Property blog.

Landlords will face a 10% increase in court fees starting this week, with fee hikes affecting various court activities connected with managing a rental property.

The Government's Renters (Reform) Bill has completed its Commons stages and should now have no more than a few months in the House of Lords.

Increasing property sales activity has led to the average asking price of property coming to market rise by 1.1% this month.

The Renters (Reform) Bill is getting its next parliamentary reading next week, on Wednesday 24th April.

The latest government figures show that there was a net loss of over 16,000 social homes in England last year, as sales and demolitions continue to surpass the number of homes built.

With the inflation rate hitting a new two-year low as the cost of living measure slowed to 3.4% in February, there were hopes that the Bank of England would lower interest rates and potentially revitalise the housing market.

The Social Market Foundation 'think tank' has suggested that the government should consider tax breaks for private renters to help them save a deposit faster for buying a property.

Fines for failure to implement a Right To Rent check before agreeing a tenancy have increased to up to £20,000 today, making compliance even more important.

The Bank of England has held the base interest rate at 5.25% further fueling optimism across the housing market.

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates will rise in April as the chancellor makes good on his promise to unfreeze rates in a reaction to rising rent levels.

Residential buy-to-let in the North West of England is set to be the UK property market’s top performers this year according to Savills.

A leading mortgage provider has reduced its buy-to-let mortgage rates significantly this month, with products with interest rates that start at just 3.79%.

Mayor Andy Burnham has warned landlords that he will "get serious" about the Private Rented Sector and housing in the area, and promised that his "Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter" will be enforced this year.

UK inflation rate falls to 3.9% in the year to November, providing some good news going into the festive break.

The Government is proposing a new energy rating system called the Home Energy Model which will be used to generate Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).

A number of measures announced in the Autumn Statement affect landlords, the rental market and the wider property sector.

A revised code of practice for Right To Rent has been issued to landlords and lettings agents to bring it up to date with changes to the Immigration Act 2014 and the Immigration (Restrictions on Employment and Residential Accommodation) Codes of Practice.

Changes have been made to the Renters Reform Bill in 'a vital next step in delivering a fairer system for both tenants and landlords'.

After some positive talk from the Housing Secretary, the dismissal of Rent Controls and an assumed delay to the abolishment of Section 21, Michael Gove has unfortunately ruled out any tax help for landlords.

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has confirmed that the government has no plans to introduce rent controls in England, like the ones currently in place in Scotland, and under consideration in Wales.

The Renters Reform Bill has passed it’s second reading, but only after the abolishment of Section 21 notices was removed.

The Government's Renters Reform Bill will get its long awaited second reading on Monday 23rd October 2023. The bill proposes a "fairer" private rented sector by introducing a number of new measures.

The Government has just released an updated version of its 'How to rent: the checklist for renting in England' guide for people who are looking for a house or flat to rent.

Landlords can claim up to £30k in funding to make adaptations to rental properties for older and disabled people that enables them to continue to live independently.

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak has set out changes to the government's green commitments including scrapping of policies to force landlords to upgrade the energy efficiency of their properties.

The Bank of England' latest interest rates decision is a welcome one for landlords, as its monetary policy committee agreed to keep the base rate at 5.25% today.

Landlords are to face deeper scrutiny over damp and mould in rented properties - with the potential of unlimited fines - following updated guidance from the Government.

Landlords must make sure maintenance and annual gas safety checks are carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure their tenants stay safe.

House prices fell at their fastest annual rate in 14 years in August, according to the Halifax, as rising mortgage rates affected the market.

Landlords considering selling their rental property should ensure that it is fully compliant before serving a section 21 notice - or run the risk of the notice being rejected by the court.

How to formally and legally increase the rent on your rental property and other properties in your investment portfolio.

Mayor launches Good Landlord Charter to recognise best practice and boost tenant confidence in the quality of rental properties, with the power to seize unsafe or poor housing from landlords who are unable or unwilling to meet decency standards.

Increasing numbers of County Court bailiff evictions are being put on hold or cancelled due to a lack of court time and the availability of bailiffs to carry out evictions.

The Government's long promised Renters Reforms legislation is due to be introduced to the UK Parliament today and is expected to implement many of the measures included in its ‘A Fairer Private Rented Sector’ White Paper that was published in June 2022.

