Landlords' new immigration duties come under fire

Private landlords will have to vet their tenants under new immigration laws announced in yesterday’s Queen’s Speech. They will be legally responsible for checking the immigration status of potential tenants, with fines running into thousands of pounds for those breaking the law...

Tenants staying put as property shortage continues, says ARLA

Tenants are now staying in one property for 20 months, according to the latest research from the Association of Residential Letting Agents.   This figure is up year-on-year from an average of 19 months in the first quarter of last year, indicating that tenants are starting to take a longer-term view of renting a property...

Half of landlords not using agents, say researchers 

Half of landlords do not use agents, new research from an independent marketing consultancy has said. While other estimates put the proportion of private landlords using agents at 60%, the BDRC Continental Landlords Panel puts it at 50% – suggesting the possibility of significant more growth for agents...

Fresh rise in number of tenants in serious arrears

The number of tenants in the most serious rent arrears is rising again despite an overall fall in arrears, a firm of receivers has warned. It says that the number of tenants most behind with their rent is now 20% above the long-term average, with court orders for possession creeping...

ETSOS Announces New Anti-Money Laundering Verification Services After Estate Agent Fined Nearly £12,000

The OFT on the 25th of January 2013, have fined Leicester based IPS Estate Agents £11,844 for failing to comply with Anti-Money Laundering Regulations. IPS failed to comply with a number of requirements under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 including those relating to:- ·         Verifying the identity of customers ·         Keeping appropriate...

Budget boost for home ownership could affect private rented sector

The Chancellor delivered new measures in the Budget aimed at boosting home ownership. Beneficiaries include the new homes, secondhand homes and mortgage markets, plus the ‘build to rent’ sector. The wide availability of 95% mortgages could have profound implications for the private rented sector, with more tenants encouraged from next January to...

Government's housing policies are 'schizophrenic', says lender

Housing policies were blasted by a succession of speakers at a buy-to-let event in Westminster yesterday. Flagship schemes such as Funding for Lending, NewBuy and FirstBuy all came under fire. Valerie Bannister, national property director of Your Move and vice president of ARLA, also slammed the lack of general direction. She said: “Successive...

London rent rises slowed by poor employment in City

Rents in central London are likely to rise by just 1% this year, Knight Frank has forecast. The firm points to weak employment in the City, with specialist recruiter Morgan McKinley saying that the number of job vacancies in the financial sector is down 24% year on year. However, Knight Frank says...

Local councils take a swipe at 'extortionate' letting agent fees

Pressure is growing on letting agents over their fees, described as ‘extortionate’ yesterday to MPs. Local government leaders said that the ‘extortionate’ fees charged by some letting agents are exacerbating the housing crisis. Some letting agents have been found to be charging non-refundable admin fees in excess of £500, according to recent...

Rents up sharply after ban on fees in Scotland, says portal

Rents in Scotland appear to have risen sharply following the ban on fees charged to tenants. The rise also follows Shelter’s campaign encouraging tenants to reclaim their fees, and the implementation of tenancy deposit protection, requiring agents to physically hand over both current and ongoing deposits to a banking scheme. According to...

Landlords hit out at 'inflexible' buy-to-let lenders

The buy-to-let market looks set to expand further in the first half of this year, with 55% of landlords planning to increase their property portfolios over the next six months. But, according to research by specialist broker Mortgages for Business, landlords are highly critical of lenders. Over three-quarters of investors (76%) say...

Rents drop but buy-to-let investors still head for London

Buy-to-let purchases in central London are increasing, despite declining rents. According to property agents Cluttons, average rental values have slipped by 2.3% in the last three months, taking average weekly rents to £996, the first time they have dipped below £1,000 since Q1 2011. Knight Frank agrees that rents have dropped, saying...

Bad mobile phone coverage means tenants reject properties

The importance of mobile phone coverage to tenants and home-movers has been underlined in a new survey of over 2,000 people. The survey, of adults aged 16 and over, found that 46% of tenants would not rent a property with poor mobile phone coverage. And over half (54%) said they would not...

