Another council unveils HMO crackdown

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Residents in one council area are being asked to have their say on a proposed crackdown on new HMOs.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is looking to impose a ban on properties being changed into HMOs without applying for planning permission.

View Full Article: Another council unveils HMO crackdown

NEW: Landlords quitting the PRS cite Tory’s renting reform plans and rising costs

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One-fifth of landlords who are selling up blame rental reforms while a quarter are planning to sell due to rising costs, according to new research.

Simply Business’ UK Landlord report reveals that almost half of the 611 landlords polled

have sold a property in the last year or are planning to sell. However, 29% might change their mind if more tax relief was introduced and 22% would reconsider selling if they had more clarity on legislation and regulation from government.

The research shows many of landlords’ biggest concerns and challenges relate to regulation such as rental reforms, rising taxes, and higher energy efficiency standards, leading to 58% saying that confusing and rapidly changing government legislation is their biggest challenge. Half of the landlords are worried about further regulation and the complication this will add.

An increase in licensing and the prospect of rent controls is seen as the biggest threat to the rental sector by 19% of landlords, while 45% believe rising costs are the most significant factor.

The rental reform white paper combined with the rising cost of maintenance and letting a property, is pushing many landlords out of the buy-to-let market, says UK CEO Alan Thomas (pictured).

“As regulation of the rental sector continues against a backdrop of rising costs, it’s vital landlords get the necessary government support, education, and clarity to rent out high quality homes that are compliant with the law,” he adds.

Simply Business reports that although some landlords have hit pause on adding to their portfolio, many remain optimistic about the long-term returns and stability offered by buy-to-let. Almost half still think letting property is a worthwhile investment and 37% expect to see their yield increase by up to 10% this year.

Read the report in full.

View Full Article: NEW: Landlords quitting the PRS cite Tory’s renting reform plans and rising costs

There’s a solution for Scottish Landlords who are facing new dilemmas amid this week’s rent freeze

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It’s breaking news: Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced a rent freeze for private and public rented properties with a moratorium on evictions during winter. It comes at a time where landlords were already thinking of getting out of the buy-to-let sector. A week ago the Financial Times reported that “many buy-to-let investors plan to sell all or part of their portfolios.” There’s no doubt that this is the final straw.

The plan, which is meant to protect tenants has left landlords shocked, and with many on the fence as to whether or not they should sell their portfolios, it appears that the new measures have confirmed their decision: it’s time to sell. By the time these measures are lifted, if they’re lifted, in March next year, the price you’ll get for your buy-to-let properties will have dropped.

Landlords need an expert solution and a company who really understands what Scottish landlords need right now: a quick exit for the highest possible price. There’s going to be a rush to sell, and what we want to avoid is taking the hit on selling our portfolios for 70% of the market value because we think that a quick sale company is the solution. What you need is a specialist who can get you as close to full market value as possible but in the same fast timescales. There’s only 3 months until Christmas. Scottish landlords need to act now.

Landlord Sales Agency are experts in selling buy-to-let properties and know exactly what to do to help you. We’ve assisted hundreds of Scottish landlords exit the market, fast, for the prices they need to make it worth it:

• We have a database of 30,000 buyers and B2B funds ready to buy split or whole portfolios no matter what condition or tenant situation
• We are proactive throughout the sale and completion. Any legal, tenant, structural problems we’ll sort out meaning sellers can sit back and relax
• An impressive 95% of agreed sales complete because we secure buyers with deposits and solve problems
• We provide realistic valuations and expectations our sellers can trust. We do exactly what we’ll say we do: “no sale = no fee.”
• Rather than the 70% market value that many landlords are being forced to settle on to get out before things get worse, we’ve created a company especially for helping landlords exit and cash in, meaning our focus is 100% on getting landlords what they need. We sell in less than 28 days (and often in less than a week) for 85% – 95% market value.

We’re trusted experts, and we know exactly what Scottish landlords need right now. It’s why so many LandlordZONE landlords have already sold through us in the last month, and why so many more are reaching out, especially after this week’s news.

So if you’re a Scottish landlord who is looking to exit the market while you can still get the highest price for your properties, contact us today.

There’s a solution for Scottish Landlords who are facing new dilemmas amid this week’s rent freeze

It’s breaking news: Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced a rent freeze for private and public rented properties with a moratorium on evictions during winter. It comes at a time where landlords were already thinking of getting out of the buy-to-let sector. A week ago the Financial Times reported that “many buy-to-let investors plan to sell all or part of their portfolios.” There’s no doubt that this is the final straw.

The plan, which is meant to protect tenants has left landlords shocked, and with many on the fence as to whether or not they should sell their portfolios, it appears that the new measures have confirmed their decision: it’s time to sell. By the time these measures are lifted, if they’re lifted, in March next year, the price you’ll get for your buy-to-let properties will have dropped.

