Page 599 – Property118

Best way to invest £100k – quick poll

16th February 2018

I know there are many, many variables to this question but as a quick poll (assuming we all know about section 24, SDLT etc,) how would you invest £100k? 1, Buy more property through new limited company but maybe not great for regularised income? 2, Buy a holiday home, which avoids section 24 for now […]

Guarantor but left with Council Tax!

16th February 2018

A tenant who signed a one year contract in November 17 called in January saying she was moving out the following week! My Letting agent advised the guarantor would have to pay and for me not to worry as the contract would only change when a new tenant takes over the property. I have now […]

TAX on Self Build in Garden and on same title?

16th February 2018

I am living in a house for last 5 years that have large garden and recently got Planning for building another similar house in the garden. I want to build the new house as self build and move in to it as my PPR. Once I moved into new house I want to renovate the […]

Mortgage rates set to be repriced upwards in coming weeks

16th February 2018

Whether you own a single property or a portfolio, if your assets are subject to mortgages and secured loans, now is the time to review whilst rates are probably at the lowest they will be for a long time. Industry experts are warning of significant upward interest rate changes for mortgage rates in the next […]

Chalk-drawn question mark on blackboard representing a landlord’s query about letting agent responsibility

Necessity to disclose suicide in rental property?

16th February 2018

Unfortunately our long standing tenant recently took an overdose, which resulted in her death. We don’t know if she died in the house or in hospital. Our rental agent has said that it is a legal requirement to disclose these facts to prospective tenants. Is this information accurate? It seems a strange area to be […]

Leasehold system is very much alive despite the Government’s measures

15th February 2018

In light of the Government’s crackdown of ‘unfair and abusive practices within the leasehold system’, online housing agents Sellhousefast.uk decided to investigate the sales of leasehold properties in England and Wales. Sellhousefast.uk analysed data from the Land Registry and found that the leasehold system is very much alive in both England and Wales. Perhaps more […]

Is Section 24 going to end student summer discounts?

15th February 2018

An issue which has been bothering me is that when national rent figures are worked out by various organisations, what do they do about student rents? As landlords know, students often pay half rents over the summer. However, since the Government launched its war on landlords, most viciously with Section 24, I believe many landlords […]

Stagnant property market causes drop in Conveyancers’ workload

15th February 2018

This could be more of a true reflection of the real housing market than most other figures as it shows the end product of purchases and remortgages. Stagnated UK property market hits conveyancers During a testing year for the UK property market, conveyancing firms have been fed a lower volume of transactions, resulting in the […]

Moving to France but double the tax returns!

15th February 2018

I have a small portfolio of properties rental properties in the UK as well as a teachers’ pension both of which would remain taxable in the UK if I relocate to France. My problem is that the tax year in each country is not the same and it seems that I can change neither. The […]

Cuddly Corbyn wants to give tenants the right to keep pets

14th February 2018

In an effort to win over animal loving votes the Labour party wants to give tenants a default right to keep pets in their rented home. Landlords can only refuse permission under the 2015 Consumer Rights Act if it is reasonable to do so, for reasons such as the animal’s size, possible damage and impact […]

Cartoon illustrating the burden of Capital Gains Tax on landlords and property owners.

Can I move back into my BTL to minimise my CGT liabilty

14th February 2018

I hope this forum can help for my CGT/PPR problem. This is my exit strategy to sell my properties I bought House A with my wife in 1987 for £82000 and lived there as my PPR until 2000. I bought House B (my current property) in 2000 for £230000. I let House A from 2000 […]

Can I rent property pending Prohibition Notice appeal?

13th February 2018

I was told by the council (South Holland) in North Cambridgeshire that there was a prohibition notice on my property and the tenant has vacated. However, when I sent workmen to secure the property this was not the case the tenant was still in situ. The following week the tenant did vacate and the schedule […]

English Riviera – Luxury retirement retreat investment

13th February 2018

Bancourt House is a luxury retirement resort based in the Torquay area of Devon – famously known as the English Riviera, aimed at accommodating both short-term and long-term residents. The building will be transformed to include 42 luxury studios. On site will be amenities typically associated with luxury, such as a heated swimming pool, exclusive […]

Consultation feedback halts Selective Licensing!

13th February 2018

Telford and Wrekin council wanted to impose a Selective Licensing scheme for Landlords, but had 900 responses to its consultation resulting in the scheme being dropped. This is the most feedback the council has ever received to a consultation with a significant backlash to the plans. Landlords are no longer faced with purchasing a five […]

Cheap BTL needs Housing Association?

13th February 2018

My son has only £25000 to invest in property which means looking in the North East where good returns can be made if the rent is paid! ​To be safe we think we have to rent to a Housing Association and I’m wondering if landlord readers have done this successfully. I’ve rung a few Housing […]

Mortgage Express transfer to Rosinca Mortgages – anyone else?

12th February 2018

My wife and I have just had a letter from Mortgage Express to say that our 11 Buy to Let loans are being transferred this month to Rosinca Mortgages a trading name of Topaz Finance ltd. Our loans are on the beloved tracker rate. The letter states that the existing terms and conditions will not […]

Freeholder refuses section 22 request

12th February 2018

I served a section 22 request on a freeholder by which they are required to provide their invoice and other evidence for last year service charge calculation for free within a month. However. instead of sending me all their invoices etc they offered their office visit (saying will provide all I need for inspection) or […]

Help – I’m buying a property with an existing tenant

12th February 2018

I actually spend my time refurbishing property and reselling it. I have zero experience in the rental market and no knowledge on how to be a landlord. The property I’m about to buy is comprised of three flats, one has a tenant and I am told is on a fixed contract until next February. This […]

Sold property but still being chased for council tax!

9th February 2018

Early in 2016 I obtained probate for a deceased relatives property and sold it at auction, but have just received two council tax bills for it. On checking the Land Registry entry I see that my deceased relative is still shown as the owner! I know that the buyer failed to complete on the due […]

Bank of England emblem symbolising decision to hold the Base Rate at 5%

Base Rate stays at 0.5%, but rises may come sooner than forecast

8th February 2018

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously to keep the Bank of England Base Rate at its current level of 0.5%. However, the sting in the tail is that excess demand is predicted to exacerbate the ongoing cost push inflation levels of 3%. To bring inflation back down to 2% in the medium term, 2-3 […]