The letting fees ban has now spread to Wales and could be introduced in the new Bill below: Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Bill – Impact Assessments We introduced the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Bill into the National Assembly for Wales on 11 June 2018. The Bill will prohibit certain payments in connection with […]

Hi all, looking for information and advice. I have a tenant that has not paid any rent from January 1st 2018. They have told me that they want a council house. They were issued with a Notice 21 and Notice 8 in February, with the Notice 21 to vacate by April 10th 2018. We are […]

A common question I am asked by landlords who are considering incorporation of their property rental business is “what does washing out Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on incorporation actually mean?”. I will explain this first using an analogy, which will make a lot more sense when I then relate it back to the question. Imagine […]

I have a commercial property with a Lease which, for historic reasons, provides for an annual rent review. The rent has not been increased for many years (my decision). This year the tenant verbally agreed an increase with the Chartered Surveyor/Valuer appointed by me, but now refuses to answer his emails, texts, voicemails or letters […]

I have been submitting my self assessment tax return for the past 12 years, however for 2016_17 which I am attempting to submit now I am coming across something that doesn’t seem to be right. For the past 6 years my small portfolio of 4 flats has made a small profit, but the prior 6 […]

I am looking to replace 3 elderly electric storage heaters in a ground floor 1-bed flat. No gas in the building so that’s not an option. I am sure technology has moved on a lot since the ones in this property were installed! What would be a good replacement, for efficiency, good appearance and to […]

Kensington have introduced a new Buy to Let range of 85% Loan to Value mortgages based on 2 and 5 year fixed rate terms. 2 year fixed rate options start at: 4.19% with a 1.5% completion fee that can be added to the loan and a maximum mortgage of £1,000,000. Reversion rate is LIBOR (currently […]

We have seen statistics on the numbers of landlords exiting the PRS, citing costs imposed by the government including Section 24 mortgage interest relief restrictions and Licensing. The statistics below showing the REDUCTION in the amount of accommodation is the ‘proof of the pudding.’ Why are the media Not asking the obvious questions and making […]

Research conducted and published by Precise Mortgages shows 38% of landlords will use limited companies to buy properties over the next year compared to 28% as individuals. This is in the wake of Section 24 mortgage interest relief restrictions. 42% of landlords with portfolios of more than four properties will be buying through a limited […]

I am buying a property for the 1st time doing the 5% gov scheme, we exchanged contracts , however there is nothing in the contract to say about the completion date. I bought it off plan, the property is still in construction, but before we exchanged contracts the verbal agreement was the property will be […]

You’d think that as the current Right to Buy legislation is now over 30 years old that the position on charges for consents or approvals under RTB leases would now be totally clear and that they’d be handled in the exact same way all across the UK… Dream on. The reality is that there is […]

We are investigating our first potential property investment as a way of helping out a close family member, and ourselves as a long term investment. We are higher rate tax earners so have looked at buying and getting a mortgage through a limited company. Would it be permissible to let the property to a family […]

My friend came to rent a room from me on an all inclusive basis. I then moved out after 1 year to live with my boyfriend and rented out 2nd room in my flat. My friend’s son came to stay …& stayed. Creating an HMO wef April 2018. I told friend that her son had […]

If you’re looking to continue to enjoy income and the potential for capital appreciation from property investment – without the hassle – a REIT is one of the solutions to facilitate this without the worry of ongoing maintenance, management tasks and ever changing regulations. Perhaps you’re worried about the challenges posed to Buy-To-Let (BTL) landlords but you are reluctant […]

In association with Mark Smith, Head of Chambers at Cotswold Barristers, we have put together a PowerPoint Show which can be watched free of charge from the comfort of your own PC, Apple Mac, Smart Phone or Tablet. The presentation provides an outline of a variety of tax planning opportunities available to landlords with anything […]

The social sector in Northern Ireland (NI) does not have the resources to meet the needs of all those who are homeless or in housing stress. Clark Bailie says this is why the NI Housing Executive is reviewing the private rented sector (PRS). Clark Bailie is the chief executive of Northern Ireland Housing Executive. While […]

I am looking for some advice in regards to overpaid rent and if the Landlord has a right to take deductions from this. Some background info which I will list in point form for ease of reading. – We were tenants on the usual tenancy agreement. – The rent increased which we were agreeable to, […]

Under the current Tenant Fees Bill the proposed maximum tenant deposit will be 6 weeks rent. However, Shadow Housing Minister, Melanie Onn, wants this to be a 3 week maximum saying: “Labour is fighting for a new three-week limit for rent deposits. The current deal for private renters is unacceptable. Labour in government would do […]

Every month I read enough conflicting reports on house prices to make your head spin. Some up, some down, some the lowest since and some the highest since etc etc. The housing market cannot be defined or predicted by one month’s set of figures from various reports that calculate the statistics in vastly different ways. […]

Sounds unbelievable, but my landlord just called a locksmith to come and change the locks and has taken possession of his house without any kind of legal process. I caught him in the act and made a video. He thinks he can just do this because “It’s my house”. He called a locksmith and drilled […]

Recently we have had 3 cases where workmen have been sent out due to problems reported by tenants. The first was a tenant saying there was a problem with a TV aerial, the second a leak from a washing machine and the third an oven not reaching temperature. The reports received by the workmen were […]