Buy-to-let landlords are set to be hit with more costs from April when an extra 3 per cent stamp duty charge is introduced. The change will add thousands to property purchases. The Treasury has a consultation on the reforms that closes on February 1 2016. Here we outline the major changes to look out for that you can have your say on.
Property price growth is accelerating at a faster annual rate of inflation than previous months, the latest Office for National Statistics index shows.
Smashed windows, flooded bathrooms, broken china and red wine spilt all over the cream carpets - your worst nightmare or a very real possibility should you rent your home out via AirBnb?
Renewal fees are among the most unjust fees lettings agents can charge landlords. Sadly, charging them is not uncommon. There are, however, ways you can protect yourself from them - both before and during a tenancy contract. Here's a brief guide to everything you need to know.
Mortgage brokers have seen a surge in applications for buy-to-let loans from companies as landlords prepare for tax changes that will hit them from April. The latest Buy-to-Let Index from Mortgages for Business found 38 per cent of applications by December 2015 were from limited companies, up from 15 per cent in October.
The festive period is over and many have been left with big financial hangover with one in five renters unable to pay January's rent out of their salary.
Two landlords looking to fight the Government after it announced last summer it was cracking down on mortgage interest tax relief on buy-to-let properties have raised £50,000 in nine days .
The price of the average house jumped 1.7 per cent in December, as the average house price hit £208,286, according to the latest figures by the UK's biggest mortgage lender Halifax. An average home cost £18,858 more than in December 2014 by the end of last year.
The proportion of over-55s entering the buy-to-let market has increased since pension freedoms were introduced in April, a commercial mortgage broker has claimed.
Thousands of rogue landlords are renting out substandard properties with serious hazards ranging from rat infestations and damp to unsafe electrics.
The Treasury today launched a consultation into whether the Bank of England should have more tools at its disposal to cool the buy-to-let market if necessary. Possible powers that could be granted include directing regulators to require lenders to place limits on buy-to-let lending, for example on loan-to-value ratios.
Property investing with minimal effort and a guaranteed 7 per cent a year return sounds a tempting prospect, but would you put your money into student rooms to get it?
I'm 28, single, and have £50,000 in the bank. It's a not a bad position to be in, but I don't know what to do. I am tempted by the returns offered on a student buy-to-let, is this wise?
The North West has been the most lucrative area for rental returns over the past five years, but landlords have profited most in London and the South East from rising house prices. LendInvest's latest Buy-to-Let Index, shows average annual returns between 2010 and 2015 - but it says property price returns could soon shift.
Paragon has attracted more than 25,000 customers since and has featured heavily at the top of the independent This is Money savings tables .
Average house prices are predicted to rise from £280,000 today to £419,000 by 2025. For those in London, values are predicted to increase from £515,000 today to almost £1m within 10 years.
Britain's biggest - and most notorious - buy-to-let landlords have struck an agreement to sell their entire property empire for £250million to Arab investors. Fergus and Judith Wilson revealed more than a year ago their intentions to sell their 1,000-strong property portfolio - and were expecting around £100million.
I invest in three buy-to-let mortgages and I have £100,000 to pay off a portion of one. Would I be better off paying down the mortgage with the highest interest rate or the biggest balance?
More than half landlords said they will not be buying anymore properties for buy-to-let following the recent surcharge on stamp duty and the cap on tax relief for buy-to-let mortgages.
Virgin Money is offering £750 cashback on its buy-to-let mortgage rates, helping landlords make a saving compared with lower-priced deals elsewhere. But you'll need a hefty deposit.
Ex-Bank of England guru Rob Thomas once backed becoming a landlord. Now he says it is the road to ruin...and our analysis shows why. Mature student Lewis Williams (pictured) is about to complete on a buy-to-let property purchase, a mid-terrace three bedroom house in Kirkstall, Leeds. But the 40-year-old, from Shipley in West Yorkshire, is not sure whether he will be buying any more properties until he has fully absorbed the implications of the tax changes being imposed on buy-to-let investors by the Government.
