The Mortgage Works have withdrawn their popular and industry leading Light Refurb product, which allowed a property to be financed using a Buy to Let mortgage even though it required a small amount of work before it could be Let (usually a lender will insist on a full retention if the property is not in […]

(By Malcolm Jones of Brooklands Commercial Finance) Despite the Banks recent profit announcements, Developers are still being frustrated by their continued reluctance to lend. When Banks are prepared to lend on development projects the percentage of costs or of the Gross Development Value (GDV) is often so low that it is not workable. Many borrowers […]

There have been several discussions here about inventories, why they are necessary and which is the best software to use to produce them etc. What we’ve never had before though is the ability for landlords and letting agents to download a professionally prepared inventory for benchmarking purposes against what they have been doing until now. […]

I currently own 2 buy to let properties in South Wales, I have had one for coming up to 4 years now, and the other for just about a year.  I want to buy a 3rd property as the renting market down here is brilliant and house prices are cheap compared to the rest of […]

September 1st is statistically the biggest day in the calendar for Landlords Insurance Renewal. I am fairly certain it doesn’t mean more properties have completed on this day than any other, but it does seem to be a popular renewal date for block policies of more than one property. Several years ago my business partners […]

Speaking recently on BBC Radio 4 Carolyn Uphill, Chairman of the National Landlords Association (NLA) warned landlords to ensure their tenants’ deposits are properly protected and that they’ve fully complied with Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP) law. The warning comes after a growing number of information requests to TDP schemes from ‘no win no fee’ claims […]

I own a 1900’s end terraced house that had some damp / water ingress via the defective chimney stack on the gable end, the chimney stack has been removed as the water was travelling down the gable wall and showing as damp on the internal wall and chimney breast (its a solid wall, not cavity), […]

I have been renovating my buy to lets without making a charge for my time and effort. I told the accountant I want to start charging £10 an hour for my labour as this will give a more accurate figure as to the total costs of the properties and also limit the capital gains tax […]

The four tenancy deposit protection scheme providers have collectively issued guidance notes following the Court of Appeal ruling in the case of Supertrike Limited vs Rodrigues.  Landlords and Letting Agents should note that none of the tenancy deposit schemes can offer legal advice to landlords or lettings agents. Their guidance is not intended to give legal […]

The four tenancy deposit protection scheme providers have collectively issued guidance notes following the Court of Appeal ruling in the case of Superstrike Limited vs Rodrigues.  Landlords and Letting Agents should note that none of the tenancy deposit schemes can offer legal advice to landlords or lettings agents. Their guidance is not intended to give legal […]

I have heard a lot of Letting agents or private landlords tend to serve a section 21 notice at the early stages of any Tenancy agreement but I seem to have a lack of understanding what the benefits are of doing this. Could anyone explain, being a private Landlord, why there is a benefit to […]

I have just started investing in property. Living overseas, I have been unable to get a U.K. mortgage so I have had to pay cash for my first property. I have a good rental yield of 10.1%, but obviously no leverage for now. I am arranging more business commitments in U.K. to eventually remedy the mortgage […]

My partner and I are living in a part rent/part buy affordable housing 1 bed flat.  We would like to move house so we can start a family. We have enough money for the deposit on a new property and have been looking at bigger places to live. Our 1 bed flat has been up […]

An extensive refurbishment project of a beautiful Grade II listed building, X1 Town Hall has been designed to reflect the most sophisticated of tastes and offers residents the opportunity to experience a high-end lifestyle at affordable prices. Comprised of 122 individual double-apartments, investors will receive assured NET rental yields of 6% for the first 5 […]

Last week I was presented with a Manchester based buy-to let investment opportunity which looks particularly attractive. The gross yield is just over 11% but with the benefit of gearing, and having allowed for all costs, the cash on cash returns are coming out at 12.5%.  I have done some due diligence (you should always […]

Letting Supermarket have launched a new scheme which they have labelled “The DSS Landlords Ultimate Letting Package”.  The package includes:- Visiting your property, taking particulars and floor plans. Setting up an online account to store your documentation so it can be accessed at any time. Advertising on all major portals including Rightmove and Zoopla Viewings […]

I’m considering entering B2L for the first time. Rather than securing a B2L mortgage, can funds be released by re-mortgaging our own home and then purchasing the B2L property outright. Rents can then be used to pay the payments on the re-mortgaged home. I’m thinking of seeking a £200k re-mortgage from a £800k property which […]

Last night I finally got around to watching a TV programme I recorded on BBC a few weeks ago called “Meet The Landlords“. I was asked to appear on the programme when it was first considered but when I told the reporter what managing my portfolio entailed he wasn’t really that interested. Who could blame […]

I purchased a property about 18 months ago in the Falkirk District. It needed some refurbishment so was empty for a few months and I applied for and received a council tax exemption. Falkirk Council allow a 6 month tax exemption if property is unoccupied and unfurnished. However, I recently received a letter informing me […]

Being a first time landlord I was very naive in the rules around securing the deposit (yes, I am another one of those!).  I realised this after I tried to issue a s.21 notice seeking possession, being advised that I had to return the deposit in full. I realised this very late on and have […]

I have a house fully managed since 2006 through what is probably the largest agent operating in the UK.  I have not been at all impressed over these years but now I am really disappointed. On my last visit to the property I found that there has been an extension which looks more like a […]