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It’s no trick to make a lot of money…-Everett Sloane
It's no trick to make a lot of money, if all you want to do is make a lot of money. -Everett Sloane
Selective Licensing
In light of the latest regulations some may have noticed that some London Boroughs have bought in the 'Selective Licensing', a form of licensing that all landlords have to adhere by. Now I can already here you asking ‘Isn’t property licensing restricted to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) - surely ...
Is a Landlord Responsible for Damp and Mould?
Before we play the blame game..... its important to know that damp and mould is a serious health issue which needs to be addressed asap. There is interesting blog on Mums net which will be useful reading (link)
My girlfriend’s father died of….-Eddie Cantor
My girlfriend's father died of throat trouble. . . . They hung him. He used to work in a bank. But no matter how much the boss likes you, if you work in a bank you can't bring home samples. -Eddie Cantor
If you would know the value of money…-Benjamin Franklin
If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some. --Benjamin Franklin
Starting strong is…- Robin Sharma
“Starting strong is good. Finishing strong is epic” - Robin Sharma
Bubble Trouble
I know thats a little play on words there, but last couple of months some of the news I have been reading actually reiminds me of 2004-05 when the first mention of a property bubble where mentioned and everyone know what happend in 2007. So please read the article below, as media ...
If you’d lose a troublesome visitor….-Ben Franklin
If you'd lose a troublesome visitor, lend him money. -Ben Franklin
As demand rises, people are struggling with new-built homes
When you buy or rent a new-build house, you don’t want to finish it and struggle for a solution. A hole where a window should be, no cavity wall insulation and uneven stairs are just a few of the problems to mention. BUYER CHECKLIST ■ Research the developer online before ...
UK house price predicted to slump to 1% next year
New analysis from Knight Frank has suggested that UK house price growth will fall to 1.0% in 2018, following a familiar pattern we have seen since the summer of 2014. However, it's not all bad news as the estate agency believes that house prices will still reach 14.2% cumulatively between ...
Never ask of money spent…-Robert Frost
Never ask of money spent Where the spender thinks it went. Nobody was ever meant To remember or invent What he did with every cent. -Robert Frost
UK rents expected to rise faster than house prices in next five years
Rics survey heaps further misery on Britain’s growing army of renters, who will likely have fewer properties to choose from UK rents are expected to rise faster than house prices over the next five years, bringing further misery to Britain’s growing army of renters, according to a survey. The Royal ...
A hard Brexit would risk deepening the UK housing crisis
It’s rare nowadays to read the news and feel anything other than abject horror. But occasionally something good appears, even in housing. This week, Sovereign housing association announced it has secured £150m from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to build 4,500 homes. Which is good because we need new homes. ...
London gloomy, but UK housing market stabilises in November – RICS
There were signs the fragile UK housing market started to stabilise in November after several months of increasing gloom, according to the latest monthly survey of chartered surveyors, but little sense a recovery is imminent. The balance of surveyors reporting that prices had risen compared to those who said they ...
The currency of real networking is….. – Keith Ferrazzi
“The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity” - Keith Ferrazzi
Mortgage approvals 'lowest for over a year'
The number of households taking out new mortgages in November was the lowest in more than a year, according to official figures. UK Finance said High Street banks approved 39,507 mortgages during the month, the lowest since August 2016. The figure represents a 5% fall on the same month a ...
Renters fear ‘constant threat’ of losing their home
One in three private renters (35%) is worried they will have to move in the next year, according to a new Survation poll commissioned by Generation Rent. New research has shone a light on attitudes from renters in the private sector. The lack of stability makes it harder for renters ...
Lost and Found
Lost and Found - The teenager lost a contact lens while playing basketball in his driveway. After a brief, fruitless search, he gave up. His mother took up the cause and within minutes found the lens. "How did you do that?" he asked. "We weren’t looking for the same thing," ...
Asking for Help
A devastated-looking man knocks on the door of a woman known for her charity. "Please, ma’am," he says when she opens up, "can you help this poor, tragic family down the block? The father just lost his job, and his wife is too ill to work. They’re about to be ...
It was character that got us…- ZIG ZIGLAR
“It was character that got us out of bed Commitment that moved us into action And discipline that enabled us to follow through” - ZIG ZIGLAR
Loss of mortgage interest relief could bankrupt landlords
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="yes" overflow="visible"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="no" center_content="no" min_height="none"] The proposed tax changes in the Budget that will limit and then remove the ability to off-set BTL mortgage interest payments against rental profits. ...
