I bought a ground floor flat 3 years ago, renovated it and let it. The building is a Victorian villa that was split into two flats 20 years ago and a ‘cross over lease’ makes me the owner of the freehold in the first floor flat and the owner of the first floor flat the […]

US firm Cerberus which have been accused of alleged bribery, conspiracy to defraud, blackmail, unethical practice, fraud etc. could get its hand on the Mortgage Express and Northern Rock loan portfolio. Cerberus, named after the three headed dog of the underworld, are ruthless and allegedly employ their own commercial spying shop in London. They have managed […]

Permitted development rights were first introduced in 2013 and allowed offices to be converted into residential properties without having to apply for planning permission. These were due to expire in May 2016, however Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis has announced that they will now be extended indefinitely. In the future these rights will allow […]

If the government isn’t careful there is the potential for a real property catastrophe on the horizon as if they proceed with the removal of the so called mortgage relief for landlords which is likely to result in many landlords leaving the market then the housing situation will be further exacerbated if the following Inside […]

I would like to ask whether a Limited Company can defer tax by reinvesting a capital gain. To clarify what is meant by “reinvesting a capital gain” let’s consider the following example: In 2013 ABC Limited purchased a property for say 300k and spent say 100k on renovation. The property is not rented so the […]

Written evidence submitted by Dr Rosalind Beck (FB 06)  This submission specifically challenges the theoretical premises behind the decision on ‘restricting deductions for finance costs related to residential property’ announced in the Summer Budget. 1. My background: My expertise and special interest in the provisions of the Finance Bill with regard to the ‘tax relief […]

I am a leaseholder of 2 small studio flats in a block of 6. The management company are only responsible for paying the insurance and the communal electricity. There is no management fee, no maintenance liability and no sinking fund. Each leaseholder has responsibility for various parts of the building ie ground floor flats are […]

Although many of us will be aware that, should a tenant depart from a property owing money one way – indeed maybe the only way – to pursue such monies legally is via the court process, which can be costly and, could prove to be subsequently fruitless, especially if the ex tenant is on benefits […]

I moved to the current flat as I tenant in May this year and I have been dealing with (not so helpful) agency only since then. Upon my arrival, I did not receive any instructions nor gas safety certificate as I was presented with the keys by an inventory person that knew nothing about the […]

Written evidence submitted by John McKay (FB 04)  Submission to the Public Committee on the Finance Bill: regarding ‘restricting deductions for finance costs related to residential property’ announced in the Summer Budget. 1. My background: I have been a landlord for 13 years and have built up a medium sized portfolio consisting of family lets […]

Written evidence submitted to The Finance Bill Committee by Kathy Miller and her tenants (Mr and Mrs Levy, Mr and Mrs Bennett, Mrs S James and Mr C Wigmore) (FB 05) IGNORED!  Submission on the ‘restricting deductions for finance costs related to residential property’ decision announced in the Summer Budget: ‘What about the tenants?’ 1. […]

I am a new Landlord having inherited some properties last year. I have just become accredited with the NLA, I am learning fast and hoping some of your readers will be able to give me guidance or tell me what they would do if they were in my situation. I own a pair of semi-detached […]

Shelter have commissioned a YouGov poll of 3800 private tenants which has shown that 48% that would like to purchase a property are unable to save anything towards a deposit. Throughout the whole country this is the  the equivalent of 3.2 million people and a further 25% of tenants can only save £100 or less […]

I am trying to raise a small loan to finish the conversion of a house into three flats. The lender is insisting that it is jointly named on the insurance policy, and also that the policy contains a ‘mortgagee’s non-invalidation clause’. This effectively provides that the insurer will pay out to the lender even if […]

Written evidence submitted to The Finance Bill Committee by Councillor James Fraser, Stevenage Borough Council (FB 73) LANDLORD TAX – THE RUINOUS EFFECTS OF CLAUSE 24 PART1: THE BACKGROUND PART 2: WHERE’S THE MODERATE IDEOLOGY? PART 3: LANDLORDS AS DISNEY VILLAINS PART 4: THE ACTUAL TRUTH PART 5: THE STRANGE MYTHS OF LANDLORDING PART 6: […]

The Chancellor George Osborne has said he will give as yet undisclosed powers to the Financial Policy Committee (FPC) to intervene in the Buy to Let market as soon as possible. The FPC are the Bank of England committee who vote every month on decisions regarding the Bank Base Rate and levels of Quantitative easing. […]

We were asked recently whether High Court Enforcement Agents (HCEOs) were permitted to force entry when conducting an eviction from residential premises. In the case of enforcing a writ of control (a writ for money) against a debtor in residential premises, the enforcement agent is not permitted to force entry. No right to remain However, […]

This submission by the Property118 action group to the Finance Committee is intended to provide MPs with a summary of the comments made by landlords associations, the Council of Mortgage Lenders, the media and other key stakeholders with regard to the Summer Budget proposal to restrict finance cost relief for individual landlords.   The National […]

I live in a rural part of Wales and have recently been informed that an application for 150 houses has been put in for the land behind, and adjoining, my back garden. This is an elevated field with a number of the proposed properties looking directly over and into my house. The local Council (Powys) […]

The latest interim report released by The Property Ombudsman reveals more than half of the 9141 enquiries received related to lettings disputes, nearly double that of sales. This not only reinforces the importance of legislation introduced a year ago, making it a legal requirements for all letting agents in England to register with an approved […]

Average rents across England and Wales reached the highest level ever recorded between August and September this year, new data has found. According to the latest buy-to-let index from Your Move and Reeds Rains, average rents currently stand at £816 per month, a 1.6% month on month rise and 6.3% year on year increase. These […]