An open letter to Housing Minister Mark Prisk MP – “Solving the Housing Crisis“ Dear Sir The combined housing provision of Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords (e.g. Housing Associations) now provides no more UK homes than the Private Rented Sector. Given that the UK Private Rented sector has matured significantly since the Housing Act was implemented in 1988 […]

Dear Property Ombudsman I am very concerned about the number of readers letters that I receive from both landlords and vendors of properties who feel they have been ripped off by unscrupulous and unlicensed agents calling themselves “Property Sourcers“. There is very little I can do about this other than offer sympathy as Property118 is neither an arbitrator nor […]

I’ve been having a twitter conversation with a chap called Yemi Edun who specializes in buying tired, prime location, London apartments at auction and then refurbishing and letting them on behalf of buy to let investors. Yemi tweeted me links to a couple of You Tube video’s where he’s appeared on BBC TV’s “Under The […]

Wealthy parents and property investors are buying up ultra modern apartments to rent to students in 2013. Remember the TV programme “The Young Ones” and Alexie Sayle as the Landlord? How times have moved on since the 80’s hey? Just watch the video on this advert (second picture down). They even have a Costa Coffee […]

The Banker is back, this time he’s trying to upset by hoisting us by our own petard – he’s asking the question “should missed mortgage payments be a criminal offence.” Is his last anonymous correspondence with Property118 readers The Banker caught our attention with the title “The Property Boom of 2012” and then went on […]

The high profile fires caused by faulty fridge freezers last year highlight the need for landlords and tenants to be extra vigilant about checking the appliances and plug sockets of their properties. In one case in St John’s Wood in London, where the managing agents had recently overseen a refurbishment including updating the fire safety […]

Steve wants to know from readers of Property118 whether they think, in his circumstances, he should sell his property in an auction. Steve has very kindly given us permission to publish his email below. “I have recently inherited a 3 bed semi from my father. The property is in need of modernisation and is in […]

The Mortgage Works BuytoLet team have made major changes to their criteria and products focusing on First Time Landlords, Let to Buy, Purchasing from a family member and withdrawing from the regulated BuytoLet market. This is significant for the whole of the BuytoLet market as The Mortgage Works have a very large market share of […]

The housing market experienced an overall decrease in activity in July, according to the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA). The NAEA’s monthly market report found that demand for housing had reduced slightly, and fewer sellers were putting property onto the market. NAEA agents have attributed this slowdown to the start of the Olympic events […]

Following the recent cabinet reshuffle Mark Prisk MP has been announced as the successor to Grant Schapps. Do readers of Property118.com think Mark Prisk will do a better job?

Leeds Building Society BuytoLet department have discounted their two and three year products whilst keeping their 5 year deals at the same level. These are 65 and 70% Loan to value products with an attractive initial rate and good value fixed fees of £999 that really do benefit the larger loan over percentage based fees. […]

“Why are landlords being denied our  legal right to repossess  a “dwelling house” Under Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988?” – Mary Latham – Landlord After reading and posting on this discussion I have been thinking about the possession procedure and how the law fails landlords.

In this blog I intend to dispel a few urban myths which appear to be forming, both amongst landlords and squatters themselves judging from some of the readers emails I have received. As of today a person occupying a residential property without the owners permission is committing a criminal offence which is punishable by up to six months in prison and […]

What are your thoughts on the new laws scrapping squatters rights and making squatting a criminal offence? Squatting in residential property in England and Wales becomes a criminal offence on Saturday 1st September 2012. Under clause 144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, the offence of squatting will be punishable by […]

Recently it was revealed that 15,000 fewer young people had applied for university places starting this academic year*. This reduction in student numbers will have a dual impact on landlords who traditionally let their properties in university towns. ARLA’s advice to landlords operating in university towns and cities

Thanks for the responses to the original post, also entitled “End of Tenancy Council tax Demand“. To clarify the position it was a furnished tenancy so the empty relief is not possible. Most of your responses confirmed my feelings on the matter but, as I had not been in this position before, I wanted to […]

Whether you are looking for Exclusive Liverpool Student Accommodation for your children or as an investment you really ought to check out Arndale house. It will be ready for occupation in Q4 2013 and is available to purchase off plan now. Please take a few minutes to peruse the details below, watch the embedded video (second picture […]

BM Solutions BuytoLet rates have been reduced across their five and 3 year fixed rate range in line with other lenders reductions and a decrease in LIBOR. There are also minor adjustments in the cost of some tracker rate products, but it is the cost of longer term fixed rate BuytoLets that reflect more accurately the direction the […]

This weekend I received an email from Cissie asking “If I move into a buy to let property which has been let for several years, and sell it after 6 months or a year, can I avoid CGT ? “ It’s a very interesting question, one which is close to my own heart as my […]

I am considering buying a property with a regulated tenancy. It is occupied by one person who is getting on in age. As I understand it once the tenant is no longer living there, either by going into residential care or moving or passing away, the property becomes mine to do with as I wish. […]

I’ve been writing for P118 for a while now and feel I have connected with enough sane voices here to put forward a slightly more insane idea for reasoned discussion, ideas that have been occurring to me for some time. The possibility that the very term ‘Landlord’ might be damaging relationships between landlords and tenants. […]