Now that the dust has settled over the introduction of Right to Rent checks, the smaller details of the rules are beginning to cause some concern. We’ve just about got to grips with the idea of the initial check and the documents we’re required to keep, but what happens where all the checks are fine […]
Read MoreWe feel like apologising for yet another increase in the standard rate of insurance premium tax (IPT) which will apply to policies with effect from 1st June 2017, but of course, we don’t have much say in Government policy. The Chancellor’s decision to increase the rate from 10% to 12% seems harsh. Only two years […]
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Tax relief changes are in progress. Are you prepared? At the time of writing, it’s a week since the Government’s changes to mortgage tax relief allowances for landlords started to bite. Of course, you haven’t noticed the hit in your pocket yet. It’s when you do your tax return that the real costs will finally […]
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If you’re old enough to remember Green Shield Stamps or used to collect ‘Tiger Tokens’ when you filled up your car, you’ll know all about incentive schemes where it took forever and cost a small fortune to earn a wine glass or a teapot. That’s not how we do things at LegalforLandlords. For a […]
Read MoreWe’ve mentioned it before and we’ll probably mention it again, but changes that have a long lead time are easily ignored until the last minute – then, there’s a panic. Think about the system crashes at HMRC when everyone tries to file self-assessment tax returns on the last day. We’re putting this in big letters […]
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That headline might look ridiculous, but it’s not just an attention-grabber. It’s the reality of changes that come into force on 6 April 2017. From that date, local authorities’ powers under the Housing Act 2004 are being strengthened in two key areas: Rent repayment orders Fixed penalty notices. The Government crackdown on criminal and irresponsible […]
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Improving things is in our DNA We’re not satisfied unless we’re improving our service. We’re determined to give landlords, letting agents and tenants a complete, efficient and affordable service. Check out our latest developments but keep your eyes open because we’re not finished yet. Improvement is in our DNA. Uploads in myNative – Landlords and […]
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Imagine sending two landlords into the same property and asking each of them to compile an inventory. They’ll come up with different results. One may produce something quite detailed, documenting every single item, while the other takes a more superficial approach, listing just the key features. It’s obvious that the second landlord’s technique might cause […]
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Announced in 2015, the Government’s changes to Mortgage Interest Relief start to bite from this April. If you recall our blog from last summer – read it here – you’ll know that these changes will catch out any landlord who has a mortgage on the property they let and who pays tax at the higher […]
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New government white paper plans to reform “broken” housing market Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has unveiled new plans to reform the UK housing market. Speaking in the House of Commons on the 7th Feb, Javid presented plans to reform the UK’s “broken” housing market through the aptly entitled white paper Fixing our Broken Housing Market. […]
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91 landlords have been hit with fines following the introduction of the Right to Rent Scheme across England last year. The scheme, first trialled in the West Midlands then rolled out throughout England in February 2016, aims to combat illegal immigration by ensuring those letting property check tenants’ right to rent beforehand. The latest figures […]
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The unexpected rise of the ‘parent landlord’ As UK house prices continue to climb, increasing numbers of parents are letting second homes directly to their offspring. A match made in heaven? Or a recipe for disaster? As you’ll no doubt have seen, house prices in the UK are still on the rise. Even amongst a […]
Read MoreProperty experts agree that a comprehensive written tenancy agreement is the basis for a successful landlord/tenant relationship. A tenancy agreement is the contract between a landlord and tenant that can either be a written or a verbal agreement. In essence it sets out the terms of the renting arrangement. At present, there is no legal […]
Read MoreVoid periods are inevitable. A void period when your property is unoccupied with no rental income will happen to most landlords during the lifetime of their investment. Yet excessive or lengthy void periods can significantly impact the viability of your investment. Many property experts agree that landlords should never take for granted that their property […]
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Life after Brexit: yes but most certainly not as we know it. It’s nearly a week since our seismic decision to leave the EU and the initial aftershock of Brexit has been significant. The Prime Minster has stepped down, the pound has plummeted and millions has been wiped off the London stock exchange. In the […]
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