Our solicitor says don’t buy it – Step away?

admin    Uncategorized     agents

Hi, my partner and I are trying to buy a whole house that has a self-contained basement flat included. We have found out this basement flat has a mortgage on it in the name of the seller’s business. (No tenants)

The lease on the house above is owned by him and his wife

View Full Article: Our solicitor says don’t buy it – Step away?

Do tenants prefer BTR developments? Report reveals all including Covid problems

admin    Uncategorized     agents

The second and third lockdowns caused the build-to-rent (BTR) sector to see dips in ratings as tenants grew frustrated about closed facilities, new research reveals.

HomeViews’ Build to Rent report – a survey of two-thirds of BTR developments in the UK – found that some residents viewed the facilities closed during lockdown as being included in the rent and when they were not available, felt a reduction in the rent should have been given.

And although these developments are increasing in popularity, not everyone would recommend their landlord to friends and family, with the lowest percentage score (89%) awarded by the 35-44 group.

One older resident complained: “Not a community for professionals as it was sold as. Students continue to move in and are the majority in this building.”

Strengthened

However, the sector’s value proposition has strengthened in the last year, according to the residential review platform’s findings, which reports that 85% of all reviewers gave their facilities a four or five out of five.

A concierge, communal indoor space, bike storage and gym were all deemed must-haves, while parcel rooms and delivery solutions were also a very popular service.

Tenants saw value in facilities, additional services and having amenities such as Wi-Fi included in the bills, while they also liked being able to use apps to quickly report issues online.

Residents rated regional BTR developments higher than London schemes across every review category, with Greater Manchester revealed to be a particular hotspot.

Hannah Marsh (pictured), HomeViews co-founder and chief partnerships officer, says: “While there might be more work to be done with prospective residents, those already living in BTR developments increasingly understand and value the experience being provided.

“In the past year, the value rating for BTR saw the most significant increase of any HomeViews category.”

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Do tenants prefer BTR developments? Report reveals all including Covid problems | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: Do tenants prefer BTR developments? Report reveals all including Covid problems

Commercial Tenant and Insurance Claim?

admin    Uncategorized     agents

Our tenant had an attempted burglary and the shop door needs to be replaced but has to be made to fit as it is not a standard size. We as the owners of the property will probably have to go through the insurance to cover this.

View Full Article: Commercial Tenant and Insurance Claim?

ITV Tonight show to probe evictions by private landlords tomorrow at 8.30pm

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Leading evictions expert Paul Shamplina is to feature on tomorrow evening’s ITV Tonight programme whose reporter Daniel Hewitt has spent weeks looking into the post-pandemic rise in evictions.

Hewitt was recently lauded for his six-month investigation into terrible housing conditions within the social sector aired last September including, in particular, a now-infamous block in Croydon where tenants lived among flooded floors and mould.

Hewitt’s new programme will investigate how, with millions in the UK renting privately from a landlord but with Covid bans on evictions at an end, there are warnings that a ‘new wave of evictions could be imminent.

The programme will also look at claims made by housing campaigners that ‘thousands are living with the threat of losing their homes’.

The ITV political reporter and his film crew visited the offices of Landlord Action recently (pictured, below) to interview the company’s founder Paul Shamplina to get his views on subjects such as banning Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions.

Paul Shamplina also provides an exclusive insight into evictions and arrears by showing viewers the real-life eviction process as well as exposing the different elements that are causing the volume of possession claims to increase.

“Possession claims for 2021 stood at approximately 40,000, but with current challenges such as the rise in the cost of living, increased rents, shortage of stock and changes to the housing benefit system, I predict this figure will at least double and we will see 80,000 plus claims issued for 2022,” says Shamplina.

“Social housing providers are also starting to issues claims again after two years holding off evicting tenants, so numbers are going to be pushed right up.

“The Tonight programme really portrays the level of claims we’re seeing right now, provides the reality of how both landlords and tenants alike are struggling and looks at what the government can do to help with this tougher economy in 2022 and beyond.”

Losing Your Home – The True Cost is on at 8.30pm on ITV tomorrow, 17^th March. It can be watched on catchup afterwards.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – ITV Tonight show to probe evictions by private landlords tomorrow at 8.30pm | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: ITV Tonight show to probe evictions by private landlords tomorrow at 8.30pm

NIC class 2+4 mandatory or not – Unanswered question?

admin    Uncategorized     agents

This financial year 20/21 my wife and I retired and I have decided to do our own tax returns.

We have 2 rental properties, the last purchased 10 or so years ago.

From the gov.uk website I believe we do not constitute a business

View Full Article: NIC class 2+4 mandatory or not – Unanswered question?

