Archive for the ‘Buy-to-let’ Category

London’s negative equity locations

Sunday, April 20th, 2008

The London postcodes at greatest risk from the housing crisis was revealed today by the Evening Standard. Tens of thousands of home owners across the capital will be plunged into negative equity this year if property prices fall by 20%.  People who have taken on huge mortgages compared with the value of their property will owe more than the building is worth.  The worst hit would be buy-to-let investors who tried to cash in on the housing boom, according to analysis obtained by the Evening Standard.  Below are the top 10 streets and London boroughs most likely to be affected.  Find out more at thisismoney.co.uk.

Top 10 London streets most at risk:
Calderwood Street SE18
Erebus Drive SE28
Queenstown Road SW8
Woolwich Common SE18
St Saviours Estate SE1
Glashier Street SE8
Greenhaven Drive SE28
St John’s Estate N1
Great Dover Street SE1
Borough High Street SE1

 Risk level by London boroughs:
london_negative_equity_map_small.jpg Click to enlarge

Taxman cracks down on landlords

Tuesday, February 26th, 2008

Tax authorities are stepping up their efforts to uncover any buy-to-let investors that have failed to declare their rental income.  Letters have been sent to landlords this week from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) requesting for clarification on their rental income.  Landlords will have nowhere to hide as HM Revenue & Customs can search the Land Registry, stamp duty records and lettings website to find rented properties.  Amateur buy-to-let investors are falling foul of the tax man because they need to declare their rental income even when a buy-to-let property has made a loss.
hmrevenuecustoms.jpg

Insurance reminder for Landlords

Wednesday, February 20th, 2008

Landlords are being reminded to value their properties accurately for insurance purposes.  Around 2.76 million properties are owned by landlords across the UK. They are currently valued at approximately £641 billion, up from £571 billion this time last year.  It is recommended that portfolios should be reassessed every two years to avoid the risk of underinsurance.  Meanwhile Halifax General Insurance is reminding all property owners of the scale of storm damage experienced across Britain last year.  Over 1.5 million homes had their roofs damaged by high winds and the value of claims resulting from water entering properties from a hole in the roof totalled £2.5 billion.  Storm damage appears to be on the increase in the UK and Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager at Halifax Home Insurance, warns: “homeowners without adequate buildings insurance cover risk finding a huge hole blown in their finances by the cost of repairs”.

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