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1083 articles
InventoryBase Academy launches to provide training and continuous learning to inventory clerks and property managers
Press

InventoryBase Academy launches to provide training and continuous learning to inventory clerks and property managers

Industry leaders in Property Inspection Software, InventoryBase, to launch online training academy for Inventory Clerks and Letting Agents throughout the UK With a wealth of knowledge within the Lettings Industry – InventoryBase launch their online learning platform, ‘InventoryBase Academy’ this month. InventoryBase Academy is an online training portal, designed to provide guidance & training for […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe April 9, 2018 2 min
Property rental sector must adapt to technology to meet tenant demand
Blog

Property rental sector must adapt to technology to meet tenant demand

There has been a recent surge in the use of property technology for back-office processes in the housing industry, but it has been discovered that a surprisingly high number of landlords and letting agents are still using paper and spreadsheets to manage their properties. A recent report outlined just how vast the divide is between how […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe April 9, 2018 3 min
Landlords and agents must check their rental properties’ EPC Ratings
Blog

Landlords and agents must check their rental properties’ EPC Ratings

Investigating the EPC rating for a rental property is a generally simple process that can be completed by any landlord or agent online. Providing an Energy Performance Assessment was completed on the property within the last decade, the information is ready to be viewed on the MHCLG website (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-housing-communities-and-local-government) EPC Assessments last for a ten […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe April 6, 2018 3 min
HMO licensing set for extension in October 2018
Blog

HMO licensing set for extension in October 2018

Housing Minister, Alok Sharma, has announced that mandatory HMO licensing will be extended, to be in place from 1st October 2018, once approved by Parliament. It has been over two years since the Government first consulted on the issue, and the Government is now seeking Parliamentary approval on regulations, and also hopes to implement rules […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe April 5, 2018 3 min
Private Landlords intend to increase rents
Blog

Private Landlords intend to increase rents

Prime Minister, Theresa May, has launched an amended National Planning Policy Framework, reiterating the importance of private landlords in the housing market. She claimed that the proposed planning rules would boost the building and development of new homes for rent. The Government’s current taxation policy for the private rental sector contradicts this. The Government brought […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe April 4, 2018 3 min
Private rental sector feels pressure as less stock comes onto market
Blog

Private rental sector feels pressure as less stock comes onto market

A survey of landlord trends has confirmed that significantly less property is coming onto the market, putting increased strain on the private rental sector (PRS). For tenants, this is good news, as rental lengths are naturally increasing, with low evictions and arrears. The Government’s measures to reduce buy-to-let stock seem unlikely to help tenants in […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe March 28, 2018 3 min
Further restrictive regulations on the cards for landlords
Blog

Further restrictive regulations on the cards for landlords

At a time when landlords are already feeling the pinch with increased taxes and stamp duty, further restrictive regulations could be brought in to squeeze their stretched resources further. A government consultation of electrical safety has been published which could see more regulations brought in for privately-rented properties in England. The consultation recommends bringing in […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe March 22, 2018 3 min
Rental sector is moving upmarket
Blog

Rental sector is moving upmarket

The rental market in the UK is undergoing major changes with a shift towards quality properties and a rise in build-to-rent accommodation. More people are renting and this trend is set to rise further because property prices put buying out of reach of many people. Younger people also like the flexibility that renting offers, while […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe March 21, 2018 3 min
InventoryBase & GDPR – our commitment to customers & suppliers
Blog

InventoryBase & GDPR – our commitment to customers & suppliers

With the new GDPR rules fast approaching, InventoryBase is committed to ensuring full compliance and confidence to all of their customers The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) will supersede all existing data protection laws on 25th May 2018. GDPR will affect all businesses – including those across the lettings industry. Here at InventoryBase, we deal […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe March 20, 2018 6 min
Rental housing crisis deepens as demand rises
Blog

Rental housing crisis deepens as demand rises

Alarm bells continue to ring in the buy-to-let sector as the gap between the supply and demand for decent rental housing becomes even wider. ARLA Propertymark members have reported that more prospective tenants are seeking properties, while stock diminishes. Their figures for April show there were 70 would-be tenants on average for each branch in […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe March 19, 2018 3 min
Equality laws could change “no DSS tenants” policies
Blog

Equality laws could change “no DSS tenants” policies

A lettings agent has admitted to unintentional discrimination on the grounds of sexism, in legal proceedings that were later settled out of court.   Lettings agent, Nicholas George, acknowledged the implied prejudice against Rosie Keogh, a single mother, on the basis of gender. Ms Keogh received £2,000 in compensation from the agents, because her submitted […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe March 16, 2018 3 min
London rental crisis: supply of rental properties hits critical point
Blog

London rental crisis: supply of rental properties hits critical point

The latest ARLA (Association of Rental Letting Agents) Propertymark report has revealed that the number of available properties to rent in London fell in January to 46 per cent below the nation’s average. As landlords are increasingly priced out of London, tenants are discovering they are up against tough competition for property rentals. In January […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe March 15, 2018 3 min
Is it time to shake up the rental properties on offer?
Blog

Is it time to shake up the rental properties on offer?

