Feed Editor Lite 20 Nov 2007 16:51:35 GMT The Residential landlord RSS news feed delivers essential and up to date news on all matters relating to investment property, and the UK buy to let market. This feed is aimed at UK based landlords and property investors alike. http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/rssnewsfeed/rssnews.xml Copyright 2008, Weblishers Limited editorial@residentiallandlord.co.uk en karlh@residentiallandlord.co.uk http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/images/residentiallandlordlogo_small.JPG http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk Essential rental property news and information for UK property investors. The residential property market appears to have found a floor, at least for the time being, says Simon Rubinsohn, the RICS chief economist. His comments follow the recent release of the Nationwide house price data that found property prices have risen slightly in three... 3 Jul 2009 12:36:15 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1905.html 82C0A866-6FEF-493A-9910-8C6CC98D50F7 A landlord has been found guilty of criminal damage to a tenant’s belongings, as well as unlawful eviction. It is the first time a landlord in the Bradford area has been prosecuted for criminal damage. Susan Lowe of 1 Crowther Cottages, Marsden denied the charges at Bradford Crown Court relating to an unlawful eviction of a private tenant and her partner in July 2007. 3 Jul 2009 12:35:57 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1906.html 14294118-93BA-4079-A81E-B507832C7AE4 Tunbridge Wells Borough Council recently held its first Landlord Development Day in its Town Hall. Marion Money, the Kent representative of the National Landlords Association, provided training to local landlords and agents who undertook a test of competency at the end of a day. 3 Jul 2009 12:35:35 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1907.html 00CCE9BD-1174-46B8-97EF-530637A46ABD Tamworth Borough Council recently organised its first Landlord Summit to encourage landlords to come together to discuss issues relevant to the town. The Staffordshire authority hopes the summits will become a regular arrangement to help... 3 Jul 2009 12:35:15 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1908.html 495EDAD9-D655-470A-A918-47F31482B5BA A Staffordshire man has been fined after four people were taken to hospital suffering suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at the rented property he managed as an agent. Paul Bird was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £2,220 in costs at Burton on Trent Magistrates Court recently after pleading guilty to four... 3 Jul 2009 12:34:47 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1909.html 3ED93160-5046-413F-998B-D9FCFDE8EE2D The National Landlords Association (NLA) was due to be called to appear before the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee this week. As part of the Committee’s new inquiry into mortgage arrears and access to mortgage finance, the NLA has been asked to give evidence on how landlords have had significant difficulties in buying and selling property as well... 30 Jun 2009 16:16:28 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1900.html 36DD5D75-D884-428B-A135-B00D09655F51 RBS boss Stephen Hester claimed that bank leaders and politicians stood back and did nothing as Britain went bust. He made the damning statement during a speech in front of the property industry and City minister Lord Myners at the British Property Federation’s annual conference in London. 30 Jun 2009 16:16:13 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1901.html 0DF12029-864F-4B3B-89FB-618C0DA96BF5 The property market is stabilising according to the Nationwide building society, which is basing its claim on the fact that house prices rose for the second month running in June. The Nationwide reported that house prices rose 0.9 percent this month making the annual rate of decline 9.3 percent, down from... 30 Jun 2009 16:15:56 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1902.html 46DB399F-EF11-41DF-B1C2-571CDD644DD2 Property developers are placing high stakes on more Brits holidaying at home this recession with buy to let holiday home deals guaranteeing good rates of return. Developer Trevor Osborne, past president of the British Property Federation, is so confident of the booming British tourism industry that he’s pledging to... 30 Jun 2009 16:15:29 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1903.html E86F36CF-10AB-4C12-962D-8ED9E020E206 For those looking to find out more about property investment in the current financial climate, Crest Nicholson is holding an information day for investors on the 11 July at its BASE development in Brentwood. It follows the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) recent announcement that now is an opportune time for investors to start building up their... 30 Jun 2009 16:15:02 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1904.html 4CD29E1A-3CAF-445A-A000-93B6D72C3FE7 Increasing numbers of Buy to Let investors are keen to return to the market as they believe property prices will stabilise and rise during the next 12 months, according to the latest Index results from the Young Group. Young Index is a quarterly gauge of market sentiment within the Buy to Let sector. 26 Jun 2009 15:04:48 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1895.html C0129185-6E2C-4521-95A0-018B1C5D940E Several local authorities are attempting to support private residential landlords by holding special events and seminars throughout the year. Somerset is holding its first ever Private Sector Landlords Exhibition on Wednesday, 15 July, and it has attracted the support of all five Somerset local authorities. 26 Jun 2009 15:04:30 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1896.html 2E9F4B26-30B4-4125-8FAF-2DF92E6B39DF A landlord who gave misleading information to help his partner claim an overpayment in benefits to the tune of nearly £25,000 was ordered before magistrates recently. Mohammed Abul Khayer was caught in a major crackdown on benefit fraudsters by Luton Council that has now resulted in 22 local residents being prosecuted. 26 Jun 2009 15:04:06 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1897.html 9090922F-A6A3-4D3D-9A87-62434FB22026 A man from Leeds has become the second landlord from the city to be fined for failing to licence a house in multiple occupation, after Leeds City Council took him to court. Mohammed Arass Butt pleaded guilty to failing to properly licence a property he owned on Stratford Terrace, Beeston. 26 Jun 2009 15:03:51 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1898.html 3DD0A119-E4ED-4C27-9C6B-97FFFBEEDEDD A Kent Landlord has been prosecuted by the county’s Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) for failing to ensure adequate fire safety measures were in place. Jawid Sied of Northdown Road, Cliftonville, appeared at Margate Magistrates Court recently following the issue of an Article 31... 26 Jun 2009 15:03:04 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1899.html 644605B2-28C5-4E0E-BCBC-849691500034 Rents dropped across the residential lettings sector but rental expectations suggest the trend is set to moderate, says the RICS Lettings Survey published this week. The net balance of Chartered Surveyors reporting falls rather than rises in rents fell from 48 percent to 55 percent, the lowest level in the series’ history (1999)... 24 Jun 2009 14:21:11 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1890.html 18DA51A9-DA72-4285-9C9A-FEBF8384D29E The actions being taken by lenders and the government's interventions to improve support for some struggling property owners, has resulted in the CML reducing its forecast for repossessions for this year from 75,000 to 65,000. This was one of the predictions by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) in its... 24 Jun 2009 14:21:00 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1891.html AA33EDCB-4679-433D-B2D9-D3D75600EAED Landlord Action, a company specialising in tenant eviction, experienced a record number of hearings in one day this month when they acted for landlords in 16 court cases around the country. Landlord Action director Paul Shamplina believes that this is a sign of... 24 Jun 2009 14:20:20 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1892.html 25F549D1-7A7D-48DB-ABAE-4B5BDEBC559B But to Let landlords with properties in potential flooding areas may be alarmed by latest research from the UK Climate Impact Programme (UKCIP) which suggests that 800,000 homes could be affected by floods in the next 25 years. The organisation says the government must act now in response to their warning that... 24 Jun 2009 14:20:02 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1893.html 1CE580FE-C862-4986-A0FB-E1A30A445B13 A training program which aims to help landlords improve and maintain properties and enhance their property management skills is being run by Landlord Accreditation Scotland in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council at the end of the month. The aim of the partnership is to support private landlords with information and... 24 Jun 2009 14:19:46 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1894.html 4455695D-B1D4-4EE4-9251-2B6D06AB7208 Tenants in rented residential property face a possible increase in service charges of 15 percent now and 17.5 percent from 1 January 2010 following a European Court ruling delivered on Thursday 11 June. The European Court was asked to reach a decision following a case in the Czech Republic, in which the tax authorities... 19 Jun 2009 11:33:30 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1885.html 3144DA51-86F8-4733-B741-3DFB7C1EC1AA Landlords can now go online to view a public register compiled by the OFT of estate agents who have been given warnings or been banned from estate agency work. Under the Estate Agents Act 1979 the OFT can issue warning and prohibition orders against... 19 Jun 2009 11:33:13 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1886.html 74749436-F848-4B1E-A26A-D3CC9E2899C8 Two estate agents expelled by The Property Ombudsman service at the end of May have now agreed to pay the awards made against them. The agents are Brooklands, of 94 High Street, Newton-Le-Willows, Merseyside, and DP Estates, of 12 Crouch Hill... 19 Jun 2009 11:32:59 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1887.html 68ED8108-4389-4DBA-8BEE-9E76736D6E3F Tewkesbury Borough Council has recognised that in the current climate many residents may end up as accidental landlords. The authority has therefore teamed up with LACORS to help people thinking of renting out their home. A statement from the Borough Council says: "As the credit crunch continues, many home... 19 Jun 2009 11:32:16 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1888.html 2F1BB031-8A2E-463E-BD4B-EAA98E28A425 Landlords in an area of Leeds are going to have to prove they are a fit and proper person, and that their property meets certain conditions before they are granted a licence to rent out their properties. New special powers granted to Leeds City Council cover parts of Cross Green and East End Park in which there are an estimated 400 private residential landlords. 19 Jun 2009 11:26:59 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1889.html D8ED058F-61EC-49CB-83F6-B5CF8D56E1AB More young people are turning to renting homes as the recession and credit crunch continues to dent the love affair with owning a property. Research has shown that historically most people aspire to own their own home, but a recent survey commissioned by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) suggests that... 17 Jun 2009 10:18:54 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1880.html 51277CC1-D91F-48D9-BA00-5EB6DDF1D225 The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) is publishing new guidance to reinforce that lenders act fairly in dealing with cases of arrears on Buy to Let mortgages. It follows previously issued guidance for lenders dealing with arrears on owner-occupied mortgages, which came into effect at the end of January. 17 Jun 2009 10:18:32 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1881.html 156EF001-EE6E-47EC-AD0B-D3F02A9325A8 A new initiative which could see hundreds of millions of pounds worth of new investment into the private rented housing sector has received 64 expressions of interest, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) announced this week. The HCA’s Private Rental Sector Initiative (PRSI) is designed to attract institutional investors. 17 Jun 2009 10:18:13 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1882.html 85165E71-4553-4BE2-8A1F-C82B7BDEBA8C The National Landlords Association (NLA) has welcomed Ian Austin MP as the new minister with responsibility for the private-rented sector. After two years of being in charge of the country’s rental sector, Iain Wright MP has now moved to another Government department leaving Austin. 17 Jun 2009 10:17:38 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1883.html 7AE4E07B-096E-434B-B503-6EAAE3F1ECF9 Landlords living or renting in South East London are being invited to a special landlord’s day at Lewisham Civic Suite in Catford on Tuesday, 23 June, between 1.30-6.30pm. Admission is free and there are free refreshments available all afternoon. 17 Jun 2009 10:17:08 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1884.html 07E1432D-B2BE-4114-938C-9E3DED946440 A phoenix could be rising from the ashes of what was the former National Federation of Residential Landlords. Last month a High Court judge dismissed a legal challenge to the NLA/NFRL merger which was announced in July 2008. Opponents to the move, who said they wanted to recover the Federation for its members, are now facing a huge legal bill. 12 Jun 2009 12:04:26 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1875.html 1BD33447-99C6-43D0-BB47-CE6444F43E72 A new incentive scheme is needed to help encourage landlords to modernise homes says the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA). With the number of properties for rent growing by over 17 percent last year, thousands of tenants are living in homes in need of modernisation... 12 Jun 2009 12:04:09 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1876.html 72BBE28F-0648-47AD-9D0F-54F123198116 Following hot-on-the-heels of its national launch, upad, the online property rentals company, is giving away £100,000 in free online advertising to UK landlords. Between 10th and 19th June 2009, upad will allow almost 1,700 ads to be posted at no cost, enabling landlords and estate agents across the UK... 12 Jun 2009 12:03:51 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1877.html 0EA3ABB0-CA35-4957-95E7-E3EF213EC9FA During the Buy to Let boom, property investors were buying places which they hadn't seen, or which hadn't been built yet, in a race to secure accommodation to rent out. But according to a recent report compiled by the BBC, for many that race has been... 12 Jun 2009 12:03:35 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1878.html 6F6DBD18-7431-48F4-9F19-2D7454C07B8C Three Lancashire-based companies which failed to pay over rental payments collected on behalf of landlords and failed to refund deposits collected from tenants have been wound up in the High Court following an investigation by Companies Investigation... 12 Jun 2009 12:03:15 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1879.html 80F14431-A974-4B52-9249-49245F8E4F67 Tenancy Deposit Solutions Limited (TDSL), trading as mydeposits.co.uk, has released a statement pointing out that the company should not be confused with MTD Secure Limited trading as mytenancydeposit.co.uk. TDSL says MTD does not operate a Government-authorised Scheme for the protection of tenants’ deposits within England and Wales. 10 Jun 2009 17:47:04 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1870.html E6D8BE73-3FF8-482D-B728-54FBDA18573D Repossession is both devastating and a personal tragedy. But for a buy to let property investor it presents an opportunity to invest near the bottom of the market cycle at prices substantially below market value with strong yields and positive cash flow, says... 10 Jun 2009 17:46:47 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1871.html EAD42883-FFDD-44D3-8F5C-9A997919EDFF With the launch of National Tackling Drugs Week, the National Landlords Association (NLA) is again taking the opportunity to warn landlords about the dangers of cannabis factories in their rental properties. Police forces across the country have reported a rising number of rented homes being used as... 10 Jun 2009 17:46:29 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1872.html 6AB17090-3950-43E1-9E89-A656371281E1 Budding landlords considering purchasing a buy to let property investment opportunity are being urged to look at David Wilson East Midlands’ Meadows Edge development in Melton Mowbray. The local housebuilder has six one-bedroom iLife properties for sale... 10 Jun 2009 17:46:13 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1873.html 8B60CE78-08D9-4C39-9AEB-53646F4F38E0 Private landlords in Goole were recently invited to attend a business seminar in the town as part of a new scheme by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council's private sector housing team. The informal event, held at Goole Leisure Centre on Monday, June 8, was organised as part of the Council's commitment to working in partnership... 10 Jun 2009 17:45:41 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1874.html 7F68010D-CF7E-42DE-A6E3-1D8BC4307783 With more people finding themselves homeless as a result of bad practice in the Sale and Rent Back market, the Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) has welcomed a recent FSA announcement regarding regulation. The CAB social policy officer Peter Tutton said: "We have seen where the sale and rent back sector has... 8 Jun 2009 10:19:34 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1865.html 94F549F0-830B-4068-AB7A-15264B594A89 Renting out properties to students can help landlords beat the recession, says Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction and rent arrears collection firm. It says that while much of the Buy to Let market is in the doldrums, student letting remains an appealing prospect as accommodation remains in hot demand. 8 Jun 2009 10:19:16 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1866.html D6FAB3A4-FA89-4F87-AA33-12BE988DB641 With the controversy over MPs expenses rumbling on, a property expert is estimating that taxpayers will save more than a million pounds a year if ministers and Lords are forced to rent accommodation near the Palace of Westminster rather than buy second homes in... 8 Jun 2009 10:18:57 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1867.html 27430FAF-131A-4D12-B9DA-8FAAAE0D7925 Edinburgh landlords are being urged to consider property upgrades to stay ahead of the competition. With more rental properties on the market than at any other time over the past five years, tenants have a wide choice of high quality accommodation with up-to-date fixtures and fittings. 8 Jun 2009 10:18:36 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1868.html 301DA6E4-B173-47F8-B211-E39A8BD30C2D A BBC business journalist who said on Breakfast Television that he would eat a computer mouse if The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee changed the base rate this month has been spared the microchip meal following the announcement that the... 8 Jun 2009 10:18:20 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1869.html BF4640BA-0350-42BC-8937-EB21218D3AE1 A new code of conduct and complaints system for residential landlords has been launched by the British Property Federation (BPF). The new scheme also offers a free downloadable tenancy agreement form which has been welcomed by Shelter, the housing charity. 3 Jun 2009 11:52:40 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1861.html 8A85D9E3-61AB-43DB-9192-94638277CFC9 Rental growth and high occupancy rates continue to attract investors to the student accommodation sector, though the limited availability of appropriate investment vehicles risks frustrating attempts by individual investors to benefit from the sector, according to a new report from Savills Research. 3 Jun 2009 11:52:23 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1862.html E38F3B8B-1F48-4D63-B679-B99FA90B05BC Buy to Let owners now face the prospect of being accused over the internet by tenants who dispute repayments of their deposits. Mydeposits.co.uk has launched an online dispute service means tenants can now make a complete claim online, something the company claims no other deposit scheme offers. 3 Jun 2009 11:52:01 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1863.html 0228F921-3BF6-4866-A903-A6B3604F9D26 Two estate agents have been expelled by The Property Ombudsman service after failing to pay awards made against them. One of the firms operated in the lettings market and can legally still deal with rental property despite the dismissal. Both were informed of the decision a month ago and asked for their dismissals to be delayed while they paid the outstanding sums. 3 Jun 2009 11:51:47 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1864.html 4E9747A1-30FE-49EB-91CC-73A28A909160 Harrow Council has broken up a property racket which allowed a landlord to make up to £36,000 a month by cramming families into single rooms in unsafe flats and houses. Raids led by the authority found families paying up to £1,000 for one room - in some cases little bigger than a box room... 29 May 2009 11:04:41 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1856.html DF2522A8-4CEF-4E78-BBDD-2D898DC22DAD The introduction of a ‘Facebook Rental Surgery’ is just one of the ways upad is embracing social networking as it rolls out its rental service nationwide. upad launched in London in October 2008, offering landlords a way of advertising their properties for a one-off cost of... 29 May 2009 11:04:22 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1857.html 2E0F6122-AD45-4CAF-B8EF-90B41F3D0F15 Misdirected post and utility bills wrongly addressed to landlords or previous tenants can provide fraudsters with ready material to steal identities and gain control of financial assets. And with identity fraud soaring by 40 percent during the recession, landlords and tenants at high risk of becoming victims this type of crime.... 29 May 2009 11:03:58 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1858.html ECA2E617-C993-4F68-8585-A8AC588A1AB4 The Buy to Let industry has been reacting to the Ministry of Justice and Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) recent mortgage possessions data showing Landlord Possession Actions during the first quarter of 2009. The figures showed that 35,745 landlord possession claims were issued using the... 29 May 2009 11:03:40 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1859.html 66373EF9-CCFC-44A3-8213-843B2BB0CF25 This year’s NLA Property Women Awards, organised by the National Landlords Association (NLA), is hotting up with nominations coming in from every part of the UK. Alongside the top prize is the NLA Green Property Woman Award, for those landlords who have made their lettings business and properties as... 29 May 2009 11:03:07 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1860.html DDD213CC-9191-47DA-A19A-B7E164D56FCD The National Landlords Association (NLA) is claiming a victory after the High Court dismissed legal challenges to the NLA/NFRL merger. In July 2008, the NLA believed it had come to an agreement with the National Federation of Residential Landlords to form the largest landlord association in the UK... 26 May 2009 13:09:29 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1851.html 67B556A1-97C9-4BCA-9ADF-EF06AE4682A4 There is a shift in the lettings market in the south from one that has been more favourable to tenants over the last few months to a more balanced market claims a leading lettings agent. Leaders’ managing director, Paul Weller, said: "Whilst it is still more of a tenants'... 26 May 2009 13:09:07 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1852.html A788BD99-B046-466F-82F5-4EB6884C8304 Letting agents came in for some harsh criticism over the way they dealt with tenants in the ‘Let Down’ report published by the Citizens Advice Bureau recently. But tenants are not the only victims of excessive letting agents fees and poor service, says Smartlandlord.co.uk... 26 May 2009 13:08:46 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1853.html 30CFD9D5-236D-4E8A-993D-8FC291CEA269 A private residential landlord has been fined after Rugby Borough Council took a second prosecution against him for failure to comply with 12 improvement notices. Nasir Ali of Manor Road in Rugby, had previously been prosecuted by the Council in August 2007 for the same offences, and was then fined £2,500 plus costs... 26 May 2009 13:08:26 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1854.html 38422B38-A371-4CD8-BF54-820D95BED328 The increasing costs of becoming a landlord may deter people from entering the Buy to Let market, warns Landlord Assist, the tenant eviction and rent collection company. Their comments come following the release of Government proposals aimed at regulating the property rental market. Under the new scheme, landlords... 26 May 2009 13:08:03 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1855.html 97D80033-0030-4E66-B084-FFB96DED1A32 Buy-to-Let owners who gain substantial tax advantages by ‘flipping’ second homes could now lose out due to the current controversy surrounding MPs expenses. The ability to generate tax free income by ‘flipping’ relies on tax law which, somewhat ironically, was extended in the last recession to help individuals forced to... 22 May 2009 13:12:58 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1846.html 2EFD862A-3585-4134-A197-F69CA1EE4235 Private tenants are being badly let down by a system that allows letting agents to operate completely unchecked, routinely ripping off tenants by imposing unjustified and excessive charges and providing a poor or non-existent service, claims a new report from Citizens Advice. 22 May 2009 13:12:13 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1847.html 6E4C18C7-FFFB-4CA1-A114-A05F164E8594 More of Britain's private residential landlords are renting their properties to housing benefit claimants according to the latest Landlords Panel report from research agency BDRC (www.bdrc.co.uk). Buy-to-Let mortgages are increasing in cost and reducing in availability, but many private tenants are under increased financial... 22 May 2009 13:11:45 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1848.html F1B8FDEC-7625-48DE-B7F2-BDCB1FCCCB8D The National Landlords Association (NLA) has announced the appointment of a new member of the Board of Directors. Sussanne Chambers, a Worcestershire landlord for 21 years and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, is described as having a passion for property management and her... 22 May 2009 13:11:27 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1849.html 8D8310CA-3D50-4937-A25E-43DA91888BB9 National letting agents Martin & Co has been awarded the UK’s ‘Best Large Letting Chain’ at the Estate and Letting Agency Awards (ESTAs) in London. The award was presented to Ian Wilson Managing Director of Martin & Co by media personality and journalist Phil Spencer of Channel 4’s... 22 May 2009 13:10:49 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1850.html 28ECBB70-AA7A-4B70-A436-46EE11DA850A Government proposals for a register of English landlords would require landlords to list both their own details and those of their rental properties. The proposal, one of many recommendations included in the Government’s recently published response to the Rugg Review into the private rented sector, is for a register to be run by an independent organisation. 18 May 2009 19:13:06 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1841.html 49CF85EC-AB09-432B-A432-A07B60F2F724 New buy to let lending fell for the sixth consecutive quarter in the first three months of 2009, reflecting the continuation of extremely challenging funding conditions as well as general housing market weakness, the Council of Mortgage Lenders has reported. 18 May 2009 19:12:49 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1842.html 594A358C-DA25-417C-91A6-45EE76000EBB Buy to Let owners were among the 12,800 first charge mortgage repossessions in the first quarter of this year, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders. The figure compares with 10,400 repossessions in the fourth quarter of last year, and 8,500 in the first quarter of 2008. 18 May 2009 19:12:16 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1843.html 563CE83C-4AE1-4A5B-B771-0FB78EF881DD In a bid to safeguard its landlords, Lighthouse Property Services is including 12 months’ Rent Guarantee insurance as standard within its private sector management packages. The change by the letting agent followed increasing reports that tenants are falling into rental arrears as the recession bites. 18 May 2009 19:12:00 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1844.html CABE8299-9BF3-42D6-A325-9548C52091F3 By the time a landlord gets a possession order, unwanted tenants have very often already left owing thousands of pounds, Landlord Action partner Paul Shamplina has told The Telegraph. Shamplina, who has been responsible for around 14,000 tenant removals, was the subject of a... 18 May 2009 19:11:31 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1845.html EF8BA9A8-578D-4DF6-AB11-941043ECE59E Introduce a national registration system for landlords will not have the required effect, fears Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction and rent collection service. Plans being floated by the Government would require all private landlords to be registered before being permitted to let residential property. 14 May 2009 11:49:26 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1836.html 9D596EAE-8099-4048-A03B-713C4C03D925 Private sector rents are falling throughout Scotland according to research by Citylets, an online letting portal.Levels of rental stock are rising as more home movers are forced to let their unsold properties. This is causing rents to drop, despite high demand, and increasing the likelihood of void periods for... 14 May 2009 11:49:11 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1837.html 9764C07E-D6CB-4CDC-8167-E738A19B6D63 Disputes involving lettings agents have shown a slight rise of three percent this quarter, although the figure is way down on the 200 percent rise over the whole of last year as many more lettings agents joined the Property Ombudsman redress scheme. As in 2008, the most prominent reasons for disputes arising from... 14 May 2009 11:48:28 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1838.html 31CE76DC-2E98-4950-B67B-8050378B8AA6 The investigation into MPs expenses has drawn attention to some payments claimed for renting second homes from residential landlords. Newspapers highlighted one example in which Sinn Fein chiefs Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness and the party’s three other MPs claimed £310,000 to rent second homes... 14 May 2009 11:48:04 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1839.html 283AE5EB-6500-4F65-A553-6C3080368587 New buy to let landlords face a difficult task finding a suitable mortgage warns the price comparison website moneysupermarket.com. Its research shows that in the last two years the number of buy to let mortgages available has fallen from 4,384 to just 213 - a reduction of 95 percent. 14 May 2009 11:47:51 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1840.html EB9612C2-096C-4101-B7CC-6E30C8A78CAF Rapid growth in private landlords in England and Wales has resulted in more tenants being exploited and abused by unscrupulous operators says the government. Ministers are now drawing up plans that would force all private landlords to pay a registration fee before they could rent out a property. 11 May 2009 14:38:00 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1831.html FA3CDC6C-D6CD-4E49-BFA0-612471761A36 The need for letting agents to be licensed came into the spotlight again this week when two different stories on the subject emerged. The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) has proposed a voluntary licensing system, but this could be overshadowed by a proposal by Margaret Beckett, the housing... 11 May 2009 14:37:47 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1832.html FE3B2BBA-FCD6-4D0F-9F4D-AFCB5D5576E1 A landlord has been convicted of benefit fraud amounting to more than £8,000 after failing to let the local authorities know that some of the tenants he received housing benefit for had moved on. Eugene Burton, aged 57, of the Mersey House Caravan Park, in Partington, near Manchester, pleaded guilty to being... 11 May 2009 14:37:20 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1833.html 89FC0200-D40C-43F9-9FA4-2304BA8A89BB The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has voted to maintain the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 0.5 percent. The Committee also voted to continue with its programme of asset purchases financed by the issuance of central bank reserves and to increase its size by... 11 May 2009 14:37:03 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1834.html EC4AF487-A7BE-49D1-8AF1-96A68C6A72A6 Landlords are being asked to help in the making of a programme on pensions for ITV1’s Tonight with Trevor McDonald. The programme makers want to speak to buy to let property investors who have decided that this is a better way to boost their retirement fund rather than making pension contributions. 11 May 2009 14:36:40 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1835.html 929AB450-1EFB-4B05-8DD0-3B7B22994B1E Pension funds could be encouraged to invest in the private rental sector in a bid to help boost the housing market as part of a new proposal by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). The organisation has launched an expression of interest process for the new initiative... 6 May 2009 17:21:02 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1826.html 6AE6EF76-C205-4778-8187-EE7FB127DC4A Women in property are positive about the future with 62 percent planning to expand their property portfolio in the next 12 months and a further 32 percent admitting that the credit crunch has had no impact on their portfolio plans. These were the findings of a survey by National Landlords Association (NLA) which also... 6 May 2009 17:20:21 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1827.html DF93875B-EA8E-4C83-B972-AE9E053AC453 The average monthly rental bill has grown by £4 (1 percent) to £638, according to lettings agent, Your Move. But it’s not all bad news for tenants. Those who sign up for a lease now, are saving £1,020 a year on their rent compared to those who signed up last summer. 6 May 2009 17:20:04 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1828.html BEB799E0-B952-402F-BF76-3970DB965F6A Shelter Scotland has called for a review of the compulsory landlord registration scheme, introduced three years ago to protect tenants, after it discovered that one in four rented properties were not registered. The charity’s director Graeme Brown insists there needs to be a better enforcement of the scheme despite claims from the government that it is working efficiently. 