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  • FINES FOR HOUSING ILLEGAL MIGRANTS

    As the channel crossing of illegal migrants keeps going up, the government are looking to crackdown on those who go ‘missing’ and illegal working.

     

    New fines proposed to come in later this year, could leave landlords and employers in a bankruptcy position!

     

    Who is at risk?

     

    • Landlords who self-manage their properties could find themselves in the same position if their current tenants immigration visas run out and are not renewed. Presently the fine is £1,000 per occupier rising to £10,000 per occupier.

     

    • Landlords who have a lodger – presently the fine is £80 per lodge, the proposed fine is £5,000 per lodger.

     

    • Employers – presently £15,000 rising to £45,000 per worker and £60,000 per worker after first breach.

     

    A landlord housing a family of 4 whose ‘Right To Rent’ has expired could see themselves with a fine of £40,000 under the new rules. This fine would increase to up to £20,000 per tenant for subsequent fines.

     

    A landlord with 2 lodgers with no legal status to stay, will see a fine of £10,000. This fine would double to £10,000 per lodger for a repeatable offence.

     

    LANDLORDS/EMPLOYERS CHECK YOUR TENANTS STATUS TODAY!

     

    Of course, if you are with Move On, we automatically check and have systems in place at the beginning of any tenancy when their ‘right to stay’ is due to renew.

     

    Another reason why our landlords can sleep at night knowing we have their legal obligations covered!

     

    At Move On, we are helping landlords sell their tenanted properties to investors. If you would like an informal chat on your options, please Email sharon@moveon.biz or ring me 01202711169.

     

    JOIN OUR INVESTORS PROGRAMME AND BE NOTIFIED FIRST

    ARE YOU A LANDLORD WHO IS LOOKING FOR RELIABLE…

    At Move On, we understand that finding the right tenants can be a challenging task, which is why we’re here to help you.

    Our screening process includes conducting thorough background checks, verifying employment status and references, to ensure that you get the best tenants for your property. With responsible tenants, you can have peace of mind that your property is being well-cared for.

    Our fully-managed service allows you to sit back and relax while we take care of everything from finding tenants, collecting rent, handling maintenance issues, ensuring compliance with the latest regulations, and conducting property visits.

    So, if you’re looking for a stress-free way to manage your rental property, call our office on 01202 711169 or email me at sharon@moveon.biz with your phone number.

    Take advantage of our services and let us help you find reliable tenants for your property.Picking Up Keys for Rental Properties

    EVER CHANGING MARKET CLIMATE!

    The property market has certainly been hit recently both on the sales side and the lettings side.

    SALES

    Property prices are being reduced. Properties have enjoyed great selling prices in the last 2 years, unfortunately, what purchasers could afford 12 months ago has been dramatically reduced by the soaring mortgage interest rates. For example, 12 months ago, a property costing £400,000 with 25% deposit could borrow £300,000 at a rate of 1.5% over 25 years, and the repayment mortgage would cost £1199.00 pcm. Now at 6% the same mortgage would be £1932.00 pcm. If a purchaser wants to keep to the equivalent monthly outgoing of £1199.00, then they would be looking at property prices of around £285,000 (£115,000 cheaper).

    LETTINGS

    We have the opposite happening on the rental side. Over the last few years, we have seen landlords being hit with the mortgage interest relief being taken away from them and moving to the Airbnb side of lettings, where it is a tax allowable expense. This has reduced the stock available for long term renters.  We now have a double whammy of the interest rates having increased for the 13th month in a row, which is resulting in landlords either exiting the market or increasing the rents. Either way, with less stock for the rental market, we are seeing rents climbing to unprecedented levels and will continue whilst stocks remain low.

    At Move On, we are helping landlords sell their tenanted properties to investors. If you would like an informal chat on your options, please Email sharon@moveon.biz or ring me 01202711169.

    JOIN OUR INVESTORS PROGRAMME AND BE NOTIFIED FIRST

     

    MORE CHANGES AHEAD FOR LANDLORDS!

    I reported last month that Michael Gove, the secretary of state for levelling up, is looking to bring to parliament the Renters Reform Act after the Kings coronation, well, it happened!

