Blog

Insights for modern property reporting

Explore practical articles, product updates, industry guidance and expert commentary for inventory providers, letting agents, property managers and residential property teams.

Stay informed on property inventories, inspections, compliance workflows, reporting best practice, AI-powered reporting and the future of residential lettings operations.

Explore Latest Articles View Guides Visit Compliance Hub
All Blog Academy Press Landlords Announcements Covid-19 Guides

Latest from the blog

1083 articles
Liverpool: an opportunity for buy-to-let investors
Blog

Liverpool: an opportunity for buy-to-let investors

Famous for its extensive industrial history, world-class Premier League football and acclaimed music scene, Liverpool has experienced a major overhaul, making it the perfect opportunity for buy-to-let investors. Located in England’s North East and crowned 2008 European City of Culture, Liverpool’s population continues to grow and experience regeneration as a result, and it is now […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe October 8, 2018 3 min
Potential tenants warned of renting scams
Blog

Potential tenants warned of renting scams

Threshold, a housing charity in Ireland, has warned potential tenants to exercise caution when replying to advertisements for rental properties, in order to not fall victim to rental scams. Vulnerable tenants such as young, inexperienced renters and students are proving especially vulnerable in lettings fraud in their attempts to secure appropriate rental properties. Scammers are […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe October 5, 2018 3 min
Four easy ways to boost tenant satisfaction
Blog

Four easy ways to boost tenant satisfaction

The private rented sector (PRS) is often complacent when it comes to customer and tenant satisfaction. In a turbulent and changing lettings landscape, the best landlords and letting agents are focusing on tenant retention as the key to flourishing in the lettings market. The tenant demographic is constantly evolving, and similarly, so are tenant requirements […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe October 4, 2018 3 min
£5,000 fine for landlord found guilty of safety failings
Blog

£5,000 fine for landlord found guilty of safety failings

A UK landlord has been ordered by the courts to pay more than £5,000 for admitting to failings in safety within a rental property in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. Landlord, Lawrence Connors, of Hitchin Road in Arlesey, appeared before Magistrates in Stevenage, and accepted in court that he had neglected to follow regulations in fire safety. The […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe October 3, 2018 3 min
Investment property landlords are selling up, claims Belvoir
Blog

Investment property landlords are selling up, claims Belvoir

According to letting agency Belvoir, there has been a large rise in the amount of investment property landlords selling their rental homes, as well as a significant decline in the number of people becoming investors in the PRS (Private Rented Sector). Belvoir also reports that the reasons behind landlords leaving the market is primarily down […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe October 2, 2018 3 min
Lettings sector set to recover but not for three years
Blog

Lettings sector set to recover but not for three years

A new study has revealed the forecasts for the buy-to-let market and hints at bad times ahead for investors, landlords and agents until 2021. After three years, it is predicted that the market will stabilise, and return to growth for the following two years, up to 2023. The study was commissioned by Shawbrook Bank, and […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe October 1, 2018 3 min
Generation Rent organisation blames Section 21 notices for homelessness
Blog

Generation Rent organisation blames Section 21 notices for homelessness

The organisation responsible for campaigning on behalf of renters in the UK, Generation Rent, has begun fighting to oppose the use of Section 21 notices by landlords, which it claims are the primary cause behind homelessness. A Section 21 notice allows letting agents and landlords to evict tenants without providing a reason, and it’s typically […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 28, 2018 3 min
Letting agents to be brought under Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive
Blog

Letting agents to be brought under Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive

It has been announced that letting agents will be brought into the scope of anti-money laundering regulations set by the EU. Letting agents which facilitate transactions for rent of at least €10,000 each month will be held accountable under the Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive. This means that letting agents operating in London will be most […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 27, 2018 3 min
Nottingham Council warns landlords against increasing rents to pay licences
Blog

Nottingham Council warns landlords against increasing rents to pay licences

The council responsible for a controversial licencing scheme in the private rented sector is attempting to defend its launch on the grounds of safety and health. On 1st August, a new licencing scheme was introduced by Nottingham Council to cover around 32,000 properties rented privately.This will account for approximately 91 per cent of the total […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 26, 2018 3 min
New study reveals home ownership is falling
Blog

New study reveals home ownership is falling

Home ownership amongst the younger generations has fallen in all income groups, according to a new large-scale research project focusing on those aged between 25 and 34. The study, conducted by the Institute of Fiscal Studies on behalf of the BBC, has shown that amongst the top 20 per cent of the 25 – 34 […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 25, 2018 3 min
InventoryBase to present their market leading property inspection software at Agent Rainmaker LIVE.
Press

InventoryBase to present their market leading property inspection software at Agent Rainmaker LIVE.