6 May 2009 17:19:47 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1829.html 2E9813A8-FEDE-4D77-8680-1638CF47BC90 A licensing scheme for private landlords was launched last week in parts of Hartlepool. The local authorities have stressed that the overall aim is to improve the management of the private rented sector. The selective licensing came into force on Friday (May 1). 6 May 2009 17:19:31 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1830.html 62DD32C6-600C-4EA7-A207-7B91196F44F2 The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) has labelled the Chancellor’s recent Budget, 'wholly unsatisfactory' for having failed to improve rental housing stock for a growing number of tenants. Ian Potter, operations manager of ARLA said: "Alistair Darling had a clear opportunity to improve the bottom end of the rental market and... 6 May 2009 17:14:41 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1821.html 955CECDB-935B-4132-A154-C2C702A1B47F The landlord of a property in Newham has been heavily fined in Stratford Magistrates Court for serious breaches to the Housing Act 2004. Kuldip Singh Minhas claimed he was waiting for his tenant to move out before undertaking the improvements... 6 May 2009 17:52:04 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1822.html BDF7E5FF-AAEF-4976-A18F-F0963AA89C50 A plan by Camden Council to privately rent out some of its housing stock to help generate revenue for the authority’s coffers has received a frosty response from residents in the North London Borough. It has been revealed that Camden is looking at renovating up to 500 properties which would then be rented out to tenants on the open market. 6 May 2009 17:14:11 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1823.html CEF1D811-386D-4E8A-BAD8-5B6EC22B4F62 A buy to let landlord has come under fire for allowing huge piles of rubbish and rotting waste to build up in the garden of one of his properties. Morteza Saffar, who it is believed owns around 50 properties in the Norwich area, has already been the subject of controversy... 6 May 2009 17:13:55 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1824.html 95AA7F54-F732-4734-8DC4-0B7EFD4A3155 A 58 year-old man from Normanhurst, Ashford in Middlesex, has been given a suspended prison sentence for having fraudulently received benefits amounting to £9,400.01 between July 2007 and June 2008 to which he was not entitled. 6 May 2009 17:13:09 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1825.html 0425E074-A1CF-4A4A-B449-2AF08AE9C6C6 Lord Richard Best, a prominent figure in the UK housing sector, has become chairman of the independent council that oversees the Ombudsman for Estate Agents scheme. A leading authority on social provision in the UK who was recently appointed to lead a new Commission on the Future for Housing in Northern Ireland... 22 Apr 2009 19:23:26 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1816.html 08ACC93D-FFE6-42D0-A5F7-346550961995 A campaign by the Evening Times in Scotland to highlight shocking cases of over-crowding and sub-standard housing in places like Govanhill in Glasgow has led to a warning from housing minister Alex Neil that there will be no hiding place for slum landlords in the city. The SNP minister told the newspaper that he would use whatever powers are at his disposal to... 22 Apr 2009 19:23:05 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1817.html FF31DA41-AD15-4600-B468-0B828157C77F IF an alien landed in the capital, it would be forgiven for thinking that we’d been taken over by 'To Let' boards, says The London Paper which covers the pluses and pitfalls about renting in the Capital in a feature by Peter Knight. IN 2006, Buy to Let mortgages were among the most searched subjects on the internet... 22 Apr 2009 19:22:43 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1818.html 22F8E33F-1948-4886-9B4B-78F26F71332D Private residential landlords in Hull are being informed that they may be eligible to have gas central heating installed in their properties at a reduced rate under a discounted gas central heating scheme. It is one of the pieces of help and advice being offered by... 22 Apr 2009 19:22:25 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1819.html 841F8EA7-3C22-492E-8638-0AFE6E28950A A residential landlord has pleaded guilty to defrauding his local authority of benefits intended to help a tenant who had moved out. Tarlochan Dhaliwal, aged 28, of Park Crescent, Erith, Kent, admitted defrauding Bromley Council of housing benefits totalling... 22 Apr 2009 19:22:00 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1820.html 5A944460-E03D-4C31-93BB-6114484E0ED6 The law in this country is not very helpful to good landlords. This is the opinion of motor racing legend Stirling Moss who built up a Buy to Let property portfolio following his retirement from the circuit in his early 30s after a crash which nearly killed him... 20 Apr 2009 12:38:46 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1811b.html 4622EEA2-C119-427C-8BA5-6DE7157B3668 Will The Government Ignore Its Own Report On The Private Rented Sector? This is the question being posed by David Lawrenson, an independent property expert and author. He said: "I see the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) would like institutional investors to support the private rented sector by trying to get them to build lots of new build homes... 20 Apr 2009 12:38:24 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1812.html E45A9D71-5751-40B2-9BE5-2C3E43A25262 The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning to landlords about cutting corners with gas boilers after magistrates ordered an Essex man to pay £20,000 in fines and court costs. Former landlord Adrian Ellis admitted five breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 when... 20 Apr 2009 12:38:06 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1813.html 2FC7C0A1-D189-4B47-ABA7-48C7C1EE072E South Staffordshire Council is hosting an event for residential landlords who rent houses privately in their area. The Private Landlords Forum is being held on Wednesday 22 April, at the Council Offices in Codsall, starting at 6.30pm. The key speaker at the event will be Wayne Owen from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE)... 20 Apr 2009 12:37:48 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1814.html 91705427-21FC-4BF6-9986-90B8A32E56D6 Aberdeenshire landlords are being invited to sign-up for a series of training sessions which aim to promote best practice in the private rented sector. It has been organised by Landlord Accreditation Scotland in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council. 20 Apr 2009 12:37:24 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1815.html 6FA64FA4-6BDD-4901-82D4-BE867322DD39 The Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA) has found further proof that a glut of inexperienced landlords is being created as more frustrated sellers turn to the lettings market. Lettings agents responding to the ARLA Members’ Survey of the Private Rented Sector reported an increase of property coming onto... 17 Apr 2009 14:26:13 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1807.html 52B06095-D439-4BD3-9435-1BFBB179DF7C Growth has slowed to a near standstill in some of the recognised Buy to Let holiday home hotspots such the South West of England and East Anglia, where numbers are up by just 0.7 percent says Savills Research department. There have also been significant falls in second home ownership in areas such as... 17 Apr 2009 14:25:52 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1808.html 7ADD52FF-E10C-479C-8A4A-1DB1710E9BF6 Residential Landlords who are keen on going green have been watching the proposals for eco towns with interest since the Government announced it would consider plans put forward by local authorities. Since the announcement, 45 councils have come forward with plans for new homes and jobs to respond to... 17 Apr 2009 14:25:30 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1809.html A771CBA7-7142-44EF-B226-A389973477D9 The practice of uploading photographs on to Facebook, the internet social networking site, led to one landlord discovering that her property was being damaged and abused by her tenants. Carolyn Lorimer was looking at some of her friend’s photographs of a party she had attended when she noticed the venue was very... 17 Apr 2009 14:25:10 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1810.html B85708BA-EB06-4E45-9C98-83FC2BB4F21B A man who hanged his mother's springer spaniel after her landlord told her she couldn’t keep it in the property she was renting, has been jailed by Bradford Magistrates for 24 weeks and banned from owning animals for life. 17 Apr 2009 14:24:50 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1811.html 5057F46E-E1A0-4050-9C7A-D8666EA91A33 Buy to Let investors looking for places where rents are likely to increase in the next few years will be looking at the planned improvements to the UK rail network which will attract commuters needing accommodation within easy reach of London... 14 Apr 2009 19:08:24 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1802.html 635F4848-BECE-4114-BA07-20D8DC13E9B3 Landlords are becoming the victims of the recession and need to be protected from problem tenants, says Landlord Assist, the tenant eviction and rent recovery specialists. Their comments follow recent figures published by mydeposits.co.uk, that state that when disputes go to adjudication 91 percent are settled in the tenant's favour... 14 Apr 2009 19:08:07 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1803.html 204F69E7-8803-4AA8-A432-656CC8AAAA83 Landlords should be aware of the hefty fines that will now be imposed if they don’t adhere to the latest legislation, which makes it a legal requirement for all residential properties to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) as part of a HIP before they can be marketed for sale, or a standalone EPC for pre-marketed lettings... 14 Apr 2009 19:07:53 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1804.html F2AF4CAF-35C4-4B6C-B022-4DEA45974595 The property industry is broadly supporting a joint campaign recently launched to protect tenants who face sudden homelessness because their rented accommodation is repossessed, but issued a reminder that it was often the non-payment of rent that... 14 Apr 2009 19:07:37 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1805.html F434A3C6-384B-44D9-A4BF-3528B2CE8A90 RICS Code of Practice for Service Charge Management published today (6th April 2009) has received Government approval from the housing minister, Iain Wright MP, Communities and Local Government. The code of practice, first published in 1997, has... 14 Apr 2009 19:07:13 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1806.html 57DCD17D-E176-4707-B9E8-9642ED3D0ED9 A landlord with 193 properties across the UK has been put on notice not to repeat the failings that led the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to prosecute him for not complying with an Improvement Notice served on him to provide one of his tenants with a gas safety... 9 Apr 2009 14:23:04 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1797.html 93A7E5B9-8B21-4B15-8B88-58FAC37050C5 Demand for rental property in Prime Central London has increased by 20 percent over the past year, but this has been more than offset by a 67 percent increase in supply says Knight Frank. The letting agent reports that this has led to rents in the Capital falling by 7.4 percent during the first quarter of the year - the second largest... 9 Apr 2009 14:22:42 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1798.html D79FA96E-9346-4F41-842C-D6DD1F17BBF7 Prospective tenants looking for a flat or house to rent are being warned about a new online rental property scam. When they make contact with the 'landlord' the potential tenant is asked to show they can afford to pay a deposit by transferring money to a friend or relative using a money transfer agent like Western Union... 9 Apr 2009 14:22:21 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1800.html EBB15570-EFB2-443C-9B60-9207DCBCA731 Residential Landlords with properties in the swanky London borough of Kensington & Chelsea will be pleased that new research has found this area to be the safest place to live in England and Wales. The risk of criminal damage, burglary and flooding was found to be by far the lowest, while at the other end of the... 9 Apr 2009 14:20:03 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1799.html 631F3F0F-A680-46DD-AB29-20BD17D10584 The controversy over Home Information Packs (HIPs) rumbles on with one group of property professionals claiming they are stopping people from putting their properties up for sale. HIPs were back in the headlines this week because from now on property investors and other homeowners must make one... 9 Apr 2009 14:19:43 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1801.html 6099F4A9-34BA-4089-B335-984E368B9EFD Major changes to the way housing benefit is paid to tenants wastes millions of pounds and will result in increased homelessness, according to a piece of research just published by the National Landlords Association (NLA). Local Housing Allowance (LHA) was introduced for new tenancies in April 2008 when... 7 Apr 2009 15:29:30 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1792.html 56252308-3710-4910-A735-08F6D84A5DB1 The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has been given further backing in its attempts to prevent Foxtons from using what it considers to be unfair terms in its lettings agreements with landlords. A Court of Appeal Judgment has confirmed the OFT’s views on the application of the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract... 7 Apr 2009 15:29:12 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1793.html 129ED8BA-CE9C-46F3-807D-7FB1B348B7F5 Landlords selling their properties must now have a HIP in place – not just ordered - before it can be put on the market. From 6 April 2009 it also became necessary for vendors to complete a new Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) detailing important... 7 Apr 2009 15:28:59 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1794.html 583F8ADB-EE5F-43E7-87CB-36E19D6CF801 A landlord, whose methods had been the subject of a BBC documentary, has been given a 12 month jail sentence for refusing to pay the £20,000 he had been fined for various indiscretions. Christopher Mincham had been given a £16,000 fine for fly tipping on Hayling Island and a further £4,000 for renting out a property... 7 Apr 2009 15:28:30 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1795.html 57D1D033-2C26-4844-B13C-3426CE36DBA2 The London Borough of Hounslow is reminding private residential landlords that it is their responsibility to ensure that their tenants are disposing of their waste correctly. In its latest newsletter it says landlords should make sure all tenants know how and where to dispose of their rubbish, and how to recycle as much... 7 Apr 2009 15:23:21 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1796.html F7A862DC-CC17-42A5-971F-E26D46A25D13 There have been changes in the legislation regarding gas safety in rented property. From the 1 April 2009, engineers must now be registered with Gas Safe Register, which replaces CORGI as Great Britain’s gas safety body and is now the new hallmark for gas safety in the UK. 2 Apr 2009 11:52:47 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1787.html 7587463F-3DF7-4FAB-B58F-40F4438ABA2F The National Landlords Association (NLA) has published research revealing 37 percent of landlords currently have tenants in arrears. Looking back over the last six months, 44 percent of landlords have experienced rental arrears. This goes some way to explaining the significant rise in repossessions... 2 Apr 2009 11:52:35 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1788.html 782E3FC9-F1F6-4369-B1E1-412B6523AC2D At the approach of the second anniversary of mandatory tenancy deposit protection next week (Monday, 6 April), the Tenancy Deposit Scheme reports that it is protecting over £800 million pounds in tenants deposits, an increase of a quarter of a billion pounds in less than 12 months. 2 Apr 2009 11:51:56 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1789.html FB8084BA-3243-4BB6-9887-7E73AA738CB5 Over half of private sector rental properties in England and Wales are still not fully ready to go digital, despite the fact that switchover has already begun, according to research carried out by Sky. The company carried out detailed physical surveys of 129 blocks of flats... 2 Apr 2009 11:51:34 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1790.html 9AB602A2-DA32-41E9-B2B8-EC7AD23AB336 As a growing number of accidental landlords continue to enter the market, email4property.co.uk, a UK network of estate agents, has launched an online guide for first time landlords. The guide offers new landlords advice on all aspects of the lettings market from tips on selecting a lettings agent to information on the ongoing... 2 Apr 2009 11:51:13 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1791.html F06A46CD-BB3A-47F9-986F-E5340DF79292 There has been a renewed interest in the buy to let sector, reports Knight Frank’s residential development team, because it looks more attractive to invest in property rather than leaving savings in the bank not making any returns right now. 30 Mar 2009 19:12:31 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1782.html DD0090DC-CB4C-4D6C-92C9-4CA688ABA2C8 Residential Landlords are often tempted to offer a property unfurnished, to save both time and money, but given that there are no strict rules on furnishing a property, this could turn out to be a major factor in attracting a suitable tenant. Carl Mimmack from letting agent Accord, which has offices in... 30 Mar 2009 19:12:13 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1783.html 7AE371F8-A050-42A1-8849-981B3E3475A3 NLA Scotland has welcomed the review of the private-rented sector published today by the Scottish Government indicating that Scottish tenants are marginally happier with their landlords than tenants south of the border. The review, highlighting the greater role Scotland’s private residential landlords... 30 Mar 2009 19:11:53 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1784.html 1FD28432-8ED0-496E-8989-10FEA9EFFCD6 Until the property market settles down, there will be an increased demand for private rental housing. However, the buy to let market will remain muted at this time. This was one of the statements made by residential experts from CB Richard Ellis at a recent... 30 Mar 2009 19:11:25 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1785.html 08375A12-9477-491B-ADFB-AD612775435C Housing officers called in to investigate a complaint of damp, mould, rats and rubbish in rented accommodation in the London Borough of Hounslow discovered that although the shared house had originally been registered, the company who managed the property had sold it on. 30 Mar 2009 19:10:59 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1786.html D5FE2748-A4C1-45D2-B758-87F0B539AF53 The dispute over the merger between the National Federation of Residential Landlords (NFRL) and the National Landlords Association (NLA) took another turn during High Court proceedings in London last Thursday. Following instructions by the judge, the legal teams representing those involved were told to draw up a list of questions that could be put to the NFRL. 26 Mar 2009 13:44:57 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1777.html BEF9E3EA-E734-4A78-8A59-2C88AC4920B2 Rents dropped across the residential lettings sector as would-be-sellers continued to flood the rental market with unsellable properties, says the recently published RICS Lettings Survey. Between the third and fourth quarters of 2008, the net balance of Chartered Surveyors reporting rises (rather than falls) in rents fell... 26 Mar 2009 13:44:37 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1778.html B9A5AD8B-5317-4F4D-82BD-B8B6CBCC2462 The 200 percent annual increase in letting-related complaints reported by Christopher Hamer, the Ombudsman for Estate Agents highlights the need for the public to be more aware of rapid changes in the property letting industry claims the MD of a nationwide lettings agency. 26 Mar 2009 13:44:21 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1779.html C64BF32D-2D95-42DB-A3A3-FBFB86B69685 The time is ripe for would-be landlords in London, believes James Davis, founder of online property rental site, upad.co.uk. Davis does not agree with reports that London property rental prices have decreased by 15 percent over the last year, although he does... 26 Mar 2009 13:43:57 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1780.html 46125A7F-66B1-4FDA-B7DE-96D33664EAE7 Buy to Let investors who purchase a new George Wimpey property at The Presidents near Mildenhall or Concept in Red Lodge, Suffolk can enjoy yields of between 6 and 10 percent according to local rental agents. 26 Mar 2009 13:43:34 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1781.html 236F0011-B60C-4773-9EB3-53552CDA405D The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) has called on Chancellor Alistair Darling to strengthen his proposals to protect tenants from repossession, alongside urging the Treasury to implement measures to increase both supply and quality in the private rented sector. 23 Mar 2009 18:25:23 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1772.html E1DB6414-21B1-479C-B277-877BE82A1E0A First there were 'accidental landlords' and now there are 'unplandlords' according to a website which claims to feature more than 100,000 rental properties. According to Gumtree.com rental prices in the UK have dropped dramatically in the last quarter, by as much as 6 percent in some areas, due to the knock-on effect of... 23 Mar 2009 18:24:51 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1773.html 0A166721-B013-4B91-B5CF-36CE799750CB You probably wouldn’t leave your credit card in a stranger’s hands for fear of what damage they might do with it, so why are residential landlords so willing to leave one of the most expensive things they own - their property - in the hands of strangers they know nothing about? A new survey by buy to let specialist... 23 Mar 2009 18:24:37 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1774.html 931B628B-894D-4328-8AA8-1795B9E6AAEE Ombudsman for Estate Agents Christopher Hamer is seeing a major switch towards disputes covering lettings as the profile of the property market changes. During 2008, the period covered by his latest annual report, membership of an agents’ Ombudsman scheme rose by 17 percent. At a time when overall sales activity across the market dropped by as much as... 23 Mar 2009 18:24:26 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1775.html B412C8D4-E208-4EB6-9DD8-301E54E06A91 Residential Landlords are not claiming back tax on energy efficient improvements they have made to their rental properties, according to a recent HMRC report. As a result of this hundreds of thousands of pounds are going unclaimed each year. Landlords can claim back the costs of buying and installing energy... 23 Mar 2009 18:22:26 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1776.html B332BCC0-0B0C-4F22-A306-3C2138E02663 Property investors who specialise in student accommodation are preparing for a bumper year, as poor unemployment prospects drive a surge in university applicants keen to avoid entering the current job market. University applications increased 8 percent in... 17 Mar 2009 16:41:52 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1767.html 0A66F411-A95C-432D-AD45-690D238B9EFD The National Landlords Association (NLA) is warning residential landlords to be vigilant of the way their properties are used, following a BBC news report into cannabis factories. Although this is not a new problem, the NLA is reminding landlords to be aware of what could be going on behind the doors of... 17 Mar 2009 16:41:30 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1768.html F2EF564C-2BAF-42AB-A28F-A921CEEF61A7 Thousands of landlords could lose their buy to let investments as they struggle to meet repayments once interest rates return to more normal levels, warns Property Portfolio Rescue. The property recovery specialist estimates that landlords could make up over 20 percent of all repossessions by the end of... 17 Mar 2009 16:41:12 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1769.html 21F83319-D30C-42A4-9268-F9B17F752A2E The Landlord Accreditation Scheme in Wales has launched a brand new service, The Landlord Finder, to help tenants identify reputable residential landlords and agents. The new finder can be found on the Landlord Accreditation Scheme website Welshlandlords.org.uk. It gives details of landlords who have... 17 Mar 2009 16:40:25 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1770.html BE1F44A7-E628-4B45-ADE6-555CF9E38F9F Residential landlords and buy to let investors looking to buy or sell property can take advantage of what the organisers are claiming is the UK’s first free national property auction. Property auctioneer Pattinson, the company launching the new scheme... 17 Mar 2009 16:34:34 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1771.html 57534D97-7E6F-41F7-8DA2-68132932301E Buy to Let investors who have seen the value of their homes decline will be hoping Savills research department is right when it says the worst of the falls in the residential market could be over. Savills warns further price falls are expected but changing market conditions mean that the rate of fall may not be as great as it has been. 11 Mar 2009 16:30:56 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1762.html 2F3EA8F8-18A1-42BC-A833-C413BADA310F The decision by the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to reduce the base rate by a further 0.5 percent will broaden the divide between the mortgage ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ says Neil Young, CEO of the Young Group. 11 Mar 2009 16:30:35 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1763.html B848E11B-FBE9-4584-B848-0E6587608922 City of York Council has published its Private Sector Housing Strategy 2008-2013. It sets out how the council and its partners will work to improve the condition and management of owner occupied and privately rented homes in York. The last private sector housing strategy was published in 2003 and the new... 11 Mar 2009 16:30:16 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1764.html A53E681C-A5E9-462A-BD3F-1CA8F3333078 Portsmouth City Council has successfully prosecuted a landlord for unlawfully evicting a tenant. The landlord was given a 12 month community order involving 150 hours of unpaid work by Portsmouth Magistrates. He was also ordered to pay £650 towards court costs. The eviction occurred after a dispute about payment of rent. 11 Mar 2009 16:29:44 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1765.html 1E588A17-9F2C-4632-AEAC-8741F8E3AF0A ASBOs are being introduced by councils in an attempt to stem the tide of To Let and For Sale boards posted all over their boroughs. Anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) are usually associated with teenage hoodies making a menace of themselves. 11 Mar 2009 16:28:19 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1766.html CE8A0D5C-0056-4548-AB3E-0888E6EDBC19 Residential landlords keeping an eye on the value of their property investments in the current economic climate won’t welcome the fact that the average house price is now £156,753, down almost £28,000 on January 2008. The news was revealed in the latest figures from Land Registry. 6 Mar 2009 14:31:37 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1757.html 4A966583-67F0-4013-B5EF-3D473EDD6FFC Dragons Den star James Caan told a recent meeting of Oxford University students that despite the current downturn in the economy, the UK property business is still the focus of his investments. And one of these investments is a website that helps residential landlords and tenants. 6 Mar 2009 14:32:42 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1758.html FB8F64B2-99A8-480E-9367-8605882E6C8B Last year Salford City Council became the first local authority to issue a landlord licence under its selective licensing for all landlords in the area. Now it believes it has recorded another ‘first’ in the Greater Manchester area after successfully convicting a landlord who failed to get a licence for his rented property in Salford. 6 Mar 2009 14:33:00 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1759.html E1FDEC6B-118F-4D9A-A512-FDF04AF0DB5D A privately rented home, which became the first property in the country to be taken over by a local authority because of its almost derelict condition, has been completely renovated. And the cost of the repairs and improvements will now be charged back to the residential landlord who will be given back... 6 Mar 2009 14:33:16 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1760.html F60BB52B-FD86-4DD8-A719-117C5887390B Two brothers who owned and rented properties in London have amassed a total of £41,000 in fines over the last year for disobeying planning and safety laws. In January Sajid and Shakil Ismail were fined £4,000 at South Western Magistrates’ Court after... 6 Mar 2009 14:35:02 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1761.html DFF6846E-9D54-4372-ADE4-B7142A96F16A There will be almost 7,000 buy to let properties repossessed this year if repossessions continue at the same rate as the last quarter of 2008 (see story below) says Landlord Assist. With unemployment anticipated to reach 3 million by 2010 this figure could increase significantly... 3 Mar 2009 15:16:13 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1752.html 30E1CB9A-A6B5-466A-A435-18AC2AEF28D5 New lending for buy to let continued to decline in the fourth quarter of 2008 according to figures released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. There were 37,000 new loans, worth £3.9 billion - 12 percent down (19 percent by value) on the third quarter, and 56 percent down (65 percent by value) compared with... 3 Mar 2009 15:15:48 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1753.html 2BAF8D46-3699-4963-AF25-87569BD17AB1 Tenants in London are enjoying new buying power as an oversupply of rental property, combined with uncertainty in the job market, causes rents in the capital to slip by an average of 15 percent, reports Cluttons. Tenants in secure jobs are seizing the opportunity to trade up the lettings ladder, securing bigger, more... 3 Mar 2009 15:15:31 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1754.html AC1DE3C4-77E9-4EB3-8A7B-6E6D254237B0 Buy to let investors are on the list of property specialists being targeted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as part of a campaign to increase health & safety awareness. Robert Parkes, of HSE’s National Construction Division, said... 3 Mar 2009 15:15:15 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1755.html B5F69663-196F-4192-8B46-1F7F75988114 Residential Landlords could see the value of their properties all even further before they start to bounce back according to Jones Lang La Salle. The agent’s latest residential market forecast predicts that house prices in the UK are set to decline on average... 3 Mar 2009 15:14:59 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1756.html BA8E61B0-87D3-4E82-AE94-D145B6765DC1 With 63 percent of Brits planning to shun hotels for a buy to let holiday home this year, new research by Holiday Cottages Group reveals it’s not bad weather and spending time in close proximity to the other half that gives people the holiday blues - it’s bad decor! In the current economic climate, the demand for UK holiday homes to rent has soared... 26 Feb 2009 19:02:36 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1747.html 89084A95-30BC-475F-9B7B-6E13D9071DBD The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued another warning to residential landlords about potentially unsafe gas installations in tenanted properties following a fatal tragedy. It follows the prosecution of Shahid Hussain, a member of a family who manages a family business that owns and rents out a number of properties in Burton-on-Trent. 26 Feb 2009 19:02:17 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1748.html EF29EE62-A756-4321-82E9-9BAFB7C9FEA7 Resumption of new mortgage lending by Northern Rock will help ease property finance crisis says the Council of Mortgage Lenders. Northern Rock has announced that it is to increase mortgage lending by up to £14 billion over the next two years. A new business strategy has been agreed that will see around £5billion of new... 26 Feb 2009 19:01:53 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1749.html C15B7525-054A-4F85-AB3C-509AB3CA260A Buy to let investors who want to appeal to film buffs have a chance to snap up a slice of true cinema history in the form of the remote Cumbrian cottage which Richard E Grant and his sidekick escaped to in the cult 1986 film Withnail and I when it goes under the hammer... 26 Feb 2009 19:01:03 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1750.html 6F68B8F3-6BCD-4643-86F2-609E0256DD27 With many property developers already suffering from the effects of the economic downturn, some may be tempted to cut corners when developing property, but compromising on safety can cost them dear, and could put them out of business. 26 Feb 2009 19:00:38 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1751.html 7D8CD057-1310-4281-BFE4-063E57C5A7B6 Glasgow's 16,000 private residential landlords and letting agents are being encouraged to sign up to a new national accreditation scheme. Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Community and Safety Services (GCSS), in partnership with Landlord Accreditation Scotland (LAS), launched the Glasgow leg of the... 23 Feb 2009 18:10:31 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1742.html 7D93A5D8-EDC3-4D57-86F6-E42A3C68AAF0 Police are urging landlords to do regular checks on their rented properties after two men were jailed for setting up a cannabis factory in Burton. It follows an earlier warning from Norwich Union that a landlord’s insurance may not cover them if it is found they didn’t make adequate checks on tenants found to be running... 23 Feb 2009 18:10:15 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1743.html D8CFB57A-F31F-4FFB-A7DD-674EDA977A42 A police raid on a rented property in the Wythenshawe area of Manchester uncovered a pirate DVD factory which was producing counterfeit films, music and games. Market trader Steven Healey was recently jailed for running this and another counterfeit DVD operation... 23 Feb 2009 18:09:59 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1744.html E3306DA5-F00C-4137-B34F-513C32517705 A property author and landlord expert is calling on the government to extend the Landlord Energy Savings Allowance to cover the replacement of old boilers. David Lawrenson of www.lettingfocus.com said: "The current tax regime in the UK is confusing and does little to encourage landlords to replace old boilers. 