     

    • The end of Section 21 will be abolished!
    • Tenancies could potentially be set at periodic from day one – ending fixed terms!
    • Rent increases limited to one per annum
    • All Landlords to sign up to an Ombudsman Portal (mandatory)
    • Landlords to register to a property portal and all properties they own.
    • Landlords must consider all permissions to pet requests.
    • Decent Homes Standard to be adhered to

     

    The detail is of course is all in the paper! Although this sounds as if it is gearing more towards the tenant, in my 30 plus years of experience, a section 21 is used for rent arrears, the landlord wanting to move back in or the landlord wanting to sell, all these will be provided in a new updated Section 8 notice.

     

    But, of course, this doesn’t help the landlords feeling more persecuted with the present mortgage rate rises and rental income being practically taxed on turnover and not net profit if the properties are not held in a limited company.

     

    Before deciding anything drastic, please ring me and have a chat and I am always happy to discuss the options out there for you.

     

    ‘you don’t know, what you don’t know’

     

    Rent your property the Move On way and be stress free! Email me for an informal chat on sharon@moveon.biz

     

    IF YOU WANT TO SELL YOUR RENTED PROPERTY, WE HAVE INVESTORS WAITING!

     

    LANDLORD LATEST NEWS

    Michael Gove, the secretary of state for levelling up, is looking to bring to parliament the Renters Reform Act after the Kings coronation this month!

     

    This is intended to give another shake up within the industry, including the much talked about banning of the Section 21 notice. The Section 8 notice will be amended to include new ways of gaining access to your property if the landlord is looking to gain possession of a property to either move back in or sell the property, as well as the current form where the tenant is in breach of their tenancy.

     

    This will be an interesting legislation and could drive more landlords to exit the market, where rents are already at an all time high due to the lack of stock around.

     

    Other news, the EPC grading of bringing all new and renewing tenancies to a ‘C’ from it’s current ‘E’ was due to come into force in 2025, with all remaining properties being a ‘C’ by 2028. This is looking to be amended to all properties being a ‘C’ by 2028.

     

    And lastly, shockingly, Suella Braveman is planning a crackdown on odious landlords who ask for sexual favours in exchange for rent! Dan Wilson Craw, Deputy Director of Generation Rent, recently has said “…….. Research conducted by Generation Rent and Mumsnet estimates that over 200,000 women could be victims of ‘Sex for Rent’ in the United Kingdom.’  A new law is being looked at being created to stop predatory landlords exploiting tenants for discounted rent.

     

    Let me help you have a more stress free 2023 by managing your properties. Email me for an informal chat on sharon@moveon.biz

    Sharon

    Cottages with white windows and doors next to a stream or river.

    LANDLORDS SWITCHING TO USING LETTING AGENTS

     

    A recent survey by USwitch found 63% of private landlords are turning to letting agents due to the current complexity of self-managing their properties.

     

    The top 3 concerns Landlords in the survey cited were;

     

    • False information on applications forms
    • Repairs taking up too much time
    • Being up to date with forever changing legislations

     

    Using reputable agencies is so important when making this leap and I am proud to say Move On are one of the top agents in the area for being widely known as the experts in lettings.

     

    From the moment an application is received, a process of due diligence is put in place to make sure the background checks tell us the proposed tenant has passed our strategic checks. But we don’t stop there! Our regular property visits during a tenancy and yearly appraisals, ensure our landlords are fully compliant with the latest up to date changes within the forever changing legislations as well as conducting rental reviews, which means our clients can be confident their individual property is receiving individual attention!

     

    Let me help you have a more stress free 2023 by managing your properties. Email me for an informal chat on sharon@moveon.biz

     

    SharonCottages with white windows and doors next to a stream or river.

    WHY RENT GUARANTEE IS IMPORTANT!

    As a landlord you should be investing in a rent guarantee insurance. The benefit outweighs the costs and give you complete peace of mind.

     

    At Move On, why strongly recommend this to all our landlords and if your agent cannot offer this to you, then perhaps the tenant hasn’t passed the necessary referencing?

    • NO EXCESS
    • RENT PAID ONCE TENANT IS ONE MONTH IN ARREARS.
    • RENT PAID UNTIL THE TENANT VACATES
    • ALL COURT COSTS PAID
    • ALL LEGAL COSTS FOR SOLICITOR PAID

     

    As an agent, we do not have a crystal ball into the future. A tenant can pass all the necessary referencing, but their situation can change – we only have to look at Covid recently to know, life is unpredictable.

