Steve Masters

Another advantage of Direct Debit over Standing Order is that tenants are likely to 'self reference'. If a tenant feels they are likely to strugle with the rent they are likely to decline to commit to DD however if they are confdent they can continue to manage the rent now and in the future then they are more likely to accept DD.

I've used DD in the past but found resistence from prospective tenants, even to good ones. I use an agency and find resistence from them too.

How do people insentivise for DD?... Read More

And that's why I use an insurance based deposit protection scheme where I hold the deposit. That way I'm in control.

Possession is nine tenths of the law as they say.... Read More

The benefit of building up and dipping into a large reserve fund is that it spreads the cost o repairs over many years and across past, present and future owners.

Without it, say your block needs a new roof this year, the guy who sold his flat last year pays nothing towards it but his buyer pays the whole amount even though he was not in situ when the old roof was deteriorating.
And the guy who sells up next year pays all his share even though he may only benefit from the new roof for a few months but his buyer pays nothing towards it.

So long as the reserve fund is capped and not allowed to grow and grow.... Read More

“It seems a small group of landlord MPs, led by Anthony Mangnall, are holding the bill to ransom.”

Are they holding the bill to ransom or are they offering valuable insight into the debate because as landlords they know what they are talking about? Their views should neither be taken as fact or dismissed without scrutiny, they need to be heard and considered.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The real answer to the housing shortage is to build more houses.... Read More

Simon Harris says:- “You can be a model tenant, pay every month, look after the property and not upset your neighbours but if a landlord decides for whatever reason they want you out, there’s nothing you can do.”
Firstly, the landlord would be mad to want to evict a model tenant without good reason. The landlord will have a very good reason to evict.
Secondly, the property belongs to the landlord and not the tenant. If the landlord want's his property back and so long as he follows the correct procedures, he should have his property back, whatever the reason.
How about we pass a law that says anyone can fill up their car with fuel but if they don't want to pay for it because it is so expensive, then they can just drive off and the petrol company can't do anything about it. And the driver can fill up again next month for free next month too. After all, everyone should have the right to drive a car, whether they can afford it or not. The petrol companies can pay for it, they've got plenty of money!... Read More

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Interesting. How does one value the landlords remaining 51% if and when that is to transfered or disposed of in the future?

There could be a huge difference in value depending on how much time, money and effort the tenant puts into maintaining the property. If say for illustration purposes he built an extension out of his own money or if say he neglected maintenance and let the roof fall in.... Read More

Bidding is a process that helps find a price when there is an imbalance between supply and demand. It can shift the price down as well as up, depending on whether there is an excess of supply or an excess of demand. Currently in the rental market we have an excess of demand and a shortage of supply.

The answer is not to fix prices but to encourage greater supply. Government needs to encourage landlords back into the market and I've said it before BUILD MORE HOUSES.... Read More

I agree with Fiona, appoint your own loss assessor who works for you. They will probably want a percentage of the claim payout but that works in your favor as it is in their interest to claim the maximum amount.

You could find the extra amount they can claim over what you would claim in your own actually pays for their services.

The amount of stress they can save you is immeasurable.

I have suffered two fires and on both occasions I appointed my own loss assessor.... Read More

This is just another example of pro tenant / anti landlord (same thing) government policy.

I'm already selling my HMO houses which will seriously effect 30 tenants! How does this help anyone , let alone tenants?... Read More

In my victorian 100+ years old HMO houses I never have mould problems.

In my modern 20-40 year flats I do occasionally have mould problems and it comes and goes with change of tenants.

Why?

a) because the old houses have drafty wooden sash windows that let fresh air in and the flats have nicely sealed double glazing that traps damp air inside. This could be considered a building issue.

b) because my hmo tenants are quite happy to open windows because I pay the heating bill whilst my flat tenants with mould issues keep their windows closed all the time because they pay the heating bill. This is a tenant lifestyle choice.

c) the HMO heating is on thermostat 24/7 so the houses stay at a fairly constant temperature whilst my flat tenants turn their heating off during the day whilst they are out and only turn it on when they come home so the flats fluctuate in temperature and this causes warm air to condense on cold walls. This is a tenant lifestyle choice.

I have had tenants who tape over ventilation bricks, disconnect or cover over extraction fans or close or tape over all the double glazing trickle vents! How can this be the landlords fault, this has to be tenant lifestyle choice.

I've been a landlord for 20 years, I have seen it all, I know what I'm talking about.
Gove is talking BS.... Read More

"Landlords have a responsibility to investigate all claims of damp or mould" - fair enough.

"Damp and mold is never a tenants lifestyle choice" - absolutely not true, it definitely can be.

When a tenant refuses to open windows and blocks up or disables ventilation and when a previous tenant has acted responsibly and not experienced damp or mould problems how can this not be a lifestyle choice????... Read More

Wow! It's not often I agree with Dan Wilson Craw but there are two things he said in this article that I do agree with:-
1.) “Long term the answer is to build many more homes..."
2.) “But the government can help people now by ... making sure housing support through the benefits system actually covers the rent.”

What ever next!... Read More

About 15 years ago I had cavity wall insulation at my own home, a 1950's built detached house that just would not get up to comfortable temperature on cold winter days. I can't remember the cost or the impact on EPC rating but afterwards the house was able to get up temperature, even on the coldest days. It worked for me.... Read More

I entirely agree with what others have said about the details of new EPC implementation not being completely known at this point.

I would suggest that the best preparation is to shop around and find a friendly and helpful EPC inspector who can review your property accurately as each inspectors approach, assumptions, opinions and calculations can come to so some very different conclusions, ratings and advice.

Finding the right inspector could be considerably less expensive than implementing the recommendations of the wrong inspector.... Read More

The section 13 notice sets the new rent unless tribunal says otherwise.

So after a few months you can also use a section 8 notice with the appropriate grounds.

Whatever the outcome, you should seriously question whether you want to keep this tenant.... Read More

Robert: Are you aware of Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED)? If the property is valued at more than £500,000 you will be caught by this.

Sorry to add another issue rather than providing a solution. Just making you aware, just in case.... Read More

"If the remaining tenants stay on paying rent and you accept that rent, then almost certainly a new periodic tenancy will be implied on the same terms and conditions as the preceding one."

However, if you accept payment in arrears for the time in wrongful possession (mesne profits), rather than as rent in advance, then I think this is a different situation and you might be able to avoid creating a new tenancy.

We are drifting a bit off topic here.... Read More

OK. What's the difference between a Deed of Surrender and a Notice to Quit?... Read More

OK, just by moving out doesn't end the tenancy but if they give notice they are ending the tenancy then that does. If the OP can ge a Deed of Surrender from the leaver then that should suffice.... Read More