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1083 articles
£30,000 fines for landlords imposing charges other than rent
Blog

£30,000 fines for landlords imposing charges other than rent

After a period of increased costs because of tax, stamp duty and mortgage relief changes, the year ends with the news that landlords and letting agents could face fines of up to £30,000 for charging tenants any fees above rent. This is according to government proposals featuring the publicised ban on tenants’ fees. The government […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe December 18, 2017 3 min
What’s in store if the Tenant Fees Bill becomes law?
Blog

What’s in store if the Tenant Fees Bill becomes law?

It is worth taking a look at the draft Tenant Fees Bill to see how it might change the role of landlords and letting agents in the UK. It seeks to reduce costs to tenants, so that there aren’t any unexpected extras or costs when they come to sign their contract. One of the changes […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe December 16, 2017 3 min
UK is still a top spot to invest in housing
Blog

UK is still a top spot to invest in housing

Despite the taxation changes during the year, the UK remains a top spot to invest in housing. The total value of the UK housing stock has passed the £6 trillion mark for the first time, according to research by Halifax. Not surprisingly, most of this wealth is in London and the South-East. In fact, the […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe December 13, 2017 3 min
Landlords considering cutting out the letting agents
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Landlords considering cutting out the letting agents

With the government banning letting agents in England from charging fees to tenants, some landlords are considering using their services to rent out properties. At present, letting agents can charge tenants for their administrative services such as taking up references, drawing up tenancy agreements, credit checks and immigration checks. However, this is to be stopped […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe December 11, 2017 3 min
Rogue landlords database set to be launched
Blog

Rogue landlords database set to be launched

The proposed database of rogue landlords and letting agents is expected to be launched in April 2018. It is another step in the government’s pledge to root out rogue landlords. The database is expected to come into effect after the regulations are approved in the New Year. It was initially announced as part of the […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe December 7, 2017 3 min
Announcements

InventoryBase officially launch 5th Generation app for iOS and Android

Version 5 of InventoryBase is our best update yet, combining written notes, checklists, high quality photos and audio dictation into one flawless app. Tap shortcuts to fill in common descriptions and sentences or pick from the auto-text dictionary while you type up detailed reports on-site faster than ever before. Prefer to dictate? Hit record and […]

I Inventory Base December 6, 2017 3 min
Speculators turn to Ireland as a UK alternative
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Speculators turn to Ireland as a UK alternative

Buy-to-let investors who want more property for their money than they can get in some areas of the UK, as well as decent yields, would be wise to look at Ireland. Many property speculators are turning to Ireland as a lucrative alternative to the UK and it has topped the European buy-to-let investment chart for […]

S Sarah Marshall December 6, 2017 3 min
New Scottish tenancy rules provide more rights to renters
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New Scottish tenancy rules provide more rights to renters

Housing campaigners have named it “a new dawn for renters” as a new rules protecting tenants rights come into force within Scotland. Starting this month, should anyone wish to let a property privately – they will sign a ‘private residential tenancy’. This includes hugely improved security measures in comparison to anyone renting within England. The […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe December 5, 2017 2 min
Landlords back calls to help homeless people rent
Blog

Landlords back calls to help homeless people rent

With winter approaching and fears that Britain is facing its worst winter homelessness crisis in 20 years, calls are being made for the government to help homeless people rent properties. The founder of the Big Issue, John Bird, made the warning over the potential crisis, while calling for radical action to prevent the situation from […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe December 5, 2017 3 min
InventoryBase launch Version 5 of their revolutionary property inspection software
Press

InventoryBase launch Version 5 of their revolutionary property inspection software

Property Inspection and Inventory reporting app, InventoryBase release the latest version of their software. Cloud-based property inspection app, InventoryBase have now officially launched version 5 of their market leading property inspection software. Following feedback from users, the developers at InventoryBase have been working hard to provide lots of new features to improve the experience and […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe December 4, 2017 3 min
More taxing times ahead for Landlords
Blog

More taxing times ahead for Landlords

Landlords and property agents looking back over 2017 have few reasons to be cheerful. More taxes, abolition of letting agent fees, lower yields, higher property prices and council licensing schemes are just some of the issues they have had to deal with over the past few months. Now, 2018 looks like there will be further […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe December 1, 2017 3 min
Should Deposits be Scrapped?
Blog

Should Deposits be Scrapped?