UK house prices fell 0.9% in January, Halifax says
UK House prices declined by 0.9% from a month earlier in January, a survey released by Halifax has shown.The change means the average price of a house in Britain is now £220,260 ($272,562). House prices in the three months to January period were 5.7% higher than in the same period ...
Majority of UK Homeowners Unfazed by Interest Rate Increase
Research in recent months has looked at what impact the recent increase in interest rates has had on UK homeowners. Over 1,000 UK homeowners were surveyed and it was noted that while it was the first increase for just 37% of UK homeowners, this climbed to 78% for those aged between ...
'Landlord tax' stamp duty changes raise £2bn a year from buy-to-let and second home owners – double the amount expected
The Government's stamp duty changes are raising twice as much money from home buyers as initially expected, HMRC figures show. Analysis by accounting firm Blick Rothenberg shows that the Treasury has so far pocketed as much has £2bn as a result of the 3 per cent "landlord tax". Originally officials had estimated ...
Millionaires wife
A woman proudly told her friend, "I'm responsible for making my husband a millionaire." "Well what was he before he married you?" the friend asked. "A billionaire."
Smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector regulations for landlords
1. What is the landlord required to do? The new regulations for smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors came into force on the 1st of October 2015. The government has published a handy notes for landlords; at least one smoke alarm installed on every storey of their rental property a ...
Benefit claimants face poverty at hands of erratic sanctions system
Benefit claimants are subjected to an unacceptable “postcode lottery” that can determine whether or not they are driven into poverty by sanctions, MPs have said. A report by the public accounts committee found that some Work Programme providers and jobcentres withhold payments to twice as many people as others in ...
Rental Supply Triples For 2nd Straight Month
New rental listings increased by 6.8% in the UK in November, the second month in a row of positive growth, with almost 60% of towns and cities seeing a rise, the latest data shows. Four cities recorded triple digit increases in new rental supply, including Bristol which was up 162.7% ...
Research suggest renters in UK worse off in terms of financial planning
Millions of people in the UK who rent their homes from private landlords are putting themselves and their families at risk of eviction and financial hardship, it is claimed. Many do not have a financial back-up plan and 30% of private renters admit they would not be financially secure if ...
The UK rental property demand falls to two-year low
UK rental property demand falls to two-year low Rise in supply sees rent flattening or falling in many parts of the country including London, survey finds Asking rents in London fell by 4.4% in 2016, according to property website Rightmove. Demand for privately-rented flats and houses has fallen to a ...
No one likes coughing up rent.
No one likes coughing up rent. But at least these tenants gave landlords creative reasons for avoiding it. "With my daughter’s graduation, our new boat, and our trip to Europe this year, we’re a little strapped." "I’m getting real tired of paying this rent every month! You’ll have to wait ...
House prices are falling at their fastest rate since 2012 as people face 'squeeze on real incomes'
On a seasonally adjusted basis, prices declined by 0.4% in April according to Nationwide. It may not sound like a lot but Britain's recent rampant property market means the drop represents the worst monthly decline since 2012. Annual price growth is also weak. Average prices in April were 2.6% higher ...
The safest way to double your money is….. -Kin Hubbard
The safest way to double your money is to fold it over once and put it in your pocket. -Kin Hubbard
What’s in a name?
A lot of people ask... "Where does the name 'Albert Grace' comes from?" The story goes, Malay wanted to have a name which conveys honesty and thankfulness for all the people whom we meet and the company we would do business with in the future. Grace is also a word that ...
One rule….-Ogden Nash
One rule which woe betides the banker who fails to heed it . . . Never lend any money to anybody unless they don't need it. -Ogden Nash
It`s the job never…- J.R.R. Tolkien
“It`s the job never started that takes the longest to finish” - J.R.R. Tolkien
New bank account
A man walked into a bank and said, "I want to open a joint account." Bank Manager: Very happy to assist you. With whom do you want to open the joint account with? Man: With somebody who has money.
