Page 718 – Property118

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 […]

Landlord Salary to Wife?

25th April 2016

I have a few BTLs now and although I don’t have a company incorporated etc is it possible to pay my wife a Landlord Salary for looking after these properties (I.e. advertising, viewings, point of contact for tradesman etc)? Not sure if it is possible without forming a company, however I also appreciate my wife […]

Rent increase to pay for new windows?

25th April 2016

After 7 years of damp mouldy windows the landlord has finally replaced them, but then wants to put rent up to pay for them. I sought advice and found lots of legal things he hadn’t done correctly. He had missed 4 gas checks, no electric certificate, no energy performance certificate and hadn’t protected my bond. […]

Trying to evict tenant that now has Legal Aid and suing me?

25th April 2016

I have tenant in my property since July 2010, I taken deposit from him in the sum of £1500 which was protected in 24 days. (Although it was required at the time to protect within 14 days). Please note that he is in Statutory Periodic Tenancy and his tenancy has not been renewed since July […]

EDF forced entry into property with warrant on tenant!

25th April 2016

We had some tenants of a property, who moved out at the end of the tenancy. We revisited the property later and found that EDF had drilled out a lock and entered our property about ten days after the Tenants moved out and changed the meters. They were set up so that if any new […]

3% tax and intent at purchase

24th April 2016

We are in the following situation: Have a modest portfolio of BTL properties, but just sold the family home & living in rented accommodation. Was hoping to buy a large family home that we’d like to do a large extension on before moving in. Getting planning permission + architects + builders lined up will take […]

Shares to go on open sale next week

22nd April 2016

Next week the share offer in LettingSupermarket.com will go live to the general public via the Seedrs crowdfunding website. The crowdfunded share offer was restricted to Property118 members for an initial two week period, but this will soon come to an end. Well over a hundred Property118 members completed the “Expression of Interest” form and […]

Clause 24 loophole?

22nd April 2016

Is a potential loophole to Clause 24 a mortgage company giving mortgages at 0% (no interest to offset against tax) but charging an up front arrangement fee equating to the mortgage interest that would be charged over the fixed rate term? The arrangement fee could be added to the mortgage. Technically cost neutral to the […]

Buy to let income essential for many retirees

21st April 2016

According to a poll conducted by Responsible Equity Release ….  72% of pensioners who have an investment property said they would struggle to make ends meet if they did not have the income from their buy to let. 81% of pensioners aged over 65 admit their buy to let properties provide a crucial boost to […]

Enforcing a county court warrant

21st April 2016

Hi Guys  Does anyone know what evidence, if any, a county court judge would expect one to provide (as claimant) as the basis for rejecting a derisory payment offered by a former tenant debtor against whom a CCJ has been secured? The debtor in question has offered to pay £20 per month for a debt […]

Right to Rent rules may change

21st April 2016

Right to Rent checks became a legal requirement for landlords to carry out on tenants from February this year. This controversial requirement has been seen by many landlords as an unnecessary extra responsibility carrying out checks that should be made by customs and immigration. However the RLA have reported that the Government is planning to […]

Equifax report BTL sales down 26% in March

20th April 2016

The Credit reference agency Equifax have reported that Buy to Let sales were down in March by £1.04billion which equates to 26.2% month on month. This is rather surprisingly despite the predicted last minute rush for property investors to purchase before the 3% surcharge in stamp duty came into effect for second homes on the […]

HMO investing in Shepperton?

20th April 2016

I am looking to invest in HMO for professional in Shepperton borough, Staines/Stanwell/Ashford/Egham. I would be most grateful for advice from anyone investing in the area or has good local knowledge. 1. Good location for HMO? 2. Important factors for professional tenants i.e, being close to Station or good bus links to airport? 3. Any […]

My mother would like to gift her flat to my 2 brothers and I?

20th April 2016

I wonder if you can help please. My mother would like gift her current flat where she lives at present to my 2 brothers and I. We are all adults, she has no mortgage on the property and owns it outright. She would still like to live there for the time being, just hand over […]

Controlling heating via smart thermostats and smart TRVs?

20th April 2016

I have a property that I rent out with all bills included. However much like other landlords i find the heating is left on coupled with windows left open and hefty bills. At the moment I’m sprucing the property up and have installed thermoboards to rooms where there are exterior facing walls, to help insulate […]

Amended Localism Act 2012 re late deposit registration

20th April 2016

I have an ex tenant who has a No Win No Fee company writing to me asking for compensation for late registration of his deposit or they will take me to court. Having read a few articles on the site about this I thought I would share my experience so far. My tenant moved in […]