Melboy

I don't provide washing machines as I have mentioned a few times over the years past. Too much hassle. The thing is I have never had a problem with letting the properties out either in what must be 15 years or more since I stopped providing washing machines. The only concession I make is that I will install the washing machine they provide and I know that is an easy job 'cos all my w/m water / discharge connections are bang up to date thanks to my Son renewing them all to a high standard. 😀

Gas off Water off. Electric off...... if nothing electric is going to be affected within the property. No need to drain down CH systems in Summer. If you do, it can produce troublesome pipe / system airlocks when you come to the refill and system test. You will need to inform your insurance company as it will be vacant for more than 30 days. Essential to do this IMO.

My Sister in Law is a senior manager in the local DWP and she would tell you in a private conversation that the benefit system of social payments is so high now that for a lot of people and families it doesn't pay to work and pay taxes etc. Not only that the Black Market of working for cash in hand is now the choice for may people receiving social payments. You have all read in the national press about benefit fraud and the people who commit this and in some cases the amounts are staggering and the punishment fairly light if caught out. Meanwhile the working population pay for this through taxes and NI.

You need to set mouse traps to catch them and dispose of them. Mice reproduce every 6-8 weeks so it doesn't take long to be over-run with them. You cannot expect the tenant to pay for vermin damage under the sink. Mice are not concerned whether your property is clean or dirty as they will infest in either condition. You have to inform the tenant that detailed cleaning is required if, upon your property inspection, it is not up to standard. There is no easy way of doing this. Just inform them.

I was going to raise the topic of whether it was worth having Landlord legal cover including rent guarantee etc. etc. I did have it on one of my policies for one property for 5 years but I have now taken it out of the equation as the cost of Rent Guarantee Insurance etc. has tripled in cost to be added to the policy price. Only time will tell whether this was the right thing to have done.

Well, as this topic is raised what should come through the letterbox Saturday morning were my renewal quotes for 2 of my rentals. Yes, quite disgraceful rises in premiums two of which were 1. An annual increase of the premium to pay £188.69p and 2. £139.99. Both of these policies were with SAGA who I have been with for about 4 years because their quotes were always very competitive and excellent cover but clearly no longer the case. So, I went straight onto the internet to obtain quotes and it looks like I am back with Direct Line Landlord's Insurance again having left them 4 years ago! I have actually managed to save £300 on the two properties by moving to them to DL in March. Not an inconsiderable sum of money saved I would say. I do have other insurance policies which I shall be scrutinising very carefully when they are due for renewal.

My rental properties are all due in March as well. ( Mistake to renew ALL at the same time or a wise move? 😀 ) I am expecting a large increase in premiums as I have just had my own property insurance renewed and the the premium has jumped by £80 a year. I could not find any other insurance company that was cheaper than my quote renewal.

UK scraps ‘boiler tax’ after makers raise prices to cover any fines Well, that new Government tax didn't last long did it. 😄 Read all about it: UK scraps ‘boiler tax’ after makers raise prices to cover any fines (msn.com)

My Son told the tenants that the new uprated boiler would save them money on their gas energy bills which must also be factored into the "compensation" costs of having electric heaters for a day and a half. 😄 Seriously though they were very happy with the arrangements made to keep them warm on the UK's coldest day of the year so far.

I have just had an upgraded gas boiler installed yesterday on the coldest January day for 10 years, -6 degrees. My tenant had 6 weeks notice of this essential work to be carried out which, in the end, would provide them with enhanced heating and hot water and comfort and lower gas bills. Their "compensation" was 3 electric heaters (on loan) for the day and a half of inconvenience, not that they ask for or expected any "compensation".

As always. Fortunately I have never had to do an eviction through the Courts but I am of the opinion if I ever do have to I will employ a professional organisation like Landlord Action and just suck up the expense. So much hassle otherwise that I could do without.

