Hello, any help would be appreciated indeed! I am going to tribunal vs landlord. If there is NO existing damp proofing course on the building would having one done be considered an improvement or a repair to the property? Many thanks Paul

The summer can be a difficult time to sell a property, with holiday season in full swing and families spending time entertaining their children rather than house hunting. However, there are some advantages of marketing a home in the summer and NAEA Propertymark has a few simple tips and tricks to attract a summertime buyer. […]

Hi there, I am the freeholder of 5 flats in a building. The basement flat was sold about 14 months ago and the leaseholder now is going to sell the flat to her mother, but according to a surveyor’s visit she says there is a damp in the basement (in part of the hallway). The […]

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has slammed the Government’s response to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee’s report on the private rented sector, with the Government refusing to take on key recommendations. CIEH had previously worked with the HCLG Select Committee on their inquiry, and gave evidence in February this year […]

The FCA (Financial Conduct Authority), who regulate Banks, are keen to hear from anyone affected by the Bank of Ireland mortgage hike scandal. The more people report this to the FCA, the stronger their case to take appropriate action against the Bank of Ireland and any other mortgage providers who hiked customers mortgages by altering […]

Like many property people I started out part time in between my Corporate career. Evenings and weekends became the times where I would build my property portfolio and was the beginning of what is now Grace Charles Property (GCP). Making things stream lined and easier for myself meant I could do more with little time. […]

Hi All, we are thinking of downsizing into our buy to let that we have owned for 20 years and selling our residential house. Initially I mentioned this to our accountant and he just laughed, could anyone please tell me how this would be treated tax wise. Thank you Maggie

The regulatory attack on the PRS by Central Government, and Bankrupt Local authorities has been relentless. I don’t need to remind Property 118 readers, but Sect 24, Selective Licensing, and now 3 year tenancies have hammered landlords, both portfolio and small landlords. We have the NLA today saying that they have been mislead by the […]

The new government consultation into making longer term tenancies the default option in England, ‘Overcoming the Barriers to Longer Tenancies in the Private Rented Sector’, is considering financial and tax incentive for landlords. Please see the specific section from the consultation below: “80. Alternatively financial incentives could be explored. This could be quicker to implement […]

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 […]