Page 778 – Property118

Assetz Buy to Let Guide (FREE download)

15th October 2014

Having been a landlord for over 25 years, as you can probably guess I’ve read more than my fair share of guides written to help landlords to understand buy-to-let, I’ve even written a few of my own!  From time to time I am invited to review guides written by other people, the latest coming from […]

Buy to Let Market watch – High Loan to Value

15th October 2014

I have been updating the Quote Engine and Calculator with the latest products for readers, and thought it would be useful to give an update on niche areas of the Buy to Let Market, starting with higher Loan to Value products at 80-85%. Buy to Let market products and criteria are like a set of […]

Advice needed about forfeiture of lease (leaseholder in arrears)

15th October 2014

Background: One of my rental flats has a shared freehold. There are only 4 flats and 4 leaseholders/joint freeholders, including myself. All four flats are currently let to tenants under ASTs. No ground rent is payable. As leaseholders, we are all supposed to pay a £500 pa maintenance charge. One of the leaseholders/joint freeholders has […]

Can I get planning permission for self contained flat in loft?

15th October 2014

I have just bought a large freehold flat which is basically the first floor of a converted semi detached house. I own the rights to the large loft space and wondered if anyone has any experience of whether I would get planning permission to build a self contained flat in the loft? The property is […]

Potential Deposit dispute but I am working abroad!

15th October 2014

I have a dispute with a previous tenant on the return of deposit (in DPS) and the difference in our positions is quite large. At the end of the tenancy I had to do over £3000 worth of work to make it lettable again. Much of this was due to neglect and lack of cleanliness […]

Landlord still not put windows in after 2 years

15th October 2014

A friend lives in a building which at one time would have been flats say above a carpet shop. Now for two years the landlord as been saying that they will put new windows in, there is no double glazing in the windows that are there and she as said it is freezing in the […]

Will Bailiffs Leave Me With Tenants Possessions?

15th October 2014

I am currently proceeding through the county court process of obtaining a possession order, following service of a section 21 notice.  The reasons for this are that the tenant has gone off the rails through using drugs and rent arrears are building up. I have no concerns about obtaining the possession order, however, the question […]

Building regulations and sound testing for HMO?

14th October 2014

I am creating a 6 bedroom HMO, with ensuite to most rooms, part of the work is adding a loft conversion hence I cannot avoid building control. I have been told by building control, “it is considered that the bedrooms do meet the definition of rooms for residential purposes in that the residents are likely […]

Duration after tenancy ends for deposit claim

14th October 2014

I purchased a house last year which had a tenant on a 6 month AST living in the property. I agreed for the tenant to stay (this suited me as it was to be an investment property anyway) and issued my own AST. She has recently given notice and now moved out. The tenant left […]

Underletting Deed – what is it?

14th October 2014

My daughter, who rents a flat, has just presented us with a form to witness for her in relation to the flat. It would appear that the flat in question is actually owned by a local community housing company who in turn is leasing it on too her landlord.  She has been asked to sign […]

Mortgage Redeemed – should I port deal to another property?

14th October 2014

I recently sold a BTL which whilst it generated good net profit when occupied (mainly due to low tracker rate mortgage), was always a problem property. Tenants not paying, wrecking the property, I suppose we all have them. So I decided to let go. The property had an 85% mortgage on it with BMS and […]

Property Investment Strategy and Advice Required

13th October 2014

I wondered if you could give me your thoughts on my situation although I have only 2 properties!  BTL was bought 1987 for £82k now worth £450k it was my principal private residence (PPR)until 2000. £90K mortgage due to be repaid in full 2025 – variable rate 2% currently producing £16,200 PA rent My PPR […]

The fall out from Divorce

13th October 2014

Does anyone have any advice for a woman soon to be divorced.   I may get a dozen properties from our portfolio, there’s no money in the bank, I have virtually no pension and I have 2 teenage children to support. All comments gratefully received!! Thanks Mary

Are the price of flats in London about to fall?

13th October 2014

I know it’s difficult to predict the future of the housing market with any certainty but I’d still like to know your opinion, do you think the prices of flats in London about to fall and if so how is this affecting you buying strategy?  Thanks James  

My First Tax Return as a Landlord

13th October 2014

Hello All, I will soon have to complete a Tax Return I believe as I now rent out a Property. I bought the house 12 years ago and lived in it until October last year. I had been Mortgage free for 2 years. I actually had no intention of moving at all, but a house […]

Letting agency breaking contract early

13th October 2014

Our tenant had signed a 12 month contract until April 2015.  We rent out our house through an estate agents however due to my husband being a builder he maintains the property. Our tenant always let us know if something needed doing. One of the bedrooms started showing damp so he sorted what we believed […]

Inventories – should landlords get what they pay for?

13th October 2014

Posted in a discussion thread for inventory clerks is an interesting comment that “maybe quick, cheap and maybe enough is what landlords and agents want and deserve from their inventory reports …….”  This has a hit a chord after a long and protracted conversation with an agent regarding what a landlord really wants from a […]

Do we stick or twist?

13th October 2014

We own our home in South East London with no debt and are fortunate to own a property in Portugal that we rent out over the summer to supplement our pension.  In 2013 we bought a buy to let flat with a 60% mortgage and following lots of great advice from Property 118 and the […]

Parking a van contravenes head lease

13th October 2014

What are a landlord’s options if a tenant contravenes the head lease by parking a van? The landlord does not object but the management company does.  What rights does the tenant have? If he wishes to continue to park there is there any protection in Tenancy Law? If he is given notice can he continue […]

10 Fun Facts About Landlords

9th October 2014

From time to time, usually towards the end of a week, I share an occasional story to give you a chuckle. I do this in the hope that you will share them with other landlords you know in order to help us attract new members and increase the shared knowledge pool we are building here […]