Page 960 – Property118

Does anyone know how much tax they should pay? Landlords and property investors face a confusing time with their tax returns as most do not have a clue as to what they can claim against tax and how to work out their income tax. Most find capital gains tax an impenetrable nightmare and few understand how to keep the right financial records to back up rental accounts and tax claims

27th October 2010

Tax is obviously too taxing for most people as around 1.4 million UK workers have to repay an average of £1,400 each in underpaid tax following errors by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). On top of that, HMRC overcharged another 1 million taxpayers by £238 million last year.

Brokers break the banks for mortgage choice. PR based report from Trigold Crystal, a software company providing mortgage sourcing software for brokers

27th October 2010

Independent mortgage advisers have thousands more loan products to choose from across the market than direct providers like banks and building societies. Independents could source mortgages for clients from an August average of 4,545 products – up 19% from a July average of 3,807 – while direct lenders could select from a restricted range of […]

Don’t regulate landlords any more, urges Residential Landlords Association (RLA).

27th October 2010

A landlord group has responded to the government’s challenge to identify changes to the law that would make running a business easier. The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has responded with suggestions that they say would revitalise the private rental sector. Top of the list is carrying on with self-regulation rather than resurrecting the old government’s […]

Buy to let bonanza as rents set to soar.

27th October 2010

Increasing tenant demand and a fall in the number of properties available to let are driving rents higher, says the latest letting market review from the Royal Institute of Surveyors (RICS).   Tenant demand is strongest in London and the East but increased across all regions.

Bank of England Report. Mortgage lending figures released from the Bank of England and Building Societies Associates reveal little has changed for borrowers in the past six months – and will probably stay the same

27th October 2010

The Bank of England statistics for lending to individuals – which covers homeowner loans and buy-to-let finance – showed net lending secured on dwellings increased by £0.1 billion, below the June increase of £0.5 billion and the previous six-month average of £0.8 billion.

Does a landlord always have to pay for repairs?

27th October 2010

Tenants pick up the phone and call the landlord or letting agent at the first hint of a problem with the home they are renting – but it’s not always down to the property owner to foot repair bills. The landlord has an obligation to make sure a rental property is fit for someone to […]

Mark Alexander

Are 8% interest rates scaremongering?

27th October 2010

Mark Alexander  explains why, even though rates at these levels are extremely unlikely, high interest rates due to high inflation over a sustained period could actually be extremely good news for landlords who follow The Money Centre strategy of combining liquidity and high gearing.

Paying tax is not an option for buy-to-let landlords. This short eBook, which has been written by our recommended tax and accountancy partners, is an excellent guide for landlords who have yet to file a tax return

27th October 2010

Paying tax is not an option – there’s not a box on a self-assessment form for ‘no publicity’ or to cancel your annual payments to HM Revenue and Customs. The rules say that if you earn the money, then you must pay the tax, but you can manipulate the rules to make sure you do […]

Claiming back Inheritance Tax (IHT) if house prices have dropped

27th October 2010

Families and friends of someone who has died that have paid out Inheritance Tax (IHT) on land or a home that was sold for less than the value of the property when they took over ownership can reclaim some or all of the tax they paid. Many property sellers are unaware that they can benefit […]

Land Registry Reports house prices rise by 6.7% in past year

27th October 2010

House prices are pretty much at a stand still this year although prices are up an average 6.7% for all types of property on July last year. Prices climbed a modest 0.4% in July, according to the latest house price data from the Land Registry.

Gas watchdog hots up on safety checks

27th October 2010

Landlords are urged to check out gas safety at their properties and to make sure properly qualified fitters are carrying out work on boilers, heating and cookers. Student landlords should carry out safety checks before the start of the new academic year, says the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the organisation responsible for enforcing gas […]

Over 100,000 property investors are already receiving Landlord News

27th October 2010

The Money Centre’s re-launched online Landlord News Magazine already has 100,232 subscribers according to figures released today by an official source. The magazine was re-launched by The Money Centre just over a week ago and has captured the interest of literally thousand of buy-to-let investors throughout the UK and beyond.