We wanted to rent a flat through a West London lettings agency. We made an offer, conditioned by a list of non-negotiable requests. The agency chose to misrepresent the property, assuring us that all our conditions were met when none of them were (the flat wasn’t even cleaned/Health and Safety Risk). When confronted, the landlord […]

To: Mr Chris Stephens MP House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Date: 26.10.18 Dear Mr Chris Stephens, Universal Credit – DWP maladministration of direct payments to landlord problems causing financial hardship & homelessness.  I am in your constituent and in the private rented sector providing housing to numerous individuals and families.  Most of those individual […]

Digbeth, Birmingham is officially the coolest place to live in the UK. ‘Cool’ may be subjective. But either way you see it, this crown given by The Times can do nothing but good for the quirky Birmingham district of Digbeth. What may seem like a hip neighbourhood to bright young things, will likely resemble a slum to their parents. So […]

The Chancellor Philip Hammond announced the much anticipated Autumn Budget 2018. As expected the Welfare System was discussed with the Chancellor stating that “the old benefits system was broken” and “Universal Credit is here to stay and we are putting in the funding it needs to make it a success…… work should always pay.” To […]

The key headlines affecting UK landlords are:- The Nil Rate Band Personal Tax Allowance will increase from £11,850 to £12,500 and the High Rate tax threshold will increase to £50,000. These figures were announced in previous Budget’s as targets for 2020. These increases will now become effective from April 2019, a year earlier than expected. […]

Along with powers given to local authorities to fine landlords up to £30,000 for properties in poor condition along with other regulatory offences tenants may soon be able to sue landlords directly for properties that do not meet basic standards Labour MP Karen Buck’s Private Members Bill, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill, has […]

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have issued a press release, click here, announcing that it will instigate a Health and Safety review of the PRS: Renters are to receive greater protection thanks to plans announced by Housing Minister Heather Wheeler MP which will overhaul health and safety standards for rental accommodation – […]

Property expert, Kate Faulkner believes that growth in the private rented sector (PRS) is being partially fuelled by an increasingly high quality rental stock encouraging people to choose to rent rather than buy. Kate, who runs Propertychecklists.com and consultancy, Designs on Property, made the claim in a report commissioned by the TDS Charitable Foundation; Has […]

Hi Folks does anyone know if there is a legal requirement to provide heating that will reach 21 C in the living room? I have a tenant who states the temp is only getting up to 19C and the room is COLD. At the moment don’t know if the central heating is staying on long […]

I am trying to establish the CGT and Stamp Duty position on the basis of two unrelated individuals forming an ordinary partnership (not an LLP). To simplify matters to begin with, let us assume they both own six residential rental properties worth £200,000 each, and each of those properties has a mortgage of £100,000 secured against […]

Lettingsupermarket.com™ are proud to introduce their Norwich lettings specialist Jenna Veneziani, director of their latest franchise, Lettingsupermarket.com™ Norwich. Jenna and her team, based in Norwich, will be providing Landlords with a personal experience and superb local knowledge to ensure that every aspect of property management is dealt with as efficiently as possible. Lettingsupermarket.com™ are a […]

‘Does the truth not matter to them?’ click here Earlier this month the commercial charity Shelter issued a new strategy document. click here The following quotations are taken from section 6. entitled “Rights for renters and an end to discrimination”: “In the last two decades, as home ownership and the number of social homes have […]

I have had some success in obtaining refunds on overpaid or wrongly paid SDLT on properties I had bought in a limited company and I wondered if any others had had a similar experience. We were surprised at how easy the application process was although I couldn’t find the information on the Revenue website and […]

Being a resident of Edinburgh, I can assure you that this city is a great choice to buy to let. This is because this thriving city has everything to attract students, tourists, and professionals alike. Following are some reasons why so many people from all over the world are looking to buy to let in […]

Come join us on Wednesday 28th November at Marygreen Manor Hotel in Brentwood, Essex for our last PIP seminar of the year, to talk everything property investment! Whether you are a seasoned investor or new to property, you won’t feel out of place as the night is for YOU. On the day, please could you arrive at 6:15pm for a 6:30pm start. There […]

I have let my house through a letting agent and the tent is a single mother of two. Shes been in the house for almost 2 years. The house was gutted top to bottom before she moved in. As the last tenant trashed it. the issue is we think there is a partner living with […]

I am currently stuck with NRAM with 2 buy to lets, my problem is that since the crash they haven’t dropped their interest rate, but over the last few months as the base rate has increased they have moved up accordingly. By that measure my rate could end up at 10% while the base is […]

ARLA Propertymark is today issuing its September Private Rented Sector (PRS) Report.  Rent prices Year on year, the number of tenants experiencing rent hikes continued to rise. Almost a third (31%) of renters saw their payments increase in September 2018, compared to 27% in 2017 and 24% in 2016 Looking at shorter term trends however […]

The Mortgages for Business’ Buy to Let Index indicates an increase in the number of buy to let lenders lending to limited companies by 47% over the last year. Click here to see the full article. The index shows: There are now 22 BTL lenders now lending to limited companies which is up up from […]

Do you have a tenant that is on Universal Credit and incurring arrears whilst in prison? We have been receiving a number of queries from landlords that have tenants that are in prison, as a result of their imprisonment the tenants are incurring rent arrears subsequently resulting in them losing their homes and the landlord […]

Shelter have documented their strategy for the next three years 2019 – 2022: click here to view the full document. Their purpose: Shelter exists to defend the right to a safe home. (note not to provide a safe home) How they will achieve change: “A nationwide movement demanding social housing and defending rights – In […]