Page 818 – Property118

Robert Owen House Glasgow – Circa 9.16% NET assured for 2 years

17th June 2014

Robert Owen House is an eight-storey development in the heart of the city, as a solution to Glasgow’s chronic lack of student housing. A former office building, it will comprise 101 studios, available at three different investment levels – standard, deluxe and premium. Additionally, in-keeping with the Fortis Developments’ brand, students living here will have […]

Do I need to wait for the next Court date?

17th June 2014

We have taken one of our tenants to court for an eviction due to massive rent arrears. When we go to court the tenants had filed a counter-claim against us.  We were advised to get a survey on the property and to go back to court in August. It now transpires that the tenant has […]

Paying a money grabbing solicitor

17th June 2014

I phoned a solicitor to discuss him advising me about a possible eviction in view of Superstrike, he said he would read my documents for £100 so I sent the documents to him. He then sent me a letter asking for £350. I spoke with him and he denied saying £100. I asked him for […]

Regulations for Commercial Property Rental

17th June 2014

We are renting a small shop in our home town. My question is what regulations do we have to follow regards fire safety? Do we need to install mains fitted smoke alarms, or standard battery alarms, and is it our responsibility to carry out a fire safety risk assessment.  Also with there being a hot […]

Meaningful BTL Research – University of York

17th June 2014

In November 2013 we were approached by Allison Wallace from the University of York to participate in some research commissioned by Lloyds Banking Group and Shelter. We were pleased to help and we are grateful to Property118 members for getting involved. The discussion thread can be found HERE. Several Property118 members contacted Allison and her […]

Landlord basher requests advice

17th June 2014

As per title, I am looking for advice and yes I am a landlord basher so the irony of my post here is not lost on me. Perhaps when you read this you will understand.  I’m 12 days into a new tenancy. I’m in Northern Ireland, which I realise makes a difference. So far I […]

Gas Safe Certificates may not say what you thought!

16th June 2014

We were in the process of letting a property and had been presented with the Landlord’s Gas Safety Certificate. The Landlord’s property has a gas boiler and gas hob and as far as the Landlord was concerned both appliances were covered by a British Gas HomeCare agreement. The Landlord’s Gas Safety Certificate was also provided […]

End of contract with letting agent and end of tenancy

16th June 2014

I’m coming to the end of a 52 week contract with a letting agent that gave them sole agent on the letting, all fees due to them have been paid. The tenancy is also coming to an end a few weeks after the contract I have with the agent.   During the year they failed […]

Landlord occasional resident in BTL?

16th June 2014

I have recently added a very spacious purpose-built two bedroom apartment to my portfolio. It is almost ready to let, just a few minor upgrades in progress. As I have this week taken on some extra self-employed work in the area of the property (in addition to my permanent job elsewhere) I am curious to […]

LVT – Service charge

16th June 2014

My name is Rony Aga and I own a flat in east London. A few weeks ago the leaseholders on our building got an invoice to pay an excess service charge for 2011 – 2012 with a calculation document from the management company.  Forty leaseholders decided go through the LVT process but in the meantime […]

Hotel to convert into flats

16th June 2014

There is a large House/Hotel in my area, I have not looked at the property yet just seen it on leaflet but I think I could make it into 3 x 2 bed Flats – then rent them out.  What are the implications? I know there will have to be 4 core 3 phase Wiring coming […]

Can you afford not to compare?

16th June 2014

New build high yielding investments with assured rental returns of 35% NET and starting prices from £82K. Landlords are increasingly choosing Vita managed Student apartments over traditional buy-to-lets. Even void rental periods are taken care of, as your rental return is assured for 5 years, regardless of occupancy. Please click here for further information [display_iframe […]

Shared access – who can do what

16th June 2014

What are the rules on storing objects i.e. crates and large rubbish bins along a shared access footpath that is the only entrance to numerous blocks of flats?  A business below one of the blocks of flats (not mine) seems to think that he owns the whole path and any free space along that path. […]

Can I let a log cabin in my garden?

16th June 2014

I have a 2 bed flat with an 85ft garden that has just become available for let. Before I re-let the property for £950 pcm, I was thinking about installing a log cabin at the bottom the garden and renting this out as a studio flat with small garden for £550pcm including bills.  The log […]

Remortgage Interest Allowable Expense

16th June 2014

I’m currently remortgaging my residential property to release equity with the sole purpose of using the funds to act as deposits for future BTLs.  I understand that the interest element on any BTL mortgage can be offset against rental income, but does this extend to the interest on my remortgage? Thanks James

Lasting Power of Attorney Charity offer for readers

16th June 2014

From Howard Reuben Property118 Sponsor:- We all know that the vast majority of people don’t have a Will written, and even more people don’t have a valid Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place either. Despite having been an estate planning Firm since 1995, it still surprises me that most people haven’t even considered an […]

The Dreaded CGT

15th June 2014

My wife and I bought a three bed detached house for £75000 in 1993 we lived in it for one year then let it until this present day with just nominal blank periods.  Present value £300k if we sell CGT is 45k . We have considered moving back and developing it but as the value […]

Trapped by high gearing and CGT

14th June 2014

I purchased a 4 bed buy to let property in 2001 for £115,000 and by 2008 it was worth considerably more so I refinanced it to 85% LTV and used the net proceeds to invest into more property. I have never lived in the any of the properties.  The properties I purchased in 2008 initially […]

Invite friends to read Property118

13th June 2014

GOOD landlords read Property118 regularly. You already knew that of course but do your friends? Please help us to build the Property118 pool of knowledge. Why not invite your fellow landlords to become members? We are not asking you to invite everybody you know, just a handful of people who you think might find Property118 […]

CCJ’s, how do I get them registered?

13th June 2014

In cases where tenants are evicted, and the court makes a money judgement order, does this always get registered with the Registry Trust, and with the various credit reference agencies, (e.g. Experian, Equifax, etc)?  If not, how can landlords get these judgements registered? Thanks Robert

Tenant will die

13th June 2014

I have a resident in one of my HMO properties who is causing a problem to other residents. He is a nice person when sober, but is very verbally abusive when he is drunk. He is a chronic alcoholic, so has long bouts of drinking, i.e. he may be sober for a month but then […]