Most Tenants Would Support Rent Controls
The majority of tenants renting property in the UK’s private rented sector (PRS) would support the introduction of rent controls if they were introduced according to data gathered by a Manchester based letting agent.
The research was conducted by Geo Property Lettings through a number of industry related websites […]
Rent Control Argument Rages On
Most Tenants Would Support Rent Controls
The majority of tenants renting property in the UK’s private rented sector (PRS) would support the introduction of rent controls if they were introduced according to data gathered by a Manchester based letting agent.
The research was conducted by Geo Property Lettings through a number of industry related websites and social media profiles over a 3 month period. The survey discovered that 77% of tenants in the UK private rented sector would support the introduction of rent controls should the Government decide to implement such a scheme. Only 5% of tenants were opposed to the introduction of rent control whilst 18% of tenants expressed no opinion either way.
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Everyone Appears To Be Taking A Pop At Landlords
I don’t think I am becoming paranoid but have you noticed that public attitude towards landlords has changed over the last couple of years?
I know opinion can be like the property cycle and generally rolls around, but have you spotted a few subtle and […]
UK landlords are societies new favourite target for criticism
Everyone Appears To Be Taking A Pop At Landlords
I don’t think I am becoming paranoid but have you noticed that public attitude towards landlords has changed over the last couple of years?
I know opinion can be like the property cycle and generally rolls around, but have you spotted a few subtle and not so subtle digs being aimed at our profession?
Targeting the private rental sector and the landlords who provide tenants with much needed housing used to be the reserve of newspapers such as the Daily Mail, but now the derision is much more widespread.
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Politicians Called On To Disband
Insurance Backed
Tenancy Deposit Schemes
The estate agent review site, All Agents, is calling on politicians to scrap insurance based tenancy deposit schemes claiming that such tenancy deposit protection schemes are misleading, as tenants and landlords may find themselves in the precarious position of believing that their deposits […]
Calls For Insurance Backed Tenancy Deposit Schemes To Be Scrapped
Politicians Called On To Disband
Insurance Backed
Tenancy Deposit Schemes
The estate agent review site, All Agents, is calling on politicians to scrap insurance based tenancy deposit schemes claiming that such tenancy deposit protection schemes are misleading, as tenants and landlords may find themselves in the precarious position of believing that their deposits are securely protected.
All Agents says that: The unfortunate reality is that a letting agent could simply exit themselves from the scheme, which would negate the deposit protection insurance and potentially leave tenant deposits unprotected. Even worse, a letting agent could go out of business, meaning the likely loss of any tenant deposit funds that the letting agent may have held on behalf of their landlord clients.
It has already been reported in the British press and media that some unscrupulous property management firms have used tenant deposit money to assist with company cash flow, or as in some cases, to fund luxurious lifestyles.
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The Politics Of Housing
It is still generally acknowledged by all political parties that there is a housing shortage in the UK, and each political party wants to offer the public alternative methods of tackling the problem in an attempt to win electoral favour.
Most political parties see the housing crisis in the UK as […]
Will The Housing Crisis Win The Election?
The Politics Of Housing
It is still generally acknowledged by all political parties that there is a housing shortage in the UK, and each political party wants to offer the public alternative methods of tackling the problem in an attempt to win electoral favour.
Most political parties see the housing crisis in the UK as a possible election winning issue and each party’s election manifesto promises the general public many things, including further private rented sector (PRS) reforms and the introduction of additional legislation. There isn’t much offered by any political party for landlords, except for the promise to put an end to the private rental sector.
A recent survey by Ipsos MORI research published in January 2015 discovered a confusing conundrum, in that:
- 75% of the public agree that there is a housing crisis in the UK
- 48% of the public disagree there is a housing crisis in their locality
The publication of each political party’s election manifesto is intended to give the public a clearer indication of the housing priorities of the UK’s next parliament.
However, despite claims of a housing shortage nationally there are still some UK regions that have large proportions of derelict and abandoned properties, many still in a habitable condition.
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Labour Announces Further PRS Controls
The Labour party leader, Ed Miliband, has announced his party’s plans to reform the private rented sector (PRS), with longer term tenancies and rent cap proposals, should they win the May general election.
Labour have been at the forefront of the PRS reform movement for some time, campaigning for longer […]
Politicians Want PRS Control
Labour Announces Further PRS Controls
The Labour party leader, Ed Miliband, has announced his party’s plans to reform the private rented sector (PRS), with longer term tenancies and rent cap proposals, should they win the May general election.
Labour have been at the forefront of the PRS reform movement for some time, campaigning for longer term tenancies for tenants in the private sector and now the political party leaders want to introduce even more legislation that would effectively cap rental prices so they cannot be increased by more than the rate of inflation (CPI) during the proposed secure three-year tenancies.
The PRS control proposals were supposed to win the hearts and minds of the 9.1 Million households currently living in private rented sector properties, however even tenant campaign groups can see that these new proposals have more holes in them than an old Swiss cheese.
The introduction of new legislation that Labour are proposing would require landlords and letting agents to disclose the rental prices charged to any previous rented property occupants, allowing tenants to have the upper hand in negotiating the best possible rental price with landlords, before the start of a new tenancy.
Do TESCO provide customers with information concerning the actual purchase price that they pay for items before they sell them on at a huge profit, do they reveal operational profit margins – No they don’t!
Prices fluctuate as do operational costs, why should landlords be singled out for special measures when other business sectors are left alone?
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Green Party Leader Under Attack For Demonising
Private Rented Sector Landlords
The leader of the Green Party, Natalie Bennett has attracted a great deal of criticism after she attacked buy-to-let landlords operating in the private rented sector (PRS) blaming them for helping to cause the UK’s housing crisis.
Ms Bennett cited extremely high […]
Green Party Leader Blames Landlords For UK Housing Crisis
Green Party Leader Under Attack For Demonising
Private Rented Sector Landlords
The leader of the Green Party, Natalie Bennett has attracted a great deal of criticism after she attacked buy-to-let landlords operating in the private rented sector (PRS) blaming them for helping to cause the UK’s housing crisis.
Ms Bennett cited extremely high rental returns for landlords with property in the UK private rental sector in the recent television debate between the opposition leaders.
She referred to a report published by the Wriglesworth Consultancy and lenders Landbay stating that there had been a 1,400% return for buy-to-let landlords since 1996.
But the report’s authors suggested that the calculations and methodology involved were far more complex than the Green Party leader had portrayed.
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Funding For Lending Scheme Targeted
Some of the Con-Dem Government flagship schemes to get the UK housing market moving again such as Funding for Lending (FLS), NewBuy and FirstBuy have been targeted by a succession of property professionals at a buy-to-let event in Westminster, last week.
John Heron, managing director of specialist mortgage lender Paragon said: “Politicians are tinkering around at the edges and seeking headlines. They are being schizophrenic. On the one hand, they are doing everything they can to drive lenders away from high-risk lending, On the other hand, they are coming up with initiatives encouraging 95% mortgages on new-builds to first-time buyers.”
At the inaugural “Great Buy to Let Debate”, organised by the Wriglesworth consultancy, both he and other speakers called for a root and branch review of all government policies.
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