Landlords need an expert solution and a company who really understands what Scottish landlords need right now: a quick exit for the highest possible price. There’s going to be a rush to sell, and what we want to avoid is taking the hit on selling our portfolios for 70% of the market value because we think that a quick sale company is the solution. What you need is a specialist who can get you as close to full market value as possible but in the same fast timescales. There’s only 3 months until Christmas. Scottish landlords need to act now.

Landlord Sales Agency are experts in selling buy-to-let properties and know exactly what to do to help you. We’ve assisted hundreds of Scottish landlords exit the market, fast, for the prices they need to make it worth it:

• We have a database of 30,000 buyers and B2B funds ready to buy split or whole portfolios no matter what condition or tenant situation
• We are proactive throughout the sale and completion. Any legal, tenant, structural problems we’ll sort out meaning sellers can sit back and relax
• An impressive 95% of agreed sales complete because we secure buyers with deposits and solve problems
• We provide realistic valuations and expectations our sellers can trust. We do exactly what we’ll say we do: “no sale = no fee.”
• Rather than the 70% market value that many landlords are being forced to settle on to get out before things get worse, we’ve created a company especially for helping landlords exit and cash in, meaning our focus is 100% on getting landlords what they need. We sell in less than 28 days (and often in less than a week) for 85% – 95% market value.

We’re trusted experts, and we know exactly what Scottish landlords need right now. It’s why so many LandlordZONE landlords have already sold through us in the last month, and why so many more are reaching out, especially after this week’s news.

So if you’re a Scottish landlord who is looking to exit the market while you can still get the highest price for your properties, contact us today.

Contact Landlord Sales Agency:

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View Full Article: There’s a solution for Scottish Landlords who are facing new dilemmas amid this week’s rent freeze

Will new BEIS and DWP chiefs sort out EPCs and Universal Credit for landlords?

admin    Uncategorized     agents

Landlords are waiting to discover if the new ministers in the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will use their financial acumen to sort out Universal Credit payment headaches and uncertain EPC rules.

Work and pensions secretary Chloe Smith, who once worked for accountancy firm Deloitte, has been tasked with addressing what is seen by many as a broken benefits system.

About 25% of private renters receive UC payments and landlords are already concerned that only 46% of them have their rent paid in full by the benefit.

Many landlords have clashed with DWP staff when struggling to access Alternative Payment Arrangements, while UC experts have also cast doubt on plans to clamp down on landlords renting out poor quality homes to benefit claimants without sufficient resources.

New BEIS head Jacob Rees-Mogg also worked in finance and was former Brexit opportunities and government efficiency minister.

Green sceptic

The green energy sceptic who once claimed that “climate alarmism” was responsible for high energy prices promises: “As business secretary my overriding mission is to deliver affordable and plentiful energy to the British people and to make the economy as efficient, innovative and dynamic as possible. This will be the department for growth.”

He’ll no doubt be tied up for the foreseeable future, making decisions over whether to reform planning to boost onshore wind and potentially fracking, while addressing possible energy supply shortages this winter, but landlords will want him to give them some clarity about proposed EPC targets.

The government is currently considering proposals that would mean all new tenancies started after the end of December 2025 would need a minimum EPC rating of C, while all existing tenancies would need this from December 2028. A definitive decision on the date from the business secretary would help landlords plan for possible retrofit works.

View Full Article: Will new BEIS and DWP chiefs sort out EPCs and Universal Credit for landlords?

UK’s average house price hits record high

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The UK’s average house price increased in August to reach a record high – after a slight fall in July, the latest Halifax House Price Index reveals.

Their data shows that house prices increased by +0.4% in August

View Full Article: UK’s average house price hits record high

Rise in number of landlords selling properties to their tenants, brokers report

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Mortgage brokers around the UK have reported a big rise in tenants being given first refusal to buy their rental property as more amateur landlords head for the exit.

“We are arguably witnessing the start of the great landlord sell-off as buy-to-let becomes a less attractive investment due to tax changes in interest relief, stamp duty land tax and new EPC rules due to hit in 2025,” says Lewis Shaw (pictured), founder of Shaw Financial Services.

He adds: “Over the past six to eight weeks, we’ve seen an enormous uptick in enquires from tenants who have been given first refusal to buy the property they’re renting from their landlord, often with an element of gifted equity.”

Landlords can offload properties more easily and save some cash on the transaction, says Shaw.

“Buy-to-let landlords can sell directly to the tenants to avoid any expensive agents’ fees, not to mention the hassle of getting involved in chains. Moreover, any reduction in price that tenants can use towards their deposit essentially reduces the capital gains tax payable by the landlord on sale.”

Pole position

It’s an increasingly attractive option, agrees Ian Hewett, founder of The Bearded Mortgage Broker, who reports that some tenants are now in a position to borrow thanks to options such as family support mortgages, putting them in pole position if their landlords approach them about a sale.

