November 9, 2011
With novice landlords currently swelling the ranks of buy-to-let investors, Defaqto is advising amateur landlords to arrange specialist buy-to-let insurance to protect their properties and to identify the exact policy features they need.
Having analysed the 87 buy-to-let insurance products on the ...
Insurance advice to novice landlords
Permalink: Insurance advice to novice landlords
by Gill Montia
November 8, 2011
Exceptional demand continues in the UK's private rental sector, new figures from estate agency firm, Countrywide, show.
In the three months to the end of September, tenant demand per property increased 10.8% compared to a year earlier, having shot up by ...
Rental properties snapped up in record time
Permalink: Rental properties snapped up in record time
by Gill Montia
November 5, 2011
Government caps on housing benefit payments could result in three quarters of landlords withdrawing from the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) market.
In a survey by the National Landlords' Association (NLA) 77% of landlords with LHA tenants said they are either considering, or already ...
Landlords shun housing benefit tenants
Permalink: Landlords shun housing benefit tenants
by Gill Montia
November 4, 2011
A leading Swedish property investment firm has plans to break into the UK private rented sector, The Financial Times reports.
According to the newspaper, Akelius is interested in mid-market blocks of flats in the London area, and has appointed real estate ...
Swedish investor eyes UK private rented sector
Permalink: Swedish investor eyes UK private rented sector
by Gill Montia
November 3, 2011
Government attempts to tackle the national housing shortfall are doomed to failure, according to real estate specialist, DTZ.
Reforms to the planning system, the release of public land and even improvements in mortgage finance are all well and good.
However, they are ...
Urgent call for new housing development model
Permalink: Urgent call for new housing development model
by Gill Montia
Woolwich launches 75% LTV buy-to-let loans
Permalink: Woolwich launches 75% LTV buy-to-let loans
by Gill Montia
October 28, 2011
Landlord Assist is warning that hikes in university tuition fees will shortly be impacting the business plans of some buy-to-let investors.
University applications for 2012 are 9% lower than this time last year meaning that landlords are at risk, as many would-be students ...
Higher tuition fees impact landlords
Permalink: Higher tuition fees impact landlords
by Gill Montia
October 27, 2011
Announcing a batch of proposed new measures yesterday, Justice Secretary, Ken Clarke, said he intends to make squatting in residential buildings a criminal offence.
Mr Clarke also wants to strengthen people’s rights to use force to defend themselves from intruders in their own homes.
The ...
Squatters to become criminals
Permalink: Squatters to become criminals
by Gill Montia
October 26, 2011
As the private rental market continues to boom, more people are considering buy-to-let as an investment opportunity.
According to letting specialist, Leaders, both those new to the sector and seasoned investors are showing greater interest, having shunned alarmingly volatile stock markets and low savings rates.
...
Buy-to-let investment revival
Permalink: Buy-to-let investment revival
by Gill Montia
October 21, 2011
September saw rents rise across all regions of England and Wales for the first time on record, LSL Property Services reports.
Average rent increased 0.7% during the month, hitting a new high of £718 pcm, with rents now at record highs in London, ...
Rents rise in all regions
Permalink: Rents rise in all regions
by Gill Montia
October 19, 2011
Government ministers have been presented with a "traffic light" system to help them engage with the UK's housing challenges.
The National Housing Federation (NHF), housing charity, Shelter, and the Chartered Institute of Housing say they are holding ministers to account on broken promises ...
UK housing challenges on red
Permalink: UK housing challenges on red
by Gill Montia
October 18, 2011
The UK's private rented sector is rapidly running out of space, with new tenancies having hit sky-high levels over the past year.
According to latest research from the Association of Registered Letting Agents (ARLA), 74% of its 6,000 members have experienced ...
Private rented sector running out of space
Permalink: Private rented sector running out of space
by Gill Montia
October 13, 2011
Working families are having to pay "unaffordable" private rents in 55% of England's local authorities.
According to new research from Shelter, over a half of private sector rents across the country are gobbling up more than a third of the average take-home pay.
The ...
Private rents “unaffordable” for families
Permalink: Private rents “unaffordable” for families
by Gill Montia
October 12, 2011
Nationwide's buy-to-let subsidiary, The Mortgage Works (TMW) has launched a buy-to-let affordability app for mortgage brokers, suitable for downloading onto Android and BlackBerry smart phones.
The app entitled the “Buy to Let Affordability Calc”, is based on TMW’s “how much can be borrowed?” ...
TMW launches buy-to-let app
Permalink: TMW launches buy-to-let app
by Gill Montia
Changing patterns for younger tenants
Permalink: Changing patterns for younger tenants
by Gill Montia
October 2, 2011
A few gaps have already been filled in following Prime Minister David Cameron's surprise announcement that he wants to reintroduction a "Right to Buy" scheme for council tenants.
The original scheme, remembered from Margaret Thatcher's era, was blamed for devastating social housing stock, ...
Return of Right to Buy
Permalink: Return of Right to Buy
by Gill Montia
September 22, 2011
Community groups will soon be able to apply for Government cash to bring empty homes back into use.
Communities Minister, Andrew Stunell, has announced that community and voluntary organisations can bid for a share of a £100 million funding pot aimed ...
New government strike on empty homes
Permalink: New government strike on empty homes
by Gill Montia
September 17, 2011
Shelter is urging councils to crack down on rogue landlords, claiming that complaints about serious and potentially life-threatening hazards, such as dangerous gas and electrics, have risen by 25% over the past two years.
Having contacted every local authority in England to identify the ...
Rogue landlord complaints soar
Permalink: Rogue landlord complaints soar
by Gill Montia
September 15, 2011
New lending for buy-to-let (BTL) has increased in each of the last three quarters, figures from the Financial Services Authority (FSA) show, accounting for 8.9% of overall residential lending in the second quarter of 2011.
The proportion is up 19% on the first ...
Buy-to-let lending hits record high
Permalink: Buy-to-let lending hits record high
by Gill Montia
September 6, 2011
Family-sized homes are gaining in popularity with landlords, as the UK's private rental sector enters its latest phase.
Research from buy-to-let mortgage specialist, Paragon, suggest that landlords looking to expand their portfolios this autumn are more likely to be considering semi-detached and detached ...
Landlords keener on family homes
Permalink: Landlords keener on family homes
by Gill Montia