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Rightmove has released its latest analysis of the 2016 rental market and what they expect in 2017 to look like. In 2016, outside of London recorded rental increases of 3% with inner London seeing a 5.2% drop in asking prices and outer London seeing a more modest 2.5% decrease in asking prices. The decrease in London was due to more availability of stock as around 32% more properties came onto the market when landlords rushed to beat the stamp duty hikes that came into force in April. The main winners for 2016 in rental increases were Swansea with an 11.4% annual increase in asking prices...
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“Tax doesn’t have to be taxing” was the strapline for an advertising campaign run by Her Majesty’s Revenues and Customs (HMRC) not so long ago. Unfortunately for many of us around this time of year it is taxing both financially and mentally. With around two weeks left to go until the 31st January deadline to file your tax, it’s important to get it right. To help make life easier for you, HMRC has set up a webpage detailing what you need to know and do. Most importantly, it tells you what records you should be keeping, what expenses you can claim for and what you can’t. It also runs through...
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George Osborne left several gifts for landlords before vacating the treasury. The first has already come into force which is the increase in stamp duty for the purchase of a buy to let property. The second is a reduction of tax relief that landlords can claim against mortgages. As it currently stands, say you’re rent is £10,000 a year and mortgage is £9,000 a year, you make a £1,000 profit. A basic rate tax payer would pay 20% (£200), higher rate 40% (£400) and top tier 45% (£450) to HMRC. This is going to be reduced and for 2017/18 this will 75% of your mortgage interest that is tax...
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In April this year, it came into law that tenants can request landlords carry out improvements to a property’s energy efficiency which a landlord must not unreasonably withhold. In the not too distant future, it is going to become law that properties with a low energy performance will not be legal to let. If your property is E or above in your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), there is no cause for concern, if it is F or below, it may well be worth considering improvements because as of 1st April 2018 it will be unlawful to grant a new lease of a property with a rating of E or below. ...
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Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards Landlords to Provide Tenants As part of the Energy Efficiency Ratings Regulations of 2015, from 1st April 2016 tenants may request landlords carry out improvements to a property’s energy efficiency which a landlord must not unreasonably withhold. Tenants whose homes are an F or G rated by an Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) can request the landlord bring the property up to an E rating. If you own a rental property, it is most likely you have an EPC and in it there are usually recommendations as to how your property can be improved for energy efficiency...