growth, with larger 3 and 4 bed properties posting the steepest gains as an increasing number of families settle in […]

HMRC’s report for 2018 will not come as a surprise to most as there has been very little positive news of late. The successive tax hikes introduced on residential property and the lack of a clear Brexit scenario looms heavily over the UK. Transactions have fallen by 2.6% in 2018 and now stand at just […]

Shelter’s accounts for the year to March 2018 show total income of £67.4m, and total expenditure of £66.4m.  Compared to the previous year, income was up 11% and expenditure was up 6%: click here. It got donations and legacies of £36.9 million, but spent £11.7 million on obtaining them. It got £17.3 million for housing […]

Hamilton Fraser (HFIS plc) has taken full ownership of Tenancy Deposit Solutions Ltd (TDSL), which runs mydeposits, one of the three Government-approved tenancy deposit protection schemes, following the purchase of the shares of its joint venture partner, the National Landlords Association (NLA). The NLA agreed to sell its stake when it became clear that the […]

From their Latest PRS report, click here to view full report, ARLA have extrapolated form the statistics that in December on average each of their London based letting agents saw six landlords selling up and exiting the market. The National average is four per agency branch. ARLA Propertymark Chief Executive,David Cox, said: “Over the last […]

I’m wondering if someone can advise on here in regards to appeals following a possession order made under mandatory ground S21. Essentially I was granted an order for possession back in Nov 2018 for my property under the mandatory S21. My tenant has appealed this order and was given until Dec 2018 to lodge a […]

I, the landlord, am responsible for paying council tax. The council however, has demanded that I must inform them of the names of all tenants and keep them updated if a new tenant moves in. I was not aware of this legislation and cannot find any references to it. I have queried it with the […]

Hi there. I’m soon to be selling an HMO and will realise around £200k profit. I live in the south east, aged 54, have a couple of other rental properties, but want to reinvest this money to produce maximum income. I don’t want flats. How would you invest it and why? Many thanks Sharron

I have been reading several Facebook Group discussions about letting to pet owners in light of the tenants fees ban and new deposit protection rules capping the maximum amount of deposit to five weeks rents. The general consensus is that landlords no longer wish to service this market, but to me, this = OPPORTUNITY. When […]

Calling all singers or self-styled Karaoke Kings or Queens. For a bit of fun I’ve tinkered slightly with the lyrics to Gwen Guthrie’s 1986 hit pop song ‘Ain’t nothing going on but the rent’, so if you’re up for a bit of fun, the new lyrics are posted below. If you’re feeling brave and fancy […]

THE proportion of income spent by private tenants on rents has fallen over the past decade according to new official figures. The English Housing Survey for 2017/18, published today, shows that the proportion of income spent on private rents was 32.9%, down from 34.3% in the previous year, and from 36.4% in 2014/15. With Ministers […]

Hi All, We have just seen a couple who wish to move into a rental property of ours, but because their current tenancy agreement has a start date of the 24th, their letting agent has told them that if they wish to terminate their tenancy (commenced 24th September 2017, for 18 months), they must pay […]