I have a West Brom buy-to-let mortgage expiring (actually it has already expired on 1st April). I was part of the Property 118 action group that reclaimed thousands of pounds from them following their unlawful interest rates rises a few years ago. They have now exited the buy-to-let market and therefore have no product for […]

I’m about to offer my tenants a few hundred quid to voluntarily surrender their tenancy early. Can I legitimately deduct that money as a rental business expense, assuming that my tenants issue a written receipt for it? Thanks in advance. St Jims

What makes someone pay for a billboard advert to get their message across? Frustration!  That’s what. After having exhausted all other avenues to get my MP to listen and do something about the Government’s outrageous attack on the private rented sector (PRS), I decided to pay for a billboard. Although my MP, Penny Mordaunt certainly […]

The National Landlords Association (NLA) has today written to new Home Secretary Sajid Javid to outline its concerns regarding Right to Rent. In a letter to congratulate Mr Javid on his appointment as Home Secretary the NLA used the opportunity to press the former Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government head to review the […]

Hi all, whilst getting myself organised regarding the new GDPR regulations, it’s got me thinking about all the information I still hold for previous tenants. Eg, old tenancy agreements, notices etc and I still have details on DPS for previous deposits I have lodged. Does anyone have any ideas on how long we should be […]

If you think positive relationships and fair solutions need to be shared more in the media and elsewhere then please feel free to download a PDF version of this article via THIS LINK. You could save the PDF and email it to people (e.g. your MP and local Newspapers) or you could print it and […]

I would really appreciate any advice on this issue please.  A few years ago due to unemployment and a prolonged period without any rental income, I got into arrears with my service charge. Nothing too big £350. After resuming the monthly payments and contributed towards the arrears, I noticed discrepancies on my accounts. So I […]

In the never ending game of pass the housing parcel, James Brokenshire has been announced as the government’s new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. This follows Amber Rudd’s resignation as Home Secretary and her replacement being the previous Housing and Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid, who only took the Ministerial role in […]

In a knee-jerk response to the Windrush scandal the government has posted new Right to Rent guidance for Landlords and Letting agents below: Landlords: guidance on right to rent checks on undocumented Commonwealth citizens – Updated 25 April 2018 This information is for landlords wishing to rent private residential property in England to Commonwealth citizens […]

With the new EPC regulations requiring properties to be rated E or above there is a need for the the formulas used by EPC assessors to change regarding the use of Far Infrared heating. At the moment these panels are regarded the same as ordinary electric panels even though they are much more effective and […]

I am the leaseholder of a converted house (2 flats ) where the freeholder lives beneath my property. The clause in the lease states we each pay for 50% of the repairs to the whole property. I discovered damp in my property back in 2015 (large water stained area in my lounge where the chimney […]

Mixed partnership can be tax efficient for landlords who already pay higher rate tax, or will be pushed into  higher rate tax brackets so as a result of the Section 24 restrictions on finance cost relief. Consider a mixed partnership if:- you are currently a sole owner you jointly own some or all of your properties you […]

My wife and I established a partnership with HMRC in 2012 when we started a small business – which currently involves renting out two residential properties in Plymouth. Being retired our only other income is from UK pensions, so we are basic rate taxpayers. As my wife does the bulk of the work and made […]

My tenants are having trouble with rats scavenging rubbish bags. The local Council has recommended storing them in tough plastic containers. I asked for details of a suitable product but they said they weren’t allowed to endorse any companies! Any suggestions gratefully received. Many thanks. Adrian

Through a certain online agency I had a tenant on a “fixed term” 12 month tenancy with a “no break” clause, there was also a guarantor in place.  Within a few months the tenant made several requests to leave, each month with a different reason, non appertained to the property’s condition, suitability or safety, but […]

Between our S21 notice and regaining possession, the tenants stopped paying rent. They passed referencing in 2014, but now had 2 CCJs and admitted no agent would touch them unless they paid several months’ rent up front. They moved to a new house at similar rent and it’s fairly obvious the rent they owe funded […]

The majority of buyers report problems in the buying process, with common issues caused by delays in the chain, difficulty finding a suitable property, and homes left in poor condition. In its annual survey of home buyers, Which? Mortgage Advisers looked at the biggest issues reported during the home buying process and found that two […]

Theresa May promised the country that she would fix our broken housing market and renew the British dream. To help with this May has appointed Toby Lloyd, formerly head of policy and housing development at the anti-landlord ‘charity’ Shelter and who also lists HPC (House Price Crash) as one of his favourite websites! Toby is […]

Thanks to the only accepted hate campaign in the UK, landlords are forced to take emergency steps or leave the market NOW. Section 24 (introduced by our tenant friendly Einstein, George Osbourne) forces landlords to pay tax on their mortgage interest payments, yes money they paid as a legitimate cost of doing business and supplying […]

One of the best ways to get up to date with the law quickly is to attend the Landlord Law Conference, sponsored by TDS. And a discount is offered for Property 118 readers. This is a difficult time for landlords.  The Government, having woken up to the fact that young people living in overpriced, substandard […]

The Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) rules introduced at the end of September 2017 are having a significant impact on the buy-to-let mortgage market according to Paragon’s latest PRS Trends research, based on interviews with 203 experienced landlords in Q1 2018. The new rules comprise the second phase of the PRA’s buy-to-let underwriting […]