23 Feb 2009 18:09:30 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1745.html 7F8A754E-4CA9-4170-BD04-F469A28A74F1 Nearly a quarter of old aged pensioners fake references when applying for a new property, according to new research published by the Letting Protection Service (LPS). In a poll of 10,000 landlords, 21 percent claimed to have received a fake reference from a prospective tenant aged 60 and over... 23 Feb 2009 18:09:01 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1746.html 93ECAE5F-36D5-4BD3-9495-5E323FC04701 As both house prices and interest rates fall, Residential Landlords with finance are still looking for bargain opportunities says the recently published RICS’ UK housing market survey. Expectations that sales will increase have turned positive once again with 10 percent more Chartered Surveyors expecting sales to pick up in the coming months. 18 Feb 2009 19:36:11 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1737.html 10628149-F518-434E-91B7-E2D0821732D6 A Landlord who failed to keep her property up to a safe standard was ordered to pay more than £5,000 in fines and costs at Preston magistrates’ court recently. Elizabeth Jones of the Boulevard, Preston was ordered to pay a £1,500 fine together with... 18 Feb 2009 19:35:13 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1738.html 02C663AC-A658-4FBD-AC38-13948D22C711 Landlord Assist, the dedicated service run by property law experts to secure property and arrears of rent for landlords of residential property, has launched a new company blog. The blog, which can be viewed at www.landlordassist.blogspot.com, provides news updates on current events, plus... 18 Feb 2009 19:34:57 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1739.html CEBA9019-8D1C-4521-8A1F-58D508CD96B2 A Fire Safety Logbook to help landlords maintain high standards of fire safety in their properties has been published by The National Landlords Association (NLA). The online tool, which is available free to NLA members, allows residential landlords to keep a record of... 18 Feb 2009 19:34:37 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1740.html 83533D1F-2407-42B1-B00D-2F539E5FEFBE Would-be tenants searching for their ideal home on the internet have a one in three chance of being disappointed because the property they would like to rent has already been let. This is the key finding of research carried out by online property rental specialist upad.co.uk who claim that letting agents are uploading... 18 Feb 2009 19:33:53 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1741.html 67B2D173-85BF-45ED-8F16-A64E434ABC3B As both house prices and interest rates fall, Residential Landlords with finance are still looking for bargain opportunities says the recently published RICS’ UK housing market survey. Expectations that sales will increase have turned positive once again with 10 percent more Chartered Surveyors expecting sales to pick up in the coming months. 15 Feb 2009 15:57:18 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1732.html A8E53E5F-157C-4C06-BC9F-C069C42115BC Residential Landlords in a Lancashire district may be offered loans as part of a new Empty Homes Action Plan to renovate problem sites. It is one of the options being considered by Pendle Borough Council to overcome the problem of an estimated 2,000 empty homes in its area. 15 Feb 2009 15:57:04 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1733.html 2A24FB23-6264-4088-ABB3-959B76D97D6B With the current weather producing 94 flood warnings across the country, properties belonging to residential landlords will be among the one in four homes in England and Wales are at potential risk from flooding according the Landmark Information Group. 15 Feb 2009 15:56:50 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1734.html EFA5CB74-D448-4819-A052-047215D70183 Landlords in the greater Norwich area are being offered a helping hand through a variety of soon to be launched initiatives. The Norwich landlord forum hosted by Norwich City Council, in association with the greater Norwich housing partnership (GNHP), made up... 15 Feb 2009 15:56:27 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1735.html 63B2BBF0-3EAE-4E2B-A2F3-A10F2A470527 Residential landlords are being given an extra incentive to sign up to Charnwood Borough Council’s specialist website that aims to give a fresh start to empty homes. The Authority’s Strategic Housing and Health Directorate has negotiated a number of discounts for property owners who register for the online Tenant Finder, Fresh Start and Landlord’s eForum. 15 Feb 2009 15:56:14 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1736.html 046A5ED5-6A87-438C-A76C-810C2DFB4903 The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee’s decision to cut interest rates by 0.5 percentage points to 1 percent presents an opportunity for investors says one property company. Property experts broadly welcomed the recent cut but still maintain other measures are still needed to stimulate the market. 11 Feb 2009 18:55:33 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1727.html FFEDE6FF-5D73-42C2-9BEE-507D1EAF6661 A Government consultation document setting out the details of the proposed legislation over the unregulated sale and rent back sector will close on 1 May 2009. The consultation will decide if companies offering sale and rent back agreements, which may target... 11 Feb 2009 18:55:15 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1728.html 7DA804F2-69D9-4CEE-B447-FDFC46170FD6 Newham Council has signed a 20-year £174 million contract with Swan Housing Group under the Government's Private Finance Initiative that will see improvements to around 1,300 properties in Forest Gate. The contract will ensure that around 900 rented council dwellings are brought up to the Government's Decent Homes Standard by 2012 with... 11 Feb 2009 18:54:37 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1729.html 95174A50-821A-4FB9-8D5D-C7F0D03F0B93 A landlord who failed to ensure a wholesome supply of water to his property pleaded guilty to failing to comply with an Emergency Prohibition Order (EPO) pursuant to Section 43 of the Housing Act 2004 when he appeared before Holyhead Magistrates Court recently... 11 Feb 2009 18:54:19 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1730.html 4C46F756-DE26-43B2-8ED2-FC369E0BD17F A landlord who ignored calls for him to improve his cold, damp property has been ordered to pay almost £2,000. Andrew Bevan, who lives in Southend on Sea, was convicted of failing to comply with an Improvement Notice for the house he let on Kara Street in Seedley, Lancashire. 11 Feb 2009 18:54:01 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1731.html 90110955-F0A5-43F8-950E-78D7AE38EB9A This week’s further base rate cut by the Bank of England is unlikely to have a material effect on the overall state of the mortgage market, the Council of Mortgage Lenders has concluded. On Thursday the Bank brought the base rate down to an all-time low of 1 per cent. Landlords with interest only and tracker mortgage arrangements stand to benefit from the cut. 6 Feb 2009 13:38:59 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1722.html E6635EFF-D43F-44F1-AD5E-CAAFC250E82D A residential landlord is suing Foxtons estate for more than £16,000 in damages for allowing a 22-year-old ‘Russian prostitute’ to move into one of her Chelsea properties. The woman did not pay further rent after handing over payment for the first month in advance. She left after three months, but not before damaging the property. 6 Feb 2009 13:38:41 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1723.html B57CE8F4-5638-48F3-9F54-A59E965CEDB1 '‘Accidental' landlords are being warned that they must take care if they are not to suffer even more as the recession takes hold. "We have observed a 68 percent increase in the number of rental properties in January compared to a year ago, with a large majority coming from homeowners not wanting to sell in a depressed market," said Virginia Skilbeck, director of... 6 Feb 2009 13:38:06 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1724.html B74B7884-C1B4-4BD7-A9E8-3484EAB4363F A landlord has had his fine reduced from £7,500 to £2,500 in recognition of making an early guilty plea to charges arising from his failure to license a house in multiple occupation. Gravesham Borough Council told Dartford Magistrates Court that Paramjit Singh Bansal, of Milton Road, Gravesend had jeopardised... 6 Feb 2009 13:37:44 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1725.html DF836503-A37C-4D44-A9EC-DEFF81716859 Buy-to-Let residential landlords looking for investments will be studying the opportunities on offer at Blundells’ first auction of 2009 in Sheffield. Sixteen lots will be going under the hammer at Sheffield Park Hotel, Chesterfield Road South, on Tuesday, 17 February. Price guides range between £20,000 and £165,000. 6 Feb 2009 13:37:16 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1726.html 8104860D-EF99-4F9D-A7AC-AC547F2BCDAD Despite the government's assurances that repossession will be an absolute last resort it is anticipated that the number could hit 75,000 over the next year. With increasing numbers not being able to pay the mortgage or rent, Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction service are seeing an increase in... 4 Feb 2009 14:17:25 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1717.html E2F8F995-B6A0-4ACD-B4F3-D279FE5D2725 The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has issued formal notices to 16 sale and rent back firms asking them to substantiate claims they make in their adverts. Sale and rent back firms buy homes from individuals, usually at a significant discount, and then rent them back to the previous owners... 4 Feb 2009 14:16:37 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1718.html 7071263F-680B-4DC5-BB3B-6CAAAAE50A9B Residential landlords in England and Wales saw house prices fall by two percent in December. According to the latest figures from Land Registry the average house price is now £158,946 representing an annual decrease of 13.5 percent. But another property company says there has also been a 30 percent increase in rentals... 4 Feb 2009 14:16:20 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1719.html 0945AC34-2A07-4785-A818-D6902DA669DE An E-Petition on www.number10.gov.uk, the official website of the Prime Minister's Office, which pleaded ‘give more rights to landlords to evict bad tenants’ attracted less than 20 signatures. The petition submitted by Asif Mirza said: "There are many good tenants but occasionally you come across a tenant who... 4 Feb 2009 14:16:04 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1720.html 817B494F-CF67-4D74-BB6F-0F9FA4F4EEE3 Kettering Borough Council is the latest authority to team up with its local Landlord Accreditation Scheme to raise the standard of privately-rented homes and reward good residential landlords in the area. The City of Lincoln Council also gave its support to the East Midlands Landlord Accreditation Scheme... 4 Jan 2009 14:15:03 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1721.html 8712C8C1-E99A-47D3-B8D4-0683B37519DE Representatives from the property industry met at the British Property Federation’s (BPF) Annual Residential Conference in London to call for a radical shift to rental. With repossessions almost doubling and other property owners facing negative equity, the BPF believes a professionalised, branded rental sector... 30 Jan 2009 11:11:23 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1712.html D66B286F-2D89-46B9-9514-195935792A8C More than 10,000 homes in Hammersmith and Fulham are set to benefit from a new efficiency partnership designed to radically transform the lives of social housing tenants and local leaseholders, and address the needs of the city's most vulnerable communities. Hammersmith and Fulham Homes (H&FH) is... 30 Jan 2009 11:11:05 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1713.html 8049556B-571A-4367-B05C-7DBE1FAF4418 Electrics can be a tricky and confusing subject for Landlords, but with new energy saving products on the market, now is the time to save energy and money. There is more and more legislation that both tenants and Landlords should... 30 Jan 2009 11:10:21 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1714.html 25D97F22-A764-4F6D-96C6-0C2C0C7739D9 Residential Landlords in Norwich have helped the City Council exceed its target to add 1,000 extra homes to the city’s affordable housing stock earlier than expected. In a bid to meet the ever increasing demand on waiting lists, the council set itself the challenge of getting 1,000 new affordable homes in Norwich between April 2006 and April 2009... 30 Jan 2009 11:09:54 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1715.html C09C1EB0-BB6B-4BB5-B766-1236472278ED A landlord has failed in his appeal to have his conviction overturned for dumping rubbish from one of his houses in an alleyway. Mehrban Haq, of Rawstrone Street, Blackburn, was convicted following a trial last July for failing to show that he had exercised... 30 Jan 2009 11:09:35 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1716.html 70AEFA53-401E-4F86-AB0E-7BF23DBF7F13 The provisions of the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 should be extended to lettings and management agents recommends Professor Colin Jones's Review of Regulation and Redress in the UK Housing Market published by the Department for Business... 28 Jan 2009 14:02:16 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1707.html 5A7EB4FC-B17E-4764-AD4F-09F5F4D66817 The National Landlords Association (NLA) has called on landlords in London and the South East to shop around for letting agents that do not charge unfair, ‘money for nothing’ renewal fees. The organisation believes many residential landlords in London and the South East continue to be charged fees of around... 28 Jan 2009 14:01:59 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1708.html DC85CBF2-7F8E-424B-AEA6-3AA45BE41A26 Gross mortgage lending reached an estimated £12.6 billion in December, down 11 percent from £14.2 billion in November and 47 percent on December 2008, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders. This is the lowest monthly figure since April 2001. 28 Jan 2009 14:01:44 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1709.html 8C39F145-CFA7-4660-87BE-DC5955D25639 Help with finding a good private landlord is one of the services being put in place by the City of Edinburgh Council in an effort to prevent homelessness in the city. The City Council has commissioned the new services to assist people who are faced with the possibility of losing their home and are part of the... 28 Jan 2009 14:01:21 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1710.html 1CD9A4A8-2AD8-4FA2-BDE2-B509ED3A8150 A selective licensing scheme for residential landlords is now operating in part of Bolton which is one of seven places chosen for the plan by the Department for Communities and Local Government. The purpose of the scheme, which came into force on November 10, is to ensure that the area’s tenants are treated fairly by private landlords. 28 Jan 2009 14:00:41 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1711.html 7E8B8EB2-7809-452A-A5FA-FEA96B97B69F With the current economic situation and property slump reducing the value of their property investments in the past year, residential landlords on variable-rate mortgages breathed a sigh of relief following the recent cuts in the base rate. But already they are faced with another problem - the growing prospect of... 23 Jan 2009 12:44:22 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1702.html AE9032FC-8A53-4CD7-B858-A965DA579520 The City of York Council has carried out its first prosecution of a residential landlord under the Housing Act 2004 after he failed to complete repairs in a tenant’s home. William Silcox of Pinnar Lane, Southowram, Halifax was fined £300 after pleading guilty to non- compliance with a Housing Act Notice when... 23 Jan 2009 12:44:05 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1703.html 3F47EF4F-47DF-4FB9-968A-3D6DBB91F13F New research by Holiday Cottages Group reveals an increasing number of second home owners are now considering renting out their other property. According to its survey of more than 2,000 second home owners, 55 percent are planning to join the holiday lettings market because of the current economic climate... 23 Jan 2009 12:43:47 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1704.html 8AE58ADF-BB92-49B5-A19D-1F55B9CC0FCF The National Landlords Association (NLA) has merged with the South of Scotland Private Landlords Association (SoSPLA). The organisations say this latest merger safeguards the interests of landlords in Southern Scotland and furthers their ability to communicate with government at all levels, from... 23 Jan 2009 12:43:26 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1705.html 19602680-0989-47CA-A792-B24EA52E8F3B Renting a home in the UK will no longer be taboo in 2009, according to James Davis, founder of online property rental site, www.upad.co.uk. He predicts that the UK property market is heading towards the European model where it is commonplace for... 23 Jan 2009 12:30:35 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1706.html 19207EAB-D6AB-4C74-8680-3B011D65A55C The National Fraud Strategic Authority (NFSA) is predicting more property investment scams will be exposed as the house price slump continues. The statement follows a case involving five company bosses who operated a buy to let scheme that defrauded property investors out of an estimated £80m. 21 Jan 2009 13:12:11 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1697.html 9914476C-661D-4517-B1A4-2D31EE0D79FE A large majority of UK landlords refuse to be forced into selling properties as a result of the credit crunch according to a report by the Residential Landlords Association (RLA). The organisation, whose members own more than 100,000 properties throughout... 21 Jan 2009 13:11:53 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1698.html 9A6EC618-F0F1-4672-AC82-9BFC429B2504 A Landlord has been fined nearly £10,000, including legal costs, after ignoring seven improvement notices served on him by Camden Council relating to his property. The house belonging to Gihan Herath had severe damp, poor insulation and dangerous... 21 Jan 2009 13:11:23 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1699.html D0817827-0F18-434B-8F8A-1F82B6E7D2AC Residential Landlords and homeowners are being advised to find out if their property could potentially be exposed to dangerous levels of toxic gas, and other environmental risks, via the website www.homecheck.co.uk. It follows a recent study by the University of Oxford that claims approximately 1,100 people in the UK die every year from... 21 Jan 2009 13:11:04 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1700.html 200C76B0-B956-4C31-8268-01A4E93F7EB3 Council launches training sessions for private landlords A training programme which aims to help residential landlords improve and maintain properties and their property management skills is being launched by Landlord Accreditation Scotland in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council. 21 Jan 2009 13:10:42 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1701.html 520E9CCB-9DB7-4DEC-88A4-2DD362E1334B Residential landlords who use the services of estate agencies may be affected by a major change being proposed by a leading industry figure. Bill McClintock, chairman of the board of the company operating the Ombudsman for Estate Agents (OEA) scheme, is calling for the registration of individuals working within the estate agency industry. 16 Jan 2009 15:39:40 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1692.html 255C7317-67CC-4EED-B6D7-7D20C0C3F743 The average number of property transactions per surveyor fell to a record low in December despite buyer interest remaining strong says the RICS’ UK housing market survey published this week. The average number of transactions per agency (over the last three months) is now at 10.1, a drop from... 16 Jan 2009 15:39:26 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1693.html D8BB4746-10FC-4E4F-AE26-6470E855DC48 Two landlords have been fined for offences after being taken to court by Nottingham City Council. Keith Prior from Clifton was ordered to pay a total of £430 for the illegal deposit of domestic waste in the area. Nottingham Magistrates’ Court was told that he deposited a sofa, two matching chairs, mattress, a bed base and... 16 Jan 2009 15:39:02 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1694.html 53898D6A-FBEB-483A-84E7-BDF00E1083A2 Tenants in the South East of England are most likely to damage property according to new analysis from The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS). More than 40 percent of DPS disputes between landlords and tenants have occurred in that region. In some circumstances tenants have trashed houses, let... 16 Jan 2009 15:38:17 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1695.html D18BB7AD-9AE3-43E9-BBC5-36A269FABE2B A Kent residential landlord will be returning to court next month (February) to find out whether he is going to be sent to jail for a continued breach of health and safety regulations on two properties he rents out in Yarmouth. 16 Jan 2009 15:37:36 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1696.html 30E9F0BD-EC36-42A1-ABEF-DE59EF67A14F Residential landlords are continuing to take the long view over their buy to let property investments according to a review by the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA). They expect to hold them for up to 20 years and, even if house prices continue to fall, they do not intend to sell. 13 Jan 2009 18:27:42 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1687.html 9DA97468-BA28-47E6-9FDC-51DECA5574B3 Residential landlords may be turning a blind eye to vital home repairs because of fears over money claims a home improvement website. According to a survey commissions by eGenie.co.uk three out of four property owners are putting off hiring professionals to carry out maintenance work because they... 13 Jan 2009 18:27:27 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1688.html E9D1E3A4-DEAE-428E-AD03-83742550B861 Birmingham City Council has prosecuted a residential landlord who failed to obtain Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licences. Mohammed Sajad Akbar, of Moseley, pleaded guilty at Birmingham Magistrates Court and has been fined a total of £14, 591. Mr Akbar had rented four properties to students in Selly Oak... 13 Jan 2009 18:27:05 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1689.html E32C6337-72E2-4DAF-A3FD-CA7EC29586C3 A company, which acts as the landlord to a Windsor property, is suing a government department for more than £300,000 for allegedly not keeping it in good repair. The trade publication Building magazine carried a story about the dispute involving Marchmont (Friargate) and the first secretary of state. 13 Jan 2009 18:26:02 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1690.html 2A0E33F1-5D9D-4F9B-90B4-6DC46984750B The landlord services provided by Bridgnorth District Council have been labelled a poor 'no-star' service, following a recent assessment by the Audit Commission. This was the first inspection of the council’s landlord services and was made... 13 Jan 2009 18:25:48 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1691.html B19EF0FE-C895-440A-B407-5CC7D6064FD0 The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has again warned all landlords to ensure gas appliances are safe for tenants following the successful prosecution of a landlady who failed to ensure the safety of gas appliances in one of her properties. 13 Jan 2009 18:25:22 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1686.html B2734D28-EEE2-4769-A084-3E00B814A902 At the insistence of their insurers, The Tenancy Deposit Scheme will only provide deposit protection and alternative dispute resolution to letting agents who are members of recognised professional bodies. From 6 April 2009, only regulated letting agents and corporate and individual landlords will be covered by... 9 Jan 2009 18:22:26 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1682.html 260E26C2-5CA5-4203-B785-404CFCB962DB If the major lenders do not pass on the latest base rate cut and without stronger commitment from the Government to fully address the problems of the housing market the Bank of England’s recent announcement is practically an exercise in spin claims Peter Bolton King, Chief Executive of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA). 9 Jan 2009 18:22:05 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1683.html 16A2E1FC-9B2A-4D70-988D-97706B20592F An £18m deal to provide more rental accommodation and affordable housing has been announced as part of the Government's programme of action to tackle current difficulties in the housing market. The deal has been done through the Government’s National Clearing House with Bovis Homes, which enables... 9 Jan 2009 18:21:18 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1684.html 49D0E0BC-CDC8-4E87-B8E7-0527589F53A8 Residential landlords looking for good mortgage deals may turn to HSBC which was recently found to be the most consistently competitive mortgage lender during 2008 through analysis by online mortgage company www.mform.co.uk. The bank, which did not take part in the Government banking bail-out... 9 Jan 2009 18:21:01 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1685.html 4B0B0174-FE71-4755-A094-C1D449A97EA6 The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has again warned all landlords to ensure gas appliances are safe for tenants following the successful prosecution of a landlady who failed to ensure the safety of gas appliances in one of her properties. 9 Jan 2009 18:20:46 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1686.html E8020255-FB51-498B-9B43-C5863AFD229E Despite the turbulence of the economy at large, 2008 was generally a favourable year for the lettings market claims the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA). Its members found no shortage of new instructions from vendors who were having difficulty selling at the prices they had become... 5 Jan 2009 18:42:32 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1677.html 2FB2E4A2-EA24-48C8-B743-2F3B9F5C4DC8 Residential landlords saw the values of their property fall by 12.2 percent in November, according to the latest figures for England and Wales from Land Registry. The average house price is now £161,883 representing a monthly decrease of 1.9 percent. London experienced an annual decrease in its average property... 5 Jan 2009 18:42:08 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1678.html 11D83F9C-D672-401F-B828-8B736B94E5ED Prime Central London rents fell by 9.6 percent over the last three months of 2008 according to Knight Frank’s rental index, by far the largest drop since the company started publishing its quarterly figures in 1995. Rents have now fallen for three consecutive quarters, by a total of 12 percent, taking rents back to the level... 5 Jan 2009 18:41:50 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1679.html 66D2CC7C-0435-4D74-B8D7-FC51C1BF2A8F The National Landlords Association in Scotland has warned landlords that they face massive fines if they do not provide Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for prospective tenants. Since 4 January 2009, all landlords starting new tenancies in Scotland must provide tenants with an EPC or risk being hit with a fine of... 5 Jan 2009 18:41:32 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1680.html 6B40C8C6-8B14-421D-A800-CB31612034B3 Bath Building Society says it has the answer for student's accommodation needs with its unique Buy for Uni mortgage product, which it claims is the only one of its kind in the UK market. The society maintains that the recent fall in house prices across the UK... 5 Jan 2009 18:40:41 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1681.html 467D3353-DDD0-47B1-9316-3129FA1C7077 There are glimmers of hope in the latest house price statistics, the National Association of Estate Agents has reported. Although house prices 'plummeted' across the country the percentage of first time buyers increased - for the third month in a row. NEAE estimates that between October to November, the average... 23 Dec 2008 15:57:58 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1672.html 3F5D5FB4-2571-4455-BBCD-2DF90A889E3A A VAT break for properties that have been empty for more than two years should be extended to all empty properties, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has told the Government. Cutting VAT on the renovation and repair of residential properties from 15 per cent to 5 per cent would encourage owners of... 23 Dec 2008 15:56:54 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1673.html 544B6FE9-293E-4F27-9F7D-973228A4D53A A landlords' organisation has pledged to redouble its efforts to persuade the Government not to add further bureaucracy and over regulation to the private rented sector. 'The National Landlords Association will continue to develop and grow as the pre-eminent organisation for landlords in the UK and for the private-rented... 23 Dec 2008 15:56:25 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1674.html AB79A9A4-BBCF-48AC-9177-AD4B55EB2F16 November gross mortgage lending was barely half the amount of a year ago, the Council of Mortgage Lenders has revealed. The estimated 14.6b pounds was also 22 per cent down on October. 'While there is typically a decline from October to November, this is considerably larger than usual reflecting the market disruption and continued deterioration of confidence in the economy'... 23 Dec 2008 15:53:48 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1675.html 3091B15F-4C46-4CB2-8259-6CF8078E608B Buy to let investors have been warned to take prompt action when issued with home improvement notices after a Peterborough landlord was fined and landed with a repair bill after ignoring council demands for improvements to his rental property. 23 Dec 2008 15:52:15 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1676.html 2F7A73AB-AA0A-4CAB-8F3C-514760185187 Buy to let landlords are among a ‘high risk’ group of people who evade their fair share of tax in the black economy and should face far tougher penalties claim MPs. The allegation was contained in a report in The Telegraph and followed a previous disclosure by the newspaper that the Public Accounts Committee... 16 Dec 2008 18:15:30 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1667.html 55A91BCC-B4F2-4270-9684-2798AE9399E1 Lengthy negotiations have been held between a private residential landlord and Wakefield Council to purchase and demolish his property to make way for a £4.5m regeneration project on a Hemsworth Estate. The estate has been plagued by anti-social behaviour and vandalism and the planned redevelopment... 16 Dec 2008 18:15:02 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1668.html 77913F90-8BB1-4F62-BA9B-CDB1C3AA4841 The head of a Buy to Let Empire that went bust earlier this year owing millions to creditors has set up a new company offering minimum investment and maximum return property deals. Jim Moore formerly ran Inside Track Seminars (ITS) and Instant Access Properties (IAP) which promised to help investors make... 16 Dec 2008 18:14:46 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1669.html 501F1A3B-D6FA-45A7-9DA9-AD7ACC8BD467 Specialist lettings agency Belvoir has released figures claiming an impressive 21 percent month-on-month increase on its 2007 figures. It has opened three new offices in Chichester, Newcastle Central and Glasgow North, which together with the resale of a Cheshire office brings the total number of Belvoir Franchises... 16 Dec 2008 18:14:29 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1670.html D0AAF9E5-7252-4020-ABBC-1A2218103AF1 The National Landlord Association is sponsoring Cardiff Council’s next Landlord Open Day being held on Monday 16 March 2009 at City Hall. Doors will open at 4.20pm and refreshments will be supplied throughout the afternoon... 16 Dec 2008 18:11:34 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1671.html 8122091C-FA8C-435F-A484-4C38242A5BAA A year after calls for investment warnings on all Buy to Let mortgages, the FSA has taken no action, claims solicitors and repossessions specialists Moore Blatch. The firms warns that with the number of loans in arrears approaching 2 percent and repossessions now standing at 0.22 percent the scale of the problem calls for... 12 Dec 2008 18:15:27 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1662.html 24F8051E-5F1B-4362-B97B-814BF87D5653 The national approval rate for Scotland's Landlord Registration Scheme has risen to 85 percent, up from only 15 percent in April 2007. But the Scottish National Landlords Association (NLA) still urges local authorities to focus on tackling those rogue landlords who are ‘playing' the system and not working within it... 12 Dec 2008 18:15:09 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1663.html DD29DFEE-994D-43EE-93AD-8CB8DE592876 The Government’s recent announcement that it is increasing Home Information Pack (HIPs) regulation has attracted criticism from members of the property industry who say it will increase the costs on people trying to sell their home at a time when the housing market... 12 Dec 2008 18:14:54 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1664.html 6C41F61C-E9AC-4F9A-BEE9-1336A6A5A4A5 A Residential Landlord who failed to comply with a notice to rectify hazards at a shared house that was divided in to bed-sits has been fined £2,000. Mark Neale prosecuting told Nuneaton Magistrates Court that the Council’ s Environmental Housing Section had advised the owner of the house in Marlborough Road... 12 Dec 2008 18:14:26 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1665.html AFD99313-E65B-4FB8-B91A-39D2F2447164 Buy to let investors who are trying to attract new tenants may want to take heed of a recent annual survey which lists home seekers’ most hated eye-sores. With Christmas just around the corner it’s interesting to note that festive lights have slipped down the rankings of home seekers’ most hated eye-sores... 12 Dec 2008 18:13:24 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1666.html 339B93E4-BB21-4A79-9D91-CFFB2EE2953A Buy to let owners will be exempt from the Government's new Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme designed to prevent repossessions by helping those who experience a significant and temporary loss of income as a result of the economic downturn. The details of the scheme are still being worked out with lenders but the... 10 Dec 2008 13:13:00 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1657.html 9CC1A60C-69C9-44E8-881B-BCEAEA846CF1 The National Landlords Association (NLA), which provides landlords with a tenant referencing service through NLA Tenant Check, has published research showing that 71 percent of landlords expect rent arrears to increase during 2009. Of those questioned, just one percent felt that rent arrears would decrease... 10 Dec 2008 13:12:42 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1658.html DAD7D387-6B68-4EA9-816E-1206D9F041AF Nine out of 10 investment landlords are marking time, neither selling nor buying residential rental property, even though asset values and rental yields have fallen, according to the fourth quarter Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA) Members Survey of the Private Rented Sector, published this week... 10 Dec 2008 13:12:22 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1659.html 1052A732-EA5B-4D43-A727-5085B909CC60 Buy to let investors they must provide sufficient evidence should they need to withhold part or all of a deposit warns mydeposits.co.uk, one of the Government-approved tenancy deposit protection schemes. Some disputes arise because the landlord... 