Until now, property has been viewed as a cash cow by investors. But are tougher new tax rules about to change that? We look at how £50,000 invested stacks up.
In a bid to put the brakes on the booming buy-to-let market, the Government will impose swingeing cuts on tax relief landlords. Barclays has responded with tougher lending.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies said the tax hike could put off property developers, who would see lower incentives to invest, slowing down the building of new homes. It also said that while house prices could fall, rents will rise as potential landlords pass on the extra cost to tenants.
Chancellor George Osborne landed buy-to-let and second homes a huge shock by announcing a stamp duty surcharge on property purchases from April.
Holiday home landlords who own property in sought-after locations can earn up to three times the annual income of a buy to let investor, according to specialist broker Holiday Let Mortgages.
George Osborne hit the buy-to-let dream with a big stamp duty hike yesterday. In a nutshell it adds 3% to every stamp duty band for buy-to-let and second homes - trebling the bill on a £275,000 property. But landlords still have a tax trick they can pull to claim it back.
Increasing rents in London have pushed tenants to the outskirts, benefiting landlords on the commuter belt, according to Landbay.
Coventry has reduced the rate on its two-year fix for landlords with a 35 per cent deposit to 1.99 per cent. It's the cheapest deal on the market despite lower rates elsewhere.
Holiday home landlords who own property in sought-after locations can earn up to three times the annual income of a buy to let investor, according to specialist broker Holiday Let Mortgages.
Post Office Money has unveiled the lowest ever buy-to-let mortgage rate for a 30 per cent deposit. Landlords can access a two-year fixed deal at 2.45 per cent with a £1,995 fee.
Us Britons know what we like and like what we know. And what we know and like is property, as figures showing a near 40% rise in buy-to-let purchase mortgages shows. It might not be as big as the last one, but a fresh buy-to-let boom is being fuelled. For some it will end in tears.
A separate survey showed 92 per cent of homeowners told property website Zoopla that they are confident their house price will increase in the coming six months.
A block of flats has been snapped up in just under 11 minutes on crowdfunding platform Property Partner, illustrating the relentless appetite for buy-to-let.
Holiday home landlords who own property in sought-after locations can earn up to three times the annual income of a buy to let investor, according to specialist broker Holiday Let Mortgages. But making money requires hard work and there are plenty of pitfalls you need to dodge.
New 'right to rent' rules are set to be introduced in February 2016 in England. Landlords who fail to check whether tenants have the right to live in the UK could face fines of up to £3,000.
New buy-to-let rules mean anyone who has inherited a property or plans to rent out a home they previously lived in will be treated as a consumer rather than a professional borrower. Here's why it matters.
Will Britain's small army of buy-to-let investors continue to profit in the years ahead? Rob Ellice, CEO, of easyProperty, joins Simon Lambert, Richard Hunter and Nick Batsford in the studio for a discussion of the prospects for the property market. Also on the agenda is a look at how markets will fare as the year draws to a close and whether investors can look forward to a bright end to 2015.
The World Cup Final between Australia and New Zealand may be playing out at Twickenham today, but a winner has already been revealed - in the property stakes at least. Overall average house prices have climbed by 264 per cent in the last 24 years, up from £53,365 to £194,258, we reveal the tournament locations that have seen the biggest rises.
The number of buy-to-let deals on the market has more than tripled since 2010 and you can now access some of the lowest ever rates on the market, new data shows.
Prices have been pushed up as first-time buyers go head-to-head with buy-to-let landlords, property listing website Rightmove warned.
Critics of buy-to-let have long been unhappy about the uneven playing field between landlords and homeowners. The current crop of cheap buy-to-let fixes could see a landlord pay £230 a month but a homeowner pay £630. But those barely breaking even should be warned the future may not look like right now.
Accord Mortgages has unveiled a two-year fix at 1.84 per cent for those with a 40 per cent deposit but you would pay a hefty £2,625 in fees.The broker arm of Yorkshire Building Society is offering the record low deal to new borrowers or those remortgaging with a 40 per cent deposit.