Landlord in benefits trial says tenants have stopped paying rent

Ministers are to press ahead with their plans to pay benefit tenants their rent money and trust them to hand it over to their landlords This is despite the fact that a social landlord taking part in a pilot has said that, three months into the test, it is already losing...

One in three landlords think tenancy deposit rules are 'hindrance'

Nine out ten landlords are either satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of their tenants, according to a new survey carried out by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. More than half of these landlords (53%) were satisfied with the quality of their tenants, while more than a third (34.7%) were very...

Tenants in capital paying a third more rent than three years ago

Tenants in London are now paying almost one third more in rent than three years ago, after a 6% rise in the last year. According to HomeLet, average rents in Greater London are now £1,240 per month. This means renting a home in the capital is 16% more expensive than in...

Agents and landlords urged not to turn away benefits tenants

The boss of a lettings company that specialises in pensioners has urged agents and private landlords not to turn their backs on benefit tenants. Peter Girling, chairman of Girlings Retirement Rentals, said it was wrong to stigmatise social housing tenants. According to research from the National Housing Federation, there has been a...

'Private rents falling', claims new housing minister

Housing minister Mark Prisk has followed his party’s line by claiming that private rents have been going down. He told the Commons that rents have fallen in real terms, because they have risen less than the rate of inflation. His answer to a parliamentary question follows similar claims from his predecessor Grant...

. . . but new rental index contradicts prices

A new national rental index has been launched, targeted at investors looking to get the highest yields on their property investments. The report publishers say it will allow investors to track rental pricing trends in different regions. They say it will also provide evidence to help make informed investment decisions and...

No sign of supply matching rental demand, says expert

The private rental market in London is set for enormous change and growth. A new report from Cluttons says that with a growing proportion of London households living in private rental accommodation, tenants will find themselves renting for longer, often well into the family-rearing stages of their lives. The property firm says...

Landlord guilty of illegal eviction sent to prison

A landlord who threw a tenant out on the streets without his shoes when he failed to pay his rent has been jailed for unlawful eviction. Jay Allen, 30, forcibly evicted Chris Blades after he ran up £900 of arrears on the rental property in Sheffield. Allen had no court order and...

Pension fund to boost supply of private rental homes

An historic deal has been struck between a local authority and a pension fund to get more new homes built – some for sale and the others for private rent. The deal between Manchester City Council and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, with the Homes and Communities Agency a co-signatory, is...

London Assembly launches probe into rental market

The body which acts as a watchdog for London, holding mayor Boris Johnson to account, has launched an investigation into the private rental market. The London Assembly wants to hear from tenants about their experiences. The housing and regeneration committee says it wants to identify improvements that should be made to the...

Charity warned to step back from anti-fees campaign

Shelter should step back and consider the damage it has done in Scotland before trying to bring its campaign on tenancy fees down south. The warning comes from Sue Hopson, Martin & Co’s brand standards director, speaking out yesterday afternoon. Martin & Co has 16 offices in Scotland, and while Hopson said...

Malicious damage by tenants 'a common problem', says insurer

Malicious damage to their property is among the top three most common insurance claims by landlords. Most malicious damage is caused by tenants. A report by Total Landlord Insurance which analyses claims made over the past two years has revealed that those made for malicious damage amount to £700,000. Yet many landlords...

Tenants pay the price as buoyant market continues

The average monthly rent per person in the UK is £706, or £8,472 a year, it has been claimed. The lowest monthly rent per person location is Swansea at £398.50, and the highest is London at £1,247.63 – even after a slight fall. The ‘per person’ rent figures, from specialist letting agents’...

London rents set to be over double amounts elsewhere

Rents in July bounced up by 2.8% across the UK – while in Greater London they rose by 4.6% over the month before to stand at a record £1,260 per month. The cost of renting a home around the UK, excluding Greater London, now stands at £789 per month, meaning that...

