How to get your tenancy deposit back – and what to do if your landlord refuses you
Nearly a fifth of tenants renting from a private landlord say they have waited more than three months to get their deposit back Finding the cash for a hefty deposit on a new rental home can be a major barrier to moving in. But it’s even worse if you don’t get it all back at […]
‘Shameful’ banks stop landlords renting to benefit claimants
With growing numbers of benefit claimants now relying on the private rented sector, the Residential Landlords Association is going up against government to end “shameful” banking practices that prevent property rental to them. The RLA says such practices are so entrenched in buy-to-let lending policies that they now need “urgent action” to address. Research carried […]
Almost two million landlords will increase portfolios next year
Almost 80% of landlords plan to increase their portfolios over the next 12 months, equating to 1.95 million investors, investor forum and advice website The Property Hub has found. It revealed that the vast majority of landlords will buy at least one more property in 2019 while a massive 70% say even a no-deal Brexit […]
Generation Rent tries to hoodwink policymakers
On Tuesday Generation Rent published a paper by its Director, Dan Wilson Craw. He proves – to his own satisfaction at least – that the Law of Supply and Demand does not apply to the UK’s private rented sector. The paper is called “Do measures that discourage buy-to-let investment increase rents?” He claims they don’t. […]
Luxury student accommodation – A new market for property investors
As a property investor it is vital to look for the next trends and explore new markets. One of the most popular new markets to be aware of is luxury student accommodation. If you have an inward groan when you hear the word student accommodation, you will be pleased to discover that 21stcentury students have […]
Licensing scheme bags £5m in ‘lost’ council tax from buy to let sector
Since one London local authority introduced private rental sector licensing in 2013 an extra £5,002,203 in council tax has been collected from landlords renting out HMOs. Newham’s licensing originally began five years ago but was forced, by government, to re-launch from scratch in March this year; since its restart it has processed and issued over […]
BTL landlords accused of being involved in a ‘billion-pound scandal’
The government is being urged to take action to clampdown on landlords that fail to protect tenants’ deposits in an approved scheme. Recent research from comparethemarket.com suggested that around a third of landlords have not placed their tenant’s deposit into a government-backed deposit tenancy deposit protection scheme. This equates to in the region of £1.2bn […]
Bricks and mortar account for only 59 per cent of a property’s market value
New analysis1 from Direct Line SELECT Premier Insurance reveals the huge gulf between the cost of building a house and its market value. With two fifths (41 per cent) of a property’s value (approx. £114,000) derived from factors such as; the quality of local amenities, transport links and schools, as well as demand for homes […]
New fines for landlords who let out unsafe, overcrowded or tiny rooms
Landlords who let out punishingly small spaces the size of a converted cupboard to desperate renters face unlimited fines as part of a new crackdown. From this month people who live in unsafe and overcrowded houses will enjoy greater legal protection. This summer there was outrage when a “modern small self-contained studio flat in the […]
Time for industry to show its teeth over Rightmove fee hikes – and here’s how
I do not think I need to restate the scene with regard to the current debate about Rightmove. They have, through the arrogance of their belief in the supremacy of their brand and subsequent price rises, managed to alienate agents of all sizes. The crucial point is I think to consider where the real power […]