InventoryBase will be at the Agent Rainmaker LIVE Exhibition at the Thistle London Heathrow Terminal 5-  28th-29th September. The Agent Rainmaker LIVE event taking place in London this week will see professionals throughout the Estate & Letting Agency industry come together. InventoryBase will be exhibiting at the event, and giving property professionals the opportunity to […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 24, 2018 2 min
How the referral fee ban will not make services cheaper
Blog

How the referral fee ban will not make services cheaper

There are consultations currently taking place to find practical solutions to the Government’s concerns surrounding estate agent referral fees. Current proposals set by the MHCLG (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) aim to amend or possibly eliminate estate agent commissions for service referrals, such as EPCs and conveyancing. Currently, one of the most controversial […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 24, 2018 3 min
How to protect your home when tenants go on holiday
Blog

How to protect your home when tenants go on holiday

It is likely, at some point during a tenancy, that your tenants will go away on holiday and leave your property empty, and possibly vulnerable. Here, we guide you through the best ways to protect your home when your tenants go away on holiday. Visual deterrents for thieves. Most burglaries happen when nobody is home, […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 21, 2018 3 min
The most affordable London boroughs to rent
Blog

The most affordable London boroughs to rent

A new study has revealed which London boroughs contain the cheapest properties to rent in the city. The research has shown that South East London and Bexley are among the cheapest areas to rent in London for a household of four people. Assuming that there is one person per bedroom, the data was collected from […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 20, 2018 3 min
Private rented sector grows 36 per cent in 10 years
Blog

Private rented sector grows 36 per cent in 10 years

A new study has discovered that the private rented sector (PRS) has expanded by 36 per cent in the past decade – twice the growth rate of households. This progress is likely to continue due to the decline in home ownership, especially amongst the middle-aged and younger generations which are faced with a receding social […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 19, 2018 3 min
How long does it take to evict problem tenants?
Blog

How long does it take to evict problem tenants?

A landlord insurance study has revealed that it takes on average almost four months before bailiffs appointed by the courts can remove bad tenants from a landlord’s private rented property. Landlords based in London are the most probable to be pushed to evict tenants, whilst those based in the South West, West Midlands and North […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 18, 2018 3 min
Landlord in Liverpool receives prison sentence
Blog

Landlord in Liverpool receives prison sentence

Violet Musoke, a landlord based in Liverpool, has been handed a three month prison sentence for failing to acknowledge improvement notices and unlawful eviction for a flat she let. Described as a selfish, heartless and cruel landlord, Musoke attempted to force Dennis Adderley, 79, her long-term tenant, from his home. The disabled tenant, who was […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 17, 2018 3 min
Landlords are being pushed into short-term lets due to government legislation
Blog

Landlords are being pushed into short-term lets due to government legislation

Landlords are increasingly seeing calls for rent control, longer-term tenancies, increased taxation and regulation of buy-to-let properties. Under these conditions, landlords will surely begin looking at alternative business models or they may even abandon the private rental sector (PRS) altogether. These scenarios are putting a large amount of strain on the private rented sector, leading […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 14, 2018 3 min
The Habitable Homes Bill and its potential to transform lives
Blog

The Habitable Homes Bill and its potential to transform lives

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill has been deemed an opportunity for social and private tenants to avoid renting property from rogue landlords, and it would give them the opportunity to go to court if the home is ruled unsafe. First debated in January, the bill has the potential to transform the lives of […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 13, 2018 3 min
Electrical checks every five years to become compulsory for landlords
Blog

Electrical checks every five years to become compulsory for landlords

In July 2018, the government announced new measures concerning building safety, and a new consultation on fire safety and building regulations. However, the government has not yet published further details surrounding the announced requirements for landlords within the private rented sector, including conducting electrical installation safety assessments every five years. So far, the government has […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 13, 2018 3 min
Top tips for first time landlords
Blog

Top tips for first time landlords

As the number of laws and regulations governing letting property in the private rented sector continues to grow, becoming a first-time landlord can be daunting. Here are some tips to help you understand the obligations and legislation to abide by. Landlord licence Firstly, you must check with your local council to see if you require […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 12, 2018 3 min
Private rented sector hits 10 month high in rent hikes
Blog

Private rented sector hits 10 month high in rent hikes

It’s been revealed that the number of tenants experiencing rent hikes reached a 10 month high in June this year. The amount of tenants seeing rent hikes increased to 35 per cent, up from May’s figure of 28 per cent. This is the highest level of rent increases since August 2017, which saw the same […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 11, 2018 3 min
Survey claims 84 per cent of PRS tenants are content with their property
Blog

Survey claims 84 per cent of PRS tenants are content with their property

The most recent English Housing Survey conducted by the Government has shown that one in five residents in England now rent through the private rental sector (PRS). This figure has risen significantly since the current survey was introduced in 1996. The report has also shown that the vast majority of tenants within the private rented […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 10, 2018 3 min
Rent a room relief test for shared occupancy leads to unnecessary complexity
Blog

Rent a room relief test for shared occupancy leads to unnecessary complexity

The UK Government has announced an agreement to retain the current rent-a-room annual relief amount of £7,500. However, a new assessment, named the “shared occupancy test” has also been proposed. The aim of the test is to ensure that landlords renting their spare rooms are able to continue qualifying for the relief. The Association of […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 7, 2018 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
Visit Compliance Hub

Get property reporting insights in your inbox

Receive practical guidance, product updates and industry insights for residential property reporting and compliance workflows.

Ready to improve property reporting?

Explore InventoryBase to see how modern inspection workflows, professional reports, BaseAI and connected evidence records help residential property teams work faster and more consistently.

Start Free Trial Book a Demo View Platform