It’s been widely rumoured, especially after the introduction of the ban in Scotland, but the Chancellor has now announced that letting agents’ fees are to be banned. It’s a move that’s likely to be popular with the country’s 4 million renters, but which will have a significant effect on the sector. We had hoped that […]
Read MoreWe’re rapidly heading towards that time of year when everything stops working for the Christmas and New Year break. Although it’s not widely known or publicised, the courts generally operate an amnesty on evictions over the festive period. The exact dates vary, but can be as much as a fortnight either side of Christmas Day. […]
Read More2017 reforms look set to leave landlords worse off. But, as we edge ever-closer to January, many believe they’ve spotted a tax loophole that could turn the tide back in their favour. Is the second-homeowner party set to continue? When George Osbourne announced buy-to-let tax relief reforms back in July, his intentions were clear: Buy-to-lets […]
Read MoreThe squeeze on buy-to-let tax relief. New tax rules to be introduced in 2017 will see a reduction in the mortgage interest tax-relief that landlords can claim. Currently, a landlord is entitled to claim tax-relief back on their mortgage interest at their marginal rate of tax. In the face of this change, some property professionals […]
Read MoreBoth landlords and tenants have responsibilities and being clear about them is important. Keep to your obligations and you won’t go far wrong. There are a couple of areas where there is the possibility of confusion, and legislation is always changing. This quick guide should help to clarify the current situation. Tenants’ responsibilities A lot […]
Read MoreSpecialist Landlord Insurance and Why You Need It. If you’re the kind of person who’s willing to risk everything, who isn’t bothered about huge financial losses or who can pay out on claims for damages without worrying, you might think landlord insurance is unnecessary. But if you’re like most people, it’s something you need to […]
Read MoreLet’s talk straight – a deposit is not the landlord’s money. Nor is it a way to ease the cash flow in a letting agency. It’s the tenant’s money. End of. Which is why the Government have made it a legal requirement that it’s protected in a tenancy deposit scheme. Yes, at the end of […]
Read MoreWe’d be guilty of gross over-simplification if we said ‘no’. The truth is that tenants in receipt of benefits are as diverse as the rest of the population, and you could find that the most reliable and careful tenant you ever have is someone whose rent is paid from their housing allowance. In addition, benefits […]
Read MoreAny management book will give you the basic guidance about prioritising the important stuff. But when you’re putting your to-do list in order, you need to look at things from different angles or you could end up losing out. As a letting agent, you might think the most important thing is a responsive, attractive website […]
Read MoreWarrington-based LegalforLandlords is following its successful relocation and rebrand with a move to a bold, upfront tone of voice. Its new campaign aims to present facts and figures as a wake-up call to those sleepwalking through the property rental sector. The key messages apply to both letting agents and to landlords of all sizes, but particularly to those more […]
Read MoreWe’ve seen some marvellous sporting achievements at the Rio Olympics. We’ve seen scenes of joy and despair. Yes, we’ve seen the ugly face of cheating and corruption, but we’ve also seen the best of the human condition, and importantly, we’ve seen the power of determination. No one who has stepped onto the podium has had […]
Read MoreThe recipe for successful letting is getting good tenants and keeping them. One of the main ingredients for this retention is a good tenant/landlord relationship. Good tenant/landlord relations can take the stress out of letting and positively impact the arrangement for both parties. A good tenant/landlord relationship can ensure that buy-to-lets have high occupancy rates, […]
Read MoreRenting to students was traditionally seen as a no go area for many landlords. Students were often viewed by many landlords as a high-risk tenant with the potential to cause trouble. However, the steady growth in the student buy-to-let sector over recent years has many landlords reassessing this situation. Student numbers are at an all […]
Read MoreLetting agents often get a bad rap for their customer service. Media reports over the last few months have portrayed letting agents in a negative light. Stories have abounded on letting agent’s poor customer service, lack of compliance with their legal obligations and even criminal activity! These reports, coupled with recent criticism by MPs over […]
Read MoreProperty experts agree that a comprehensive written tenancy agreement is the basis for a successful landlord/tenant relationship. A tenancy agreement is the contract between a landlord and tenant that can either be a written or a verbal agreement. In essence it sets out the terms of the renting arrangement. At present, there is no legal […]
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