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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New Smoke And Carbon Monoxide
Alarm Legislation Comes Into Force
On 1st October
On October 1st 2015 the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations are supposed to come into force meaning that landlords or their appointed lettings and property managing agents must install a smoke alarm on every floor of a rental property […]
Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Alarm Legislation Warning
New Smoke And Carbon Monoxide
Alarm Legislation Comes Into Force
On 1st October
On October 1st 2015 the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations are supposed to come into force meaning that landlords or their appointed lettings and property managing agents must install a smoke alarm on every floor of a rental property used for accommodation and fit Carbon Monoxide alarms in any room that contains a solid fuel burning combustion appliance, and all alarms should be in good working order.
However, there are calls for this legislation to be delayed due to lack of notice and ambiguity of the actual legislation.
The introduction of the new legislation is intended to save lives, we are already aware of the dangers that a potential fire in a residential rented property can cause, however, many landlords remain oblivious to the danger posed by Carbon Monoxide.
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Are PRS Landlords Any Better Off
After The Election?
UK private rental sector landlords may have breathed a sigh of relief after the general election results were announced last week, but is the future still rosy for the PRS?
The Conservatives may have been voted into Government by a small majority over the other […]
What Does The Future Really Hold For PRS Landlords?
Are PRS Landlords Any Better Off
After The Election?
UK private rental sector landlords may have breathed a sigh of relief after the general election results were announced last week, but is the future still rosy for the PRS?
The Conservatives may have been voted into Government by a small majority over the other political rivals, but will all the election promises be kept or is it more likely that we will see additional legislation concerning rent caps, longer tenancies and changes to tenant’s rights being introduced via other means?
The way I see it, the future under a Conservative Government will be no different from the experiences of the last 5 years.
The main targets will still be PRS landlord’s and letting agents and the victims will always be the tenants.
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UK Private Rental Sector Landlords Fear Upcoming General Election
With The UK’s next General Election less than 80 days away it is feared by some economists that many UK private rental sector (PRS) landlords will choose not to expand rental property portfolios this year.
Fluctuations in regional property prices and housing legislation changes have already […]
UK Private Rental Sector Landlords Fear Upcoming General Election
UK Private Rental Sector Landlords Fear Upcoming General Election
With The UK’s next General Election less than 80 days away it is feared by some economists that many UK private rental sector (PRS) landlords will choose not to expand rental property portfolios this year.
Fluctuations in regional property prices and housing legislation changes have already hit the UK property market, and now the electioneering hype being spouted by MP’s from all political parties is doing very little to encourage landlords to increase their rental property portfolios.
Already there is a great deal of talk and speculation about the possible introduction of rent controls and the threat of increased taxes for landlords as the current Government and opposition MP’s attempt to leverage the strength of the UK’s buy to let property market.
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Rental Properties Must Have EPC
Above “Band E” By 2018
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) says that from April 2018, UK private rented sector (PRS) landlords will become legally required to raise the energy efficiency of rental properties in the private sector to at least “Band E” in energy efficiency standards.
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UK Rental Properties Must Have EPC Above “Band E” By 2018
Rental Properties Must Have EPC
Above “Band E” By 2018
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) says that from April 2018, UK private rented sector (PRS) landlords will become legally required to raise the energy efficiency of rental properties in the private sector to at least “Band E” in energy efficiency standards.
From April 2016, landlords in the private rented sector (PRS) will also be required to accept reasonable requests from tenants for energy efficiency measures to be installed in rented properties.
This means that hundreds of thousands of landlords with buy-to-let mortgages could be hit with bills of up to £9,000 (GBP) under the new green targets set out to make rental properties more energy efficient.
The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ranks a property’s energy efficiency from A for the most well-insulated and energy-saving properties, to G for the worst.
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Private Rental Sector Rents Continue To Rise
In 10 Out Of 12 UK Regions
New data published by HomeLet has revealed some UK private rental sector hotspots for property investors and portfolio landlords to consider.
In some areas of the UK PRS rents have continued to increase, despite all the doom mongering that is […]
New Data Reveals UK Private Rental Sector Hotspots
Private Rental Sector Rents Continue To Rise
In 10 Out Of 12 UK Regions
New data published by HomeLet has revealed some UK private rental sector hotspots for property investors and portfolio landlords to consider.
In some areas of the UK PRS rents have continued to increase, despite all the doom mongering that is going on in the media, with rents increasing by the most in:
- Leicester – PRS rents up 45% on 2013
- Southall – PRS rents up 38% on 2013
- Cambridge – PRS rents up 24% on 2013
Meanwhile other parts of the UK witnessed the biggest falls in rental prices in 2014 on new rental agreements with the biggest rental price falls recorded in:
- Colchester PRS rents Down 24% on 2013 prices
- Croydon – PRS rents down 23% on 2013
- Brighton – PRS fall 18% lower than 2013 prices.
