![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.benhams.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/battersea-power-station-1-300x200.jpg\")
1. Development of the year: Battersea Power Station, Nine Elms, SW8<\/strong><\/p>\nIn terms of size and grandeur, few London landmarks match Battersea Power Station, a truly imposing presence on the Thames waterfront. Superbly re-purposed as an elegant conglomeration of modern apartments, it is already attracting massive interest from corporate professionals looking for a home to rent in London. With an increasing amount of choice for tenants, it is important to make your property stand out. That said, there are things that can make a property stand out for all the wrong reasons. As a landlord, you may have to deal with many eventualities. One of the most worrying, although thankfully rare, is dealing with a tenant who is sent to prison. You probably won\u2019t see this coming so there isn\u2019t a lot you can do in advance to cover yourself but should the worst happen to your tenant, we can offer some guidance as to the steps you should take to protect your rental property \u2013 and income. While the London property market may be in a certain state of flux due to Brexit and stamp duty, there are still some things that are certain. It is the world\u2019s capital city with amazing historical attractions, world-renowned educational institutions and thriving business opportunities.<\/p>\n For these reasons, it is likely to always need good private rental properties for the professional<\/a>s and students looking to live and work here. In fact, PwC reports that 60% of the UK population will be renting by 2025 and in need of property to rent in London. The first thing we would say to tenants is \u2018don\u2019t panic\u2019! If a landlord dies the tenancy does not end. It becomes part of the landlord\u2019s estate, just like the landlord\u2019s other assets and after Probate has been granted it then passes\u00a0to the landlord\u2019s beneficiary\/beneficiaries who will become the new landlords. The gradual phasing out of tax relief for interest at higher rates of income tax entered its second phase on April 6th 2018. Previously landlords who were higher rate tax payers could receive relief at their highest rate of tax \u2013 40% or 45%. They could offset the interest they paid on their mortgage\/loan repayments against the income they received from rent payments before paying tax. Now, restrictions are being phased in so the amount of Income Tax relief all landlords can receive on residential property finance costs from April 6th 2020 will be restricted to the basic rate of tax \u2013 currently 20%. Ever wondered how some property investors just seem to shrug at the raft of financial and legal changes affecting the buy-to-let market. If you\u2019re asking what they know, the answer is these ten tried and tested property investment rules to help stay balanced amid times of change. Inheritance tax planning is a hot topic right now and particularly important for investors who own property as values have increased dramatically over the last couple of decades. Gifting property to children is a useful way to reduce your exposure to Inheritance Tax but there are important issues to consider before you decide whether this is the right option for you. For the purposes of this blog, we will assume that the property to be transferred is a buy-to-let property and not the individual\u2019s main residence as different rules apply. With news from accountancy firm Moore Stephens that 153 high street estate agents became insolvent between April 2017 and April 2018 and an estimate that a further 7,000 UK agents show signs of \u2018financial distress\u2019, it\u2019s becoming ever more crucial to choose your property agent wisely, and with due diligence. Non-payment of rent is one of the issues that, understandably, landlords worry about most. We have strict procedures in place to minimise any potential losses to landlords, if for example a tenant loses their job and cannot pay the rent. Effective communication lies at the heart of this and usually gives the best outcome, as we aim to work together to find an amicable solution. But if this fails and it becomes necessary to evict a tenant, it is essential to follow the correct legal procedures. So let\u2019s take a look, step by step, at what happens from the outset if a landlord finds out that the rent hasn\u2019t been paid. For more insight and expert opinion, be sure to sign up to our property alerts here<\/a> including details of our highly-popular Director trips and property seminars.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Happy New Year\u2026 2018 was an interesting year in property with changes to tax, Stamp Duty and Brexit speculation.\u00a0 A record number of landlords and property investors read our news pieces on the market, property law, taxation and investment opportunities.\u00a0 In case you missed any of our articles, they are all in the news section … <\/p>\n
\nLearn more<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Nightmare](\"https:\/\/www.benhams.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/shutterstock_393545656-200x133.jpg\")
2. Top ten issues that will devalue your London rental property<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nHere\u2019s the top ten things that can be off putting for tenants.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Unpaid](\"https:\/\/www.benhams.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/over-due.webp\")
<\/p>\n
\nRead more<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.benhams.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/shutterstock_66193588-300x199.jpg\")
4. Where to find the biggest discounts in the London property market?<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nRead more<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.benhams.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/grave-2036220_1920-1-200x133.jpg\")
5. What happens if your landlord dies?<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nRead more<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.benhams.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/money-2724245_1920-300x172.jpg\")
6. Changes to tax relief for residential landlords<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nRead more<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.benhams.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/shutterstock_591470369-300x200.jpg\")
7. Top 10 tips to get the best return on your property investment<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nRead more<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.benhams.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Gifting-home-300x198.png\")
8. Can I gift property to my children as part of my Inheritance Tax planning strategy?<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nRead more<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.benhams.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_146162636-300x200.jpg\")
9. Choose your property agent wisely<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nLast year, the UK\u2019s largest estate agency Countrywide were in the process of receiving a \u00a3140m emergency cash rescue package, showing that size does not automatically equate to financial stability. Similarly London\u2019s Foxtons experienced its first ever loss in 2018 of \u00a32.5 million according to their half-year results, after a downward trend in share prices which has lasted a year. From a buy-to-let landlord or property investor\u2019s perspective, there are a number of factors which should be reviewed prior to instruction. Here\u2019s our guide to choosing a good letting agent.
\nRead more<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.benhams.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/iStock_000007600187Small-199x300.jpg\")
10. My tenant has lost his job and can\u2019t pay the rent. What should I do?<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nRead more<\/a>.<\/p>\n