By Admin Landlord 0 Comments

Council Tax for Landlords Explained

It used to be that, in most cases, landlords could avoid paying Council Tax on their rental properties altogether. However, due to changes in recent years, there could be times when you are liable for Council Tax so it is important to make sure you know where you stand. Here is a summary of the rules around Council Tax and rental properties.

When the property is filled

Section 6(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 shows that the liability for Council Tax falls on whoever is resident in the property. Therefore, tenants are responsible for paying Council Tax unless the owner of the property also lives in it. If there are no residents, liability falls on the owner.UK Council Tax for Landlords

Your residents may be eligible for discounts or exemptions from Council Tax, for instance if they are living alone in the property or if they are full time students, but it is up to the tenant to apply for these.

An exception to this is Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) where individual rooms are let out and residents are on individual tenancies. In these cases, the landlord is responsible for paying the Council Tax. However, classification of what constitutes a HMO varies between councils, so if you are in any doubt, contact the council your rental property is under to clarify.

When the property is vacant

Landlords used to be able to claim Council Tax exemption for vacant properties for up to six months. This was very useful as it meant that no extra costs were incurred when there was a gap between tenancies. However, from 1st April 2013, the system changed so that individual councils could vary their approach to empty properties.

According to the Gov.uk website, landlords will usually have to pay council tax on their empty properties, although some councils do offer discounts or even full exemptions in some cases. This means that landlords need to contact the council their property is under to find out how much, if anything, they have to pay – which will be quite an undertaking for landlords with a portfolio of properties across different boroughs.

There are still some exemptions for empty properties – for instance, if you are carrying out major refurbishments to the property while it is vacant you can contact the council regarding this and they will send you a ‘completion date’ from which you will need to start paying Council Tax.

It is also worth noting that if a property has been vacant for 2 or more years, councils can now charge 50% extra Council Tax. This normally wouldn’t affect landlords, but it is important to bear in mind if you are thinking of purchasing a buy-to-let property which has been vacant for a long time as not all councils take a change of ownership into account. Therefore, you could end up paying 150% of the usual Council Tax bill until you get tenants in.

If you are at all unclear as to whether you need to pay Council Tax on your rental property, or how much you need to pay, it is always best to contact the appropriate council for guidance.

By Admin UK Rubbish Removal Services 0 Comments

Rubbish Removal Has Its Benefits

While the vast majority of people would probably prefer not to spend a great deal of time in removing rubbish from their home or property, there are plenty of benefits that come from spending time keeping your home tidy. Putting in a bit of effort can bring big rewards but you’ll be glad to know that you can find a helping hand when it comes to keeping your premises clean and tidy. There is a lot to be said for keeping a tidy home and whether you need assistance in cleaning up or the rubbish removal process, calling on experts like Cenultra is always of benefit.rubbish removal

Cleaning offers a lot of satisfaction

There is no getting away from the fact that there is a great sense of achievement and satisfaction that comes from cleaning. The actual process of cleaning your home or property isn’t a lot of fun but by the time the project is complete, you will often feel that it has all been very worthwhile. Even if you just start with a number of small jobs, you will soon find that the small jobs start to add up and before too long, you will have a home that you are very proud of.

Cleaning up offers space

We can all benefit from having more space at home but this can often cost a lot of money to sort out. One way to create space at home without spending a great deal of money converting your property or adding an extension is through keeping your home clean and tidy. Clearing clothes away and making sure that all of your rubbish is properly disposed of is a great way to ensure that your home is spacious and making the most of its potential.

This is a tip that is often said when people are looking to sell their home but you don’t need to place your property on the market to feel the benefit of cleaning up and making more space.

Cleaning up can help relieve stress

In the modern era, many of us feel under stress and pressure, so anything which helps to minimise this feeling of pressure has to be seen as a positive thing. Different people deal and cope with stress in different ways but for a lot of people, cleaning up be very therapeutic, offering a way to bust some stress, while improving the look and appearance of your home.

Cleaning up offers some exercise

Okay, cleaning up your home isn’t going to fully replace a good workout but it can keep you active, providing you with a chance to burn off some calories and to boost your heart rate a little. This is never going to be the main benefit that comes from cleaning your home but every little helps.

Cleaning up helps you to feel in control

Again, the pace and pressure of modern life can make people feel as though they have no or very little control in life. This means it can be helpful to have something in your life that you feel as though you have control over, and this is why a lot of people clean their home on a regular basis. If you can keep control of your surroundings, you have the satisfaction of knowing that there is at least one thing that you are the master of. It may not sound like much but it is definitely something worth thinking about if you feel as though you want to be the master of something in life.

Cleaning up ensures that you can welcome guests at all times

If you have friends and family members that invite themselves around without prior notice or warning, you will want to ensure that your home is in good condition. Cleaning your home on a regular basis will ensure that no matter who pops by, your home will look great, allowing you to welcome guests with the greatest of confidence.

Of course, cleaning up your home is just one aspect, you also need to dispose of this rubbish effectively but help is at hand. The process of rubbish removal can be so much easier when you call on the experts for support. Cenultra offer a wide range of services aimed at helping people improve or maintain the condition of their home and rubbish removal is an extremely popular service.

