Rogue landlord fined just £300 for ignoring safety warnings at flat

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A landlord who illegally rented out an unsafe room to a family with a baby has been fined just £300 despite ignoring a legal request to fix an unsafe property.

Yousaf Younas, of Cartier Close, Warrington, failed to comply with a Prohibition Order served after inspectors visited his property at 58 Fitzherbert Street (pictured).

It banned the use of a ground-floor bedroom next to the kitchen due to serious fire safety concerns, and told him that works needed to be carried out before it could be occupied again.

However, the bedroom was later found to be in use by a young family while Younas had failed to carry out any works to reduce the fire risk. He pleaded guilty at Warrington Magistrates’ Court and was also ordered to pay £100 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

Cabinet member for environment, housing and public protection, councillor Hitesh Patel (pictured), says: “The successful prosecution serves as a warning to other landlords that we will not hesitate to prosecute landlords who fail to comply with legal notices and don’t take the health and safety of their tenants seriously.”

Facebook caution

Meanwhile, in Coventry, a landlord has been issued with a formal caution after he posted details of his tenant’s rent arrears on Facebook and then shared it with her friends and family in a bid to humiliate her. The landlord also shared her employment details and address, although he subsequently deleted the post.

The tenant complained to the council’s landlord and tenant liaison officer who issued the caution which can prevent a landlord from obtaining licences, including the ability to manage an HMO. She could also choose to bring a civil action.

Councillor David Welsh, cabinet member for housing and communities, says: “This sends out a clear message to landlords that Coventry City Council will do all it can to protect its residents from unlawful eviction and harassment.”

View Full Article: Rogue landlord fined just £300 for ignoring safety warnings at flat

Police damage to flat doors?

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Hello, Police smashed their way into a block of 3 flats I own to interview some suspects. There was no need to use a battering ram to gain entry when there were call buttons and all three flats were occupied.

View Full Article: Police damage to flat doors?

Propertymark says the pressure on rents is easing

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Propertymark, the body for property agents, says that the average number of new prospective tenants registered with each member branch in October fell by 42% on the month before.

This drop in demand will, they say, reduce pressure on rents

View Full Article: Propertymark says the pressure on rents is easing

Conforming with regulations?

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Hello, I have 2 questions about the practical approach to meeting regulations.

I have just requested an electrical safety check which the property has failed with a number of C2 faults. I have asked for an estimate for rectifying the faults which the electrician is preparing

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Majority of property investors looking to invest next year

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More than 50% of property investors are looking to further expand their portfolio in 2023 – despite the uncertainty of the UK’s economic outlook, research reveals.

The findings from bridging finance broker Finbri of more than 1,000 property investors found that 50.45% are planning to invest

View Full Article: Majority of property investors looking to invest next year

Hunt’s CGT changes will cost average landlord up to £2,600 more per sale

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Estate agency Hamptons has warned that the Chancellor’s changes to the capital gains tax system announced in his Autumn statement last week will cost landlords up to £2,600 more each time they sell a property.

CGT bills depend on the price of the property and the tax status of the landlord involved, but all will be hit by JeremyHunt’s decision to cut the annual exempt amount for capital gains tax from £12,300 to £6,000 next year, and then halve it again to just £3,000 from April 2024.

This means landlords who report their tax via their personal tax return each year (rather than limited company structures) will pay 18% on any capital gain over these new lower threshold if they are basic rate tax payers, and 28% for those who are ‘higher rate’.

Hamptons has based its calculation on data that reveals the average ‘profit’ made by landlords on BTL home sales the year has been £98,050.

Thresholds

This means that, once the new thresholds are introduced, the CGT paid by a lower rate tax payer will increase by £1,1770 and for a higher rate one, £2,610… and then increase again in 2024.

“The new changes to capital gains tax, will add further pressure to landlords and we are likely to see more rental properties put up for sale,” says Kevin Roberts, Managing Director, Legal & General Mortgage Services.

“A greater supply of housing for buyers will definitely be welcomed by some, but this could prove a painful development for renters.

“The rental market is already suffering from a lack of stock and rising rents.”

Read more: Complete guide to landlords' tax for 2022/23.

View Full Article: Hunt’s CGT changes will cost average landlord up to £2,600 more per sale