10 Dec 2008 13:12:06 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1660.html 6D1A6110-F823-4D34-8F9B-C4124E0D2DA6 A Nottingham residential landlord has been ordered to refund 80 percent of his tenants rent after he failed to apply for a HMO Licence and let the house they were living in fall into disrepair. Michael Singh owned the property at 69 Lenton Boulevard and rented it to five students from the University of Nottingham... 10 Dec 2008 13:10:54 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1661.html B9621A44-AB88-4682-B7D6-D52C9A3A91FB The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee decision this week to reduce the official Bank Rate by one percentage point to 2 percent could boost treasury coffers by more than 400 million pounds, according to property portfolio managers, Young Group which provides Property Portfolio Management services to... 4 Dec 2008 14:25:59 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1652.html 1632477B-B407-48B9-A99B-BAA0F6C99785 Buy to let investors who need advice on the legalities of property management, possessions and repossessions can take advantage of a specialist Property Recoveries and Litigation unit developed by law firm Spratt Endicott. The new unit will provide expert, legal support specifically for landlords, agents and developers. 4 Dec 2008 14:25:39 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1653.html B4CC3E4D-BF8E-4D59-AA4D-669EDF7B38CB Residential landlords are turning their backs on families on housing benefit following changes to the law claims the Landlord Action organisation. The introduction of the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) in April has meant a growing numbers of landlords losing out on rent; and the situation is worsening as the credit crunch... 4 Dec 2008 14:25:24 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1654.html 53FD1830-3C57-4A82-846B-04C5A0685471 Problems with buying property in Scotland are leading more people to take longer leases with residential landlords, according to one a Scottish letting company. Braemore Property Management has said that more tenants, particularly those whose property plans... 4 Dec 2008 14:25:07 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1655.html 8D1B86C5-20BA-4850-AE9B-54ACDDF427B0 The Government is committed to not bringing forward knee-jerk legislation that would hamper the growth of the private rented sector, but instead will target the rogue operators which give responsible Residential Landlords a bad name. This was the claim of Iain Wright MP, minister with responsibility for the private-rented... 4 Dec 2008 14:24:42 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1656.html D3BC1757-D42D-41BD-ADB1-ACF260917723 Buy to let investors saw the value of their properties fall by 0.4 percent in November according to the latest Nationwide house price index, but the annual rate of fall has moderated to 13.9 percent. The price of a typical house is now £158,442. This is about £25,000 less than this time last year but is still about £25,000 higher than in November 2003... 2 Dec 2008 13:21:50 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1647.html 0B7281F5-4EAE-43D4-A8A4-66DFFF2484D8 Residential landlords have not been properly consulted about changes in housing benefit policy by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) according to the British Property Federation (BPF) which therefore wants the moves dismissed... 2 Dec 2008 13:21:34 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1648.html 1F12A544-111C-44CD-A114-67AF6D8BC299 Demand for Buy to Let mortgage products has decreased compared to before the credit crunch began say 73 percent of mortgage intermediaries. These findings came from a survey conducted by Pink Home Loans which also revealed that only 11 percent of the mortgage intermediaries questioned have... 2 Dec 2008 13:21:13 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1649.html 1E162225-CFE2-46E1-949F-1C6C9E29586B Lighthouse Property Services, which specialises in student and private lettings, has been selected as the sole letting agent for 18 new apartments in Lincoln aimed at over 55s who want independent but supported luxury living. Venables Court is a United Health development providing two-bedroom... 2 Dec 2008 13:20:58 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1650.html 21A3EBA7-5745-4938-82DD-3709F8F71BD0 A Wales-wide scheme has been launched by Deputy Minister for Housing, Jocelyn Davies to provide advice and support to residential landlords in order for them to provide good, well managed accommodation. The Landlord Accreditation Wales Scheme sees the landlord receives the accreditation... 2 Dec 2008 13:20:30 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1651.html 521A3282-75E0-4ABA-9DFA-B45E62978BB3 A KENT landlord has been fined a massive 99,000 pounds and ordered to pay costs of 5,835 pounds by magistrates after admitting he failed to comply with regulations on the management of houses in multiple occupancy. Ludomir Szulc, who the court heard rented out bedsits in his eight-bedroom property in Priestlands Park... 28 Nov 2008 15:44:39 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1642.html 868F06BE-48FD-4982-B5B8-3EC442980977 A buy to let investor who carried out an illegal eviction has been ordered by Rugby Magistrates to pay a total of 3,075 pounds made up of a 660 pounds fine, 2000 pounds costs and 400 pounds compensation to his former tenants, plus a Victims Surcharge of 15 pounds . Thomas Barney, ignored advice given by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council... 28 Nov 2008 15:44:22 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1643.html 26C4D10A-3A92-4185-91A2-EFD5F5027040 Estate agents who are finding the pressure too great in the residential sales market should think carefully before they switch into lettings instead. That's the advice of Bill McClintock, chairman of the company that operates the Ombudsman for Estate Agents scheme. 28 Nov 2008 15:44:02 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1644.html E094D861-59C7-4547-9D97-29787A95A794 More property organisations and industry specialists have been broadly welcoming Chancellor Alistair Darling's recent Pre-Budget Report, but many are still concerned that it will not be enough to jump start the housing market. Jon Neale, head of development research at Knight Frank, said: "The additional 150m pounds announced for the construction of... 28 Nov 2008 15:43:43 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1645.html 9E1E0B62-99DF-4899-9E92-0F47AF295C86 The Chairman and Board of the National Association of Registered Home Inspectors (NARHI) has confirmed that from October 31 2008 it ceased operations. This, claims the organisation, is due in the main to the failure of Government policy to make Home Condition Reports (HCR) a compulsory element of the... 28 Nov 2008 15:43:20 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1646.html 869619B1-8442-40C0-BEE9-7CA355B32137 Medway Council has become the first authority in the country to be granted powers to take over the running of a privately let house after the residential landlord failed to carry out improvements. It took a tribunal panel just 15 minutes to award to award the council’s housing team an Interim Management Order (ITO) during a recent residential property tribunal. 26 Nov 2008 11:39:20 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1637.html 2DE40379-E76B-4AD4-A37C-36F3B08C20E7 Buy to let mortgages, which have in the past shown better performance than the overall market in terms of payment profile, are beginning to suffer according to the latest quarterly data on arrears and repossessions published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). The data was released shortly before... 26 Nov 2008 11:39:01 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1638.html A92154D6-5873-4836-9258-53F0D36A8AB4 During the first year of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, the dispute rate was less than predicted according to the Annual Report of The Dispute Service which was published this week. Disputes accounted for 1.76 percent of the total number of registrations. 26 Nov 2008 11:38:35 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1639.html 7B94CC6C-731D-4726-9989-36B8733FA9CA The Pre-Budget Report (PBR) issued by chancellor Alistair Darling this week will not transform today's housing market but will at least give it more of a fighting chance. This is the view of Neil Chegwidden, Head of Residential Research at Jones Lang LaSalle. Overall, there were a raft of small measures in the PBR, such as the temporary reduction in VAT... 26 Nov 2008 11:38:14 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1640.html 1A511241-F8D6-4131-B52F-BE7620505793 The annual Buy to Let Guide published this week reaffirms the need for residential landlords and the private rental sector as prime elements of the housing market and is expected to encourage further sensible investment in the rental sector. 26 Nov 2008 11:37:58 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1641.html 136D4618-1EF8-42D3-A3A4-CE4D816A315D The National Landlords Association (NLA), which represents private residential landlords, believes the new breed of ‘reluctant landlords’ pose a major risk to the overall health of the British rental market. It follows the research published by RICS that shows the number of new landlord instructions to let in... 21 Nov 2008 11:02:45 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1633.html 912F89C9-D9C4-4FA8-981B-9C2F73081113 The National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS) has welcomed discussions with Iain Wright MP, the Housing Minister responsible for the private rented sector, in order to drive forward the better lettings agenda in line with Government policy and public need. The talks follow the recent findings of the Rugg report which was a Review of Private Rented Sector Housing... 21 Nov 2008 11:02:26 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1634.html A473F1DD-0AB7-46D6-99C6-0A03FCAB00C6 The Scottish Government is failing landlords on the forthcoming introduction of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) legislation says the National Landlords Association in Scotland. With less than two months until the introduction of EPCs for Scottish rental properties. The organisation is concerned that without a concerted effort to promote EPCs... 21 Nov 2008 11:02:07 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1635.html 0DA6660D-A3C6-4AC1-B32D-A7A9088A8196 A LANDLORD has been fined £2,000 plus costs after pleading guilty to having tenants in a flat in Burton which was deemed dangerous by inspection teams. Alan Wong, from South Wimbledon, London, admitted not complying with a Prohibition Order under Section 32 of the Housing Act 2004.when he appeared before the town's magistrates. 21 Nov 2008 11:01:09 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1636.html 44FA1C83-CEAC-4243-94FF-74EC4D5A419A Rents dropped across the residential lettings sector during Q3 as would-be-sellers flooded the rental market with unsellable properties, says the RICS Lettings Survey published this week. The net balances of surveyors reporting new instructions to let both flats and houses (an indicator of supply) are now at historical highs. 19 Nov 2008 13:38:57 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1628.html 63B141E0-ADEB-4616-9021-26C3BCE0A82D The vast majority of tenants get on well with their residential landlord, according to a new poll carried out by The Deposit Protection Service (DPS), the scheme for the safeguarding of tenants' deposits. The new figures show that 84 percent of tenants get on well with... 19 Nov 2008 13:38:36 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1629.html 323EF2D9-ECE1-44AF-AF13-58BF8A3C73E0 A family with a long history of anti-social behaviour, including an armed response unit being deployed to the property, a dangerous dog being shot dead by Police, a drive by petrol bombing and a 10 hour armed siege have finally been evicted from their rented accommodation. 19 Nov 2008 13:38:16 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1630.html 18C1466B-DA57-4656-8045-CE4C39A74636 In light of a brand new report launched by Experian which found that the housing markets in the south-west and Midlands are set to see the steepest price corrections and with repossessions expected to soar to a 15-year high in the coming months, renting is a much better option. 19 Nov 2008 13:38:00 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1631.html E5163FAE-A337-4015-8373-A5C7C912A4A6 As the credit crisis sets in, over a third of Brits admit they would now seriously consider renting out part of their home if their financial situation gets more difficult. However, new research from AA Insurance reveals that up to three million homeowners who have chosen this route could in fact have an invalid home... 19 Nov 2008 13:37:39 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1632.html A8874012-52C9-4BC1-8F42-8915DA2967F5 The flurry of accidental residential landlords who joined the lettings market in the summer when their homes failed to sell, are now giving up on 'riding out the slump' and are returning to the sales market with more realistic price expectations, reports Cluttons. 16 Nov 2008 17:00:08 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1623.html 89499959-1B2E-4425-AC60-8974A48B5EAC A landlord who put more than a dozen tenants at risk by failing to fit fire doors or to ensure that fire alarms were working has been fined £2,800 by Woolwich Magistrates Court. He was also ordered to pay the Council's costs of £1,939.37. In total, Charles Hawkes pleaded guilty to 17 offences relating to a three-storey house in Glenluce Road, Blackheath. 16 Nov 2008 16:59:49 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1624.html 9CE35836-D8C2-416E-9FEB-86CCF085FA91 There has been a mixed reaction to the claims of a founding member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee who said that interest rates may have to be slashed to zero if Britain is to avoid a full-blown depression. Charles Goodhart, who is regarded as one of the country's leading economists, was a member of the MPC for three years up until 2000. 16 Nov 2008 16:59:24 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1625.html 72FE0A96-9047-4B93-819F-4ECFA33EF3F3 Buy to let investors in the Norwich area could be ordered to find better ways of heating their properties or face prosecution. The warning was made by the City Council after it was discovered many flats in a residential housing block were too cold for human habitation. Although the flats are privately owned, the Council is using new powers to inspect all 84 of the... 16 Nov 2008 16:59:04 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1626.html 8F467E1D-5ECB-4A38-AD5B-2CC9B88382F5 The trial of a buy to let investor accused of using forged references and false information to apply for mortgages worth over £1.5m for but to let properties, some during a period when he was serving a prison sentence, began this week... 16 Nov 2008 16:58:41 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1627.html 88F9815E-F610-4E00-B31E-8EBA376287EE The National Landlords Association (NLA) is warning buy to let investors about the huge repair bills they face if their tenants do not know what to do in a winter property emergency. With almost three million households in the private-rented sector, and weather forecasters predicting a colder winter than last year... 12 Nov 2008 17:35:41 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1618.html F91573D1-09AD-4991-9F50-D1D4C6A853FF The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has added its support to the recently published Rugg review on private renting. The review stated that small landlords deliver real value to the private rented sector by achieving lower costs than institutional providers and offering a service that is at least as likely to promote tenant satisfaction. 12 Nov 2008 17:35:25 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1619.html 1EB3AA56-5F82-490A-8FCB-CBE539C91868 It is still a case of swings and roundabouts for buy to let investors in the current climate. Those looking to increase their portfolio of properties will be keeping a close eye on the sales to stock ratio. This recently dropped to 13.5 percent (the lowest figure since December 1992), according to the RICS’ UK housing market survey published this week... 12 Nov 2008 17:35:06 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1620.html 44D3FBD1-2604-480D-8F18-E77D0F3D76DD The UK’s largest dog welfare charity, Dogs Trust, is to launch its Lets with Pets campaign next year following its recent survey that showed 78 percent of pet owners had experienced difficulties finding pet-friendly privately rented accommodation. The charity has also just concluded a survey of residential landlords and letting agents to learn more about their... 12 Nov 2008 17:34:45 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1621.html 4384E37E-D60D-4CFD-AA8E-25B69CAC48D8 The next few months represent the best opportunity for private residential landlords to expand their portfolios due to the fall in house prices according to a new survey. The report by the Money Centre also found that up to a fifth of all UK residential landlords are... 12 Nov 2008 17:33:56 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1622.html 7BDCE9DC-140E-4342-AFFC-5CD5BC6B0008 The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee’s decision to reduce the official Bank Rate by 1.5 percentage points to 3 percent took the property industry by surprise, but there has since been open condemnation towards the majority of banks who have been slow to pass on the interest rate cut to... 7 Nov 2008 17:39:46 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1613.html F348421D-F32B-49FD-A3E5-2A0D852C4D34 A Rhyl residential landlord was recently jailed for nine months for obtaining fraudulent buy to let mortgages. But such cases are just the tip of the iceberg according to leading business advisory firm Deloitte which claims the financial services industry is facing a mortgage fraud ‘time bomb’. 7 Nov 2008 17:39:33 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1614.html DD842405-DCA6-4043-9459-6C8AA0082CD9 Why is regulation for Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) not unilateral and why are not more empty or non-renting buy to let homes being converted into HMO's? These are two of the questions posed by Whitney UK, which runs property investment courses for professionals... 7 Nov 2008 17:38:39 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1615.html C465FB3F-C346-4B71-BD01-3B22225163FC An Oxford buy to let investor has been fined £1,000 following the conclusion of a two-day trial, at Aylesbury Magistrates' Court. Mr Abdul Khuja of 154 Cowley Road, Oxford had pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to comply with an Improvement Notice served on him by Oxford City Council's Environmental Health service. 7 Nov 2008 17:38:15 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1616.html ADC5A74F-4534-4104-8D07-5733A1320E7A Investment landlords, the overall shortage of housing supply and the numbers now believed to be renting but waiting to buy, all suggest that there would be a fast recovery in the housing market. However, prospects for the recovery look grim. This is the view of Peter Bolton King, Chief Executive of NFOPP, which encompasses the National Federation of Estate Agents... 7 Nov 2008 17:37:51 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1617.html 827B2FF5-9E5D-428D-AA5E-8CFF70953FBC Many are expecting the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to announce a further base rate cut when it holds its November meeting on Thursday, but this may not bring the relief property owners are hoping for says one analyst. Neil Young, CEO of property portfolio managers, Young Group, believes that... 5 Nov 2008 16:59:03 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1608.html B90A09F7-A730-4A08-BF5E-0A1F0499B3AA Despite media headlines to the contrary, demand for rental property continues to thrive while the property sales market struggles says letting specialist George F White. First time buyers, plus those unable or unwilling to secure a mortgage and people in the throes of relocation... 5 Nov 2008 16:58:49 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1609.html 226A1A54-7BE6-47F9-89C1-FE92C35093F8 Despite the current high demand for rented accommodation from buy to let landlords, there were still 279,281 empty private homes in England in April 2007, although this is nine percent lower than the 308,438 recorded in April 2003. Empty homes account for three percent or more of all homes in 17 local authorities (LAs). 5 Nov 2008 16:58:34 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1610.html 8568AB51-3B4D-4088-881D-CF0891B8BA81 An investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act has begun into the business dealings of a 26 year old landlord who built up a property empire using fraudulently obtained buy to let mortgages. James Barnes of Towyn Way West in Towyn, Rhyl, was recently jailed for nine months after pleading guilty to... 5 Nov 2008 16:58:19 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1611.html 47763043-11F1-4CD1-B97C-B1D57611F789 Failure to carry out essential safety works to his tenant’s home has resulted in a hefty fine for a landlord after he ignored an Improvement Notice served by his local authority. Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council became aware of serious threats to the tenants’ safety and served the Notice on private landlord Steven Boote after he failed to rectify the problems despite having them brought to his attention. 5 Nov 2008 16:57:54 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1612.html 105EFC7F-0C62-46C8-95B4-81752B9422F2 Hundreds of private housing tenants in North Wales and Stoke on Trent who are facing eviction are being encouraged to join forces in an effort to unravel what has happened to their homes. It was reported that more than 350 people had received eviction or repossession orders and been told they had to move out of the properties owned and managed by... 1 Nov 2008 16:13:51 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1603.html 227FF71B-EF97-40F5-AC6C-932E31616E11 Buy to let landlords should get relief from stamp duty or capital gains tax to encourage them to buy more property, which in turn would increase the number of homes for rent, says a Government report. The report prepared by academic Julie Rugg from York University for Hazel Blear's Communities Department stated that buy to let landlords are often unfairly seen as... 1 Nov 2008 16:13:31 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1604.html B20935FD-2970-4D23-BBDA-B09194B1F088 The London lettings market will remain fragile in 2009 and it is inevitable that more tenants will default. This is the view of Judienne Wood, lettings director at Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward, who on the plus side also believes that London investments are likely to... 1 Nov 2008 16:13:02 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1605.html 4BD46D20-A33D-4F8F-984B-DCA2B5C2DB31 Buy to let landlords who are concerned about their investments losing value could fall behind on mortgage payments or be forced to sell at a loss as lending dries up said the Bank of England’s Financial Stability report recently. The report comes shortly after a government study recommended that landlords should be... 1 Nov 2008 16:12:42 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1606.html 309EB3F1-E3B7-4090-A872-4F701ED5721E A landlord was found to be cheating the benefit system through sophisticated data matching techniques. Landlord Budu Singh Moman, aged 47, of High Road, Wood Green, London, who falsely received almost £1,000 in housing benefit, pleaded guilty at Dudley Magistrates Court to benefit fraud on October 3. 1 Nov 2008 16:12:10 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1607.html 04B53C74-27CE-4B7E-96DC-C331ECEB70AE ARLA, the Association of Residential Letting Agents, has welcomed the provisions to stimulate the Private Rented Sector contained in the Rugg Review presented to the government this week. The report also contains proposals for licensing, redress and tackling the problems caused by bad residential landlords and agents. 29 Oct 2008 15:41:14 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1598.html 5C96617E-82A5-45B9-91A1-ACB3D6256934 The Council of Mortgage Lenders has published new industry guidance on mortgage arrears and possessions to help lenders ensure that their arrears management policies fulfil the objective of making repossession a last resort. 29 Oct 2008 15:40:49 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1599.html CCCD17CF-395F-41E0-BB5F-F02848AB475B Residential Landlords will be studying how their future will be effected by Mayor of London, Boris Johnson’s decision to take the first step towards removing the 50 percent London wide affordable housing target. The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA)... 29 Oct 2008 15:40:34 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1600.html 3C638B66-ED72-459A-8586-B2C99C598C7B Failure to carry out essential safety works to his tenant’s home has landed a residential landlord a hefty fine after ignoring an Improvement Notice served by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. The Council became aware of serious threats to the tenants’ safety and served the Notice on private landlord Steven Boote after he failed to rectify them despite having them brought to... 29 Oct 2008 15:40:03 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1601.html D18DCE7B-555F-4CA5-A6A2-DAF58625C338 Whilst some areas of the UK have been flooded with rental properties, Cambridge city centre has the opposite problem. Savills has a serious shortage of homes available to let; with increasing demand. "We need homes to let in Cambridge city centre, in particular one and two bedroom flats," comments Jane Dixon, head of lettings for Savills Cambridge. 29 Oct 2008 15:39:36 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1602.html C767EE93-1AED-405A-8BFF-757D20CC23E6 A residential landlord has been sent to prison in the first custodial sentence to be given in London under the new fire safety regulations. Mehmat Parlak was sentenced to four months imprisonment and his company, Watchacre properties limited, was fined £21,000 following conviction for serious breaches of the... 24 Oct 2008 12:21:17 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1593.html F37663CD-B9E7-4F7E-83FF-1C37F86C7850 The filthy and dangerous state of a house of multiple occupation being let out by an Oxford residential landlord has resulted in a fine of £2,500. Joginder Kaur Dhanjal, of Dashwood Road, Rose Hill, pleaded guilty to five charges relating to safety and hygiene at her property which were discovered by Oxford City Council environmental health officers. 24 Oct 2008 12:20:37 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1594.html BDE19C4F-1987-4789-B137-067CAA98A91A Residential landlords in Kent will have their properties included on a listings service as part of a new way of allocating social housing. It is being introduced by Swale Borough Council to make letting arrangements clearer and easier for people to apply in all of Kent's district council areas. 24 Oct 2008 12:20:19 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1595.html 6FA5A19B-A21C-4E29-BFA8-254E3F011821 There is no evidence of an exodus from buy to let according to a survey by The Young Group, which specialises in providing Property Portfolio Management services to private investors. The Young Index results for Q3 2008 recorded that 98 percent of investors... 24 Oct 2008 12:20:02 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1596.html C71947B0-8E47-49BD-A961-9FFD4DE20B45 With almost 48,000 overseas students studying in the UK this year, mydeposits.co.uk advises universities and colleges to make sure that those moving into rented accommodation are aware of the law. Without the right information there is the potential for a costly knowledge gap as the average student rent stands at over £245 per month. 24 Oct 2008 12:19:51 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1597.html A9BF87F5-D8AC-45AB-884A-2CB5268FB815 Grant Bovey, who once claimed his company Imagine Homes was Britain's largest buy to let business, has lost control of the company. The Daily Mail reported recently that the 47 year old, who is the husband of television celebrity Anthea Turner, has had to let HBOS take over the business. Bovey no longer has... 21 Oct 2008 18:32:09 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1588.html 0391FDF2-6687-49F8-B56C-A6BD81164D02 Plans for the National Landlords Association (NLA) first ever National Conference in November are progressing well. With the theme ‘Operating in Today's Market: Future Prospects for Landlords', and open to members and non-members alike, the Conference offers all landlords the opportunity to discuss issues which directly affect their lettings business as well as hearing from... 21 Oct 2008 18:31:33 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1589.html BF1860F4-163F-4C05-BAC8-8CB450D81026 Tenants living in properties at what was a prestige development overlooking the Thames close to Canary Wharf in London say their residential landlords should cut rental charges because the majority of the flats have been left empty after being repossessed. 21 Oct 2008 18:31:17 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1590.html F9A13775-7789-4BC0-B300-EA617BA0AA6E Wigan’s largest provider of social housing is consulting on possible changes to tenancy agreements which could involve a new system that will make paying the rent less confusing for tenants. Wigan and Leigh Housing (WALH) is inviting views on its plan to modernise the way people pay rent on their properties by changing... 21 Oct 2008 18:30:58 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1591.html E6650527-6F85-40E9-A692-0E9AF41583B7 Estate agents, looking for another revenue stream in the current property slump are putting landlords and tenants at risk, claims the past president of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA). Robert Jordan says he has noticed a rise in the number of estate agents who are now advertising themselves as letting agents for the first time and... 21 Oct 2008 18:30:33 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1592.html BBDADC58-17DB-48D1-9BBC-B1A712288607 The National Landlords Association has reaffirmed its commitment to raising standards among landlords operating in the sale and rent back sector following the recent Office of Fair Trading (OFT) Market Study. The OFT reported that there is a need for statutory regulation by the Financial Services Authority. 17 Oct 2008 11:50:36 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1583.html 71F1BB74-38E5-4DA3-BAB8-2CD2B737F7CF The landlord of a block of flats in Hackney has been fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £1,500 costs after two of his tenants were poisoned by carbon monoxide (CO), due to a boiler in their flat not being properly maintained. Soley Fikret pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 at the... 17 Oct 2008 11:50:17 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1584.html 8ED9EC8A-CD1F-431A-A383-FF11A5AF44CD Blackpool Council is clamping down on private residential landlords who flout the law putting tenants at risk. The authority recently took court action against a Rochdale landlord who was breaching his HMO (Houses in Multiple Occupation) Licence conditions. This included fire safety measures, no heating, defective electrics and also non-compliance with an Improvement Notice relating to a HMO in Bond Street Blackpool. 17 Oct 2008 11:49:35 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1585.html FB7D205D-88AF-4E38-849E-1674A19B0374 The subject of the digital switchover and how it would affect tenants and buy to let residential landlords who used shared aerials formed part of a lengthy debate in the House of Commons this week. Michael Moore, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for International Development... 17 Oct 2008 11:49:19 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1586.html 10B0A8F9-78EB-48A1-978A-6E9A635E074D Buy to Let residential landlords have been given a glimpse of what their properties could be worth next year through 2009 predictions by two estate agents. Lee Watts, Managing Director of Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward, believes irresponsible lending in 2008 will result in price falls in excess of 20 percent. 17 Oct 2008 11:47:20 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1587.html A91A855B-FDC5-4BEA-9C89-443E7DD4EBE0 The story that 150,000 pounds of taxpayers' money was being paid by a council to a private landlord in West London took another turn this week when it was revealed the local authority had terminated the employment of three people allegedly involved in the decision to pay this much rent. 14 Oct 2008 18:29:43 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1578.html 34A01258-80ED-4DD0-85D9-F0A06920F55C Cash rich Buy to Let investors are waiting to pounce on bargains and take advantage of an ever weakening market, says RICS' UK housing market survey published this week. The South West has shown the greatest increase in demand with a net 12 percent of Chartered Surveyors reporting a rise in new buyer enquiries, the highest figure in the region since May 2007. 14 Oct 2008 18:29:27 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1579.html CC383B84-3AB4-48D8-B2FA-FDA2C0B085ED The National Landlords Association, the representative body for private residential landlords, has condemned outright the practice of erecting 'naming and shaming' signs on the properties of those tenants who have failed to pay their rent. Residentiallandlord.co.uk recently reported how one agent in Liverpool had erected two signs on properties where the tenants owed... 14 Oct 2008 18:29:02 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1580.html 6674B10B-AD50-4131-888A-1002704AB1BB Residential landlords with prime regional and country house saw the values of their properties fall sharply by -9.6 percent in the past six months though values in the 4million+ bracket remain marginally positive year on year according to Savills research department. 14 Oct 2008 18:28:40 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1581.html 4F3FE471-4BD9-498F-8E3B-605EE803F8A1 There has been a massive increase in interest in a rent guarantee scheme for residential landlords claims the company which introduced the product 12 months ago. Specialist letting agency Chancellors says its Rent Guarantee and Seal Of Approval is a unique product as it provides a reliable cash flow. 14 Oct 2008 18:28:26 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1582.html 8225592E-C15A-4DE8-9585-59E8B87E2CF1 The struggle over who controls the National Federation of Residential Landlords (NFRL) is due to move to the next stage at the end of this month. The National Landlords Association (NLA) believed it had merged with the NFRL earlier this year, creating the largest representative body for landlords. 