Shocks are in store for new and existing buy-to-let investors - with some saying the worst of them could stop this booming industry in its tracks. The biggest upsets come with changes announced in this year's Budget which will be phased in from next April. Other challenges result from a new, nervous mood among some big mortgage lenders.
The cost of living might be going down, but private rents continued to rise last month, hitting a new high of £816 per month in September across England and Wales, data shows.
Risks to UK economic stability have grown because of a boom in buy-to-let mortgages and the ongoing turmoil in China, the Bank of England has said this morning.
Several landlords were fined during a pilot last year, so how can you make sure your tenants have the right to remain in the UK?
An online estate agent's experts have revealed which parts of the country they think will make the most money for property buyers in the near future - and they're not where you might think. They also listed factors that can help you spot if your area is set to explode, including delis and aspirational street names.
Quick, easy - compare and buy today
Buy-to-let rates and advice
Insure your heating system for less
Find tenants - from £9.99
The average cost of renting a home in London is £1,472 - half the average salary of nearly £3,000 a month, according to data. Across the UK overall, the average monthly salary is £2,266 and the average rent is £935, meaning renters on average sacrifice 41 per cent of their pay for accommodation.
On average, the number of properties available per estate agent branch fell from 55 in July to 38 in August, marking a 31 per cent decrease, the National Association for Estate Agents said.
Students are far more likely to not have their deposit returned to them at the end of a tenancy, data from the Deposit Protection Service shows.
Rent hikes fell last month for the first time since April - but a closer look reveals a regional divide, with residents in the South West and Wales still seeing increases. Meanwhile, housing supply fell while the number of prospective tenants rose, meaning further misery for renters is likely.
The property management firm refunded the money but only for the last six years saying that the money before this is 'statute barred'. Is this correct?
The proportion of rent arrears soared to 9.9 per cent of all rent payable in August, up from 8.4 per cent in July and 8 per cent last year - the highest level since December 2012.
Edinburgh has beaten all other buy-to-let contenders in the student market, offering an average income of 6.11 per cent on a four bedroom property. But Middlesburgh landlords get the lowest yield of just 1.47%
Gross mortgage lending reached £20bn last month to record the strongest August since before the financial crisis, according to estimates by the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
In the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea, 97 per cent of all council-housing stock would end up having to be sold off into private hands once vacant, housing charity Shelter says.
If you are considering taking in a lodger there's some key things you may wish to consider beforehand, especially as not everyone is cut out to be a live-in landlord. Annie Plaskett, from insurance brokers Towergate, lays out what you need to know.
Property values rose by 3.2 per cent in August compared with a year ago, which is down from 3.5 per cent in July and the weakest annual growth since June 2013.
The number of buy-to-let mortgages available to landlords has tipped over the 1,000 mark for the first time since April 2008, data from information website Moneyfacts shows.
For many buy-to-let looks an attractive income investment in a time of low rates and stock market volatility. Climbing house prices, rising rents and improving mortgage deals are tempting investors - although they will need a big deposit. Read This is Money's top ten buy-to-let tips
A plague of pests is descending on homes this summer - wreaking havoc and expensive damage on those who fail to fight back. Due to a mild early summer there has been an explosion of wasps over the past few weeks that have been gatecrashing picnics and causing a nuisance at home barbecues and in pub gardens.
Becoming a buy-to-let landlord has been known to reap a decent return above interest rates or savings accounts, but it can also add to your tax bill.
Rents are rising at a rapid pace once more across the UK, a pair of market studies have revealed - with one showing the biggest monthly rise since its index began.
More landlords could set up companies to manage their buy-to-let portfolios amid fears that their profits will be hit by tax relief changes, but is that worth doing? We speak to an expert to get the lowdown on what you need to consider.
My partner died in September last year, so I asked our lender Mortgage Agency Services to cancel her half of the mortgage on our cottage in the Yorkshire Dales.
