We have just had the latest ridiculous service charge bill (e.g. £250 for common parts electricity when we have one light-bulb on a timer in the hall and have used 120kwh this year!) from our freeholder who we know to be a particularly bad one (Trustpilot shows 94% “BAD” / 1* reviews) when we received […]

We own a commercial unit in a mixed used building. We recently had major issues with our Freeholder (FH) that has now mainly been resolved. The FH has presented us with an admin charge that we will dispute once we saw the breakdown. What I would like to know is can we counter the admin […]

In September 2018 we paid a substantial reservation fee to a Property Developer through a well known Property Investment Group to secure a new build apartment in Sheffield. The agreement we had with the developer and all the agents is that exchange of contract and stage payment would be made upon start of construction and […]

There has been much talk in recent media about landlords and letting agents discriminating against tenants who claim benefits for housing. I don’t think that is the case at all, these landlords and their agents are simply refusing to hand they keys of their valuable assets to people who present a high risk. Would you […]

Responding to an announcement from the Government that it plans to work with stakeholders to address the issue of ‘No DSS’ adverts in the private rented sector, John Stewart, Policy Manager for the Residential Landlords Association said: “Landlords should not refuse someone solely because they are on benefits, and should consider prospective tenants on a […]

The Mortgage Credit Directive (MCD) came into force in March 2016. This required brokers to consider a second charge alongside a remortgage, when clients were looking to raise funds on their property. Since then they have grown in popularity and the terms available in the market have improved with Second charge loans available up to 95% […]

Housing Minister Heather Wheeler MP has confirmed over £19.5 million is to be shared among 54 projects across England to help thousands of people who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, to secure their own home. Councils will use the funding boost to help vulnerable people secure their own tenancy through support such […]

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 Clapham Meeting property networking event Tuesday 5th March 2019. The event will start at 6:00pm until 9:00pm and will be free for guests of Mark Smith that have not previously […]

Hi everyone. I would like to seek advice on final rent as terminated by my tenants. Original AST signed through agent (introduction service) on 27/10/15 for 12 months. An amendment was signed directly with tenants on 27/10/17 with rent increased, other clauses remain. New deposit certificate issued although deposit amount unchanged. After 27/10/18 the contract […]

In December 2015 I was notified, under a section 20, that work needed to be undertaken to the car park at a cost of £497.38 per flat (24 flats in block) which we paid in December 2015. Part of the work was completed in 2016, but work ceased due to additional work that was needed. […]

I came across this posting on another forum and wanted to share it with P118. “Sian Berry, The Green Party’s London Mayor candidate plans to introduce a right to buy for tenants. Sian Berry has been influential to Sadiq Khan, The London Mayor who has adopted Green policies and also Jeremy Corbyn so there is […]

The High Court in a ruling this morning have said it will be illegal to roll the “Right to Rent” scheme in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland without further evaluation! This is the much criticised regulation requiring landlords to be HM Border Force officials and document proof that a tenant has the right to stay […]

Croydon are doing a consultation so they can implement borough wide Article 4 restriction on HMOs. Their main claim is that 3 bed or more houses are being lost to HMO conversions. Details can be found: Click here The ‘evidence’ is dubious. If you look at there evidence report, there is Figure 1, page 10 […]

The Times has highlighted a First-Tier tribunal ruling that overturned a decision to charge the additional 3% stamp duty for a second property, because it was not deemed suitable to be used as a dwelling on the date of purchase. HMRC have to date applied the stamp duty surcharge for properties capable of being used […]

We are delighted to offer two amazing opportunities within this high specification refurbishment, in the sought after L25 postcode of Gateacre. We have been able to secure discounted prices exclusively for our investors.  The spacious 2-bed apartment is available for only £170,000 and the beautiful studio apartment for only £90,000.  According to local letting agents, these outstanding […]

Sorry last property now sold We are delighted to offer our investors one final opportunity to invest at this fantastic Newton Road development in St Helens, near Liverpool. Having already sold 6 plots at this popular development, and we have been offered one final 2-bed, build complete property for the amazing price of £117,500 with an anticipated […]

Dear Information Commissioner, DWP are disclosing multiple tenants’ National insurance numbers to me. I am also copying in some of the Universal Credit UC staff that I have been sending the below to, some quite high up people actually, so you can see the UC Director Generals know about this, but have done nothing. The […]

Private landlord, Rob Bloor, has received a payout of £100,000 by Doncaster Council after he threatened to take the council to court over alleged slander. This was reported in the Doncaster Free Press yesterday. Mr Bloor alleges the council had slandered him by making unfounded and disparaging remarks regarding his honesty to people who were […]

Please see this BBC iplayer link for the Inside Out North East episode 25th Febuary. It shows an environmental health officer inspecting problem properties. At 9.14 mins you get the council view acknowledging licensing plans could put rents up! At 11.10 mins Chris Jackson asks landlords to get in touch if they don’t agree with […]

James asked …. I asked some accountants about the directors loan in a company and they said you could gift the directors loan as a potentially exempt transfer for IHT purposes (tick! ?) but that from the moment, you as a director could then not ever have that money repaid to you from the company loan […]

This furnished holiday let investment opportunity is based on an operational holiday resort based in Cornwall – a popular tourist destination for British and overseas holidaymakers alike. As the site is successfully trading, the developer is looking to expand and therefore investors will have the opportunity to purchase the additional homes that will be built […]