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1083 articlesSmart-thinking landlords investing in technology
With more people having to rent in the future, smart landlords are looking at ways to capture the cream of the rental sector by offering extras, including top-of-the-range equipment, high-speed internet and smart technology. More young people are tenants rather than home-owners and their world revolves around technology. It can be a wise investment, therefore, […]
Investing in rentals for the ageing population
Buy-to-let investors looking for a different market may be interested in the increase in the number of older people who are renting homes. Property firm, Girlings Retirement Rentals, says there has been a significant increase in the number of retirees who are renting. At present, about one in 10 people living in private rentals is […]
Survey shows gaps in landlords’ knowledge
New legislation, tax changes and licensing schemes are some of the many changes affecting landlords in recent months. There has been a lot of publicity about these changes, because many of the new regulations have not found favour with landlords, whilst falling foul of some could lead to huge fines or a criminal record. However, […]
How does the budget affect the rental sector?
Chancellor Philip Hammond delivered his first Spring Budget with a few controversial measures, such as raising National Insurance contributions for the self-employed and a new soft drinks levy on sugary drinks. Although he did not have any new nasty surprises for the rental sector, he failed to reverse the unpopular tax reforms introduced by the […]
Making money through repossessed properties
Landlords looking to increase their buy-to-let portfolio or hoping to move into the lucrative luxury letting market may be interested in buying repossessed properties at below market value. There are plenty of repossessions on the market through estate agents or at auction. Larger amounts of properties or blocks of apartment blocks can also be acquired […]
More councils jump on landlord licensing bandwagon
More councils are looking at introducing licensing for landlords, in a bid to crack down on rogue landlords. Although it has been pointed out that licensing hits legitimate, professional buy-to-let investors, local authorities still see it as a way of improving standards and stamping out anti-social behaviour. Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council is discussing whether to introduce […]
Landlords find alternatives to buy-to-lets
With the recent tax hikes on buy-to-let investments, landlords are looking at alternatives to residential property and are increasingly turning to the commercial sector instead. Shops, restaurants and offices are being seen as viable alternatives to residential property, before the new taxes on mortgaged buy-to-lets comes into force in April. Auction house Allsop has seen […]
Investing in property inventories can save money
Many disputes between landlords and tenants come about because of disagreements about what constitutes wear and tear. It is a grey area, because people’s standards are different and it varies from case to case. If an agreement cannot be reached, then the dispute could involve a formal Alternative Dispute Resolution service, which tends to side […]
Landlord group delivers wish list ahead of the budget
Bringing back the Landlords’ Energy Saving Allowance and a capital gains tax cut have been included on a wish list of demands for Philip Hammond, ahead of this year’s Budget. The National Landlords Association has also used the opportunity to once again express its opposition to changes to tax relief on mortgage interest. At the […]
Is something finally going to be done about the rental housing shortage?
The government is to do another U-turn, to ditch one policy set up to tackle the housing crisis for another. David Cameron wanted to turn Generation Rent into Generation Buy, with proposals to build affordable housing to allow younger people to get a foot on the property ladder. Property ownership has been a key issue […]
Top property hotspots for 2017
With rental demand increasing, property continues to attract investors. Although demand and rents are highest in London and the South-East, these are not necessarily the best areas to invest in buy-to-lets, because purchase prices are so high. A new report suggests three regional cities in the UK are expected to outperform the capital. Real estate […]
Landlords struggle to comply with right to rent regulations
Landlords are finding it difficult to get a handle on the right to rent rules, with some saying that they are now less likely to accept tenants without a British passport, so they do not fall foul of the regulations. According to a Residential Landlords Association survey, 43 per cent said they were less likely […]
Landlords facing even more red tape and expense
Plans are in hand to license every privately-rented property in the Nottingham City Authority area, at a cost of £600 per property. The city council is planning a new licensing scheme affecting 26,250 properties, to improve standards in the private rental sector. Residents, tenants, landlords, letting agents and other interested parties have a chance to […]
Landlord licensing scheme abandoned
Whilst some local authorities have either implemented landlord licensing schemes or are holding consultations about them, one council in Cambridgeshire has shelved the plans entirely. Plans for the scheme in Wisbech have been abandoned, after a vote in favour of the scheme was lost at another meeting. The Conservative group, which has a majority on […]
New App Release v4.9 – It’s about the Photos!
We’ve released v4.9 of our Property Inventory & Inspection App: InventoryBase Go This release focuses on a couple of key improvements to attachments and photos: 1. View previous/original photos to compare and re-take Now you can view the photos from the previous inspection, or the original Check In when you’re conducting a Check Out. This […]
Trend for long-term renting set to rise
More people will be renting long-term in the future, a survey has shown. This trend for renting rather than buying will accelerate, because property prices continue to rise much faster than wage increases, which means buying is no longer an option for many people. According to a survey of 1,000 tenants by the Deposit Protection […]
Landlords seek new ways to finance buy-to-lets
Tighter borrowing rules and affordability tests for buy-to-let financing introduced by the Bank of England have led to landlords finding other means of investing in this sector. A survey by bridging loan lender MTF has revealed that 84 per cent of brokers asked could not source a buy-to-let mortgage for some clients in the last […]
What lies ahead for buy-to-let investors?
No-one can doubt that it’s going to be an interesting year for landlords. We have yet to see what Brexit will mean to the international market and this, coupled with the tax changes coming into force, could bring further turbulence in the buy-to-let sector. Although the government has put obstacles in the way of rental […]
Investing in luxury rentals is a shrewd move
Luxury rental properties are still proving to be very popular, as buyers and sellers play the waiting game to see what Brexit means to the market. Top boutique London estate agency JLL, formerly W.A. Ellis, says activity at the higher end of the rental market has defied the slowdown which usually takes place just before […]
One in 10 properties could be unrentable in less than two years
Landlords renting out older homes could soon face another financial headache, as data by Quick Move Now reveals that by 2018, nearly one in 10 properties could be unrentable if the proposed 2015 Energy Efficiency Regulations gets the go-ahead. These regulations set minimum energy efficiency standards for homes in England and Wales, which will make […]
Should landlords have a register of rogue tenants?
A debate is raging over whether tenants who fail to pay their rent or cause damage should be ‘named and shamed’ in a register of rogue tenants. The idea was mooted in a Spectator blog, by freelance journalist and former Landlord Today editor, Emma Lunn. She compares shoplifting from a supermarket to non-payment of rent. […]
Government under fire for HMO regulation changes
A recent consultation, for buy-to-let landlords to have their say on proposed changes to Houses in Multiple Occupation and residential property licence reforms, has now ended. The survey, conducted by the Department for Communities and Local Government, was held ahead of proposals to amend existing legislation and increase the number of homes in England which […]
Proptechs on hand to help landlords
Proptech companies are booming as they find favour with millennials, who conduct much of their business online, and other generations who like the convenience. These companies are merging to create even bigger businesses and they are attracting billions in funding as well as seeing their shares do well. Recently, online estate agent Purplebricks has seen […]
Professional report suggests ways to improve rental sector
An interesting paper has been prepared into the rental sector in the United Kingdom, which would bring about best practice, regulations for letting agents and statutory minimum standards for residential letting agents. These recommendations, in the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Rented Sector Policy Paper for England, would improve the lives of landlords and tenants […]
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