GENERAL GUIDANCE  If you have been retaining profits after paying the higher rates of income tax then you have probably been paying more tax than necessary. IS TAX AVOIDANCE LEGAL? The law regarding tax avoidance was clarified nearly 80 years ago. In 1936 a landmark legal case was heard in the House of Lords […]

Mydeposits has been given government approval to operate a custodial based tenancy deposit protection scheme in England and Wales from April 2016. Protecting tenants’ deposits has been a legal requirement in England and Wales since 2007, with landlords and letting agents having the choice of an insurance based scheme that involves a fee, or a […]

I have received a demand from Bedford Borough Council for back dated council tax for 2013. The tenant said he moved out 6 months earlier  and could I actually prove when he vacated. The Council say that due to a recent case, if the tenant’s tenancy has gone periodic and moves out without informing council, […]

Does anyone know, or have, a good template for Fire Risk Assessments please, as most I look at seem a lot more geared to larger business properties rather than 5-8 bed student HMOs? Do you carry them out yourselves, or get them done professionally? Thanks Midsicl

Landlord Action is in full support of the Government’s latest proposal to crack down on rogue landlords. In particular, those who carve up properties to creative multiple sub-standard sized rooms in a bid to maximise their rental income. Imposing a minimum square footage per room, as a legal requirement, will help reduce the number of […]

Don’t allow the restrictions on finance cost relief to ruin the viability of your property investments. Complete the short fact find linked below and we will show you the way.

I have an apartment, but the Right to Manage (RTM) company with their managing agent have failed to repair the roof and I have lost 6 months rent due to them not repairing it. The  Buildings Insurance company will not pay as they are saying it was not maintained! Can I hold the RTM company […]

I have an aggressive tenant who always pays late and who I would like gone. I recently tried to increase the rent after 3.5 years, but he refused to pay it or sign a new contract. I issued him a Section 21 notice requiring possession, but he is refusing to leave under instructions from the […]

Eight out of ten of those renting accommodation want tenancy agreements of one year or less, a large survey by The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) has suggested. 39,855 tenants whose deposits are protected by The DPS’ responded to the survey, with 80.1% saying that they preferred agreements that lasted no longer than 12 months.  […]

We are a family with good income, who just moved to UK and we see ourselves living here for another 10 or 20 years, but unlikely forever. I do not have the patience to deal with whimsical landlords, but I neither have interest in buying a property in UK. I’m therefore looking for a contract, […]

My property is in an area of additional HMO licencing therefore requires a licence for 3 sharers or more. I let my house to two people on a 12 month AST. They have moved in two more, the council know this now and say they require a licence. The tenants are in breach of their […]

I have been married to my husband for 25 years but we still have one flat that is only in his name. We now want to sell this flat and take advantage of 2 lots of CGT relief. Can I be added to the deeds easily so as to avoid him paying a huge CGT […]

Is it legal to create AST contracts whilst the landlord lives in the same property using the same kitchen etc, reason being I have lodgers at present but am selling the house with lodgers in situ , I would like to change the contracts over to AST before I sell the business? Regards Alison

I am considering evicting a tenant of 2.5 years as they are really hard work, and not looking after my property as it should be. My last inspection was 2 weeks ago an I found the place is becoming a tip and there is damp and mould starting in some rooms due to lack of […]

There is significant anecdotal evidence that most landlords outside London do not increase rents until there is a change of tenancy. Property118 would like to investigate this. With upward pressure on costs of compliance as well as the new tax changes it is likely that landlords will abandon this practice , but we would like to hear from landlords […]

I have several families who are potential tenants for me on housing benefit and was wondering if anyone knows about freelance housing benefit consultants. Would it be best for me to use one to help me do a pre-assesment of the maximum benefit they would be entitled to? My house is a 3 bed EX […]

I am 20 year old student with no prior experience in property. I know the very basics through reading some books. I am very keen to get into the buy to let business and my goal is to become a full time landlord when I am older. My granddad owns several houses and has offered […]

The winter is fast approaching and the cold weather could have an adverse effect on your buy to let property. To avoid expensive repair bills, it is important to take preventative action. A few simple checks on your property prior to the cold really settling in will help you stay stress free and keep your […]

Here is my exchange of emails to date with Rob Marris, Labour MP and Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury and also Sir Roger Gale, Conservative Chair of the Finance Committee. See if you can spot any ways in which Rob Marris’ approach differs from that of David Gauke, actual Financial Secretary to the Treasury. […]

Experts were anticipating Royal Assent for the Summer Finance Bill 2015 in the week commencing 19th October but this is now more likely to occur towards the end of November.. Here’s a link showing the current position >>> click here. It now seems highly unlikely that landlords will see any amendments to the Bill’s proposals to restrict […]

One of our flats was let via an agent on AST to 2 singles. One left and a new sharer was found referenced etc and added. They too subsequently left and tenant decided to allow a friend of a friend to move in without advising us or the agency. A deposit was taken and a […]