More HMRC training and support for landlords
And In Other News - October 2024
PDPLA Comments on Local Authority Responsibilities Picked Up In the Press
Tax Income Falls As Government Drives Landlords Away
New Right to Rent Guidance
Landlord Tip of the Month - October 2024
Confused by the hundreds of articles on the Renters Right Bill? Let us summarise what is important for you, all in one place, and keep it up to date (so bookmark it) - find it here: UK Renters' Rights Bill - Portsmouth & District Private Landlords Association (pdpla.com)
And In Other News - September 2024
Housing Review - 20 Years On
HMRC Training for Landlords
Massive Exodus of Disillusioned Landlords
And In Other News - August 2024
- Where Next For Regulation Of The Private Sector?
- "Russian Roulette" Claims Over 2nd Homes
- Unintended Consequences of Scrapping Section 21
- Labours Renters Rights Bill vs the Tories Renter Reform Bill
- HMRC Payments Paid? So Unfair...
Landlord Tip Of The Month - August 2024
Have a block with parking spaces for residents? You may be able to claim back 75% of the cost of installing EV charging points through the Government's EV Infrastructure Grant. The scheme offers support up to £15,000 but is directed at SME's so you can only apply if your business is registered at Companies House.
And In Other News - July 2024
Landlords launch legal challenge against 'unlawful' licensing scheme
Migration Cause of Housing Crisis
Renters Reform Bill Omits Decent Homes Standard
Landlord Tip Of The Month - July 2024
Landlord Insurance - just in case you missed the advice in earlier issues of this newsletter, ask for an excess of at least £1,000. It will reduce your premium by around £100 compared to the normal £250 excess and admit it, anything less than £1,000 is wear and tear and you are not going to claim anyway, so why pay for the privilege of being able to do so.
2nd tip this month: Given the rumours that Labour will rush through a removal of Section 21 without any of the necessary other elements that were in the Renters Reform Bill - if you were thinking you will need to issue one later this year. you may want to issue it now while it is still an option.
And In Other News - May 2024
The end of HMO Licensing?
The Ideal Experience For A Heat Pump Customer..
eVisa Rollout
Landlord Tip of the Month - May 2024
When a tenant moves in to an empty property and you notify the council tax team that you will no longer be liable for the tax and give them details of who to bill going forward, if there is any credit on your account they do not automatically pay it to you and you have to ask for it - one member, on realising this, was paid nearly £650 as a result.
In Other News - April 2024
Best Practice - Electrical Safety for Landlords
You Can Challenge HHSRS Decisions
Landlord Tip Of The Month - April 2024
If, like most small landlords, you operate as a sole trader or a partnership, don't forget that April 5th is the final day of the 2023-2024 tax year. Your self-assessment tax return doesn't have to be filed until 31st January 2025, but make sure all your record keeping is up to date so that filing is straightforward when you get around to it.
And In Other News - February 2024
Disgruntled Landlords Threaten Licensing Boycott
Be Picky With Mortgage Brokers
Landlords Checklist Goes Viral
Landlord Tip of The Month - February 2024
If you have a Mandatory HMO in Portsmouth and the licence is coming up for renewal, save yourself time, money and hassle and register it in Southampton. Their system is cheaper than Portsmouth, the admin is much easier, the standard required is basic and you can get a surveyor to do the inspection so the council do not need to. The law says you need a licence, as with taxis it does not state where you need to get it.
One member said, "We have just taken one on in Southampton and the fire panel looks like it belongs in a museum. They're not even bothered about a safety certificate for it. They have only asked for the EICR, GAS an PAT. And the emergency lighting is defunct but that is not an issue either. I can't get over how different it is."
And In Other News - January 2024
Landlord to lose £643,000 leasehold flat after listing on Airbnb
Pressure grows to scrap licencing when landlord portal goes live
Gove criticises Fareham
Existential housing crisis leaves students struggling
Landlord average mortgage rises from £802 to £1,370 a month
Social Housing Fail - Worst Customer Service
Home Office Right to Rent Training
Landlord Tip Of The Month - January 2024
Don't think house prices rising mean you are storing up value - over the past 40 years, when adjusted for inflation, house prices have doubled but if you bought in 2007 you have lost 20% of your investment since then and that is before you factor in punishing capital gains liabilities, so don't run at a loss day-to-day thinking you will make it back when you sell.
And In Other News - December 2023
How Buy To Let Bled To Death
House Prices Down 12% in Real Terms
And In Other News - November 2023
Portsmouth's Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Buy-To-Let Goes Into The Red
New Damp & Mould Regulations
Landlord Tip of the Month - November 2023
If you have a small HMO or a 257 in Portsmouth you need to get your Additional Licence application submitted by 30th November.
Start now as it is an 84 page document (according to PCC staff) - you don't have to fill in all 84 pages but it will take you the best part of a day for each property even if you have everything you need ready in advance. If you are not sure if your property is a 257 or if it is a 257 that needs a licence - you are not alone - it is immensely confusing - we suggest you phone PCC (details on their website).
And do get along to one of our Licensing War Rooms - hopefully we can help each other.
Landlord Tip of the Month - October 2023
Do you have a tenant suffering hot flushes? Unfortunately, not uncommon at this time of year. Do check your cistern has not been cross plumbed into the central heating circuit.
