HONOURS: Leading property sector figure Kate Faulkner awarded OBE

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Leading property sector figure Kate Faulkner has been given an OBE in the New Year’s Eve Honours List.

Faulkner’s honour is for her work for landlords, estate agents and consumers including her work leading the property industry Home Buying and Selling Group which has been seeking solutions to the sector’s many challenges, and a group leading reform within the private rental sector.

“Not surprisingly I am overwhelmed as this was never something I ever imagined, but the reality is it’s a great endorsement of the amazing work that the HSBG group and The Lettings Industry Council has done over the last few years, particularly during Covid,” she says.

“I feel a bit like I’ve been given the award for ‘top goal scorer’ – which you only get thanks to everyone that has supported you and in the HBSG’s case that’s an awful lot of very committed people that have worked tirelessly over the years together.  

Progress

“As such I promise you I will use the OBE to progress the work that everyone is doing as much as possible.”

A spokesperson from the HSBG says: “We are delighted that Kate has been awarded an OBE.

“It is a credit to her personally and very well deserved. Further it is an accolade to the Property Industry itself – an industry that Kate has helped to propel.

“Whether that be appearances on TV and radio; meetings with DLUCH or industry; writing papers or checklists, engaging with consumers or stakeholders, Kate has demonstrated the importance property has, not just to our economy, but to the social fabric of our society. Three cheers for Kate Faulkner!”.

She joins four other people within the property sector given gongs including interiors and TV figure Alison Cork (OBE) and LGTBQ+ campaigners within the property sector, David Mann and Saleem Fazal (OBE).

View Full Article: HONOURS: Leading property sector figure Kate Faulkner awarded OBE

Soft Landing for 2023?

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The Nationwide House Price Index for December reports the fourth monthly decline of growth in a row with December at 2.8% positive.

The reported divide between the strongest and weakest regions was the lowest since the Society’s regional indices began in 1974 with East Anglia performing best and Scotland the worst.

View Full Article: Soft Landing for 2023?

Bid to mandate second staircases to make buildings safer

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The Government is proposing to mandate second staircases in new residential buildings that are more than 30m high in a bid to boost safety.

This is the latest step in updating the statutory guidance on building regulations for new buildings to ensure the safety of those living and working in them.

View Full Article: Bid to mandate second staircases to make buildings safer

Robert Mellors: From being homeless to housing homeless people

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In the run-up to Christmas, there was a reader’s question on Property118 about landlords setting up a charity to help house the homeless and one of those who responded was Robert Mellors.

He runs Choice Housing Trust which is a not-for-profit housing association that works with landlords to offer vulnerable people somewhere to call home.

View Full Article: Robert Mellors: From being homeless to housing homeless people

Affordability will hit tenant demand and rent rises in 2023

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The prospect for big rent rises in 2023 is slim with affordability already hitting a tenant’s ability to pay rent, one analysis reveals.

According to Zoopla, rents rose by 12.1% in 2022 but rent now accounts for 35% of a renter’s income.

View Full Article: Affordability will hit tenant demand and rent rises in 2023

Does a freeholder extension automatically become communal?

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Hello, The freeholder of a block of flats in which I own one (20 in total) built an extension in order to access two additional Penthouse flats which he built and then sold on. The only way to access the new flats was for him to build this extension in which he housed a fire escape usable by all tenants (communal??) but is the only access for the penthouses.

View Full Article: Does a freeholder extension automatically become communal?

Government names and shames three failing social landlords

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The government has named and shamed three more failing social landlords – with Michael Gove urging lawyers to direct tenants to the Housing Ombudsman to save them time and money.

Mr Gove is now demanding answers and action from Orbit Housing

View Full Article: Government names and shames three failing social landlords

70,000 BTL landlords exited the PRS this year

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An accountancy firm says that 70,000 buy-to-let landlords have exited the UK’s rental market over the last 12 months.

UHY Hacker Young analysed HMRC data and reveals that the UK’s 2.82 million landlords in 2021 have now fallen to 2.75 million.

View Full Article: 70,000 BTL landlords exited the PRS this year

Property market predictions for 2023

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With signs that the UK’s property market is cooling, experts from across the property sector have shared their thoughts on what’s to come in 2023 – including rents rising by a further 10% as a lack of supply begins to bite.

View Full Article: Property market predictions for 2023

Limited Liability Partnerships “LLP’s” for Landlords Q&A

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Aside from tax, what are the pros and cons of holding UK rental properties in an LLP structure?

ANSWER >>> Holding UK rental properties in a limited liability partnership (LLP) structure can have both advantages and disadvantages. Some of the potential pros and cons of holding rental properties in an LLP structure are outlined below.

View Full Article: Limited Liability Partnerships “LLP’s” for Landlords Q&A