Beds in sheds on the rise

Despite the fact that the government is setting up a task force to tackle ‘beds in sheds’ by acting against criminal landlords and removing illegal immigrants, there is a growing number of landlords converting garages and outbuildings and offering them to vulnerable prospective tenants, according to the Association of Independent...

Tenants unhappy with sky-high agents' fees, claims Upad

Tenants across the UK have complained that they feel ripped off by letting agents, it has been claimed. Self-service online agent Upad conducted a survey, which was nationwide with a special emphasis on Scotland, where Shelter has an ongoing Reclaim Your Fees campaign. In Scotland, agents are not allowed to charge upfront...

Rental homes set to be subject to council tax as soon as they fall empty

New plans to give local authorities power to charge council tax on homes as soon as they become empty could hit sellers and landlords hard – and give letting agents a mammoth administrative headache. At the moment, when a domestic property falls vacant, the owner is granted a mandatory period of six...

Rents rise again – but so do tenants' arrears

Rents rose for a third consecutive month in June, as tenants’ arrears grew. A total of 9.2% of rent was late or unpaid, according to the latest Buy-to-Let Index from LSL Property Services, which owns national chains Your Move and Reeds Rains. In total, it estimates that unpaid rent in June amounted...

Rogue landlord hit with record £330,000 penalty

A rogue landlord has been hit with what is believed to be the largest fine ever imposed on a landlord in Britain. Vispasp Sarkari, 50, of Harrow, north London, has been ordered to pay £328,515. He had built up a property empire worth at least £1.8m by illegally converting four houses into...

Adverts for tenants could be breaking discrimination laws

There is no suggestion that letting agents are breaking the law, but could landlords who advertise for their own tenants be guilty of discrimination if they specify race or even gender? Three years ago, agents in Lincoln were found to be breaching the Race Relations Act by specifically excluding migrants as...

The devil is in the detail

Recent data from the Deposit Protection Service (DPS) shows that in the last 12 months there have been 6,056 adjudications over deposit disputes, with tenants proving the winners. Just 16 per cent were awarded solely to landlords, while 36 per cent were awarded solely to tenants, and in 48 per cent...

Third of tenants spend half take-home pay on rent

Around one in three tenants (30%) is spending over half their take-home pay on rent. The proportion rises to 32% in London and the East Midlands, to 33% in the South-West and Wales, and to 36% in the South-East. The overall average in the UK of rental spend is now 38%...

New report gives red light to ministers on rented sector

A damning report from three housing organisations has accused the Government of failing to deal with the country’s burgeoning housing crisis. The report has also sparked new arguments as to whether private rents are falling or going up. The paper, by the National Housing Federation, Shelter and Chartered Institute of Housing, said...

Tenants v Landlords

This is the first of several posts covering the subject of Tenants Vs Landlords; the data used for this is taken from LettingWeb’s site statistics. The private rented sector in the UK is continually growing; increasing property prices mean that purchasing property is out of many people’s capabilities, and therefore the...

Celebration and Recession Burglaries

UK Burglaries are predicted to be on the increase in 2012 due to the difficult financial situation and the unprecedented number of celebrations in the national calendar. The home insurance provider AXA has labelled 2012 a ‘year of risk’, because they predict a significant rise in home insurance claims this...

Angry agents 'open can of worms' as they hit out at portals' prices

A number of NAEA members from the Surrey area have met to discuss the rapidly rising cost of listing their properties on the major portals. Chairman James Wyatt said that five times the normal audience attended after the meeting was held at just a few days’ notice, at agents’ own instigation....

Private landlords deserting housing benefit sector

More than half of landlords can no longer afford to rent to housing benefit tenants because of cuts to allowances, with seven in ten saying they will not have housing benefit tenants in three years’ time. The claim has come from the National Landlords Association after it surveyed its members. The survey...

Boiler needs emergency replacement? Landlords may be forced to do other work as well

Landlords wanting to replace broken boilers in their rental properties are set to be forced by law to install other, unrelated energy-efficient measures. Other work, for example glazing and extensions, could also be affected by government plans for ‘consequential improvements’ – meaning that one project could not be undertaken without the...

