The Universal Credit, due to be introduced in October 2013, is a new scheme which aims to simplify the benefits system by combining all in-work benefits( jobseeker’s allowance, tax credits, income support, employment and support allowance) into a single monthly payment rather than combination of a number of benefit payments as is currently the case. […]

House shares with six or more bedrooms are the fastest-growing property type on the SpareRoom website as landlords react to increased demand for lower rents. But as the cost of living soars and demand for rooms in larger properties increases, the trend could lead to a growth in unlicensed ‘houses in multiple occupation’ (HMOs). Over […]

With the National Approved Letting Scheme “NALS” conference being held on Thursday 4th October, the recent offer from Ombudsman Services is certainly well timed. In a Press Release issued by Ombudsman Services today, Chief Ombudsman Lewis Shand Smith said “we are delighted to offer NALS firms access to our services at a very cost effective rate. […]

Richard Cubitt, a reader of Property118 has submitted the following summary of Private Rented Sector Licencing. In an email to the Editor or Property118 Richard said “All of this information is all in the public domain but I think that the wider implications are worth bringing to general attention. Thin edge of the wedge!! The application […]

So, I’m doing what I promised I’d never do – manage some else’s HMOs. Over the years I understood why lettings agents were sniffy about HMOs and the amount of time managing the house demanded in proportion to the 10% management fee. But I yielded after a friend decided to invest his inheritance and asked […]

As the number of renters rise year-on-year, the number of deposit squabbles increase. Though just two per cent of tenancies end in a dispute over rent deposit refunds.. However, “cleaning costs is the top reason why deposit money is withheld when a tenant moves out of a rented property” according to the Association of Independent […]

Housing Charity Shelter is proposing 5 year rental agreements but this is not viable as most landlords would be in breach of their buy to let mortgage conditions if they were to offer anything other than 6 or 12 month Assured Shorthold Tenancies. However, I believe I’ve found a solution. Some landlords want long term […]

At NPG, from time to time we get tenants calling about pest control. It can range from mice, to rats, ants, fleas, bed-bugs, cockroaches and even wasps nests. By the way, if you start scratching whilst you are reading this, don’t worry – it happens to me! There’s a lot of confusion as to who […]

I will get around to talking about legacy protection in this article but first I want to set the scene by sharing my very happy news with you. I’m getting married next month! I’m a very lucky, very happy man 🙂 The picture to the left is of my wife to be, Svetlana. It was […]

Guest article by Howard Reuben IFA A “snapshot of today” Priorities. Everyone has them, and as a Financial Adviser I work with my Clients to ensure that their own personal financial planning priorities are properly structured, reviewed and achieved. Over the years, my Clients have asked many times for me to assist with their medium […]

National Landlord Day, the major conference and exhibition from the Scottish Association of Landlords is now the largest landlord conference in the UK. The 2012 event will be the fifth year for this popular event, bigger and better than ever and taking place at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh on 6 November 2012. Having been a sell […]

Are district judges staging an unspoken rebellion in possession cases? This article is largely based on possession claims brought by social landlords but I ask you, the PRS landlord reader, to think about the import of what this might mean for possible future repossessions in an environment where I just read today, the amount of […]

Sallie has written in to request advice from Property118 readers as she owns a property in which the cellar keeps filling up with water. Have any readers of Property118 had a similar problem or can you offer solutions please? Do we have any surveyors reading Property118 who can provide advice on “tanking” the cellar or […]

According to Francis Dolley who regularly leaves comments on this forum, “Rent 2 Rent” is being widely debated on various Facebook property groups as the latest strategy for landlords to expand their portfolio’s with minimal capital .Francis emailed me over the weekend asking me which “Rent 2 Rent” agreements I thought he should be using. I do […]

I’m not a member of just one landlords association, I joined two! I don’t know which Landlords Association is best, what I can tell you is which ones I joined and why they are the right ones for me. I’m also interested in whether YOU are a member of a Landlords Association and why you […]

It is possible to remortage within six months of purchase, even on a buy to let property, I promise you! Forget everything you have heard about “the CML’s six month rule”, no such rule exists!  The legend of the “CML’s six month rule” for remortgaging has been bandied around forums for at least five years now but I can […]

Northern Rock BuytoLet who are part of Virgin Money have confirmed they will consider “Day One” remortgages otherwise known as “Back-to-Back” and Regulated BuytoLets for the use of close family members. This is a very niche area for Lenders with only Mortgage Trust as the other company able to consider remortgages inside six months of […]

Godiva BuytoLet, owned by the Coventry Building Society, have further tweaked their Flexible variable and Flexible fixed products by keeping the interest rate charged the same and removing the fixed arrangement fees. This is a whole of term flexible BuytoLet product with no early repayment charge and no need to remortgage after a prescribed time […]

Linda has written in to share her problem letting agent story and to ask the Property118 community for their opinions, guidance and advice. The remaining content of this post is Linda’s:- “I purchased properties about four years ago as a cushion for retirement.   It has proved a disasterous undertaking and now that retirment is upon me I have used […]

Brooklands Commercial Finance have witnessed a significant upsurge in demand from referred Property118 readers for bridging finance as traditional secured lending markets become less accessible. No longer seen as a lending product of last resort, bridging finance has become a mainstream vehicle for a wide range of purposes. Bridging finance can be arranged quickly compared […]

Hi there Didn’t know who else to ask about this – I was an avid user of both Property Snake and Property-Bee to research property prices and source BMV (Below Market Value) deals Property snake seems to have disappeared from view – Google searches draw a blank and my bookmarks also link to nothing (“oops, […]