Page 935 – Property118

Blue Force Property firm collapse could cost soldiers millions

16th February 2011

The Blue Force Group – including Blue Force Property and Blue Force Services have collapsed holding cash for soldiers that could run in to millions.  Many of the soldiers with cash on deposit with the firms could lose up to £11,000 each.

Revealed – how property was crippled by the recession

11th February 2011

New figures from the government show how the banking crisis and recession crippled the housing market. In 2008/09 – the latest figures available from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) – only 9% of all households in England (2.0 million) had moved to their current homes within the previous 12 months, the lowest number since […]

Buy to let market expanded by 7% in 2010

11th February 2011

The truth is finally out about how the buy to let market performed in 2010 as the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has released the latest loan figures for property investors. The figures confirm the market expanded by 7%, with about 1.3 million buy to let mortgages worth £152 billion on the books of the […]

HMO no-go zones branded ‘social engineering’

10th February 2011

Neighbourhood no-go zones for houses in multiple occupation are spawning some unholy alliances between former property letting adversaries to fight their local councils. More and more councils are announcing ‘article 4’ declarations to let them take on tough controls to restrict new houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) from opening.

Bragging letting agents advert is banned

10th February 2011

A  property agent has had a newspaper advert banned for bragging the firm rented more properties than most. The Advertising Standards Authority ruled the advert was misleading because the firm could not substantiate the claims.

Homes sales have slowed again, say estate agents

9th February 2011

Home sales slipped to the lowest level for 18 months as estate agents reported a poor month of trading. Fewer sellers put their homes on the market while buyers are holding off because of worries about rising interest rates.

BBC has a cheap bash at landlords yet again!

7th February 2011

The BBC has launched another story about substandard buy to let homes and ‘rogue landlords’ – but just who is covered by the tired old cliché? The UK has about 3.5 million buy to let properties and houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) that are let by private landlords.

Buy to let mortgage deals hot up for landlords

7th February 2011

New lenders are eyeing buy-to-let as others are shaping up their deals to give landlords a wider choice of rates and products. Yorkshire Building Society has indicated a move in to the market before July on the back of the merger with Chelsea Building Society, which had a large property investment lending book.

Mark Alexander

Are YOUR tenants YOUR best ambassadors?

6th February 2011

As all landlords know, if you take good care of your properties and your tenants they will look after you.  If you’re not a good landlord they will tell all their friends but do they tell all their friends what a great landlord you are and when you’ve got a property coming vacant?

Have you got what it takes to be a landlord?

6th February 2011

Have you got what it takes to be a landlord? Often people seem to think that being a landlord  is money for old rope.  “Landlords!  They just sit there doing nothing and collect the money as it comes rolling in!”  That’s the popular view. Of course it’s not  true!  So what does it take to […]

HMRC warns of online tax rebate phishing scam

4th February 2011

Taxpayers should not respond to bogus emails from fraudsters offering  tax rebates on behalf of HM Revenue and Customs. HMRC has revealed crime gangs have sent out millions of fake ‘phishing’ emails following the January 31 tax return filing deadline.

How I choose my tenants

4th February 2011

Please remember that my properties are all mid range to upper end of the market.  My typical tenant profile is professionals and retired couples.  Some of the strategies outlined may be transferrable to other market sectors but not all of them.

How I minimise property management issues

4th February 2011

Please remember that my properties are all mid range to upper end of market properties aimed at the professional tenants and retired couples.  Some of the strategies outlined may be transferrable to other market sectors but not all of them.

How I minimise rental voids

4th February 2011

A one month rental void accounts for 8.33% of your annual rental income.  For many landlords this is the difference between making a profit or a loss from rental income.  Talk to any property investor who’s had problems making mortgage payments and there are two main reasons; 1) no rental income or 2) no cash […]