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
A landlord has been lambasted for offering a room to rent with the condition that the tenant must look after two cats.
Letting agents across the UK have expressed fears about landlords quitting in their droves ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act.
A pet campaigner has warned that it will be a travesty if the government fails to overturn a House of Lords decision to reject plans for pet insurance
Landlords in Guernsey have warned that new minimum standards brought in this week to make rental homes safer will spark a PRS exodus.
One tried and trusted way to maximise profit is to buy undervalued property, you can then compound the gain by adding value
Scores of landlords leaving the sector are exacerbating a significant lack of rental properties
Long-standing MP Clive Betts is banging the drum for build-to-rent (BTR) through a taskforce that aims to boost the number of properties in the sector
Select committee report is arguing for a change in the law to force private landlords to have to fix mould within days
The government has revealed more details about how the new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman Service will work in practice.
A cross-party group of MPs says a crackdown on social landlords to tackle damp and mould should be extended to tenants in the private rented sector.
Buy-to-let intermediary Mortgages for Business is rebranding as Mortgage Finance Brokers (MFB) to reflect its more inclusive approach.
1 million extra homes will be needed in England and Wales to house singles and families – this is a continually growing market for the private rented sector.
Tory MPs have tabled a raft of amendments to the Renters Reform Bill to ensure it works for the whole private rented sector.
Property surveyors across the UK have reported a slowdown in tenant demand along with continued levels of diminishing stock.
Four tenants have lost their £309,000 claim for harassment but won a £21,160 rent repayment order for living in an unlicensed flat.
There’s good news for landlords who have postponed selling their rental properties despite falling profits and new legislation making the private rental sector less appealing to most landlords.
Landlords could have to wait slightly longer for the pressure on mortgage rates to ease after the annual rate of inflation hit 4% last month.
UK rents increased by 6.2% in the year to December 2023 - the joint highest annual percentage change since 2016.
Experts and campaigners giving evidence to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill committee have endorsed a commonhold system.
Tenants across the UK are being asked to comply with an extensive fraud checklist to confirm their eligibility for Universal Credit.
Propertymark has welcomed the Welsh government’s commitment that private landlords shouldn’t have to refer tenants at risk of homelessness.
Up to one million new rental homes will be needed to accommodate growing demand by 2031, particularly from young families, across England and Wales.
Almost 2,000 letting agent branches shut up shop last year which meant 2023 ended with 659 fewer branches on the high street.
Nearly a fifth of landlords believe the government should prioritise better access to finance so they can carry out retrofitting plans.
A record 50,004 limited BTL companies were set up last year, driven by landlords looking to shelter themselves from higher interest rates.
Michael Gove says that under Awaab’s Law, social housing landlords must deal with condensation issues without delay.
Get ready for an intriguing year ahead in 2024, particularly if you're a hands-on landlord, as several forthcoming announcements are poised to reshape the landscape of property management.
The importance of keeping commercial lease clauses up-to-date with changes in new legislation, in particular there's one clause that should be inserted into every commercial lease to take account of the new energy efficiency rules. Under the Landlord
A landlord who was unable to conduct an electrical safety check due to his hoarding tenant has had a £3,500 fine quashed.
The government has confirmed that commercial landlords won’t have to meet a proposed 2025 deadline to raise their properties to an EPC band C.
