Under section 11 of the homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003 when a landlord raises proceedings for possession of a dwelling house, the landlord must gibe notice of this to the local Authority in the area where the property is. This duty will come into force on 1 April 2009.

There will be a set format for such notification which can be sent by post or electronically. The regulations setting out the form and manner of notice will be laid before parliament in early October. Guidance will be drafted by the Scottish Government to provide assistance with this duty

The main purpose of this legislation is to alert local authorities to the fact that a household is a risk of homeless. This means that local Authorities may be able to respond to prevent homelessness either on an individual basis or by reassessing their strategic approach.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced that it has chosen Capita as its preferred bidder to run the new registration scheme for UK gas installers from 1 April 2009.

The new scheme is set to deliver a suite of changes to improve consumer gas safety whilst also simplifying the regime, and securing best value for money for installers.

The HSE stated that the main differences between the bids from Capita and CORGI lay in their approaches to introducing innovation, promoting gas safety and a new brand, delivering efficiencies and ensuring continuous improvement.

CORGI will be working with Capita to ensure a smooth transition period. They stressed the decision would have no disruptive impact on the day-to-day running of CORGI-registered businesses. The Association of plumbing and heating contractors warned that new entrants to the industry should still approach CORGI.

The HSE will now go into detailed discussion with Capita with a view to finalising contracts by September 2008. The new scheme will start in April 2009.

In the meantime landlords should continue to make sure that they are using CORGI registered engineers. Homesure will keep landlords up to date throughout the transition period. Keep an eye on our blog over the forthcoming months.

Homesure is proud to announce that we have successfully relocated our offices to Carrick Street, Ayr.  Our spacious, convenient offices are perfectly situated for clients to visit.  We are right on Ayr High Street, which makes Homesure one of the best located agents in Ayr. 

All existing and potential landlords are welcome to come in.  We are now open to 7pm on a Friday and 10am - 2pm on Saturday.   

Homesure is excited to announce that we will be relocating our current office in Mid July.  Our new offices will overlook Ayr High Street and will offer a more convenient location for all landlords and tenants. 

We will have a new window area to advertise our properties so feel free to pass by at anytime to see what is available.  If something is of interest to you them please come in and speak to a member of staff who will be happy to help you. 

Our new address from the July 14^th will be 4 Carrick Street.

Further details to follow soon.

What is LHA?

LHA is a new way that HB will be paid.  It uses a flat rate allowance based on the size of the tenants household, and the area of the property.

When does it start?

From the 7^th April 2008

Does it affect existing tenancies?

No, only new claims starting after the 7^th April 2008

Who will it be paid to?

LHA will be paid direct to tenants.  Only in exceptional circumstances will it go to the landlord. These are: When there are excess of 8 weeks rent arears, when the tenant is viewed as ‘vunerable’  and for tenants who are unlikely to use it to pay their rent.

What if I need further information?

As a landlord, you may be affected by this change.  Please contact Homesure for further information on this topic as the above is only a brief insight and changes are significant.

Inside Track, who specialise in providing buy-to-let seminars, have been the bext casualty of the ‘credit crunch’

A over-supply of flats in UK town centres led to falling resale values and rents not meeting expectations, which eventually led to lenders withdrawing mortgage financing from new-build apartments in 2005.

A spokesperson for the company said it was placed into administration because of sustained difficulties arising from the credit crunch. Back in 2005, Inside Track made profits of £12 million, followed by £10.8 million in 2006 and finally £6.9 million last year.

Attendance figures for its courses had fallen dramatically and its last seminar attracted less than 12 people. As a result, it was announced that all seminars would be suspended. The company has seen a fall in the number of people who want to invest in the property market for the first time and that is understandable in the current climate.”

David Salusbury, chairman of the National Landlords Association, said, “Inside Track promised to make the UK a country of property millionaires, however, there is a real danger in encouraging such massive speculative investment in residential accommodation. Investors in residential property should be focused on the provision of affordable and decent homes over a much longer period of time and not just capital growth”.

Investors who own and rent out a second property need to be wary of the taxman, according to experts.

Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has started to clamp down on small investors who haven’t declared their rental income.

The Mortgage Works has warned that tax inspectors use stealth tactics to work out who owns the property in question and whether or not they have declared it. These tactics could include reviewing stamp duty records and talking to lettings agents.

According to the company, inspectors could even turn up at rental properties and ask for the details of the owner. So if you do have a property investment, it is advisable to declare it .

Accountants have advised that it is possible to legally reduce any tax bill from owning a property. Landlords should seek the advice of a good accountant before spending money. Legitimate expenses in running and maintaining the house, such as the cost of redecorating or putting in a new boiler, could be offset against income. See our tax advice page or contact Homesure’s recommended account who has many years experience with residential property accountancy.

Les McDonald

L J McDonald & Co

0800 781 9006