Winter Condensation: Its that time of year again, a time when tenants are most likely to complain about the mould appearing in those corners of the property where the walls and ceilings are really cold, and hot air with moisture always rises to the top. If its black mo
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
Bank of England cuts base rate to 5%, offering relief to landlords with buy-to-let mortgages nearing the end of fixed-rate deals.
Encouraging landlords to rent out more homes will not solve the housing crisis, it has been claimed.
A rogue landlord who was also a letting agent in Essex has been banned from being a landlord in England for three years.
A big council in the East Midlands has revealed plans to extend and widen its additional licencing scheme for HMOs.
Labour has moved to make good on its manifesto promise to reform and improve the Right to Buy scheme which, under the Tories, saw the number of publicly-funded affordable rented homes in England shrink dramatically.
Councils are failing in more ways than one. When it comes to complaints from their tenants, repairs and maintaining safety standards, councils are not performing
An HMO landlord has lost his appeal against an improvement notice ordering him to update a 'paddle staircase'.
The number of short lets in Scotland fell last year as the sector felt the impact of its licensing scheme clampdown.
One in five private renters had to provide a guarantor when moving into their current property - equating to 940,000 households - according to the latest English Housing Survey.
The Government has, following feedback from various property and other industry bodies, delayed the 'big switch off'.
In an unusual move, a Midlands local authority has added the four men to the national rogue landlords database.
Robust tenant referencing will be increasingly important for landlords when the Section 8 process becomes more protracted.
Labour's bewildering decision to U-turn on requiring tenants to have pet insurance has been slammed.
New research reveals how higher yields make licensed HMOs much sought after among investors.
All landlords in Greater Manchester will be expected to sign up for the Charter scheme which is the first of its kind in the UK
Brighton & Hove Council has given the go-ahead for a crackdown on short lets in a bid to reclaim homes.
A letting agent who was fined for letting a room in an unlicensed HMO has won his appeal.
Landlords with existing tenancy agreements which have rent payable in advance can continue collecting it until the tenancy ends.
The Renters’ Rights Bill is being held up and isn’t expected to become law until at least the autumn, according to reports.
Nearly a quarter of tenants face being moved out of their homes when landlords start energy efficiency improvements.
Landlords will need to foot the bill for damage caused by pets under a last-minute amendment to the Renters’ Rights Bill.
The National Landlord Investment Show’s free Summer Spectacular on July 9th in London offers UK landlords and property professionals essential expert-
Death by a thousand National Insurance contributions - the fate of retailers since the October 2024 budget which imposed higher employment costs
A high-profile landlord has called the property licensing system ‘clunky’ and in need of simplification.
A sceptical landlord has become a ‘guinea pig’ and spent considerable sums on making her Victorian four-bedroom rental property 'Let Zero'.
Preston in Lancashire has become the latest city to launch plans to introduce selective licensing within its borders.
Latest scheme to launch is one of 26 launched so far - making 2025 a 'record breaking year' for HMO and selective licensing.
Greater Manchester has revealed a big increase in rogue landlord fines as part of its tough crackdown on the private rental sector.
Newly-minted housing minister in Scotland unable to recall key statistics from her department during TV interview.
A landlord who has ignored efforts by a city council to improve his run-down property has been fined heavily.
Students Organising for Sustainability says it will use the money to improve student accommodation across the UK.
The opaque Universal Credit rental payments will cause landlords even more headaches when the Renters' Rights Bill goes live.
A landlord not resident in the UK must now pay a big rent repayment order after failing to license her property on time.
Thinking of growing a buy-to-let portfolio? Start smart, reinvest profits, diversify, stay compliant, and think long-term for lasting success and inco
