My property was two doors up from the property directly opposite the property that blew up in Tinsley, Sheffield. It is rented out by a local housing association. Our property roof tiles were damaged in the blast. There is literally nothing left of the property. The housing association is having to rehouse not only their […]

I wonder if someone would be good enough to explain rental yield to me as I want to know I am on a sustainable track. We have one property which we bought outright for £129000 and we rent this out for £600 pcm. We then remortgaged another property we owned outright to raise the deposits […]

Citizens Advice apparently advised my periodic tenant yesterday that she can move out immediately by signing a letter agreeing to DPS releasing the deposit to me. I suppose, technically, she has given her one month notice and paid her final month’s rent in the form of the deposit. She is at liberty to vacate any […]

Did you know its not actually necessary, legally, to have a tenancy agreement?  You can create a perfectly valid tenancy on a handshake, handing over the keys and collecting the rent from your tenant (s54(2) Law of Property Act 1925). The tenant goes in and, bingo – assured shorthold tenancy created. No problem. Or is […]

Being a regular reader of Property118 I felt I would like to express my gratitude for this free website by writing a testimonial for the online property management company which Mark Alexander referred me to. I submitted a “Readers Questions” article and several GOOD Landlords made a big effort to respond and offer me advice. […]

I have had an enquiry in respect of diplomat tenants. Where I would stand if I had rent guarantee insurance and they were to default on their rent or breached their contract? Would the same rules apply to evicting them or would they have diplomatic immunity? My concern is whether my rent guarantee insurance would […]

You have probably noticed that our Forum Page is full of Readers Questions articles. You may have also noticed how many helpful people there out there prepared to share their knowledge based on their experience free of charge 🙂 We are delighted with this as the mission of the Property118 forum is to facilitate the […]

The Leeds Building Society has cut its BuytoLet rates buy up to 0.7% on selected products whilst keeping low fixed fees and continuing to offer products at 80% Loan to Value. Headline rates include: 3.29% 2 year discount followed by a 3 year discount at 4.99%. (This is based on the Leeds variable rate of […]

One of our properties has a newish tenant. We know she is on some sort of top up benefit. The rent, so far has been paid on time and there appear to be no danger signs. It now appears she does have a partner, who “stays” occasionally! If he has moved in, I know her […]

My property strategy is to purchase 2 bed terraced properties around £130-150K value but try to buy from motivated sellers for £125K where possible. I have made one offer to date on a property listed at £145K owned by a developer who took it as a part ex, but they have (expectedly) declined my offer […]

Robert Desbruslais of AskASurveyor Brighton I am neither of the above, however I do want to support The GOOD Landlords Campaign and welcome the opportunity to network with members www.askasurveyor.co.uk is a unique online service for anyone with concerns about property defects, conflicting advice from builders, “specialists” suggesting expensive damp or timber treatments, mortgage valuation […]

What if any are the legal implications to a landlord regarding insurance, mortgage and planning permission when a tenant becomes a foster carer? I had this  enquiry from a landlord today whose property we are managing.  The tenant has seen in situ for over three years now and has always been a haphazard payer but […]

My business partner and I are about to purchase our first buy to let property – a one bed flat in Southsea with a tenant in place. We are keen for the tenant to stay on (he has indicated he is happy to) so what is the best way of handling deposits and AST’s in […]

Is there a definitive list of what is the landlord’s responsibility and what the tenant should be expected to do as routine care? It’s pretty obvious on who’s responsibility most repairs fall on, but something like a roof gutter that gets blocked each year by falling leaves – as they do on every other house […]

As we know, running a business from home can be merely by using a computer, so would this contravene an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement and possibly planning permission too? I have a tenant who operates with a computer at home to market his business and although he has premises elsewhere to operate his business, he is […]

Heather Lake of Worthing I am now retired and use my Buy to Let portfolio as my pension, as state and Company pensions do not add up to much. I have been letting property for nearly 25 years, and in that time have encountered a fair few problems of various types. The best advice I […]

I have 2 properties that I bought for cash, one of which is my primary residence and one is a flat I rent out. I have just taken a buy to let mortgage on the flat and wonder what is the best way forward to building my property portfolio. Do I buy one property with that […]

Property investors are passionate about building property portfolios, income and the potential for growth and take a lot of time and effort in financing and planning their properties and assets. But are the portfolios effectively protected for family and loved ones in the future? In essence, is your estate ‘as safe as houses’?

I am a non-exec Director of Letting Supermarket, an ARLA member letting agency which we have been recommending to Property118 readers since the end of 2012. The feedback received from landlords we’ve referred has been superb with savings of 50% or more being reported when compared to other ARLA member letting agents.

Allan Hopkins of A F Properties Wales Ltd Llantrisant I am a Landlord and just do what is right and fair! I have residential property in Herefordshire with great tenants and just refurbed. I was badly let down by previous tenants of 8 years in my commercial (office) property in Newport, Gwent, and having had […]

Lesley Emmet of Medway Kent I am a Landlord and support The Good Landlords campaign