Official: HMOs Safer Than Council Houses Portsmouth City Council have been admonished by the Social Housing Regulator for 'serious failings' after admitting over 1,000 outstanding fire safety remedial actions and not having current EICRs on over 85% of them (that is about 13,260 homes).
Read more |
Rent-2-Rent Operator Gets His Comeuppance We reported the case of the landlord who let his property to a Rent-2-Rent operator (R2RO) on a contract that assigned all management responsibility to the R2RO, where the landlord was fined £7,500 by PCC when the R2RO was found to have overcrowded the property.See it here. The good news is that PCC then went after the R2RO who was found guilty in court of multiple misdemeanours and sentenced accordingly.
Read more |
Making Tax Digital Update After our discussions about 'Making Tax Digital' at the November and January member meetings, we have some comments on what it means for us all from accountant, Sam Stapleton of SJS Advisory who was with us last month.
Read more |
HMO Planning - Who Needs It? In a bizarre decision at the January Planning Committee, Councillors may have bulldozed their own regulations and opened the way for HMO developments without the need for planning approval. Carianne Wells of Applecore commented, "Anyone looking to increase their existing C4 HMO by 1 or 2 persons into Sui Generis use, has traditionally applied to the LPA (Local Planning Authority) for permission, at that point all the room size standards etc are assessed against policy. After yesterday it seems that both planning officers and committee members are in agreement for the first time that the increase is not a material change, and does not require planning."
Read more |
Navigating the Challenges and Benefits
of Leasing to Councils and Social Landlords Leasing properties to councils, Serco, or other social housing providers is becoming an increasingly attractive option for landlords. These arrangements offer the promise of long-term contracts, guaranteed rental income, and reduced vacancy risks. However, landlords must approach such agreements with a clear understanding of the opportunities and risks involved, particularly regarding contracts, tenant obligations, and financing.
Read more |
|
Landlord Tip of the Month - February 2025 David Smith wrote last week, "Demonstrating again that they are determined to move this on fast, the Renters' Rights Bill got its first reading in the House of Lords yesterday, just a day after finishing in the House of Commons. Second reading in the Lords, which marks the start of actual debate in the Lords is set for 4 February. I have previously said that this could be done by the end of March and that timeline seems to be right on current performance!"
Read more |
|
|