10 Oct 2008 16:44:26 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1573.html F7F220CE-CAF9-4D32-9FA0-C0E50C834B2B The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has welcomed the Bank of England's decision to cut interest rates from 5 percent to 4.5 percent. The FPB believes that slashing the cost of borrowing will significantly boost the confidence of small businesses, such as Buy to Let Landlords. 10 Oct 2008 16:44:08 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1574.html BEBC7231-1C99-447D-A4B1-AA814ABAD3D9 The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is again warning buy to let property owners to ensure they obtain gas safety certificates for gas appliances, following HSE's prosecution of a landlord from Great Yarmouth. Landlord, Madhu Bhajanehatti from Keston in Kent was fined £24,840 and ordered to pay £13,481.02 in costs at Great Yarmouth Magistrates Court on October 6. 10 Oct 2008 16:43:41 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1575.html DE89F55E-5F5C-4A92-BE3F-51490EBE078B The British Property Federation (BPF) has welcomed the recent appointment of Margaret Beckett, MP for Derby South, as the new housing minister because of the experience she brings. But the organisation is still concerned by the disruption that Beckett was deputy leader of the Labour Party from 1992 to 1994 and was briefly its leader in 1994 following... 10 Oct 2008 16:43:27 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1576.html 418C28FD-E513-450A-ABCF-B03B2EEA5D96 Landlords who have 25-35 percent deposits can still get a choice of buy to let mortgage product however those with deposits of 15 percent are facing higher rates and much stricter lending criteria and little product choice claims a specialist. 10 Oct 2008 16:43:08 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1577.html A635A13C-B166-4588-ACE7-40A8B38EBAA0 Leaders, the independently owned letting agents, reports that confusion is rife among landlords about the new legislation regarding Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for buy to let properties. Paul Weller, managing director of Leaders, said: "We are hearing from many landlords across the areas we cover that they... 8 Oct 2008 14:17:28 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1568.html F526AFB8-BE41-4F84-8B03-5A8ED363AD52 A week ahead of the publication of the Office of Fair Trading market study into the sale and rent back market, the National Landlords Association (NLA) has said its Code of Practice will include enforceable legal sanctions and financial penalties for those who fail to comply. After publishing the draft Code of Practice for... 8 Oct 2008 14:17:14 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1569.html 9792D61C-CB85-486B-8D94-EFED1E16202C New research shows that 79 percent of renters are worried about the cost of their household bills. This is at a time when bills are a hefty slice of UK households' expense budget, with the average UK household currently paying the equivalent of 20 percent of the average rent on their gas and... 8 Oct 2008 14:16:42 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1570.html DD3B14AD-7C3D-4C08-96D0-800858FB21CE Tenants Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, who have been paying a ‘peppercorn rent’ for their Kensington Palace apartment, will have been told they will have to pay a commercial rate of £120,000 a year from 2010 if they want to remain in the five-bedroom, five-reception royal residence. 8 Oct 2008 14:16:23 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1571.html 60F0237C-DC9A-4673-A29B-C6495E3A5993 Confusion and uncertainty surrounds the future of Instant Access Properties (IAP), a company which promised to help make thousands of pounds for investors from the buy to let boom. Although the organisation recently went into administration its founder, Jim Moore, claimed that funding had been found to continue a similar set up trading under the name of IAP Global. 8 Oct 2008 14:15:51 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1572.html 23FBF807-21D0-4D59-B555-CF10B0D04D75 The National Landlords Association (NLA), has dismissed claims that Buy to Let is dead. Following the nationalisation of the mortgage business of Bradford & Bingley, there have been a number of media and financial commentators quick to support the view that buy-to-let, as a concept, has come off the rails. 6 Oct 2008 11:52:32 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1565.html BB25E101-71C4-405A-96FF-FF39A3FD7FC0 The British Property Federation (BPF) has reacted to a new report by warning that restricting Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) could limit housing supplies for those most in need of affordable homes. The report, published by the department for communities and local government, looks at the perceived problems that can be created where there are concentrations of HMOs. 6 Oct 2008 11:52:01 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1566.html A99260DD-8882-4B3D-B33C-B9F9A95A27DA New research from Savills indicates that now, more than ever, residential landlords with property in central London should be taking a long-term view of their investment. The research reveals that values of prime residential property in central London continued to fall in the third quarter of 2008. 6 Oct 2008 11:51:44 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1562.html 550E6827-2CD7-4B01-B819-B34E0561A91D Tenants are still losing thousands of pounds in deposits each month by not sticking to tenancy agreements, according to mydeposits.co.uk, a Government-authorised tenancy deposit protection scheme. The average deposit protected at mydeposits is now £771 and with 12 percent of all disputes in July 2008 finding in favour of the landlord or agent, it is estimated... 6 Oct 2008 11:51:02 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1567.html 7D8384CE-4742-4CEB-9F87-AE6DD289A8D7 The news that everybody had been predicting for the last few days came through this week when the government stepped in to rescue Bradford & Bingley, the UK's largest Buy to Let lender. It followed reports that the bank was struggling after failing to raise the cash it needed through a rights issue and was therefore likely to become another victim of the credit crunch. 1 Oct 2008 14:44:13 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1559.html 05C6125B-7BC7-4151-ACF7-CFCE48E609AE A new report that identifies ways to help councils manage high concentrations of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) was published by Housing and Planning Minister Caroline Flint recently. ‘Studentification’ of university towns is a real concern, especially during the summer months... 1 Oct 2008 14:43:51 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1560.html BDC4F16D-CDAD-445A-B1F3-1F0147AC1958 Residential landlords in the private rented sector are remaining calm in the face of the current financial storms. Over three quarters of those questioned for the third quarter ARLA Review and Index, published on 29 September, will not sell their investments because of falling house prices. Instead, they expect to keep their property portfolios for an average of over 16 years. 1 Oct 2008 14:43:34 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1561.html CBC6CD1B-8FAC-4AAD-8541-B8C09DA9D5FA New research from Savills indicates that now, more than ever, residential landlords with property in central London should be taking a long-term view of their investment. The research reveals that values of prime residential property in central London continued to fall in the third quarter of 2008. 1 Oct 2008 14:43:15 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1562.html 418975F4-5987-431A-987E-DAC158D6E693 Private rented housing expansion may be the way out of the current housing crisis, Shelter has claimed. Speaking at the Conservative Party conference, Adam Sampson, chief executive of the housing charity, said there was "a real need for a more professionalised rental market to offer a better deal to consumers." 1 Oct 2008 14:42:50 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1563.html 9E787FBF-4ACF-475F-A9F9-93AF5BAA3102 Falling house prices; rising tenant demand; the slow sales market and the new stamp duty holiday all add up to some exciting opportunities for residential landlords, according to Leaders, the independently owned letting specialists. 29 Sep 2008 12:24:14 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1554.html C269A250-0802-44F2-ABBE-1E9637D6CA2C Residential landlords looking to sell their properties will find that across the UK, houses are selling at an average of nine percent below the asking price with sellers in some regions being forced to accept as much as 12.5 percent discount off their advertised price, says latest research from RICS. 29 Sep 2008 12:24:02 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1555.html 5CB9BF51-A537-4852-BD71-9FECA8F33BED The obligation to protect tenants against the dangers of malfunctioning boilers is one that cannot, should not and need not be avoided by landlords, says insurer HomeCall+. Some of the detail reported in a survey this month commissioned by Lloyds Pharmacy showed that many council tenants could be at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from neglected boilers. 29 Sep 2008 12:23:38 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1556.html 98D96A56-FB4E-4172-B3C5-3B4FB6C07366 An Oxford landlord has been prosecuted after failing to repair a drainage fault that was linked to a rat infestation at one of his properties. On 22 September 2008, Aslam Javid Dogar of Lime Walk, Headington pleaded guilty at Oxford Magistrates' Court to failing to comply with a Legal Notice served under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949. 29 Sep 2008 12:23:21 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1557.html 43318CED-C115-4278-80D6-F616809DC39D An insurance firm has refused to pay out to a Merseyside landlord after damage caused to his property by a gang using it as an illegal drugs factory. Holes had been bashed through the ceiling for ventilation and the electricity supply had been rerouted by the tenants so they didn’t have to pay the energy bills. 29 Sep 2008 12:22:23 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1558.html CDDC20D0-4CB8-4B7F-8E7D-A8DAB5D0A165 The average price of a new home fell for a third consecutive month in August, taking new home prices to £243,307. However, while the majority of the UK’s leading house price indices continue to report sharp annual price falls across the market as a whole, the rate of annual house price growth in the new homes market is beginning to show signs of levelling off. 24 Sep 2008 13:11:14 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1550.html 0CD6CBCE-070B-4E74-99D0-87F390B0A6A3 As the current market continues to weaken, residential auction sales across the UK have risen in the first half of 2008.according to RAPID (Residential Auction Property Investment Data) published by Allsop. The rise in lots is being attributed mainly to the growing number of repossessed homes reaching the auction rooms. 24 Sep 2008 13:10:35 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1551.html 5AE93AB6-475E-4A73-83A4-53104F29BD04 Housing minister, Caroline Flint, has backed calls from the British Property Federation (BPF) for a greater focus on professional rented housing. Speaking at a Citizens’ Advice Bureau fringe event, Caroline Flint MP said that Britain had been focused on ownership since Margaret Thatcher introduced Right to Buy. 24 Sep 2008 13:12:35 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1552.html EB9245F0-B19A-4879-9F45-34C13B525A36 High demand for rented accommodation from residential landlords looks set to continue following figures showing that there was a decrease in the percentage of first time buyers during August. The primary reason for this is the difficulty in obtaining suitable mortgages. Members of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) reported that the housing market was... 24 Sep 2008 13:10:22 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1553.html 08D892D1-7F63-4947-A7C8-0367C727FEF2 Landlords who specialise in the prime country house lettings market will be unhappy, but probably not surprised in the current climate, that the value of properties in this sphere fell by 4 percent during the third quarter of 2008, according to the Knight Frank Index. 19 Sep 2008 17:14:25 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1545.html 8141EF90-FDA0-467A-91EA-5FA31F908C1D Buy to let investors who have been caught up in ‘red tape’ over planning applications on their properties will be studying the recently released British Property Federation’s Planning Manifesto which contains a host of measures to improve the system without the need for more time consuming and costly legislation. 19 Sep 2008 17:14:08 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1546.html 51F9632D-B972-4A40-84DE-AA1FB560DFDE A woman described as a rogue landlord has been given a hefty fine by magistrates after being found guilty of renting out a dangerous house. On 12 September, Maria Rosa De Simone Ramjohn of Marston Road, Oxford pleaded guilty to seven breaches of housing regulations at 39 Annersley Road and was fined £2,500 for each offence. Oxford City Council was awarded legal costs of £392.45 bringing the total to £17,892.45. 19 Sep 2008 17:13:49 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1547.html E6F5C182-7EC5-4B1A-8239-475CAE4D1505 The landlord who will not reveal why he stabbed his lodger to death after hitting him with a pool cue was jailed for life at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday. The courts had previously been told how 46 year old John Williams, who worked in a warehouse, became angry with father-to-be John Stokes at their home in Cefn Fforest, Caerphilly. 19 Sep 2008 17:13:32 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1548.html B50198B6-7393-48EB-A68D-8DC2F2AB07EA The increasing need for off street parking has led to many residential landlords paving over the front gardens of their properties to make them more attractive to car driving tenants. But the Government has announced that from Wednesday 1st October 2008 the permitted development rights for domestic front gardens has been changed. 19 Sep 2008 17:13:15 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1549.html A9288AA7-3692-44C8-86B1-D978153F28D2 The last three months have seen a rise of almost 20 percent in new tenancies, according to the latest quarterly survey of its member letting agents by ARLA, the Association of Residential Letting Agents. This is in line with other market indicators showing that the private rented sector is taking up the slack... 16 Sep 2008 11:58:05 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1540.html BC356294-6668-425F-BDAC-B4436AA103F9 Buy to let investors with the most energy efficient properties could hold an advantage over those with poorly rated properties, which could see a fall in rent and a lack of interested tenants claims a property specialist. From 1 October it will be mandatory for landlords to make a valid Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) available for all new tenants... 16 Sep 2008 11:57:36 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1541.html 43FB9CE3-3FE8-47F4-AEB6-CAED55620242 Action has been taken against two tenants in Wirral for anti social behaviour. John Fagan of Sunningdale, Moreton, managed by Wirral Partnership Homes, was accused of intimidating behaviour towards his neighbours. Officers had reported verbal abuse from Fagan, who had received both a Fixed Penalty Notice and Conditional Discharge for separate incidents of damage caused to vehicles in the car park. 16 Sep 2008 11:57:08 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1542.html C273A28C-AF31-46B6-A0CC-9539D9C9B807 Brits are still eager to get onto the property ladder despite the current economic climate, but are prepared to be patient rather than rushing in to pick up a bargain according to a survey from fish4homes. Out of those surveyed 56 percent own a property in the UK, with 52 percent of those home owners having bought their first property between the age of 21 and 30 years. 16 Sep 2008 11:56:48 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1543.html AA255A95-888A-4421-BB2B-35D524AAD131 The plight of a landlord hit the headlines this week after his recently vacated property was found knee deep in mess. The Daily Mail told the story in words and pictures of how 57-year-old Chris Dowling, who owns more than 40 properties, had difficulty getting into the studio flat in Slough, Berkshire, due to the sheer amount of... 16 Sep 2008 11:56:27 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1544.html 921D0CF0-616E-4BAE-A9C1-70DCD8F1EA74 Buy to let investors around the country have been left flabbergasted after a county court awarded a serial rapist compensation after a landlady cleared a Hailsham flat of his belongings while he was awaiting trial. Thomas Cope, 55, was recently jailed for life and told he was a serious danger to women after tying up a... 9 Sep 2008 17:48:29 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1535.html B8D8A37D-9D16-4816-9E02-93CEF9F4BFDB The line 'neither up nor down' from the nursery rhyme, ‘The Grand Old Duke of York’ could soon become the theme tune for The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee after its decision to again maintain interest rates at 5.0 percent. Such was the expectation that this would be the fifth consecutive month of no movement that it has led to a fairly muted response from the property industry on this occasion. 9 Sep 2008 17:47:54 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1536.html BB98D577-8A07-4846-BD53-AEF2068CAAAE A landlord has been fined for failing to obtain a license for a house in multiple occupation (HMO) and for failing to carry out fire safety improvement works. Environmental Health Officers from Selby District Council first inspected the property in May 2007 and found it occupied by a number of migrant workers. 9 Sep 2008 17:47:33 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1537.html 0B398995-A85B-45A8-944A-6D091233D91F With the current decline and uncertainty in the housing market many developers will be considering letting out their newly built properties which they currently cannot sell. Steve Taylor, VAT Senior Manager at Regional Business Advisers, Cooper Parry said: “Although VAT cannot be charged on either a sale or... 9 Sep 2008 17:47:18 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1538.html 51534661-D4F9-4B9C-9E3B-3674C26A4D6F A Government-approved tenancy deposit protection scheme has launched an internet-only service, mydeposits lite, which is aimed at helping landlords to protect deposits with the minimum of fuss. Mydeposits.co.uk also claims landlords will benefit from reduced fees as a result of lower... 9 Sep 2008 17:46:22 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1539.html C4AEA43F-9830-4920-905E-24E04426CBCB The major cross-government package of new measures to meet current challenges in the housing market has received a mixed reception from the property industry. Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said the £1b package is to help first time buyers struggling to get onto the housing ladder, support vulnerable homeowners at risk of repossession, and support the house-building industry. 4 Sep 2008 14:08:22 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1530.html 75BC86ED-4845-4CE6-8EB7-C0E7AC2476C6 Students are at risk of losing out to unprofessional landlords if they fail to grasp the importance of deposits and the Government-approved scheme designed to protect their cash. Rents for students have gone up 18 percent in the last four years and the cost of rented student accommodation ranges from... 4 Sep 2008 14:08:03 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1531.html 25BA669E-B97F-4A86-B325-9C9C8FF72451 Residential Landlords buying into a prestigious new housing development in Cumbria can sleep easier in their own beds knowing that there tenants are unlikely to bother them with false alarms. John Robert Gardens is a luxurious new-build development featuring 28 one and two bedroom flats each stylishly designed with contemporary kitchens, bathrooms and floors. 4 Sep 2008 14:07:49 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1532.html C82E518A-2E6D-45F9-A55B-52637274F105 Landlords whose marriages are in trouble may find some solace in the fact that falling house prices appears to result in falling rates of divorce. New data from Savills Research has shown the slowdown in the economy has put pressure on many people, but that struggling couples may choose not to divorce because... 4 Sep 2008 14:07:31 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1533.html A469E23C-9DEC-40DC-81CE-56266B5AD703 A landlord who stabbed his tenant to death has been told he faces a life in prison, although Cardiff Crown Court were told that the defendant, who pleaded guilty to the murder, refuses to reveal the motive for the murder. 4 Sep 2008 14:07:04 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1534.html C8318B52-A9F8-45B7-A5A8-17BE6CB94CD3 Two different surveys have revealed that the number of residential landlords in North Wales is set to increase. A housing sales slump in Wales in July is predicted to cause the rental market to boom as more consider letting after giving up hopes of selling their properties until the market improves. 26 Aug 2008 18:35:45 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1526.html CBFE420C-0255-46E9-871E-A85BE8AF1F92 Enfield landlords have received substantial fines after breaching planning enforcement notices on work carried out at their properties. Louis Lettings & Property Management Limited pleaded guilty to a notice issued in relation to an unauthorised dormer window and gable end roof at 278 Bowes Road, Enfield, a residential property they own as part of their lettings... 26 Aug 2008 18:35:26 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1527.html F0AE3521-8162-4E3D-8898-382AD58371C2 A Buy to Let landlord has mounted a legal challenge to claim back his repossessed property which it is alleged he lost due to a mortgage fraud. Akhtar Mohammed from Birmingham bought the Alum Rock house as an investment and began to rent it out. 26 Aug 2008 18:34:49 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1528.html 90E3FA32-7319-4BBE-9236-ADF61D766FDA The Banks which acted as underwriters for the Bradford and Bingley rights issue will have to buy 72 percent of the shares after the falling stock market price failed to attract other buyers. The rights issue from which Bradford & Bingley hoped to raise £400m has been troubled since it was announced. It had to restructure the... 26 Aug 2008 18:34:27 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1529.html 5E2A525B-4C61-4289-86B9-56276BF7CB52 The rental market has boomed as housing sales have diminished, says the RICS Lettings Survey published recently. New instructions (an indicator of supply) to let increased at the fastest pace in the survey’s history as many would-be-sellers found that becoming a residential landlord is a better option than selling in the current climate. 22 Aug 2008 18:59:29 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1522.html 6568D49E-491C-4D72-B946-BF6E1D927E81 With Many home owners deciding to rent their homes out instead of selling The Money Centre has provided a list of top tips to help landlords stay within the law. Lindsey Swales, director of The Money Centre and herself a landlord comments: "I think it is a sensible idea for some homeowners to look to rent their properties out, to sell in our current climate may lose homeowners money. 22 Aug 2008 18:59:06 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1523.html 96D0F0F3-7C63-4631-84A8-04FD063292CE The number of transactions in the housing market is half last year’s levels and the number of housing starts is likely to fall even further. Supply could therefore become constrained in many markets over the coming months. This means that when the market does bottom out, it may be difficult for investors to make acquisitions says Savills Research. 22 Aug 2008 18:58:47 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1524.html 5890C66A-633D-4CB7-BEDB-DB8A085051C0 Gross mortgage lending totalled an estimated £24.8 billion in July, up 5 percent from June and down 27 percent from July a year ago, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). 22 Aug 2008 18:58:16 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1525.html C2546D12-167A-4228-8BB6-21B9815BC794 With the likelihood of a recession becoming even more of a reality and the property industry saying this makes it even more imperative for there to be a cut in interest rates, many of the national media’s financial experts have been looking at the Buy to Let Market. In the Telegraph, Paula Hawkins gave advice on the steps buy to let landlords can take to avoid losing their... 20 Aug 2008 16:07:22 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1517.html BBB82D84-F0B4-452F-BDB0-9660FD655547 The north south divide that exists when it comes to renting a property has been confirmed by the latest statistics from the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS). The DPS was introduced in April 2007 and took the responsibility for holding deposits away from residential landlords and letting agents. 20 Aug 2008 16:07:06 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1518.html DC9A19EA-A4CB-4F67-9520-4303EC2736D3 Buy to Let investors and residential landlords in the north east who want to ‘go green’ could be given the opportunity following the submission of plans for an ambitious mixed-use eco-village. Based at the former Paton & Baldwins Textile plant in Darlington the 107 acre brownfield site will have access from the A66 via a new link road that will be competed in Summer 08. 20 Aug 2008 16:06:48 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1519.html 1C51F88E-580E-4318-9B80-F066A6AD5C2F Residential Landlords who run their properties as a small business could benefit from Government’s plans to reduce the cost of red tape. Phil Orford, Chief Executive of The Forum of Private Business (FPB), launched a campaign in June this year calling on decision-makers in Westminster, Brussels, Northern Ireland... 20 Aug 2008 16:06:33 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1520.html 44ACC7C2-370C-43B6-A63D-1DA87D011E7E A Lincolnshire landlord has been fined £8,000 and ordered to pay costs after a police discovered 13 people from five different countries living in one of his properties. Boston Magistrates Court heard how Manuel Ridierp was illegally using a four-bedroom house in Queens Road Boston for the tenants. 20 Aug 2008 16:06:18 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1521.html 0B5F7107-CD7B-42C8-8819-94F67DDFF3B5 As the third and final part in its series on housing law reform, the Law Commission has announced its proposals for better regulation of the private rented sector. The report, Housing: Encouraging Responsible Letting, follows consultation with both landlords and tenants. It focuses on improving the overall coherence and stability of the current private rental... 15 Aug 2008 15:46:19 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1512.html 843F21F4-DFC6-4548-B1D8-BD7F4A8BCFC6 The average number of transactions per surveyor fell further in July as a lack of mortgage finance continued to weigh heavily on the market. However, sales expectations have improved, driven by sellers beginning to offer more realistic asking prices says RICS’ UK housing market survey published 12 August... 15 Aug 2008 15:45:47 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1513.html AB0F530E-2A73-4125-A9E7-4B152DD07CA0 Leeds has moved into the number four spot in the list of top cities where residential landlords own property says the latest research carried out by BDRC on behalf of a syndicate of buy to let mortgage lenders and brokers. Cambridge was previously listed in the top five with 3 percent of UK landlords owning their rental properties... 15 Aug 2008 15:45:26 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1514.html 5D1792AD-2E02-4A58-942E-F1B6CA738B54 A prospective tenant who pretended to be a police officer in an attempt to fool a landlord almost ended up in jail. The landlord became suspicious when he visited his Colchester property in July to collect a tenancy agreement from 23-year-old Simon Lucas. He had listed his employers as Essex Police but the landlord noticed there were spelling anomalies. 15 Aug 2008 15:45:03 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1515.html FE8B6F38-621C-4C43-9E51-F14B6C4EEFFB A London mortgage broker has been fined £100,000 and banned from operating after submitting false mortgage applications. Omotayo Fawole of Oasis Mortgage and Financial Services in Woolwich, was found to have obtained a mortgage after submitting an application which significantly overstated the profits of his... 15 Aug 2008 15:44:40 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1516.html 214A080B-F280-4BE3-BD20-8006FA64A844 Despite media headlines trumpeting the number of repossessions in the UK, the latest data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) show no surprises in terms of the number of mortgage arrears and possessions cases in the first half of 2008. While both have increased from their low base as expected, the overwhelming majority of the UK's borrowers... 12 Aug 2008 17:09:50 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1507.html 24E4C270-F4B4-409F-9F6F-8633CA823730 "Would the government please take off its hobnail boots and tread carefully over the tender shoots of new business, said Graham Lock, co-founder of on-line estate agency Housenetwork.co.uk. Lock believes the stop-start behaviour over stamp duty has simply frozen many exchanges as clients are calling a halt on their deals to see if the ‘holiday’, if it goes ahead... 12 Aug 2008 17:09:31 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1509.html 08C11913-1EA0-497E-9503-1DA8A5D49C89 If the pause button has been pressed for some sectors of the housing market, rental demand is on fast forward, according to David Lancaster at Savills in Chelmsford. "Tenants are crying out for good rented accommodation, particularly family sized farmhouses and cottages in areas of Essex within striking distance of a train to London," he said. 12 Aug 2008 17:09:01 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1510.html 2A779BBB-C9DA-4A4E-9944-7575997160E4 A tenant who repeatedly attacked his 60-year-old landlord over a period of time causing her several injuries has been jailed for three years and two months. Stephen Johnstone, aged 39, of Sandy Lane, Weston Point, pleaded guilty at Warrington Crown Court to causing grievous bodily harm to... 12 Aug 2008 17:08:44 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1511.html BF0A27B2-E30C-4F23-A0A5-A0FB3F960E60 Amid widespread calls to help boost consumer confidence, The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted to maintain the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 5.0 percent this week. There were some prior predictions that the committee could raise the rate to slow consumer spending. 8 Aug 2008 16:48:57 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1502.html 71BE7278-2B09-44F2-BE25-BCCF8377343D Buy to let landlords and property investors face new land registration rules. They amend the Land Registration Rules 2003 and come into force on 10 November 2008. The decision to introduce new legislation follows a consultation on proposals to amend the 2003 rules that ran from October 2007 to January 2008. The Land Registration (Amendment) Rules 2008 aim... 8 Aug 2008 16:48:35 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1503.html 567A7A07-C3C9-43E2-AC57-C576EFFA6A1E The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has welcomed the FSA’s confirmation that mainstream lenders are largely complying with its arrears and repossessions requirements. The CML is surprised at the FSA’s observations on specialist lenders, who have been working extremely hard to manage arrears, but urges the FSA to work constructively with those lenders to ensure there is shared understanding and agreement... 8 Aug 2008 16:48:16 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1504.html 71560893-641A-43F2-8127-ABE98BD52F56 Two more landlords have been fined over the state of their properties. In one case emergency powers were used by a local council to shut down a landlord’s house so stop his tenants coming to harm. Later at Abergavenny Magistrates Court Mohammed Sallem Ullah, of High Cross Lane, Newport, pleaded guilty to two offences under the Housing Act 2004. 8 Aug 2008 16:48:02 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1505.html 359F2A26-BC42-4ECD-B4C9-21AD2EE43D87 More cases in which premises belonging to buy to let investors have been used as cannabis factories were discovered recently. One has resulted in a prison sentence while police are still hunting the tenants from another house which according to police housed one of the biggest growing operations ever found. 8 Aug 2008 16:47:41 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1506.html 9F687626-0F2C-4DC1-B17E-5E11E05D7118 Rather than sell, the vast majority of buy to let investors are looking to add value to their properties in the current tight economic climate. Property Owners Directory founder Andy Stern has released his five top tips for dealing with homeowners, landlords and property investors during the credit crunch. 6 Aug 2008 13:54:08 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1497.html 23DCAB4B-F734-439E-989A-7C05B6E6D104 The National Landlords Association (NLA), the representative body for private-residential landlords, has asked interested parties to submit their views on its draft Code of Practice for landlords involved in the sale and rent back market. Following wide-reaching consultation across the housing and mortgage sectors, the Code places the protection of vulnerable consumers at its heart. 6 Aug 2008 13:53:50 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1498.html 62F0B050-8F7E-4560-B186-C8AF4923DF7D Residential landlords looking to invest in new properties can find out what crime levels are like in their current or prospective neighbourhood through the use of the Landmark Information Group Areaview and Plansearch Plus Reports. The company is a provider of property and environmental risk information. 6 Aug 2008 13:53:30 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1499.html BD77D612-9A73-4A99-AC9B-D14BC824D7F2 News that the Nationwide house price index has shown that house prices have fallen by another 1.7 percent has been met with more doom and gloom predictions from financial experts, while some of their counterparts in the property market say the figures must not be taken out of context as they are only a snapshot of the market. 6 Aug 2008 13:53:15 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1500.html 81FDD815-A166-4535-B8F9-133205A1CEFC A Bristol landlord has been fined £12,600 plus costs because two of his flats and a shop were in such a poor condition that the health and safety of the tenants was threatened. Shemim Yaqub, owner of the properties at 109 East Street, in Bedminster pleaded guilty at Bristol Magistrates Court to 11 offences under the Housing Act 2004 and the Licensing and Management of... 6 Aug 2008 13:52:49 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1501.html D1F9DFFB-6702-4428-A82C-808547B77D89 There has been a varied response to the release by the Treasury of Sir James Crosby’s interim review of the mortgage finance markets. The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) welcomed the analysis and the recognition that a shortage of mortgage funding will persist for years without intervention. 