Hello all, I am planning a small development on the side of my property. It will be a 35m2 maisonette and completely new construction (but adjoining the original house. Will be putting in electric heating and hot water – the question is what type? Would you recommend storage heaters, electric rads and if so oil […]

Is there any official guidance from HMRC regarding what exactly a ‘buy to let’ property is? This is important assuming that a property that require a HMO license may now not be considered wholly residential as the involvement of the landlord is much greater. Or mixed use properties such as a flat above a shop […]

I discovered the Best Offers Letting Strategy about a year ago completely by accident and it blew my mind … here’s the story …  I had owned a property in Thetford, Norfolk for about 10 years and had kept the same tenant from day one without ever having increased the rent. When he vacated, and […]

I would like to pose a question to which I assume there is no correct answer. How come Section 24 treats me as a private landlord and wishes to totally stop my tax arrangements and what would be considered as a normal business arrangement i.e. to offset my mortgage cost against profits but when I […]

The introduction and enforcement of Right to Rent checks are causing many landlords to unintentionally discriminate against international students, according to new research. 23% of student landlords are less likely to consider renting to a non-British tenant, while 76% will not consider those that are unable to instantly provide the necessary documents and proof of […]

I’m applying for an HMO licence with Haringey council and on the form they are asking about what other properties I have both within Haringey and anywhere else in the country. Is this any of their business and does anyone know if I have to give this information. Many thanks Jamie

Our 2017 property predictions have pointed to a strengthening in rental demand, due to the widening gap between the rise in wages and house price growth, and a shortage of housing. Yet, even with a strengthening rental sector, it is clear certain cities outperform others when it comes to buy-to-let. Whether it be because of […]

Housing Minister Gavin Barwell is about to go on a tour of the UK to discuss Housing from 20th February to 6th March. Is there a message you would like to give him? As you know, the Government has published a housing White Paper, ‘Fixing Our Broken Housing Market’, setting out our strategy to build […]

Hi, I am looking for advice as I guess that many people here are experts in dealing with councils. I was a tenant in Thurrock and moved out in August 2016. In Feb 2017 I received an enforcement notice for unpaid council tax. This was the first I knew of any apparent debt. I had […]

Rental income soaring as HMOs become the preferred asset class for investors, landlords, and with supply and affordability more important than ever, tenants too. In September 2016, Shawbrook Bank claimed that the Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) market was set to see immediate substantial investment and growth, based on primary research identifying that 53% of […]

I have posted before on this topic and I am looking to buy a house that has been converted without planning permission, but it has passed the time threshold for penalty action. I am therefore looking for opinions if I need to regularise building control for the conversion for me to separate and sell the […]

I currently have a Natwest BTL Mortgage that runs up until 31 Dec this year. Just thinking ahead and I’ll be on maternity leave then. If I stay with Natwest and let the current deal run off the interest and monthly repayments will obviously go up as the initial deal period is over. Chances are […]

I was wondering if anyone can help? I own a passage at the side of my house which next door have access to. We have replaced a rotten old door at the end of the passage leading on to the street. We have the right to ask the owner of next door for money towards […]

I’m living in a shared house with an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (minimum term 6 months). There’s currently an empty room in the house. The landlord said a new person would check into the room and asked us to be in to let the new person in. The person turned up and say they’re coming to […]

Regular readers of Property 118, will be no doubt familiar with the many failures by Liverpool Council with respect to their Landlord licensing revenue raising sham.  Firstly the lies peddled alleging that the entire city was an area of low demand. The scheme introduced on the back of this blatant falsehood, then fell foul of […]

I have an issue with a tenant who has lived my property for around 4 years. She has instructed a solicitor who has contacted me quoting the ‘housing disrepair protocol ‘. The solicitors letter basically says that the property suffers from damp issues, and that the tenant notified me “18 months to 2 years ago […]

Can a limited company rent out one of its properties to a director of the company who owns the property. example: Limited Company Name AB Ltd Wants to rent a property to Mr Smith who is one of the Directors of AB Ltd mentioned. Is this Allowed? Many thanks Peter

Here is a case I like to get a discussion going: An agent who knows we are moving in 4 or 5 months, but is not on contract wanted us to do him a favour and let him show our house to a potential tenant who is broadly considering moving here. We happily agreed, but […]

Last year we had put our house on the market (detached bungalow, Torbay/Devon, 2 bedrooms, open plan with sea view and large new conservatory) to release equity for funding our business. Originally we intended selling the house and moving somewhere else, but since we couldn’t find a suitable and affordable alternative nearby, we now strongly […]

As it stands Mr and Mrs Smith have no other income apart from rental income and hence would want to split rental income 50:50. However Mr Smith may take on salaried employment in the future and so will want to change the 50:50 split in the future to something that favours Mrs Smith eg 90:10. […]

I am in the process of buying an Edwardian House with a loft room. The loft room was done back in 1994 by the current sellers, there is a permanent staircase installed, the room has a roof window, is carpeted and has a central heating. The house is being sold as a 4-bedroom house not […]