Our step-by-step Landlord Compliance Checklist takes you through everything you need to know as a landlord to stay compliant with lettings legislation.

With competition between tenants so high and record-low numbers of available properties, fraudulent applications are on the increase, making it more important than ever to get tenant referencing right.

Eight lettings agents have been kicked out of The Property Ombudsman scheme in the first quarter of 2023, including a well known lettings agency in Stockport.

We're delighted to welcome Nicole Fletcher as Lettings Coordinator, responsible for office administration and supporting our Lettings and Property Management team.

Reports say that the deadline for new lettings properties to have a minimum of a 'C' EPC rating is going to be delayed by an extra three years from 2025 to 2028.

Rents for new lets in Stockport have increased by 11.5% in January 2023 compared to the same month a year before.

The Government has taken the first steps in introducing a mandatory Landlord Ombudsman scheme, which private landlords must join, by inviting tenders from organisations to run the ombudsman.

The Bank of England has increased interest rates from 4% to 4.25%. It's the 11th consecutive rate increase following a surprise jump in the rate of inflation up to 10.4% in February.

There was no mention of reinstating tax relief on mortgage interest payments or cutting stamp duty, but there were other positives to be drawn from the Chancellor's Spring budget for landlords.

As a landlord in the UK, you have a legal responsibility to ensure that your tenants have the right to rent in this country. This means that you must conduct Right to Rent checks on all prospective tenants before granting a tenancy agreement.

How to serve a Section 13 notice to formally and legally increase the rent on a rental property and other properties in your investment portfolio.

Serving a Section 8 notice informing a tenant of the intention to seek possession of the property due to rent arrears is a challenging process for landlords, with many potential pitfalls to negotiate.

Breathing Space is a debt respite scheme that provides tenants struggling with debt with legal protections from their creditors, including their landlord.

It's essential for landlords to keep records of all income and expenses, including rent payments, repairs, maintenance, and insurance.

Home Office research has shown that landlords not using a letting agent for the Right to Rent scheme don't fully understand their legal responsibilities when onboarding new tenants.

With the growing problem of mould and condensation in the private rented sector, the government has promised to update its guidance around damp and mould in rented properties by the summer.

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 added additional measures for buildings with multiple residencies, buildings over 11 metres and high rise residential buildings.

The Labour party has launched its own review of the private rented sector, adopting several measures from the Tories' Rental Reform Bill.

Fraudulent applications in the lettings sector have increased sharply over the past two years.

Section 24 of the Finance Act 2015 places restrictions on the tax relief that landlords can receive on their finance costs - yet a petition calls for this measure to be reversed.

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment (ITSA) for landlords with an income of more than £50,000 has been postponed by HMRC until April 2026.

The price of a house in the UK fell by 1.5% in December for the fourth month in a row. The annual rate of growth dropped from 4.6% to 2.0%, which means that an average property now costs £281,272 - down by £4,153 from last month.

House prices in the UK experienced their biggest drop in 14 years in November, reflecting the "volatility" in the housing market.

The Office of Tax Simplification published its "OTS Property income review: Simplifying income tax for residential landlords" this month, so what does it mean for landlords in Stockport and Manchester?

The Housing Secretary, Michael Gove said that the government will fast-track private rented sector reform in 2023.

Latest Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt presented the Autumn Budget 2022 last week, aiming to "tackle inflation and keep mortgage rates down". So what measures where announced that impact landlords?

Financial assistance for private tenants faced with increasing rents is one of a number of possible Government initiatives "on the table" according to Michael Gove, the new Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Reports are emerging that the controversial plan to stop landlords evicting tenants under Section 21 laws may be abandoned by the new housing secretary, Simon Clarke.

Higher mortgage rates are reducing buying power and with the prospect of more to come, landlords that want to sell their property this year need to price realistically, as affordability will likely reach a crunch level in 2023.

October sees the end of Adjusted Right to Rent checks which were introduced during COVID, with tenancy applications and repeat Right to Rent checks returning to manual face-to-face checks for UK and Irish citizens and digital checks for overseas nationals using the Home Office’s share code system.

New Prime Minister, Liz Truss has hinted that the Government is minded to repeal Section 24, which would be a great boost for private landlords.