Human rights to be claimed by private tenant fighting eviction

Landlords and agents operating in the private rented sector have been warned that they may be unable to evict tenants who fail to pay their rent or commit anti-social behaviour – because of their human rights. The warning, from the Residential Landlords Association, follows a ruling by the Supreme Court. While...

Rents in central London fall for six consecutive months

The rental market in central London is undergoing a ‘correction’, say agents. Cluttons says that rental falls are now saving central London tenants £572 a year. The agency says that prime central London rents fell by a further 0.6% in the first quarter of this year from £1,043 per week to £1,032. Rents...

Tenants clock up more arrears while evictions mount

Growing numbers of tenants are in serious arrears, a firm of receivers has reported, and the number of court eviction orders has gone up 9% in the last year. Templeton LPA, part of the LSL Property Services Group, says that the number of tenants who are over two months in arrears...

Tenancy demand still on the up, say landlords

Almost half of the landlords (44%) surveyed in Paragon’s latest Private Rented Sector Trends survey, covering the first quarter of this year, said that tenant demand is continuing to grow. The results of the quarterly survey carried out by the specialist buy-to-let lender also revealed that just 7% of landlords thought...

Experian credit checks to include tenants' payment records

Credit checking agency Experian is to add information about tenants and their rental payments into future credit checks. It means that landlords and letting agents will be able to access information about rental applicants’ ability to pay rent previously, whilst lenders will also be able to see the information when assessing...

London rents slip further as jobs market weakens

Rents are continuing to stutter downwards in prime central London, says Knight Frank. They fell 0.2% in February, bringing rents back to where they were last June. The current round of rental price falls relates to weaker conditions in the central London employment market, said Liam Bailey, Knight Frank’s head of residential...

Tenants at breaking point as rent rises go on

The number of tenants who expect rents to go up in the next 12 months is at a record high. This morning, Rightmove said that 63% of tenants, in a giant poll of 5,567 people who are currently renting or expecting to do so, expect rent rises. This is the highest it...

How to prevent condensation in rented accommodation and whose fault is it?

Winters biggest problem is condensation – Nick Lyons of No Letting Go Inventory Management looks at the problems of determining the fault at the end of a tenancy and how to prevent it occurring. Over the many years of dealing in rented properties, handling property visits and check outs one of...

Half of landlords now taking out rental guarantee insurance

Insurance firm Let Alliance has reported a big increase in the sales of rent guarantee policies during the last six months. The increase in demand for rent guarantee protection has resulted in Let Alliance providing cover in 49% of the total reference transactions completed. This is an increase of 39% during...

Met Police warn about rise in lettings fraudsters

The Metropolitan Police have issued a warning that fraudsters are stealing the personal details of landlords whose properties are managed by letting agents. The fraudsters then email other letting agents in a bid to con them into believing they own the property. Through several emails, the fraudsters build up a relationship with...

Guilty letting agent ordered to pay over £300,000 or go to jail

A letting agent in one of the most notorious cases of recent times will have to pay over £300,000 after swindling tenants and landlords. Zulfiqar Hussain, 44, operated Charles Lawson Lettings in Cowley Road, East Oxford, and conned clients – many of whom were students – out of thousands of pounds between...

Deposit scheme publishes new guide for landlords and agents

Tenancy deposit scheme mydeposits has released an online checklist for landlords and letting agents to help them in any dispute with their tenant over the return of the deposit. The checklist gives guidance to landlords and agents on what to do before, during and at the end of the tenancy to...

Agents alerted over fake ID tenant scam

Agents and landlords are being warned about a scam, whereby phoney tenants take out tenancies in blocks of flats where post is delivered and left in communal areas. The fake tenant then goes through the occupants’ post, stealing their IDs and using their credit cards and banks to buy expensive goods. The...

