Since reporting a year ago that under-resourced county courts were overwhelmed by the number of possession claims being put forward, the problem has not improved and is now being compounded by the use of call centres run by inexperienced temporary staff. If you want an answer quickly, be prepared to chase. Twelve months ago, Landlord […]

I have been an avid reader of your letters for many years and wish to put to you a quandary regarding these new rules which are coming into effect in our district and also nationwide. We are two owners and landlords of more than 50 mixed, fully approved multi-let, and licensed HMO properties in south […]

The Chancellor George Osborne in his spending review today announced that he will increase Stamp duty for Buy to Let properties and second homes with a surcharge of 3% from April 2016. The Chancellor said he wanted to change from generation rent to generation buy. He was concerned that Cash Purchasers and foreign investors, who […]

More than two thirds of landlords say that changes to buy-to-let mortgage tax relief will lead to increased rents, according to a survey conducted by The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS). In July, George Osborne, The Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced that the government would reduce the amount of tax relief available for interest on […]

I own a flat with a gym above it, managed by a property management company to whom we pay our service charges. It seems in recent years the tenants in the block have changed and now the gym is in constant use – and my rental flat is directly underneath it. My tenant who is […]

I have just had a note from British Gas informing me that the tenancy agreement does not meet the requirements as it is in my name as the landlord yet the managing agent have signed the tenancy agreement. Has anyone else had a problem? Many thanks Bev

I am always astounded by how much more the real market rents are compared to the LHA (Local Housing Allowance) rates. It appears to me that the LHA rates must currently be based on unreal very low rents, because when I look on Rightmove or other lettings websites at the rental figures, there is perhaps […]

I am completing on a property next week. Some rooms need re-plastering. One of the plasterers whom I have been recommended has asked if he can stay over so that he can work into the night. He has been recommended by a friend of a relative. I was quite surprised to be asked this. I […]

Less than a month before moving into a one year rental property, the landlady changed her mind and only wanted to offer a holiday rental of 2 months. I had paid £400 holding deposit to the agent for the one year rental and all the references had been completed. As I had nowhere else to […]

I have had numerous rented accomodation over the years (~10), and I have always been lucky enough to have a positive experience. It appears, however, my luck has run out and I am unsure of my tenancy rights as per contract items and the ability to control heating. Facts/information that may help – we are […]

Why might a landlord want to incorporate?  When building a rental property portfolio, profit is often retained for reinvestment into buying more property or paying down debt. However, these profits are taxed heavily for individuals. Companies only pay 20% tax, which is scheduled to reduce to just 18% by 2020. There is even talk of […]

65% of tenants in Wales are unaware of new laws to register and license landlords and letting agents in the country, according to new findings from the National Landlords Association (NLA). Rent Smart Wales, which launched today, is the name of Wales’ new mandatory registration and licensing scheme for landlords and agents. The scheme will […]

The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) have published their eight top tips for avoiding damp and mould in properties: Make sure vents remain uncovered and extractor fans are working Keep windows open when you can to allow good ventilation Put lids on pans to stop steam escaping Don’t leave your kettle boiling continuously Dry clothes outside […]

I was looking at renting out property in Hounslow. One of the agents says a great deal of confusion has been created by Hounslow’s own licensing scheme which came into force in 2014. The government defines large HMO’s as follows: You must have a licence if you’re renting out a large HMO. Your property is […]

The couple (Joint Tenants) in my flat have parted. The principal wage earning tenant wants to change the tenancy (periodic) into his sole name. Do I simply rip up the existing agreement and start with a new Short Term Assured Tenancy (6 months?). What should happen with the existing deposit? Thanks Norman

I own a one bed flat in a block of eight in East Sussex. I have owned it and let it since 2000. The Freeholder also manages the block and in my view very badly. We pay £150 per year each for management which I appreciate is very little and on top of that we […]

I was horrified to read a prediction on the highly credible Accounting Web that s162 tax relief used to mitigate CGT when incorporating a property letting businesses could be a victim of George Osborne’s Autumn statement next Wednesday (25th November).  If the Chancellor does make such an announcement those landlords currently looking to incorporate can but hope […]

Tenants are willing to pay more if they are allowed to decorate their homes, according to new research. Tenants would be willing to pay an additional £149.52 a year, on average, if their landlords would allow them to personalise the property. The research calculated that there is an extra £530 million in revenue to be […]

Councils are going to be on the front line of this complete disaster and we should all make this clear to them. I don’t just mean detailing our own financial predicament and explaining the mathematics behind it. I mean making clear what we are going to do (be forced to increase rents and/or sell-up) because […]

A little advice requested on if Section 21 is legal regarding the date. The original AST commencement date was the 2nd of April 2000 and expiration date 2nd April 2001. However the rent due date is the 8th of each month. Question is can the S21 be served on the 3rd of expiration date or […]

Many years ago I, and a group of other shareholders, bought a holiday cottage and unlike a timeshare we each owned a piece of the company assets/building and contents. I essentially set up the company and remained as a director until 2010 when my ex-wife decided to take the lead role (I had somewhat lost […]