In the past I have purchased numerous properties and added a bedroom(s) in the roof space (so the property then had a ground floor, 1st floor and roof space 3rd floor) and then rent the property out. In order to comply with building regulations I had to ensure that all bedrooms had fire doors and […]

Mortgage Express have written to many landlords warning about a review of current interest rates and repayment types. The concern of readers is that Mortgage Express may be looking to break mortgage contracts on long standing tracker reversion rates in the same way the West Brom have done. The Property118 organised class action against West Brom […]

I live in a bungalow that is owned by a local council, I applied to buy the property under the Right to Buy Act 1985, but have been told I cannot buy it as it is suitable for occupation by the elderly (Over 60’s). It has no modifications as such, no hand rails, there are […]

We send you our apologies for the limited number of updates over the last month. Whilst it has been an incredibly busy time, the work being done has been largely by way of preparation for the next stage. You’ll be very pleased to hear that April will see our cause reach new heights. With your […]

Our letting agents gave our tenant the required 2 months notice as we want to sell the property. She found another suitable rental property and asked to move out early, after 1 month. We agreed and she contracted to move out after 1 month. The property is due to be listed for sale with vacant […]

Sharing below my email sent to David Cameron earlier today – perhaps bombarding his Inbox with similar may start to get the message across? “Dear Mr Cameron I write to implore you to remove George Osborne from the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer. The latest debacle and u-turn over cuts to disability benefits is […]

Can my tenants reduce their rent due to being without a boiler for few days. After repairing our old gas safety checked combi boiler it finally broke down completely. A few days later a new one was fitted. I provided electric rads temporarily, but now they want a reduction in this month due to the […]

I see Shelter are at it again with their bashing of the PRS, interestingly with the dodgy lettings site they have been so lazy that whatever place you put in you just get a random selection of only about 10 properties and each only have one photo, not really much substance to it then really. […]

I became a landlord to manage my own destiny as my pensions are poor due to redundancies etc. I contend that 1. Private landlords can only use 1 year’s capital gains allowance. This is unfair 2. The current method of calculating a capital gain is wrong and does not reflect the true value of an […]

The title says it all …. do you? And if you don’t, why not? Did you know that the length of your lease has a direct impact on the value of your flat. It always surprises me when clients realise the length of their lease in a panic, either because they are trying to release […]

I, together with a group of other long flat leaseholders, have tried everywhere without success to find out whether we will be liable for costs and if these could be high if we lose a case which looks as if it is heading to First Tier Tribunal, as the other side has told Land Registry […]

As landlords of some 30 years, we served notice on a tenant in October 2013 who had been with us for 10 years. In 2003, when we initially rented the flat to this lady who worked for the NHS in HR in Wolverhampton, all was fine and dandy and at this time deposit protection wasn’t […]

We are renting a one bed house from the agency and there were some issues with the check in when we moved in last July. It wasn’t carried out to a high standard: the landlord insisted she would do it on her own (normally it’s the outside company who does this), the quality of pictures […]

We have just bought a BTL house for £175k cash at auction.  We are keen to get it mortgaged ASAP so that we are in a position to buy for cash again. We have heard about the 6 month rule/guideline but wondered; which lenders would be happy to value and lend earlier? We don’t need anything […]

I have a property down on the South coast which is currently tenanted. Just lately my tenants have started complaining that the television reception is poor. We have called in a television/Ariel specialist who informs us that the signal is weak in this area so advises that we either put up an extended Ariel with […]

Many UK landlords feel their world has been turned upside down. Not surprising given the shock announcements of having to pay an extra 3% Stamp Duty on purchases as of NOW, that mortgage interest paid out will become increasingly taxed as if it was income (for private landlords only) and that buy-to-let mortgage lending may […]

mydeposits is delighted to announce the launch of its new government-authorised custodial tenancy deposit protection service in England and Wales today (1 April 2016). The scheme also unveils a new-look website and refreshed branding that’s been designed based on feedback from its members and tenants. Eddie Hooker, mydeposits CEO said, “Today is an important step […]

From 1st April 2016, tenants have the right to request consent from their landlords to make energy-saving improvements for the properties they rent. Landlords will not be able to refuse their consent without good reason, but tenants will need to ensure that they have a way of funding improvements at no cost to the landlord, unless […]

I had an offer or £295000 accepted on a 2 bed flat in North London on 12th January 2016. I thought I would have plenty of time to complete by the 31st March stamp duty deadline! However due to the incompetence of the estate agents in house broker and the vendor who took weeks/months to […]

I am seeking advice on what happens when a tenant decides to leave a property (HMO) when the remaining 3 tenants decide to stay on. There is no other tenant moving in, but the tenant moving out would like to be removed from the tenancy agreement. I have heard of a ‘Deed of Surrender’ and […]

I sold a BTL property in January 2016, which I had had since 1998. I believe that Taper Relief was replaced by Entrepreneurs Relief. Is ER available to reduce the capital gains tax liability on the profit realised from selling the BTL property? Many thanks Malcolm