The Quest Survey and Valuation reporting systems are the most widely used by surveying firms across the UK reporting back to lenders and customers. They are therefore in one of the best positions to report on activity in the Buy to Let market as a valuation survey is only instructed once a mortgage has been […]

My tenant moved in before I had time to check his references as he told me it was his only day off. I then found out he had a criminal record. I have not taken any money off him and he has not sign a tenancy agreement. I need him out for the sake of […]

The Bank of England have released their latest Inflation Report and have revised future predicted interest rates down based on reduced growth and inflationary pressure. This is being partially blamed by the Bank of England on the destabilising effect of a possible Brexit vote on the economy. See Table 5A below showing predicted Bank Base […]

Hi all tricky one for me but hope someone out there has an answer. I have a tenancy agreement now periodic, but the agency managing the flat have been dissolved voluntary strike off confirmed it via companies house. Is the tenancy agreement now null and void and what happens next. Many thanks Ashley

My wife and I are looking to buy my in-laws home as they are looking to downsize. Is it possible to pay them less than their asking price for the house (thus reducing stamp duty) and pay the rest as a cash lump sum? If so what would be the tax implications for them in […]

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, […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]