Posts by Allen Walkey
Limited companies being used by landlords
To avoid the higher taxes being introduced by the government more and more landlords are using limited companies when applying for their buy-to-let finance, lenders are responding to this new demand by offering an increasing number of loans available to those who apply through registered businesses. Landlords will be taxed on the full rental income…
Read More“Be Prepared” for “Right-to-Rent”
Under one month to go before the new law comes into force that will mean landlords must carry out status checks on tenants, Right-to-Rent regulations will be intoduced on the 1st February as a control on those who do not have the right of abode (illegal immigrants) Landlords will be required to carry out quick…
Read MoreHomelet’s review of rental market
The Homelet Rental Index (HRI) report posted to their site yesterday reveals that Brighton, Bristol, Edinburgh and Newcastle recorded the largest increase in rents last year amongst the country’s largest towns and cities. The monthly 9HRI) shows that, on average, rents across the UK, excluding Greater London, were 4.9% higher on new tenancies signed during…
Read MoreGeneration wanting to downsize are trapped.
Recent reports indicate that around one third of home owners in the 55+ age category are considering downsizing but have very little choice and feel unable to do so, there is a chronic under-supply of properties out there suitable to their needs. Research shows that nearly half of all people who classify as under-occupiers in…
Read MoreTaylor Wimpey record profits.
Taylor Wimpey PLC yesterday released their trading statement for the year to the 31st December 2015, they reported record profitability as demand surged. The UK’s third-biggest housebuilder reported a record operating profit margin of over 20% in the year to the end of December, on the back of strong demand in the UK housing market.…
Read MoreConveyancing fraud.
According to an article appearing on AOL online yesterday, it was reported that scammers have been committing conveyancing fraud by intercepting solictors emails, swindling 91 people over the last 12 months according to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. These fraudsters have diverted more than £10 million in funds directly to themselves in the last year…
Read MorePrivate tenants struggle to pay rent.
According to a recent article in The Guardian, the charity Shelter say that over half of private tenants are struggling to pay their rent. The survey revealed that 15% of private renters are worried about paying their rent this month and that nearly a third, have had to cut back on winter essentials such as…
Read MoreRecord Christmas and New Year traffic on Rightmove
Save-to-buy renters could afford to put on average £210 towards their deposit each month by flatsharing, Newcastle offers the best value being only 11% more expensive for a two-bed than a one-bed flat, that is according to Rightmove’s Rental Price Tracker Blog Average asking rents rose in all regions in 2015, an annual increase of 3.8%…
Read MoreHalifax HPI Decemeber
The Halifax House Price Index released last week showed that quarterly house price growth remained below 2%. House prices in the latest three months (October-December) were 1.6% higher than in the preceding three months. Prices in the three months to December were 9.5% higher than in the same three months a year earlier. Commenting, Martin…
Read MoreIf UK votes to leave EU
What will be the affect if UK votes to leave EU? If the Referendum result is to leave the EU, there will likely be a ‘settlement’ period of at least 2 years. During this time, Britain and the EU will look at reciprocal arrangements, such as we now enjoy. If however Britain denies certain privileges…
Read MoreIncrease in limited company BTL activity.
According to Mortgages for Business there has been a sharp rise in the use of limited companies when investors look to purchase a Buy-to-Let (BTL), new applications for limited company mortgages for December has risen to 38% of all buy-to-let applications, that figure is up from 15% in October 2015. The proportion of lenders offering…
Read MoreHBF reaction to LGA planning permission claims.
Home Builders Federation reaction to yesterday’s LGA claims re planning permissions ‘waiting to be built’. “As has been proved time and time again, house builders do not landbank in terms of delaying start on site once they have an ‘implementable’ planning permission . The vast majority of the 475,647 homes quoted by the LGA are…
Read MoreHomes with planning permission yet to be built.
New research published yesterday by the Local Government Association reveals there are a record 475,647 homes in England which have been given planning permission but have yet to be built, the study was carried out by industry experts Glenigan The LGA said that the figures underline the need for councils to be able to invest…
Read MoreHigh levels of enquiries for Cypriot property
Cypriot property is now the most popular it has been in almost three years, according to new research from TheMoveChannel.com. The island has struggled in the years since the financial crash, with a banking crisis and other issues damaging buyers’ confidence. Now, though, enquiries for real estate in Cyprus have returned to 2013 levels. TheMoveChannel.com…
Read MoreNew London head office for Countrywide
Countrywide plc, the UK’s largest property services group has moved to a new London Head office at UK House, Oxford Street . This move brings personnel from head offices across London including Hamptons International, John D Wood & Co., and Ikon, together for the first time. These teams will join Countrywide’s executive team and Lambert…
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