There has been some talk about landlord registration or licensing schemes in England, those already operating and those proposed by politicians. I have properties in Scotland where there is a Landlord Registration Scheme in place. All landlords throughout Scotland are supposed to be registered. I say supposed to be because I know that many are […]

In a rising property market, you can buy almost anything and the rapidly rising market, will ensure you make a profit. However, over the next few years the recent changes to buy-to-let taxation and uncertainty over Brexit negotiations, will result in slower annual property price inflation over the coming years. Professional property investors treat property […]

The Conservative Manifesto 2017 says they will act in specific markets including the PRS and housing market, but they are very light on detail and content. They confirmed that they will continue with the ban on letting agent fee and said the following under the heading ‘Cutting the Cost of Living’. We will also improve […]

After nearly 30 years in this business and being the founder of Property118 and run the forum since 2011 I thought I had encountered most problems. However, this is a new one for me. The picture above is my “problem property”. It is in Queensway, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX1. My tenant has moved out because […]

This week (Thursday 18th May, 9pm) Channel Five’s “Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords” will highlight why Client Money Protection is of paramount importance to all landlords and tenants, as a rogue agent in Ilford fails to pass on rent or carry out sufficient referencing, leading to a sub-letting scam via a Romanian property website. When IT […]

The Lib Dem 2017 Manifesto ‘Change Britain Future’ decribes the rental market as becoming unaffordable along with house prices and says that young people in particular need help. The Lib Dem Manifesto says they will change the Private Rental sector by: Promote longer tenancies of three years or more with an inflation-linked annual rent increase […]

Hello, you might wish to sign up to Land Registry’s free alert, when anyone makes a search on one of your properties: https://propertyalert.landregistry.gov.uk/ There are rare cases of fraudsters / tenants changing their name by deed poll and approaching a solicitor to sell the property, as can be gleaned from the first 5 minutes of […]

Here are 3 things we can’t believe they never teach you at school.  How to save another person’s life with basic first aid. How to cook healthy nutritious food and How to make money and manage finances. In fact, when it comes to this last one school seems to actually ‘limit’ your potential. They teach you […]

  Date: 23rd May 2017 Time: 19;30 to 21:00 Cost: FREE Venue: Friends Meeting House, Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount St, Manchester, Greater Manchester M2 5NS United Kingdom Click Here to get FREE event tickets Organiser: Residential Landlords Association Email: [email protected] On 23rd May 2017, just 2 weeks before the country goes to the polls again the […]

My understanding of article 4 is that when introduced it means that a ‘small HMO’ that did not previously need a license will now need a license. I have also seen on a number of websites that the article 4 does not affect properties already classed as ‘small HMO’. What I don’t understand is: If […]

We all sell properties from time to time, just as we buy, but as Landlords we are usually buying a house and selling a business, and there are few agents that seem to recognise that difference. I’d be really interested to open up some discussion on how to get the best value out of the […]

I own a 3 bed flat which I rent out to University students on a single 12 month AST (the tenancy agreement asks for each person’s student id and place of study). On this basis the agreement states that council tax (along with other utilities) is the ‘Landlord’s responsibility’ as the property will be exempt […]

I have recently evicted a tenant for failing to pay rent after a prolonged legal battle and am currently £12,000 out of pocket. The tenancy was arranged by a well known national letting agency franchise who subcontracted the referencing check to a well know national referencing company. Many months too late we have discovered the […]

The Labour Party Manifesto 2017 promises to end insecurity for private renters. The Party pledges to control rent increases (Rent Controls) and introduce new consumer rights for tenants with more secure tenancies and more Landlord Licencing. This section of the document states: “Labour will make new three year tenancies the norm, with an inflation cap […]

My local borough have introduced additional HMO licensing which covers small HMOs. I am going to complete a HMO licence application and send it to the council so I remain compliant and my house is licensed, however my concerns are as follows: – Does HMO licensing speak to planning? If I go through the cost […]

I am due to move into a property sharing with 2 others (total of 3 occupants) in a HMO set up. When viewing the property/room I observed that there is no lock on my soon to be bedroom door. When I asked the landlord if he could fit a lock he advised that I would […]

Our BTL mortgage is currently in joint names. As a higher tax payer, I am looking to mitigate my tax costs going forward but am confused as to whether a Declaration of Trust would work in our scenario? What options are available to us? My husband pays tax at 20%. Plus what would the CGT […]

My wife and I put some of our properties with an agent, but have since taken them back due to abysmal service.  The tenants have received the bond back. Is that normal practice and if so what next? Many thanks Peter

Many landlords are experiencing issues with Universal Credit. The communication is poor, landlords are putting in APAs, but unable to communicate with DWP to find out the process of the APA. As a result many landlords have tenants with high rent arrears – the system needs changing as landlords seem to be punished for providing […]

I use an agent to manage my properties and they are starting to use Tenant Shop to manage tenant changes for utility companies etc. I have googled them and they seem to get reasonable reviews, they make their money by moving tenants utility providers, and seem to give a kick back to the letting agents. […]

This is an unusual one. I’m the MD of a Right To Manage company who look after the management, maintenance and service charges for a block of 10 flats of which I own one. One of the landlords has now failed to pay the service charge for the last year now totalling arrears of £400. […]