Comments for Your HMO Expert - HMO Property Investing http://yourhmoexpert.com Sat, 19 May 2012 01:45:44 +0100 hourly 1 Comment on Who pays for the council tax in a HMO? by Joe Goodwin http://yourhmoexpert.com/2008/10/who-pays-for-the-council-tax-in-a-hmo/comment-page-1/#comment-12479 Joe Goodwin Sat, 19 May 2012 01:45:44 +0000 http://yourhmoexpert.com/hmos/who-pays-for-the-council-tax-in-a-hmo/#comment-12479 Hi I rent my property to a full time student and an unemployed person who had received Council Tax Benefits for a year before the council decided the property was an HMO. The advice given by the council has always been that a property is exempt from being an HMO if it is occupied by no more than two individuals. But they are now claiming that for the purpose of Council Tax it will be considered an HMO and I am responsible for the Council Tax. They have applied a 25% student discount but nothing for the unemployed tenant whose tenancy stipulates the tenant is liable for Council Tax payment. This appears to be nothing more than a recent innovation by the council to raise funds at the cost of even those who live below the breadline. I am due to appeal the decision. However any advice would be very helpful. Thank you. Hi I rent my property to a full time student and an unemployed person who had received Council Tax Benefits for a year before the council decided the property was an HMO.

The advice given by the council has always been that a property is exempt from being an HMO if it is occupied by no more than two individuals. But they are now claiming that for the purpose of Council Tax it will be considered an HMO and I am responsible for the Council Tax.

They have applied a 25% student discount but nothing for the unemployed tenant whose tenancy stipulates the tenant is liable for Council Tax payment.

This appears to be nothing more than a recent innovation by the council to raise funds at the cost of even those who live below the breadline.

I am due to appeal the decision. However any advice would be very helpful. Thank you.

]]> Comment on Ask Matthew Your Property Questions by Ram Chand http://yourhmoexpert.com/2008/06/ask-matthew-your-property-questions/comment-page-3/#comment-12448 Ram Chand Tue, 15 May 2012 17:35:56 +0000 http://yourhmoexpert.com/ask_matthew/ask-matthew-your-property-questions/#comment-12448 Hi Matthew thank you for the great site. I am looking for HMO finance of 70% LTV Are you aware of any lenders not requiring ownership of property for 6 months prior to lending. Many thanks. Ram Hi Matthew

thank you for the great site.

I am looking for HMO finance of 70% LTV

Are you aware of any lenders not requiring ownership of property for 6 months prior to lending.

Many thanks.

Ram

]]> Comment on Ask Matthew Your Property Questions by Joseph http://yourhmoexpert.com/2008/06/ask-matthew-your-property-questions/comment-page-3/#comment-12442 Joseph Mon, 14 May 2012 15:30:56 +0000 http://yourhmoexpert.com/ask_matthew/ask-matthew-your-property-questions/#comment-12442 Hi, I am a student and I have a few questions whilst I am flat hunting. Essentially, Me and 2 friends are looking for a flat to rent for the next academic year. We are looking for a 3 bedroom flat. If its only the two of us paying the rent and signed on the contract and essentially the third person is a visitor (not paying rent/amenities) do we still need to be searching for flats with HMO's ?? I dont know if you know but all the flats with HMO are somewhat...substandard to those without. Thanks Joe Hi, I am a student and I have a few questions whilst I am flat hunting.

Essentially, Me and 2 friends are looking for a flat to rent for the next academic year. We are looking for a 3 bedroom flat. If its only the two of us paying the rent and signed on the contract and essentially the third person is a visitor (not paying rent/amenities) do we still need to be searching for flats with HMO’s ??

I dont know if you know but all the flats with HMO are somewhat…substandard to those without.

Thanks

Joe

]]> Comment on Who pays for the council tax in a HMO? by Teresa http://yourhmoexpert.com/2008/10/who-pays-for-the-council-tax-in-a-hmo/comment-page-1/#comment-12402 Teresa Thu, 10 May 2012 14:20:07 +0000 http://yourhmoexpert.com/hmos/who-pays-for-the-council-tax-in-a-hmo/#comment-12402 Hi MAtthew, i was renting in a house of a friend's friend and was told the council tax was included in the rent, and that the only thing to pay separately was the electricity which was in the form of a top up key. I paid all rent always on time and didnt have any problems with the landlord. All of a sudden, he demands I pay council tax for the past 3 years that i lived in that house. I declined as I thought it was unfair as all this time I thought i had been doing that, and on top of that other people before me never payed either. We didnt sign any contracts and it was all verbally done. I just want to know my rights , should I pay the council tax or should tha landlord pay it? thank you! Hi MAtthew,

i was renting in a house of a friend’s friend and was told the council tax was included in the rent, and that the only thing to pay separately was the electricity which was in the form of a top up key.
I paid all rent always on time and didnt have any problems with the landlord. All of a sudden, he demands I pay council tax for the past 3 years that i lived in that house. I declined as I thought it was unfair as all this time I thought i had been doing that, and on top of that other people before me never payed either. We didnt sign any contracts and it was all verbally done.
I just want to know my rights , should I pay the council tax or should tha landlord pay it?
thank you!

]]> Comment on Ask Matthew Your Property Questions by Matthew Moody http://yourhmoexpert.com/2008/06/ask-matthew-your-property-questions/comment-page-3/#comment-11850 Matthew Moody Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:06:34 +0000 http://yourhmoexpert.com/ask_matthew/ask-matthew-your-property-questions/#comment-11850 hi Robert, just because its a HMO doesn't meant to say it needs licencing. Licencing is for specific types of HMO;s - ie 3 storeys or certain types in large university towns. You can find out from the council if it needs licencing by ringing them up. But sounds like as long as it has a fire system and fire doors in and its a 2-storey building that it should be ok. But always check with the local council. hi Robert,
just because its a HMO doesn’t meant to say it needs licencing. Licencing is for specific types of HMO;s – ie 3 storeys or certain types in large university towns.

You can find out from the council if it needs licencing by ringing them up. But sounds like as long as it has a fire system and fire doors in and its a 2-storey building that it should be ok.

But always check with the local council.

]]> Comment on HMO Regulations In A Nutshell by Matthew Moody http://yourhmoexpert.com/2008/09/hmo-regulations-in-a-nutshell/comment-page-1/#comment-11849 Matthew Moody Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:05:24 +0000 http://yourhmoexpert.com/investing_in_hmo/regulations/hmo-regulations-in-a-nutshell/#comment-11849 hi James, typically the fire officers are looking for a protected route out of the building. SO would want to see call points on each floor and a fire system and a staircase that is protected to at least 30 minutes fire resistance. As to fire escapes - do you see them on brand new 20 high towers nowadays? Not generally but give your fire service a call to ask their advice. hi James,
typically the fire officers are looking for a protected route out of the building. SO would want to see call points on each floor and a fire system and a staircase that is protected to at least 30 minutes fire resistance. As to fire escapes – do you see them on brand new 20 high towers nowadays? Not generally but give your fire service a call to ask their advice.

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