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Rent Controls Are Not The Answer
To The UK Housing Shortage
The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) have hit back at politicians and housing and homeless pressure groups who are openly calling for rent controls in the UK’s private sector by claiming that private sector rents are falling in real terms following analysis of the […]
RLA Hit Back At Rent Control Calls
Rent Controls Are Not The Answer
To The UK Housing Shortage
The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) have hit back at politicians and housing and homeless pressure groups who are openly calling for rent controls in the UK’s private sector by claiming that private sector rents are falling in real terms following analysis of the official English Housing Survey (EHS).
The English Housing Survey (EHS) results are taken from a continuous survey conducted by the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) and show that average private sector rents increased by just £10 from £153 to £163 (GBP) per week in 2014, representing a rise of 6.5%.
In contrast, average weekly rents in the UK’s social sector increased by more, with weekly rental prices increasing 25.4%, rising by £18 from £71 to £89 (GBP).
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Shelter Say Rogue Landlords Are Damaging Tenants Health
New Survey Reckons PRS Properties Are In Such A Poor
State They Affect Tenants Health
According to a newspaper report published in The Independent last week, around 10% of private rental sector tenants have suffered ill health in the last 12 months because they feel that rogue landlords had failed to deal with poor conditions in their rental properties.
Housing and homelessness charity Shelter and British Gas commissioned a survey of 4,500 private rented sector tenants and reckon that poor living conditions are commonplace for tenant families in the UK’s private rented sector.
Around 50% of the tenants surveyed said they had lived in a rental property with damp or mould in the past year, and 20% of tenants said their rented home has electrical hazards, while 17% of tenants reported living with pest infestations including mice, ants and cockroaches.
Campbell Robb, Shelter’s chief executive, said “No family should have to live in a home that puts their health and well-being at risk, let alone face eviction just for asking their landlord to fix a problem. Yet every day, we hear from parents up and down the country living in fear that damp or gas and electrical hazards are putting their children in danger, but feeling powerless to do anything about it. With a bill to end revenge evictions going through parliament next month, we now have a real chance to change the law and protect renting families. We’re calling on people across the country to email their MPs and ask them to vote to end this unfair practice once and for all.”
Have Shelter got their facts wrong?
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Relying On Property To Fund Pension Is Not A Good Idea Warn Experts
3.5 million property owners plan to rent out, downsize or sell properties to get enough money in the bank to pay for their retirement according to a survey by an asset management specialist.
However, pension experts are warning that people could be […]
New Warnings Over Using Property For Pensions
Relying On Property To Fund Pension Is Not A Good Idea Warn Experts
3.5 million property owners plan to rent out, downsize or sell properties to get enough money in the bank to pay for their retirement according to a survey by an asset management specialist.
However, pension experts are warning that people could be risking poverty in retirement because of the volatile nature of the property market, especially if they were forced to sell properties as values fell.
The research, by Barings Asset Management, discovered that 16% of the UK workforce would be relying on property sales to provide them with all or some of their pension pots, an increase of 13% from 2013 and the highest reported figure since 2009.
Soaring residential property prices are the reason behind the trend. Last week the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said average UK residential property prices were up 11.7% in the year to the end of July to £272,000 (GBP).
The biggest rise was 19.1% observed in London.
The hard hitting story was first published by the Express newspaper earlier this week, with warnings from financial advisors that property investment was a dangerous game to play.
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Tenants Admit Having Problems With Landlords And Letting Agents
55% of tenants in the UK’s private rented sector (PRS) have experienced problems with their landlord or their appointed letting agents according to the latest research from the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA).
The most common issue which affected 31% of PRS tenants was the […]
MPPT Spotlight are focusing on Tenants this week with a series of articles on getting the best out of tenants
Tenants Admit Having Problems With Landlords And Letting Agents
55% of tenants in the UK’s private rented sector (PRS) have experienced problems with their landlord or their appointed letting agents according to the latest research from the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA).
The most common issue which affected 31% of PRS tenants was the length of time taken to fix problems in rental properties including issues with boilers, heating and electrical outlets.
Once a problem was raised, tenants have waited an average of 36 days for the problem to be fully resolved. However over 14% of PRS tenants never had their rental property problems fixed at all, according to the research.
18% of tenants surveyed also reported frustrating delays with landlords not replacing worn out fixtures and fittings on demand, including requests to replace old or damaged kitchen cupboards or tired and worn carpets.
14% of the tenants surveyed, felt that their complaints about repair issues were either ignored or brushed off by landlords or their appointed letting agents.
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