It is increasingly common for ambitious or tax conscious landlords to operate their properties through a limited company structure. In fact, more companies were set up to hold buy-to-let properties between 2016 and 2020 than in the whole of the preceding 50 years. There are more than 225,000 limited companies operated by landlords in the UK.
There are few things quite as dull as a monetary policy report. For many people, the term ‘monetary policy’ is enough to immediately lose their attention. It is understandable, monetary policy relies on economic theories, the reports often use financial jargon to refer to complex tools and changes are often measured in basis points (one-hundredth […]
Airbnb is a disrupter in the true sense of the word. It took an established industry and turned it on its head. While some traditional B&Bs and landlords decry it as a negative influence, others have grabbed this opportunity and ran with it.
Inheritance tax is becoming more and more of a ‘tax bombshell.’ This is purely because property prices have increased so much over the past few years. If you do not plan for IHT now, then you could be passing on a huge tax liability as well as unwanted stress to your loved ones!
I have probably made more mistakes than most landlords over the last 49 years, not least because back in the day there was no internet, landlord associations (that I was aware of) or property investor magazines. It occurred to me that admitting my mistakes will give other property investors the information that they need to […]
Typically, investors seek to purchase properties Below Market Value (BMV). Paying less for properties can be a key factor in determining how profitable your property investments turn out to be. Unfortunately, in an ever more digital and transparent world, buying a property below market value is proving to be an increasingly difficult task.
Frequent any landlord forum or Facebook group and you will see that some of the most commonly asked questions come from would-be landlords looking for tips or advice when starting out. It’s understandable, purchasing a buy-to-let property is often one of the biggest decisions you will make, second only to buying your own home.
As all landlords will know, tenants do not stay in buy-to-let properties for ever. After a period of time most tenants will begin to consider upsizing, downsizing, buying their own property or moving for work. It is part of the natural life cycle of being a tenant or a landlord. When tenants do vacate a property, this […]
The residential lettings market in the UK is a myriad of constantly changing rules and regulations. Staying on top of these changes can be a time-consuming affair for landlords. Thankfully, with the help of Sheards Chartered Accountants, we have put together a list of all the key changes you should be aware of so far in 2021. What […]
The thought of becoming a landlord can be overwhelming for some. Bringing many considerations and even more responsibilities. That said, it’s also a very exciting prospect – a monthly passive income, a diverse investment portfolio and more financial freedom.
The Conservative government’s scheme to encourage 95% mortgages for first time buyers and those wishing to move became active on the 19th of April. This will see the government guaranteeing loans on up to 95% of the value of properties worth up to £600,000. The aim is to provide lenders the security needed to offer such […]
The process of purchasing a buy-to-let property is full of common pitfalls which can trip up the uninitiated and experienced investor alike. Thankfully, a healthy mix of knowledge and research can help to support the process and avoid mistakes. With this in mind, it is important to develop a process which can be used to check and […]
In my experience, most landlords who get things wrong do so because they didn’t know that they were doing the wrong thing. Arguably, a person shouldn’t go into a business as important as providing homes without understanding the legislation and regulation involved, but many of us got into the business in the days when it […]
Conveyancing is the process of preparing and compiling legal documents for a property transaction. It is a necessary requirement for purchasing, selling and remortgaging a property. If a lender is involved in the process, which they often are, they will stipulate that a professional conveyancer or solicitor is used as part of their mortgage offer.
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