Alison King

Just had my first enquiry from a tenant who is being evicted because the property is being repossessed. I think we'll see more of this... Read More

I'm glad this has been highlighted. It's a ridiculous definition of an HMO that should be relaxed. I even heard of a case where two single mums who wished to share a house so they could share childcare responsibilities were told this would create an HMO unless they were in a relationship with each other.... Read More

I would always let them go. Keeping on good terms with tenants is the best way to make sure they leave the property in good condition, draw any hidden or impending issues to your attention, and reccommend you to other people.... Read More

I have just received a damages claim from a firm of solicitors on behalf of a taxi driver who fell down the stairs of a flat claiming it was badly lit. Fortunately for me it is not my property and was sent to me in error, but it has made me check the insurance on all my own properties. In your case I'd be concerned that acting against documented advice might go against me in the event of such a claim. We live in an increasingly litigious world.... Read More

Well, we are buying one, in cash. Following an inheritance we are lending our daughter the money as its a unique opportunity for her to get on the housing ladder and move out of the family home. We've bought the property at auction for a below market price. The landlord can no longer afford the mortgage according to the estate agent. We are sorry about the tenant, who will have to move out. Five years ago we'd have invested in two or three buy to let properties with mortgages and used the income to help our daughter with rent for a flat until she could afford to buy herself. Now that plan won't work so this is the plan for today's economy. I'm sure we aren't the only ones. Buy to let with mortgages don't work anymore.... Read More

What sort of agreement do they currently have? Did they have exclusive use of the entire property when you were away?... Read More

Shelter and Crisis should not be compared. They are totally different, like wolves and sheep. Shelter is an anti landlord political organisation that encourages rogue tenants to bend the law and wastes money on absurd legal cases. Crisis is a compassionate charity that recognises when homeless people are in need of social and mental care and works directly with them on the street, and fairly with landlords to get them the right help to get on track. Closer links between landlord organisations and Crisis would be a good thing.... Read More

My sentiments exactly.... Read More

The first thing I'd do is try googling his name. Maybe he's in prison in which case it may come up in court judgements, or perhaps he has had an accident which has been reported or a Facebook account that might shed some light.... Read More

I would focus on making sure your property is a really great place to live. Other properties may be lower to rent but they may also be horrible. Your tenants might all be perfectly able to afford the rent if they are not affected by the lockdown, and sometimes change can be disconcerting, and a surprise reduction in the rent may have the opposite effect to what you expect. I remotely manage my HMO too, but I still think I give a much better and more personal service than any agent and my tenants know that. I think the key is to stay in regular contact with the tenants and check that everything is OK frequently. Maybe offer to spruce up the paintwork and ask if they are coping ok during the pandemic.... Read More

My EU citizen tenants are all thoroughly aware of all this and some of them have even asked me to provide evidence that they have lived in the UK for over five years, which I have been happy to do. Letters from the council about housing benefit do very nicely.... Read More

Personally I've never thought it was worth it. The insurance companies have to make a profit. If you de risk it enough to satisfy the insurance company you de risk it enough for yourself.... Read More

I don't think anyone in any situation can put up with this Covid situation for long. I'm working on the basis that things will start getting back to some kind of normality within the next 18 months and meanwhile I just have to hang on in there and weather the storm. I think I've been one of the lucky ones so far. My property business gas been far less badly hit than my other business.... Read More

My students are nervous about the virus and all viewing was online. At their request I have given them three month fixed AST tenancies that will revert to rolling monthly tenancies after the three months and an assurance that they can't be asked to leave within the first six months. I'm fairly confident they'll stay but I also think there will be a new wave of students coming in the new year. It's a risk but I think it gives me a competitive advantage and my hope is that some will stay for three years and bring in their friends. I do have a full quota of students now although some don't arrive until next week.
I don't understand the question about the pre-agreed lease. If all parties agree to a change due to changed circumstances that's fine.... Read More

For important things and documents I use email. For day to day things I use WhatsApp. My HMO tenants have a WhatsApp group which we use for informal things. I store copies of documents and important correspondence in Dropbox.... Read More

I've just placed adverts via Openrent and Spareroom and both require a selection box to be ticked saying "housing benefit accepted yes/no". It's not helpful having that as an option if we can be lulled into breaking the law.... Read More

They are trying it on. These hundred year old 999 year leases cannot be increased and they cannot charge you fees. They tend to buy them in bulk at auction for peanuts in the hope that either the law will change or they can extort money out if you such as random fees or trying to sell you the freehold for more than it is worth. If you go on the land registry site you may be able to find out which others they own nearby. There are thousands of these properties in Manchester, Sheffield and Liverpool. It shouldn't be difficult to find a solicitor that can deal with it if you are not confident.... Read More

Great, so tell that to buildings and contents insurers, rent guarantee insurers and building societies.... Read More

The point of the LHA rate is to help tenants on benefits to be able to afford a decent home. It isn't a benchmark for what we should be charging or an opportunity to wring as much out of the system as possible. People who dislike landlords pounce on practices like that as examples of profiteering and it brings us all into disrepute. I think if the authorities suspect that they may well challenge it.... Read More

We are living in difficult times and everyone is affected. As landlords we have a responsibility towards our tenants welfare and I would share their concerns about their safety. Imagine if it was my own child?
One months loss of rent in return for a clear conscience and tenants who are more likely to work with me rather than against me is a small price to pay.... Read More