Responding to the announcement in the Queen’s Speech to cap tenancy deposits to no more than one month’s rent, Richard Lambert, CEO at the National Landlords Association (NLA) said: “The decision to cap tenancy deposits at no more than one month’s rent smacks of a political gesture from a government desperate to court the voters […]

Today (3.30pm), at the House of Lords, The Property Ombudsman (TPO) launches its latest annual report, which reveals an increase in the number of formal complaints resolved by the scheme and a record total of compensatory awards paid by agents. Property Ombudsman, Katrine Sporle, will announce that the overall number of awards TPO instructed agents […]

I was one of the many on Property118 who joined the valiant battle in Court (well done Mark and Mark!) to recover the illegally taken additional interest on BTL loans (they had raised the margin over the BOE base rate on what were advertised as “tracker loans”.  Today in the post came the info pack […]

On Sunday 18th June 2017, Iain Duncan Smith was quoted by the Sunday Telegraph as saying …. “Finally, it is time to look again at the way we treat private landlords who buy houses to rent. George Osborne’s decisions to impose a stamp duty levy on the purchase of homes to rent, to restrict mortgage […]

I received a call from someone saying they were my long-standing 60 year old tenant’s ex-partner. She told me that, since he died in his sleep a week ago, she and his daughter have nearly finished clearing the flat and are just about ready to hand back the keys. From our brief discussion and her […]

I need to give my tenant notice to quit and sell my property so that I am not affected by the S24 loan interest relief restrictions. Does anyone have a letter they would be willing to share which they’ve used to explain to a tenant why selling his home has become necessary (especially one which […]

Hope you like the animation! Is this how you feel landlords are being treated? Maybe our eBooks can help. Landlord Tax Planning Strategies eBook Guide To Forming A Property Partnership Guide To Incorporation For Private Landlords Landlord Tax Planning Presentation in PowerPoint and PDF https://www.property118.com/property118-tax-planning-analysis-software/

As a result of finally having run out of fingers to burn off in recent years I am now taking an altogether more pro-active stance with my letting agents at the pre-tenancy stage. In particular, I now require sight of all of the tenant provided documents as well as the full results of the credit […]

I have just been informed that a long standing regulated tenant has passed away. A friend of his called and with no answer forced entry with the aid of the police. The tenant was a very private man in his middle 90’s. I have had a few tenants die in situ before but with relatives […]

My dad has just received a letter from his second wife’s sons claiming that they have the right to make him leave the home he has lived in and maintained for the last 45 years (he’s 88 now) and to make him pay back rent as well. They have sent a letter of Pre action […]

My company owns 50% of a leasehold flat and has agreed to purchase the other 50% for £57,500. I was extremely surprised to hear from my solicitor that “SDLT is payable by all companies at the rate of 3% when acquiring a property at this level.” He also stated that he was taking advice on […]

This is you LAST CHANCE to register for the Property118/YPN/Cotswold Barristers joint webinar which will take place at 8pm on Thursday 22nd June 2017. The registration link is; https://ypnmagazine.infusionsoft.com/app/form/26e17cb41be832a3d7ecbda47a2bbf61 The webinar will be hosted by Ant Lyons, founder of YPN and guest experts will be Mark Smith, Head of Chambers at Cotswold Barristers and Mark Alexander, […]

Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England, said in a speech titled A Fine Balance that he did not think now was the time to increase interest rates. This is after the last Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 5 – 3 to hold the Bank Base Rate at 0.25%. This was the narrowest […]

Today Property118 Limited sent the following open letter to HMRC.  To Whom It May Concern Property118 Limited is an online UK forum for private housing providers (landlords). Last year, our forums facilitated over 5,000,000 unique user sessions and this year that figure is expected to almost double. Our mission is to facilitate the sharing of […]

A few weeks ago Bill Irvine wrote to Director General Neil Couling requesting answers on Universal Credit APA Scheme. See Article >> An open letter to DWP Neil Couling regarding Universal Credit 15/05/2017 Many landlords are experiencing issues with Universal Credit. The communication is poor, landlords are putting in APAs, but unable to communicate with […]

The head lease on a 2-bedroom flat that I rent out says: ‘Not to use or suffer to be used the Demised Premises for any purpose whatsoever other than as a private residence for occupation by a single household . . . ‘ Due to problem with some lettings, particularly those involving students, the management […]

My landlord owns the freehold of the building and he also owns the estate agents on the ground. He insisted that the flats are insured via his insurance supplier, and it’s not expensive.. Should the insurance docs at least mention us that we own them etc.? I worry that they think he owns them and […]

I recently had to seek an eviction order to repossess a property on grounds of Section 8, ( substantial rent arrears) and dereliction of the property. The order was granted and as tenant failed to leave, bailiffs were booked to call. This was due to done on Wed 14th, 2017. On Monday the 12th, June, […]

I am a private Landlord with a modest sized portfolio. I was able to have all my properties clad with external wall insulation with the help of Green Deal grants. I kept a sample of the foam insulation used. In view of the Grenfell Towers tragedy I decided to take a sample of the foam […]

I’m after some advice on a current (no pun) situation where it appears the tenants have dangerously rewired the Consumer Unit and tapped off the electricity before the meter, forfeiting all RCD safety. The situation came to light when they complained that a gas engineer must have damaged something when he serviced the boiler “because […]

If I get consent to let from my current residential mortgage provider and buy a new home for me to live in under a new residential mortgage… any ideas if I can temporarily move back into the consent to let property DURING the consent to let period? e.g. if I need to re-do the kitchen […]