The number of properties listed for sale per estate agency was up a quarter in July compared to the previous month, according to latest data from professional body the NAEA.
Data from lender Halifax shows that in June this year the average monthly cost of a three-bedroom home for first-time buyers was around £666 compared with £722 for renting the same type of property - a monthly difference of about £56. By June 2014, monthly costs for first-time buyers were £1,018 cheaper per year - or £85 a month - than for those renting.
If the answer is 'yes' does this mean I still own the flats and can sell as I please or does the company then own the flats and they are technically no longer mine?
With demand continuing to outstrip supply, house prices in major cities increased by 4.3 per cent to an average of £227,100 in the three months to July, Hometrack said.
Nearly 40 per cent of council flats sold off at a discount in the last 35 years are now being rented out privately to tenants, a Freedom of Information request has shown. Responses by 91 councils shows they have sold a combined 127,762 council flats and maisonettes since Right to Buy was introduced in 1980, the request by magazine Inside Housing shows.
The amount landlords will be able to borrow is expected to fall by thousands and they are likely to face a tough grilling from lenders if they want a loan.
House prices rose by £1,000 a month over the past year with the East of England recording the biggest gains, according to new official figures.
New tax rules were meant to cool the buy-to-let boom but that hasn't stopped this fast-talking saleswoman giving her get rich quick tips to investors. Maria's website describes her as a sales presenter, public speaker and accredited coach, who was trained in the U.S. by a famous sales school. She was an Avon lady, presented on children's TV and is now, she will say, a highly successful property investor.
Bricks and mortar have provided stellar returns for many people over the past couple of decades, prompting many to rely on property as their pension. We set the stock market against the property market.
All this week, we've been guiding you through the buy-to-let process so you can make up your own mind. Today, we look at how you can turn a property into your pension, and tax implications
Being a landlord can be extremely financially rewarding, but don't forget that the taxman will always want his share. Here's our rundown of all the taxes every buy-to-let investor needs to know about.
Most new landlords look to buy their first property in a town they know, but there may be better locations for returns out there.We reveal the towns and cities that generally produce the best income for landlords.
After months of searching, you have finally found it - your dream home in the sun. Here are overseas property expert Simon Conn's six pitfalls to avoid when buying a home abroad.
Here, we look holiday homes and how you can find your place in the sun.
Renting a property to tenants or letting a holiday home can be straightforward for those who are lucky enough never to encounter any problems. Escaping trouble altogether is unlikely, so it is prudent to take preventative measures to protect yourself and your tenants.
You need to remember it is business, not personal. Investors must adjust their mindset and rather than being courted by the pretty garden with rows of neat flowerbeds or classic wooden floors throughout, think what is right to offer tenants - and is easy to maintain.
The essential dos and don'ts of buying and renting out a home, how you could build a buy-to-let empire and how to keep good tenants - and avoid the bad ones.
Astonishing claims of a 1,400% return over the past two decades are built on borrowed money but there's another important point to consider - property was unloved and cheap in 1996. That made buy-to-let a turbocharged value investment. Investors could still do well today, but they shouldn't expect a repeat of the past.
Buy-to-let has become big business as Britain's small army of property investors ploughed their savings into homes to deliver both income and growth. Buy-to-let mortgages are generally interest-only, require larger deposits and need rent to comfortably more than cover payments. We explain more in our guide.
Those considering investing in buy-to-let - or hoping to improve the returns on their existing properties - need to make sure they aren't making common mistakes. We outline the classic errors to avoid to make sure you get the best from buy-to-let - and how to look after your tenants so they look after you.
Top tips to sell your property for more: We reveal the tricks used by Hollywood stylists...
- and how to use them in your home.
Buy-to-let landlords 'storming the UK housing market'
Agents report surge in attempts to snap up homes before stamp duty hike.
