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
Landlords given incentives to house the homeless
Blog

Landlords given incentives to house the homeless

Landlords are being given assistance in order for them to help people who are at risk of homelessness. The idea has been introduced by Barrow Borough Council, which is offering incentives to landlords such as free gas and electricity checks. As in many other districts, the Cumbrian town has a severe lack of affordable housing […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 6, 2018 3 min
New licensing scheme set up to improve standards
Blog

New licensing scheme set up to improve standards

A new licensing scheme has been set up for private rental properties in Nottingham in a bid to drive up standards. Nottingham City Council has set up the selective licensing scheme to cover around 32,000 private rental homes across most parts of the city. The aim is to improve conditions for tenants, so that they […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 5, 2018 3 min
Is it time to scrap tenants’ deposits?
Blog

Is it time to scrap tenants’ deposits?

The idea of scrapping rental deposits has risen again, thanks to a start-up which replaces deposits with an insurance policy. Instead of handing over a deposit of between four to six weeks’ rent, tenants can take out an insurance bond. Typically, this would cost them the equivalent of around one week’s rent. Many tenants would […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 4, 2018 3 min
Landlords offered cash to revamp properties
Blog

Landlords offered cash to revamp properties

Landlords are to be offered cash incentives to repair and improve rental properties which are under par. The pilot scheme has been launched in Oldham to improve rental stock so that it meets the minimum housing standards. Oldham Council is also hoping the pilot scheme will increase awareness about rental property standards and increase the […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe September 3, 2018 3 min
Get the most of the hot summer rental season
Blog

Get the most of the hot summer rental season

The London rental market is starting to heat up again for the summer. Agency Express said the number of new rentals being listed as ‘to let‘ rose by 22.4% in June, compared to the month before. The volume of properties that were actually ‘let’ increased by 12.3% in the same period. Summer is the peak […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 31, 2018 3 min
Mind the gender gap
Blog

Mind the gender gap

Women make less money from property investment than their male counterparts, new research has revealed. The gender gap for the UK’s residential landlords shows that male landlords have an average rental income of £24,050 a year. Women make an average of £22,550, according to figures from Knight Knox’s annual landlords’ survey. When the property investment […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 30, 2018 3 min
Tenants and landlords let down by rental sector
Blog

Tenants and landlords let down by rental sector

Insecurity, substandard properties, and rights and responsibilities are among the problems which are letting down the private rental sector, according to a damning Which? report. The far-reaching study shows a wide range of issues which are adversely affecting the rental sector. Both tenants and some landlords had a lack of knowledge about their rights and […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 29, 2018 3 min
Supply of rental homes to drastically drop
Blog

Supply of rental homes to drastically drop

About 133,000 homes could be lost to the UK private rental sector in the next 12 months, according to new research. The stark figures have been released by the Residential Landlords Association research group, PEARL, after it surveyed 2,600 landlords. It comes as no surprise that tax changes, stamp duty hikes on second homes and […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 28, 2018 3 min
Businesses are reaping the benefits of proptech
Blog

Businesses are reaping the benefits of proptech

More property companies now feel that technology will have a positive impact on their business. Traditionally, the property industry has not readily embraced proptech, with some feeling it is a threat to business rather than an asset. But, according to PropertyWeek’s Power of Proptech survey, attitudes are changing. In this year’s survey, 61% of people […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 27, 2018 3 min
Fears that rental properties will not cover costs
Blog

Fears that rental properties will not cover costs

Many landlords face a bleak future, with fears that their buy-to-let investments will not cover costs or provide them with the finances for a decent retirement. Traditionally, investing in ‘bricks and mortar’ has been considered a healthy option. Property prices are always rising, usually much faster than inflation, and property was seen as a safer […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 24, 2018 3 min
Tenants are happy with their rental homes
Blog

Tenants are happy with their rental homes

Most tenants are happy with their private rental properties. One in three has no intention of ever buying their own property. A report by English Housing Survey shows 84% of tenants in the private rental sector are satisfied with their housing. In the social rented sector, the figure is 81%. Private landlords can take the […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 23, 2018 3 min
Landlords face long wait to evict problem tenants
Blog

Landlords face long wait to evict problem tenants

Landlords can be waiting as long as four months for bailiffs appointed by the courts to evict their problem tenants. Some regions in the UK have a much higher rate of court claims and evictions than their neighbours. It’s not surprising that London is the capital of evictions, according to the Ministry of Justice figures. […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 22, 2018 3 min
Longer tenancies could be bad news for tenants and landlords
Blog