Belvoir adds ‘discerningly different’ brand to franchise portfolio

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In keeping with its multi-brand acquisition growth strategy, the Belvoir Group has confirmed the acquisition of estate agency business Mr and Mrs Clarke.

Mr and Mrs Clarke, which was founded in 2015, currently operates a national network of licensed partners who work on a self-employed basis, offering a bespoke estate agency service.

With a wide national presence, key areas currently include Warwickshire and the Midlands, South Wales and North London, with business ambition to notably expand their current reach.

Speaking of Belvoir’s latest acquisition, CEO Dorian Gonsalves (pictured) said: “We are delighted to welcome the Mr and Mrs Clarke network into the Group.

“This acquisition once again demonstrates Belvoir’s commitment to delivering on its strategic objective of investing in successful businesses that align with our multi-brand franchise model and provide scope for further growth by becoming part of the Belvoir Group.

“Since founding their business in 2015, co-founders Alex and Paul Clarke have successfully created an award-winning company with a very different and exciting approach that includes outstanding attention to detail, innovative Instagram-style photography and property staging to enhance the sales process.

“Importantly, Mr and Mrs Clarke will bring a very different kind of business model to the other brands currently within the Belvoir Group.

“This is a brokerage style self-employed model that will enable Belvoir to further diversify, by providing an alternative route into estate agency for potential business owners who prefer a relatively low-cost entry into the market, with the possibility of converting their efforts into high turnover.

“I can confirm that the Mr and Mrs Clarke brand will remain intact, and there is a three-year incentivized earn out period.

“Mr and Mrs Clarke’s existing partner support team will be greatly enhanced by all the additional support on offer from Belvoir’s Central Office.

“Belvoir will also be looking at providing new opportunities to potential partners, including business loans, property lettings and financial services, which will greatly benefit existing and new partnerships.

“This is a very exciting acquisition, and we are confident that the association with Belvoir will result in massive business growth for the brand.”

Natural step

Paul Clarke, co-founder of Mr and Mrs Clarke (main picture), said: “The CEO of the Belvoir Group Dorian Gonsalves understood our vision from the word go and the acquisition was a natural step for us in the next stage of our evolution. The opportunities that this acquisition gives our partners, and the overall business direction, are extremely exciting – we’re thrilled too to be a ‘first’ for the Belvoir Group.

“The brokerage style business model is one which is making waves in the UK, especially in our new flexible working era, and we strongly feel that it will only become more popular.

“We’re very much looking forward to starting this new chapter in partnership with a Group that is so experienced in estate agency, lettings, franchising and financial services and will be grabbing the opportunity with both hands to exceed our plans for further, national business growth.”

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Belvoir adds ‘discerningly different’ brand to franchise portfolio | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: Belvoir adds ‘discerningly different’ brand to franchise portfolio

‘Rogue tenants cost me £1000s – they need to be stopped’, says landlord

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Fed-up landlord Prafula Copp wants to encourage others in the sector to join a new campaign, fighting for landlords’ rights.

After a number of bad experiences with non-paying and destructive tenants, she believes the government needs to stop penalising landlords and plans to start a petition demanding stronger rights.

“I’ve lost thousands of pounds and had some very bad experiences since starting out in 2007 with a small portfolio of properties,” she tells LandlordZONE.

“I’m currently dealing with a tenant who hasn’t paid rent for a few months and is now sending threatening letters.

“I’ve discovered that the referencing firm hasn’t done its job properly as it turns out that the business he was supposedly working for is dormant, and his supposed boss has a criminal record.

“He’s now saying that I disclosed information about him and is demanding that I pay back the rent for two months, along with his deposit, and release him from his 12-month contract. It’s making me really stressed.”

Fraudulent reference

Copp is also helping a landlord friend who is battling with his estate agent which accepted a fraudulent reference for his tenant.

Another friend is being prevented from entering their property by a tenant whose home has a cockroach infestation, even though it is affecting the maisonette below. 

She says that these problems are endemic and believes the government needs to keep records where landlords, councils and utilities suppliers can trace fraudulent tenants who have been abusing the system.

Read more: The ultimate guide to tenant referencing

Just a few years ago the London-based landlord had to completely redecorate a property after a professional tenant trashed it before he left.

“There is not enough protection for landlords,” Copp adds. “I hope other landlords can join me so we can get thousands of signatures to take to the government. We need to do more than the landlord associations are currently doing.”

Read more about fraudulent referencing attempts.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – ‘Rogue tenants cost me £1000s – they need to be stopped’, says landlord | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: ‘Rogue tenants cost me £1000s – they need to be stopped’, says landlord