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What expenses can I actually claim?

What expenses can I actually claim?

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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

What is an Allowable Expense?

What is an Allowable Expense?

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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, how to deal with it

Penetrating Damp, how to deal with it

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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 Safety in Rented Premises

Fire Safety in Rented Premises

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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

Rising Damp - how to deal with it

Rising Damp - how to deal with it

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Damp &amp; 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

How Much Should Landlords Spend on Renovating?

How Much Should Landlords Spend on Renovating?

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Renting Standards: Specialist residential property solicitor Amanda Sutcliffe of Bray &amp; 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 fees should not be more than 40

Sub-letting fees should not be more than 40

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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,

Section 21 Notice and Deposit Protection rules

Section 21 Notice and Deposit Protection rules

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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

How to do a rent review - Part 2

How to do a rent review - Part 2

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Essential guide to rent reviews: why reading the lease is crucial for landlords and tenants to navigate rent adjustments effectively.

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Big suburban London council reveals HMO licensing expansion

Big suburban London council reveals HMO licensing expansion

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Sutton wants to widen its licensing activities to include smaller HMOs, which number nearlyh 1,000 within the borough.

Landlords have 'good reason to be concerned with renting reforms'

Landlords have 'good reason to be concerned with renting reforms'

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Three key rental sector organisations have joined to warn the Government that its rental reforms are causing significant concerns.

BLOG: Landlords face higher bills as EPC assessments get tougher

BLOG: Landlords face higher bills as EPC assessments get tougher

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Changes to EPC assessments mean higher energy assessment costs for landlord, that's on top of what it will cost many landlords to upgrade properties

Big seaside city reveals radical plans to restrict holiday lets

Big seaside city reveals radical plans to restrict holiday lets

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Council has hatched plans to start charging Airbnb users for parking and is also considering a ban on full-time Airbnbs in new builds and designating

Landlords brace for reform at sold-out NRLA gathering in London

Landlords brace for reform at sold-out NRLA gathering in London

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Paul Shamplina headlined NRLA On Tour London, delivering key insights on legal changes for landlords at a sold-out, sector-shaping event.

Leading tax expert slams looming Making Tax Digital changes for landlords

Leading tax expert slams looming Making Tax Digital changes for landlords

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A high-profile tax expert has labelled HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) regime – set to hit landlords next year - as ‘pointless and costly’.

£6 million licensing scheme reveals property inspections blitz

£6 million licensing scheme reveals property inspections blitz

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Peterborough Council boasts that its aggressive approach to selective licensing has driven significant improvements in the town’s private rental secto

Major BTL lender relaxes rental 'stress test' rules to help landlords

Major BTL lender relaxes rental 'stress test' rules to help landlords

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The Mortgage Works has reduced its 'stress test' rate which is used to assess whether a landlord can afford loan payments.

London rental market now 'full of opportunity for landlords'

London rental market now 'full of opportunity for landlords'

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London’s rental sector is full of opportunity for both landlords and tenants, says Foxtons, which reports an explosion in tenancy applications.

Landlord to pay tenants £10,000 in unusual licencing case

Landlord to pay tenants £10,000 in unusual licencing case

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A landlord who claimed unsuccessfully that he had been deceived by his tenants has been handed a £9,745 rent repayment order.

Council widens £695 selective licencing for landlords

Council widens £695 selective licencing for landlords

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All private landlords in parts of Scarborough will have to get a selective licence from 1st June under council plans to tackle poor quality accommodation and anti-social behaviour.

Landlords in NI told to renew national licence or face big fine

Landlords in NI told to renew national licence or face big fine

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Landlords in Northern Ireland are being reminded to renew their registration or face a heavy fine. 

MP slams Airbnb for 'clearing out' longer-term lets

MP slams Airbnb for 'clearing out' longer-term lets

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Former Lib Dems leader Tim Farron has slammed Airbnb and other holiday lets platforms for creating a ‘clearance’ of long-term rental homes from his Lakeland constituency.

Landlords urge caution as new housing minister plans reforms

Landlords urge caution as new housing minister plans reforms

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Jersey’s private landlords have urged the island’s new Housing Minister to find the right balance when he revives stalled protections for landlords and tenants.

Labour landslide 'best outome for PRS' says landlording expert

Labour landslide 'best outome for PRS' says landlording expert

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A Labour landslide could be a better outcome for buy-to-let landlords than if the party wins the next election by a small majority, according to a leading property guru.

