Will the stamp duty cut be BAD for first-time buyers? Critics warn tax giveaway will revive buy-to-let investors and boost house prices Chancellor’s plans will see 90 per cent of homes pay no stamp duty until March However this includes second-home buyers including property investors Labour have blasted the move as an ‘unnecessary subsidy’ for … Read more
Could June see a surge in renters moving home? Tenancies extended due to lockdown rental freeze and evictions ban are both due to end Landlords have been granting monthly extensions to tenants during lockdown However, many of these tenants could move now the ban on moving has lifted Experts also warn of a surge in … Read more
Rents see biggest drop on record as seven in 10 tenants opt to renew rather than move while the coronavirus lockdown continues Rents on tenancy renewals fell by 0.5 per cent year-on-year across the country This comes as seven in 10 opt to renew their tenancies rather than move home London rents dropped the most, … Read more
Three quarters of landlords warn their tenants will fail to pay rent as coronavirus lockdown continues Seven in 10 landlords have been contacted by tenants worried about paying rent Five million privately rented households in the UK are affected by the crisis Unions call on the Government to ban future evictions based on rent arrears … Read more
Mortgage lenders axe almost HALF of buy-to-let mortgage options amid ongoing coronavirus lockdown Mortgage lenders have slashed buy-to-let deals in the wake of the coronavirus More than 1,300 buy-to-let mortgage deals have been axed since March This accounts for nearly half of all available deals, with 1,593 now left Learn more about how to help … Read more
Landlords suffered a triple-whammy hit this week as three popular tax reliefs were axed or scaled back as the new tax year began. Mortgage interest tax relief, capital gains tax exemptions for ‘accidental’ landlords – those who held onto homes they once lived in – and letting relief were all cut. The raid came as … Read more
The coronavirus lockdown has caused severe financial strain for millions of people across Britain, prompting unprecedented financial aid packages from the Government for businesses and individuals alike. While mortgage payment holidays of up to three months are being offered to both homeowners and landlords, who may struggle to keep up with repayments during the lockdown, … Read more
Landlords will soon have to take responsibility for Britain’s ONE MILLION hazardous homes as new laws crack down on unsafe conditions New rules will mean tenants can sue landlords if their homes are unfit to live in Some 1m properties are currently considered having ‘category 1’ hazards This means they present a ‘serious risk to … Read more
Revealed: Hundreds of thousands of landlords have sold up since George Osborne’s controversial tax changes were introduced There are some 222,570 fewer landlords now than in 2017, a drop of 8 per cent It follows the phasing out of mortgage interest tax relief for landlords The amount of rented homes available has remained broadly the … Read more
Flagship Government register to track thousands of rogue landlords has just TWENTY ONE names on it in almost two years since its launch By Will Kirkman For Thisismoney.co.uk Published: 08:19 GMT, 6 February 2020 | Updated: 08:19 GMT, 6 February 2020 A flagship Government database to keep track of rogue landlords has registered just 21 … Read more
Government plans to boost housing benefit payouts STILL won’t cover the rent, landlords warn Government to end four-year long freeze to Local Housing Allowance Allowance will now be linked to the Consumer Price Index, rising by 1.7% Claimants on average will receive and extra £10 housing benefit per month Landlords say the move doesn’t go far … Read more
Crackdown on criminal landlords: Councils poised to get £4m cash injection in government’s latest bid to tackle rogue landlords Government will give £4m to over 100 councils across England for the plans Some councils will introduce new technology to help tenants report landlords Smartphone apps and tenant complaint systems will be trialled in select areas … Read more
Housing was a huge policy debate during the election and the private rented sector was no exception. Both major parties put forward proposals to shake up the sector and though landlords may be breathing a collective sigh of relief that they’ve been spared the prospect of Labour rent controls, many will still be braced for … Read more