How do you convince the Welsh people to not vote Labour though? The 20mph speed limits does help to change voters minds and their deplorable Labour run NHS and probably a few other things as well. Wales is definitely a split Country though with the West of Wales totally different to North Wales in virtually everything you can think of. It will be interesting to see how the Welsh do vote in the general election though. I should declare I am of Welsh descendants through my Grandfather hence my interest in Wales and many good holidays in Pembrokeshire over many years and I got to know some very nice Welsh people.

If the panels can be lifted out then it is probable that you have concrete posts. Your panels need to have a proper panel screw fixing on the inside into the post to stop the lifting out. Regards the kicking in of panels how do you stop that. Normally if there is pedestrian access to the side of your property a more robust fencing is required like vertical feather edge close board fencing and rail supports.

Follow up All registered heating companies and Worcester Bosch installers have now received official information regarding their new boiler tax imposed by the Government from January 1st. I have put it up for anyone interested in reading it. As my Son was saying the tax applies to any boiler already in stock which is a rip-off isn't it? My new replacement boiler for one of my rental properties is being delivered tomorrow all bought and paid for saving me an instant £120. My Son will install it at some point in the New Year I guess. He is absolutely maxed out with work at the moment. Ironic isn't it that everyone wants a new gas boiler installed and not heat pumps. https://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/professional/news/clean-heat-market-mechanism?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CHMM Installer - Excelerate - WAI&utm_content=CHMM Installer - Excelerate - WAI+CID_2b45fb1d5eb32070fb23142536395fd3&utm_source=Campaign Monitor&utm_term=Find out more

I thought this may be of interest to landlords and non landlords (like Richlist 😅 ) My Son has given me the heads up on this new Boiler Tax which, from trade suppliers, will be coming into force on January 1st 2024. He has been informed that it will apply to him as a registered VAT heating company and boilers will cost an additional £150. Didn't get this new tax info in the Autumn budget did we! Personally I have given my Son the go ahead to buy a new boiler for me now, tomorrow, to install later in a rental property where I have a 17 year old boiler coming up for replacement. Vaillant of course with their 10 year comprehensive guarantee. So here is the gist of what is about to happen from January 1st 2024 Article taken from "The Gas Installer Trade Magazine". The government has confirmed that the new Clean Heat Market Mechanism will launch in 2024. Heating Engineer Andy Gibbs gives his views on what it could mean for installers. A tax by any other name, is still a tax. The Government announced it will be going ahead with what it calls the Clean Heat Market Mechanism, or the CHMM. Let’s not beat around the bush with long-winded names, it’s a tax on boilers, so let’s refer to it as what it is, Boiler Tax. Let’s have a quick (if that’s possible) look at what it means for everyone. The Government set each manufacturer a target of how many heat pumps they must sell, dependant on how many boilers they currently sell that subsequently get installed. Just selling a load isn’t enough. And for every heat pump they fail to sell, they get fined. Searching around on social media, some were saying that can be up to £3000 each time, so that’s not a small amount. Now I’m crap at maths, so let’s use small numbers to keep it simpler. Boiler manufacturer A currently makes 100 boilers. Their target is 4%. So they have to sell 4 heat pumps. But sadly, they only sell 2. That’s a 6 grand fine coming their way. Now multiply all those numbers by a thousand. And the total they must pay in fines is vast. The targets increases over the next two years as well, which is lovely. So those are huge fines, and the manufacturer won’t simply just pay them, they’ll have to do something to recoup those losses. The easiest way to do this, as far as I can tell, is to pass the cost on where they can, and that means raising boiler prices. So each and every affected manufacturer could put up the cost of a boiler overnight, and that could be as much as £300 per boiler. That cost will come down the line to you as the installer, and then you’ll have to pass it to your customer. End of discussion on that part of the boiler tax. Now I wouldn’t mind so much if all those fines went back into the industry, to help with training new entrants, research or maybe funding those who just cant afford a heat pump. But are those fines going to do that or are they simply going to be popped in the Treasury coffers, and spent on HS2, Eat Out to Help Out, or parties in the garden at Downing Street? You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink. Ultimately, a manufacturer can make as many heat pumps as possible, but if there is no market to sell them into, they will be hit financially, and that seems unfair to me.