In August, the number of tenants experiencing rent hikes increased to 40%, from 31% in July. This is the highest figure recorded since records began in January 2015 and the highest level every in August. Year on year, this figure has increased from 35% in August 2017 and 27% in August 2016. ARLA Propertymark is […]

On 1st October 2018, changes to the Section 21 Notice come into force for letting agents and landlords. This will require all Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs), regardless of their start date, to comply with guidelines as to when and how a landlord can serve a Section 21 Notice, which enables them to terminate a tenancy […]

Thank you very much to Malcolm and his team at Brooklands Commercial Finance along with Shawbrook Bank for running the seminar and using the Shawbrook offices in the heart of the City. We started with a Mortgage and Lender Market Update in particular discussing rental stress testing and the amount you can borrow by using […]

Bod has a dilemma. He is a portfolio landlord who is badly affected by the Section 24 restrictions on finance cost relief. We have been friends on Facebook for a long while and Bod messages me regularly. As you can probably guess, Bod is a made up name because my friend wants to retain anonymity. This […]

I desperately need help with what to do with my shop that has self contained flats above re s157. I have drawn a blank with anyone who can help me ascertain 1991 Building Reg compliance so I’m exempt from licensing. Therefore I need to consult a legal expert with what I do with 1 week […]

Our 90 year lease requires us to obtain a licence to underlet each time we get a tenant. The managing agent charges about 250 pounds and the lessor insists using their solicitor for a further £400 plus vat. Can this be challenged? If so can I recover my own legal expenses for doing so? Many […]

Hi, A general question which I am sure has a simple answer but I would like to seek a range of views. I currently have a few BTL’s on an interest only basis with mortgages currently running up to retirement age. I do not intend selling the properties as I wish to pass them onto […]

I’m looking for some advice on how to re-finance 3 properties I have inherited. My father passed away, leaving me a house and two flats. The lenders are looking for redemption. My only option if I would like to keep these properties with a view to BTL, is to refinance. The two flats are an […]

Hi – just wanted to check if there are any laws in this area. I am the leaseholder in a small group of flats (own share of freehold as well). It seems one or two flats have not been paying their share of freeholder fee e.g. ground rent, insurance, some monthly fee etc. So it […]

I am a licence holder in the Liverpool Landlord Licensing Scheme/Scam. I have received an email from the Council reminding landlords about the new legislation regarding HMO’s. That is fine and councils should be contacting landlords about such matters, however, it was the final paragraph that alarmed me, and I quote:- ‘Anti-social behaviour during Freshers’ […]

New research shows a staggering 64% increase in the amount of Londoners moving overseas, according to leading home moving company AnyVan.com. How many of these include Landlords heading for countries with no CGT such as Malta, Portugal and Cyprus? The latest statistics show migration demand from the capital since the start of 2018. The figures […]

We own 3 apartments in a building, the only 3. The landlord owns the freehold and the estate agency below. Only our tenants use the entrance door/hallway, theoretically* (I will come onto that later) We have a Service Charge agreement/split of 42% him, 58% us. Simple. So the first question: is the Freeholder liable for […]

With an extension of the rules bringing a wider range of houses in multiple occupation (HMO) into the mandatory licensing regime coming into effect on 1 October, landlords have just one week to apply for a licence. This licensing requirement applies to all properties that meet the following criteria: is occupied by five or more […]

Shadow Housing Minister, John Healey, is expected to announce a raft of new, and some existing, tenant legislation the Labour party are proposing at their party conference should they find themselves in government. The stand out plan expected to be unveiled is a £20m fund for a ‘Renters’ union’ to assist tenants in disputes with […]

I have an HMO in which one tenant started living with a woman, subsequently they had a baby, living in one room of the house. They have always paid the rent on time and are continuing to do so. However, their baby is scaring away other tenants creating empty rooms in the house and so […]

To all Landlords, I worked out a detailed time sheet for the likely average cost of Selective Licensing for Nottingham Landlords. Including the paperwork, running around, arranging extra certifications, small works associated with them, checking paperwork of tenants, keeping up with reports etc. we are looking at £2400 (conservative estimate) over 5 years including the […]

Firstly the facts: I have a one bed, 5th floor BTL flat which is fronted by huge sealed unit double glazed windows. It’s in a former office block which was into flats two years ago 100 yards from a major train station in Bucks. It has an NHBC (or equivalent) ten year warranty. It is […]

Discussions over the future of a post-Brexit Britain are dominating the media right now, and unsurprisingly tension levels are running high. Concern of a no-deal Brexit and negative reports are only spreading fear around people’s financial future. When you have worked hard for your money, how can you trust where to invest it? There are […]

Andrews Property Group has announced its largest dividend payment to shareholders since 2004.  Between them, Andrews Charitable Trust (ACT) and Speaking Volumes will share a payment of £1 million. Andrews Property Group is owned by these two charitable trusts which together benefit from the profit the business generates.  This is unique within the property sector […]

From 1st October 2018 all properties in England which house 5 or more people in two or more separate households will require an HMO licence. In 2006 Mandatory licensing of HMOs came into force for properties of three storeys or more with five or more people making up two or more separate households living in […]

Hi, I’m looking for software to help calculate the rents. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy, and I would prefer simplicity over bells and whistles. For years I have used a simple checklist XL spreadsheet and then as a backup used a freelancer who uses CFP (professional rental software). However I would now like […]