RELOCATION BLOG
Do You Have to Pay Tax?
When renting a residential property in the UK, the tenant must pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) if the rent is over a certain rental amount in England and Northern Ireland, Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) in Scotland, or Land Transaction Tax (LTT) in Wales (as of 1st April 2018).
The value thresholds are £125,000 in England and Northern Ireland, £145,000 in Scotland, and £180,000 in Wales (as of 1st April 2018).
Landlords rather than tenants are to be liable for the costs of letting a property.
In his first Autumn Statement under May's government, Philip Hammond said, "We’ve seen these fees spiral despite attempts to regulate them." He went on to say that, "Landlords appoint letting agents and landlords should meet their fees."
This has caused a bit of stir for various reasons and the debate will continue long after the legislation is implemented, but what are the implications of this for tenants?
In the UK, most tenancies are created when both parties to the agreement, the landlord and the tenant, sign a tenancy agreement before the start of the tenancy.
However, there are some instances where a tenancy agreement does not exist, for various reasons. We recently helped a customer who relocated to the UK and found a property to rent from a private landlord who had chosen not to use the services of a letting agent in order to save a few quid. We wold usually only recommend taking a property through a letting agent but due to a dire lack of availability in the area, the customer had little choice.
The rights of a tenant in Dubai are well protected through the various rules and regulations announced.
However, when the ownership of the rented property changes (the apartment is sold), a tenant is unaware of his/her right.
In one case, AJ (name withheld on request), who had rented an apartment in Dubai Marina, was issued a notice by the property agent, on behalf of the new owner, seeking changes in the rent contract terms.
For those of you considering relocating to the UK, this provides information about the UK rental market, types of housing available, and utility and media information.
Please note that there is a lot of legislation involved in the UK lettings market, most of which is very out of date and inadequate, so be sure to speak to a property expert before you sign a tenancy agreement or hand over any money. Our Front Office Consultants and Personal Coordinators have a two-step validation process to make sure all tenancy agreements are legal and suitable for the tenant
There are many times when we are in need of a good letting agent, but not all letting agents provide the same level of service, so it will be up to you to decide whether it is worth your time dealing with the difficult ones. You may not have a choice depending on the size of the market you’re going for, but for the most part you should keep a few things in mind no matter what agent you’re working with:
If the end of your lease has come and you are ready to move out, you need to double check everything. One very important point you must look into is end of tenancy cleaning. According to official data, cleaning tasks are a leading cause for landlord and tenant disputes.
Normally you can hire a professional cleaning company for the job. That is definitely a good idea, as they will be able to utilise specialised gear and methods for the successful completion of the task. However, if for some reason you have decided to do cleaning yourself and not resort to professionals, you will do well to invest enough of your time and effort in the task, as it can make a big difference.
Serviced apartments are a fantastic alternative to hotels for relocation assignees around the world, offering tangible benefits to both the employee and the employer.
Skyline Worldwide's Business Intelligence Manager for the EMEA region, Abi Lucy, tells us about just a few of the advantages to using serviced accommodation when relocating and travelling.
There's been quite a bit of controversy surrounding the introduction of the right to rent checks, but whether or not you like the idea, the Government is forging ahead with it following what is claimed to be a rather unfruitful pilot of the scheme in the West Midlands.
Right to rent checks have been introduced as part of the government’s ongoing reforms to the immigration system and from 1 February 2016, all private landlords in England will have to make right to rent checks. This means checking that tenants have the right to be in the UK. It doesn't say a lot for the Border Agency, does it?
