LIS Awards 2024 Review by Landlord Investor Magazine

THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 LIS AWARDS SPONSORS

CELEBRATING THE SHINING STARS OF THE LANDLORD & PROPERTY

INVESTMENT SECTOR

Wow, what can I say?

The return of the National LIS Awards on November 28th at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms was nothing short of stunning. The magnificent art-deco hall was packed with people from all corners of the property and investment sector celebrating our industry, some great work and most importantly the people. Ian Collins did a fantastic job of hosting and our comic for the evening, Judi Love, had the room in rapturous laughter. Brilliant work Judi and thanks for making all of our winners feel so special. The live music gave the evening a fabulous twist and again proved that award shows don’t have to be stuffy affairs, and that as a sector we really know how to enjoy ourselves. A huge thank you to the Masquerade Duo and Quike Navarro for adding such a flourish to the night. I could go on, but the pictures overleaf really do say it all. Finally, and most importantly, we’d like to thank all of our winners, nominees, sponsors, judges, entertainers, guests and staff for a truly spectacular evening.

Once again, thank you.

Autumn Budget, Key Takeaways for Landlords.

Reece Mennie Founder & CEO, HJ Collection

Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered the first Labour Budget in 14 years, announcing several new measures that will directly affect landlords.

Despite capital gains tax (CGT) remaining unchanged, the budget announcement saw stamp duty land tax (SDLT) raised on second homes from 3% to 5%, meaning some landlords could face difficulty when looking to expand their portfolio.

The increase means that, on properties purchased between the 24th October 2024 and 31st March 2025, SDLT will be significantly higher. Meaning if you are buying a second rental property that costs £300,000, you will have to pay a £15,000 SDLT fee. A substantial increase from the previous rate, which would have been £9,000 pre-budget.

Many people who may have thought that becoming a landlord would secure financial security may now be considering their decision with some trepidation. Especially given the everchanging storm of high interest rates, mortgage market uncertainty and cost-of-living crisis, they have already had to endure. Many will and have been selling up and leaving the rental market altogether.

This could be catastrophic for lowincome tenants, as the availability of rental properties nosedives, increasing demand, which in-turn would only drive-up rent bills, leaving many at serious risk of becoming homeless – the exact opposite of the “security and sustainability” that Rachel Reeves has set out to achieve.

The bad news doesn’t stop there. Landlords will see the IHT freeze end in 2030, which means in addition to the 2% rise in stamp duty, any decision to expand their property portfolio must be carefully considered.

Savvy investors are therefore exploring alternative property investments, which negate maintenance, tenant management or additional fees. Property bonds, for example, are a viable alternative to buy-to-let (BTL). Not only can they be asset-backed, meaning there are always underlying assets to generate returns, but they also yield some of the most attractive returns available to investors. Furthermore, they do not burden investors with the day-to-day hassles associated with directly owning a property. Put simply, property bonds offer the best of both worlds: appealing fixed returns with the peace of mind that comes with ‘bricks and mortar’.

Reflecting on this Budget, the government has missed a trick by not supporting landlords and incentivising them to invest in the property market. This will only exacerbate the a “landlord exodus”, a costly mistake that will only impact those who need rented accommodation the most i.e. families and those entering the job market.

Reece Mennie

Savvy investors are therefore exploring alternative property investments, which negate maintenance, tenant management or additional fees.

Property bonds, for example, are a viable alternative to buy-to-let (BTL).

Strikes Property Services: Celebrating 2024 & Looking Ahead to 2025

Jamie Bennett Account Manager, Strikes Property Services

Firstly, a huge congratulations to all the award winners and nominees at the Landlord Investment Show Awards 2024. The Strikes team had a great night – and were really proud to present not one, but two welldeserved awards.

Reflecting on 2024

What a year! I joined Strikes Property Services at the beginning of 2024 and have been so excited to see how we’ve grown and developed in such a short time. We’ve really enjoyed exhibiting at a number of events, including of course the National Landlord Investments Shows, across the country. In the digital age it’s always great to meet people in real life! This year has also seen the launch of our County Court and High Court eviction packages, which have been extremely well received by landlords and property management companies alike.

Of course, 2024 hasn’t been without its challenges. With one thing and another, it’s been a tough year for so many. We’ve been glad to be able to support so many landlords and help them to resolve their property disputes, quickly, legally and ethically. I’m a great believer that we can weather the storm if we pull together.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we look forward to 2025, I am optimistic. Here at Strikes we have some ambitious targets for growth. We have a clear vision for the year ahead, with several new initiatives and projects already in the pipeline. We’ll continue to get out and about across the country at shows – next year we’ll be adding UKREiiF to the itinerary in May! Our goal is to continue listening to you the landlords and expand our services and customer support, to ensure that you always feel valued and heard.

Strikes Property Services

Strikes Property Services is an endto-end property dispute management company, providing a full-spectrum service, with in-house legal experts, solicitors and enforcement agents. We take the stress out of dealing with any issues relating to property, by dealing with everything from paperwork to enforcement, and use the full force of the law to return property to the legal owners.

Thank you!

We’ve enjoyed getting involved with the Landlord Investment shows and awards and can’t wait to see what’s coming up next. Thank you once again for your continued support. We are incredibly grateful for your trust and loyalty. Stay connected with us as we embark on this exciting journey into 2025.

With one thing and another, it’s been a tough year for so many. We’ve been glad to be able to support so many landlords and help them to resolve their property disputes, quickly, legally and ethically.

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