UK house prices fall between December and January

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The average UK house price fell 1.1% between December and January, the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) house price index reveals.

However, the average price was £289,819 – 6.3% higher than in January last year.

View Full Article: UK house prices fall between December and January

Unscrupulous landlord prosecuted for illegal eviction of young family

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A landlord in Derby has been convicted of an illegal eviction and ordered by a court to pay a £1,600 fine.

After initially agreeing a 12-month rental for an unfurnished house with a young family, landlord Grace Young of Pear Tree Street, Derby then attempted to illegally evict them just nine months into the tenancy.

She initially served the tenants a handwritten note asking them to vacate the property before then serving two eviction notices, one of which was invalid.

Her actions then came to the attention of the Derby City Council’s Housing Standards team, who prosecuted Young under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977.

Fine and costs

At Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court, Young was fined £600 and ordered to pay costs of £950. In addition, she was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £60.

The court heard that during the notice period, Young began to repeatedly stand outside the property and stare through windows and, while the tenants were away on holiday, entered the property and changed the locks without informing the tenants or providing them with new keys.

Councillor Matthew Eyre, Cabinet Member for Community Development, Place and Tourism said:  All landlords have a duty of care to their tenants and while the vast majority of private landlords in the city take their legal obligations seriously, there are a small minority who don’t. 

“This prosecution sends a strong message to that minority of unscrupulous landlords that the Council is not afraid to take legal action to safeguard tenants and their wellbeing.”

View Full Article: Unscrupulous landlord prosecuted for illegal eviction of young family

Revealed: The imbalance of the property market

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Rental stock accounts for just 5% of available homes in some areas of England, according to new research.

The findings from the Gradual Homeownership provider, Wayhome, revealed in areas like the Isle of Wight rental properties account for just 5% of the total market stock.

View Full Article: Revealed: The imbalance of the property market

Daily Telegraph wants to speak landlords facing difficulties regaining possession after council advice

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Are you landlord who is trying to retake possession of your properties and facing difficulties from the council? Then, Alexa Phillips, the personal finance reporter for the Telegraph would like to speak with you.

Alexa would like to speak to Property118 readers about:

• What has your experience been like?

View Full Article: Daily Telegraph wants to speak landlords facing difficulties regaining possession after council advice

Another Tribunal says ‘superior landlord’ NOT responsible for rent repayment order

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Another First Tier Property Tribunal has confirmed that a superior landlord cannot be held responsible for a Rent Repayment Order (RRO), following the landmark Rakusen case.

Tenant Riaz Moola had tried to argue that landlord Khalil M’barek was responsible for the property in the upmarket Belvedere Row Apartments in White City, London, from February to November 2022, and applied for a £31,635 RRO.

He argued that he had initially taken the property on a trial basis, paying £3,600 a month – and once he had decided to stay in the property, he had entered into a personal agreement with M’barek.

Landmark case

However, the tribunal referred to the Supreme Court case which ruled that these orders can only be made against an immediate landlord and threw out the claim.

It found that the parties did not both sign an agreement in the same form; M’barek signed one that identified the tenant as CoGrammar Ltd, while Moola signed one that identified himself as the tenant.

It said: “The tribunal prefers and accepts the evidence of Mr M’barek that for the period from 23rd March, his tenant was CoGrammar Ltd. As the tribunal has found that Mr M’barek was not Mr Moola’s immediate landlord, either before or after 23rd March, no RRO can be made in Mr Moola’s favour against Mr M’barek.”

Earlier this month, in the first case to cite Rakusen, landlord Sabour Mansour tried – and failed – to claim that he was the superior landlord of an unlicensed HMO and was found to be responsible for the property in Pott Street, Tower Hamlets. His two tenants were awarded more than £6,000.

View Full Article: Another Tribunal says ‘superior landlord’ NOT responsible for rent repayment order

February sees the lowest property sales in a decade

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Data published by HMRC show that non-seasonally adjusted property sales were up 2% from January, to 76,920 in February – but this is down nearly a fifth from last year (18%).

However, the seasonally adjusted figures show that things look even worse as transactions are down 18% in a year and 4% since January.

View Full Article: February sees the lowest property sales in a decade

Non-resident landlords being refused legal expenses on insurance?

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Hello, My landlord’s insurance is up for renewal, and while there’s no problem insuring the properties themselves, this year – for the first time ever – our broker is saying no one will include cover for legal expenses because I’m a non-resident landlord.

View Full Article: Non-resident landlords being refused legal expenses on insurance?

Consultation on single banding HMO rooms – Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill

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Please can Property118 post a request for interested landlords to respond to this consultation. The deadline is 31st March.

NC7 (New Clause 7) is Dame Caroline Dinenage’s amendment to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill and it will hurt tenants and landlords as the costs will inevitably be passed on.

View Full Article: Consultation on single banding HMO rooms – Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill

Isle of Wight to slap council tax on holiday homes rented out under 70 days

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The Isle of Wight Council has vowed to charge owners of second homes and empty properties more council tax as soon as it gets the go-ahead from the government.

Its ruling Alliance Administration had suggested putting a 100% tax premium on second homes and empty properties, however councillors agreed to delay a decision on the amount until the council was given more powers.

The government has promised that from next year, councils in England will be able to double the standard council tax rate on any home left empty for longer than a year, rather than the current two years. 

Rented out

In England, second homes will need to be rented out for a minimum of 70 days per year to access small business rate relief, rather than paying council tax from next month. 

At a full council meeting, Conservative leader councillor Joe Robertson (main picture) said that the rationale behind the 100% figure had not been set out and needed to be backed by evidence, analysis and data, reports the Island Echo website.

Cabinet member for strategic finances, councillor Chris Jarman, said it had been included after the council’s finance officer suggested the authority should maximise its revenue at every opportunity, saying that it sent a strong signal to property owners of its intent to bring the charges in at the earliest opportunity, so that they did not risk missing out on a substantial amount of income.

Councillor Julie Jones-Evans questioned why the authority should not make the most out of second homeowners, especially after the authority charged Islanders the most it could in a council tax increase this year.

Read more about Jersey.

View Full Article: Isle of Wight to slap council tax on holiday homes rented out under 70 days

Jersey to charge double council tax on holiday homes rented out under 70 days

admin    Uncategorized     agents

The Isle of Wight Council has vowed to charge owners of second homes and empty properties more council tax as soon as it gets the go-ahead from the government.

Its ruling Alliance Administration had suggested putting a 100% tax premium on second homes and empty properties, however councillors agreed to delay a decision on the amount until the council was given more powers.

The government has promised that from next year, councils in England will be able to double the standard council tax rate on any home left empty for longer than a year, rather than the current two years. 

Rented out

In England, second homes will need to be rented out for a minimum of 70 days per year to access small business rate relief, rather than paying council tax from next month. 

At a full council meeting, Conservative leader councillor Joe Robertson (main picture) said that the rationale behind the 100% figure had not been set out and needed to be backed by evidence, analysis and data, reports the Island Echo website.

Cabinet member for strategic finances, councillor Chris Jarman, said it had been included after the council’s finance officer suggested the authority should maximise its revenue at every opportunity, saying that it sent a strong signal to property owners of its intent to bring the charges in at the earliest opportunity, so that they did not risk missing out on a substantial amount of income.

Councillor Julie Jones-Evans questioned why the authority should not make the most out of second homeowners, especially after the authority charged Islanders the most it could in a council tax increase this year.

Read more about Jersey.

View Full Article: Jersey to charge double council tax on holiday homes rented out under 70 days