Page 809 – Property118

Buy to Let may come under more scrutiny post MMR

5th March 2014

The Mortgage Market Review MMR will come into effect on the 26th of April. The New MMR rules will force lenders to prove that borrowers can afford the monthly mortgage payments on their FCA regulated main residence loans. This will involve much stricter proof on Full Fact Finds and applications showing monthly budget planners indicating […]

Best way to get tenants to agree a call on their damage deposit?

5th March 2014

Hello all, I need a bit of advice on how best to get my vacated tenants to pay for a slightly cracked basin, stained mattress and dirty walls which I think are all beyond anybody’s reasonable expectation of fair wear and tear. They were good tenants and were in the property for three years and only […]

Tenant Sent to Jail

3rd March 2014

Hi All Have just followed a thread from a few years ago about an “abandonment notice”. I found out last week that one of my tenants has been sent to jail for two months. He is a tenant in receipt of housing benefit. The council have suggested that I put an abandonment notice on his […]

Minimising risks by maximising returns

3rd March 2014

Whether you’re new to investing in property or a seasoned investor, you will no doubt be keen to minimise the risk of your investment whilst maximising the return, and it may appear that striking the balance between the two is the key to success in the field of property investment. When I speak to investors […]

Does a 2nd tenancy supersede the first?

3rd March 2014

Dear Readers, I have a tenant on LHA in a 3 bed property rented for £695 since 2010 The Council sent a payment for approx £50 less stating reason as deductions for non dependent. I phoned the council and they said the son had turned 18 and left college in July hence the deductions and […]

No Tenancy Agreement – and I need vacant possession for HMO sale?

3rd March 2014

Hi All I could use a bit of advice, I have been forced into the situation that I have to evict several tenants from my HMO property in the next three months. I have looked online for templates re notice to quit. None of the tenants have tenancy agreements as they have lived there for […]

How crucial is lift for a 2nd floor flat?

3rd March 2014

I’m a first time buy to let landlord. Just reserved a 2nd floor 1 bed flat in an office conversion with walking distance to Sutton train station. The design of the flats are such that all 5 units have access to lifts (& stairs) except the two corner units, one of which on the 2nd […]

West Bromwich Building Society

Property118 Members vs West Bromwich Mortgage Company

3rd March 2014

UPDATE – 31st March 2014 Since publishing this article our campaign has raised over £450,000 and legal action has now commenced. The official closing date for borrowers to be represented in this action was 28th March 2014. However, it may still be possible to be included in the representative action by paying additional fees to […]

Buyers Premium Rip-Off At Property Aution

28th February 2014

Help! I have just purchased a property at auction for the first time. I read through all the T&C’s in the brochure and legal pack and also took professional advice from my solicitor. Neither of us were aware of a Buyers Premium so it was a bit of a shock when £3,000 was added to […]

Tenancy Renewal Fees

27th February 2014

I’m renewing my tenancy, same price, just an extension. My tenancy agreement states that I have to pay the agent £69.60 including VAT towards the cost of any renewal document created for any extension of the Tenancy. The agency is asking £84 because the price has increased this year but nobody notified me this change […]

Damage to property

27th February 2014

My ex partner leased a house from 2009 until 2012 he then had an affair and left, during our relationship he was violent and caused damage to the property. I had nowhere else to go and with 3 small children I felt my only option was to take out a new lease In my name […]

Negative equity advice wanted

26th February 2014

I have two apartments bought a the top of the market which now have £30k negative equity. With mortgages, ground rent and service charges etc. I’m losing £100 each property every month. I have 10 years left on the mortgages.  Should I just hope for the best? Thanks Mark

Extortionate quote for a new gas supply

26th February 2014

We are trying to get a gas supply to a cottage and a flat. The flat is above, and at the back, of a shop and they are both accessed via an alleyway between two shops, and a courtyard. We own the alley way and the courtyard. Having researched on line it seems that if […]

Referencing Agencies – Letting Agents – Duty of Care

26th February 2014

We used a Letting Agency to source a tenant, the criteria was a working person, suitable for insurance to secure the rent monies, and that referencing materials to be passed to us prior to the tenancy so that any queries, if any, raised by us, could be addressed. Tenant actually took occupation just before Christmas […]

NLA or RLA – which is better?

25th February 2014

If you were only able to join either the NLA or the RLA, who which would you choose and why? I appreciate this is slightly subjective as different people will want different things from these landlords associations but I just wondered what peoples thoughts were and what they thought in particular differentiated them, if at […]

Tax Relief on BTL Mortgage Interest – Will It Last?

25th February 2014

Hi Folks, I curently have one property and am advising my sister who has become an accidental landlord. My mum keeps sticking her oar in to the debate regarding speculation that tax relief on mortgage intertest will be reduced or withdrawn. I can find loads articles related to last years budget but the subject seems […]

HELP! My 1st buy-to-let?

25th February 2014

Hi all, I really need your help with a one bedroom flat I am interested in. It is located in South East London, SE6 1NA. This may be my first buy-to-let property, and I am not really sure of how to proceed or if I should even proceed, honestly. Here are some facts about the […]

Deposit dispute

Deposit dispute handling courses available for Letting Agents

25th February 2014

Mydeposits is hosting introductory courses for letting agents in order to help them better deal with their tenant’s deposit disputes. The informative, hands-on seminars will provide letting agent professionals with a deeper understanding of the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process and will be delivered by experienced adjudicators. ADR is offered to letting agents and tenants […]

Tenant stops cheque after leaving property

25th February 2014

My tenant of 5 yrs gave notice to me on 15th Jan. Her rent day was 30th of month and she gave her leaving date of 28th Feb. Tenant did not give written notice, she told me by phone, but I confirmed by letter that I had received her notice and her leaving date was […]

Can my leasehold tenant do that?

24th February 2014

I own the freehold to a residential property. The tenant occupies the property under the terms of a lease dated 27th May 1895. He has made structural alterations without landlords’ consent. I have checked my copy of the lease between us, and there no mention at all about seeking landlords’ consent for structural alterations.  Before taking […]

ROI calculation, which do you use?

24th February 2014

I’m preparing some spreadsheets to identify which local properties might offer good returns on investment but I’m getting conflicting advice on how to calculate that return.  I’ve been told that 8% is the minimum ROI, 10% is good, 12%+ great. However the calculations i’m getting from existing BTL investors, books and the interweb are conflicting. […]