This new product has been incredibly popular with property118 readers and they have sent us an update as of Tuesday 3rd July: The maximum loan size has increased to £1 million Maximum property value is now £3 million Now no minimum equity requirement Hodge Lifetime have released a mortgage product first for the UK market […]

Responding to today’s announcement from the Labour Party that they would create “Healthy Homes Zones” and join up housing and health policy, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has welcomed the proposals but called for more details. The Labour Party has claimed that hundreds of thousands of rented homes are unfit to live in, […]

Given the recent upheaval in the Buy-to-Let market, many would assume that the number of products to first-timers would dwindle along with demand. However, the latest research from Moneyfacts.co.uk shows the number of deals to first-time landlords has risen to record levels, increasing by a massive 13% since the start of this year. Charlotte Nelson, […]

Reacting to reports that the Government will announce plans to introduce mandatory three year tenancies, Richard Lambert, CEO at the National Landlords Association (NLA) said: “In his speech to the Conservative Party conference last October, Sajid Javid announced plans for a consultation on how to encourage longer tenancies. That’s been the tone of the discussion ever since […]

The government has released to the BBC and other selected journalists that it intends to hold a consultation considering making the shortest term tenancy in England 3 years with a 6 month break clause for tenants. The consultation is due to start this week and run until 26th August. Communities Secretary, James Brokenshire, said to […]

I am hoping to let my property for 2 months while it is on the market to sell. Bills will be included but it will not be furnished. I know that you can use an AST for shorter than 6 months but this does not protect me against a tenant wanting to stay on and […]

Analysing average rental yields across UK local authorities, properties in Burnley in Lancashire offer the best returns for landlords with an annualised rental yield of 7.1%. With average house price values in the town at £76,300 and annual rents of £5,388, landlords in the area are able to leverage from a better return on their […]

New criteria is in from Virgin Money who will now lend to ‘Portfolio’ Buy to Let Landlords. Portfolio landlords are defined by having 4 or more mortgaged rental properties including the property they are making the application for. Portfolio landlords will be assessed against additional criteria and need to provide some extra documentation to prove […]

A new version of “How to Rent Guide” (England) was published 26th June 2018. Landlords cannot start eviction proceedings under the section 21 route unless the tenant has been provided with the up-to-date version of the guide for any tenancies started on or after the 26th June 2018. For any current AST in England created before […]

I was just chatting to a friend following a funeral today. She has been with her partner for 30+ years, but they are not married (and have no children). She owns an unencumbered holiday cottage in the country which they only use for themselves (not FHL/AirBnB/BTL). She is 66 and retired with a small pension. […]

Universal Credit tenant is to be made homeless because the DWP don’t reply. Comply with your rules and pay Landlord directly. How hard is that? Dear Esther & ICE, I have a tenant who has been with me approx 14 years. No problems at all. He is now on Universal Credit through the Govt’s choice […]

NAEA Propertymark is issuing its May Housing Report and Mark Hayward, Chief Executive, said: “We see this every year. House hunters desperate to get their offer accepted, and sellers on a mission to find suitable buyers, flock the market in May. They’re hoping to get everything tied up so they can enjoy their summer holidays […]

I had a tenant on a standard AST – min 6 months changing to periodic after 12 months. They appear to have left the property after 6 months without notifying the agent or returning the keys. Agent didn’t even tell me they weren’t paying rent. First I heard of it is a demand for council […]

I am taking the plunge into BTL and planning to build a property portfolio over 8 years. I would like to get general opinions and people with more experience about my business plan going forward. Background:- 1. 2 people partnership A and B (husband & wife) 2. A has no salary, but will be running […]

I would like some advice or guidance on the matter of Expat mortgages. I am a British National and have lived and worked outside of the UK for over 20 years. I already have a small portfolio of 5 x BTL’s in the UK and have had these for approx. 5 years. I want to […]

I’ve done a couple of tenancies today and the ‘How to Rent’ guide this has changed in the last 20 minutes! I wonder what would happen if I had actually signed both of these tenants up today with one before the change and one after? The new guide is also now eleven pages (up from […]

We are delighted to bring Property118 investors a fantastic opportunity to purchase a fabulous new build 3 bed, 3 storey town house, within a lovely mixed development of town houses and apartments in Heathfield, Crewe. We have been able to secure 10% off list price for our investors, which means our exclusive price is only […]

Onward has published its first policy paper, “Green, pleasant and affordable”..  It was written by Neil O’Brien, who has been an MP since June 2017.  He is a Conservative, believe it or not. His attack on BTL is only a small part of the paper, but it has obviously been given precedence in the press […]

Tory MP Neil O’Brien, former aide to George Osborne and Theresa May at No. 10, has produced the first report for radical new Conservative think-tank ‘Onward’ called Green, Pleasant and Affordable. Click here to read the full report. In this report O’Brien attacks landlords blaming them for pricing younger people out of the housing market. […]

This is the response to my email from Ed Davey MP regarding the property tax petition issue. I signed the petition some weeks ago and the government rejected it. Dear Tony, Thank you for your email regarding mortgage interest relief and stamp duty surcharge, and please accept my apologies for the long delay in replying. […]

Following a fantastic win for England we’re going back to that historical year, the one that sends tingles down the spines of the nation – when England won the world cup, 52 years ago. (Who knows, we may have another win this year) Ever wondered how the housing market has come on since that momentous […]