Landlords are now selling at a record rate despite house price falls

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In an almost unanimous decision, landlords are throwing in the towel, opting to take the cash and sell their property portfolios. It seems that the gravy train for buy-to-lets is well and truly over, and it’s time to put investment elsewhere.

View Full Article: Landlords are now selling at a record rate despite house price falls

Landlords looking to re-mortgage ‘should fix ASAP before another rate rise’

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Specialist buy-to-let broker Mortgages For Business (MFB) has urged landlords approaching re-mortgage to secure a new rate as early as possible following the latest update on inflation.

The ONS Consumer Price Index showed that inflation reached 6.8% in July, down from 7.9% in June, and although inflation is likely to fall to as low as 5% in the final quarter of the year, the Bank of England is expected to increase the base rate in September, probably by a further 0.25%, explains MFB MD Gavin Richardson (main picture).

“I recommend securing a new rate as early as possible,” says Richardson. “For some lenders, this can be up to six months before the end of your early repayment charge period.

“If mortgage interest rates decrease, many lenders allow you to switch to a more competitive product should one become available before you complete.

“Either way, you’ll have financial security and confidence that you’re on the most suitable mortgage for your circumstances.”

Before 21st September

Those landlords on a tracker or variable mortgage that follows the base rate have time to secure a fixed-rate deal before the next Monetary Policy Committee meeting on 21^st September.

“If you wait, you will see your mortgage repayments increase once again following the base rate rise,” he adds. “It’s worth exploring your fixed-rate options with a broker to see how much you could save on your monthly payments.”

MFB believes the latest inflation figures will act as a barometer for the MPC, which has increased the base rate 14 consecutive times, rising from an all-time low of 0.1% in December 2021 to 5.25% following this month’s increase.

Richardson adds: “As long as inflation continues the same downward trajectory though, we forecast the next rise will be the final increase this year.”

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View Full Article: Landlords looking to re-mortgage ‘should fix ASAP before another rate rise’

Court delays for landlords evicting tenants ‘at their worst for 30 years’

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Evictions expert Paul Shamplina says UK court delays for landlords are the worst ever he’s seen during his career within the private rented sector.

Shamplina, who is Chief Commercial Officer at Hamilton Fraser and founder of Landlord Action says the extraordinary delays, which in one recent case saw a landlord seeking eviction having to wait five-and-a-half months for a hearing at Romford Magistrates’ Court, says unless this is fixed the government’s plans to abolish Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will cause even more chaos.

As trade association Propertymark has outlined this week, a third of all possession cases are currently Section 21 notices which are ‘accelerated’ claims that bypass the court system.

The Renters’ (Reform) Bill plans to remove Section 21 and extend the grounds for possession under Section 8 instead – which will mean many more cases have to go through the courts.

Urgent review

Trade gris urging its 21,000 members to write to Justice secretary Alex Chalk, asking him urgently review capacity with the courts before abolishing no-fault evictions.

“It’s good that Propertymark members are being asked to put pressure on the Ministry of Justice,” says Shamplina.

“I totally agree with Propertymark that you can’t think about banning Section 21 until landlords have confidence in the courts, which are in the worse shape in my 33 years spent working in the legal sector.

Distraught

“It’s clear that we need more judges and more bailiffs when all the previous ‘no fault’ cases end up in court – my staff at Landlord Action have endless conversations with distraught landlords about court delays as it is – and when the ban is announced, there will be landlord panic.

“It’s time to bring the Housing Court conversations back as a priority; I attended a Housing Court Working Group in October 2019, then Covid happened and then it fell off the radar. 

“It all links into court reform and the abolishment of Section 21 and updated grounds for possession. Landlords and agents need confidence, which now is at a real low.

“For example, one court in central London is currently taking 40 days to correspond with us via post.”

Propertymark chief Nathan Emerson (pictured) adds: “The ability of landlords to access a swift, efficient, and cost-effective justice system is a key component of a successful lettings industry.”

View Full Article: Court delays for landlords evicting tenants ‘at their worst for 30 years’

I had to pay one day’s council tax?

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Hello, North Norfolk district council is charging me one day’s council tax because the tenant moved out at 11am on the 9 /8/23. The new tenant moved in on the 10/8/23.

As the tenant didn’t sleep at the house on the 9/9/23

View Full Article: I had to pay one day’s council tax?

Housing Benefit freeze sees tenants falling ‘£200 short’ every month

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Families on low incomes are grappling with a monthly deficit of £200 due to a stagnant housing benefit that doesn’t cover soaring rents, a charity warns.

Housing advisors from Wiltshire Citizens Advice told the BBC that tenants relying on Housing Benefit are facing a severe shortage of rental properties that are covered by it.

View Full Article: Housing Benefit freeze sees tenants falling ‘£200 short’ every month