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What are the special rules for VAT on commercial property?

What are the special rules for VAT on commercial property?

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VAT on Commercial Property is a complex topic and anyone wishing to understand these complexities in relation to their own situation should seek specialist advice. This article should give a broad brush general overview but you really should seek advice because errors can be irredeemable an

Landlord banned from letting properties in England for five years

Landlord banned from letting properties in England for five years

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A rogue portfolio landlord has been banned from letting properties for five years after she admitted multiple offences relating to fire safety issues. Naomi Knapp, a landlord with 34 properties in Bristol, was convicted of eight banning order offences and will now be added to th

'Spray foam must be regulated to stop properties becoming un-mortgageable'

'Spray foam must be regulated to stop properties becoming un-mortgageable'

News

Urgent regulation of the spray foam industry is needed to prevent making thousands of homes un-mortgagable, warn leading property groups. Sprayed polyurethane expanding foams are often used in lofts, either to stabilise a failing roof covering or to provide extra insulation. But

EXCLUSIVE: Landlords battle city council over HMO council tax re-valuations

EXCLUSIVE: Landlords battle city council over HMO council tax re-valuations

News

Portsmouths HMOs are in the firing line again as growing numbers are being referred to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to have their council tax bands reassessed. Rather than paying tax on the whole property, each room can be classified as a band A at a cost of �1,200, wit

LEGAL LATEST: Can the eviction of a disabled tenant ever be fair?

LEGAL LATEST: Can the eviction of a disabled tenant ever be fair?

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A severely disabled tenant and his family have barricaded themselves into their home in a bid to prevent a controversial eviction. Quadriplegic Harvey Cowe, 62, and his wife Sheree, 55, have lived at the house in Brittany Road, Hove, for 25 years after Brighton & Hove C

'Selective licencing fees will push up rents as cost of living rises squeeze landlords too'

'Selective licencing fees will push up rents as cost of living rises squeeze landlords too'

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A leading letting agent has criticised the reasoning behind the UKs ever-growing list of selective licensing schemes. Selective licensing covers all rented property in a given area or council borough and landlords are required to pay a five-yearly fee of between �500 and �9

More HMO restrictions in Bristol as battle over fast-expanding sector hots up

More HMO restrictions in Bristol as battle over fast-expanding sector hots up

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Landlords in Bristol will soon be required to gain planning permission to convert properties into HMOs in three key areas, it has been revealed. South Gloucestershire Council is to bring in Article 4 directions in the Bristol neighbourhoods of Stoke Park and Cheswick and parts o

LATEST: London mayor urges private landlords to sell their homes to councils

LATEST: London mayor urges private landlords to sell their homes to councils

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Londons mayor Sadiq Khan has urged private landlords who are planning to exit the private rented market to sell their properties to local councils instead of other landlords. Khan made the comments within a self-congratulatory statement on his website l

PICTURES: Landlord to pay �40,000 after multiple breaches of HMO licence

PICTURES: Landlord to pay �40,000 after multiple breaches of HMO licence

News

A landlord in London must now pay �40,000 after losing his appeal against his fine for breaching Mandatory HMO licensing conditions at a bedsit property above a pub. Earlier this year Islington council brought a prosecution against Mohammed Shahid for fai

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2025 record year for new licensing schemes as latest council launches plans

2025 record year for new licensing schemes as latest council launches plans

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Latest scheme to launch is one of 26 launched so far - making 2025 a 'record breaking year' for HMO and selective licensing.

Big city mayor fines landlords £1.5 million in two years

Big city mayor fines landlords £1.5 million in two years

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Greater Manchester has revealed a big increase in rogue landlord fines as part of its tough crackdown on the private rental sector.

New 'rent controls minister' stumbles on first outing

New 'rent controls minister' stumbles on first outing

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Newly-minted housing minister in Scotland unable to recall key statistics from her department during TV interview.

Landlord to pay £15,000 after second prosecution over same property

Landlord to pay £15,000 after second prosecution over same property

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A landlord who has ignored efforts by a city council to improve his run-down property has been fined heavily.

National Lottery gives green campaigners £1.25m to 'educate landlords'

National Lottery gives green campaigners £1.25m to 'educate landlords'

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Students Organising for Sustainability says it will use the money to improve student accommodation across the UK.

Evicting benefits tenants 'to get harder when renting reforms go live'

Evicting benefits tenants 'to get harder when renting reforms go live'

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The opaque Universal Credit rental payments will cause landlords even more headaches when the Renters' Rights Bill goes live.

Oz landlord to repay UK tenants £16,224 despite 'grey area' claim

Oz landlord to repay UK tenants £16,224 despite 'grey area' claim

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A landlord not resident in the UK must now pay a big rent repayment order after failing to license her property on time.

How to sustainably build a solid rental portfolio

How to sustainably build a solid rental portfolio

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Thinking of growing a buy-to-let portfolio? Start smart, reinvest profits, diversify, stay compliant, and think long-term for lasting success and inco

Liverpool councillor: landlords have been “absolutely battered” in recent years

Liverpool councillor: landlords have been “absolutely battered” in recent years

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While tenant numbers are steadily growing, the number of private rented properties has been shrinking

Landlord under investigation over ban breaches

Landlord under investigation over ban breaches

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A banned Bristol landlord is under investigation after at least nine of her properties appeared on Airbnb.

BREAKING: Landlords given suspended sentences over Covid loan fraud

BREAKING: Landlords given suspended sentences over Covid loan fraud

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Two landlords have been handed suspended jail sentences for abusing a Covid Bounce Back Loan then dissolving their company to avoid paying it back.