When it comes to keeping your home in great condition and ensuring that it looks fantastic at all times, calling on the local experts for support will always be of benefit. If you are looking to make the most of your home, finding an expert to provide you with rubbish removal services will make your life a lot easier.

By Admin UK Locksmith 0 Comments

Finding A Good Emergency Locksmith

If you need a locksmith in a hurry, it is likely that you won’t have too much time to look at your options. If you are locked out of your home and you need to get in quickly, being able to find a reliable and effective locksmith becomes very important, and this is why knowing the best locksmith in your area to turn to is a great starting point.

Being prepared will help you make more out of life and you’ll find that taking the time to look for a good locksmith that provides an emergency service is good information to have. You will hopefully never have to call on the services of an emergency locksmith but if you do, you will be very happy that you took the time to know what is on offer for you.locksmith services

One of the first things you should look for when searching for a reliable emergency locksmith is third party approval. There is a lot of confidence to be found in hiring a locksmith that is approved by a respected body. Similarly, you should be looking to hire a locksmith that has qualifications which can be shown or proved. These are simple things but if you don’t see them when you are looking for a locksmith, you should move on and review another locksmith. When it comes to finding a suitable locksmith, you will find that this is a great starting place and it is why a lot of people like what they see from Cenultra.

The right professional will help you care for your home

Cenultra is able to provide a wide range of professionals that will help you to maintain the condition of your home. You should be able to find the best standard of support and guidance that you need, no matter what help you need at your home, but you will find our range of emergency services to be of particular benefit and interest.

When you are looking for emergency support, you really should be looking to call on a local firm as opposed to a national firm. This is because when you call on a local firm, they will be able to respond quicker and you will be far more likely to receive a professional that can be relied upon. National companies offer a range of benefits but depending on where you stay, you’ll find that they may actually subcontract the work to a locksmith. This means you cannot be sure of which locksmith will arrive or what sort of service you will receive. There is a level of peace of mind that comes from calling on a local firm with a well-known reputation in a particular area. This is why Cenultra are a good choice when it comes to finding an emergency locksmith because this is a company who is well known and respected in the local area.

A good quality locksmith ensures the job is completed effectively

It may be that the job can’t be fixed or resolved straight away, which means that the locksmith will need to carry out a temporary job and then return later to resolve the matter. When you choose a local locksmith, you will have more confidence of the locksmith being able to return at short notice and with the proper tools and equipment for the job. When you need fast and reliable repair work, you’ll find that calling on a local firm with a sterling reputation for providing reliable and affordable solutions is the best way to get your life back to normal.

If you are in need of an emergency locksmith, you are likely to feel stressed and under pressure. Whether it is your home, related to your work or some issue over security that is causing the problem, it is likely that you will not be in a fit state of mind to resolve the issue. Calling on a local professional that has dealt with similar issues on countless times will take some of the stress and responsibility away from you. The most important thing at times like these is to make sure that problems are resolved quickly, which is why turning to experienced professionals is always a sensible choice.

Cenultra offer a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week service, so it is a true emergency service. If you need help in a hurry, knowing that there is a local company with experienced professionals is a great comfort. Hopefully you will never need to call on the services of an emergency locksmith but if you do, calling on the right one will make your life an awful lot easier.

By Admin Sell 0 Comments

How The Right Christmas Decorations Can Help Your Property Sell

Christmas is just around the corner and one common pattern that people tend to follow is sell their house during the Christmas season. Property tends to sell on an average basis during Christmas season however if you have set up your house really well during the season, you can really sell your property well.

Estate agents will usually tell you that selling your house during Christmas is a nightmare if you haven’t dressed up your house well. This means oversized trees, cards hanging from the wall and other bad things put up on your house will not do you any wonders whilst selling your house. christmas decorations

There is a huge difference between a well decorated house and a not so well decorated house. A well decorated house tends to go off for a high price in the market whereas a poorly decorated house will not sell well. Thus it goes without saying that a well decorated house can really help in boosting your home’s image and help you get the money you desire for it.

A Kerb Appeal Will Do Wonders

Simple ideas go a long way when you are selling your property. For instance, a simple, basic door wreath can really give your house an instantaneous kerb appeal. There are several different styles and colors that you can opt for. You can even opt for your own. You can end up decorating a tree or bush in sparkling fairy lights. The nights get darker earlier and your house will definitely stand out with the magical glow. Another good idea is a seasonal hanging basket or window box as both work really well. Red berry plants also add an amazing color. Your house will definitely look well and bright during the dark, winter days if you go for these ideas.

Dress Your Hallway Up

If you are lucky to have a welcoming hallway, there are some great tips that you can follow. A hallway is usually the most central place of the house. Buyers usually pass through the hallway when they are purchase a house and imagine the amount of times the buyer will have to pass through the house, going from room to room. The hallway is the central place that integrates all the rooms and thus plays a significant role in shaping the overall look of the house. Thus, it is vital to dress up your hallway well if you want to get more for your property.