Fresh calls are being made for tenants’ deposits to be scrapped. Campaigner Ajay Jagota of Dlighted, which offers deposit-free insurance for the private rental sector, claims that tenants are having to borrow money in order to survive and this includes raising funds needed for their tenancy deposit. If they are forced into debt and have […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe November 24, 2017 3 min
Politicians keep on hammering landlords
Blog

Politicians keep on hammering landlords

Landlords in the UK are coming under fire from all directions, as both Labour and the Conservatives have come out strongly in the fight to control the private rental sector. At the Conservatives’ annual conference, communities secretary, Sajid Javid, said private tenants will have greater rights under new proposals to crack down on rogue landlords. […]

S Sarah Marshall November 21, 2017 2 min
Press

InventoryBase support AIIC in their bid to make inventories mandatory

Providers of cloud-based property inspection software, InventoryBase back The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC) as they launch an online petition to make changes within the lettings industry. The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC) have recently launched a campaign in a bid to regulate the way inventories and property inspections are carried out within […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe November 20, 2017 3 min
Apps revolutionising landlords’ working lives
Blog

Apps revolutionising landlords’ working lives

The slogan ‘There’s an app for that’ is so catchy that Apple has trademarked it. It’s been around for a few years now, but it still rings true today. Whatever you need to do, whether for work or leisure, there is an app which can help you. Latest figures show there are more than one […]

S Sarah Marshall November 17, 2017 3 min
Instantly import your old reports into InventoryBase
Blog

Instantly import your old reports into InventoryBase

Got an old report you want to use again, or a Check Out coming up for an inventory you did a while back? No problem. With InventoryBase’s new Instant Import facility, you can upload your old reports to get converted into the InventoryBase format, ready to pick up and update on your next visit. Create a […]

I Inventory Base November 14, 2017 2 min
Landlords reveal their perfect tenants
Blog

Landlords reveal their perfect tenants

Top of landlords’ wish lists for the type of tenants walking through the door is couples without children. Students are at the bottom of the list, according to a survey by Intus Lettings. About 29% of landlords say they prefer childless couples, while only 1% say students are their favourite type of tenant. Single young […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe November 13, 2017 3 min
Tenants ignoring rules of their contract
Blog

Tenants ignoring rules of their contract

Whilst landlords are expected to abide by the rules and regulations of the UK and their local authority, while keeping on top of contracts, inspections, invoices and other paperwork, it seems as though some of their efforts are being wasted. Two-thirds of tenants in the UK have admitted that they have flouted their tenancy agreement […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe November 9, 2017 3 min
Government turns landlords into Public Enemy No 1
Blog

Government turns landlords into Public Enemy No 1

It used to be estate agents and bank managers who were the Public Enemy No 1, but now, thanks to government policies and pressure, that dubious honour has been bestowed to landlords. Councillor Jonny Bucknell, who used to be Camden Conservatives’ spokesman for housing, was prosecuted by his own council for failing to carry out […]

S Sarah Marshall November 6, 2017 3 min
Letting agents welcome new inquiry into the private rental sector
Blog

Letting agents welcome new inquiry into the private rental sector

A new inquiry into the private rental sector is being launched to see whether local authorities have enough powers to tackle the problem of ‘rogue landlords’. Letting agents have welcomed the move by the Communities and Local Government Committee, which follows a report it published highlighting areas where the government needed to take action to […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe November 1, 2017 3 min
InventoryBase to showcase their pioneering software to Estate & Letting Agents at The Negotiator Conference
Press

InventoryBase to showcase their pioneering software to Estate & Letting Agents at The Negotiator Conference

InventoryBase will exhibit on 31st October amongst other property professionals at the UK’s premier event for estate and letting agents InventoryBase are getting ready to show Estate and Letting Agents from across the country see how they could benefit and change the way that manage property inspections forever. InventoryBase have simplified the process of property […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe October 25, 2017 2 min
Rogue landlords rake in £2.5 billion of public funds each year
Blog

Rogue landlords rake in £2.5 billion of public funds each year

Rogue landlords are being given billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money for renting out inadequate housing, according to new analysis of government figures. Some of these homes do not even meet basic health and safety standards, which could be putting their tenants’ health or lives at risk. According to analysis of the annual English Housing […]

S Sarah Marshall October 25, 2017 2 min
Property inventory & inspection app InventoryBase launches integration with Acquaint CRM
Press

Property inventory & inspection app InventoryBase launches integration with Acquaint CRM

InventoryBase team up with Acquaint CRM to improve and develop the property inspection process for hundreds of estate agents. Property management software Acquaint CRM took the initiative to use InventoryBase’s API (Application Program Interface) and integrate InventoryBase into its existing system for its hundreds of estate agents to use on-demand. The software will sync inspections, […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe October 24, 2017 2 min
Changes to regulations are taxing landlords
Blog

Changes to regulations are taxing landlords

Changes to regulations and tax measures are top of the list of issues causing most concern to UK landlords. New research from online letting agency, Upad.co.uk, found that while these were their top worries, another key issue is client demand. Another prime concern for 74% of landlords was how to manage void periods between tenants. However, […]

S Sián Hemming-Metcalfe October 23, 2017 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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