Wrestling with a common dilemma whether to sell a good cashflowing flat on a low rate BoE tracker or sell to raise capital to reduce some unsecured debt and invest in another property. Selling will raise £60K whereas the cashflow is c.6.5k pa. but a lease extension will be required in about 5 years which […]

I’m applying for a HMO licence and the council officer is insisting we give our private residence address but I’m not happy to give this information. I’m not comfortable with my tenants knowing where I live.  I have given my office address but he says this is not acceptable. Does anyone know the law on […]

I joined Property118 today because I need to get my gripe ‘out there’.  I have been described as the ‘perfect tenant’ by previous landlords/agents. I am 61, live on my own, like to potter in the garden but basically keep myself to myself. I am very good at diy so never bother the landlord/agent with […]

Being the longest standing sponsor of Property118 we thought it was about time we published a follow up to our highly successful article written for Property118 by Cliff Verril which was entitled “Which Commercial Lenders Are Hungry For Business?” The response from Property118 readers to that particular article has kept us busy for the last three months! […]

Based on feedback from our members we have made some changes to the navigation bars at the top of all pages on Property118 in order to make things easier to find.  We would very much appreciate your feedback on the changes made and we also welcome all constructive feedback on any suggestions you might have […]

I have two buy to let mortgages with Mortgage Trust that are LIBOR linked and several others that are base rate linked.  With base rate likely to increase within the next 12 months I’m currently doing a bit of forward planning. The answer to this question might be obvious to some, but I haven’t a […]

We are putting together a comprehensive list of landlord websites and would like Property118 members to add comments and links to any other landlord websites they read. Please feel free to continue to build the list in the comments section below this article …. This is a one off occasion in which we will allow […]

I manage a couple of properties for a landlord who has a portfolio of about 12 in total, all mortgage free. He is very old school and when I went through his property form he told me he hasn’t got Building Insurance and thinks its a waste of money (until lighting strikes, or the gas […]

A friend has just asked what they need to do as a tenant wants to cancel his guarantor after 4 months of a 12 month contract.  Do you think I have advised correctly? 1) get a new Guarantor signed up first before making any other changes.(including credit checks) 2) When that’s sorted out create a […]

HMO landlords and commercial property owners will no doubt be very interested in a meeting I had with a chap called Bill Lorryman recently because he has this very simple business proposal ….  If you are an HMO landlord or commercial property owner and Bill can’t get you a tax refund then you don’t owe […]

Most buy to let lenders will either restrict the maximum borrowing on Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMO’s) or in most instances, you will find that it falls completely outside of their criteria and they will not lend at all. The options are even more constrained should the HMO actually be a registered as such with […]

During a rare period of downtime this week I have been catching up with some of the vast number of articles, readers’ questions and comments posted on Property118.  I have read with interest (and despair) some of the tales of agents having shut up shop and disappeared with deposits and rents belonging to both landlords […]

Precise Mortgages has launched a new “Almost Prime” Buy to let mortgage range for investors with minor and historic adverse credit including products up to 80% Loan to Value (LTV). “Almost Prime” can assist investors with the following credit problems up to 80% LTV: Defaults  none in the last 24 months CCJs none in the […]

It has been suggested that I start a new discussion thread to share their experiences and anecdotes of landlords who have been taken to Court by tenants.  Tenants who have taken their landlords to court are equally welcome to join in. If you want to discuss another persons case, please do not name and shame […]

My estate agent found a tenant for me and sent me a bill for £1,000 plus vat for finding me a tenant.  The following year the tenant decided to renew for another year. The agent then sent me another bill for £1,200 (incl vat) as renewal fee. When I asked why the same amount had […]

I own an ex council flat that I rent out which I had double glazed some years back. I’ve just received a letter from the council advising that they intend to replace the windows in my block (2 flats) but even if I’ve had mine done I will have to contribute according to how many […]

The Office for National Statistics have today released figures analysing household data from the 2011 Census compared to 2001. The biggest news for the PRS is that 18% of all occupied household spaces were privately rented, an increase from 12% in 2001. That’s a 50% increase in the ratio in 10 years! This was the […]

HSBC has released a report showing the average rental yields for the top Buy to Let hotspots of England and Wales based on data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) and Land Registry. This information broken down to specific areas is valuable for Landlords looking for future property investments, giving a base line picture […]

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, has launched a new voluntary accreditation scheme for Landlords and Letting agents. It is called the “London Rental Standard” and an accreditation badge will be issued upon successful completion of a one day course. This scheme is designed to improve the quality and standard of rental accommodation for tenants […]

Please help me … I am rather confused on this issue.  I have paid off mortgage on my primary residence. I have now bought a second home with a mortgage. I am wondering if I can offset the interest on this mortgage against the rental income from my first home. Any tax gurus out there? […]

I have received an invoice after my property was secured after a police break in. My tenant of 7 years has left the house recently and I’ve given him his deposit back. I am currently getting the property ready to let out again. I commented to him that the front door was difficult to close, […]