Tax Relief: Starting from 6th April 2017, those landlords with mortgages will have tax relief on their buy-to-let mortgage costs gradually reduce over a 4-year period.Many landlords dont have a mortgage (up to 50% it is said), so this change does not affect them, but many
Rent Arrears: At this time of year, soon after the Christmas spending spree, inevitably rent payments begin to suffer. If you are having problems with rent arrears, this article should help.As in most areas of life,prevention is better than cure . To re
Tax Return 2016-2017: As a general rule, and as outlined in the previous articles in this series on tax returns, landlords can claim the expenses of running and maintaining their rental properties.If the rent you charge includes additional services like water, or council tax
Tax Return 2016-17: With some costs its very easy to decide: a repair to a drain, downspout or roof tile are all allowable expenses, but what about replacing a broken single glazed window with a new plastic frame and double glazing, what about decorating and installing a
Penetrating damp, just as its name implies, is where water leaks into a building from outside the structure, through the walls or roof. Less common is where an internal leak from a water or drain pipe leaks into the structure of the building.Common causes of penetrating damp are: <ul <l
Fire Regulations in Rentals: There are several regulations relating to fire safety within rental dwellings; some affect all dwellings whereas others apply mainly to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO).This looks complicated, but fire safety management in reality boils down t
Damp & Mould: You may have seen or heard of the 1970s TV series Rising Damp, which featured a landlord and his tenants (lodgers in this case) which rather implies that all rental properties are troubled with this kind of damp.Far from the case, but some are. In fact the
Renting Standards: Specialist residential property solicitor Amanda Sutcliffe of Bray & Bray looks at the importance of keeping a rental property in good condition.Research conducted by Endsleigh Insurance and TrustMark claimed that over 75% of landlords s
Sub-Letting Licenses: (SOLITAIRE) LIMITED Appellant and CHERRY LILIAN NORTON and other cases [2012]Landlords of leasehold buy-to-let flats are often asked to pay a fee (sub-letting licence or registration fee) to the freeholder when seeking permission to sub-let their flat,
Validity of Section 21 Notice: Amak Property Investments v Laura Sonny [2016]This case was an appeal by the tenant following a county court judgement relating to the validity of a s21 notice on the basis that the landlord had not complied with the deposit protection (MyDepo
Essential guide to rent reviews: why reading the lease is crucial for landlords and tenants to navigate rent adjustments effectively.
Tenant Agreement: The Law of Property Act 1925 talks about having a maximum of 4 tenants on an agreement. So what to do when you have 5, 6 or more tenants sharing a house?There is a common misunderstanding of the rules here. Landlords and agents sometimes think or have heard
Advance Rent: Piggot v Slaven and Johnson v. OldThere are two important cases which clarify (though not necessarily decisively) the position on landlords accepting rent payments in advance. One concerns the accepting of the final two months rent in advance, a common devi
Following some confusion and debate about a deferral for the new standards following the MEES* deadline in April 2018, the new government has confirmed that changes to the EPC rules, preventing landlords from renting out homes below rating E, will definitely be introduced from April 2018.Accordin
Responsibility for Repairs: Who is responsible and who is obliged to pay for repairs to leasehold blocks and flats? What is the procedure if repairs are unnecessarily delayed or not carried out to the leaseholders satisfaction? What is the Section 20 procedure?T
Essential guide on how to conduct a rent review, covering key clauses and best practices to protect landlord and tenant interests.
Test Case Yeomans v Newell [2016]:When a landlord is in breach of the tenancy deposit rules he or she is prevented from serving a valid s21 notice for possession proceedings. Despite the fact that the tenancy deposit legislation has been in force since April 2007, landlords
Test Case: Superstrike Ltd v Marino. RodriguesThe case involved a landlord who had taken a deposit from the tenant before the deposit protection rules came into force in April 2007, since changed by the Deregulation Act 2015 see below. When the tenancy later became a st
As temperatures in England and Wales soar this week, many office buildings will become unusable says real estate sustainability expert Chris Bennett of consultancy https://evoraglobal.com/" target="_blank" Evora Global - it should act as a powerful warning for real estate
An estate agency has claimed that the governments war on landlords will cost the private rented market some 46,000 this year, or some 3,800 every month. Hamptons , which has branches all over the UK, says its research confirms that, as LandlordZONE
With the cost of living crisis being the political issue of the day, and a political leadership contest underway, theres something of a hiatus in the way its being dealt with. But the situation is now quite urgent. Financial distress is now higher than during the pandemic.
