Page 773 – Property118

When to charge ground rent or service charge?

26th November 2014

Thank you Mark and everyone on this website for all comments/articles. I have learned more on Property118 about property and other aspects in the last 6 months since I signed up then ever before. Now for my first post… My question is a simple one… I think… when is it right to charge ground rent […]

OM Property Management – Sublet fees and ‘license’

26th November 2014

I suspect I can here the groans already…  I’ve owned a Buy To Let flat for about 10 years. During the purchase consent was given to sublet. Over recent years I’ve been getting correspondence from OM about a License and other fees and I’ll be honest, I always ignore them as I disagree with their […]

Council Tax deduction if Lodger is a Student

26th November 2014

I am a live-in Landlord, and qualify for the Council Tax single occupant discount. I have just rented out my spareroom to a student, hence can I claim council tax as allowable expenses if my lodger is a student?  Thanks Jane G

Can I own both freehold and leases on a divided house?

26th November 2014

We are ( my husband and I ) are trying to purchase a property which consists of a basement flat and a 3 story maisonette ( a Victorian house that has been converted ). The 2 properties are self contained. In trying to get a mortgage for each of these properties we are being told […]

The Immigration act 2014

The Immigration Act 2014 and checking a tenant’s right to rent

25th November 2014

A pilot for introducing checking a tenant’s right to rent under the immigration act 2014 is being introduced in 5 areas as of 1st December. These pilot areas are Birmingham, Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Wolverhampton. Full roll out across the country is expected after a Government review of the pilot within 6 months. Under the […]

No deposit, rent paid or tenancy started by tenants – can I evict

25th November 2014

I desperately need advice!!! I am a first time landlord and have made a silly mistake of giving the tenants keys before the tenancy started to help them move things in. It was agreed that they would pay rent and deposit on the first day, but this has failed to happen and now my calls […]

Beware of what constitutes a deposit – Is there a definition?

25th November 2014

My tenant could not afford a months rent and deposit in advance to secure my property. She really wanted the property and offered to pay four weeks rental in advance. She was honest enough to say that she would not be able to pay future rent in four weekly payments so offered to pay one […]

Why Councils advise tenants to remain in property until eviction

24th November 2014

In the last few years I have had several meetings with various Councils across the UK regarding their stance on tenants that are due to be evicted. In almost all circumstances, the Council’s advice is that despite the granting of an order for possession and a possession date coming and going the tenant should remain […]

Selective Licensing Consultations

23rd November 2014

Each time a new selective licensing consultation period begins in another local authority area we receive another post from another disgruntled landlord. From now on, proposed articles regarding all new Selective Licensing Consultations will be directed to this discussion thread. It appears that landlords seem to bury their heads in the sand and don’t tackle […]

Too much equity – best way to increase income

23rd November 2014

We (husband and I) currently own two let properties.  One is worth around £170,000 – with no mortgage on it – currently let for £675 per month gross. The second is worth around £160,000 with a £63,000 interest only mortgage – repayable in about 10 years and lets for £560 per month. Both sets of […]

Releasing equity from my home to start a BTL portfolio

23rd November 2014

I have a property (my main residence) that is currently valued at about £200,000, and I hope to own it outright in less than five years (barring any disasters!). Thereafter, I hope to release some equity from the property in order to invest in property and “work my asset” – the only thing is I […]

Questions on the lease extension and ground rent increase

23rd November 2014

First post here but I’ve been reading for a while and this is a great resource.  I’m nearing the end of my first BTL purchase of a flat but there are a few things to be finalised with the solicitor…. We put an offer in on the flat knowing that the lease was being extended […]

Over-crowding issue – Tenant Has 3 Kids In One Room

23rd November 2014

I have a tenant who has been renting one room from me since September, she had one kid who is aged under 4 living with her… which I knew about. In the last 3 days I have seen two more kids in the house. I presumed they were her guests or something (visiting), so I […]

LANDLORDS – You Were Warned!

21st November 2014

On 30th October this year I wrote a blog entitled “Is your MP a landlords champion?” you can read it HERE I asked all Property118 members to send a letter similar to mine to their MP and gave you a link to make it very easy to find your MP’s contact details using just your […]

Newbie Landlord wanting thought’s and advice on my plan

21st November 2014

I’m picking the keys up to my first ever property today which is hopefully the first of many in my BTL portfolio.  I’m 23 and have just purchased a 3 bed recently refurbished terraced house near to where I live with my parents. I have been wanting to start my portfolio for a few years. […]

Obtaining money by deception

21st November 2014

I rented out my property and was unaware I needed to tell my mortgage company. Since renting it out my relationship has broken down and I became a single mother of my 2 children, having to pay rent alone on the property I lived in of £900 per month. I also got made redundant so […]

G4S – Am I being scammed?

21st November 2014

I received an unsolicited call this morning from someone claiming to work for G4S, they had seen one of our rental properties being advertised in the paper and wanted to take it on a 4 year lease and then sublet to asylum seekers. Apparently they had lost a contract with a big housing provider and […]

Water Damage from Upstairs Flat – Who is Liable for the Excess?

20th November 2014

I own the downstairs maisonette in a terrace, with one flat upstairs, which is also tenanted. There has been a water leak from the upstairs hand wash basin which has caused extensive damage to my flat. It was a fortuitous incident, and my upstairs neighbour’s insurance has declined liability. Her tenants might have been negligent […]

BTL objective sorted – strategy not quite

20th November 2014

I’ve just acquired my first BTL property which will provide me with an additional income in retirement. My plan is to retire in the next 4-5 years, downsize the family home and use the residual equity to acquire a second BTL and take this income too. I’m happy to let the capital growth look after […]

Eastbank Manchester

Eastbank Manchester – High end Buy to Let Apartments

19th November 2014

Eastbank Manchester is the perfect development to cater for the abundance of young professionals seeking prime high-end apartments in the popular area of Manchester. The location is close to the city centre  and many apartments will benefit from spectacular city views, with the remainder facing the garden courtyard and terraces. It also benefits from a […]

Are living rooms becoming an endangered species in shared homes?

19th November 2014

16% of shared homes in the UK have no living room, according to a survey of more than 10,000 users of flat and house share site SpareRoom.co.uk. Just three years ago, only 10% of sharers lived in properties without living rooms. In London, where demand for rooms in flat and house shares is highest there […]