I’m in the fortunate position to have enough cash to buy a rental property outright. The home I live in is also mortgage free. Should I buy one property as a rental with no mortgage or buy 3 or 4 on a 75% LTV ratio. Advice would be welcome Jen

I have recently seen an advert for a HMO for sale offering a 12.2% gross yield. As someone who operates several HMOs, I felt that this is perhaps not a very good yield at all, and I wondered what other landlords on here thought would be a reasonably good gross yield? My reasoning for dismissing […]

I’ve shared this email to my MP, Grant Shapps, on another thread where a prominent poster has suggested that I post it on a new discussion.  I emailed Grant Shapps on 7th January 2016. He acknowledged, but I received no further reply. I emailed him yesterday morning giving him the chance to reply, and informed […]

I have a tenant who is terrible at paying his rent. He does pay, eventually, but is bad with money management and has now asked to pay his rent weekly as that is how he is paid. I do not have a problem with doing this, but wonder how this affects my tenancy agreement and […]

Does one have to re-register deposits on a renewal or even a periodic tenancy please? I read somewhere that there is a new form for Section 21 usable for both Fixed term and periodic but I can find no other information. Is there a new form, if so where do I get it? Are the […]

I’ve been running some sums myself with reference to my future purchases in the BTL arena background here: https://www.property118.com/conflicting-advice-pay-debt-not/83469 I was of the opinion that a Ltd was now clearly the beneficial path in light of c24 holding up to review. Then I built a spread sheet: Value Loan Equity M1 £185,000 £135,000 £50,000 M2 […]

A friend of mine is the owner of a freehold flat, first floor,with similar flats one above and one below. There is no management committee structure, and the freeholder of the 2nd floor flat has not paid his share of the joint costs for insurance or electric supply to common areas for many years. Unfortunately […]

Beneficial Interest Company Trusts enable landlords to incorporate their rental property businesses without the need to transfer legal ownership to the company, hence there is no requirement to disturb existing mortgage and financing facilities.  What is the purpose of this strategy? To optimise the tax position of your rental property business in respect of retained […]

It is our view that SDLT will be payable on transfer on the full value of property even if only the beneficial interest is transferred to the limited company, exactly the same as would be the case if the legal title was transferred.  Our understanding is that prior to 1st April 2016 the rate of SDLT […]

In the turn of the year speech today Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England, said “last summer I said that the decision as to when to start raising Bank Rate would likely come into sharper relief around the turn of this year.” “Well the year has turned, and, in my view, the […]

Precise Mortgages have today launched a new flexible criteria for landlords looking to finance their portfolios into retirement with a maximum age of 110. The maximum age at the point of application is 80 with a possible loan term of 30 years taking the borrower to 110. Precise have also launched a new range of […]

Steve Bolton of Platinum Property Partners has recently recorded a 22 minute interview with Billy Farrell, host and founder of “This Week In Property” Podcast.  The Podcast has already been widely distributed and was very popular on Facebook but for those Property118 members who may have missed it, please see below. Since the interview was recorded the campaign […]

Due to events outside of our control we exchanged on an off-plan new build apartment on 1st December 2015. Our Developer has now delayed to a new estimated completion date of May/start of June 2016. I called HMRC and they said we must pay the additional stamp duty. Our BTL interest-only mortgage was also booked […]

My fundamental question is “what property investment strategy would you recommend for a 55 year old starting out today?” The desired end state is to allow me or both of us to become self-employed in the property business and boost pension income. My wife and I are amateur landlords – two flats with mortgages being […]

Property118 is calling for Government to give UK landlords the same tax treatment as other major countries in order to increase the supply of homes. Towards the end of this article you will find a link to a NEW Government Petition to “Increase Housing Supply” In the UK there has been a housing shortage for […]

Does anyone have a template letter warning tenants? Our tenants are manly students and we don’t have many problems with them, but some of late have been disturbing neighbours and other tenants with late and usual drunk behaviour. They had admitted to it and take responsibility for it by apologising in writing and pacifying the […]

I am creating my first HMO. I am installing a Hive thermostat to control heating and water remotely, replacing all light bulbs with LED and I am attaching a coin timer to the tumble dryer. Should I attach a timer to the washing machine? how much should I charge for an hours usage for each […]

I am looking for some advice. I’m a 21 year old who is in full time employment earning £21,000pa + bonuses. I am currently saving to invest in a buy to let property, but I really don’t know too much about the risks. I would be looking to start off with a small property, I […]

Scottish Government is calling for Evidence in relation to its proposal to impose a 3% Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) levy on buy to let and second home purchases. Here is a link to the information on the Scottish Government website. http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/95263.aspx The deadline for evidence is Friday 29 January. Responses should be sent […]

Help, my tenant is causing damage to the property and have been there just over 2 years now on periodic tenancy. I have been letting below market value as I knew them and was trying to do them a favour. Now they have complained to council about condensation and mold! I have spoken to council […]

Today the electrician came to do a 5 year routine test. Twas rewired 5 years ago, brand new plastic fuse board, “it’s safer mate”. Now “it should be metal, fire risk!, or you could just put in RCBOs, but 4 of those will be about the same cost. Must be done in bathrooms, you have […]