Robert M

How to recover rent arrears debt?

How to recover rent arrears debt?

Hello, do former tenants owe you money? Here’s how we deal with this: For many years we could not find any debt recovery companies to take on the challenge of trying to recover debts from our former...

Reduced rate VAT for landlords

Reduced rate VAT for landlords...

Businesses, tradesmen, and contractors, are overcharging VAT to customers. Homeowners, property developers, and landlords, are routinely being charged VAT at the standard 20% rate, for works which should...

BEST PRACTICE – letter template to go with eviction notices

BEST PRACTICE – letter template to go with eviction notices...

Did you know that legislation exists to ensure that tenants are treated by Council’s as being at risk of homelessness when a valid Section 21 notice is served, NOT when a court order is made, and certainly...

Deposit/Bond – Paper Guarantees?

Deposit/Bond – Paper Guarantees?

I am hoping to create a Deposit Guarantee Scheme, “Choice Deposits”, whereby the prospective tenant would have the option of paying an extra amount of rent, instead of paying a deposit, and...

Homelessness Reduction – Four Simple Ideas

Homelessness Reduction – Four Simple Ideas...

This is an article that I recently published on my Linked In page – Homelessness Reduction: PRS co-operation Homelessness, and severe housing need, is on the increase, there is a huge shortage of...

Got land?  Add a studio flat for £15k, no planning permission required.

Got land?  Add a studio flat for £15k, no planning permission...

It has been confirmed by Councils that these studio flat accommodation units (usually) do not need planning permission, and they would qualify for the 1 bedroom self-contained rate of Housing Benefit (Local...

Free services for Landlords

Free services for Landlords...

Hi Property118 readers, I occasionally hear about FREE services for landlords, and I’m now in contact with a company that provides two free services that could benefit many landlords: Room in roof...

Tenant will die

Tenant will die...

I have a resident in one of my HMO properties who is causing a problem to other residents. He is a nice person when sober, but is very verbally abusive when he is drunk. He is a chronic alcoholic, so has...

Avoid the Benefit Cap – Ask me anything

Avoid the Benefit Cap – Ask me anything...

My name is Robert Mellors and this article was prompted by me watching the TV programmes about the Benefit Cap, and “How to Get a Council House” last week. It occurred to me that from my years...

Readers advice for landlords letting to single tenants on Housing Benefit

Readers advice for landlords letting to single tenants on Housing...

Just wanted to post a note on here for those landlords who let properties to single people claiming Housing Benefit. For people age between 25 and 35 there is an exception to the Local Housing Allowance...

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Saturday 26th October 2013

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Bio

Landlord since 1997, (and from 1989 to 1992).
Set up a Housing Association in 2004, and still running this. Mainly providing supported housing to people experiencing homelessness who may have complex needs.
Worked in Citizens Advice Bureaux 1999 to 2001 (and again 2009 - 2010), as debt and benefits caseworker.
Worked in Local Government homelessness departments 2001 - 2005, and 2010.