Longer tenancies could be bad news for tenants and landlords

Longer contracts are being seen as the way forward for Generation Rent and older renters who are looking for security. Generation Rent need security for work, while older tenants are often looking to stay in a neighbourhood they know or that is close to their family. So offering mandatory three-year tenancies could be seen as […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 21, 2018 3 min
Fewer rental properties on the market
Blog

Fewer rental properties on the market

For the 21st month running, the supply of rental properties has fallen. The housing crisis appears to be deepening, with the latest RICS UK Residential Market Survey showing the housing market in the UK is very subdued. It forecasts that any improvements regarding new properties coming on to the market will be short-lived. With fewer […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 20, 2018 3 min
Build-to-let surges nationwide
Blog

Build-to-let surges nationwide

The number of build-to-let properties is surging across the UK, with more properties being developed in the regions than in London. It is a close call, but figures from the British Property Federation show there are 62,021 build-to-rent properties in the pipeline, being built or recently completed in the UK regions outside London. In the […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 16, 2018 3 min
Lower purchase price is the key to better rental yields
Blog

Lower purchase price is the key to better rental yields

Whilst location is always the key factor when investing in property, prices are a major consideration for buy-to-let landlords too. Average house prices have gone up by about 17% in the UK in the past three years, while average rents have risen by only 4.7% in that period. That means landlords could be making more […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 15, 2018 3 min
Landlords urged to get ready for new energy efficiency deadline
Blog

Landlords urged to get ready for new energy efficiency deadline

Buy-to-let landlords in the private-rental sector are being urged to prepare themselves for the next deadline relating to improved standards in energy efficiency. In April, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard came into effect, requiring landlords in England and Wales to ensure their properties had a minimum energy performance of E. The aim of the new […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 14, 2018 3 min
Improved housing stock is good for your health
Blog

Improved housing stock is good for your health

The better the quality of your property, the better your health, according to several studies. Now, a new report by The Independent has revealed that four in ten homes in Britain do not meet the basic requirements for the wellbeing of the occupants. The report says researchers studied measures to improve properties and the effects […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 14, 2018 3 min
Landlords taking action against buy-to-let taxes
Blog

Landlords taking action against buy-to-let taxes

Buy-to-let landlords are calling for the tax relief changes on their properties to be reversed. Landlord and property investment specialist, Mark Homer, has set up an online petition calling for the reversal of the tax reforms. If the petition gets 100,000 or more signatures, than it will have to be debated in parliament. The government […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 13, 2018 3 min
Landlords set their sights on holiday lets
Blog

Landlords set their sights on holiday lets

Landlords are likely to switch their investments from buy-to-let properties to holiday lets if the government imposes minimum tenancy leases of three years, it has been suggested. The government has started a consultation process to meet the needs of today’s tenants. With more families with children and older people renting properties, the need for the […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 10, 2018 3 min
Landlords could get financial incentives for longer tenancies
Blog

Landlords could get financial incentives for longer tenancies

Landlords are welcoming ideas to provide tax incentives in return for longer tenancies. The government is looking into a number of options to put in place a three-year tenancy model. With more people renting for a variety of reasons, rather than turning to home ownership for their property needs, more are seeking the security of […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 9, 2018 3 min
Getting the bigger proptech picture
Blog

Getting the bigger proptech picture

Proptech is changing the way that property is bought, sold and let. In many ways, it is simplifying these processes for investors, tenants and landlords by allowing them to conduct property searches and transactions online, saving both time and money. But it is difficult to know where to turn as far as proptech is concerned. […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 8, 2018 3 min
Calls to give tax incentives to landlords
Blog

Calls to give tax incentives to landlords

Landlords are playing a vital role in supplying much-needed housing for UK residents. However, the government still has the mindset that everyone wants to be a homeowner. The old adage about ‘putting your money in bricks and mortar’ is still being repeated by government ministers. On their salaries, they can afford to invest in property, […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 7, 2018 3 min
Alternative investment for buy-to-let landlords
Blog

Alternative investment for buy-to-let landlords

Landlords who are considering selling their buy-to-let portfolio because of increased taxes and regulations could have another alternative. A Real Estate Investment Trust, or REIT, could be a way of keeping a hand in the property sector without the hassle. Investors could continue earning an income and potential capital appreciation without having to deal with […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe August 6, 2018 2 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