Now the Government has promised a fund of £2bn to build affordable housing, who should rejoice? People on lower incomes would welcome rented housing at a price they can afford. But not everyone will get the opportunity. Housing shortage in the UK £2bn will fund the building of an extra 5,000 homes per year. Shelter […]
Read MoreDespite warnings from councils, charities and backbenchers, the Government is forging ahead with the Universal Credit scheme. Widely feared a social policy disaster, it changes the way people receive benefits. Six benefits now become one in the boroughs where it’s been adopted. A sound idea in principle: the idea is to simplify the system and […]
Read MoreThe UK culture values reserve and modesty. If you shout your achievements too loudly you soon get branded big-headed. Similarly, British consumers like to make their own judgements about the companies they buy from. They’d rather see a quirky ad that positions the brand than listen to a salesman tell them how brilliant the product […]
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The tragic events at Grenfell Tower have pushed the issue of housing standards to the top of the agenda. It is an emotive issue, but it’s also becoming a political one. As arguments continue about who is going to foot the bill for essential works to other tower blocks which have used the same cladding […]
Read MoreLegalforLandlords are delighted to be shortlisted for this years Negotiator Awards. The awards are the most prestigious and popular awards scheme in residential property and with more entrants and more winners than any other scheme in this sector. They are the most inclusive and therefore the most valued and meaningful accolades you can be awarded […]
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Anyone whose personal experience of student housing dates back to the days before student loans will probably remember a breeze-block cell, a dingy bedsit or a house share reminiscent of a scene from The Young Ones. Accommodation for students was cheap, but it was rarely cheerful. But there has been a revolution in the financing […]
Read MoreThe costs of being a landlord If we had a pound for every time we’ve heard someone say that being a landlord and investing in property is a way to make easy money, we’d be sitting very pretty indeed. The truth is that although returns on a buy-to-let property can easily outstrip anything you’ll find […]
Read MoreRecently there have been several announcements in the press about buy-to-let mortgage providers tightening up their lending criteria. Skipton and Leeds Buildings Societies, Santander and New Street have all announced changes. NatWest has just released details of changes to its underwriting processes while stressing that it will continue to support investors. If you’re wondering what’s […]
Read MoreOne of the likely outcomes of the ban on upfront agency fees will be an increase in the fees charged to landlords. Coming on top of tax changes, landlords’ profitability is going to be under pressure. More and more of them will be trying to save costs and wondering whether they need to work with […]
Read MoreIn the current climate, the focus is often on the protection of tenant’s rights, and it can be easy to forget that landlords get a raw deal when a tenant defaults on rental payments. Expenses are still incurred and there are legal costs to regain possession. If the property is not owned outright, mortgages still […]
Read MoreLegalforLandlords WINS “Professional Firm of the Year” IN E3 BUSINESS AWARDS 2017 Warrington based tenant referencing, insurance and legal service provider, LegalforLandlords has been named “Professional Firm of the Year” at the 2017 E3 Business Awards. The event was held on 13th July at the Macron Stadium in Bolton. The company, who offer referencing, insurance […]
Read MoreIn April, the system for fining landlords in breach of housing regulations changed. There’s now a maximum penalty of £30,000 which can be imposed without court proceedings. What’s more, local authorities have the right to recover up to 12 months’ rent from those landlords who have harassed their tenants or let properties which are in […]
Read MoreDespite increasing rules, regs and tax changes, the numbers would suggest that plenty of landlords are still looking to grow their property business. A recent survey by brokers Mortgages for Business suggests 48 per cent of landlords want to expand, and that’s a big climb from the 41 per cent figure recorded in May 2016. […]
Read MoreEveryone is familiar with the advice that it’s worth paying a little extra for a quality product. We hear it in so many guises – buy cheap, buy twice; false economy; you get what you pay for. We’re certain you could add other sayings to the list, but we’d like to warn you of another […]
Read MoreWe quote from Her Majesty The Queen’s speech: “Proposals will be brought forward to ban unfair tenant fees, promote fairness and transparency in the housing market, and help ensure more homes are built.” It now looks likely that a draft bill will be published later this year, and with cross-party support, it probably won’t encounter […]
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