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 […]

I had a tenant on a standard AST – min 6 months changing to periodic after 12 months. They appear to have left the property after 6 months without notifying the agent or returning the keys. Agent didn’t even tell me they weren’t paying rent. First I heard of it is a demand for council […]

I am taking the plunge into BTL and planning to build a property portfolio over 8 years. I would like to get general opinions and people with more experience about my business plan going forward. Background:- 1. 2 people partnership A and B (husband & wife) 2. A has no salary, but will be running […]

I would like some advice or guidance on the matter of Expat mortgages. I am a British National and have lived and worked outside of the UK for over 20 years. I already have a small portfolio of 5 x BTL’s in the UK and have had these for approx. 5 years. I want to […]

I’ve done a couple of tenancies today and the ‘How to Rent’ guide this has changed in the last 20 minutes! I wonder what would happen if I had actually signed both of these tenants up today with one before the change and one after? The new guide is also now eleven pages (up from […]

We are delighted to bring Property118 investors a fantastic opportunity to purchase a fabulous new build 3 bed, 3 storey town house, within a lovely mixed development of town houses and apartments in Heathfield, Crewe. We have been able to secure 10% off list price for our investors, which means our exclusive price is only […]

Onward has published its first policy paper, “Green, pleasant and affordable”..  It was written by Neil O’Brien, who has been an MP since June 2017.  He is a Conservative, believe it or not. His attack on BTL is only a small part of the paper, but it has obviously been given precedence in the press […]

Tory MP Neil O’Brien, former aide to George Osborne and Theresa May at No. 10, has produced the first report for radical new Conservative think-tank ‘Onward’ called Green, Pleasant and Affordable. Click here to read the full report. In this report O’Brien attacks landlords blaming them for pricing younger people out of the housing market. […]

This is the response to my email from Ed Davey MP regarding the property tax petition issue. I signed the petition some weeks ago and the government rejected it. Dear Tony, Thank you for your email regarding mortgage interest relief and stamp duty surcharge, and please accept my apologies for the long delay in replying. […]

Following a fantastic win for England we’re going back to that historical year, the one that sends tingles down the spines of the nation – when England won the world cup, 52 years ago. (Who knows, we may have another win this year) Ever wondered how the housing market has come on since that momentous […]

In a report published 25th June, property expert Kate Faulkner has claimed that while legislation has been introduced to improve the private rented sector (PRS), it is not being properly communicated to landlords, agents and tenants. Writing in her seventh report funded by the TDS Charitable Foundation, Kate highlights the ever-increasing financial and administrative pressures […]

On a purchase price of £100,245, a deposit of £25,061 is required based on a 75% mortgage.  This translates into a return of £353 per month after mortgage costs, which translates into a fabulous gross return on deposit monies of 16.9%. These stunning 2 bed apartments will be finished to a high specification and come complete with quality […]

Mortgage lenders and brokers have been too quiet over the Prudential Regulatory Authority’s (PRA) changes to buy to let lending, according to the National Landlords Association (NLA). The NLA says that despite the significant regulatory changes to lending criteria and the application process for portfolio landlords, introduced by the PRA over the last 18 months, […]

For around 2 years I’ve plagued myself on and off with the idea of ‘taking the leap’ and investing in my first buy to let property. I’m a 27-year-old Engineer and true to form, I must research everything inside and out to understand the market before I can decide to get involved or even pass […]