A landlord’s right to receive direct rent payments from a local authority for tenants in receipt of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) or Housing Benefit (HB) will be scrapped under the proposed new Universal Credit (UC) benefit system. Therefore it is widely predicted that even more landlords will potentially withdraw from the LHA market as there […]
Read MoreNEW research from ARLA shows that the UK is still feeling the economic squeeze and desperately trying to avoid any fallout from the ongoing Eurozone financial meltdown, as more and more tenants are struggling to pay their rent. 41.2% members of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) reported an increase in the number of […]
Read MoreA new Government report has revealed a growing concern about UK landlords, as an increasing percentage are now refusing to accept applications from tenants claiming housing benefits. The situation regarding LHA tenants is set to get much worse, following the recent statements made by UK Prime Minister David Cameron and his party’s vision for further […]
Read MoreRents rose for a second consecutive month in May to stand at an average £712 per month in the UK, returning to the same level as in January 2012. According to the latest Buy-To-Let index from LSL Property Services, the 0.4% rise in May means that rents are now 2.3% higher than in 2011. Added […]
Read MoreIf you are a Landlord who lets a rental property in the UK, could you cover your expenditure if the worst happened to your tenant’s finances and all of a sudden they were unable to pay the rent? Recovering debts or even rent arrears can be difficult and costly for landlords, without any guarantee of […]
Read MoreMore than 17% (1 in 6) of UK PRS landlords reckon that some or all of the properties in their rental portfolio’s fall into the lowest Energy Performance Certificate categories, with an F or G rating, meaning that they could end up being banned from the rental market. From 2018 under the Government’s Green Deal […]
Read MoreAn extra 1.5 million 18 to 30-year-olds are expected to apply for private rented sector (PRS) properties over the next eight years. The influential Joseph Rowntree Foundation says that one risk is that pressures on private rental accommodation could force young families out of the sector and into homelessness. The foundation forecasts that around 310,000 […]
Read MoreA new report warns of steep increases in the number of parents unable to buy their own homes meaning millions of young families are entering an era of insecurity in which renting property becomes the norm. The Cambridge University study, commissioned by the independent Resolution Foundation and the housing and homeless charity Shelter, says that […]
Read MoreThe last six months have seen the number of short-term property lets on offer in the UK rise by 2% as an increasing number of people turn to the UK private rented sector as they search for accommodation to suit to their needs. Landlords considering the future strength of their buy-to-let property portfolios should take […]
Read MoreThe decision by MEP’s to remove Buy-To-Let mortgages from the scope of a new EU Directive has been welcomed by a host of property professionals including the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) and Legal 4 Landlords. Under the original European plans, mortgage lenders would no longer have been able to take account of rental income when […]
Read MoreStuck property vendors that are being forced to make the move into the UK buy to let market, are being warned by landlord and lettings specialist service provider Legal 4 Landlords, that they need to spend more time researching the area where the property is and spend more time understanding the mechanics and legalities of […]
Read MoreThe number of tenants contacting the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) for advice on rental issues, including rent arrears and eviction, has increased dramatically over the last 18 months, according to the charity. More than 10,000 tenants requested help during 2011. 27% more than for 2010 and it is thought a similar increase in numbers […]
Read MoreTenants without Rent Guarantee Insurance are finding Private Rental Sector (PRS) rents are becoming more difficult to afford as many are handing over more than 50% of their gross pay to keep a roof over their heads according to the online property portal, Rightmove. The average pay-to-rent ratio across the UK is 38% – but […]
Read MoreLandlords and letting agents need to be aware of the importance of having the right Landlord Insurance policy to protect their rental property assets rather than tailoring insurance policies to suit the needs of their tenants. UK landlords are discovering that some insurance companies are reluctant to cover certain categories of tenants, including students or […]
Read MoreThe Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) has issued advice on the UK student lettings market to first time landlords. UK Landlords should look to the student lettings market in order to get their empty properties rented out, according to ARLA. With over 600,000 students starting university courses in major UK cities this September, the […]
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