Rents are to shoot up in the next five years, easily outstripping inflation, two major agency groups have forecast – but a poll of landlords has drawn very different conclusions. According to Savills, as a result of George Osborne’s tax changes the number of mortgaged buy-to-let investors is set to drop by one-third within two years. But a poll by Simple Landlords Insurance has found that only one-fifth of landlords… Continue Reading Thanks George! But will buy-to-let market really be so badly hit?

Unsafe gas appliances have been found in a fifth (21%) of privately-rented accommodation[i], leading Gas Safe Register to believe that more than 2.7million[ii] people could be living in dangerous housing.Investigation data spanning five years by Gas Safe Register reveals that gas heaters are the most dangerous appliance in rented accommodation, accounting for the majority (59%) of all unsafe appliances. Unsafe and Unaware A fifth of renters (19%) are unaware their… Continue Reading 2.7 million renters could be at risk from dangerous gas appliances

Almost half of private tenants wouldn’t be able to afford up to a 5% increase in rent, research has revealed. A YouGov poll by classifieds site The House Shop found that 42% of private renters would be unable to cope with even the smallest rise despite many landlords considering increases due to extra stamp duty charges and the end of mortgage interest relief. More than 1,000 renters and mortgage holders… Continue Reading The House Shop warns of ‘ticking time bomb’ in rental sector

A council has taken a landlord to court for failing to licence his two buy to let properties under its selective licensing scheme – but there has been no fine issued and only the council’s costs and a victim surcharge has had to be paid. Rotherham council took Simon Nicholls of Worksop to court but the landlord was given a conditional discharge at the Sheffield magistrates’ hearing. He was ordered… Continue Reading Prosecution – but no fine – over unlicensed buy to let properties

NEWS RELEASE Central Housing Group shortlisted for private rented sector Award London Residential Letting & Management Agency, Central Housing Group has been shortlisted as a finalist for 2016/17 in the ‘Agent’ category of the prestigious Landlord & Letting Awards. Mark Hutchinson, Director of PropertyNet.Media who organise the Awards, commented: “The Landlord & Letting Awards are the premier nationwide private rented sector awards in the UK, and it’s great to be… Continue Reading Guaranteed Rent Specialist shortlisted as Finalist at ‘Landlord & Letting Awards’ 2016-2017

Landlords beware, a third of tenants have stolen from rented property in the past five years. A poll of 2,000 adults by landlord insurer Direct Line for Business found tenants have removed items such as fridges, freezers, light fittings, televisions and even sinks. Tenants estimate that the overall value of items they had taken from a property stands at more than £500. Some of the reasons for taking items from rented properties… Continue Reading Research reveals a third of tenants steal from rented property

Research from June 2016 conducted by building society, Kent Alliance, found that 40% of landlords planned to raise their rents by an average of 5.6% within the next 6 months – with three quarters blaming new Government legislation for the increase. Research from the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) earlier this month also shows a majority of landlords planning to raise rents on their tenants, with 56% planning to do so… Continue Reading Worrying research finds a ticking time bomb in the PRS

Brexit impact on landlords The latest findings from the National Landlords Association have revealed that more than a third of landlords (35%) think that leaving the EU will have a negative impact on their ability to attract tenants in the future. The findings also show that 39% believe that Brexit will have no significant impact on their business; 21% are unsure; while five per cent believe it will have a… Continue Reading Brexit worries for 35% of landlords

New laws for private rental sector A trade body has accused some letting agents and landlords of “failing to get to grips” with several recent ‘New Laws’ in the private rental sector. The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks says that members frequently receive queries about new industry regulations, particularly those regarding carbon monoxide and smoke alarms and window blinds. Since October 2015 it has been mandatory for a smoke alarm… Continue Reading Trade body accuses agents of ‘failing to get a grip’ on new laws

Lettings expert Kate Faulkner says yields – a traditional long-standing measure of success for buy to let landlords – are becoming redundant as an indicator of a good investment. Faulkner – creator of Propertychecklists and a consultant to many rental sector organisations – says that thanks to slowing capital appreciation and modest rises in rents in many areas, yields appear to be improving. However, she says this does not take into… Continue Reading Yield no longer the key measure of buy to let success, says lettings expert

A new report from the Tenancy Deposit Scheme has found that redecoration issues make up 32% of all disputes, ahead of rent arrears (19%) but still behind cleaning (57%) and damage to fixtures and fittings features (51%). According to Imfuna, developer and provider of digital inventory app Imfuna Let, interior décor is a growing concern, causing the most confusion for agents, landlords and tenants at the end of a tenancy.… Continue Reading Redecoration issues continue to fuel deposit disputes

London-based property company, Experience Invest, rounds up the most important questions people need to ask when investing in rental properties in the UK. The rental market is one of the most lucrative ways to invest in the property sector. With over 4.5 million tenants in the UK at the moment, and more and more people choosing to live as private tenants rather than homeowners, there’s a captive audience for rental… Continue Reading Key questions to ask when investing in rental properties

A lender specialising in the private rented sector, issued a stark warning that house prices could plummet because of the government’s impending buy to let tax changes. The cumulative effect of the increase in stamp duty, tax relief and stricter mortgage application criteria will result in a downward trend of investment in the PRS, and this could cause a significant decrease in house prices. The mortgage interest relief that landlords… Continue Reading Danger of Serious House Price Fall Due to Buy-to-Let Tax Changes

The latest research by online agent, eMoov.co.uk, has highlighted the most unaffordable areas of the United Kingdom where the average house price to wage ratio is concerned. The research found that the average UK house price is eight times the average wage. eMoov compiled data for all London boroughs and each area across England, Scotland and Wales to calculate the most expensive versus economical areas for property when compared to… Continue Reading Most unaffordable areas to live in the UK revealed

A landlord has received a £5,620 court bill after he pleaded guilty to three fly tipping offences. John Hills – who ironically comes from Binbrook in Lincolshire – was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay other legal costs after rubbish from three of his rental properties was found fly tipped in a layby on the A46. Council officers investigated a complaint in October last year about a large amount of… Continue Reading Hefty fine for buy to let owner who dumped rubbish from rental flats

According to the latest TDS stats, property damage is becoming a growing problem for landlords and agents, now accounting for 52% of all deposit disputes and up 29% over the last four years. According to Imfuna, developer and provider of digital inventory app Imfuna Let, damage to property can lead to landlords being out of pocket. Only in June 2016, a landlord was faced with a £10,000 bill covering loss… Continue Reading Landlords urged to visit properties more to combat damage