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1083 articles
The importance of interim inspections in a long term let
Blog

The importance of interim inspections in a long term let

A long term let is advantageous for landlords in many ways. With an on-going tenancy, property owners can be assured of regular payments and potentially increase their capital as property values rise too. However, long term lets can carry risks, particularly if landlords rely too heavily on their tenants’ goodwill.  When properties are let to […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe July 28, 2020 4 min
Face coverings in the workplace – should you, will you?
Covid-19

Face coverings in the workplace – should you, will you?

We are literally just 2 days away from wearing face coverings in all shops and indoor public spaces. It’s not been a popular change in Government policy, but with the pandemic continuing to spread and coming ever closer to tipping over the R, it poses the question, should masks also be made mandatory in the […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe July 22, 2020 4 min
6 common issues property inspections can unveil
Blog

6 common issues property inspections can unveil

Property inspections are a vital element of every letting. Carrying out regular inspections serves to give landlords notice of any potential problems with the property or the behaviour of tenants and, hopefully, they can then be rectified before they become a bigger issue. We discuss the 6 most common issues a property inspection can unveil. […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe July 21, 2020 4 min
Recruiting Great Inventory Clerks – Your 5 Step Guide
Academy

Recruiting Great Inventory Clerks – Your 5 Step Guide

It’s been a busy start to ‘life after lockdown’ and with the lead up to summer gathering pace, many inventory providers and letting agents are now recruiting great, experienced and reliable inventory clerks and property inspectors. As we all know; recruiting great inventory clerks can be quite tricky and rarely straightforward.  Finding the right candidate […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe July 16, 2020 9 min
Periodic inspections – what should you be looking for?
Blog

Periodic inspections – what should you be looking for?

Periodic inspections of your property are just as important for landlords as the inventory check at the start of the tenancy. Done properly, a periodic property inspection or mid-term inspection, will help you to keep track of the state and condition of the property and allow you to have any issues put right before they […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe July 14, 2020 4 min
What are the pros and cons of inventory management?
Blog

What are the pros and cons of inventory management?

Inventory management is no longer limited to recording the physical state and cleanliness of the property and its contents at the time of the letting. Recent years have seen greater regulation of the rented property sector, necessitating careful management by landlords and those they instruct to manage their properties for them.  A landlord or agent […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe July 6, 2020 4 min
New Electrical Safety Regulations – Safe as houses?
Blog

New Electrical Safety Regulations – Safe as houses?

After much uncertainty around timings, the Government (MHCLG) has now confirmed how the new electrical safety regulations for landlords should be interpreted from June 1st, 2020. Confusion has surrounded the release, withdrawal and re release of the guidance documents that set out the new regulations. They require landlords to have the electrical installations in their […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe July 3, 2020 7 min
Defining standard wear and tear on a rental property
Blog

Defining standard wear and tear on a rental property

Landlords, tenants and those who manage rental property will be familiar with hearing and reading the term ‘fair wear and tear’. How many of us really know what wear and tear means, however? Why is it important to know what wear and tear means? An astute landlord will record the condition of the property, its […]

I Inventory Base July 1, 2020 4 min
UPRN – Track & Trace For Property
Blog

UPRN – Track & Trace For Property

As of the 1st July 2021, the Government opened up access to UPRN (Unique Property Reference Numbers) identifiers for every property in Great Britain. What is a UPRN? A Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) effectively provides every type of addressable location, including less desirable locations such as an electricity substation or bus shelter, with a […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe June 18, 2020 5 min
Inventory Reports: Are you pricing them right?
Academy

Inventory Reports: Are you pricing them right?

You’ve taken the first step at becoming an inventory clerk. You’re thinking about how your reports are going to look, who will buy them and how you will deliver them. But how do you price your inventory report? To understand what your reports are worth you need to understand the market you are investing your […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe June 12, 2020 4 min
New Electrical Safety Standards For Landlords Come Into Force In July
Blog

New Electrical Safety Standards For Landlords Come Into Force In July

In just eight weeks’ time, landlords in the private rented sector will see the start of new Electrical Safety Standards that they will need to abide by. The new rules come into effect in England as of 1st July 2020. In the first instance, rules will only apply to new tenancies, so there is no […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe June 3, 2020 4 min
Demand Rising For Pet-Friendly Rental Properties
Blog

Demand Rising For Pet-Friendly Rental Properties

Rental service Home Made has reported a huge jump in enquiries for pet-friendly rental properties – up 50% – in recent weeks as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The increase comes as many people have found themselves stuck at home in lockdown, with more time on their hands, longing for a companion. This change, […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe June 3, 2020 4 min
Housing market – a different industry for a different future
Covid-19

Housing market – a different industry for a different future

I often wish I had the same grasp of the English language as Stephen Fry. To be a compelling narrator as he is, to connect the heart and mind and verbally express what I want and need from this life, from my role in it and everything in between; now that would make for an […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe June 1, 2020 5 min
New Legionella risk to properties posed by Coronavirus
Covid-19