The best way to keep money…-Louis Rukeyser
The best way to keep money in perspective is to have some. -Louis Rukeyser
3 Signs of Positive Momentum in the UK Property Market
Despite the last few months of uncertainty caused by the EU referendum results. There are some clear signs of positivity in the UK property market. 1 . Early reports show minimal impact (and growth) from the EU referendum The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors reported during August, 12% more respondents nationally reported an increase ...
Could bad buildings damage your mental health?
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="yes" overflow="visible"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="no" center_content="no" min_height="none"] Research has shown city dwellers are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression – but could individual buildings have a negative impact on wellbeing? Screaming ...
UK employers in low-skilled sectors concerned over Brexit future
UK employers in low-skilled sectors concerned over Brexit future Many UK firms in low-skilled sectors employ large numbers of migrants from the European Union. Now, new research suggests they are concerned about their workforce and the future of their businesses following the Brexit referendum vote to leave the EU. Employers ...
Landlord’s repairing obligations
Repairing obligations are often not taken seriously. This is a mistake which can result in courts awarding tenants damages for the disrepair, which in more serious cases can virtually eliminate a tenant’s rent arrears and make recovery of possession under section 8 difficult. The repairing obligation applies where the tenancy ...
Buy-to-let slump puts first-time buyers in the driver’s seat
The withdrawal of landlord buyers has left the market freer for first-time buyers without pushing up prices. Buy-to-let landlords are finally in retreat in the housing market, leaving young adults in a better position to buy a property, according to the latest data from mortgage lenders. The Council of Mortgage ...
Mortgage approvals ‘lowest for over a year’
The number of households taking out new mortgages in November was the lowest in more than a year, according to official figures. UK Finance said High Street banks approved 39,507 mortgages during the month, the lowest since August 2016. The figure represents a 5% fall on the same month a ...
Rental growth accelerates by a third in 2017
The latest data and analysis from Countrywide has revealed that rental growth across Great Britain increased in 2017 to 2.4%, up from 1.8% in 2016. According to the figures, the average rent ended the year at £960 per month, up by £23 a month from the start of the year. ...
London house prices fall for first time in eight years as rest of UK rises
London house prices fell for the first time year-on-year since the height of the financial crisis eight years ago, under-performing the rest of the UK, Nationwide has said. The average price of a home in the capital is £471,761, down by 0.6% between July and September compared with the same ...
Two and three-bed buy-to-lets 'will become unviable'
Two and three-bed buy-to-let properties will become more difficult to buy under lenders' plans to apply far tougher checks on landlords, new analysis suggests. Landlords with traditional 25pc deposits will be unable to buy property in 91pc of areas if all lenders go ahead with plans to increase the amount of rent ...
Energy efficient homes will 'boost economy'
More government investment in home energy efficiency programmes could help tackle climate change and create up to 9,000 jobs, economists have said. Researchers said increased spending could boost economic activity across Scotland and reduce fuel poverty. They have called for a national infrastructure programme to improve the efficiency of Scotland's ...
The village building homes for young families
Residents of a picturesque village in Suffolk are going against the adage of "not in my back yard" by unanimously voting for a new housing development to be built in the desirable area. There is just one important proviso - at least a third of the houses must be affordable ...
Money can't buy friends, but…-Spike Milligan
Money can't buy friends, but you can get a better class of enemy. -Spike Milligan
It's no trick to make a lot of money…-Everett Sloane
It's no trick to make a lot of money, if all you want to do is make a lot of money. -Everett Sloane
If you'd lose a troublesome visitor….-Ben Franklin
If you'd lose a troublesome visitor, lend him money. -Ben Franklin
Children are stupid. That's why they're in school.
Children are stupid. That's why they're in school. I'd lecture for an hour about percentages and interest rates and at the end I'd ask one simple question, "You put ten grand in a bank for one year at 5 percent and what do you get?" Some kid would always yell ...
My girlfriend's father died of….-Eddie Cantor
My girlfriend's father died of throat trouble. . . . They hung him. He used to work in a bank. But no matter how much the boss likes you, if you work in a bank you can't bring home samples. -Eddie Cantor
Brexit: Lords to begin debating bill to trigger Article 50
Peers are to begin debating the bill paving the way for the start of Brexit. MPs have already backed the proposed law authorising Theresa May to inform the EU of the UK's intention to leave. But the government does not have a majority in the House of Lords where a ...
