Build to Rent sector set to expand

Purpose-built Build to Rent housing is only a recent concept, with just over 51,000 dwellings completed across the UK as of Q3 2020. This equates to only around 1% of the total Private Residential Sector stock. In Q1 2020, a large number of schemes completed, driving up the volume of operating units by 42% on […]

Halifax: Confidence in housing market declines

On an annual basis, 27% of households believe that their property will have increased in value by November next year compared to 16% in May. In contrast, 18% think that their property’s value will be lower in 12 months’ time, down from 34% in May.   Click on this link to go to the original […]

Rent rises fall for second consecutive month

The latest data and analysis of the UK Private Rented Sector by ARLA Propertymark has revealed that the number of tenants experiencing rent increases fell for the second month in a row and is now 13% down against the same month last year. According to the figures, just 37% of agents witnessed landlords increasing rent […]

PRS regulation – could more authorities follow the lead of Westminster?

Back in September, Westminster Council launched a new strategy to help ‘protect tenants’ and ‘ensure they live in good-quality and well-managed properties’. The London authority has the largest number of privately rented properties in England (52,700), accounting for 43% of its total housing stock.   Click on this link to be re-directed to the original […]

Government has “sympathy” for landlords – but no assistance

The Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, says the government has sympathy for the plight of many landlords during the Coronavirus crisis. However, there is no indication of any change in legislation or financial help for the sector.   Click this link to go to the original article.    

Thousands of low-paid renters to be hit by housing benefit freeze next April

The government is slashing housing benefits by hundreds of millions of pounds a year – in a blow for some of the lowest-income households. Low-paid tenants will no longer see their housing benefits rise next year, according to changes confirmed in the Spending Review small print.   Click here to be re-directed to the original […]

How is coronavirus affecting house prices?

The UK property market has enjoyed a mini boom since reopening after the lockdown, but doubts remain over whether house prices will continue to rise once the government’s stamp duty cut ends next April. Here, Which? explains what’s happening to house prices and provides advice on making an offer on a property in these uncertain […]

Manchester the top BTL investment hub as hidden gems found UK-wide

Manchester has topped the list of the best areas for landlords to invest in, according to Aldermore’s ‘Buy to Let City Tracker’. The tracker assessed five key indicators that impact desirability – average total rent, short-term returns through yield, long-term return over 10 years, the lowest number of vacancies as a proportion of total housing […]

Shock! Most tenants like renting their home and get on with the landlord

A survey of over 2,000 tenants by a specialist buy to let lender shows that contrary to the popular belief, most tenants like renting and appreciate the property they call home. Paragon Bank’s UK Tenant Report 2020 shows that contrary to the perception of reluctant renters, over half (54 per cent) state that renting either […]