BICT Q&A

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There has been a lot of uniformed commentary, both on forums and in the National media, with regards to incorporation of property rental businesses and Beneficial Interest Company Trusts. This is inevitable given that landlords are so concerned with tax changes to mortgage interest relief and the popularity of tax planning solutions being promoted here… Read more

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Call of the week – Haunted House

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With Halloween approaching we thought we would bring you a particularly spooky themed call of the week. Question: My tenants are hearing strange noises in the night and they’ve said their house is haunted. I’m not aware of any paranormal activity in the house myself but I’m finding it difficult to reassure them. They want […]

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Where do I go from here – It was going so well

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I was going to build my portfolio and make it a full time job being a landlord, at least that was goal. Now I don’t know and need your advice. Then the budget stopped me in my tracks. I’d love to expand my portfolio, but I’m now unsure if it will be worth the effort…. Read more

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House abandoned no phone and locks changed

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After 2 problem free years, my tenant has stopped paying the rent. I phoned, only to find the phone had been cut off. I emailed without reply. I went down there and it looks like the tenant has gone. The house seems empty although I am not 100% sure. I tried my key only to… Read more

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Being a landlord doesn’t have to be frightening

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Managing properties and keeping up to date with the rapidly changing legislation can be scary but landlords don’t need to do it alone. Join the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) and you’ll be supported by a team of experts, kept up to date and given access to the tools you need to be successful. RLA membership includes: […]

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Backing out of new agents fees?

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I have a property in Kent and have been having issues with my letting agent so I decided to change agent. The new letting agent doesn’t seem better. It took them a month to send me their Terms of Business and has started to charge their fees before I could see their terms. There are… Read more

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UK House Prices show steady increase

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The latest available data for August shows an annual price increase of 8.4%, taking the average property value in the UK to £218,964. Monthly house prices increased by 1.3% since July 2016. In England, the August data shows an annual price increase of 9.2%, taking the average property value to £235,573. English monthly house prices […]

… LandlordZONE.

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Optimal Tax Planning Strategies

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With the correct planning it may well be possible for you to utilise legislation to restructure your property rental business without a requirement to refinance or to pay capital gains tax or stamp duty. There are a number of restructuring options you may wish to consider and some may be more appropriate than other. For… Read more

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Editorial – October 2016

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It’s that time of year again. The nights draw in and with the colder weather the dreaded condensation and mould create problems for landlords. Our lead article spells out the problem, its causes and how you should deal with it. It’s a good insight into this perennial problem based on many years’ experience of dealing with this.

The RLA are calling on the new Chancellor Philip Hammond to ditch the mortgage interest relief changes proposed by George Osborne in a “last big push” attempt to change the law ahead of next month’s Autumn Statement. The RLA is asking members to let MPs and Ministers know the devastating impact these changes will have on landlords – and their tenants.

The courageous legal bid to force a judicial review of the Government’s controversial mortgage interest relief – or Tenant Tax as the RLA have dubbed it – plans failed at the High Court. But while this was a huge disappointment all is not lost say the RLA. They are continuing with high level political lobbying to persuade the Chancellor to rethink his plans to stop buy-to-let finance costs being a legitimate business expense – see the full article in this issue.

Richard Bowser of Property Investor News has been talking to a landlord who has come up with an innovative way of avoiding tenant problems, after some bad experiences he had. Being a landlord is not a “bed of roses” as we all know, especially if you are dealing with social housing tenants, but it’s not all bad news according to this story.

Mr Bowser says that Shelter draws attention through the national media to the large cost burden that the annual Housing Benefit bill now causes UK taxpayers, pointing out that private landlords are the widespread recipients of state largesse etc. The reality, he says, is that all too often it is only most committed landlords these days who take on housing benefit tenants. Yet all around the country local councils are increasingly desperate, trying to reach out to private landlords – see this article and watch the video about one landlord’s positive experience with his social tenants.

Our book review this month is another Legal Action Group publication – the suppliers of the “Bibles” on property law. This book is on Repairs and tenants’ rights, an up-to-date practical guide on a very topical issue at the moment, following the “”revenge eviction” rules brought in last October in the Deregulation Act 2015.

Don’t forget the up-coming property shows advertised below, and also the Landlords Repairing Obligations Workshop run by Easy Law Training (Tessa Shepperson) – 23 November 2016 with lawyer, Peter Marcus in Ely.  All landlords are subject to the statutory repairing obligations under the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985.  But do you know what they are?

If you really want to know all about the law on Repairs relating to property, I suggest you read the book and attend the workshop.

Read these and several more rental property articles below.

Tom Entwistle, Editor

… LandlordZONE.

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NEW online quote and buy comparison website for landlords and buy-to-let investors

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There’s a new online quote and buy comparison website now available from the award-winning* team at Deacon.

DEACONlink Landlord allows landlords and buy-to-let investors to compare up to 5 quotes in an instant from some of the country’s most well-known insurers, including Zurich, LV=, NIG, Covea and ARO.  Cover is available immediately for buildings, contents, and legal with rent guarantee.

It’s been developed as an alternative to the big price comparison sites, featuring a selection of well-known insurers to help you find the cover you need at a competitive price.  All types of rental properties are covered, from houses and cottages to bungalows and chalets.  For small blocks of flats and Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) you’ll need to call Deacon on 0808 159 4096.

“We believe our products and service speak for themselves, and are the reason why 9 out of 10** customers renew their insurance with Deacon every year,” says Mark Savage, Client Service Manager at Deacon.

“And should the worst happen, our award-winning in-house claims team based here in the UK, will guide you step-by-step through the claims process.  As part of Arthur J. Gallagher, one of the biggest and longest established insurance brokers in the world, you can be confident we’ll be here when you need us,” he added.

To find out more about Deacon and their insurance products for landlords, and how much you might save on your insurance cover, click here

* Broker Claims Team of the Year, Insurance Times Magazine, May 2016

** 1 September 2015 – 1 September 2016

… LandlordZONE.

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