Another tip is to add garland to your stairs. You can decorate your hallway with some sparkling baubles that hang from a matching ribbon. Both of them go really well whilst dressing up your hallway. And why should you not go for festive candles and flowers. A console table placed in front of the mirror is another brilliant idea. The overall smell will then become appealing which will again allure a lot of potential buyers in.

Kitchen Plays A Vital Role

Make sure you never, ever neglect your kitchen when it comes to decorating your house. Buyers definitely, definitely look for the kitchen when they are buying property and thus the importance of setting up their kitchen is of vital importance. The best way about going with your kitchen is show it off as a space to conjure up a dinner fit to show it off as a king. Make sure your kitchen is a clean space for everyone as this will again add a lot of points to your property.

Fireplaces Are Crucial

Nothing beats the overall glow and sparkle of a real fire over the Christmas season. When I think about Christmas, the thoughts of roasting chestnuts come to mind immediately. If you are selling your house, why don’t you think about matching stockings full of Christmas or dressing up your fireplace with welcoming candles. Kids love fireplaces, parents love fireplaces and therefore the importance of a fireplace at home is very high. You must therefore set up your fireplace as it will add bonus points to your house and add to its overall worth.

Setting Up Your Christmas Tree

A lot of people make the mistake of setting up their Christmas tree big and large in thoughts that it will make their property look good. However, contrary to a popular belief, the tree does not have to be that big to make the overall house look beautiful. You must think about your room size and choose a tree that is in line with the overall house area. However if your house ceiling is big, tall trees are a good choice. On the contrary, as far as small spaces are concerned, semi trees will work well as they can be hung from the wall. The most significant thing about setting up your tree is that you must choose a color theme for it and then ensure that you stick to it.

Lights Work Magic

Lights never go out of fashion when it comes to setting up your house and therefore make sure that you lighten up your space bright. String tiny white lights all over the living areas to ensure that your room is bright and sparkling well. The whole house as a result will twinkle well with the overall feel and classic warmth of the holiday season.

Ribbons Are Good And Fancy

Ribbons are also really good for dressing up your house. The greenery is so messy so you must make sure that you make garlands of ribbons instead. They will stay really fresh throughout the whole season and they will again be a lot less expensive. The best ribbons there are, are wired kind of ribbons as they are the best for decorating your house. Use two colors around the stand of twinkling white lights to make your lights sparkle.

A well designed house with poor decoration will not sell well as compared to a poorly designed house with good decoration. The importance of therefore setting up your house well is crucial during the Christmas season as it can help you go a long way in improving the worth of your house.

By Admin Landlord 0 Comments

New buy-to-let stamp duty: How much will you pay? Explained

Buy-to-let schemes have always looked attractive to many landlords. In fact, landlords under a buy-to-let scheme get more value for money than the banks savings and funds we know, and of course, the scheme is safer than investing in the volatile stock market. For many years, some landlord have experienced decent returns however this is now about to change.

The news come as shock. In April 2016, an 3% increase in stump duty tax for buy-to-let investors will take place. In practical terms, this means that if you buy-to-let a property costing £350,000 you will pay £18,000 instead of £7,500 today (a tangible increase of £10,500). So that you understand this better, let’s look how it words today.uk buy to let tax april 2016

Today, in the buy-to-let model there is no stamp duty on the first £125,000 but a 2% tax is applicable on purchases on £125,000 up to £250,000. Anything above £250,000, a 5% tax is applied. And of course, purchases above £250,000, higher rates will apply.

To facilitate your understanding of the changes that are happening in April 2016, we have put this together:

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In practical terms this means the following:

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So can this be the end of buy-to-let investment? It all depends of course but there is nothing that can stop landlords from increasing their rents in retaliation to the April 2016 changes.

The logic behind this change is to stop landlords to come into the market because there is an ongoing crisis in Britain where people cannot afford their first home while others have homes to spare. Also, the implication of these changes impacts the landlords’ ability to offset their mortgage interest as they need to declare on rental incomes. With all of these happening, it is expected that we may see an increase in landlords selling their second home to avoid the surcharge in April 2016.

There are of course lots of debate on this topic but the changes are taking effect in 2016. Some people are questioning the definition of second home. For example, it is arguable that when someone bought their first home, they did not buy it with the intention to buy-to-let but as life goes on they have acquired their second home.

Inevitably, many people has tried to escape the tax man. This means that some landlords are still declaring their buy-to-let property as they own home and rent it out through some estate agent. But in the last few months, the tax man is recently targeting landlords on this “dodge scheme” and have now partnered with mortgage providers and banks. Even those landlords who have already paid years of mortgage, are now on the tax man list. In other words, today you are more likely to get caught out if you try avoiding tax.

There are still lots of questions to be answered but considering that the decision is already made, there is nothing much that can be changed at this point in time. Maybe, the best way to escape the 3% increase it will be to buy a caravan, mobile home or houseboats – as these will not suffer from the higher rates.
The take away from here is that if you are considering buy-to-let as an investment opportunity, it is important to act fast before April 2016.