More a curiosity, but who checks that the person checking that a prospective tenant’s paperwork complies with right-to-rent rules has the right to check? I had a bit of a trawl but didn’t find (missed?) an answer to the following. The present Mrs Hamish is not of these ‘ere parts but is a key member […]

I have a small portfolio all on BTL loans, all the properties are in joint names and we are both 69. The current idea of the Tories dementia tax started me thinking about protecting the portfolio and my house by putting the lot into a trust for my two sons. I realize that there has […]

I moved into a house for 6 weeks and after putting our 3 small girls into bed on a Sunday night, we went to sleep. I was suddenly alerted to a snapping noise downstairs so I jumped out of bed and by the time I got to the top of the stairs the smoke detectors […]

Dear Mark I have heard you say on a number of occasions that incorporation is not a one size fits all solution and may not always be the answer to every individuals C24 tax problem. Whilst my question may seem to be only applicable to our own circumstances. I am sure it would also apply […]

Hello, I’m being offered an accommodation in form of a cabin house / green house as a part of a payment for my services. How could I check if the cabin is registered with local authorities as a unit suitable for this sort of arrangement ? As well as are there any other legal obligations, […]

This 10 minute video interview about landlord incorporation was recorded in April 2017, just before the doors were opened to what is believed to have been the UK’s largest landlord tax conference ever.  When you watch this video you will learn about the legislation which can mitigate capital gains tax when a landlord business is […]

HMO License in Southwark insisting I have an empty room. Appealing to tribunal. I have a flat in Southwark, 3 bedrooms and living room which I refurbished 3 years ago. Have 4 people, each have their own room and the living room is now a bedroom, and very happy. I am having to apply for […]

Hi there, I’m planning on buying my first BTL property and would be grateful if you could share your advice on a few areas, my goal is to be a full time landlord in five years’ time with an adequate sized portfolio enough to provide me with a decent income and build from there, I […]

With low property prices and a high number of students, it is unsurprising that Liverpool is a popular city for investors looking at student property. Properties in some postcodes fare better than others, so we are pinpointing the best area to invest in student property in Liverpool. When considering student accommodation investments, individuals must examine […]

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 […]