The latest property and landlord related news with guest articles from industry experts. New guest columnist Councillor Jeremy Moulton looks closely at the new planning rules governing HMO’s, Mary Latham hits out against penalising good landlords, Ben Reeve-Lewis tackles the tactical world of mortgage repossessions and the Property Maverick offers more investment strategies.

It’s a fact that more millionaires attain their wealth through property than any other type of investment, so by that virtue it makes sense for at least some of your investment portfolio should be in property. However, you need to exercise caution, people can- and have- lost huge amounts of money in property when their […]

Buy to let is expected to keep growing for the next few years as Britain faces a severe shortage of homes. As house building falters but the population keeps growing, the country is expected to have a shortfall of around a million homes by 2020, says builder Barratt Developments.

Buy to let property club fraudsters who raised more than £1 million from selling shoddy properties at inflated prices have picked up jail sentences. The con-men ran three property firms in the North West and scammed investors into parting with their cash on false promises of guaranteed rental incomes on below market value homes. The […]

By Guest Columnist Ben Reeve-Lewis We live at a time when mortgage repossessions are running at an all time high, last year saw 45,000 with a huge impending increase in 2012 and even more restrictions being placed on lenders by the FSA when offering alternatives to repossession. And all this without a rise in interest […]

I am writing this after reading an article with the opening line “A Labour MP says that every MP he knows “is desperate for help in dealing with rogue landlords”.” Here is a radical idea – penalise local authorities who do not use their legal powers to enforce the law! This is what happens to […]

The Bank of England has kept the base rate at 0.5% and pegged quantative easing at the previously agreed £275 billion. The decision means the base rate has sat at the record low for 34 months in a row and the £75 billion quantative easing top-up will complete around the end of the month.

Buy to let pundits fill acres of space online and in the media talking up property investment – but most of them have a vested interest in pushing products on landlords. The main offenders are mortgage lenders forever talking up the market in surveys and house price reports – and including sly details of their […]

Article 4 Directions for managing HMOs will only work if they are accompanied by good planning policies – a Southampton perspective By Guest Columnist Cllr Jeremy Moulton, Conservative Councillor for Freemantle Ward On 23rd March Southampton City Council will join a number of other councils who have implemented new planning rules, called an Article 4 […]

Responsible landlords are investors and business people who should present a ‘professional’ face to their tenants and letting agents. Not only are there harassment and equality laws designed to stop some of the more outrageous dealings perpetrated by landlords caught up in a spiraling web of anger, but the courts look badly on bullies who […]

News Sourced by Property118 News Team Aldermore have increased the loan-to-value on its fixed buy to let range to 80%, as well as reducing its buy to let reversion rates by 0.5%. They’ve also reduced their two year discount and three and five year fixed rates. The maximum portfolio size has been increased to 5 […]

Another year older, another year of more energy! On Thursday it is the birthday of Property118 founding partner Mark Alexander. Just to introduce myself, I am Mike Woodfine and I have been Mark’s business partner for 22 years. I thought it would be fun to share some little known facts about the man with the […]

The latest news and views from the property market and private rented sector.  Ben Reeve-Lewis continues on the Olympic theme and provides insight on how to avoid getting caught up in the letting scams during the games. Julie Ford and the HMO Landlady return with thought provoking articles on high street agents and house insurance. […]

Estate agents are blaming sellers asking unrealistic prices for their homes as one of the reasons for a flatlining housing market. Pointing the finger at sellers is unfair as they are probably pricing their home on the figure they need to break even from a deal.

Landlords are expecting another bumper for year of buy to let, according to research by a property investment lender. Just over half (56%) of landlords predict demand from tenants will continue to stay high.Few expect the private rental market to shrink – only 6% of landlords feel tenant demand will drop and hardly any (2%) […]

News Sourced by Property118 News Team A landlord in Blackburn has been fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £8,000 in costs after failing to ensure gas safety checks were completed at a property, home to a family of eight. Mr Rashid Hussain failed to organise an inspection, despite being handed an improvement notice requiring him […]

January heralds house insurance renewal month. Every year I promise to get excited about it, compare quotes and wallow for the next year in the knowledge that I’ve secured the most competitive deal. The reality is, when the broker calls I groan with resignation and tell him just to get on with it. As he […]

Lettings firm Belvoir intends to join the City’s Alternative Investment Market to raise capital for further expansion. The specialist lettings agency runs 142 franchised offices – and wants to raise up to £8 million from floating on AIM.

A buy to let lender was slammed for a landlord mortgage of £166,500 without carrying out proper income checks in a negligence case at the High Court. GMAC-RFC – now trading as Paratus-AMC – agreed the 90% loan-to-value advance on a £185,000 property valuation from Countrywide in 2004.

Having written my article on the predicted downside of renting during the Olympics I thought I had better provide a bit of guidance for landlords on how to avoid getting ripped off. Foreign sports tourists are also open to abuse simply because they don’t know London or the way things work in the UK. Already […]

The latest news and views from the property market and private rented sector.  Ben Reeve-Lewis and Mary Latham highlight some very important issues all landlords looking to take advantage of the Olympic frenzy should consider, Mark Alexander reviews a free eBook in his Landlords Log and we would like to welcome our new guest columnist Helen […]