Landlords should be aware that the new safety regulations concerning carbon monoxide and smoke alarms will be enforced from October 1, with fines of up to £5,000 for non-compliance.

Tenants will be able check their landlord's compliance with a new online property portal that was promised as part of the Government's ‘A fairer private rented sector’ White Paper published in June 2022.

Landlords are increasingly neglecting to take an inventory before they rent a property, potentially leaving themselves open to financial risk.

Legitimate, responsible landlords are becoming frustrated with a legal system that leaves them waiting month after month for a hearing and then, when possession is finally granted, having several more months of grief as they wait for a court-appointed bailiff to become available.

The new "Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022" means that landlords must ensure both smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are properly installed in their properties, with fines of up to £5,000 where a landlord fails to comply.

Propertymark, the professional body for property agents in residential and commercial sales, lettings and auctioneering has revealed its exciting teaming with TV personality and property expert Phil Spencer’s Move iQ.

The government has released the full details of what it calls the Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper. This is to form the basis of a Bill to out its reforms into law. The bill outlines a number of radical changes to the rental landscape.

LettingsONE has sponsored the 'circus with a purpose' with tickets for the Stockport show which are offered to disabled and disadvantaged children and their families for free.

We are tracking the latest developments in the laws and regulations affecting the property market, and how they will impact on landlords. Here's a rundown of the nine key issues facing landlords in 2022.

The cost-of-living crisis is leading to a greater dependence on the Bank of Mum & Dad, following an extended period of support given during the pandemic, according to research from Saga Equity Release.

The Government has set out plans to reform the private rented sector in England, including the creation of a new ombudsman for private landlords.

Climate change is an issue that every industry faces, and with sustainability becoming ever higher on the agenda, its a challenge that landlords need to embrace.

A property management company has recently been fined £40,000 after a homeowner sustained burns when gas escaping from an open-ended pipe ignited.

If you're unsure if the rent you charge and the yield you achive is correct, maybe it's time your property had a rent review? And if you're unsure about the best way to go about implementing a rent increase, we can help.

The government has announced a raft of social housing reforms this week in its Social Housing White Paper in a drive  to give residents a stronger voice and to drive up standards.

The spring budget, together with new regulations and new legislation expected within the private rental sector, leaves many landlords and tenants staring down the barrel of uncertainty.

As the world moves on and adapts to the 'new normal' post-pandemic, it’s important that landlords do too when looking at their property investment options.

The Government have announced today that Carbon Monoxide Alarms will have to be installed into every private rented property which benefits from a gas boiler or fire. Landlords should act now to ensure that they comply with the new regulations.

Why the churn of a tenancy is more important than ever. A recent court judgement has seen a tenancy "churn" be classified in the same way that a brand new tenancy would be, at least from a deposit protection perspective. Judge Luba QC found that in the case of Sturgiss & Anor VS Body &...

If your investment property’s EPC is lower than a “C” at the moment, then it may be beneficial to take action now, before prices to rectify the poor grading begin to increase when approaching the deadline. Remember, if you are not compliant you cannot renew the tenancy, re-let the property or serve a valid notice to quit on your Tenant.

With the ending of furlough and the Universal Credit boost, the housing charity Crisis is predicting that around 100,000 households will now be at risk of eviction due to rent arrears.

At the start of September, the UK Government confirmed that notice periods will return to pre-COVID lengths in England from 1 October 2021.

By taking care of your gas appliances properly you are taking care of your home, your loved ones and even looking out for your local community. Follow these few simple checks to keep you and others safe.

We're pleased to support Gas Safety Week 2021, which is taking place 13 – 19 September, an annual safety week to raise awareness of gas safety and the importance of taking care of your gas appliances.

So, you’ve finally completed on your investment property, and you’re now looking at what to do before its ready to be marketed “To Let”. We’ve put together 10 points for you to consider, before you put your property on the market.

So you’ve bought your investment property and invested wisely. You’ve done endless research into whether you need an agent to manage it or not, and who the best around are. You’ve read some horror stories and come across some property management companies that look like they know what they’re doing. So which option is best?

It is incredibly important that as a Landlord, a Right to Rent check is conducted at the start of all tenancies, as should a Tenant be found to not have the correct Right to Rent, the Landlord could be fined up to £3,000.00 per disqualified person.