Equality laws could affect “no benefit tenants” policies
Lettings agent Nicholas George recently admitted indirect discrimination on the grounds of sex, settling out of court with single mother Rosie Keogh. She was paid £2,000 compensation, because her application was refused on the grounds of being in receipt of benefits.
The post Equality laws could affect “no benefit tenants” policies appeared first on Property118.
View Full Article: Equality laws could affect “no benefit tenants” policies
The Licensing of HMOs (Prescribed Description) (England) Order 2018
Hi All, Just had this piece of new legislation pointed out to me by a client. Although I heard Sajid Javid’s sabre rattling around Christmas, I hadn’t heard much more on it since. The new piece of legislation, made 20/02/2018 and laid before parliament 23/02/2018 appears to be coming in to force 01/10/2018 and would also appear to have been rushed through (was anyone aware of a consultation on this?)
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/221/made
It appears to be removing the 3 floor limit from the original HMO regulations.
The post The Licensing of HMOs (Prescribed Description) (England) Order 2018 appeared first on Property118.
View Full Article: The Licensing of HMOs (Prescribed Description) (England) Order 2018
Rental income and stamp duty or limited company
I have one property rented out since I down graded to a small flat in August 2016 only. I am thinking of opening limited company as people say that is more tax sufficient, and asset is owned by the company rather than myself which can paid for my care in old age.
The post Rental income and stamp duty or limited company appeared first on Property118.
View Full Article: Rental income and stamp duty or limited company
Benefit Tenanted Properties could be eligible for energy grants
Energy Efficiency:
Properties occupied by tenants on Housing Benefit could be eligible for energy efficiency grants to bring properties up to current standards ahead of the MEES (minimum energy efficiency standards) directive, effective from April this year.
The government is allocating a limited amount of funding for housing associations and private landlords with benefit tenants, where the current EPC rating of the property is E or below.
The grant is allocated to the tenant not the landlord, so successfully obtaining funding in this way would entail a certain amount of cooperation between the landlord and the tenant.
The scheme applies to houses only, not flats. UK energy suppliers will be contracted to carry out improvements, depending on the location and type of property, but the tenant will not need to be an existing customer of the supplier.
The scheme is a part of the Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation (HHCRO) and the “Affordable Warmth Grant” aimed at dealing with fuel poverty in across the UK.
For example, installing a new A-Rated Boiler can reduce carbon emissions and can save tenants up to £300 per year on fuel bills for heating and hot water, and with good insulation the whole package can save the tenant considerably more.
Potential improvements covered by these grants include:
- Loft insulation
- Cavity-wall insulation
- Hot-water-tank insulation
- Draught proofing
- Gas, electric or oil central heating and hot water
Tenants can apply for the grant if they are receiving any of the following benefits:
- Working Tax Credit – with an income of less than £16,040 and which must include a disability element
- Child Tax Credit – with an income of less than £16,040
- Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Income Support – which must include a disability premium
- Housing Benefit – which must include a disability premium
- Council Tax Benefit – which must include a disability premium
- War Disablement Pension – which must include mobility supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit – which must include Constant Attendance Allowance
Improving efficiency of a property will benefit both the tenant and landlord, so it’s in both their interests to work together to see if they can obtain the funding for this.
If you think your tenant is entitled to receive this grant, you can find out more information on the Warn Front Website – https://www.gov.uk/browse/housing-local-services/landlords
There is limited funding for this and the “Warm Front Scheme” is funded year by year on a set Government budget. The budget is usually taken up quickly because of the high demand, so the money may not always be available. However, it worth a try to get it and if successful landlords and tenants will benefit substantially by reducing the cost of meeting the compulsory MEES standards.
©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Benefit Tenanted Properties could be eligible for energy grants | LandlordZONE.
View Full Article: Benefit Tenanted Properties could be eligible for energy grants
Categories
- Landlords (19)
- Real Estate (9)
- Renewables & Green Issues (1)
- Rental Property Investment (1)
- Tenants (21)
- Uncategorized (11,754)
Archives
- October 2024 (27)
- September 2024 (69)
- August 2024 (55)
- July 2024 (64)
- June 2024 (54)
- May 2024 (73)
- April 2024 (59)
- March 2024 (49)
- February 2024 (57)
- January 2024 (58)
- December 2023 (56)
- November 2023 (59)
- October 2023 (67)
- September 2023 (136)
- August 2023 (131)
- July 2023 (129)
- June 2023 (128)
- May 2023 (140)
- April 2023 (121)
- March 2023 (168)
- February 2023 (155)
- January 2023 (152)
- December 2022 (136)
- November 2022 (158)
- October 2022 (146)
- September 2022 (148)
- August 2022 (169)
- July 2022 (124)
- June 2022 (124)
- May 2022 (130)
- April 2022 (116)
- March 2022 (155)
- February 2022 (124)
- January 2022 (120)
- December 2021 (117)
- November 2021 (139)
- October 2021 (130)
- September 2021 (138)
- August 2021 (110)
- July 2021 (110)
- June 2021 (60)
- May 2021 (127)
- April 2021 (122)
- March 2021 (156)
- February 2021 (154)
- January 2021 (133)
- December 2020 (126)
- November 2020 (159)
- October 2020 (169)
- September 2020 (181)
- August 2020 (147)
- July 2020 (172)
- June 2020 (158)
- May 2020 (177)
- April 2020 (188)
- March 2020 (234)
- February 2020 (212)
- January 2020 (164)
- December 2019 (107)
- November 2019 (131)
- October 2019 (145)
- September 2019 (123)
- August 2019 (112)
- July 2019 (93)
- June 2019 (82)
- May 2019 (94)
- April 2019 (88)
- March 2019 (78)
- February 2019 (77)
- January 2019 (71)
- December 2018 (37)
- November 2018 (85)
- October 2018 (108)
- September 2018 (110)
- August 2018 (135)
- July 2018 (140)
- June 2018 (118)
- May 2018 (113)
- April 2018 (64)
- March 2018 (96)
- February 2018 (82)
- January 2018 (92)
- December 2017 (62)
- November 2017 (100)
- October 2017 (105)
- September 2017 (97)
- August 2017 (101)
- July 2017 (104)
- June 2017 (155)
- May 2017 (135)
- April 2017 (113)
- March 2017 (138)
- February 2017 (150)
- January 2017 (127)
- December 2016 (90)
- November 2016 (135)
- October 2016 (149)
- September 2016 (135)
- August 2016 (48)
- July 2016 (52)
- June 2016 (54)
- May 2016 (52)
- April 2016 (24)
- October 2014 (8)
- April 2012 (2)
- December 2011 (2)
- November 2011 (10)
- October 2011 (9)
- September 2011 (9)
- August 2011 (3)
Calendar
Recent Posts
- The North East tops the UK for rental yields
- Will Labour Scrap Incorporation Relief for Landlords along with CGT hikes?
- Renters’ Rights Bill passes second reading
- Older renters fear raising concerns with landlords – Survey
- Labour slammed for treating all landlords as ‘exploiters’