Asking rents nudge downwards for a second month

Asking price rents fell for a second successive month in December, according to the latest buy-to-let index from LSL Property Services. But LSL said the lull was almost certainly purely seasonal, with rent rises due to accelerate again. LSL, which owns national chains Your Move and Reeds Rains, said that last...

Managing agent standards raised in Parliament

The subject of standards among managing agents of leasehold blocks of flats has been discussed in the Lords. Baroness Gardner asked whether the Government would be introducing regulations or a code. Lord Best, who chairs the council of the Property Ombudsman scheme, which listens to complaints against managing agents, asked whether the...

Website full of damning reviews of letting agents

With agency review sites a big talking point at the moment, we were intrigued to come across the online UK Letting Agents Directory. Here, at its lettings reviews centre, users “can read unbiased reviews about local firms” to help them make their choice, or write their own reviews. Consumers apparently need little...

Million people resort to payday loans to pay rent or mortgage

Almost one million people have had to take out a payday loan at 4,000% within the last year to pay their rent or mortgage. In total, seven million borrowers and tenants are relying on some form of credit to pay their housing costs. As well as payday loans, struggling borrowers and tenants...

London rents surge 80% higher than rest of UK

Ken Livingstone declares all-out war on lettings agents

Controversy has been ignited after Labour’s mayoral hopeful Ken Livingstone declared all-out war on letting agents in London. If elected in May, he will establish a London-wide, not-for-profit lettings agency, paid for by the public purse, and to be run by the Mayor’s office. Although a handful of much smaller local...

Cleaning remains a big problem for landlord and agents

According to the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC), landlords and agents are increasingly faced with dirty properties at the check-out stage, which has led to cleaning accounting for 40 per cent of deposit disputes. Many tenants fail to leave their property in the same condition at check-out and are often...

Most new affordable homes will be built for rent

Questions have been raised in Parliament about the private rented sector, with strong concerns raised about rent levels and the revelation that most of the new affordable homes to be built by April 2015 will be for rent. The question of regulating letting agents was also raised – and, unusually, the...

Government places private rented sector at 'top of agenda'

The Government has put housing to the top of the agenda – and with it, the private rented sector. The claim was made by civil servant Terrie Alafat, director of housing growth and affordable housing at Communities and Local Government. Speaking at the National Landlords Association’s annual national conference, held in Manchester...

Damage to property during the winter months

As we head towards Christmas and potentially severe weather in the New Year, AIIC (The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks) is urging agents and landlords to be vigilant about checking their properties to ensure that tenants are safe from fire and that they avoid water damage. The risk of property damage...

Is rental market working? No say most

Is the rental market working? An overwhelming majority – 94.8% when we last looked – say no. The Guardian has been running a poll – Is the Rental Market Working? – which was open for voting until the end of yesterday. The results look interesting, although the Guardian failed to ask some...

Lettings agency pair helped themselves to clients' money

A father and son who ran a lettings agency which closed down suddenly after they pocketed thousands of pounds of client money, have pleaded guilty to theft and fraud. David Carr, 58, and Peter Carr, 27, took more than £15,000 by keeping cash paid in to Town and Country Estates in...

How should the Landlord deal with Abandonment??

What is the best way to deal with a tenant you think has abandoned the property? The only legal way to repossess property, under the Protection from Eviction Act, is to obtain a court order for possession. Any other method for repossession is always risky, as unlike a section 21 notice it...

Paragon was right to call in £6.9m buy-to-let loans, says High Court

Buy-to-let lender Paragon Mortgages has been cleared in the High Court of wrongfully calling in £6.9m worth of buy-to-let loans from a husband and wife investor couple. Robert and Frances McEwan-Peters had built up an enormous buy-to-let portfolio. The High Court heard that Paragon viewed it as being in ‘terminal trouble’, but...

Private rents unaffordable in over half of England, says Shelter

Average rents in the private sector have become unaffordable for working families in 55% of local authority areas in England. Shelter says that in most such areas, typical rents are over one-third of take-home pay and 38% of families with children are having to cut down on food in order to...

