Entries by Joanna Plane

A professional inventory – an extra expense or a way to save thousands?

Imagine sending two landlords into the same property and asking each of them to compile an inventory. They’ll come up with different results. One may produce something quite detailed, documenting every single item, while the other takes a more superficial approach, listing just the key features. It’s obvious that the second landlord’s technique might cause […]

The Government’s tax changes are ready to bite

Announced in 2015, the Government’s changes to Mortgage Interest Relief start to bite from this April. If you recall our blog from last summer – read it here – you’ll know that these changes will catch out any landlord who has a mortgage on the property they let and who pays tax at the higher […]

New Tenant’s Help Zone

We believe we’re unique in the property rental sector. With a complete mix of services – referencing, legal and insurance – and a customer base that includes tenants as well as letting agents and landlords, we’re offering something very special: service, professionalism, an open and inclusive approach, and great value. More and more of our […]

New government white paper plans to reform “broken” housing market

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has unveiled new plans to reform the UK housing market. Speaking in the House of Commons on the 7th Feb, Javid presented plans to reform the UK’s “broken” housing market through the aptly entitled white paper Fixing our Broken Housing Market. As expected, the reforms focus on stimulating UK housing supply, […]

For all our sakes – don’t ignore the advertising rules

Ever thought about putting up an illuminated sign to advertise a property for rent? Don’t do it. It might catch the eye, but it would also be in contravention of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007. You could find yourself with a Penalty Charge Notice and a rather hefty fine. The […]

Brexit – Get used to uncertainty, this could take some time

On January 17, Theresa May’s speech took us closer to understanding what a post-Brexit Britain may look like. Now, just a week later, the Supreme Court has ruled, by a majority of 8 to 3, that Mrs May’s plans must jump another hurdle before any negotiations can take place. Parliament will have to approve the […]

Brexit – the direction may be clearer, the detail isn’t

Theresa May’s speech last Tuesday took us closer to understanding what a post-Brexit Britain may look like but offered little by way of concrete facts and figures. Now, with the Single Market inextricably tied to free cross-border movement, it seems Britain’s trading position is due for a bigger upheaval than some would have hoped, and […]

Rogue tenants – the police won’t protect you, but we will

We’re doing what we can to promote a responsible, fair and professional property rental sector. Sadly, there are still landlords whose standards are poor, dangerous and unfair to tenants but, as the TV programmes show, there are plenty of rogue tenants too. If you’re unfortunate, and you fall victim, there’s no point running to the […]

It’s official – buy-to-let landlords are getting older

As individuals, we’re all getting older – hopefully – but it seems that the general trend amongst landlords is the same. In 2004, the London School of Economics (LSE) conducted a survey. Twelve years later they repeated it and the differences are striking. In 2004, 24 per cent of buy-to-let landlords were aged 55 or […]

Think you might owe some tax? Come clean now

It’s not an amnesty, but HMRC is running a campaign encouraging landlords to sort out their tax affairs. Known as the Let Property Campaign, it’s aimed at those who might not be up to speed with the tax laws or who have made honest mistakes and are worrying about the situation. It offers any private […]

£1.59 billion wasted on pricey energy providers

UK tenants are wasting an estimated £1.59 billion every year – and landlords could be to blame. UK tenants are wasting an estimated £1.59 billion every year on pricey energy providers – and landlords could be to blame. That’s what MoneySupermarket reckon, anyway. The price comparison website recently unveiled a new study on energy provision […]

LegalforLandlords exhibits at national estate agency conference

LegalforLandlords attended the 23rd Relocation Agent Network National Conference, exhibiting at the event’s trade exhibition. Held on Friday 18 November 2016, at the Sofitel Hotel and Conference Centre, Heathrow, the Conference has become a calendar highlight for Network estate agents. Exclusively for Relocation Agent Network members, the Conference includes some of England, Scotland and Wales’ […]

Letting agents’ fees banned

It’s been widely rumoured, especially after the introduction of the ban in Scotland, but the Chancellor has now announced that letting agents’ fees are to be banned. It’s a move that’s likely to be popular with the country’s 4 million renters, but which will have a significant effect on the sector. We had hoped that […]

Defaulting tenants? It’s time to get your skates on.

We’re rapidly heading towards that time of year when everything stops working for the Christmas and New Year break. Although it’s not widely known or publicised, the courts generally operate an amnesty on evictions over the festive period. The exact dates vary, but can be as much as a fortnight either side of Christmas Day. […]

The tax loophole landlords are preparing to exploit

2017 reforms look set to leave landlords worse off. But, as we edge ever-closer to January, many believe they’ve spotted a tax loophole that could turn the tide back in their favour. Is the second-homeowner party set to continue? When George Osbourne announced buy-to-let tax relief reforms back in July, his intentions were clear: Buy-to-lets […]

Why more ‘parent landlords’ are letting directly to children

  The unexpected rise of the ‘parent landlord’ As UK house prices continue to climb, increasing numbers of parents are letting second homes directly to their offspring. A match made in heaven? Or a recipe for disaster? As you’ll no doubt have seen, house prices in the UK are still on the rise. Even amongst […]

The squeeze on buy-to-let tax relief.

The squeeze on buy-to-let tax relief. New tax rules to be introduced in 2017 will see a reduction in the mortgage interest tax-relief that landlords can claim.  Currently, a landlord is entitled to claim tax-relief back on their mortgage interest at their marginal rate of tax.  In the face of this change, some property professionals […]

Well Done Frankie

Frankie Harrison Tenant Referencing Key Account Manager donated 18inchs of her hair to the little Princess foundation. The little Princess Trust provides real hair wigs to boys and girls across the UK and Ireland that have sadly lost their own hair through cancer treatment. Well Done Frankie.