Buy to let landlord fails ‘fit and proper person’ test
A landlord who has almost 40 properties in Scotland has had four of his HMO licences revoked after failing an Edinburgh City Council ‘fit and proper’ person test.

Mark Fortune, aged 41, of Barnton, Edinburgh, faced accusations of bullying council officers, tenants and letting agents when city councillors met recently.

They considered the evidence in a council report which said: “The applicant has consistently acted in an aggressive, abusive and threatening manner not only in his dealings with council officers, but with tenants of his properties and residents and managing agents of properties neighbouring his.”

However Mr Fortune, told the local media in an interview that he intends to fight the ruling and will be taking his own legal action against Edinburgh City Council.

He had previously launched an appeal against another refusal to grant him another HMO licence by the council as he claimed he was unaware of the hearing.

A council spokesman said: “The council’s enforcement team have had serious concerns regarding Mark Fortune’s behaviour and fitness as a landlord over the last few years.”

The authority is taking steps to ensure Mr Fortune is no longer letting the four properties in question as HMOs. His tenants may be put into temporary accommodation.

Tenants invited to nominate the UK’s Best Landlord
A lettings and management agency has launched the UK's Best Landlord Awards to reward the best landlord from across the country.

Corporate Homes is accepting entries from tenants who think their landlord has what it takes to win the UK's Best Landlord 2010 award.

“We are looking for those extra special landlords. Maybe they walk your dog, or feed your cat when you are away, maybe they have fitted a hot pool or a Jacuzzi in your garden, or maybe they have just been a really good friend,” said Kemi Lamiyan, co-founder of Corporate Homes.

The deadline for entries is 15 May 2010. Corporate Homes will pick 20 finalists from nominations received and the public will vote for the winner.

The UKs Best Landlord will be announced on 19 July 2010 and rewarded with a luxury break for two. The tenants who put the winning landlord forward will win a choice of a new wide screen TV or a Wii Console with Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort for everyone in their accommodation to enjoy.

“This award is long overdue. There are some superb landlords out there who go the extra mile to make their tenants feel at home. They are a shining example to us all and they deserve to be recognised.”

Tax increases on holiday home property
investments abandoned by government
In a surprise u-turn, the Government has dropped the removal of tax relief on Furnished Holiday Lettings (FHLs) which was one of several tax increases in the Budget, due to be enacted before Parliament was dissolved prior to the General Election on 6 May.

Also dropped was a 50p per month tax on each business phone line, which was to fund the expansion of the broadband network across the UK.

The tax increases were abandoned after negotiations to fast-track the Finance Act through Parliament ahead of the May General Election.

The Conservatives refused to sanction the fast-tracking of the legislation unless these changes were dropped.
Jonathan Bramwell of Prime Purchase said: “This is a surprise boost for the country market as many of our buying clients were aware of the tax advantages attached to holiday letting properties that often formed part of an estate or larger country house that they were considering acquiring.

“Similarly, as many buyers also intend to run all or part of their business activities from their country house or estate, the dropping of the phone tax removes another impediment to acquisition, albeit a small one”.