Property Tribes UK Update 22nd December, 2014

Welcome to our "Landlord Enlightenment" newsletter, full of trending topics and landlord learning!

Hopefully you are now winding down and starting to relax for the festive season .... This email is sent to you from our storm-ridden motorhome on the beautiful Isle of Skye in Scotland where we are spending our Christmas and New Year!

One of our favourite sayings this year was "The more you learn, the more you earn!". ~ Steve Bolton

We are therefore proud to present the Property Tribes Essential Book and Reading list - a community-generated list of the most valuable and inspirational books for property investors. Why not use Christmas and the New Year to read up and inspire yourself to get 2015 off to a flying start:

Property Tribes Essential Book and Reading List

Community project:

We are creating a community-generated list of how different councils around the U.K. treat empty properties with regards to council tax.  We would be most grateful if you could add your council's policy to the thread:

Council Tax exemptions - empty and substantially unfurnished properties

Featured content:

How well do you know the person who owes rent to you?

HMRC disappointed at tax collected from landlords in 2014

Update tenant utilities in a few clicks with this free new service - New Occupier 

Important new decision from Court of Appeal on tenancy deposit protection post Superstrike

DWP release details of latest areas for Universal Credit roll out 

Welsh landlords to take on joint liability for tenant's water debt from January 2015.

Latest and trending topics: 

Russia and China - affect of their economies on the U.K. property market? 

Christmas no longer the time to buy, it seems ...

Older homes face PRS ban

Tenant with increasing mobility problems asks for property to be adapted

Property Tribes member shares his latest refurbishment project - a derelict bungalow transformed!

Unwanted HMO guest - advice please

Rightmove No.1 business on google searches for 2014

On the Market - have you heard of it?

My property predictions for 2015

Most popular discussions on Property Tribes in 2014! 

Trouble in Birmingham? 

6 bed HMO vs. 5 bed HMO

Advice needed for unwanted guest in HMO

Welcoming Brooklands Commercial Finance as a sponsor of Property Tribes. 

RITA "Once Upon A Tax" series of articles for landlords to understand the basics of landlord and property tax:

If you are posting your self-employed tax return on-line, then you must have it completed by 31st January 2015.

Leading up to this important date in the landlord's calendar, earlier this month saw the launch of our "Once Upon A Tax" series, produced in conjunction with our tax partner Rental Income Tax Advisors, or RITA for short.

RITA has produced 10 guides to property and landlord tax to help landlords get to grips with their tax affairs and understand the basics.

Part 1 - I'm a new landlord - where do I start? 

Part 2 - Getting the basics right

Part 3 - What to do if you owe tax or are due a refund 

Part 4 - Coding notices and their relationship to self assessment

Part 5 - Payments on accounts 

Part 6 - Self assessment return 

Part 7 - Insurance and repairs

Part 8 - Other expenses

Part 9 - Wear and tear

Part 10 - Final considerations

Your community news:

Our special tax series from our tax partner, Rental Income Tax Advisors, is now complete. Catch up with all 10 parts:

Once upon a Tax - a new series of property and landlord tax basics from RITA.

Spotlight on a Tribe:

Our Property-a-holics Tribe (General Discussions) is powered by the lovely people at Northwood Lettings.

Northwood have over 80 branches across the U.K. and have been providing their market-leading Guaranteed Rent service for over 18 years.

Northwood have just launched a new free guide and checklist for landlords:  How to choose a professional lettings agent.  Download it >>> here.

Find your nearest Northwood branch >>> here.
 

Spotlight on a Sponsor: 

It's thanks to our sponsors that Property Tribes remains a free to use community resource.

We are always grateful if PT members could consider using the services of one of our sponsors.

Our Financing Tribe is powered by Shawbrook Bank who provide specialist products for landlords and property developers. These can only be accessed by intermediaries, including our new sponsor Brooklands Commercial Finance.
 

Thank you for your time reading our newsletter and we look forward to welcoming you to Property Tribes very soon.  Always something new!  Always something you!