By guest author Taj Kang- an Associate Director at specialist contractor mortgage broker Anyone in their early fifties is going to have to face working longer and for women that means another six years after 60. Therefore if, for example, you are 52 state pension won’t arrive until 2026, seemingly a lifetime away. We are […]

In today’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting The Bank of England have decided to increase the stimulus into the economy on top of recently announced plans. The Bank Base Rate will remain at 0.5% where it has been for the last three years and the Bank of England will try to pump more liquidity into the system […]

A landlord in Edinburgh is the first in the city to be banned from letting out properties after failing to declare previous convictions and to licence his HMO. The landlord, Yousef Mohammed, had previously been hit with a £1000 fine for failing to licence an HMO. He has subsequently been deemed not to meet the […]

The number of tenants in severe arrears has risen to a massive 100,400 as rents continue to rise while the economy and jobs falter. The latest figure is 24% higher than the same period last year. According to the Tenant Arrears Tracker by Templeton LPA, part of LSL Property Services, the first quarter of 2012 […]

It is not an exaggeration to say that every day we are asked the question “can you arrange a buy to let mortgage for me on an auction property I am interested in purchasing”. My next question is when and the answer normally ranges from next day to next week. If you are not a […]

With landlords continuing to come off on the wrong side of tenant deposit disputes, the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks have told landlords to shore up their claims. During the fifth year of the Deposit Protection Service, only 16% of claims were given in the landlord’s favour. The AIIC believe this would change if landlords […]

We have received an anonymous tip off that could cause yet another HMO outrage and could be a disaster for both landlords and tenant groups if the rumours are indeed true and are implemented. Allegedly, Torbay Council collated data of all HMOs in their area two weeks ago and are intending to charge Council Tax based on each […]

“I need to use grass cutting machine” said my Polish tenant when he called me one Saturday afternoon. You mean a lawnmower I said, don’t you have one? “My friend say that you must provide” he replied. Was he right? I’d let the house unfurnished, surely he should buy his own lawnmower? None of my […]

Situated on the banks of Salford Quays and generating 8% gross rental yields these sumptuous 2-bed luxury buy-to-let apartments could be the perfect investment opportunity for your property portfolio. They are priced at just £115,000 and come with secure car parking and even a concierge service. A vibrant, exciting place to live, Salford Quays is the new […]

I spent all day yesterday updating the mortgage calculator making sure all the usual little lenders’ tweaks had been uploaded and any interesting new products were included, when I ran across what I think is the Yorkshire tea, or a sliced white loaf of a the buy to let product market. It is nothing spectacular […]

With more and more commercial property sitting empty, an important judgement in Cardiff could have major ramifications for empty property rate relief. Due to dubious claims of the property being re-occupied for over 6 weeks and vacant again, councils have taken a harder approach. The appeal against Vale of Glamorgan Council could mean each request […]

Council Tax can be a deciding factor to some tenants. When you rent out a property, tenants often ask what the council tax band is. They also want to know much they will have to pay. There can be a big difference between say a Band A, or Band D property. There are a couple […]

Whilst a bungalow isn’t likely to provide you with the highest possible rental yield, bungalows should not be overlooked as property investment opportunities, especially by investors with with good refurbishment skills or a good team of tradesmen.

The National Association for Estate Agents is calling for more support for first time buyers as the property market continues to struggle. They believe the boost from below will ripple upwards, stimulating the whole market. Mark Hayward, President of the NAEA, said: “Assisting those seeking property at the start of the ladder could help to […]

If you’ve been reading my blog posts or run an HMO yourself, you’ll already know that the quest for affordable rooms is on the up.  This is partly due to the changes this year in LHA for people aged 25-35 whereby councils will only pay for a room in a shared house and, over 35 […]

Bank tariffs are increasing amidst fears of the Euro zone instability and the resulting increase in funding costs. There is no doubt that rates will continue to increase, which is why fixed rate deals are particularly attractive. Protecting your business against future interest rate shocks and having peace of mind of a fixed payment term […]

By 1999 I had realised that I needed to put money aside for maintenance. Tenants were moving in and out all the time and I was bleeding money on carpet cleaning, magnolia paint and replacement carpets at an unbelievable rate. I’d started investing into bigger houses and renting them to people with children and groups […]

The commercial property market is still struggling due to the difficulties in the economy, according to Jones Lang LaSalle. Their latest forecast cites returns down at 2%, although office rentals in the West End should perform well. Elsewhere across the country will not experience the same though, with Jones Lang LaSalle expecting rental falls.

Thanks to Don Holmes of Go Direct Lettings for providing us with details of a recently completed deal in Liverpool L4, about 3 miles outside the City Centre, an area which Don believes is one of the UK’s Buy to let Hotspots. This particular property produces a gross yield of 13.9% and here’s how…..

The buy to let market has been very quiet for the last few weeks with little to report on rate changes, but the first lender to make their move appears to be the state owned Northern Rock. The Northern Rock have reduced their rates by up to 0.36% and continue to offer a £500 Cashback […]

Every Town and City in the UK has its own unique set of dynamics when it comes to property values and rental yields. For example, I know that in Norwich, one the most established areas for letting is known as the Golden Triangle because it’s very close to the University, the Hospital and within easy access of the […]