Losers make promises …. – Denis Waitley
“Losers make promises they often break. Winners make commitments they always keep” - Denis Waitley
Average UK house prices up 8.3% year on year, official index data shows
Average house prices in the UK increased by 8.3% in the year to July 2016, down from 9.7% in June 2016, continuing the strong growth seen since the end of 2013, according to the latest index data. The average UK house price was £217,000 in July 2016, some £17,000 higher ...
Money can’t buy friends, but…-Spike Milligan
Money can't buy friends, but you can get a better class of enemy. -Spike Milligan
I spend money with reckless abandon…-Ronnie Shakes
I spend money with reckless abandon. Last month I blew five thousand dollars at a reincarnation seminar. I got to thinking, what the hell, you only live once. -Ronnie Shakes
Children are stupid. That’s why they’re in school.
Children are stupid. That's why they're in school. I'd lecture for an hour about percentages and interest rates and at the end I'd ask one simple question, "You put ten grand in a bank for one year at 5 percent and what do you get?" Some kid would always yell ...
Two and three-bed buy-to-lets ‘will become unviable’
Two and three-bed buy-to-let properties will become more difficult to buy under lenders' plans to apply far tougher checks on landlords, new analysis suggests. Landlords with traditional 25pc deposits will be unable to buy property in 91pc of areas if all lenders go ahead with plans to increase the amount of rent ...
Graduation Day
It was graduation day and Mom was trying to take a picture of their son in a cap and gown, posed with his father. "Let's try to make this look natural" she said. "Junior, put your arm around your dad's shoulder." The father answered, "If you want it to look ...
General Safety In Letting Properties
General Safety In Letting Properties [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="yes" overflow="visible"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="no" center_content="no" min_height="none"] Why landlords should make absolutely sure that their properties are entirely safe for tenants? Safety aspects come under criminal law - ...
Some consultants & letting agents misinterpreting landlords responsibilities regarding legionella
Some consultants and letting agents are using the revised L8 ACOP to suggest that new legislation has been imposed on landlords of domestic rented properties for managing and controlling the risks of exposure to Legionella bacteria of their tenants. This is wrong, the legislation has not changed and misinformation/misinterpretation can ...
Energy efficient homes will ‘boost economy’
More government investment in home energy efficiency programmes could help tackle climate change and create up to 9,000 jobs, economists have said. Researchers said increased spending could boost economic activity across Scotland and reduce fuel poverty. They have called for a national infrastructure programme to improve the efficiency of Scotland's ...
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Update Aug 2017
In April 2018, private rental properties will need to have a minimum EPC rating of E or it will be illegal to rent them to tenants. This change will only apply to new tenancies and renewals. By April 2020, the rule will be extended to incorporate all private rentals regardless ...
More tenants in UK believe they can own their own home, survey finds
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="yes" overflow="visible"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="no" center_content="no" min_height="none"] British tenants are feeling more optimistic about their finances and regard buying their own home as a more realistic prospect due to being able to save ...
If you want to go fast, … – African Proverb
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others” - African Proverb
Where large sums of money are concerned…..-Agatha Christie
Where large sums of money are concerned, it is advisable to trust nobody. -Agatha Christie
Energy and Persistence….- Benjamin Franklin
“Energy and Persistence conquer all things” - Benjamin Franklin
Brexit: Businesses warn over ‘UK workers first’ proposal
Firms that rely on EU workers have warned of the "catastrophic" impact of proposals to slash unskilled migration on the day Britain leaves the EU. Under the draft plan, leaked to the Guardian, firms would have to recruit locally unless they could prove an "economic need" to employ EU citizens. They ...
Home owners of low EPC properties could be forced to upgrade them before sale.
Homes with poor energy performance could be banned from the sales market, with owners having to upgrade them before being allowed to sell them. The call has come from the Committee on Climate Change and could affect at least 1.2m homes with EPC ratings of F and G. As with ...
Always live within your income…-Josh Billings
Always live within your income, even if you have to borrow money to do so. -Josh Billings
Saving money
Mother had decided to trim her household budget wherever possible, so instead of having a dress dry-cleaned she washed it by hand. Proud of her savings, she boasted to my father "Just think, Fred, we are five dollars richer because I washed this dress by hand!" "Good", my dad quickly ...
