We are refurbishing a flat won at auction and the discussions with the builder are dragging on a bit. He has asked for a Schedule of Works from us which I know should be the detailed list of requirements (2 bathrooms, kitchen, re-wire, etc).  Does anyone have a template that I can borrow from a […]

I recently bought a top floor flat in a building with 4 flats . The management company is made up of the 4 owners, it is a Victorian semi with two first floor flats and 2 ground floor flats. The management lease is standard covering all communal areas , roof and exterior. After owning the flat […]

West Bromwich Mortgage Company increased the margins on 6,700 of their Tracker Mortgage rates in December 2013 by 1.9% per annum. They claim to have the right to do this. I am not going to go into any legal waffle, nor am I going to provide every shred of evidence and every legal argument our […]

I own a leasehold flat which is on the ground floor of a converted Victorian terrace.  The managing agents have sent me an invoice for 50% of the £30,000 bill for external works and redecorations. What powers do they have if I do not agree this level of works are required. Thanks Wavenie

As a landlord, if your tenants are a young couple, on housing benefit or there was a question relating to their referencing, , it’s always advisable to get a guarantor to sign a guarantor agreement, to guarantee the rent, should the tenants default.  You may been renting to a student, LHA tenant or just private […]

My ex tenants are a married couple with grown up children. They recently moved out of my 3 bed house into a 1 bed bungalow but their grown up sons are now occupying my property (they weren’t there to the best of my knowledge during the tenancy). They were on a periodic tenancy after an […]

Hi all Every so often a deal comes up that I feel I ought to look at for the purpose of helping someone out, rather than for a big return, though it needs to be a decent investment. I’d be keen to see if any of you have creative win/win solutions for this one. One […]

Sponsored article:- A truly unique Buy to Let investment opportunity, this former brewery is located a mere 10 minutes from Manchester city centre and is perfectly located for anyone seeking an investment in Manchester. A conversion project with part new-build, the development will provide 64 apartments, comprised mainly of studios, 1 and 2-bedroom apartments. Offering […]

I hear that the Chancellor has changed rules on pensions today. From April 2015 the over-55s will be able to do what they like with their funds. With the demise of Annuities surely there will be a rush into property. What will be the impact? Here are 2 quotes from the BBC web coverage: “A […]

It has come to our attention that Mortgage Express (now UKAR – UK Asset Resolution) have recently been appointing LPA receivers with no apparent justification. Previously we had heard of LPA receivers having been appointed where a borrower has died or where a landlord had fallen into arrears. In some cases the properties were sold for much […]

Budget 2014 – what are the main points for Property118 readers and the PRS. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) confirmed the GDP forecast to grow by 2.7% this year, 2.3% next year, 2.6% in 2016/17 and by 2.5% in 2018. GDP (economic output) will finally reach its pre-credit crises levels this year. This is […]

East Midlands Property Owners is a professional residential landlords association but also a not-for-profit organisation. Its members own somewhere in the region of 15,000 rented properties across the East Midlands region. Our purpose is simple. We want to provide landlords, letting agents and property investors with the advice, knowledge and tools they need to be […]

Hi All, Some of my Tenants have been contacted by a company called Landwood group. They are trying to gain access to the properties to perform a valuation, and have requested the tenants provide information regarding the Tenancy Agreement. I have contacted Landwood, who said they where just the Valuers and gave me the name […]

Milton Keynes City Council has abandoned plans to introduce a proposed city-wide Selective Licensing scheme under pressure from the National Landlords Association NLA. The NLA have been leading the fight against selective licensing through its local landlord members, meeting with local authorities and action groups as well as launching a social media campaign. Milton Keynes […]

Hello to all, My girlfriend’s parents are buying a two bedroom lease hold flat in a building with three flats. The current owner was letting all three out but he has sold them as leasehold (each has a brand new 125 year lease) and remains as the freeholder. Me and my girlfriend are planning to […]

We are honoured to be one of five website to make it through to the final rounds of the Prime Location Blog Awards this year. Do you think we deserve to win? You are two clicks of a mouse from having your say 🙂 To cast your vote please click the link below http://blog.primelocation.com/2014/03/13/primelocation-blog-awards-voting-now-open/ Please […]

Hi All, Looking for some advice…. We (married couple) have been Tenants since 2nd Feb 13 on a 6 month fixed term AST On 2nd Aug 13 we signed another 6 month FT AST On 2nd Feb 14 we signed another 6 month FT AST. Recently due to repairs not being done, gas certificate not […]

Dear readers, I am asking this for my friends who are tenants. Their 1st time Landlord (who was previously the owner-occupier of the house) uses a local agent & lives herself in another area of the UK. The rear boundary fencing to their 3 bed modern EOT house was blown down in storms pre-Christmas 2013. […]

With days to go until the 2014 Budget, time is running out for Osborne to make a real difference. Naomi Heaton, CEO of London Central Portfolio, highlights a four point plan which could help the Conservatives get back in favour, whilst providing some much needed Viagra to the UK economy. Listen closely George; it is […]

My name is Tony Wilson. I have today committed £15,000.00 to the fund to enable Mark Alexander and Mark Smith carry on the superb work they are doing on behalf of buy to let landlords who are being (in my view) mistreated by the West Bromwich Mortgage Company. As a solicitor who has been in […]

I was approached this week to give a reference to an outgoing tenant by an Agency in Beverley. I answered all their questions honestly. Whilst this tenant has created us some problems they were minor compared to what some tenants do.  I summarised by stating that I would have no hesitation renewing a tenancy agreement […]