And In Other News - September 2023
Portsmouth Landlords Fined Thousands
University Brings Langstone Halls Back From Dereliction
41% Less Properties To Rent in London
How To Get Repairs Done - New Gov Tool
Landlord Tip of the Month - September 2023
If you have a 3 or 4 bed property in Portsmouth occupied by people from 2 or more separate families, it is probably an HMO and will need a licence before December - so get your accreditation details and everything else up to date before applying.
And In Other News - July 2023
Home Office outbids councils for emergency accommodation
Portsmouth Water Putting Water Meters on HMOs
And In Other News - June 2023
Portsmouth Planning 2nd Yellow Card - Is It All Over?
Where to start with Retrofit
Landlord Tip of the Month - June 2023
Lots of members are being asked to change borrowed lights and door glazing to 'toughened' glass when they are inspected. If this is to reduce fire risk, then it is bad advice so please call it out. Martyn W said, "I spoke to my glazier this morning as I was buying another bit of wired Georgian...
And In Other News - May 2023
Council slammed for 'cash cow' Licensing Schemes
Renters asked for CV's and photos to get tenancy
Governments war on landlords causing havoc in the rental markets
HMRC Training for landlords
Landlord Tip of the Month - May 2023
Remember we live in a very strange world. We all hope for lovely tenants and try to give them a nice home - but it does not always work out like that, and if you do have to take action because the tenant has broken the contract, annoyed the neighbours, trashed the place or fallen into debt, remember the courts will assume you are the bad guy until you prove otherwise, so if you forget to share the EPC or the email with the tenancy deposit details arrived a day late, you don't have a leg to stand on.
Avoid all of those problems using our 'Landlords Checklist' - find it here.
And In Other News - April 2023
Council Slammed After Breaking Same Rules As Landlord
Overcrowded Licensed Property Fatality
And In Other News - March 2023
Landlord Accreditation Scheme Scrapped
Landlords Selling In Droves
Havant Pays For Water In Portsmouth
Portsmouth Planning Could Be Stripped Of Powers
Landlord Tip of the Month - March 2023
Cold Fitted Wardrobes? A thing of the past....
And In Other News - February 2020
Brighton Ends Additional Licensing
Petition to reverse S24 tax changes
Damp And Mould - Whose Fault?
Landlord Tip Of The Month - February 2023
Don't put your home landline number when advertising property - having had 6 calls on Christmas day and one at 3.30am on the 2nd January from international students desperate for accommodation in January, we will not make that mistake again.
And In Other News - January 2023
Million-pound funding invests in local residents and businesses
Portsmouth Gas Engineer Jailed
Rent It Right is right out of here
Various Useful Tips From Alan Boswell
Landlord Tip of the Month - January 2023
A tip from Warren this month, he says, "It is sensible for all landlords during the winter season to check all water stop cocks are working properly as I have one that is passing and Portsmouth Water cannot get there for a week, so in an emergency (with all this cold weather), it could be an issue with burst pipes"
And In Other News - December 2022
Biometric Residence Permits
Mould Leaflet for tenants
And In Other News - October 2022
Birmingham To Introduce Licensing For All Properties
Right To Rent Updated
Rents Rise Slowly Compared to Wages and Inflation
Students Without Flats Told to Quit University
Housing Associations Under Fire (at last!)
Portsmouth Disaggregation Policy Gets National Coverage
Landlord Tip of the Month - October 2022
If you are a student landlord who worries that you need to start worrying about signing people up for next year about now - you do not need to. The University has agreed with local agents and halls providers that no one should try and sign up students for the following year during the Autumn term - so you can leave it until Jan/Feb (which is much more sensible as they always change their mind over Christmas) without worrying about others signing them up 1st.
And In Other News - September 2022
City backed firm heading for an expensive shock
HMO's and Council Tax - Landlord Zone
Not HMOs, they are Co-Living Schemes
Alan Boswell - News From World of Landlord Insurance
The Real Reason Why Britain Has A Broken Housing Market
Landlord Tip Of The Month - September 2022
Come to one of our meetings this month - we may not fill your head with dreams of fortunes to be made and we may not be as exuberant as some other property groups, but at a typical breakfast we will have up to 400 years landlording experience around the table - that is hard to beat.
Landlord Tip Of The Month - August
Don't forget that from October (1st) rules for carbon monoxide detectors change - so make sure you have one in any room with a boiler, not just those with solid fuel burning devices.
"Because carbon monoxide is slightly lighter than air and also because it may be found with warm, rising air, detectors should be placed on a wall about 5 feet above the floor. The detector may be placed on the ceiling. Do not place the detector right next to or over a fireplace or flame-producing appliance."
And In Other News - July 2022
Why are landlords so unpopular?
Is Buy To Let A Good Investment?
Renters Reform Bill - A Good Summary
Landlord Tip Of The Month - July 2022
Many of us choose paving over lawns as it is easier to stop weeds than it is to control them. The same is true of regulation - once we have them they are a pain to live with, so better to stop the unnecessary ones before they establish - respond to consultations, talk to your councillors and your MP. Better 20 minutes of your time now than hours spent on an ongoing basis.