31 Jul 2008 16:46:27 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1492.html 464105E4-2568-419A-805D-0E8D94593A5B The controversy over Home Information Packs (HIPs) continues with what Conservatives claim will threaten ‘backdoor revaluation’ following Government plans to extend the scheme. Tory minister’s claim Labour plans to snoop on things like home extensions and parking spaces. Residential Landlords selling their properties will be forced to fill out a compulsory ‘Property Information Questionnaire’ containing details... 31 Jul 2008 16:46:05 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1493.html CD3D47F4-5FA1-4B60-BEAD-7F6EA9DC3A28 Average house prices in England and Wales fell one per cent in June, taking the average price to £180,781, according to the latest figures from Land Registry. Annual house price growth shows a decline for the 10th consecutive month, with an increase of 0.1 per cent. 31 Jul 2008 16:45:42 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1494.html E616F2E7-2E64-4B03-83E2-3003C3A4A7A4 Buy to let investors and residential landlords planning to purchase property in one of the government’s planned eco-towns may have to wait a while longer. The Local Government Association (LGA) is considering a legal challenge to the 10 new towns on the grounds that they bypass normal planning procedures. 31 Jul 2008 16:45:24 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1495.html C9317B59-1D9D-4F50-9E80-79D8492224FB A tenant who secretly used his mobile phone to film his landlord having sex has been given a nine-month prison sentence. Scott Jones, 33, of Chelmer Road, Medway, Kent, Jones was convicted of two charges of voyeurism at Peterborough Crown Court on 13 July and was eventually sentenced at Doncaster Crown Court this week. 31 Jul 2008 16:45:03 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1496.html 0D2ADAF5-D23E-4326-AF84-B4AF96891037 Gross mortgage lending declined to an estimated £23.8 billion in June, down 3 percent from May and 32 percent from June 2007, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders. The decline between the first and second quarter was a marginal one percent. However, an increase would typically be expected in spring. The year-on-year decline has gathered pace in recent months; lending in the first quarter of 2008 was... 30 Jul 2008 11:19:54 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1487.html 4E644BE2-71EE-446E-BFF4-35687B134E08 The concept of selling London hotel rooms to investors, which has become a popular alternative to buy to let property in the past couple of years, has taken off nationally claims one developer. Plans for what is believed to be the first scheme of its type in the North of England have been unveiled by a The Skelwith Group in York. 30 Jul 2008 11:19:19 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1488.html 4DE677D7-4E76-4C07-9095-7BE5A9366B25 Landlord Varinder Jit Gill has been fined £2,000 and ordered to pay more than £1,000 in costs after he failed to co-operate with the London Borough of Hounslow during a routine housing investigation. Gill was asked on numerous occasions to explain his interest in a property in Bedfont Lane... 30 Jul 2008 11:18:57 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1489.html 059742B4-326E-4D6E-8170-F352A1B5CD5E Buy to let investors and residential landlords planning to purchase property in one of the government’s planned eco-towns may have to wait a while longer. The Local Government Association (LGA) is considering a legal challenge to the 10 new towns on the grounds that they bypass normal planning procedures. 30 Jul 2008 11:18:27 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1490.html C8538AA6-8265-4B32-B542-0C654239C45B An experimental restriction of second homes in national parks was one of the recommendations listed in MP Matthew Taylor’s report into rural economies and affordable housing. The Government is however yet to be convinced that a restriction of second homes would be either workable or deliver the intended benefits, when there are more innovative ways of providing... 30 Jul 2008 11:17:09 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1491.html 53375043-45CC-49E3-BA06-A7A487FBB91A A proposal for state controls on second homes has involved all major political parties. It was commissioned by Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown, produced by Liberal Democrat MP, Matthew Taylor and criticised by the Conservatives who believe it is a recipe for negative equity... 28 Jul 2008 16:05:50 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1482.html F97D6B7A-DF02-46ED-A214-FF354D3F010B The National Landlords Association (NLA), the UK’s leading representative for landlords, has welcomed new national guidance aimed at preventing the 300 deaths per year caused by residential property fires. In 2006 the fire service attended 55,800 fires in houses and flats, in which 373 people died and 11,200 people were injured. 28 Jul 2008 16:05:04 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1483.html 37E075EC-41B5-4FD9-90D0-2F58A710D8D6 The much-publicised crisis in the sales market is setting the scene for a boom in the lettings market and professional property investment, according to Knight Frank’s latest London Residential Review. The credit crunch has not curtailed demand for accommodation. However, buying an appropriate home is either impossible, as a result of tightened mortgage... 28 Jul 2008 16:04:42 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1484.html 3925DB14-2716-4F24-AD87-F201F889B219 An increased interest in overseas markets is fuelling the Buying Abroad Renting in Britain (BARBies) trend. Three quarters of first time buyers (FTBs) are abandoning their plans to buy property in the UK due to market instability, with nearly half putting their hopes in property abroad. 28 Jul 2008 16:04:08 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1485.html FEE48198-B4D3-4F8C-A63A-922CC4C3167D A landlord was jailed for 10 weeks for an illegal eviction after being found guilty of unlawfully depriving his tenants of their occupation of his premises by the act of changing the locks of the property under Section 1(2) of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. 28 Jul 2008 16:03:16 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1486.html ED27B71C-23B0-4740-8678-4952EA79E2DE A survey by fish4homes reveals that the UK is a nation of demanding house-hunters and that Residential Landlords can often expect strange requests from tenants seeking accommodation. 72 percent of those surveyed also revealed they have farfetched ideas of what we will get for their money. 22 Jul 2008 17:16:47 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1477.html 457D5B42-2F61-45F2-A5AA-056D86B468B3 A substantially slowing sales market has lead to many estate agents who have never before dealt with residential lettings to begin doing so in order to supplement their income. As demand for letting services increases, independent letting agents Leaders and the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) are urging the public to... 22 Jul 2008 17:16:26 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1478.html 2328D471-8B2F-43D7-97F3-7BD45887CE58 The Government’s housing policy of Home Information Packs (HIPs) suffered another setback this week following the news that a major HIP provider is withdrawing from the market. The HIP Facilities Group and its subsidiary HIP Payment Services have announced that they are closing their operation down due to uncertain outlook and the housing market slump. 22 Jul 2008 17:16:06 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1479.html FC5C4EAA-4115-4F2C-9CF0-BCC69421AFC8 The National Landlords Association (NLA), the trade association for landlords, is warning landlords of the real risk of rental arrears if they fail to carry out appropriate checks on prospective tenants. A situation where a tenant fails to pay rent could take up to six months to resolve... 22 Jul 2008 17:15:45 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1480.html 222F7B02-7474-4178-ABB7-ABA2FFEE5253 Results from the Dogs Trust charity’s nationwide survey into the problems of renting with pets, (Renting With Pets Survey) showed that 75 percent of dogs have been excluded from rented accommodation. The UK Pets organisation, reporting on the findings on its website... 22 Jul 2008 17:15:19 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1481.html A764CC8F-C07E-45F9-9471-E05A17974140 UK residential landlords will face considerable fines if they fail to provide tenants with an energy performance certificate (EPC) from October 2008, warns The National Landlords Association (NLA). The total amount for UK landlords could exceed £500 million and will come as a shock to many buy to let investors. 21 Jul 2008 12:16:29 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1472.html 53D451DA-22E7-4728-A711-F5B6D60F7CB7 Residential landlords and investors purchasing new buy to let properties should be careful when it come to the fixtures and fittings in the current economic climate. What constitutes a fixture or a fitting has become an increasingly contentious issue, leaving many purchasers outraged when they discover that they have been left with much less that they paid for. 21 Jul 2008 12:09:16 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1473.html 0B9E973C-189E-4969-A6B9-48EB3AE6773E Residential landlords and their tenants were among those offered the opportunity to hand in, or have collected, unwanted gas cylinders in Hounslow during an amnesty in June. It resulted in more than 300 potentially-lethal gas cylinders being handed in at the Council’s reuse and recycling centre. 21 Jul 2008 12:08:52 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1474.html B5F800BE-70A1-4767-9DE2-F77999019516 Residential Landlords who rent out properties in the prime country house market will have seen the value of their accommodation fall by 3.9 percent during the second quarter of 2008, according to the Knight Frank Index, the most severe quarterly price fall since the report began in 1995. Values fell for all three property... 21 Jul 2008 12:08:31 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1475.html 9AC4FD33-6AB7-4B83-A1F9-510793CC7C9A The Government is putting another toe into the rental market by introducing a new Rent to Home buy scheme. People with an income of up to £60,000 are being offered the opportunity to rent a flat or a house for up to three years at a discounted rate under the plans announced by Housing Minister Caroline Flint. 21 Jul 2008 12:08:03 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1476.html 27A62586-6C0B-4D8D-95ED-71C8CD6CD904 At over £500 billion, the value of the Private Rented Sector now outstrips the total of all privately-owned property says a report for the Association of Residential Letting Agents, (ARLA). The organisation’s report states that the Private Rented Sector is forecast to continue outstripping other types of investment property. 17 Jul 2008 12:08:48 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1467.html D77AA66E-FAE5-4A95-A6C2-DFB538095F94 NEARLY two thirds of landlords are breaking the law by failing to properly protect their tenants’ deposits, new research has revealed. A survey by The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) found 62 per cent of landlords willing to admit openly to prospective tenants that they were not registered with any deposit protection scheme – as required by law. 17 Jul 2008 12:08:30 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1468.html 20CB0D7F-42EC-4791-8CED-C4AE6EC58F40 Residential Landlords who are keen to go green could add to their portfolio by buying into the UK’s first ever carbon zero housing development in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. Reddish based building firm Moylan Homes has just secured planning permission to build the carbon zero rated Xantium building on Mason Street. 17 Jul 2008 12:08:12 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1469.html 209ACC85-FBFC-4678-9673-6BD667CC26F3 Property industry specialists were once again disappointed that the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) failed to send out a positive message by holding interest rates at 5.0 percent last week. The rate hold came at the same time that the Halifax revealed that house prices are falling at their... 17 Jul 2008 12:07:54 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1470.html 1476F135-1165-4E20-AFCE-EA8C4FACFADC The Communication Workers Union (CWU) is concerned there will be job cuts at the Alliance & Leicester following the announcement that Spanish banking group Santander plans to merge the business with Abbey. 17 Jul 2008 12:07:39 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1471.html 33609FD8-B930-497B-BDCE-F6DB36645F76 A challenge to the recent announcement that The National Landlords Association (NLA) and the National Federation of Residential Landlords (NFRL) are to merge has cast a shadow of doubt over the plan. Together the two organisations represent nearly 20,000 landlords, and unification would create the largest representative body for landlords in the United Kingdom. 11 Jul 2008 17:40:07 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1462.html E59F37E7-9B46-4248-89BD-504182166F57 Couples on low incomes will be among those continuing to rely on rental accommodation. This is because it is now almost impossible for them to become home owners in Great Britain according to the RICS accessibility and affordability indices. A first time buyer couple, earning lower quartile earnings (totalling £27,516 after taxes)... 11 Jul 2008 17:40:32 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1463.html 4689A514-EC47-432C-845F-3A4539688B9A As expected by financial and property experts, The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted to maintain the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 5 percent on Thursday. The previous change in Bank Rate was a reduction of 0.25 percentage points to 5.0 percent on 10 April 2008. 11 Jul 2008 17:39:21 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1464.html 72B2C110-083A-4DFA-BA1B-82997AED2E77 A landlord has been jailed for two years, and his tenants given suspended sentences, after a police found drugs during a raid on a house in Middlesbrough. The landlord, 25-year-old Savdhul Zaman is a former England international light welterweight boxer. He and John Coltman, aged 27, one of his tenants in Stainton Street, North Ormesby, denied charges of conspiracy to... 11 Jul 2008 17:38:56 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1465.html 9782151E-FC0C-473E-97EA-54331C2329E1 An expanded programme of 50,000 affordable homes forms part of ‘Planning a better London’, a report by Mayor of London Boris Johnson which sets out how he intends to improve the quality of life for Londoners through the capital’s planning system. 11 Jul 2008 17:38:18 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1466.html 10CAA92D-887D-4C5D-BB0D-1F9137B7247D Buy to Let landlords are increasingly resolved to maintain their portfolios of residential investment property according to the latest Quarterly Survey of Landlords and the ARLA Review and Index published recently. This is despite the fall in house prices. Only a tiny minority, 1.3 percent, expects to sell because of current market conditions. 9 Jul 2008 13:08:11 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1457.html 85F50D6E-50EF-444A-87D8-CAE417B037DB Residential Landlords are among those running small businesses which must have their tax burdens eased says the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne. Osborne has committed a future Conservative government to simplifying the tax system - including giving advance warning and increasing scrutiny of any proposed legal changes. 9 Jul 2008 13:07:36 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1458.html 8656BDE2-731D-4D93-876B-6E65C13E59C9 Many of South Yorkshire’s Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) and prominent property developers and have taken part in a new initiative from Transform South Yorkshire’s innovative housing design programme, ‘Delivering Design Quality’ (DDQ). In the first of a series of free professional workshops held at the Mercure St Paul’s Hotel & Spa, Sheffield... 9 Jul 2008 13:07:19 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1459.html 4B7A33D3-5DBA-4AF1-A7EB-1213AC54ED5A A partnership has been launched to help Social Landlords deliver energy performance certificates (EPCs) for their homes. The move comes as new legislation approaches which demands that every rented property in England and Wales will be legally required to present an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to new tenants from 1st October. 9 Jul 2008 13:06:39 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1460.html D47DC19C-5622-4A34-BA08-1F70EA83A93D Strathclyde Homes is introducing what it claims to be a unique ‘Try Before You Buy’ rental scheme at its developments at Clyde Riverfront, Yoker; The Link, Clydebank; Love Leith, Edinburgh and Scholars Gate, Bathgate. 9 Jul 2008 13:06:17 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1461.html 2B0DA04A-A5F7-4F12-923B-AEDC27A8ED3B Tenants' organisations in Edinburgh have welcomed new measures being proposed to ferret out rogue traders and property managers. Approximately 17 percent of properties in the city are now owned by private landlords, up from 14 per cent in 2005. Communities minister Stewart Maxwell is setting up an accreditation system with the aim of stopping cowboy property... 4 Jul 2008 17:44:13 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1452.html 3996F57A-B87B-43AA-9C37-6639FFEC8805 New measures designed to respond to the impact of the credit crunch on the housing market and maintain the delivery of new affordable housing have been met with some criticism. The measures announced by Housing Minister Caroline Flint, including an additional 3,800 homes for social rent, are the first part of a wider... 4 Jul 2008 17:43:52 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1453.html A4F65CBA-BF0E-4C9E-B7A8-11E46B49D8D7 Residential Landlords who want to provide their tenants with an interesting London address could purchase one the properties forming part of the £4 billion plans to regenerate the iconic Battersea power station. Plans for The Quadrangle, a contemporary development of one, two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses in the immediate vicinity of Battersea Park... 4 Jul 2008 17:43:35 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1454.html 4DCF2CEF-80B1-49EB-A972-F0A32585D2E5 House prices fell by 0.9 percent in June, less than half the rate of the previous month according to the Nationwide’s latest figures. The prices are 6.3 percent lower than this time last year, but remain 4 percent higher than two years ago. Although house purchase transactions remain subdued across the UK, Scotland seems to be bucking the trend. 4 Jul 2008 17:43:18 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1455.html 82BBC7A7-FE31-40D3-A8AB-A1CC42B4BE2F A landlord who tried to avoid paying a few hundred pounds to have some old furniture removed from his house by dumping it in the street now faces a bill of £1,800. Malik Gulam Sabir, of Mecca Properties in Heywood Street, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, pleaded guilty to passing waste to an unauthorised carrier at a recent court hearing. 4 Jul 2008 17:42:34 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1456.html 717FDD50-0280-4611-A9C2-6C568971CE7D Rental values have continued to grow steadily in London, with vendor reluctance to sell resulting in an additional flow of stock to the sector reports Savills in its latest survey into the Capital’s property market. The company expects rents to rise by 6 percent by the end of 2008. This follows a period when the value of prime central London property fell by 5.5 percent in the second quarter of 2008. 3 Jul 2008 13:10:22 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1447.html 60A51277-69E7-4C4C-999E-DE0EAFD2394F Thousands of pounds belonging to residential landlords and tenants could be at risk as the uncertainty over the property market threatens the future of some estate agencies, a Cardiff agent has warned. While they wait for the market to recover, more people are turning to renting out their property but they may not understand that not all estate and lettings agents insure the tenants' deposits and landlords' rents they hold. 3 Jul 2008 13:10:04 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1448.html F4640FF9-85C0-4427-9CDF-A98348E34028 The Government's aim to safeguard higher housing standards for eight million social housing tenants took a step forward this week. Housing Minister Caroline Flint announced that she has recruited people for two of the top positions at the agencies set up to look at affordable housing and the service offered to tenants. 3 Jul 2008 13:09:33 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1449.html 1C34833E-271A-4029-A415-07CF228D6ABA Estate agents have topped the poll of professionals suffering from sleep deprivation. They only get five hours and 50 minutes sleep a night - more than two hours less than the daily recommended sleep quota. It seems the stress of a house price nose dive and slump in the market, is taking its toll. 3 Jul 2008 13:09:11 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1450.html D759B74A-54A8-4CC9-8FD6-62AC5C8D1708 A LANDLORD has been fined £6,000 and ordered her to pay £300 costs for failing to carry out safety improvements at his house of multiple occupation in Selby. Prosecutors acting for the local district council told magistrates that environmental health officers found various hazards relating to fire safety, electrics... 3 Jul 2008 13:08:38 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1451.html 9E94C3E1-9F8D-45B8-9D2D-DE2F1D936A17 With all Residential Landlords being obliged to provide Energy Performance Certificates (EPC’s) with new tenancies from October 1st 2008, Whitney UK is offering tips on how to become a more professional and energy-conscious Landlord. A new EU Directive will stipulate that an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is required within each HIP provided to new residential buy to let or HMO tenants. 30 Jun 2008 11:38:47 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1442.html 451BFB4A-DE40-4774-8FEA-E9FBE456F5CF Edinburgh is the best location in the UK for residential landlords to invest in student accommodation, according Knight Frank’s Bricks & Mortarboard Student Accommodation Review. It ranks the Scottish city above other UK rivals including all parts of London, Newcastle, Birmingham and Manchester, as the best investment location for student residences. 30 Jun 2008 11:38:19 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1443.html 3C7F9838-FCDA-46CD-A53D-BB1BC4AF6B7E Letting and property specialist Martin & Co is the latest company to respond to the Carsberg Report into the future of the housing market in the UK which was jointly sponsored by the NAEA, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA). Martin’s MD Ian Wilson said: "We welcome the review, and in particular the... 30 Jun 2008 11:37:02 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1444.html 769346EC-CA9E-4CFC-9806-9B128159AF0B Residential Landlords with young professional tenants will be attracted to a new way of delivering broadband to this demographic claims the company providing the service. Sky Wire install invisible wireless access points, meaning residents have the flexibility to browse the internet without plugging into broadband points. 30 Jun 2008 11:36:35 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1445.html D68BA947-4C65-42FB-BCB4-709E3EF56566 Sales of second homes in London are set to increase at reduced prices, as owners draw in their finances and sell before the market slips further reports estate agents Cluttons. Forced sales are beginning to appear in many areas of the Capital for the first time. Financial... 30 Jun 2008 11:36:20 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1446.html E8E97FC7-E3DA-4E57-AA07-BAD32EB523EE Residential landlords and accountants who look after their Buy to Let interests have been sent letters by HM Revenue & Customs asking for details of any tax that has not been paid on money made from letting or selling a property. Similar action has been taken in the past, but this latest move, which has been called ‘Property Campaign’ by the Revenue, is being seen as a major crackdown that some financial specialists are... 24 Jun 2008 14:38:33 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1437.html C7B2BC93-2213-4334-AB54-43E0DD409E5D Residential landlords are being told their tenants will get more value for money from local public services due to an increase in the collection rate of council tax. Local Government Minister John Healey this week praised councils on improving the amount of council tax collected for the eighth successive year. 24 Jun 2008 14:37:49 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1438.html 8AA94460-AB72-4AF7-B5AD-F409BA517507 Rental yields in May were at their highest level since the start of 2006, states to the latest Paragon Mortgages' buy-to-let index. Landlords can now expect an average yield of 6.4 percent. In the last year rental incomes have increased by nearly 12 percent - 6 percent in the past six months. 24 Jun 2008 14:37:29 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1439.html 82904E11-6439-4947-9036-D41AFDA2DE4A With the Scottish Parliament starting a debate on the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, ARLA, the Association of Residential Letting Agents, called for ministers to give it their backing without re-inventing the wheel. ARLA was behind the operation of the voluntary Tenancy Deposit Scheme in England and Wales before deposit protection became mandatory last year. 24 Jun 2008 14:37:05 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1440.html 4F7B3C75-72DC-426B-A999-1F7D683326A7 Gross lending totalled an estimated £25.5 billion in May, down only 2 percent from £26.1 billion in April but 19 percent from the £31.5 billion high in May 2007, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). Monthly lending levels have continued well below their position last year but at good historic levels. 24 Jun 2008 14:36:45 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1441.html 7CDA12CF-9589-427B-A920-5DF3D52E5FEC Marginal falls in rental returns for houses and flats are reported in the latest quarterly survey of ARLA’s member letting agents. This, ARLA believes, is due to the number of new developments coming on-stream. The Association also points out that this demolishes the myth that rent levels are soaring. 20 Jun 2008 12:09:45 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1432.html 3F7EBB56-EF03-402B-9BF2-165A24C84B34 The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) today welcomed the recommendations of the Carsberg Report into the future of the housing market in the UK. The independent report, jointly sponsored by the NAEA, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), pulls no punches in its assertion that the market for buying and selling homes in the UK is simply not working. 20 Jun 2008 12:09:28 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1433.html 1B932272-4537-4240-9D18-0A334900142C Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) are having to incur substantial extra costs to meet the stringent new CSH Code Level 3 standards, which came into force as part of the Code For Sustainable Homes - which seeks to achieve zero carbon new builds by 2016. The Government currently allocates little or no additional funding to newly built social housing. 20 Jun 2008 12:09:12 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1434.html 51192D82-9CED-41FD-8426-AD1D7C7AC67C Residential landlords could see their property investments decline in value following predictions by Britain’s biggest mortgage lender that house prices are likely to fall by 9 per cent this year. The Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) has reported that sales this year are down by 45 per cent compared with last year. 20 Jun 2008 12:08:57 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1435.html 6A2F4127-FECF-4DC1-8106-07F4B511D119 A landlord threw a tenant out of his house and set fire to his clothes after discovering that he had used a mobile phone to film him having sex with his girlfriend. The fire attracted the attentions of the police and fire brigade leading to the tenant, Scott Jones, being arrested and charged with two offences of voyeurism in Huntingdon. 20 Jun 2008 12:08:24 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1436.html 8DD6F6C1-1842-4AF6-879C-9C9C2A5F7351 Residential landlords in the South East have been given a glimpse of how their property investments are performing following a research report on residential development by Knight Frank. It showed that the South East housing market averaged 7 percent capital growth in 2007, outperforming the UK average (5 percent) as well as Greater London (4 percent). 17 Jun 2008 12:32:07 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1427.html 9E02A801-9509-443D-849E-59C5799E2D74 Mediation services to resolve family or relationship breakdowns or offering rent deposit to aid a family make a move into accommodation were just two of the methods that housing authorities and their partners have employed to prevent households from becoming homeless. Homelessness Minister Iain Wright... 17 Jun 2008 12:31:37 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1428.html 5C9A0939-ED45-4A8E-8B16-3999306948E5 An influential housing report published recently shows rental housing to be the only affordable section of the market claims the British Property Federation (BPF). At the launch for ‘Can’t Buy, Can’t Supply’ report, Hometrack’s director of research, Richard Donnell, said that "the private rented sector is the affordable housing market". 17 Jun 2008 12:31:06 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1429.html 6EFB8390-2FF5-477B-BCA4-E9F419FEB134 Residential Landlords who want to concrete over the front gardens of their properties to provide off street parking for their tenants may face tougher opposition in the future. The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) wants the Government to take immediate steps to mitigate the risk of flooding by preventing people from taking such action. 17 Jun 2008 12:30:50 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1430.html CED0CAC2-A1EE-4492-A753-E590F676E1EA No one is saying all squatters are perfect, but neither are tenants. This is one of the responses from the Advisory Service for Squatters (A.S.S) following recent headlines criticising local councils who are referring homeless people to its Squatters’ Handbook. Reports claim the handbook, which is now in its 12th edition and has been in print since 1974, allegedly gives advice on how to ‘trick’ your way into properties. 17 Jun 2008 12:30:32 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1431.html 1F49EF5F-43C9-4609-A3DE-243CF072259F The country’s biggest property developers and investors handed housing minister Caroline Flint a report called ‘The Future of Renting’ at the British Property Federation (BPF) annual conference. The report is a response to a government review of rental and calls for a radical reshaping of the housing market that would ease the burden by ensuring renewed investment to see new properties come forward, saving... 13 Jun 2008 10:41:11 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1422.html 219D2C82-8A07-4D5A-8E02-FF130D3B3CB0 The National Landlords Association (NLA), which represents almost 14,000 landlords, has said that the fundamentals of UK buy to let remain strong. Despite a reduction in available mortgage products, the organisation says its NLA Mortgages continue to offer landlords the chance to access mortgage finance and benefit from a guaranteed cashback sum. 13 Jun 2008 10:40:52 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1423.html 0FF3FD84-374B-45A2-93FD-71A5974E2719 Potential and existing landlords are being invited to receive expert guidance on how property investment can help secure their financial future at an event being held in Peterborough and Ipswich this month. The seminars on Tuesday 17th June 2008 at The Buckingham Suite, Holiday Inn Peterborough West, Thorpe Wood, Peterborough, PE3 6SG and... 13 Jun 2008 10:40:28 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1424.html E8C369AB-F882-490B-88C9-DEE0585E83E7 Strong rental growth, low voids and falling rental supply will, according to Savills, support income returns during this period of housing market uncertainty which also presents investors with new opportunities. Jacqui Daly, director of Savills research, believes that investors are showing continued interest in portfolios, where there is the opportunity to unlock additional value. 13 Jun 2008 10:40:08 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1425.html 00558BEE-5B49-4D58-AB13-F6E1A72BD6A8 In a week dominated by headlines about the possibility of two million homeowners slipping into negative equity comes news from RICS that the balance of Chartered Surveyors have reported house price falls decreased slightly in May but the average number of transactions per surveyor fell further. 13 Jun 2008 10:38:41 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1426.html 8543CF05-B24D-424B-805C-C4AEB6448CF6 Disappointing, unhelpful, but hardly a surprise was the general reaction of the property market to The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee decision to maintain the official Bank Rate at 5.0 percent. Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) director general, Michael Coogan said: 'We expected the MPC to hold rates today as it wrestles to control rising inflation in a weaker economic outlook. 11 Jun 2008 13:33:11 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1417.html 6E5E6E02-BD20-474D-B3F9-502CC6AA11EE Tenants will have the opportunity to reward good practice and take action against poor social landlords when the board of the new social housing regulator, the Tenant Services Authority when it opens for business at the end of this year. Housing Minister Caroline Flint has called for social housing tenants to come forward to apply for two of the four new positions on the board of the Authority... 11 Jun 2008 13:32:56 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1418.html 94682A33-7966-4234-932E-383178790185 Over 13 million properties are at potential risk from subsidence in the UK, nine million homes have been built within 100m of potentially contaminated land, and two million homes are at potential risk from flooding. For the first time ever, Landmark Information Group, a provider of property and environmental risk... 11 Jun 2008 13:32:37 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1419.html FDA8F0D5-54CD-4700-9823-459EFBE85082 Accommodation in Winchester is now available on standard Assured Shorthold Tenancies, or alternatively on a week by week basis. Dreweatt Neate is offering apartments in Bakhaty House, next to the newly-opened Discovery Centre in Jewry Street to tenants who want flexible periods. 