Science fiction writers would have us believe that it won’t be long before we are all subjects of intrusive surveillance systems designed to infiltrate every corner of our lives. Indeed, we are halfway there already, with CCTV on every street corner. But in a disturbing development, some landlords are using smart surveillance technology to harass […]
Figures released by the Ministry of Justice, which are based on a median measurement, show that routine repossessions (i.e. when a landlord wants their property back to sell it or so they can move back in) are taking longer than ever. In the first quarter of 2019, the average wait for a repossession claim to […]
Student lets are a popular business model for more experienced landlords. The UK is blessed with a world-leading higher education system and young people from overseas are queuing up to go to a UK university. Student tenants offer a lot of advantages to landlords, but there are also some disadvantages, as we are about to […]
Many landlords are struggling as the government’s tax squeeze increases and some are deserting the buy to let sector altogether. It is no longer as easy as it once was for landlords to make a lot of money from buy to let portfolios, particularly in cities like London where property values are high and rental […]
Research carried out by the Residential Landlords Association has revealed that 25% of landlords are planning to sell at least one property next year. Experts are warning that if this happens, the supply of rental properties in the UK will fall, which will push rents up. They predict that rents will rise by approximately 3% […]
If you’ve read this blog before, you’ll know there is no shortage of rogue landlords trying to save money by not investing in their properties. Some manage to get away with it, but a Cornwall landlord is counting the cost of failing to fix a catalogue of problems with his rental property.
Last month, Minister for Housing, Heather Wheeler, made it clear that she intended to tackle the issue of “banning DSS tenants”. Despite this, it is still common for ads to contain the words “No DSS”. Indeed, the UK’s biggest landlord, Fergus Wilson, is infamous for banning DSS tenants from his properties, along with many other […]
Most landlords don’t expect to be sued by their tenants, especially if the property they let is in good condition and the tenants have no cause to complain. But in a salutary tale published on the BBC3 website, four tenants took their landlord to court and were awarded £15k of their rent back.
The holiday buy to let sector is booming. Thanks to sites like Airbnb it has never been easier to find tenants for short-term accommodation. It’s a highly competitive business, but if you own a nice property in a popular area, tenants won’t be in short supply. But despite the obvious attractions of letting properties out […]
In what could be the biggest change to the Private Rental Sector for many years, the government has announced it is consulting on whether to make fundamental changes to Section 21 notices. If the changes go ahead, landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants without providing a very good reason. The government claims […]
We still don’t know for sure whether the UK will leave the EU with a deal. In addition, many landlords are unsure of whether they can continue renting properties to EU citizens.
A Nottingham letting agent has some great tips for landlords hoping to maximise their investment returns. Adam Kingswood, director of a large letting agency in one of the UK’s top university cities, says the key to success is to provide a safe, nice property that tenants can treat like a home.
Tenants are being warned not to hand over money in ‘advanced fees’ to landlords at the start of a new tenancy. The National Landlords Association reported a rise in tenancy scams, which target desperate tenants seeking somewhere to live. The NLA says some scammers even have the audacity to use NLA branding on their marketing […]
Tough new energy efficiency legislation has now come into effect in the private rental sector and one in three landlords are saying they can’t afford to make the necessary improvements. Any property rated F or G in the Energy Performance Certificate ratings needs essential improvements that lift it to at least an E rating. Unfortunately, […]
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