After 20 years, landlord Sue quits the sector, citing frustration with anti-landlord sentiment and increasing regulatory burdens.
Minister defends exempting student housing from new tenancy rules to keep in step with academic year agreements/
Landlords with empty properties are being urged to take advantage of council cash to help fight the housing shortage. About 300 councils currently offer a scheme mainly loans to carry out repairs - although some provide grants, usually ranging from �5,000 to more than �25,
Letting out property abroad can be a great way of generating extra income. The property might have been bought primarily as an investment but for others or it could be second or holiday home let out when not in use. There are plenty of things to think about, though.
Leicester is going ahead with its selective licensing extension in three areas of the city, charging landlords �1,090 per property - the highest fee in the Midlands. The council is introducing the scheme in parts of Westcotes, Fosse, Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields wards, whi
Durham Council has warned landlords covered by its new selective licensing scheme to brace themselves for inspections next month. At least 29,000 properties, 42% of the countys PRS, are covered by the scheme which launched in April after winning government approval. <p id
Despite the potential to strengthen their rights, younger tenants are often reluctant to support greater regulation in the private rental sector.
Tenant groups raise concerns that peers with property interests are working to delay the Renters’ Rights Bill and push for concessions from the Govern
Rightmove reports that average asking prices have increased by over £5,000 this month, bringing the typical UK listing to £377,182.
Unauthorized subletting is on the rise, leaving landlords exposed to financial loss and legal issues. Tools like Title Guardian can help monitor properties and alert landlords to suspicious activity. Stay informed and protect your investments.
Questions have been raised about whether Trump’s tariffs will be a help or a hindrance to landlords.
Property demand in Bedford set to rise after Universal theme park announcement
The typical price of renting a luxury property edged up marginally at the beginning of this year, new figures suggest.
Commercial to residential conversions are creating lots of new investment opportunities for landlords / developers
Being a landlord means you can sometimes find yourself dealing with challenging tenancy issues.
Renters’ Rights Bill amendments aim to protect landlords’ possession rights
A member of the tenants’ union Acorn has accused landlords of being “subsidised” by public money.
The rental hotspots in England have been revealed, with West Sussex leading the way.
Room rents in London have fallen by 1% in the last year and now average £982 per month, as many tenants opt to live outside the capital.
Landlords and councils need to work together on tackling anti-social behaviour and protecting vulnerable tenants, MPs have been told.
Law firms have reported a significant rise in the number of landlords looking to end rent-to-rent agreements with councils or companies who sublet to local authorities.
Properties with bills included appear to be falling out of favour as cost-of-living rises mean landlords can lose money on them despite the 20% rent premium.
A third of private tenants in Scotland find it hard to pay their rent each month, according to a new poll.
Government schemes to improve homes by retrofitting wall insulation could become one of the biggest energy efficiency scandals to-date
Landlords are advised to sell lower-performing properties before the Renters' Rights Bill takes effect this summer, as it will bring stricter regulations and increased costs. Selling now could help maximize profits and allow reinvestment in discounted properties, growing portfolios by 2026.
One in ten parents who rent their home claim to have been discriminated against during their property search because they have children.
Landlords searching for buy-to-let mortgages could benefit from President Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs, which have sparked a drop in mortgage rates.
The number of build-to-rent (BTR) homes in the UK has jumped by 173% in the past five years as investment in the sector hit a record high in 2024.
Scottish Government insists rent controls protect landlords’ property rights
Almost half of landlords prefer to buy a doer-upper property, new research has revealed.
Landlords in Northumbria have been urged to check their properties regularly for cannabis farms following two deaths as the result of a dangerous drug lab.
