The prime minister, David Cameron, has set out plans to scrap housing benefit for 380,000 young people under 25, which could save up to £1.8bn a year on the welfare bill. In a speech today he said working age welfare should principally be for people with no other means of support who have “fallen on hard times”, and that doesn’t neccesarily include under-25’s…

Buy-to-let landlords in East Anglia, London, Yorkshire and the North East are being targeted as HMRC has announced ‘tax forces’ in attempts to clamp down on tax evaders.  Geographic areas will be targeted as each tax force clamps down in order to recover an estimated £17 million. Exchequer Secretary, David Gauke, said: “We have made it clear…

A new taskforce to tackle tax evasion on property transactions and rented properties has been announced by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The taskforce covering East Anglia, London, Leeds, York, Leicester, Nottingham, Lincoln, Durham and Sunderland is expected to recover more than £17m from tax dodgers. Taskforces are specialist teams that undertake intensive bursts of activity…

A new webTV programme has been launched, specifically to offer advice to landlords. Tomorrow’s show, “Don’t get stung by your inventory”, offers advice on inventories, deposits and contracts. To submit any questions you may have for the speakers on the show, simply click here You can watch the programme live on Thursday 21st June 2012…

Global real estate service provider, Savills, has forecast that the total rental income received by private sector landlords could rise to £70 billion in the next 5 years. This shift away from home ownership towards renting creates a need for significant investment, say Savills. Lucian Cook, director of residential research at Savills, said “Rental growth…

When you are ready to purchase a buy to let property it is critically important that you finance it in the most cost-effective way possible. You also need to get your funds in place as quickly as possible, as you won’t be the only one looking to snap up a bargain investment. To ensure you…

The so-called ‘bedroom tax’ is an under-occupation charge for people living in social housing who have a spare room.  This ‘bedroom tax’ takes effect April 2013.  Tenants will have a choice of paying, on average, an extra £40 per month if they have one spare room, £70 per month if they have two, or move…

More and more people are struggling to sell their homes and an increasing number of sellers are opting to let their property out as a result. New research from Total Landlord Insurance has revealed that a staggering number of so-called “accidental landlords” are unwittingly opening themselves up to risk. Letyourproperty.tv is a new live and interactive webTV…

New research has shown that the buy to let property boom is set to continue, and even more families will have to rent if the economy does not improve. In 1994, just 7% of the population were renting privately.  A study conducted by the Resolution Foundation for housing charity Shelter has suggested that the number…

Tenants are typically viewed to be of higher risk than owner-occupiers, and for this reason regular homeowner insurance policies are often invalid for tenanted homes. Most mortgage lenders will require that you have buildings insurance in place.  Landlords building insurance will cover you against a number of eventualities, and is specifically tailored to offer a…