£4 million merger creates Airbnb competitor in luxe short-lets

£4 million merger creates Airbnb competitor in luxe short-lets

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Landlords looking to rent their properties out via short lets now have more choice after British platform UnderTheDoormat announced it has merged with European counterpart Veeve.

Landlord average mortgage rises from £802 to £1,370 a month

Landlord average mortgage rises from £802 to £1,370 a month

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Monthly interest costs have soared by 283% since 2021 for landlords using interest-only mortgages, while those making a full monthly repayment have seen the monthly cost of their mortgage climb by 71%.

Landlords caught up in CGT schemes need to mug up on the rules

Landlords caught up in CGT schemes need to mug up on the rules

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This article discusses the implications for landlords of capital gains tax (CGT), a tax avoidance scheme and it sets out a brief summary of property tax rules.

Renew electrics now to avoid 2025 EICR rush

Renew electrics now to avoid 2025 EICR rush

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Landlords urged to renew Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) in 2024 to avoid delays and potential fines as demand surges in 2025.

Letting agency faces strike off after failing landlord clients

Letting agency faces strike off after failing landlord clients

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Scottish ministers could decide to strike letting agent Belvoir Perth from the country's letting register after it ignored a tribunal order to pay out compensation.

Landlord defends 'publicity stunt' chainsaw eviction video

Landlord defends 'publicity stunt' chainsaw eviction video

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Controversial property educator Samuel Leeds has insisted that his latest online video – breaking through a door with a chainsaw – wasn’t illegal and aimed to highlight private landlords’ predicament.

Lawyers call for more cash to fund tenant eviction fight-backs

Lawyers call for more cash to fund tenant eviction fight-backs

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The Law Society of England and Wales has called for more housing legal aid to help those tenants facing eviction or repossession.

Auctioneer: Tenanted flats struggle amid confidence slump

Auctioneer: Tenanted flats struggle amid confidence slump

Opinion
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It's that time of year when many people in the property profession give their opinion as to what to expect for the coming 12 months.

Midlands town issues first banning order - against criminal landlord

Midlands town issues first banning order - against criminal landlord

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Warwick Council has handed out its first banning order, to rogue landlord Grzegorz Surminski who sub-let a dangerous and unlicensed HMO.

Landlord fails in unusual attempt to overturn banning order

Landlord fails in unusual attempt to overturn banning order

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A landlord has failed in a bid to overturn his banning order on the grounds that his convictions were spent by the time it was imposed by a First Tier Property Tribunal.

City-wide landlord accreditation scheme launched with fees sweetener

City-wide landlord accreditation scheme launched with fees sweetener

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Nottingham council has launched a city-wide ‘good landlord’ accreditation scheme and offered those who join the scheme a 10% reduction on fees for its private sector licencing schemes.

High profile tenant given six months in jail for rental fraud

High profile tenant given six months in jail for rental fraud

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A director of the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) who defrauded her elderly landlord out of £30,000 has been jailed for six months.

UPDATE: NW council approves bigger selective licencing scheme

UPDATE: NW council approves bigger selective licencing scheme

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Two selective licencing schemes operated by Wirral Council in and around Birkenhead have been renewed with a further two schemes about to be launched following a consultation.

Southcoast city latest to charge landlords £500 for improvement notices

Southcoast city latest to charge landlords £500 for improvement notices

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Landlords in Brighton and Hove face a £500 charge if they are handed an improvement notice, as part of a council crackdown on failing properties.

How bad is the rental crisis? Latest figures reveal reality not the hype

How bad is the rental crisis? Latest figures reveal reality not the hype

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One of the key arguments used by housing campaigners to criticise the private rented sector and its landlords has been contradicted by the latest English Housing Survey.

Nightmare tenant sentenced after stealing landlord's furnishings

Nightmare tenant sentenced after stealing landlord's furnishings

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A tenant who stole almost £2,000 of furnishings from his elderly landlord has been handed a suspended jail sentence

MPs warn renting reforms could make PRS worse, not better

MPs warn renting reforms could make PRS worse, not better

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A cross-party group of MPs and peers has warned that the government needs to get its Renters Reform Bill right if it is to avoid exacerbating the housing crisis.

The US CoStar Group has completed a takeover of UK property portal OnTheMarket.com

The US CoStar Group has completed a takeover of UK property portal OnTheMarket.com

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US based CoStar, a force to be reckoned with in property, has completed a takeover of UK property portal, OnTheMarket.com

Lettings firm accused of breaking evictions ban

Lettings firm accused of breaking evictions ban

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Three students have threatened to take their landlord to tribunal for allegedly flouting eviction ban regulations which meant they were forced out of their flat while studying for exams.

Landlord given £485,000 fine over ‘sheds with beds’

Landlord given £485,000 fine over ‘sheds with beds’

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A rogue landlord who used a fake name to evade the law has been handed a whopping £485,000 in fines after he was found illegally renting out a large shed as five flats.

US bank predicts rebound in UK property prices

US bank predicts rebound in UK property prices

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US bank predicts turnaround in UK property market - inflation down to 3 per cent in two years

London's most expensive selective licencing scheme revealed

London's most expensive selective licencing scheme revealed

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Landlords in one of London’s biggest boroughs face a new selective schemes following a consultation launched by Lambeth council.

Recent research by Savills points to more landlords being priced out of BTL

Recent research by Savills points to more landlords being priced out of BTL

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More landlords to be priced out of BTL as rent increases slow from their peak