New Legionella risk to properties posed by Coronavirus

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted practically every aspect of our lives whether on a personal or professional level. With this, comes a very real and new concern over the spread of Legionella within the water systems of dormant properties. This adds to the already complex challenges and hurdles created by COVID-19, some of which we are […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe May 19, 2020 3 min
Safeguarding awareness – Every childhood is worth fighting for
Academy

Safeguarding awareness – Every childhood is worth fighting for

As an operational Governor working in Her Majesty’s Prison Service (1991-2011), I was responsible for an Offender Management Unit. We dealt with safeguarding, offender casework, their rehabilitation needs and also the families in joining up the cognitive therapies and probation case management to help offenders reintegrate back into society and the family unit. It was […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe May 19, 2020 5 min
Coronavirus Protection of Tenants Against Coronavirus is Agents’ Responsibility say Government
Blog

Coronavirus Protection of Tenants Against Coronavirus is Agents’ Responsibility say Government

With letting agencies now returning to work following the period of lockdown, the government’s advice to accompany the easing of coronavirus restrictions is designed to ensure that tenants’ safety is of paramount importance in this next stage of the pandemic battle. Tenants should be the top priority for letting and management agencies, and a new […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe May 18, 2020 4 min
InventoryBase Academy launches safeguarding awareness training in support of NSPCC
Press

InventoryBase Academy launches safeguarding awareness training in support of NSPCC

InventoryBase Academy prides themselves on delivering accessible training to help address key areas and topics relevant to inventory clerks, property professionals and the wider industry. Their latest course “InventoryBase Academy NSPCC Safeguarding Awareness Course” has now been released.  Property professionals interact with tenanted households on a regular basis – especially property managers and inventory clerks […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe May 18, 2020 3 min
Letting Agencies Get Back To Work
Blog

Letting Agencies Get Back To Work

People up and down the country watched with bated breath on Sunday evening as Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, addressed the nation with an update on the current situation with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic. But what’s in store for letting agencies? The public is desperate to know when things will ‘get back to normal.’ When […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe May 16, 2020 4 min
The Property Market reopens… too soon or on time?
Covid-19

The Property Market reopens… too soon or on time?

A note from Steve Rad, managing director of InventoryBase. What a roller coaster these past few months have been and I don’t see anything changing, in that sense, for a while at least. The shock announcement that the estate and lettings industry could reopen has been cautiously welcomed as many were and are just not […]

S Steve Rad May 15, 2020 4 min
Tenant Property Inspections – Is there a need?
Covid-19

Tenant Property Inspections – Is there a need?

Are tenant self service property inspections going to become the new norm as we emerge from lockdown? With the Government, quite rightly, highlighting the need for tenant safety both letting agents and landlords must make this their priority. That said; as inventory providers we too need to ensure that our working practices consider and help […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe May 14, 2020 5 min
InventoryBase release property reporting protocols for safe working during Covid-19
Press

InventoryBase release property reporting protocols for safe working during Covid-19

InventoryBase, providers of property inspection software, training and outsourced reports, were quick off the mark providing a social distance-proof solution for interim property inspections. The self-service reporting function was introduced, along with a tenant pre-check out facility – enabling inspections and reports to still be completed where necessary – both remotely and safely with no […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe May 14, 2020 3 min
Housing market starts up again but it’s not business as usual
Covid-19

Housing market starts up again but it’s not business as usual

It’s been less than 24 hours since the Governments guidance updates around the housing market hit the internet. The news has been eagerly anticipated but wasn’t expected to be delivered this quickly. The Property Eye website crashed from the sheer volume of link clicks as we all scrambled for the detail in anticipation of getting […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe May 13, 2020 4 min
InventoryBase Workstreams COVID-19 – Property Reporting Protocols (PRP) – Buyer
Covid-19

InventoryBase Workstreams COVID-19 – Property Reporting Protocols (PRP) – Buyer

When requesting reports as both the BUYER and SUPPLIER – this guide should be referred to in order to adhere to current Government advice around COVID-19 and Property Reporting Protocols. This guide seeks to offer advice on how to carry out property reports and inspections whilst aiming to reduce transmission of COVID-19.  Prior to submitting […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe May 13, 2020 3 min
InventoryBase Workstreams – COVID-19 Property Reporting Protocols (PRP) – Supplier
Covid-19

InventoryBase Workstreams – COVID-19 Property Reporting Protocols (PRP) – Supplier

When requesting property reports via InventoryBase Workstreams as both the BUYER and SUPPLIER – this guide should be referred to in order to adhere to current Government advice around COVID-19.  This guide seeks to offer advice on how to carry out property reports and inspections whilst aiming to reduce transmission of COVID-19.  Prior to accepting […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe May 13, 2020 3 min
Compliance & legislation

Compliance and legislation updates

Follow practical updates and explainers on legislation, housing standards and compliance-related inspection workflows.

Renters' Rights Act Damp and mould Awaab's Law HHSRS Building Safety Act Legionella Fire safety Deposit evidence Fair wear and tear
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