Page 698 – Property118

Gas Boilers declared At Risk because flue cannot be inspected?

1st May 2016

My gas boiler was recently classified “at risk” by gas engineer because following new 2013 ruling the flue cannot be visibly inspected. Property bought in 2008 is one of a number in a Georgian mansion ,conversion completed 2001. I currently live in the property as an Owner but plan to revert to renting the property […]

Management Charges as an alternative to Interest Payments?

1st May 2016

I have been the main funder of some student properties with a business partner. We have a share of profits from both income and capital appreciation. I put up the deposits for the mortgage, and I paid all the up-front refurbishment costs prior to letting. For the last few years I have been charging each […]

Tenant wants to go traveling for 3 months and let out his room?

1st May 2016

Hello, I’m a landlord due to the fact I’m working abroad so renting out my house whilst I’m not there! So not a professional! I have 3 single male tenants who have rented the house since September lat year. They have always seemed responsible, honest and have looked after the house well so I am […]

HMRC official landlord tax guide

1st May 2016

HMRC have developed an online e-learning package/guide that professes to help landlords understand what they need to do to meet their tax obligations. I had a quick squizz at some pages and it looked reasonably user-friendly, although judging by the test page on claiming expenses a tad over simplified and possibly patronising (i.e. who would […]

Recommendations for International Tenant Referencing?

29th April 2016

Can anyone recommend a good referencing agency for tenants who have recently lived overseas? I am only aware of one, TenantVerify, and am unable to find any reviews, positive or negative. The tenants I have in mind come from Romania, and all I can find about tenant referencing within Romania is from this EU document […]

COURT OF APPEAL UPDATE – West Brom Tracker

29th April 2016

Our legal team from Cotswold Barristers and Michael Ashcroft QC were superb at The Court of Appeal. Three judges sat on the panel to hear our case, two Lords Justices of Appeal and one Lady Justice, the most eminent being the Rt Hon Lord Justice Leveson, President of the Queen’s Bench Division and third most […]

Shared rental income now unravelling!

29th April 2016

For a couple of years now, my unmarried partner and I have been sharing rental income from her old (leasehold) flat, which she owns outright. It never occurred to us that we couldn’t split the income in this way. It was a way of rewarding me for loss of rent-a-room income when she moved into […]

Changing 6month advanced rent to paying monthly?

27th April 2016

My tenant has been paying their rent six months in advance for the last year. They’ve now asked to pay monthly. Anything I should be aware of, do I need another credit check? Many thanks Ian

Landlords profits improved by buy to let rush

27th April 2016

Buy to let landlords have experienced total annual returns of 12.2% over the past year assisted by the increase of purchases prior to the stamp duty deadline on April 1st. Average rents across England and Wales now stand at £791 a month, following a 3% increase over the year. The Midlands experienced the fastest rent […]

Deduction of tenant debt from Housing Benefit?

27th April 2016

Could anyone please let me know if it is possible to have a small sum of money deducted from a tenant’s housing or other benefit payment following an eviction where the tenant has got a county court judgment. I know this may seem a futile exercise where a landlord claiming would probably only get a […]

Share offer has gone live to the general public

27th April 2016

The share offer in LettingSupermarket.com has gone live to the general public via the Seedrs crowdfunding website. Please Click Here The crowdfunded share offer was restricted to Property118 members until now. Well over a hundred Property118 members completed the “Expression of Interest” form and I know that Chris Sheldon (Managing Director) has been busy talking […]

We go to court tomorrow – wish us Luck! (West Brom Tracker Case)

27th April 2016

This could be a historic day for all Buy to Let Landlords! The case of MARK ROBERT ALEXANDER (as representative of the “Property 118 Action Group”) Claimant – and – WEST BROMWICH MORTGAGE COMPANY LTD Defendant will be at 10 am on Thursday 28th April 2016 at Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, City of Westminster, […]

Tenant disappears after a CCJ was lodged against her?

27th April 2016

A woman rented one of our properties and then left leaving it in a terrible condition. We lodged a small claims court against her and the bailiffs were sent to her fathers house where she lives. He lives in a very expensive house in Cheshire and so could have paid off her debt, but now […]

Refused payment on service charge?

27th April 2016

I have paid our landlord by cheque our service charge less an amount that I am in dispute hence not the full amount asked for. They have refused the cheque and say that it has been shredded and have now employed a solicitor to collect arrears! As far as I am concerned the cheque is […]

shawbrook

Shawbrook Bank produce a report on the evolution of the HMO market

26th April 2016

Shawbrook Bank are now one of the most popular niche lenders in the property investment market with BTL, refurb, HMO, Bridging and Bridging to BTL products. They are one of the few that will consider loans on a case by case basis and not merely by credit score. They therefore have a very professional insight […]

Yellow cube with white question marks on a wooden surface

Small block of 6 flats with no block policy insurance?

26th April 2016

I have a flat in a small block of 6 flats. We do not have a communal entrance or communal hallways. Each flat has its own individual front door, almost like a house. As per terms of the lease, Freeholders do not provide us with block insurance or any maintenance. We each maintain our own […]

Tenant caused extensive damage and now refuses to pay rent!

26th April 2016

I have a tenant who has caused extensive damage to my property on numerous occasions in the last few months. He’s been charged with criminal damage twice; convicted once, and pled not guilty to the latest charge claiming the police broke down the door to the property, therefore they are liable. The reason the police […]

What is the definition of a habitable lounge?

26th April 2016

Does anyone know what would need to be done to a conservatory in order for it to become habitable space? When Hammersmith and Fulham Council granted my HMO license, they said that the house would have to have a room dedicated for use as “tenant lounge” by 2018. They said that they’ve found fewer social […]

Student issues with smoking all kinds of stuff?

25th April 2016

I am sharing flat with a group of people. One of them has consistently demonstrated aggression and constantly smokes all kinds of stuff indoors, including communal space. I have complained to the landlord and they claim that something is been done. However this bad behavior has continued. As we are in a basement flat, I […]

HMO Additional Licence – Potential Housing Crisis?

25th April 2016

I have been renting out a 3 bed property to groups of 3 tenants for the last 10 years. It appears that this is classed as an HMO. Southwark Council have now introduced Additional Licencing which affects any landlord renting out their property with 3 unrelated people living together. You are deemed under the 2004 […]