With five million UK households already living in rented accommodation and with the sector continuing to expand, now could be a good time to take a look at the types of accommodation on the market. Are they fitting the needs of tenants? According to the annual report into the English housing market, published by the […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe March 14, 2018 3 min
Time to back landlords, not drive them away
Blog

Time to back landlords, not drive them away

With five million households in the UK already living in rented accommodation and the figure set to rise, many feel more should be done to invest in rental properties. Buying property is out of reach of many young people, with figures showing fewer millennials on middle incomes choosing to get on the property ladder. New […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe March 13, 2018 3 min
Bournemouth Council Abandons proposals for selective licensing
Blog

Bournemouth Council Abandons proposals for selective licensing

Are larger landlord associations conflicted over selective licensing proposals? Last month, it was announced that Telford and Wrekin’s Council Cabinet had agreed to abandon its proposals for selective licensing in light of alternative measures and overwhelming feedback recommending against it. The Council consulted on the proposals last year, seeking opinions on the introduction of the […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe March 12, 2018 3 min
One in five UK residents lives in privately rented homes
Blog

One in five UK residents lives in privately rented homes

Calls are being made for better support for private landlords, after figures showed that one in five UK residents lives in a private rental home, including almost two million families and their children. Figures from the English Housing Survey show that about 4.7 million households in England live in privately rented homes, which is more […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe March 9, 2018 3 min
Pressure builds on buy-to-lets in London
Blog

Pressure builds on buy-to-lets in London

Pressure continues to build in the housing crisis in London, with many young people being priced out of the city where they were born. Years of neglect are taking their toll. Over the years, politicians have failed to address the problem of the housing shortage. Not enough homes, including affordable housing, have been built and […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe March 9, 2018 3 min
Government to make it easier to complain about landlords
Blog

Government to make it easier to complain about landlords

Tenants will find it easier to complain about shoddy accommodation and their landlords, once a new complaints system is in place. The government has started a consultation period with the aim of creating a more effective complaints process. The idea is to simplify the procedure so that disputes can be settled more quickly and tenants […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe March 6, 2018 3 min
Is Labour on to a good thing with its tenants and pets policy?
Blog

Is Labour on to a good thing with its tenants and pets policy?

Tenants could have the right to keep pets in rented accommodation, should Labour get into power. The party is targeting pet lovers with its pledges for animal welfare, which including renters having the right to keep pets. Many renters have found it difficult to secure suitable accommodation which allows pets. Under Labour, the promise is […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe March 5, 2018 3 min
How will landlords be affected by GDPR?
Blog

How will landlords be affected by GDPR?

Landlords should brace themselves for more paperwork when the EU-wide General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into effect in about two months. This legislation will mean that landlords have to process the personal data of their tenants much more rigorously and securely that they do at present. GDPR is being brought in to strengthen data […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe March 2, 2018 3 min
Investment in buy-to-let slumps by 80%
Blog

Investment in buy-to-let slumps by 80%

Whilst investment in buy-to-let properties has dropped by 80% in the past two years, experts are actually advising that now is a good time to put money into rental homes. The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association figures show buy-to-let investment has fallen from £25 billion in 2015 to £5 billion last year. This has been put […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe March 2, 2018 3 min
Thousands more homes come under new licensing schemes
Blog

Thousands more homes come under new licensing schemes

More landlords are going to be subject to licensing schemes after the Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government approved a licensing scheme for private rental properties in Nottingham. The scheme will mean about 31,000 rented properties will now need licensing, in the largest such scheme outside London. The city council […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe March 1, 2018 3 min
Blog

Apps launched to help landlords conduct business

Apps continue to make waves in the world of property, with new platforms being launched to help landlords keep tenants, find tenants and buy or sell rental properties. One company seems to have spotted a gap in the market and has set up a platform to help landlords sell properties with sitting tenants. Property website, […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe February 28, 2018 3 min
Landlords need to feel they have government support
Blog

Landlords need to feel they have government support

Landlords could be forgiven for feeling the government has something against them. New tax rulings mean landlords will be losing more of their income by paying more tax, including stamp duty. As if that wasn’t onerous enough, new regulations are being set up including increased use of licensing and minimum energy efficiency standards for rental […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe February 27, 2018 3 min
Compliance & legislation

Compliance and legislation updates

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

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