Poor energy efficient properties could still be banned from rental market within five years

Parliament has rejected a call to ban rental properties with an EPC rating below E from 2016. But the Government has not completely ruled it out if insufficient progress is made by landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Currently, it is sticking to its timetable of 2018, when...

Short term lettings market develops the jitters

Letting agent given suspended sentence after deposits frauds

A disgraced businessman who diverted tenants’ deposits to fund other financial ventures has been given a suspended jail sentence and ordered to carry out unpaid community work. 
Brandon Weston, the former boss of Premier Places Lettings in Worcester and Redditch, should have ensured the cash was put into a ring-fenced client...

Arrears soar as tenants get to grips with record rents

Rents rose by their fastest rate in a year in August, bouncing up 1.2%, whilst tenants arrears grew by 19.5%. The findings are in this morning’s new buy-to-let report from LSL, which owns national chains Your Move and Reeds Rains. It says that 10.7% of all UK rent was unpaid or late...

Student tenants jostle to find accommodation

A student lettings agent in Liverpool says that this month looks as though it will be an all-time record breaker. City Residential said the main driving factor behind exceptionally high levels of activity is the arrival of around 20,000 students desperately searching for accommodation. It said that with the increased student fees...

TDS publishes new guidance notes on disputes

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme has published a new set of case studies on its site, illustrating how adjudicators approach a deposit dispute when landlords and tenants cannot reach an amicable agreement between themselves. It is part of a continuing campaign by the TDS to make deposit resolution open and easy to...

More housing benefit tenants renting privately

Soaring tenant demand in the private sector is coming from people on benefit. The latest RICS quarterly rental survey, covering the quarter to the end of July, says that 13% of all new lets were to housing benefit tenants. The statistic is up from 8% the previous quarter and is the...

Lettings without headaches

Simon at ARPM: ‘lettings without the headaches’ when setting up my lettings business one of the top tips I was given, was stick to your knitting – if you do something you know, love and understand it will increase your chances of success. Most agents at some point will want to...

Government Caps Payments

Research, carried out by BDRC Continental’s Landlords Panel, has been published today that has revealed that 15% of private landlords are going to stop offering Local Housing Allowance (LHA) tenancies. This has come as a result of the government’s cap on payments. The research has indicated that changes to LHA payments,...

Landlords – don`t get it wrong...say the property experts at Belvoir Lettings

Five top tips to help you get it right! 1.) Beware of the... wrong property “It’s essential that you invest in the right property,” says proprietor of Belvoir Kettering Harpreet Garcha. “The wrong property can easily stay vacant for extended periods and, even when let, may only achieve a low rental return....

Are YOU using the right tenancy agreement for YOUR property?

Not all tenancies are the same. So it follows that not all tenancy agreements should be the same. Tenancy agreements are after all the documents which govern how the tenancy is to work (outside of the things controlled by law). The tenancy agreement you use should therefore reflect the type of...

Tenant ran up £10,000 debt on landlord's credit card

A tenant who did not pay rent and stole his landlord’s credit card to run up debt of more than £10,000, had an expensive Jaguar with a personalised numberplate on the drive of his rental property. Michael Wild, 47, was only found out after the landlord went to court to try...

First-time tenants struggling to get on the rental ladder

First-time tenants are struggling to get on to the rental ladder, and are routinely having to go to the Bank of Mum and Dad for their deposits, as rents rose for the sixth month in a row in July. The new record-breaking high in rents has been recorded in the latest...

Landlord's house wrecked as he battled to evict tenants

A landlord who fought for months to evict his ‘tenants from hell’ found that when they eventually moved out, they had left such a trail of ruin that police have classified it as criminal damage. The case underlines the currently long and unwieldy process of gaining possession. Landlord Glenn Schofield had gone...

Police alert after conmen fleece tenants of thousands

City of London police have issued a fraud alert after two men set up a fake lettings agency and fleeced unsuspecting tenants of £24,000 in deposits. The pair, named as Tawfikur Tahman and Shofiqul Islam, advertised a one-bedroom flat for rent on Gumtree. Prospective tenants were then told it had been let...

