Avoid neighbour disputes over party walls and extensions
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has published new guidance on how to avoid upsetting the neighbours over building works involving party walls and extensions. The free impartial advice guide is for anyone, including landlords, looking to consider construction work to extend or retrofit their property and to help them understand the rules around […]
HMRC urged to improve awareness of processes among landlords
The HMRC should improve awareness among landlords about how and when they need to register with HMRC, rather than opt for an alternative plan to change when they register to pay income tax, according to the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT). Currently, a landlord is required to give notice to HMRC of their liability for […]
Bring in the Spring
Spring is very definitely in the air outside – so why not open your doors and bring it right into the home? Here are our top tips for welcoming the season into your living spaces – and putting that spring back into your step as you move from room to room: Let the light in […]
Strong demand in rental market
Demand for private rented housing remained strong at the end of 2021, according to new data released by the National Residential Landlords Association. A survey of private landlords across England and Wales, conducted in partnership with the research consultancy BVA BDRC, found that 56 per cent reported a rise in demand for privately rented homes in […]
Calls for empty homes to become available as rental stock
A membership body for the property sector has called for action on empty homes during National Empty Homes Week, which runs from February 28 to March 6. Propertymark has written to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities demanding action on empty homes to bolster much-needed supply in the private rented sector […]
Call for an Energy Saving Stamp Duty
The Energy Efficiency Infrastructure Group (EEIG) has written to the Chancellor, calling on the government to support a long-term, revenue neutral Energy Saving Stamp Duty Incentive. The coalition of industry groups, businesses and charities, which organisations working with landlords and tenants, aims to encourage property owners to future-proof their buildings against high energy bills. The […]
Almost 230,000 New Private Rented Homes are Needed Every Year
The UK needs almost 230,000 new private rented homes a year to meet government housing targets, according to a new report. The report, by economics consultancy Capital Economics and commissioned by the National Residential Landlords Association, says government targets amount to a need for 340,000 new homes a year by the middle of the decade. […]
Seven steps to getting your garden ready for spring
The winter weather may not yet be quite behind us but now is the time to get your hands dirty and to start thinking about your spring garden. Bulbs are already beginning to erupt, and we are just starting to see the first signs of blossom on the trees, but there is work to be […]
Huge growth in buy-to-let sector
The country’s buy-to-let industry has grown substantially in value over the last five years, according to recent research by Octane Capital. The property finance company says the sector has increased by almost £240 billion, due to strong house price growth. Their research estimates there are 5.5 million private rental properties within the UK rental sector […]
Commercial landlords rise to the challenge
Commercial landlords are seeking new ways to attract tenants to meet the change in demand caused by the pandemic. This includes looking at shorter tenancies, letting options that give tenants a degree of flexibility and improving facilities within buildings. More than three fifths of the UK’s commercial landlords are struggling to attract tenants to traditional […]