     

    With the cost of living and energy bills going up, this can have an impact on your tenants outgoings.

     

    Costs vary for the insurance, but typically they are between £300 and £400 per annum –  a lot less than losing month’s rent!

     

    Having worked in the lettings industry for 40 years, owned Move On for 17 years and have a personal portfolio of properties. I have probably gone through most challenges and the systems I have put in place pre-empt so many losses that a lot of landlords’ face. That is why Move On are known locally as the lettings experts.

     

    Let me help you have a more stress free 2023 by managing your properties. Email me for an informal chat on sharon@moveon.biz

     

    Sharon

    YOU CAN’T HIDE FROM HMRC BIG BROTHER!

    I have often stated in previous blogs and at various speaking events, that it would only be a matter of time before the government would dot the dots!

     

    It was recently reported in the Daily Mail, of a landlord who had received a letter from HMRC stating the following.

     

    ‘Our information shows that you have put a deposit in a ‘Tenancy Deposit Scheme’. We have compared this information with what you have told us on your Self-Assessment (SA) tax return for the year ending 5 April 2021… and suggests you may not have told us about all of your rental income.’

     

    It really was only a matter of time, since they introduced the law in 2007 that all deposits must be protected or be fined 3 times the deposit given.

     

    Interestingly enough, I was speaking to another landlord just before Christmas who genuinely thought she only had declare the rental income if she earned more than her annual tax free income!

     

    Don’t get frazzled by all the red tape!

     

    Ring me or email me sharon@moveon.biz with your phone number.

     

    Let’s make 2023 a better year together.

     

    Sharon

    CAPITAL GAIN THRESHOLD!

    In the recent budget, it was announced the government are reducing the threshold for Capital gains.

     

    Landlords will be hit by this, if you are thinking of selling a property, but let’s see what it means.

     

    Person leaning over desk with calculator and folded-over notebook. Typing into calculator.

     

    Presently everyone who sells a capital asset has the first £12,300 exempt from paying anything. This is being reduced to £6,000 in 2023 and £3,000 from 2024.

     

    Depending on which tax bracket you fall in to, the additional profit made will be taxed. If you are a 20% taxpayer, you will pay 18% on the profit. If you are a higher rate payer, 40% and above, you pay 28%.

     

    EXAMPLE

    If you purchased a property for £200,000 and sold it for £300,000. For simple terms, you have made £100,000 (there are other costs you can deduct).

     

    Tax year2022/ 2023 – In the present tax year you would deduct the first £12,300 pay tax on the remaining £87,700.00. At 18% this would be £15,786.00 and at 28% this would be £24,556.

     

    Tax Year 2023/2024 The additional amount to pay in 2023 due to threshold being lowered to £6,000 would be £1,134 at 18% and £1764 at 28%.

     

    Tax year 2024/2025 Then an additional amount in 2024 due to the threshold being lowered to £3,000 would be  £540 at 18% and £840 at 28%.

     

    If we tried to look at the glass half full aspect, they did not match the tax to pay to your earnings tax!

     

    Don’t get frazzled by all the red tape, let Move On take the stress away from you!

     

    Fancy an informal chat any time, then email me sharon@moveon.biz with your phone number.

     

    Sharon

    PROPERTY HEALTH CHECK LANDLORDS – MY GIFT TO YOU

    Great news for local Landlords

     

    Until the end of February, Sharon is offering a FREE 45 minute consultation with you.

     

    Your meeting will be with Sharon personally and within the meeting she will check the following:

     

    Check your rental property is up to date with paperwork legislation and if not what you need to do.

     

    A desk top of the current valuation of your property.

     

    Show you how you can increase your income.

     

    Do you have a problematic tenant?

     

    Let’s see if we can help you.

     

    Don’t get frazzled by all the red tape!

     

    Grab yourself a free consultation today by ringing the office or emailing Sharon directly sharon@moveon.biz with your phone number.

     

    Let’s make 2023 a better year together.

     

    Ring me or email sharon@moveon.biz with your phone number to get booked in!