Interest rate hold: Will landlord mortgage costs now go down?

Interest rate hold: Will landlord mortgage costs now go down?

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The base interest rate used by many lenders to determine mortgage costs for landlords is to be held at 5.25% for the fourth time in a row, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has decided today.

Council reassures landlords over problems with licence system

Council reassures landlords over problems with licence system

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Southwark Council has reassured landlords that they won’t be lose out on an early bird discount after they reported problems accessing its updated online licensing system.

Support landlords with tax breaks says leading estate agent

Support landlords with tax breaks says leading estate agent

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A leading agent has urged the government not to rely solely on private landlords’ resilience if it wants to stop more from quitting the sector.

Labour vows to make private landlords adopt 'Awaab's Law'

Labour vows to make private landlords adopt 'Awaab's Law'

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Labour will extend ‘Awaab’s Law’ into the private rented sector if it wins power at the next General Election, its Deputy Leader Angela Rayner has revealed.

Legal case: the largest ever service charges dispute

Legal case: the largest ever service charges dispute

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The exact wording in leases is so very important when it comes to landlord - tenant disputes with commercial and residential property leases

Government to spend £70bn housing benefit tenants in private rented homes

Government to spend £70bn housing benefit tenants in private rented homes

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The extent of the Government’s reliance on private landlords to provide housing for those on benefits after years of under-investment in affordable homes has been revealed.

BREAKING: Government to bar problem tenants from social housing

BREAKING: Government to bar problem tenants from social housing

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A proposed shake-up of social housing would tighten allocation rules and allow landlords to get tougher on anti-social tenants.

Will landlords get some (tax) relief during the Spring budget?

Will landlords get some (tax) relief during the Spring budget?

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Signs that landlords may see their tax bill reduced during the Spring Budget on March 6th have emerged from parliament following a question in the Lords.

Half of councils don't talk to local landlords, probe reveals

Half of councils don't talk to local landlords, probe reveals

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A lack of council-organised landlord gatherings could hamper the Renters Reform Bill’s ambitions, according to Propertymark.

UPDATED: Anti-social behaviour is a nightmare for landlords to deal with

UPDATED: Anti-social behaviour is a nightmare for landlords to deal with

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Problem tenants are difficult to deal with for landlords at the best of times. The government's promise to introduce a fast-track process to deal with anti-social behaviour sounds promising, but can it work in practice?

Tenants warned over using 'no-win, no-fee' legal firms against landlords

Tenants warned over using 'no-win, no-fee' legal firms against landlords

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Tenants have been urged to be wary of ‘no-win, no-fee’ solicitors who deal with private rental sector cases after an almost farcical case in London.

New rental property portal 'must include accessibility info' say campaigners

New rental property portal 'must include accessibility info' say campaigners

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Disability rights groups have called on the government to include information about accessibility for disabled people on its new property portal due to go live next year.

NRLA and property fraud service reveal partnership

NRLA and property fraud service reveal partnership

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A service that alerts landlords when fraudulent tenants try to ‘steal’ their properties via title fraud has struck a deal with the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA).

City claims aggressive licencing scheme has cost landlords £250,000

City claims aggressive licencing scheme has cost landlords £250,000

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Sheffield Council has boasted that up to 800 people have been protected from risky buildings thanks to its selective licensing scheme after landlords were told to spend £250,000 doing up properties.

Leading education thinktank slams Government's rental reforms

Leading education thinktank slams Government's rental reforms

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The Renters (Reform) Bill will reduce rather than enhance housing rights for students, according to the former CEO of student housing charity Unipol.

Big council to spend £19m finding benefit tenants private rental homes

Big council to spend £19m finding benefit tenants private rental homes

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Liverpool Council aims to source 400 private sector properties in a bid to house growing numbers of homeless people in the city.

Some renters' terrible behaviour revealed by new tenancy breach research

Some renters' terrible behaviour revealed by new tenancy breach research

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The key tenancy breaches by tenants reported by landlords have been revealed with non-payment of rent, dirty homes and failing to report repairs and maintenance issues as the most common.

Landlord reveals 20-year slog to a £6m rental portfolio

Landlord reveals 20-year slog to a £6m rental portfolio

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An ambitious landlord who bought his first property aged 18 now has an impressive property portfolio worth £6 million 20 years later.

Agents report unusually quiet rental property market

Agents report unusually quiet rental property market

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Fewer would-be tenants registered with letting agents in December, while rental stock levels also dipped during the typically quieter seasonal period.