Finally, some real progress in tackling unfit rental properties
There seems to have been another round of legislative changes that have all come at once and this one tackles some of the unfit rental properties that are a curse on our industry. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 amends the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to state that landlords must ensure their […]
Sensationalised headlines and the truth of a “sales figure collapse”
I read the headline “Shock fall-through figures show almost 50% of sales collapsing” this week and thought, oh no. But as is always the case, the devil is in the detail…. So firstly, let’s examine the detail. The article from Estate Agent Today was based on data from a ‘quick buy’ property company. Granted, the […]
New year, new start…the merits of Medway are attracting first time buyers
The new year is in full flow already and it’s started with planning my goals and plans for 2019. Anyone who reads my blog with any regularity will know that I like to focus on the positives. I’m a fairly optimistic person and I believe that good things happen to good people. So this year my […]
99.4% of HMO applications are being approved but 72% of Councils are not enforcing license law
As you all know, my lettings company specialises in management of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) so I always have a vested interest in the HMO market. In October last year, one of the most important legislations for HMOs changed; the mandatory HMO licensing rules removed the three storey rule (previously licensing applied to HMOs […]
Out with 2018 and in with 2019
I cannot quite believe it is the last day of 2018 and I’m sure many of you share my sentiment; It’s been one hell of a year. We can shake off all the GDPR dust, give ourselves a pat on the back for navigating the endless legal and regulatory challenges our market has faced, and […]
Beneath the Brexit terror headlines; Medway house prices show annual growth of 11.5%
A few weeks ago I gave you a round up of the Kent Property Market Report. If you didn’t read it, please do. There were a few points I wanted to dig into more, especially the Brexit effect on the Medway market. With the Brexit deadline of 29th March fast approaching, the PM surviving a […]
With 45% of Medway HMO owners living outside of the Medway towns, could smartphones replace cheap letting agents?
There are very few people who have not succumbed to the ease of a smartphone. Those that haven’t – I’m in awe. For me, my phone is instant access to every aspect of my business and – as for many I’m sure – has become a fairly permanent extension of my forearm. But is it […]
A 7.3% rise in new builds, prospering business parks + £22m highway investment – The Kent Property Report headlines
This year’s Kent Property Market Report has been published and it is packed full of good news for Medway. It’s a detailed report produced by Caxtons Chartered Surveyors, Kent County Council and Locate in Kent, designed to give a concise appraisal of property development and investment across the county, broken into six key areas of […]
Autumn 2018 Budget update for landlords
Following on from my landlords tax post, the autumn Budget didn’t exactly deliver the good news we had perhaps hoped for. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond has given very little in the way of help for property investors in Medway or anywhere really. Anticipated waivers of Capital Gains Tax for landlords selling to […]
Tax, tax, tax, tax, tax…. Is a landlord tax bill of 66% really a possibility?
Over the past year, the government clampdown on the buy-to-let sector has continued to throw doubt into the minds of investors about the viability of making a decent return on buy-to-let investments. Landlords tax bills are rising and new laws designed to protect tenants – such as the Right to Rent scheme – no doubt […]