11 Jun 2008 13:32:23 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1420.html 87363A68-181E-49FA-8FA6-F73C2E4ED597 Residential landlords and property investors interested in any of the new 47 detatched homes that have been added to the Dickie Homes development in Elderslie will be buying a 21st century home in a Scottish village steeped in history. 11 Jun 2008 13:32:04 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1421.html 451EF120-E082-426E-919D-333A51B76CF0 The National Landlords Association (NLA) has developed guiding principles for its forthcoming Code of Practice for landlords involved in the sale and rent back market. Although sale and rent back will not stop repossessions, ethical sale and rent back could be a way for homeowners to remain in their properties but become tenants. 6 Jun 2008 17:34:38 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1412.html 5AA01984-9F60-4283-9FA0-81819A0D580D Croydon is currently going through a £3.5 billion regeneration scheme intended to place it as London’s third City with a number of major projects either underway or planned. At the heart of the scheme is the five hectare major mixed-use scheme on the Croydon Gateway site. Property investors and residential... 6 Jun 2008 17:34:12 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1413.html 6BEA77D7-A646-44BB-A769-1A351BD7DB5A Representatives from two estate agencies have been meeting this week in an effort to resolve a dispute over alleged anti competitive practices. Estate agency Homes Matter has made a formal complaint against Rightmove.co.uk to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) over the allegation that it refused to accept its advertising. 6 Jun 2008 17:33:16 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1414.html 55D09BC3-AAA5-44F1-9B40-E164A53A9BFC The National Landlords Association (NLA), which represents almost 14,000 landlords, has published research indicating that 73 per cent of landlords consider the renewal fee charged by their letting agent on a ‘let only’ basis as not reflective of the work actually undertaken. The survey of over 500 landlords has revealed that those landlords with properties outside London and the South East are far more likely to pay a fixed fee in the region of £50... 6 Jun 2008 17:32:42 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1415.html DAAAD5FE-9974-4833-8AF1-7C666FB9DC0B Richard Brown has becomes acting chairman of the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), following the departure of the previous chairman, Steven Crawshaw from Bradford & Bingley plc, on health grounds. Brown, Managing Director Bank of Ireland Personal Lending, was previously one of the Deputy Chairmen of the CML. 6 Jun 2008 17:32:17 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1416.html 2CA5748E-2A3F-40FF-9CF4-515D9AA6BEBE Property investors and residential landlords who want to increase the size of their portfolios are always looking for areas where emerging factors point towards house prices and rents rising in the future. Many property experts say that Kent is one county on the move due to improvements being made to the railways. 4 Jun 2008 15:36:00 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1407.html 2A9E26C2-6898-4EAB-99E8-BF6209BE34A8 A sale and rent back business claims it is taking steps to ensure those who wish to cash in on their property receive protection from unscrupulous companies. UK Housing Alliance, (UKHA) is working with the National Landlords Association (NLA) to develop an OFT approved code of conduct to help regulate the industry. 4 Jun 2008 15:35:46 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1408.html 0E649176-8F48-4192-9A12-61F211059FD7 High street banks are still feeling the knock on affects to their own businesses after Bradford & Bingley, the UK’s largest buy to let mortgage lender, asked its shareholders for more cash after a weak trading statement announcement. Panic appeared to set in on the stock market on Monday causing... 4 Jun 2008 15:35:28 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1409.html 24703254-B9F2-42EB-B351-4426324684B5 Town hall housing departments across the country are referring people without anywhere to live to a squatters’ rights group according to a statement released by the Conservative Party. The Advisory Service for Squatters has produced a DIY guide on breaking into people’s homes and how to occupy the property. 4 Jun 2008 15:35:14 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1410.html 2DC3F5CB-4F2A-4C5C-98AD-7758DA436F35 Residential landlords who invest in the low carbon Ecostessey Park development, near Norwich are being offered five years of free energy which will help attract tenants. Ecostessey Park is an eco-development of 3, 4 and 5 bedroom townhouses, set on a private estate on the edge of Old Costessey, near Norwich. Prices start at £249,950. 4 Jun 2008 15:34:53 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1411.html 44F918EE-4FAD-4700-AB64-59A61633F7CD A recent survey estimated that almost a million private tenants have no home contents insurance, despite the fact that a third of private renters surveyed said that they estimate their possessions to be worth more than £10,000 in value, with some individual items worth over £1,500. Many tenants who do not have contents insurance believe that their residential landlord’s insurance policy will cover their contents. 30 May 2008 11:46:34 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1403.html 6A33C1D3-9E47-4BAF-892F-40582354314D It's swings and roundabouts for residential landlords as far as house prices are concerned in the current climate. The recent Nationwide survey reported that house prices fell by 2.5 percent in May. They are also 4.4 percent lower than this time last year, but remain 5 percent higher than two years ago with the average price now £173,583 (£8,000 less than this time last year). 30 May 2008 11:45:25 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1404.html FEBF3D29-8B06-4A40-BEFC-54FF811CBE12 Residential landlords don't have to lose control of their deposits even though they must now be protected throughout the course of the tenancy. This was a recent reminder from mydeposits.co.uk, a Government-authorised insurance-based tenancy deposit protection scheme protecting over £200 million of deposits. 30 May 2008 11:44:50 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1405.html C4EAFE09-B703-4F43-80F7-B1B602920CD3 Another question over what incentives have been offered to the private rented sector to assist with immigration housing issues was raised in the House of Commons recently. James Clappison (Shadow Minister, Work & Pensions; Hertsmere, Conservative) asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many... 30 May 2008 11:38:00 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1406.html C08AE9D8-BE26-4A85-863F-E8F9F71B7612 Another landlord has been fined following the death of a six-year old girl who was poisoned by fumes from a faulty boiler. It has prompted the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to again highlight the fatal consequences of carbon monoxide gas following the case which hit the national headlines. 27 May 2008 14:44:24 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1398.html 17FF6B5C-11E7-473E-A74E-18A534702D66 Members of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) claim the property market is stabilising but that there are still regional variations due to shaky consumer confidence. The latest NAEA report appears to indicate that the current rise in demand for rental property will continue because it is still a tough time for first time buyers. This fact is backed up by the recent... 27 May 2008 14:44:07 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1399.html 3AF49F62-7713-4EBD-A243-3E3237CCB05B Working with local authorities has shown that providing access to larger properties in the private rented sector can be a positive solution to the problem of overcrowding in some circumstances said Minister for Housing Caroline Flint during a House of Commons debate recently. Her comments were in answer to a question by Dari Taylor (Stockton South, Labour) who... 27 May 2008 14:43:49 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1400.html A053113F-C087-4C49-BBF4-F9C46A1F7FF9 Although welcoming the Select Committee report into the supply of rented housing, published last week, ARLA, the Association of Residential Letting Agents, believes that it could have said more to help consolidate and build on the successes of the Private Rented Sector over the past decade. Ian Potter, Head of Operations for ARLA, said: "Many of the recommendations to Government are aspects that ARLA has long proposed. 27 May 2008 14:43:22 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1401.html 2DFC4D92-DB05-48E7-A6B7-BE929E7BE1F5 A new report from Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) reveals that while the Government’s rent arrears pre-action protocol appears to be bedding down well, some housing associations are continuing to choose to seek possession for rent arrears using the mandatory Ground 8 under the 1988 Housing Act. 27 May 2008 14:43:01 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1402.html BF7FA150-66EA-4B7E-BCD1-48F3A0747C87 Owners experiencing difficulty selling their properties, have turned to the rental market to take advantage of rising yields, says the RICS Lettings Survey published this week. New instructions to let property increased significantly in Q1 2008. The net balance of Chartered Surveyors reporting a rise in new landlord instructions (an indicator of supply) increased to... 23 May 2008 13:43:24 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1394.html EA73D156-B265-49C9-A334-5E6E2A5F057B Gross mortgage lending reached an estimated £25.3 billion in April, a 5 percent increase from March and an 8 percent decline from April 2007, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). A fall is typically expected from March to April. However, the fact that Easter was in March is likely to have affected the monthly... 23 May 2008 13:42:51 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1395.html 5B7EFC02-F566-40B5-911D-FBB72738BABD Overall optimism among buy to let landlords is at the lowest level recorded in the past 12 months claims a quarterly survey into the sector. But despite this dip in business expectations, more than half (52 percent) of the landlords interviewed by independent buy to let mortgage broker The Money Centre still believe their prospects are good or very good... 23 May 2008 13:42:27 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1396.html 8C3F505C-2AEE-4A9A-82AE-09255E0570E6 Property investors in the private-rented sector must work harder to dispel the myth of rented housing as second-best says the National Landlords Association (NLA). Broadly welcoming a select committee report into the supply of rented housing, the NLA is pleased that the needs and aspirations of those who rent have... 23 May 2008 13:34:37 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1397.html 0E4A0CA8-83BE-4D87-9914-CB22BB316957 Property auction experts have warned new investors to exercise caution when bidding on a tenanted property. Auction Finance Limited, a Manchester firm that provides finance for property professionals purchasing at auction, says that it has witnessed several instances of investors running into difficulties because they were unaware that their new property came with a sitting tenant. 21 May 2008 13:20:12 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1388.html CFF9F630-19A4-4C1C-840B-63854190313A A new report by the Local Government Association (LGA) warns that the impact of a slowdown in the economy combined with the credit crunch could lead to two million households, or 5 million people, on the waiting list for social housing in less than two years. Concerns have been raised by council leaders that the bank’s aggressive lending policies over recent years have overheated the economy and brought... 21 May 2008 13:19:51 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1389.html C65D28FF-475A-44D5-B451-29C0F3346115 Landlords and letting agencies who accept cheque payments for rent will be keeping a close eye on the Payment Council’s new National Payments Plan, in which it agrees not to phase out cheque payments until adequate alternatives are in place. The move has been welcomed by the Forum of Private Business whose survey at the end of last year revealed that most smaller businesses want market forces to determine when they should switch payment methods. 21 May 2008 13:19:29 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1390.html 60F1F1AA-2328-4CDF-AA77-6A9260C7B4E9 A tenant who caused the death of his landlord after starting a fire in the flat where they lived has been convicted of manslaughter. In a strange twist, 22 year old Stuart Willard had been hailed a hero six months before the fatal fire when he rescued two people, including landlord John Skilton, from the flames of... 21 May 2008 13:19:10 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1391.html 32D4AB82-12D9-40E7-A13E-D26A3F4544DF Landlords are among property owners being issued a safety alert by The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following five incidents in the last five years where redundant solid fuel back boilers exploded. A number of these incidents led to injury and sadly, in one case, a fatality when a woman died after an incident in Twyning, Gloucestershire last November. 21 May 2008 13:18:57 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1392.html 3E9C72DE-73EB-42D8-B1E4-05DD737772C1 The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has launched a market study into the sale and rent back sector. The arrangement - also known as sale and lease back - enables homeowners to sell their property at a discount to property investors or buy to let landlords in return for the option to remain in the house as a tenant. It can be seen as attractive to people in financial difficulty and facing possible repossession of their homes. 16 May 2008 11:40:02 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1384.html D6CCCAA7-76C6-49ED-A5DA-5080EDF30C02 Anthony Mayer will be the first Chair of the new social housing regulator, the Office for Tenants and Social Landlords (Oftenant), Housing Minister Caroline Flint announced this week. She has promised the regulator will listen to tenants' concerns and have powers to ensure they're getting a good service... 16 May 2008 11:39:27 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1385.html 195874B2-5791-4562-A18F-BDD8DACB5800 Mortgage lending for house purchase remained subdued in March but remortgaging levels held up well in the face of funding constraints, according to data released today by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). The proportion of ‘other’ lending, predominantly made up of buy to let loans and further advances, increased to £7.2 billion... 16 May 2008 11:39:02 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1386.html 493FBB84-D747-475F-8160-4A4B46F38A02 Property investment companies and individual residential landlords looking to purchase or sell buy to let homes were first dismayed by the original introduction of Home Information Packs (HIPs), and are now frustrated by the subsequent delays. The latest delay and moving of the goalposts announcement this week from Housing Minister Caroline Flint has prompted... 16 May 2008 11:38:18 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1387.html 9404FF40-7621-46ED-824B-652E52C69744 The Bank of England’s decision to leave interest rates at 5 percent has been met with disappointment by the property industry in particular. Generally it is felt that the Monetary Policy Committee has focussed simply on inflation rather than the overall health of the economy and there are fears the Government is letting the UK slip into recession because they are taking the necessary corrective measures. 14 May 2008 13:26:49 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1379.html C6401EDD-C91C-4C96-AFE8-7E0B34E287DC A new £10 million package of measures to support property owners who may be facing difficulties with their mortgage has been announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling and Housing Minister Caroline Flint. This package includes measures to ensure that financial advice and support is available for borrowers who may need it and includes an... 14 May 2008 13:26:34 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1380.html 2C94A85F-216C-46F2-BAB1-4A675D150677 The Ministry of Justice recently released figures that show the biggest increase in repossession claims since the property crash of the early 1990s must be kept in perspective says the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). The threat of repossession to householders who have failed to keep up mortgage payments has... 14 May 2008 13:25:24 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1381.html F465AAC6-4B37-48A5-8764-D9686EAC58DE In what has been described as ‘gloomy reading’, The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' (RICS) latest house price survey showed that confidence in the UK housing market fell to its lowest point for 30 years in March. This was the eighth consecutive monthly fall and it exceeds the previous lowest figure recorded in June 1990. 14 May 2008 13:24:58 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1382.html 92807F49-8F94-40F6-BFF3-8CF5CD34693F The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) has expressed disappointed that first day marketing is not going to be scrapped completely, but welcomes the move by the Minister for Housing and Planning to work with the industry to make HIPs more effective. Its views follow a Government announcement to introduce a package of measures to help ensure... 14 May 2008 13:24:40 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1383.html BF4B7CAF-6916-4A35-8ED7-899A21437A9C Although borrowers and builders were hoping for another cut in interest rates, the Bank of England, as many analysts predicted, held the base rate at 5 percent on Thursday. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) would have been under pressure due to falling house prices and low consumer confidence but decided to maintain the current figure after cutting interest rates three times in the last six months. 9 May 2008 14:24:01 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1374.html 38FCD940-DD95-4458-8CFB-949E54983CA0 Protecting private tenants from unscrupulous landlords by publishing an online 'Fair Rents Guide', and exploring the possibility of a tenant deposit scheme with a guaranteed arbitration period of one month are two of Boris Johnson's pledges in his housing manifesto. The new London Mayor’s other detailed policy pledges are designed to help more Londoners afford their own homes. 9 May 2008 14:24:25 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1375.html E268FE9B-04D9-41CF-8B80-F43BCB2E5218 While banks and mainstream lenders continue to put the brakes on the kind of lending available before the credit crunch, there is actually still a vast amount of cash out there if you know where to look says an independent commercial finance broker. And, says Galapark Ltd, some property investors may be surprised that flexible finance facilities from other sources remain very readily available. 9 May 2008 14:24:55 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1376.html A71D7BC2-F18E-4A4A-AD98-AF13C26771EE The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has published its annual report 2007 which, the organisation says, is a record of a momentous year for the mortgage industry. The report highlights how, in the first eight months or so of the year, mortgage and housing markets continued a pattern of strong growth that had extended for... 9 May 2008 14:25:19 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1377.html DB72983D-3A2E-4C02-B94D-7F569225C283 Whitney UK and Rich Dad Education, a provider of educational programmes in property investment and financial well-being, have drawn up their own POSITIVE advice relating to the current mortgage market. The advice is: Plan ahead for the longer term. Try not to sell your home or investment properties unless... 9 May 2008 14:25:54 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1378.html 180D9450-5CBC-4A02-ABDB-ABDA7835D57D The British Property Federation (BPF) has responded to what it calls an absurd press statement from the National Landlords Association (NLA) criticising moves to encourage greater investment into rental housing. The NLA's statement suggests that moves to encourage a US style branded rental scheme may pose a threat to individual landlords and could leave the vulnerable 'out in the cold'. 7 May 2008 12:31:18 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1369.html DA0869FD-0D9E-47DD-8936-C1E895BF977C The new ARLA president is calling on members to promote the benefits to landlords and their tenants of the Association’s Code of Practice, Client Money Protection and professional qualifications. David McMaster, 40, who takes over from Robert Jordan this month is making it his personal mission to ensure landlords and buy to let investors understand exactly what they should expect from professional letting agents. 7 May 2008 12:30:59 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1370.html 1C932341-DA52-477E-B66D-0BCA1F5ED3D1 The recent announcement by housebuilder Persimmon that it has postponed the start of scheduled new sites until the mortgage market improves will be one of several similar statements to come from developers predicts an investment specialist. These postponements will have the affect of stalling the government’s home building plans and will see rents rise as demand for existing rented accommodation increases. 7 May 2008 12:30:39 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1371.html 74D7AA26-E4FE-4DC8-AF7E-39F69F826F2C Although there is a market for those looking to rent larger homes, they are in short supply and the houses that do come up are quickly snapped up. This is the view of Zaza Patterson, of the Winchester lettings department of Dreweatt Neate. She said: “There is always the demand for larger houses at this time of year as... 7 May 2008 12:29:59 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1372.html 79701FA7-5CE3-4A06-9190-299AC6095B5E The government must make better use of the Enhanced Capital Allowances scheme, designed to reimburse landlords for greening existing buildings says The British Property Federation (BPF). At a recent UK Green Building Council 'Dragon's Den' event the BPF joined organisations including Friends Of The Earth and the Empty Homes Agency to make a case for one type of incentive scheme to help green the country's... 7 May 2008 12:29:08 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1373.html CF8A44F7-8F76-453D-9615-7295848CD44E A buy to let company that promised to show investors how to become property millionaires went into administration this week. Three years ago Inside Track was reporting profits of £12m, but in the current climate the company is now showing a loss. It blames the credit crunch for its collapse which has caused banks to tighten up buy to let lending although media reports had already previously suggested that... 2 May 2008 18:05:37 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1364.html C8046039-8095-4118-A9CE-F6D49F064BFC The Bank of England's special liquidity scheme is designed to improve liquidity in the banking system, not to support the housing market, Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) director general Michael Coogan told a Debt and Personal Finance All Party Parliamentary Group meeting this week. 2 May 2008 18:05:19 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1365.html AF19A28B-30A8-4F22-83DB-91A4E159D534 The not altogether unexpected news that house prices are lower than they were a year ago was revealed by the Nationwide's' latest House Price Survey. Average prices have dropped 1 percent since April 2007 to £178,555, the first time this has happened since 1996. Falling demand from first time buyers, higher mortgage costs... 2 May 2008 18:04:57 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1366.html F15AA46F-BDA3-4C98-ADD3-BA4933B91988 Landlords whose properties have suffered from the hands of ‘cowboy builders’ may have found an ally in the form of Eddy Shah, the man whose Messenger News Group company took on the print unions 25 years ago. He has vowed to uncover dodgy working practices in a blog on the new website www.showhouse.co.uk, which is a forum for the UK housebuilding industry. 2 May 2008 18:04:30 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1367.html 556E3D02-02B3-4642-BF6B-D1639531B732 Calls for the adoption of a large institution-driven, US-style branded rental market in the UK could leave the vulnerable 'out in the cold' says the National Landlords Association (NLA). The warning follows proposals to incentivise large institutions to invest intensively in rental accommodation. 2 May 2008 18:04:18 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1368.html 37B577D0-5AB6-48CF-B9B8-DDA1BE2D44BB Estate agents who deal with lettings are being advised by the Ombudsman for Estate Agents, Christopher Hamer, to pay particular attention to their dealings with clients. With uncertainty in the residential sales sector, there is an increasing emphasis on renting property in the private sector as a housing solution for many people as they wait to see what happens with... 30 Apr 2008 16:51:57 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1359.html 596FC307-0011-4929-8D5C-024C47D155EF Savills Research has issued a revised forecast for the property market anticipating total falls of 6 percent over two years, provided the Bank of England takes all necessary steps to halt the credit crisis. Unlike other forecasters, Savills believes the current credit constraints, rather than affordability issues, to be the major downward pressure on the property market. 30 Apr 2008 16:51:37 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1360.html 16AB6475-547D-4921-B0E1-31613F081980 The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has urged the European Commission to shelve its White Paper proposals on the integration of EU mortgage markets. The CML says that conditions have changed so much in the months since the White Paper was prepared and published in December last year that it would make no sense to proceed. 30 Apr 2008 16:51:08 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1361.html 15C9F3EE-2E92-4513-BB22-D3E1577ADA5D A survey of buy to let landlords has revealed that 70 percent view the current property market conditions as an opportunity to expand their portfolios. The survey, carried out by property fulfilment company i-PropertyAssets, also showed that refurbishment opportunities were the most likely way for a buy to let landlord to add to their portfolio with 40 percent preferring that option. 30 Apr 2008 16:50:50 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1362.html 708FBF21-3FBE-4C61-A140-39667448039A The biggest housing association in Chester claims it is bucking the national trend by reducing the number of evictions at their properties due to rent arrears. The government has recently announced it is to launch a working group to look into concerns that some housing associations are too quick to evict tenants. 30 Apr 2008 16:50:11 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1363.html 150219D5-F2D0-4AC6-A9CE-8FC10FD6BAFC With the collapse of the Colchester-based letting agents, Hot Lets, ARLA, the Association of Residential Letting Agents, has asked members to step up their individual efforts to warn the public of the dangers of unregulated agents. Speaking at the AGM of the ARLA Essex Region recently Ian Potter, Head of Operations, said, "Until we have a licensing regime that covers every letting agent... 25 Apr 2008 17:22:54 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1354.html 111211A6-71C0-4308-9F7F-B1A8663B315B Independently owned letting specialists Leaders, which has 34 offices across the South East, insists it is important to look at the facts and figures on a local rather than national level in order to get an accurate picture of the buy to let market. The company’s managing director, Paul Weller, said: "The problem with looking at averages and trends is they don’t reflect a true picture of what is happening in specific locations. 25 Apr 2008 17:22:14 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1355.html 52FAD493-388B-446F-84C8-93873331ADE8 There is no sign of buy to let investors fleeing the housing market according to an interim survey carried out over the past fortnight of RICS members. The survey was held to assess whether landlords are now seeking to take advantage of the more favourable capital gains tax treatment. 25 Apr 2008 17:22:00 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1356.html 32BB3BD2-69FA-420C-A227-61204346DA12 Demand for rented accommodation will continue to rise for the foreseeable future as first time buyers are finding the current property climate increasingly difficult. According to the latest report from the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) the market share for the first time buyer market reduced in March. 25 Apr 2008 17:21:31 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1357.html 053F51A3-5AD6-4F1F-B427-26A1E0BC30FF A Shelter report shows many on low incomes are being forced to rent slum-like homes as they struggle to find a decent, affordable place to live. The British Property Federation (BPF) is fully supporting Shelter on moves to improve standards and rid the sector of rogue landlords. 25 Apr 2008 17:20:30 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1358.html DE315F32-F30C-41F9-B034-279B957CBA92 With demand for housing in the Private Rented Sector likely to soar due to the credit crunch, the Association of Residential Letting Agents, ARLA, has warned agents and landlords not to take advantage by cutting corners. ARLA pointed out that both the law and best practice has moved on a long way since the early 90s when the last housing crisis produced soaring rental demand... 23 Apr 2008 10:31:43 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1350.html C505A8FA-F9AD-4278-978C-B1E8A3454182 Residential Landlords trying to find the best locations in which to invest in buy to let properties will be interested in the claims made by a recent survey which lists the least popular places to live in the UK. Halifax has proved the least popular destination with movers - 57.1 percent more people have moved out of the area than... 23 Apr 2008 10:31:17 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1351.html CAD25EEB-350C-487C-9B74-575BFEAB7DBB Despite some initial criticism that the Bank of England is risking public money to bail out cash strapped financial institutions by announcing plans for a special liquidity scheme, the move is gaining support from various property organisations. The Government backed scheme hopes that the injection of around £50 billion will improve the liquidity position of the banking system and restore confidence in financial markets. 23 Apr 2008 10:30:59 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1352.html DB884586-5C45-45CB-AE60-7B757F8C150A The Money Centre, the independent buy to let mortgage brokers, has improved its range of mortgage services. After two years of using Goldsmith Williams' online conveyancing service, GW Live, The Money Centre has been asked by Goldsmith Williams to pilot its new portfolio landlord system. 23 Apr 2008 10:30:38 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1353.html D34F8611-584D-42B0-825C-B1C952BF2735 New investors hoping to get into the buy to let market and existing landlords looking to extend their portfolio will find it harder to get funding following news that five more lenders have joined a growing list of institutions unwilling to offer products for this type of investment in the current climate. Last year there were more than 3,600 buy to let mortgage products... 18 Apr 2008 17:00:45 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1345.html 52876DE8-0006-4EA4-829F-5E194B384BD5 Residential landlords with properties in the South West could find their investments holding up better than the rest of the country according to one major estate agent. Knight Frank believes that the area is still expected to outperform the UK average, with only a moderate correction in prices expected through the year (-1 percent compared to -3 percent for the UK as a whole)... 18 Apr 2008 17:00:16 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1346.html 54B51EB9-EC50-4DE9-8BF6-9C17E281A0F4 If you own a property, it will now appear on what is claimed to be a complete list of English addresses produced by the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG). It says that for the first time, possibly since the Domesday Book, the first, definitive, national (England and Wales) address list provides unique identification of properties. 18 Apr 2008 16:59:50 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1347.html 5E0E9203-5DB1-432E-B8F7-4B191567FA17 Unmortgaged housing wealth has more than trebled in the last 10 years. It totals almost £2,500 billion (£2.5 trillion), more than twice the value of mortgage balances outstanding (£1.1 trillion). These are the findings reported in an article in the relaunched CML News & Views from the Council of Mortgage Lenders. 18 Apr 2008 16:59:28 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1348.html F92C9C27-F62F-4199-96E7-72A090CE80BA Residential landlords looking to invest in the Black Country will be watching to see if plans for new homes and a major new retail outlet get the go ahead. The former works of what was the area's largest printer, Cradley Print, could be transformed into contemporary homes and a major new retail outlet if plans submitted by two developers are given the green light. 18 Apr 2008 16:59:06 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1349.html 641CE373-1484-436F-B5D0-F999183398D0 There has been a mixed reaction from the property industry following the decision by the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee to cut the base interest rate to 5 percent last week. Some of the fiercest criticism came from Julian King of the National Homebuyers organisation who accused The Bank of England of failing yet again to grab the credit crisis by the horns and wrestle it to the ground. 16 Apr 2008 10:46:49 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1340.html 4E2BC5CF-20A9-438E-8EF1-E2CB9DD47226 Consumer champion the Electrical Safety Council says it’s time for landlords and other property owners to get savvy when it comes to getting in an electrician to undertake work. Figures from government advice service Consumer Direct show that complaints about electrical work in the home rose by 15 percent in 2007. 16 Apr 2008 10:46:30 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1341.html EAA85BC6-DCDC-4310-B6C8-3CE579048F20 The British Property Federation (BPF) has warned that if ministers clamp down on houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) they could damage housing supply and deprive students of the chance to go to university. The BPF warning follows the announcement by the government’s housing minister Caroline Flint of a review on shared housing. 