Page 586 – Property118

New Freeholder demanding back fees for renting?

21st May 2018

I have owned a leasehold property since 1995. After I bought it I rented it out having received permission from the freeholder. I then lived in the property for many years, but more recently I have rented it out again. The freehold was sold at some point and now I have received a letter from […]

UK Landlords Campaigning To Save Tenants From Rent Hikes and Eviction

18th May 2018

Whoever thought we would see landlords funding a campaign to save tenants from rent hikes and eviction? It’s happening though! Bournemouth is the latest City to see the erection of Section 24 campaign billboards. The first in Bournemouth is located just off 549 Wimbourne Road, Winton BH9 2HP, and traffic data shows that 578,635 motorists will pass it […]

Evicting tenants who are keeping pets without permission

17th May 2018

The first question to ask is do you have a clause in your tenancy agreement prohibiting pet ownership at the property? Why have a clause? Landlords commonly will have a clause prohibiting pet ownership for the following reasons: Potential damage to the property Problems for future tenants due to pet allergies Noise and disturbances Fleas […]

Shelter want default fees banned

17th May 2018

In addition to the government lettings fee ban Shelter are calling for a ban or limit on what they term ‘backdoor’ or default fees. Default fees are a charge written into the tenancy contract when an agreed term has been broken or a service has to be provided. Shelter listed some extreme examples of default […]

Are private landlords going soft in their old age?

17th May 2018

Public perception of private landlords is often that they are a tight fisted bunch looking for any opportunity to hike up rents or make tenants homeless. However, a recent Just Giving campaign goes at least some way to dispelling this myth. A group of landlords has raised funds to pay for the billboard pictured below to be erected at Radford […]

£1.36 million in TPO awards

17th May 2018

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has today released its 2017 annual report. Property Ombudsman Katrine Sporle confirms the number of complaints received rose by 3% to 3,658.  TPO made financial awards to consumers in 2,408 instances which totaled £1.36 million, an increase of 11% on the previous year. The report reveals the top causes of sales […]

Are Brokers the New Bankers?

16th May 2018

Long gone are the days when you could approach your bank manager and they would use their discretion regarding granting a loan. Bank lending to small and medium-sized businesses has shrunk substantially since the financial crises. New regulations make it more difficult for banks to lend to companies, on top of which customers have lost […]

Section 24 Campaign Arrives in Poole

16th May 2018

Poole is the latest City to see the erection of a Section 24 campaign billboard. It is located just off Old Wareham Road, Poole BH12 4QS and traffic data shows that 928,000 motorists will pass it every month. A second billboard will appear in Poole any day now. That one will be located at 182 […]

Up to 380,000 landlords looking to let go of property!

16th May 2018

A significant number of homes suitable for first time buyers could flood the market in the coming year as new figures show approximately 380,000 landlords 19% intend to offload property. The figures indicate that 45% of landlords who intend to sell property in the coming year plan to sell individual flats and apartments, with a […]

Static shocks – Council require full inspection!

15th May 2018

I received a phone call from the Council Disrepair Unit to say that one of my tenants had complained of receiving electric shocks. When my maintenance manager attended, half an hour later, it turned out that the tenant was receiving static electricity shocks from the kitchen tap, but only when she touched it with her […]

Aldermore Later Life Lending – up to age 99

15th May 2018

Aldermore are now they’re extending their specialist mortgage products to offering later-life mortgages exclusively distributed via 4 firms. For borrowers aged up to 99, with a maximum Loan to Value of up to 75% and  some products with no early redemption charges. Howard Reuben, Principal of our partner firm HD consultants, said: “With my new Lifetime […]

Beat the boom in Preston

15th May 2018

With millions of pounds being ploughed into the city centre, Preston is seeing a snowball effect as more investors are spotting opportunities in the city. For the second year running, Preston has been named the best city to live and work in the north-west in the Good Growth for Cities Index by Demos-PwC, which analyses […]

Looking for campaign support

15th May 2018

Dear Property118 members We are looking for volunteers to “raise the game” in regards to campaigning to have the Section 24 “restrictions on finance cost for individual landlords” repealed. If you are a member of a Landlords Association, a tenants group or a networking club, please ask your local meeting organiser to give you a […]

Luxury Lake District retirement retreat investment

15th May 2018

Abbot Hall is a former hotel that will be transformed into a luxury lifestyle retreat consisting of 50 suites and lodges for both long and short-term residents. The rooms will have magnificent views of the mountains and the sea. Abbot Hall is situated in Grange-over-Sands, a peaceful seaside retreat situated on the tip of Cartmel […]

Joint HMO tenancy – Can I just change the locks?

15th May 2018

My query revolves around the following. I understand if a tenant from a ‘joint’ HMO tenancy leaves ‘before’ the end of the fixed term it requires the agreement of the other ‘joint tenants’ but ‘Not’ if ‘after’. So query would be if a joint tenant left after the fixed term due to issues with the […]

Shelter – Social housing survey!

15th May 2018

I see that Shelter is doing a social housing survey, they say the results will be presented to the political leaders later this year! I saw the link on Facebook. Have to say I feel some of the questions are a tad slanted against private landlords. Would it help if landlords answered? Here is the […]

Reintroduce mortgage interest relief and drop 3% stamp duty surcharge

14th May 2018

Petition: Reintroduce full mortgage interest relief and drop the 3% stamp duty surcharge Created by Mark Homer – We call on the Government to reintroduce full mortgage interest relief and to drop the 3% stamp duty surcharge which is increasing homelessness by driving many landlords out of the sector, meaning tenants have less choice and […]

Shared ownership 25% and no heating

14th May 2018

Hello, I am about to purchase 25 % of a house under shared ownership and then pay rent for the equivalent 75% equity the housing association owns. However, the house has no heating at all. Can this be right? Does the Housing Association not have an obligation to provide a property with heating? Many thanks […]

Information Commissioners Office logo

Landlord GDPR policy – Short version

14th May 2018

For individual Landlords GDPR policies can seem more complex than necessary. The GDPR Policy on my web site is a One page (Two sided) document that explains a Landlords policy adequately. Many have written about GDPR, and in quite a lot of detail, unfortunately, most landlords still have difficulty in understanding their obligations. If a […]

UC email to Landlords is causing THOUSANDS to be HOMELESS!

12th May 2018

Firstly, if there are any Newspapers, Media outlets, TV program’s readings this and you are soon doing a story on Universal Credit, then I give you full permission to use all this post of mine. Below is the email that UC are now sending to Landlords when we report that the tenants are in arrears. […]

Use of official statistics on ‘leading cause of homelessness’

11th May 2018

Details of a complaint made to Statistics.Gov.Uk by Property118 member Owen O’Neil Dear Sir/Madam, I would like to make a complaint about simplification of the context of statistics to the point of misrepresentation that would mislead the public which falls under this duty of your office :- (III) official statistics in a document or statement are […]