Barclays, and its mortgage arm Woolwich, are one of the first high street lenders to take action after the announcement in the Summer Budget that there will be a gradual tapering down of tax relief for Buy to Let borrowers to the basic rate of tax from April 2017. From the 7th of December all […]

I have a mortgage split into two accounts with one interest only and one repayment. Is it better paying a lump sum to reduce the interest only part of the mortgage or the capital and interest repayment part. I currently have a 70/30 split with the 30 being interest only. Many thanks Kevin

The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s 2015 Autumn statement put me in mind of a scene from the epic television series Game of Thrones. In the scene, a musician, captured for making mock of the fatal goring by a wild boar of the former king of Westeros Robert Baratheon, is being forced to re-perform his offending […]

I have a rental flat with less than 70 years in the lease – the freehold is shared with the owner of the upstairs flat. I have never met the other owner and that flat is permanently empty. I would like to have a new lease (& perhaps do a management company arrangement as the […]

I have been made Bankrupt by the Council last week and they managed to prosecute the whole thing without my knowledge. The amounts of the supposed taxes were staggering and date back to Tony Blair’s reign. I’m trying to figure out their motives and after many hours googling and I think I have the answer. […]

I have a number of properties I let out at normal rents, but one property I have never put the rent up since the tenants moved in, eight years ago. They pay £1000pcm, the flat would get £1600pcm now, it is in central London. I know many will say “hey, you’re running a business here”, […]

Landlords continue to be attacked by all sides in Parliament as various laws go through their stages in Parliament. This week Teresa Pearce, Labour, tried to get it made even more difficult for landlords to regain possession of our properties in cases of ‘abandonment.’ This is an excerpt from the comments made, followed by a […]

We are just about to build 2 flats which we were hoping to keep to add to our portfolio so once built we would obtain a buy to let on them would we still have to pay the 5% stamp? Many thanks Robert

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 […]