16 Apr 2008 10:46:10 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1342.html 0F95A238-9B7C-4D60-BCE4-27609828194F The National Landlords Association (NLA) has launched a new service for all landlords, called NLA Mortgages. For the many landlords and property investors looking to expand their portfolios or remortgage their current properties, this free service enables landlords to source a highly competitive range of buy to let mortgage products from a panel of the most popular lenders. 16 Apr 2008 10:45:32 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1343.html A54F0609-1357-4C30-986E-80A0D4EE495F The landlord of two houses in Bradford has promised to board up the properties for the time being and evict the four tenants after they were arrested during a drugs raid on the properties. Police had to smash their way in to one property after they were refused entrance following a tip off that illegal drugs activities were allegedly being carried out in the house. 11 Apr 2008 12:36:49 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1344.html 6C8894EB-D73F-46EC-9FA7-AD2AEDA9E25B A new review aimed at improving the management and conditions of people living in Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) has been announced by Housing and Planning Minister Caroline Flint. Concerns have been raised about the so called 'studentification' of university towns with over concentrations of HMOs. 11 Apr 2008 12:37:19 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1336.html 66A0C509-F07B-4939-A282-9210F1157488 Purchasing a new fire extinguisher is not a guarantee that the equipment is in perfect working order. Under the Regulatory Reform Order landlords have specific duties to undertake a fire risk assessment of their premises and ensure current fire safety measures are met. To help landlords comply with these responsibilities, Fire Protection Centre provides a free Pre-Delivery... 11 Apr 2008 12:37:43 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1337.html 129F9E6A-0466-40DE-B86E-6B36AFF03DD0 The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has welcomed the launch of a government mortgage finance working group to help restore the confidence of investors while reinforcing the long-term stability in the market. But the CML believes there is still a need for more immediate action by central banks to overcome market funding problems. 11 Apr 2008 12:38:08 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1338.html 7E34BFDF-8BAD-499C-972E-F4C41B848763 Rental incomes have continued to rise, according to the latest Paragon Buy-to-Let Index for March 2008, reaching an average of £11,886 in February, up 2.4 percent from January. Rents have risen 15.0 percent over the past year. The regions achieving the highest rental incomes are London (£20,574), the South West (£15,970) and East Anglia (£12,738). 11 Apr 2008 12:38:44 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1339.html EAB8058C-963B-4413-AC2A-928E3B27EA18 Some of the most deprived areas of the country could become property hot spots due to the government’s Pathfinder Funding Programme. £1 billion of government cash is being made available to 12 UK redundant and troubled neighbourhoods making them more attractive to residential landlords and potential tenants. 9 Apr 2008 11:53:04 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1331.html 603643C8-14E8-49A9-B984-2A9D16490153 Residential landlords looking to invest in the eco towns of the future have had their first glimpse of where these developments may be situated. Housing Minister Caroline Flint recently announced 15 potential locations which will go forward to the next stage. The Government has said it wants to build five eco-towns by 2016 and up to 10 by 2020 as part of ambitious plans to build 3 million homes by 2020. 9 Apr 2008 11:52:43 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1332.html F95EC78F-8431-4FD4-9AEC-F29F5AA28405 In the same week that The Abbey withdrew the last 100 percent mortgage deals currently available in the UK, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has announced that the popularity of tracker rate mortgages increased in February as the proportion of borrowers choosing fixed-rate loans fell to 52 percent, its lowest level... 9 Apr 2008 11:52:17 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1333.html D4EF91BD-75A1-4640-B3DA-5F1F43855A3E A record number of private tenants are among the 16million people who will have been contacted by the end of May 2008 as a result of a direct mail campaign intended to increase take up of grants available for energy efficiency measures through the Heat Project. It is part of CERT (Carbon Emissions Reduction Target), a Government led initiative to capitalise on the... 9 Apr 2008 11:51:57 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1334.html FA32186F-982E-47BB-85AF-4E8E0986D002 Nearly £900m of tenants' deposits has been safeguarded under the Government's tenancy deposit protection scheme since it started on 6 April last year, claim new figures released this week. Under the rules, landlords and agents have a legal duty to sign up to one of three Government-backed schemes when they take a deposit for a new assured short-hold tenancy. 3 Apr 2008 18:14:00 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1326.html 253F08C3-3BDD-47D3-A1F8-6906C449D901 People attempting to get on to the property ladder for the first time are having to stay in rented accommodation for longer due to a combination of lenders reducing the amount of mortgages on offer, stricter lending criteria, and in some cases banks temporarily not taking on any business from first time buyers. 3 Apr 2008 18:16:21 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1327.html F767480A-7DEA-47AF-BF9A-B5F5F18C39D1 The once derelict Knightstone Island has achieved the highest ever rental incomes in Weston super Mare for properties of their type according to a local letting agent. David Plaister, a director at West Coast Properties, believes the Redrow development on the island has become a hotspot for buy to let investors because the properties appeal to high-end renters. 3 Apr 2008 18:16:04 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1328.html E8BDA4AE-B811-48DE-8C04-7C0414FA3E34 Ken Livingstone’s housing manifesto, published this week, appears to support the British Property Federation's (BPF) calls for greater institutional investment in London's rental market. The document said that "good quality private rented housing also has an important part to play in meeting housing needs in London". 3 Apr 2008 18:15:35 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1329.html 1DBFE2EE-F87F-4013-A4F0-6EE5001B9738 A slowing housing market has hit the UK construction industry, making it even more unlikely that the Government will reach its housing targets, says the recently published RICS UK Construction Market Survey. Growth in construction workloads fell to the lowest level for more than a decade as house builders and businesses were hit by the effects of the... 3 Apr 2008 18:14:34 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1330.html 20DA5739-157E-416D-BDBE-FBCF1BB96B18 Buy to Let investors have seen increases in their returns during the first quarter of 2008, according to the quarterly ARLA Review and Index published this week. The average return on a geared (mortgaged) investment is 21.7 percent, up 0.27 percent, and returns on cash purchases average 10.91 percent. 2 Apr 2008 12:15:33 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1321.html A2354F75-F22D-43E0-B267-1DFD4DBB1570 The latest figures from the Nationwide have confirmed the findings of other recent reports that house price growth has slowed to its lowest level in 12 years.This has raised expectations that the monetary policy committee may bring an interest rate cut forward to April. 2 Apr 2008 12:15:04 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1322.html 66017B55-90DB-47B5-93EA-33E28853ED53 From 1st October 2008, all rental properties with a new tenancy in England and Wales will be required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Why should you care? Because your prospective tenants will be able to see at a glance how energy efficient and environmentally friendly your properties are. If you have invested in energy saving measures your properties will perform well and will really... 2 Apr 2008 12:14:40 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1323.html 9C85126E-9BD1-45B5-A8F0-7EC94D7B6F90 Residential landlords who run their operations as small businesses are among those suffering through rising credit and interest rates, warns the Forum of Private Business (FPB). New research carried out by the Small Business Research Trust (SBRT), in conjunction with the shows that smaller firms are bearing the brunt of the credit crunch. 2 Apr 2008 12:14:17 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1324.html 7BE84ED6-4757-450B-A52D-68CC8E82B127 Following its eventual nationalisation, Northern Rock has vowed to repay the £24bn state loan by 2010. However, the bank did warn that it would not break even for three years and expected to make a significant loss in 2008 after a pre tax loss of £167.6m the previous year. However while trying to reassure customers and shareholders came the news that former chief executive Adam Applegarth would receive a total of £785,00. 2 Apr 2008 12:13:59 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1325.html 26D6FFA3-A17F-4874-BB87-0F3AA0B886EE A new single rate of 18 percent Capital Gains Tax for buy to let investors and second home owners will be introduced on 6 April 6 2008, benefiting individuals, trustees and personal representatives. The current rate is 40 percent for higher rate tax payers who have owned their property for less than three years. Even after a 10-year ownership of a property, the most a higher rate tax payer could hope for is a fall to a minimum of 24 percent. 28 Mar 2008 18:21:12 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1316.html 5731174A-16CB-4B8F-AE99-71E715187951 The strongest average yields being achieved by residential landlords in London on properties ranging from 1-bed flats to 5-bed detached homes, are being found in Islington (5.43 percent), Kensington (5.19 percent) and the City (5.08 percent). This was one of the findings in the Hamptons International Research into the Best Locations for Smart Investors and First-time Buyers across the UK. 28 Mar 2008 18:20:55 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1317.html F69AD141-2265-4FE1-A065-657C6DFB426C House prices has fallen for the fifth consecutive month according to a recent Nationwide Building Society survey further fuelling fears that the property market is weakening faster than expected. Average house prices rose 1.1 percent from a year earlier making this the smallest annual increase since March 1996. 28 Mar 2008 18:20:37 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1318.html 681BCCFE-7DE9-4B80-A34E-C7D357B1848A Small buy to let businesses are among the type of operations could bear the brunt of the credit crunch says a report compiled by the Small Business Research Trust (SBRT), in conjunction with the Forum of Private Business (FPB). The FPB believes that barriers to growth faced by small businesses, in particular the burden of tax, red tape and late payment, must be urgently addressed. 28 Mar 2008 18:20:06 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1319.html 78879B5F-D0DB-4F77-8CCA-AF01961F3149 Caroline Flint MP, the Minister for Housing, visited the Chester and District Housing Trust recently. The Minister saw the £12million regeneration of Treborth Road which will include 200 new affordable homes for rent, sale and shared ownership. 28 Mar 2008 18:19:46 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1320.html F3631F5F-C0D3-4F0C-B28B-A6AB8C60C305 The North West, Scotland and Wales have registered record returns for landlords, particularly in the fourth quarter of 2007. The latest quarterly report carried out by the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) was carried out well after the credit crunch began to bite. ARLA’s report focuses on returns from properties across the UK. In the last quarter of 2007... 27 Mar 2008 12:46:51 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1312.html 7F2D3266-BA2E-4660-8010-024945AA9F6D Iain Wright MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government said the private rented sector was a key priority for him in his role at a reception hosted by NALS (National Approved Letting Scheme) and the OEA (Ombudsman for Estate Agents) at the House of Lords recently. 27 Mar 2008 12:46:25 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1313.html E173D806-7379-4D6B-AD3E-8A85C143EC3D The demand for rented accommodation is set to continue and could probably increase as the credit crunch continues to eat away at the UK housing market. Thousands of first time buyers are struggling with mortgages and are looking to sell up or are under threat of having their properties repossessed. Some experts believe that once off the property ladder, these ‘first timers’ will never get back on. 27 Mar 2008 12:45:53 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1314.html 026C3481-71A3-403E-BEB3-C900D949363C Gross lending declined to an estimated £24 billion in February, down 7 percent from £25.9 billion in January and 6 percent from £25.6 billion February 2007, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). The Bank of England approvals data for January showed subdued levels of house purchase activity and a sharp rise in remortgage approvals... 27 Mar 2008 12:45:20 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1315.html B0BEF0BA-EFAA-4062-ABAC-E432FBA1EB77 At a time when the relationship between consumers and estate agents is very much in focus, buy to let investors and residential landlords will welcome the news that more agents are showing a commitment to improving their professional standards by signing up to the Ombudsman for Estate Agents scheme and its Code of Practice. 23 Mar 2008 13:36:53 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1308.html 35FE8859-9D89-49C9-B414-412D1C67530D The property industry's call for a VAT cut on home renovations will receive and enthusiastic reception from residential landlords and buy to let investors. The initiative comes hard on the heels of new evidence that building new houses emits four-and-a-half times as much CO2 as refurbishing an existing dwelling. 23 Mar 2008 13:37:15 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1309.html CE4B4CB9-E065-4310-81FB-1ABF75A6F056 The Scottish housing market continues to out-perform the UK as a whole and this has also seen rental demand exceed expectations. According to latest statistics from the Nationwide Building Society, Scottish property saw the fastest growth in the UK, rising in value by 1.8 percent in the final quarter of 2007, and averaging at 14 percent for the whole year. 23 Mar 2008 13:38:15 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1310.html 5A1C1FEC-3D30-4989-8920-83A387F7D67D A new top 10 list of the most desirable places to live in the UK has been produced by Royal Mail. Called the Home Movers Barometer, the list was based on figures relating to over half a million changes of address. UK home movers, it seems, are flocking to the West Country. Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset all make appearances in the top 10. 23 Mar 2008 13:38:41 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1311.html 318399E8-40C3-4CAE-B9D3-36258771DADD Buy to let landlords have welcomed Chancellor Alistair Darling’s move in last week’s budget to reduce capital gains tax to a flat rate of 18 per cent. But claims by Pricewaterhouse Cooper that there will be a rush to sell property when the reduced rate comes into effect have been dismissed as ‘unlikely’ by The Money Centre, the independent buy to let mortgage brokers. 19 Mar 2008 14:11:53 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1303.html 06705140-AC19-444D-BF72-30F32971C343 The number of UK property millionaires has nearly doubled in the last three years according to the latest research from residential estate agents Hamptons International. Figures reveal that 21 percent of properties were sold in excess of £1million during 2008 (year to date), compared to just 12 percent in 2006. 19 Mar 2008 14:11:40 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1304.html F6A8EA28-2F84-43F8-B84D-C2AE185BCA4E While much of the market is currently experiencing a slowdown, certain properties are proving to be as popular as ever. One property specialist says owners in these areas will never have to compromise on price and they will always preserve a competitive edge when it comes to selling. 19 Mar 2008 14:11:20 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1305.html AB6C1D02-37DE-4807-A056-7570E0E5CC93 Financial issues such as falling house prices and rising inflation are now talked about more than sport, politics and celebrity gossip. Approximately half of us have recently discussed finance related issues with friends, family and even colleagues, with just a quarter talking about celebrities and less than half debating events at Westminster or mulling over the latest sporting match says research from Alliance & Leicester Savings. 19 Mar 2008 14:11:00 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1306.html 2A9BE5B8-BC14-40FC-9DBC-6E22F3F76DD7 The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) is infuriated that the Department for Communities and Local Government has decided to try to use agents as a scapegoat for the problems of Home Information Packs (HIPs). Commenting on the recent MORI research, Stewart Lilley, President, National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), said: “The information in this research is based on the pre-legislation trials a year ago... 19 Mar 2008 14:12:29 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1307.html C365317B-7542-49FB-A252-A8045372FD42 Average rents in the private rented sector have risen by an average of 4 per cent for houses and 2 percent for flats in the three months to the end of February. These averages have been boosted by a 9 percent rise in Prime Central London and a 5 percent rise away from the South East. In the South East itself, rents fell slightly, by 2 percent for houses and 5 percent for flats. 13 Mar 2008 17:11:10 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1298.html 77476531-E5B2-4489-B36C-1401E6B3C26A Rent policy, including the relationship between council rents and rents set by other social housing providers will be included in the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy system review that was formally launched by Yvette Cooper, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and Caroline Flint, Minister for Housing and Planning this week. 13 Mar 2008 17:10:51 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1299.html 56259E7A-67F2-4605-84D4-38976A1B6AE0 Despite evidence of a clearly weakening economy the Bank of England is more concerned by the perceived danger of inflation resurging and is sticking to its remit of keeping inflation at around 2 percent. These are the views of real estate services and money management company Jones Lang LaSalle following a decision by the bank’s Monetary Policy Committee to... 13 Mar 2008 17:10:09 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1300.html 10BA8807-5F64-472A-A5D5-2EC0F545BB64 The National Landlords Association (NLA), which represents almost 14,000 landlords, is offering up-dated post-Budget 2008 financial and tax information to landlords as part of its newly launched e-learning programme. The programme, can be used as a structured learning tool offering landlords the... 13 Mar 2008 17:09:49 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1301.html 22D5616B-2259-4118-9FD9-310DBD0F15E7 The balance of Chartered Surveyors reporting house prices falls increased to near historical levels in February and stock piles rose to levels not seen for a decade, says RICS’ UK housing market survey published this week. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors house price balance dropped for the seventh month in succession signalling more than half a year of negative market sentiment. 13 Mar 2008 17:09:06 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1302.html 67CD9A2E-E262-41DE-B32C-6094454A1F45 Demand for rental properties has continued to grow and landlords have seen their yields increase says the RICS Lettings Survey published this week. However, access to the buy to let market became harder for would-be-landlords as mortgage products became scarcer. 7 Mar 2008 16:58:12 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1294.html 3F6D74A0-0FA5-40B1-B0F6-C6469AC2D199 A new report published by GLA Economics and the British Property Federation (BPF) calls for the creation of a brand-driven home rental market, similar to the USA and Germany. It recommends that affordable home levies on developments built specifically for rent should be cut, to make development more viable for large institutions. 7 Mar 2008 16:57:55 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1295.html D4AFFF43-13C9-41B0-BDA8-8401AE5065C0 The latest changes to the capital gains tax (CGT) regime is good news for buy to let landlords and investors according to chartered accountants Harris Lipman. Last month, Chancellor Alistair Darling confirmed plans first outlined in his October 2007 pre-Budget report to scrap taper relief on capital gains tax (CGT) from April 2008. 7 Mar 2008 16:57:36 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1296.html 1A342CD8-F4BF-45E6-AC82-BCFAC02F2425 The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted to maintain the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 5.25 percent on Thursday. Commenting on the decision, Simon Rubinsohn, RICS chief... 7 Mar 2008 16:57:02 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1297.html 7917A38F-8BBA-4709-874A-642674EC7CB8 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is targeting buy to let property investors for back taxes on undeclared rents. And tax experts are warning, 'if you get one, don’t ignore it'. The campaign is one of a series of new type interventions designed to avoid lengthy, traditional tax investigations. 4 Mar 2008 18:29:31 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1290.html 9D898460-400D-482A-BFD7-194A45E8ACB7 The success rate for residential properties sold at auction fell to the lowest level for three years as buyers retreated from auction houses due to tighter lending conditions and greater uncertainty over the outlook for house prices. 4 Mar 2008 18:29:05 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1291.html 570E7056-2EB2-47EF-9F2F-86B220DBB016 Social landlords in Coventry have been praised by the Government for their work in cracking down on crime and anti-social behaviour. Communities Secretary Hazel Blears highlighted the Coventry scheme as a pioneering example of landlords working together across... 4 Mar 2008 18:28:40 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1292.html 5AF387B7-C8EC-40CA-9554-AC74DA42863B A landlord who would not confirm his ownership of a property despite being given ample opportunity has been successfully prosecuted. Zafar Shah, of Great West Road, Hounslow, admitted one charge relating to his failure to comply with an order from... 4 Mar 2008 18:27:58 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1293.html 3F9DBFA7-F8B4-48A5-A6B8-293340469AFB The OFT has issued High Court proceedings against Foxtons Limited seeking a declaration on the application of the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract Regulations 1999 (UTCCRs) to certain terms in Foxtons' lettings agreements with landlords. 27 Feb 2008 16:39:00 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1286.html 2A8C5CE7-9EDC-4B02-9B80-5A4B1CB11778 Data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has revealed a rise in buy to let lending in the second half of 2007, pushing the number of outstanding buy to let mortgages over the one million mark. The figures show a £2.9bn increase from the first half of the year as a result of 179,100 loans and remortgages... 27 Feb 2008 16:38:43 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1287.html 7540A8C6-B5CC-404B-A6A3-31F3AB46671F Courses for landlords are among the special features included at The Invest in Property Show, being held at Old Billingsgate between 27 - 29 March. There will be 100 industry experts giving seminars during the three days, plus more than 20 investment briefings... 27 Feb 2008 16:38:20 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1288.html BB1BBE7C-31A1-4D9F-AA2D-3B40632D3240 The opinions of planning and housing experts are divided over the government’s new ‘Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods: A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society’ initiative, launched as part of its commitment to deliver three million new homes by 2020 and up to 10 eco-towns. 27 Feb 2008 16:25:16 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1289.html 1AFD0C28-B743-48AE-A8FE-0E5C626A477D The long-awaited introduction of a code of practice to crackdown on unscrupulous 'sale-and-rent-back' providers should be welcome news for the consumer, but until a clear outline and details of the code is announced, it is far too early to celebrate, claims an equity release specialist. 25 Feb 2008 10:42:31 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1282.html BAD3CFB3-36D2-4497-B859-778B886DD73A Recent research shows that almost 70 percent of sales agents who do not currently offer a lettings service would consider moving into this area to supplement their income if the residential market slows substantially. Many have already done so. 25 Feb 2008 10:42:06 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1283.html 3E00EE12-F88F-441A-9DC4-42D391C6F8E9 Following increased demand for rental property, developer Dandara, has unveiled plans to guarantee the rental income on selected investment properties across its Manchester developments for the next three years. 25 Feb 2008 10:41:40 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1284.html 47727944-4AC5-4359-837D-1CD7EA193248 Gross mortgage lending rose to an estimated £26.5 billion in January, up 11 percent from £23.9 billion in December, and reached a similar level to January 2007 when it was £26.6 billion, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). 25 Feb 2008 10:41:15 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1285.html 00EF1BD0-EA2E-4ACD-A5E1-BB3F45CE2629 There has been a further 10 percent drop in housing starts according to latest government figures which has prompted the British Property Federation (BPF) to again push its argument that the way forward is for ministers to recognise how the professional rented sector... 20 Feb 2008 14:07:45 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1278.html 1D832F60-23AC-4D50-BD4E-B4EFE971D099 Sexy toys are the number one item left behind by departing tenants, according to a new survey by The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS). The research revealed the array of unusual items that people leave behind, which are discovered by surprised landlords as they clean up. 20 Feb 2008 14:07:25 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1279.html 343A8C56-0A60-4979-BEE3-172E7E0B189F The fall out from the Northern Rock affair took a few more predictable twists this week following the government’s announcement that it planned to nationalise the bank. Speaking on Monday in the House of Commons Labour chancellor Alistair Darling said he had to make a statement before the market opened. 20 Feb 2008 14:07:03 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1280.html 05FFC9C7-8D39-44FB-85D2-1DA3A14AC898 The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has seen repossessions double in the last two years and a big rise in people needing help following the growth in sale and rent back schemes. And, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) the fourth quarter... 20 Feb 2008 14:06:35 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1281.html C555F76E-D539-453A-BDD2-FE5EA0BAADFD The way forward in the buy to let market is to license all letting agents delegates were told at the annual conference of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA). Those attending also heard a plea for the government not to regulate the rental market out... 15 Feb 2008 17:59:20 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1274.html 4E45A74E-8FA1-4CC4-8830-FE027467DE9F There was an increase in the number of surveyors reporting house price falls in January, said the RICS’ UK housing market survey published this week. The RICS house price balance dropped for the sixth month in succession signalling half a year of negative... 15 Feb 2008 17:59:03 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1275.html 721ADFD3-6E81-408A-B1C6-E730B494F136 While mortgage affordability deteriorated in 2007, the CML expects the two base rate reductions since December will help to ease debt servicing burdens into 2008. Affordability for first-time-buyers worsened through 2007. By December first-time buyers contributed around 20.7 percent of their income towards mortgage... 15 Feb 2008 17:58:44 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1276.html AA9A5D64-5AFB-4309-BC0F-9F8946CC9586 The good news for Richard Branson’s Virgin Group is that it has been named by the government as frontrunner in the race to take over Northern Rock. The bad news is that if the group fails to answer the government’s request to increase its bid, the beleaguered bank could... 15 Feb 2008 17:58:12 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1277.html 080EB6FF-C81F-43A5-AB21-A3796C09111C While the spectre of a rise repossessions seems to be hanging over this year like the sword of Damocles, fewer than one in 400 mortgages led to repossession in 2007, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders. 12 Feb 2008 18:28:15 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1270.html 704CA392-468E-4261-8993-8C1FDA880B81 A shortage of large houses for sale during 2007 was the driving force behind the growth in the number of substantial houses let by residential landlords on a long term basis - that is for leases of an initial term of two to five years, some with options to extend for a further similar period. 12 Feb 2008 18:27:51 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1271.html D1DA771E-585C-4297-A8A2-200DAD2C6115 The Bank of England’s decision to cut interest rates by 0.25 percentage points to 5.25 has been welcomed by property specialists, but some are still critical of the time it has taken the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to react to the current economic situation. 12 Feb 2008 18:27:34 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1272.html 58F07A99-4ACE-410D-AAD6-023969622ADC UK landlords are still committed to buy to let in the long-term despite recent market turbulence, according to independent research commissioned by The Money Centre. In a survey of almost 500 landlords, more than half said they expect to stay involved in property letting for more than 10 years... 12 Feb 2008 18:27:15 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1273.html 1E303529-5560-44BE-A703-056FB1AEB05B Relief to the sagging property market has come in the form of a base rate cut from the bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee which today voted to reduce the rate by 0.25 per cent to 5.25 per cent. It also appeared to think it necessary to give reasons why it could not go lower. 8 Feb 2008 10:46:16 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1265.html 4E55E460-2F7C-4FB0-ABB5-4CA8C8CAA10C A new property industry trade association - The Property Buyers Association (PROBAS) - was formally launched this week, together with a Code of Practice for its members. The Association’s creation follows discussions between leading players in the sale-and-rent back sector and other interested... 8 Feb 2008 10:45:45 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1266.html 20A39561-91B6-4D97-841B-8A4975F19173 Enhanced professional qualifications all the way up to Foundation Degree level has been put in place to help drive the rental market forward, delegates were told at the annual ARLA conference in London this week. 8 Feb 2008 10:44:44 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1267.html 72633857-91C2-49BF-8227-42521C441974 The UK remains the top spot for potential private property investors, with France, the Canaries, Bulgaria and Dubai following closely behind while Croatia and Italy are also attracting a lot of attention, according to research for the Invest in Property Show. 8 Feb 2008 10:43:10 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1268.html 9EEF5F32-0D9B-4649-A72A-70B1D86C0491 The British Property Federation (BPF) is holding its residential conference in London today (Tuesday) and will again be promoting its belief that a professional rented sector similar to that of the USA and Germany could house the millions of people unable to get on the housing ladder. 5 Feb 2008 13:44:05 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1261.html DEE19638-1440-4AE1-A525-E94E1C37F39F A specialist buy to let mortgage provider has urged landlords to review the energy efficiency of their properties ahead of new energy performance rules being introduced later this year. Paragon Mortgages has issued a reminder that from 1 October landlords... 5 Feb 2008 13:43:35 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1262.html 8C86EF80-7C6A-4214-9F07-C2D50B397947 The UK’s student accommodation sector is no longer a niche property market and is now recognised as an asset class in its own right by financial institutions and investors, claims a new report. 5 Feb 2008 13:43:10 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1263.html CEFC04A4-9FCC-4987-A003-E38F637D66BD One in 10 tenants who do not have insurance believe that their landlord’s insurance policy covers their contents which is rarely the case. This means, says Zurich Insurance, that UK renters are gambling nearly £8billion of personal possessions by not protecting themselves against bad weather or crime. 5 Feb 2008 13:42:29 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1264.html 9D06490B-1385-4CAD-91AB-E6372CC8421F Even given gloomy predictions about the housing market, it will still be possible for property investors to make 'reasonable returns' from the rental market, the Nationwide has suggested. However, its latest monthly survey suggests house prices hardly moved in January, moving down by a mere 0.1 per cent, and even that demand 'may have bottomed out'. 2 Jan 2008 14:24:56 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1257.html 833F1B2F-80C1-4F97-9A9C-337E9D831497 One in 10 renters aged between 25 and 34 count their landlord as a friend, Alliance & Leicester has discovered. And nearly one in five (18 per cent) say they would happily send a gift or card to their landlord to express their gratitude if they had gone out of their way to help them. 2 Feb 2008 14:24:09 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1258.html 9D7078E3-68B3-4E23-82AF-49CCD0A7574B Mortgage lending patterns look uncertain for 2008, the Council of Mortgage Lenders has admitted. 'The extent to which lenders will be able to meet mortgage demand in 2008 remains uncertain, as does the strength of demand itself. 2 Feb 2008 14:23:00 GMT http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1259.html 81531C56-9417-4EE6-85AD-98C27C02F29E