Should mortgage companies be able set the requirement to use a closed panel of solicitors as one of the criteria for obtaining a loan from them? I have a cousin who has his own legal practice in my area and there are a significant number of partners, enough there for any lender to allow them […]

The UK’s towns and cities where homeowners are making the most money by renting out their driveways as parking spaces have been revealed by online parking portal YourParkingSpace.co.uk. Its research shows that empty driveways, garages and secure parking spaces made more than £1,000 for their owners in 25 cities and towns across the UK over […]

Have any Property118 readers and contributors read the thorough Crisis report on homelessness? You seem to have a number of luminaries who could throw some light on what appears to be a thorough and detailed report. There may be an alternative valid view point on the way forward for the PRS. Yours sincerely, Reader‎ The […]

NAEA Propertymark has issued its April Housing Report1  with the headline – Number of property transactions increases despite fall in supply and demand. Mark Hayward, said: “Despite a fall in housing supply and demand, it’s encouraging to see an increase, for the first time this year, in the number of sales going through. This means […]

Am I correct in assuming that if my 6 month AST’s then revert to Periodic Tenancies after the 6th month, I don’t need to issue another How to Rent guide, even if a new version has been introduced by the Government, since my AST was issued? I realise that if I issue a new Tenancy […]

For the first time the government has produced a practical guide highlighting all the Council Tax discounts and exemptions to ensure families aren’t paying more than their fair share of Council Tax. Local Government Minister Rishi Sunak MP, said: “Council Tax is a vital source of funding for local government, supporting most of the day-to-day […]

Thousands of homeowners will be able to extend their properties quickly and easily without the need for a full planning application, under rules made permanent today (25 May 2019). In a wide-reaching package of reforms, rights allowing larger home extensions have been made permanent, following its introduction in 2013. Today’s news gives homeowners certainty to […]

On 1st June, The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme’s updated Codes of Practice will become effective. The revisions are substantial, and incorporate the Tenant Fees Act, Client Money Protection and GDPR requirements. Key revisions to the Lettings Code include: Tenant Fees: The Code reflects changes imposed on agents by the Tenant Fee Act 2019, with new […]

I purchased property which had many defects in its condition outlined below. I was wondering if after the recent ruling where a property was considered uninhabitable if this property I have purchased would be stamp duty exempt? Could this be claimed back now or does it have to be done at time of purchase? Defects: […]

The Customer is always right! Even when he is wrong he is right! The problem the Conservative Party had was that they can never be wrong and even when they are not right they are never wrong. The rot all started with my MP, Helen Whately, asking a question in the House of Commons. She […]

The act states that a payment is permitted, if a landlord makes a Variation, Assignment or Novation to a tenancy at the tenants request to allow a pet or another person to stay at the dwelling. So if I draw up a renewal with higher rent, would this qualify for the fee of up to […]

I’d particularly welcome comments from those within the letting business’ or especially those 118 members with legal qualification please. Last year my tenant abandoned the property half way into a fixed term tenancy, leaving rent arrears and many items damaged and lost. Furthermore she did not return the keys so an Abandonment Notice was issued […]

Landlords and agents will need to be especially careful taking holding deposits when the Tenant Fees Act 2019 comes in to force on June 1st. No more than “one week’s rent” may be taken. That is defined as “the amount of the annual rent payable in respect of the tenancy immediately after its grant, renewal […]

A friend of mine agreed with his landlord/owner (a relative) 2007 to pay the mortgage on the verbal agreement that the property would be transferred into his name. Every mortgage payment has been made on time and directly to the bank, since the agreement was made. Recently the owner has indicated that he wants to […]

The RLA has surveyed more than 6,500 landlords and agents finding more than 46% now plan to sell some or all of their rental property following government announced plans to scrap Section 21 repossessions. The research also found an additional 40% of landlords were waiting to make a decision based on it becoming clearer in […]

Following the Government role out of Universal Credit, which replaced many existing social security benefits (including housing), Caridon Landlord Solutions has been helping landlords to prepare for the changes. The challenges that both landlords and tenants have faced during the transition have been numerous, which is why Caridon Landlord Solutions was set up, helping to […]

The Landlords Alliance was set up to represent and fight for private landlords. We never planned or envisaged getting into politics; yet events have forced us to confront reality. May’s failed administration wants to scrap Section 21s, which will create potential lifetime tenancies and prevent landlords from having control over their own property. Until and […]

Has anyone converted a BTL to FHL (furnished holiday let)? After 11 yrs in residency one of my lovely tenants is leaving. Since this flat is a 5 min walk from Bournemouth’s best beaches, restaurants and bars, I am exploring the option of Holiday let. Since the Government is penalising Landlords with Section 24, the […]

Ranjan Bhattacharya – Baker Street Property Meet In 2016, Chancellor George Osborne introduced a 3% SDLT surcharge on all investment property purchases. Many buy to let investors stopped buying in high value areas like London and the South East because the SDLT surcharge made the purchase uneconomic. But if you know how, the 3% SDLT […]

Private landlords have lost faith in the Conservative Party, with only 15.75% of NLA members now saying they would support them in an election. Are Landlords now the elephant in the room for the Tories? This polling, conducted shortly after the once strongly pro-business party announced its intention to abolish the no fault section 21 possession process and end fixed-term […]

My Son lived at home with us in Surrey until he went to work in Canada 9 years ago. He bought a home there. He has now returned to the UK after selling up in Canada and has bought a home in Yorkshire. He was charged 3% stamp duty. QUESTION: As he is a first-time […]