Last year we became landlords for the first time, and used a  local agent to let out the property on a rent collection service. On the day of signing the contact, we were completely misled about their terms of  renewal and termination , especially since we specifically asked direct questions. We were neither left with […]

A new industry pledge to stop leaseholders being trapped in unfair and costly deals has been unveiled by the Communities Secretary, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, today (28 March). More than forty leading property developers and freeholders, including big names such as Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Homes – have already signed the government-backed pledge, which […]

I bought a sheltered accommodation property for my mum to live in some years ago and is unencumbered. I now wish to transfer part of it to my brother each year to use up my capital gains and will do this by declaration of trust. I could register it at land registry, but with these […]

 ARLA Propertymark is today issuing its February Private Rented Sector (PRS) Report and David Cox, Chief Executive, said: “According to data from the Office for National Statistics4, private rent costs rose by one per cent in the year to February, and our data shows that the number of tenants successfully negotiating rent reductions fell. We warned […]

I’m a small landlord with 2 properties, one of which has a very low EPC (it was an F last time). It has storage heaters and I’ve been told even replacing them with more modern ones, may not change this. It’s a 2 bed, spacious, airy and light 1st floor flat, above a pizza restaurant. […]

Former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith has criticised policies of former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne with regard to housing during conversation at this year’s Landlord Investment Show in Olympia. Iain Duncan Smith MP, former leader of the Conservative Party, made the remarks at a government panel debate at the Landlord Investment Show […]

A panel of experts were unanimous in their belief that there are grounds for optimism in the UK housing market over the next five years, at an opening debate for the Landlord Investment Show 2019 in London Olympia. The Landlord Investment Show 2019 kicked off at Olympia London on March 21st, commencing with a government […]

Tax Efficient Extraction of Profit From Companies For 2018/19 For many years accountants and tax advisers have suggested that director/shareholders should extract profit by paying themselves a low salary with the remainder of their income being extracted in the form of dividends. Although dividends are not deductible in arriving at the company’s taxable profits, they […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 • […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Alex Cook, Litigation Solicitor and Partner at Helix Law offers his view on the world of property development training. Would you like to get rich quickly? There’s a host of people out there telling us we can all be property millionaires – but at what cost? Welcome to the world of property development education, training […]