'Buy-To-Let Is Dead', Say Landlords

The number of buy-to-let investors moving to commercial property has tripled in the past three years, experts say. Investors are fleeing traditional residential property and turning instead to shops, restaurants and offices as alternatives. There are now less than three months until mortgaged buy-to-let properties become subject to a new, tougher tax regime which will see thousands of landlords in danger of falling into loss-making territory. More than 100,000 landlords bought properties within limited companies last year - but many are now concerned that the Government might move to make these subject to tougher taxes too. Read more on the Daily Telegraph website.

Sheltered Housing and Hotels to Be Converted For Homeless Youths

Sheltered housing schemes and disused hostels are to be converted into accommodation for young homeless people as part of a new £41.5m scheme to be funded by the Department of Health (DoH). The programme, which is made up of £40m from the DoH and £1.5m from the CLG, will be split between two projects. Part will go to the Platform for Life programme, which will award capital funding to housing associations, councils and private sector developers that bid to convert unsuitable sheltered housing, commercial premises such as disused hotels, or family hostels into homelessness accommodation. The second share of the £41.5m will go to a new round of the Homelessness Change hostel upgrade scheme and will focus on improving health outcomes. There is no fixed split of the shared £41.5m fund, so bids will be considered on their individual merits. Allocations must be spent by March 2016. Read more on Inside Housing.

'Offices to Homes' Trend Creating Commercial Property Shortage

The number of offices being sold with development rights for conversion into homes is leading to a shortage of commercial property, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has warned. The trend is most apparent in London and the south but nationwide availability of commercial property is declining at an alarming rate. RICS says the lack of stock is pushing investors away from prime location and into ‘B’ grade commercial investments. In its latest survey of chartered surveyors, RICS reports that 49% of respondents said 'office to homes' activity was having a ‘moderate’ impact on the commercial market, while almost one in five said it was having a ‘substantial’ impact. Read more on the RICS website.

Criminalise Squatting In Commercial Premises, Say Tory MPs

It could soon be chucking out time at the Black Bull. The disused inn, around the corner from Chelsea's football ground in south-west London, has been occupied by squatters for two weeks. The landlord wants his property back and the Ministry of Justice says it is considering whether to criminalise the squatting of commercial properties.  Tory MP Mike Weatherley, who represents Hove and Portslade in East Sussex, has met the justice secretary, Chris Grayling, to press him on the matter.  Most squatting, he said, was not about homelessness, as it was carried out by "web-savvy and educated" young people. Guidance provided to the police already warned they should be careful charging people if "there are genuinely homeless people involved".  Read more on the Guardian website.