The seven golden rules of buy-to-let:
How property can still be a good investment
Can you get a leg-up onto the property ladder? From boosting deposits to bumping up savings
Your guide to Help to Buy
British supercar maker McLaren planning to more than double sales
Demand for its cars soars
Just in case you were in any doubt... Going to the pub makes us happier
Oxford University study is a drinkers' delight
We've all been hung out to dry on pensions - and the situation looks set to deteriorate
JEFF PRESTRIDGE
Why it still pays to save into a pension as Government looks to cut tax breaks
How to kickstart, revive and boost your fund
Ten ways to save yourself serious amounts of cash in 2016
Our easy 10-step guide
From 'shoulder surfing' to the 'Lebanese loop'
How to make sure you don't become one of the 2,500 cashpoint fraud victims next week
Exposed: So-called critical illness 'protection' policies
Hein Pretorius was denied a payout following an amputation
My daughter's university student loan has turned into a fiasco
TONY HETHERINGTON
What makes a successful self-build?
Home in on the essentials when building your dream property
The rise of the 35-year mortgage
First-time buyers extend their home loans, but is better cash flow now really worth the £9k in extra interest?
How to slash your mortgage
Keeping cost of repayments as low as possible is key to staying on top of your finances
Thinking about selling your property in the New Year?
Six ways to make sure it stands out to buyers and gets sold
How to bag the new home you want: The homebuyer's guide to getting a mortgage
What you need to know
We own a holiday property
If we move home after April will we be stung by the extra stamp duty charge?
'We will lose our dream home because Nationwide won't give us a mortgage unless we buy insurance from a provider that doesn't sell it anymore'
Revealed: The top Help to Buy Isa rates available to first-time buyers
And how long it takes to earn the maximum £3k bonus
The death knell for buy-to-let?
Stamp duty bill on a £275k home is more than trebled
Could this spell the death of mortgage ageism?
Building societies set to relax age caps on home loans
Best big UK city to live in?
It's Edinburgh again - thanks to high wages, affordable rents and low crime levels
Get ready for right to rent
Landlords could be fined £3k for failing to check tenants' immigration status from February
Why cheap mortgage rates aren't always best
Deals with smaller fees, freebies and cashback could save you more than £1.5k
Sold for £150k!
Mud and rocks underneath London mansion block that went under the hammer as an 'unexcavated basement'
Britain's property market isn't in a bubble, academics claim
But London is on the cusp of one... and it could blow up in 2017
What next for mortgage rates?
Lenders cut fixes again as interest rate rise drifts once more
Stamp duty calculator
How big a tax bill will your property purchase trigger?
Ten tips for buy-to-let
The essential advice for property investors
Britons see 41% of monthly pay vanish on their rent
And Londoners have to spend half their income
Just one in four students receive full rent deposit back at end of tenancy
12 tips to not fall into the costly trap...
Relief for tenants as landlords ease off on rent hikes for the first time this year
(Unless you live in the South West or Wales that is)
Squeezed renters see arrears soar to highest level in more than two years
Half lose hope of ever buying a home
Want to make a healthy profit from a student buy-to-let? Pick a Scottish university city
(And avoid Wales and the North of England)
I have been overpaying property management fees for 13 years but the firm will only repay for the last six
Is this right?
Buy-to-let mortgage frenzy means there are now 1,000 deals available to landlords
For first time since financial crisis
Is it worth moving your buy-to-let into a company to keep mortgage interest relief?
And how do you do it?
Return of rapid rent rises sends tenants' bills to a record high
Report shows biggest jump since buy-to-let index began
How to beat the taxman and reduce the costs of your buy-to-let portfolio
Essential tax tips
First-time buyers save £670 a year compared with cost of renting
But gap narrows from £1,018 last year
Two in five Right to Buy flats sold off since 1980 are now in the hands of private landlords
FOI request shows
You'll need a bigger deposit and face tighter checks for a buy-to-let loan
High street crackdown
Maria Davis says she can make you a buy-to-let millionaire - should you believe her?
Investors seeking get-rich-quick tips
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