There Are Two Sure Things: Taxes, and Excuses
Here are the best tried-and-failed excuses British businesses gave for not paying their taxes on time. My pet goldfish died. —Self-employed builder Our business doesn’t really do anything. —Financial services firm I’ve been too busy submitting my clients’ tax returns. —Accountant Source: HM Revenue & Customs
A dollar per point
A professor was giving a big test one day to his students. He handed out all of the tests and went back to his desk to wait. Once the test was over the students all handed the tests back in. The professor noticed that one of the students had attached ...
UK faces shortfall of 1.8m rental homes, warns housing body
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is urging government to reverse stamp duty changes on second homes and incentivise build-to-rent scheme The UK is facing a shortfall of 1.8m rental properties unless the government acts fast to slow a sharp drop in the number of available homes, according to a ...
To be clever enough to….-George Bernard Shaw
To be clever enough to get a great deal of money, one must be stupid enough to want it. -George Bernard Shaw
Landlord Electrical Safety ….
Always remember, although it is your property but it's someone else's home. Landlords are responsible for the electrical safety of any property you let from the start of the tenancy. Good practice is to complete visual hazard checks to ensure all appliances are non hazardous. Burn marks around sockets and ...
Welcome to your new home #RIP
A client bought a new home and the broker wanted to send flowers for the occasion. They arrived at the home and the owner read the card; it said “Rest in Peace”. The owner was angry and called the florist to complain. After he had told the florist of the ...
UK house price growth has hit 14-month low, says Nationwide
Building society says there are early signs housing market will soften in 2017 as inflation squeezes households UK house prices grew at their weakest annual rate in more than a year in January, in an early sign of the property market slowdown predicted for 2017. [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="yes" overflow="visible"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" background_position="left top" ...
Top UK State Schools vs House Prices
Choosing a school can be one of the most important things a parent can do for their child and many are even prepared to move house to make sure they get the right one. [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="yes" overflow="visible"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" ...
UK rental values on new tenancies start the year with an increase
Following last years end it looks as though the rental market is up again. Rental values on new tenancies started off in 2018 with a year-on-year increase. Rental prices went up in nearly every region of the UK. Homelet showed an average of 2.4% increase in rental amounts in the ...
ONS data shows UK wealth wedded to property
ONS data shows UK wealth wedded to property [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="yes" overflow="visible"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="no" center_content="no" min_height="none"] Data reveals UK net worth of £8.8tn is four times that of 1995 after massive rise in property ...
House prices are falling at their fastest rate since 2012 as people face ‘squeeze on real incomes’
On a seasonally adjusted basis, prices declined by 0.4% in April according to Nationwide. It may not sound like a lot but Britain's recent rampant property market means the drop represents the worst monthly decline since 2012. Annual price growth is also weak. Average prices in April were 2.6% higher ...
TOP TIPS – Looking after your washing machine
If you are a landlord or a tenant, we recommend that you carry out regular maintenance on your domestic appliances; it only takes a few minutes and it could save you lots of unnecessary inconvenience and stress. *Before doing any sort of maintenance on any appliance, turn it off and ...
Reflecting on 2017.
As the year draws to end.... just reflecting on 2017 It’s been a very difficult year for all BTL landlords. Overall the market has been soft, rental prices have come down and void periods or change over between tenants has gone up to 6 weeks on average. Just wanted to break ...
UK Risks Credit Rating Downgrade Due to Brexit Vote
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="yes" overflow="visible"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="no" center_content="no" min_height="none"] The UK’s credit rating could be downgraded again if the government fails to retain access to the single market as part of its Brexit negotiations. Britain’s current credit ...
Talent wins games, ……- Michael Jordan
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships” - Michael Jordan
‘Landlord tax’ stamp duty changes raise £2bn a year from buy-to-let and second home owners – double the amount expected
The Government's stamp duty changes are raising twice as much money from home buyers as initially expected, HMRC figures show. Analysis by accounting firm Blick Rothenberg shows that the Treasury has so far pocketed as much has £2bn as a result of the 3 per cent "landlord tax". Originally officials had estimated ...
Coming together is a beginning … -Henry Ford
“Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success” - Henry Ford
What's in a name?
A lot of people ask... "Where does the name 'Albert Grace' comes from?" The story goes, Malay the founding Director, wanted to have a name that conveys honesty and thankfulness for all the people whom we meet and the company we would do business with in the future. Grace is also ...