Tenants can vote for ‘best landlord’
CSI Awards has introduced six awards for landlords that will be decided by tenants’ votes. The awards consist of two broad categories: Best landlord UK and resident involvement champion. Awards will be made to three landlords in each of these categories, based on size of their stock (small, medium and large stock holdings). Linda Levin, […]
Homemovers pay out extra £17bn in unplanned costs
Most people expect moving home to be a testing and costly experience, but research by MoneySuperMarket shows that 86 per cent of home movers found it stressful and that Brits are paying out an additional £17billion in costs they hadn’t planned for. The survey of recent home movers conducted by the UK’s number one comparison […]
Agent claims ‘filthy damage’ by tenants is getting worse
A report claims that agents and landlords are increasingly facing filthy property damage at the end of tenancies – and the problem is getting worse. A study of 500 landlords earlier this month by PropertyLetByUs claims that almost a third of landlords face filthy ovens at check out, followed by dirty baths and sinks (23 […]
The average cost of a home for first-time buyers increased £138 a day in June
Despite all George Osborne’s efforts, it looks like first-time buyers are bearing the brunt of the increase in house prices again, after new figures showed the average price of a first-time buyer home leaped by £4,150 in June. That’s £138 a day. According to the figures, by estate agent Haart, that means the average first-time […]
Bashing buy-to-let landlords will push up rents and hit the UK economy hard
By Alan Ward who is a lawyer in the regulatory litigation practice at Stephenson Harwood Solicitors. “Buy-to-let landlords have a huge advantage in the market as they can offset their mortgage interest payments against their income, whereas homebuyers cannot.” That’s how the chancellor explained his decision in the Budget to require that landlords, unlike other […]
Country’s worst landlord blames tenants for property convictions
A woman who tops the Ministry of Justice list of landlords prosecuted under Housing Act claims council is hounding her for vandalism by tenants envious of her wealth. A London landlord has been convicted for property offences seven times but believes she is the victim, not her tenants. Katia Goremsandu, 64, tops the Ministry of […]
Bank could crack down on ‘risky’ buy-to-let mortgages, warns Osborne
George Osborne is to consider further measures to curb Britain’s buy-to-let boom, it emerged yesterday. Ministers will look into whether to hand the Bank of England wide-ranging powers to limit risky lending to landlords, amid fears it is fuelling a risky housing bubble. The Chancellor revealed he is looking into giving the Bank controls over […]
Five ways landlords can beat new tax hikes
The removal of mortgage interest tax relief, announced in the Budget and effective from 2017, will hit hundreds of thousands of property investors. George Osborne wiped nearly 11pc off the gross returns from buy-to-let properties, leaving many landlords facing the prospect of an annual loss, when he slashed higher-rate relief on mortgages in the Budget. […]
HMRC consults on replacement to wear and tear allowance for property rental
HMRC has announced a consultation on changes to the ‘wear and tear allowance’ applicable to property businesses announced at Summer Budget 2015, which will see the current annual allowance of 10% replaced with a relief based on the cost actually incurred in replacing furnishings. The new relief will apply to landlords of unfurnished, part furnished […]
Rents grow faster than house prices
Figures compiled by estate agency chains Your Move and Reeds Rains found annual rents were 5.6% higher in June than a year ago. A typical rented property now costs £789 each month, compared to £778 a month ago. This is a faster rate of growth than house prices, the first time this has been achieved […]