Leaks & Collapsed Ceilings
December 24, 2013
I was on Shaftesbury Avenue in London’s West End last Thursday night when the ceiling collapsed at The Appollo Theatre (pictured). A Transport For London Supervisor told me that over 60 people had been injured (total casualties later rose to 80), I was waiting at a bus stop and he advised me that routes were diverted. Like many, I was shocked that so many people were hurt and I wish all of those affected a speedy recovery. One of the factors in press […]
I bought at auction in early September this year and I paid a few thousand more than I wanted to. I was a bit irked, but I wanted a project, was ready to buy and decided that the brief period we’ve had since 2009 when you could get a bargain in some parts of London was well and truly over. Back in September, I bid on Lot 1 and unusually sat on the front row because I wanted to stay focus and didn’t […]
Sorry to bring doom and gloom, but my prediction that once established in Newham, selective licensing would spread like Japanese knotweed across East London is coming true. London boroughs of Islington and Hackney are both conducting reviews of the private rented sector and both held meetings this week at which the NLA were invited to present evidence on the future of the PRS in London. I attended the Islington meeting and Chief Executive Officer, Richard Lambert, attended the meeting in Hackney. Both are seriously considering […]
I did a piece for Channel 4 news recently about the government’s proposed landlord immigration checks. It was clear that the news team sent to make the film thought this was a cynical attempt by the government to pull in votes and turn us all into UK border police. I was ready to support the NLA line which is that if you’re a good landlord, you should be carrying out checks anyway and that this new regime will not be particularly onerous. My NLA colleague, […]
Earlier this year a close colleague made me a business proposition. His brother buys 3 bed 1930s houses and turns them into 7 lettable bedrooms by extending into the rear garden and converting the loft. Why don’t we join forces and do the same on a 50:50 basis, he asked? So I decided to give it some serious thought and spoke to three landlords I know who focus on HMOs.