Page 693 – Property118

Landlord obligations whilst waiting for Possession Order?

11th May 2016

I have served a S21 on my Tenants and when they failed to leave the property, I have applied for a Possession Order with local courts. This has been served and the 14 days allowed for the Tenant to put in a defence expires on Friday. My question is – the washing machine has broken, […]

Extending a lease when freeholder as possessory title?

11th May 2016

I own a flat with low lease 62 years on an Absolute title. However, the freehold deeds were lost and the freeholder now has a Possessory title a year ago (in 12 years they can upgrade to absolute). I have paid for two surveyors and legal fees and negotiated a premium to extend the lease. […]

Time between exchange and completion?

11th May 2016

My grandparents are downsizing to a flat and are able to purchase a new property without selling their current family home and without needing a mortgage (they have also paid off the mortgage on their house). My husband and I would like to buy their house and they are happy to sell it to us […]

Can I use deposit against arrears court fees and costs?

11th May 2016

By way of a Court judgement for possession only I am informed by my letting agent that the tenant’s deposit cannot be used against the £4,000 rent arrears plus Court fees, solicitor’s and bailiff’s costs. Is this right ? The tenant willfully stayed on after legal notices were served in order to cause me financial […]

UKAR sale of Northern Rock mortgages to Cerebus for £13bn – What does this mean?

11th May 2016

UKAR has now completed a sale of mortgages originated by Northern Rock to US private equity giant Cerebus. This reflects a ground breaking deal for UKAR and provides clear evidence that they do not intend to be medium or long term holders of the lending institutions they are now responsible for (e.g. Northern Rock, Bradford […]

Risks to novice landlords revealed

11th May 2016

Paul Shamplina, Founder of Landlord Action, is due to appear in three separate stories in this week’s episode (Wednesday 11th May, Ep10) of ‘Nightmare Tenants Slum Landlord’ on Channel Five. The landlords in all three cases have little or no experience of the buy-to-let industry and this week the show shines the spotlight on just […]

Government may look to ban Gazumping

10th May 2016

Around 200,000 or 18% of house purchase transactions fall through every year with the Telegraph reporting that the Department for Business Innovation and Skills have been in talks with the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA). The discussions were to consider the idea of introducing the Scottish system which is also used in other countries […]

Zoopla figures show property prices being more heavily discounted

10th May 2016

New figures from Zoopla show that the average discount on asking price for property has increased to £25,265 (up £4,000 on January) and that 29% of all properties on the website have had their asking price cut at least once since they were listed. Popular press are calling this the property bubble bursting. The Halifax […]

Buy to Let in Ltd Company name – New specialist lender

10th May 2016

New lender, Foundation Home Loans, has launched into the Buy to Let market specialising in criteria for investing in the name of a Limited Company post clause 24. This niche will in particular allow new investors to start by avoiding the mortgage interest relief penalties of borrowing in a personal capacity without a mark up […]

Joint borrower sole proprietor mortgage to avoid extra stamp?

10th May 2016

I have a property that I rent out on a consent to let basis with my bank due to it being in negative equity. I have lived with my girlfriend for around 18 months in her house and we would like to buy a house together. As everyone is aware the SDLT has now kicked […]

Old Deposit?

10th May 2016

I was wondering where I stand on this. I have a long standing tenant who’s tenancy agreement started in October 2004 and was originally for 6 months and than after just reverted to periodic tenancy at the end of the 6 months. I have never protected the deposit. What sort of issues could this cause […]

Bank base rate cut possible?

9th May 2016

Amid what looks likely to be slowing growth figures for April, the Bank of England is predicted in the inflation report due this week to produce its most detailed analysis on the risks of Brexit and the continued uncertainty that this is causing in the economy. The economy looks like slowing quickly before the June […]

Advice on buying investment property in Australia

9th May 2016

A friend of mine is looking to buy one or two investment properties in Australia (Sunshine Coast area). They are wondering what is the most comprehensive and reputable equivalent of Rightmove/Zoopla and similarly are there any other impartial resources or forums they could draw upon? Hopefully someone out there on property118 can point me in […]

Potential Spanish tenant difficult to reference?

9th May 2016

I recently showed my vacant property to a family consisting of an English father and Spanish mother with 2 children. After a series of strokes, the father is now on disability benefit and his wife is his carer. They want to rent the house. The Spanish lady said she had not been in the country […]

Freeholders being taken for a ride?

9th May 2016

I own a buy to let flat. I am one of 18 freeholders. The new Manager, who was not elected, took over and increased our management fee by 70% because he wants £9000 per year for his pocket, plus the £12000 per year for maintenance costs we were paying previously (the complex of 18 flats […]

I am being sublet to and didn’t realise?

9th May 2016

I am currently renting a room in a flat, and to start it all seems genuine, deposit etc, there was just no contract. A few months in, I was asked to pay cash rather than standing order. I never thought anymore of it. Then after a few more months, the neighbours have been asking me […]

Let down badly by letting agents

9th May 2016

We feel we have been badly let down by our letting agents. Despite engaging letting agents to manage our home, our house has been left in the most appalling condition. The tenants left owing arrears (which, having paid an insurance to the agents, we have recouped) and we don’t know where they have gone. The […]

Recoup costs from tenants owing arrears and caused damage?

9th May 2016

We would be interested in knowing how to go about recouping costs from tenants regarding the damage they have caused. Our tenants left owing arrears and having caused significant damage to our property. We do not know where they are (although we do know where one of them worked/still may work). We have received payment […]

Management company incompetence has cost me!

6th May 2016

I purchased a leasehold flat managed by a Housing Association in 2014, the property is on a development with housing association and privately owned property. The private properties receive 6 monthly service charges from a management company. The HA manages the property and levies a monthly charge on their managed properties. After 6 months, I […]

Should I buy in a selective licensing area

6th May 2016

Hello friends, I would be grateful for your opinion about something urgently. I have done my research, but it would be really helpful if some landlords with experience can give me any advice. I am planning to buy a BTL property just a standard 2 or three bed terrace in Middlesbrough, a decent home as […]

Councils told to stop telling tenants to stay till the eviction date

6th May 2016

In case you’re not on their mailing list and no doubt David Carter Of The Sheriffs Office fame will be along shortly to let you all know this, but I’m giving you all the heads-up anyway (we landlords need all the advantage we can get). Housing minister, Brandon Lewis has told all local authorities to […]