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 […]

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.

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.

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.

Buy to let landlords who want to demonstrate their green credentials can save tax and keep their tenants happy while upgrading energy efficiency.

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.

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.

Somebody had to be first to do it but who would have expected it to be Kensington Mortgages?

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? 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 […]

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.

Looking for a home to rent online from home or the office is easy – but tracking down properties is a lot harder when you are on the move.

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.

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.

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 […]

Fraud investigators are warning property club investors against scammers that are offering bogus below-market-value deals with NMD (No Money Down) financing.

Welfare Minister Lord Freud has pledged to look at the problems caused by tenants who refuse to pay their landlords and “play the system” to live rent free. Speaking at the British Property Federation’s Residential Conference, Lord Freud said government would consider landlords’ concerns over issues around tenant debt. Figures last month revealed that £276 […]

  This article was written by Vanessa Warwick @4_Walls on The Property Tribes forum. 

Buy to let landlords are on a collision course with the government as most are determined to defy pleas to reduce their rents in line with proposed cuts for tenants on benefits.

The shameful state of Britain’s housing market is revealed in a new poll of attitudes to renting carried out by one of the country’s biggest housebuilders.

Buy to let landlords could see their rents and property prices plunge if they are listed in a crime black spot on police maps published online for the first time.