“However, the knock-on effect of this landlord exodus is going to cause some serious issues going forward given the lack of rental stock available and inflated prices, putting tenants under immense financial pressure at a time when every other bill is soaring,” says Hewett.

Edward Checkley, MD of Advias, generally only sees limited company purchases now for buy-to-let property, with holiday lets being the exception to the rule.

He adds: “With increasing interest rates, lower rental yielding areas will create post-tax losses for many investors, making a sale a highly appealing exit.”

Read more about landlord mortgages.

View Full Article: Rise in number of landlords selling properties to their tenants, brokers report

Liz Truss unveils Simon Clarke as the new housing secretary

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Simon Clarke has been appointed as the new housing secretary as part of the Liz Truss’s new cabinet.

The MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland was widely expected to be given the job.

He has been an MP since 2017 and yesterday he tweeted: “Delivering on Levelling Up for communities in all parts of our country

View Full Article: Liz Truss unveils Simon Clarke as the new housing secretary

CONFIRMED: Truss names Simon Clarke as housing secretary in Cabinet reshuffle

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The UK’s Prime Minister Lizz Truss has named Simon Clarke as her Levelling Up, Housing and Communities secretary of state following her confirmation as Prime Minster.

Truss, who won 57.4% of the Conservative Party membership vote to get the job, had previously been rumoured to have picked Jacob Rees-Mogg for the role, but he has now been confirmed as the business secretary at BEIS.

Clarke, who worked under Rishi Sunak at HM Treasury as the department’s chief secretary, is one of the original ‘Red Wall’ MPs after winning the former Labour seat of Middlesborough South and East Cleveland in MP in 2017.

The 37-year-old has some housing credentials having worked at what used to be the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for seven months in 2020 – although his voting record in parliament reveals he has not been engaged directly in or spoken during debates for the most prominent housing bills and issues.

Clarke got the job for his loyalty rather than his knowledge of the private rented sector – just three days ago he publicly backed her bid saying Truss would “help struggling families and turbocharge the economy”.

His appointment makes Clarke the sixth secretary of state since housing was added to the department’s title in 2018 and follows his predecessor, Greg Clarke, having been in post for just nine weeks.

The full cabinet is now being revealed following her meeting with the Queen at Balmoral yesterday.

Industry reaction

Nathan Emerson (pictured), letting agency trade body Propertymark’s Chief Executive, says: “We congratulate Liz Truss on her successful election campaign and urge her to work with property professionals to find solutions to these major issues facing the sector. 

“Our latest market insight reports show for every rental property available there are an average of 11 applicants, while home buyers outnumber sellers by seven to one.

“This is creating affordability issues, particularly in the private rented sector.

“We believe that gap can be closed through measures that bring the many tens of thousands of long-term empty properties back and the introduction of focussed targets for new homes that are based on an identified need for each tenure across the country.”

View Full Article: CONFIRMED: Truss names Simon Clarke as housing secretary in Cabinet reshuffle

Meet Mark Smith (Barrister-At-Law) Landlord tax planning strategies – PPN Bristol

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Our Hon. Legal Counsel, Mark Smith, Head of Chambers at Cotswold Barristers, will be presenting in person an overview of several landlord tax strategies at the Progressive Property Network Bristol meeting Thursday 15th September.

The Bristol PPN Meeting venue will be the Aztec Hotel &

View Full Article: Meet Mark Smith (Barrister-At-Law) Landlord tax planning strategies – PPN Bristol

BREAKING: Scottish landlords warn of severe problems if ‘rent freeze’ goes ahead

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John Blackwood, (pictured) Chief Executive of the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL), has warned of dire repercussions for the private rented sector is his country’s Government pushes on with its planned national rent freeze this Autumn.

“Since rumours of this announcement broke this morning,  I have been inundated by landlords saying they will be removing their vacant properties from the rental market, and I don’t blame them.”

“Who on earth is going to let a property in the knowledge that they will be unable to meet their own financial and maintenance obligations if their tenants don’t pay the rent or their outgoings increase?”

“Instead of helping tenants pay their bills, the Scottish Government has chosen to penalise people who have provided the homes politicians have failed to provide for decades.”

Failing to grasp

“Once again the Scottish Government fails to grasp the reality of Scotland’s housing crisis and has chosen the easy option of attacking landlords for political reasons which will only further reduce the supply of housing, putting more people at risk.  This is not a solution, it will only cause more hardship. 

“In just a few weeks, we will see more stories of students and others who can’t find suitable accommodation.  We warned of this last year and nothing was done but no one should be in any doubt where the blame for that new crisis will lie.  It will be at the door of Bute House.”

“Despite reassurances from Scottish Ministers that they value the role private landlords play in provided much-needed housing, we are astounded that once again they have chosen to attack landlords at a time when they should be encouraging landlords and tenants to work together to overcome financial hardship.”

View Full Article: BREAKING: Scottish landlords warn of severe problems if ‘rent freeze’ goes ahead