More landlords planning to add to portfolios

Landlords are poised to buy up more properties as rental demand continues to swell, according to joint research from ARLA and the Residential Landlords Association. Landlords most likely to expand their portfolios are in central London, where one-third plan to add more properties over the next year. According to a survey of...

Ban on letting energy-poor properties could be in just five years

Landlords face having to upgrade their properties to a minimum energy standard within five years – or have them banned from the market. Around 30 organisations have called for a minimum energy efficiency standard to be legally required of all private rented homes in 2016, and are demanding that a new...

Tenants struggle as rents rise

A growing number of London tenants are struggling to get through their reference checks because they do not met the salary requirements being demanded as rents soar. Most credit referencing companies now insist that a prospective tenant earns around 30 times the monthly rent, or two-and-a-half to three times the annual...

Concern over carbon deaths in rental properties

A coroner has called for a change in health and safety legislation after a tenant died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a newly built block of flats where all the boilers had gas safety certificates. Maria Ighodalo, 27, was a social housing tenant of London & Quadrant. She died on November...

It's a love-in for tenants and landlords

An overwhelming majority of landlords have a good relationship with their tenants, according to the National Landlords Association. In a survey of 662 NLA members, it found 61% of landlords have “very good” relations with their tenants, while a further 34% describe their dealings as “good”. Just 3% say their relationship is...

Council draws up plans to bulk buy private rental properties

A local council is considering buying up large swathes of private rental accommodation in a bid to crack down on unscrupulous landlords and offer longer, more secure tenancies. It would then become the landlord itself of these properties, hoping to see rising capital values and good rental income. If the plans comes...

Tenants who are too scared to complain to their landlords

In the wake of the Landlords from Hell TV investigation, Citizens Advice has compiled tips for private tenants whose homes are in need of repair. The programme showed how some landlords are accommodating people in overcrowded, damp and dilapidated homes. Gillian Guy, Citizens Advice chief executive, said: “Last year Citizens Advice bureaux...

Landlords in London are twice as confident

Landlords with properties in London have expressed strong optimism, with the huge majority expecting to see rents rise, and no anticipation of price falls. They are almost twice as optimistic as landlords with properties outside London A total of 91.3% of London landlords believe that residential property prices in the capital will...

Plans to criminalise squatters opposed by landlords and charities

Justice Minister, Crispin Blunt has proposed in a consultation paper that squatters who are persistent could be sent to prison. The proposed plans would also remove ‘squatters rights’ that make it harder for landlords to regain their property when squatters move in. Blunt said “Far too many people have to endure...

Shortage of rental property undermining market, says ARLA

ARLA has warned that an undersupply of good quality property is straining the UK rental market to the limit, with supply failing to match demand. One agent, Philip Keddie, of Sunshine Rentals in Devon, said: “In certain parts of our area, we have hardly any new properties to offer to a...

Average rents break through the £700 barrier

Rents hit another record high in June, surging beyond the £700 per month barrier for the first time, says a new report out today. The latest Buy-to-Let Index from LSL Property Services, which owns national chains Your Move and Reeds Rains, says that in June, the average asking price rent in...

Students the best bet for highest yields, says Paragon

Students and young singles generate the highest yields for landlords, buy-to-let mortgage specialist lender Paragon has revealed. Paragon used independent research to find that students generated an average yield of 6.45%, while young singles generate 6.22%. Retired people are also high up the table (6.16%), followed by white collar / professional workers...

Landlords up in arms after letting agent shuts

A notice has appeared on the window of an agent that suddenly closed down saying that the company is under investigation for criminal fraud and asking for information. The notice reads: “Warning to all tenants and landlords with Hot Homes UK. This company is currently under investigation for criminal fraud.” It asks...

Can Landlords help to break the cleaning dispute cycle?

With cleaning disputes at the forefront of a reported 46% of all deposit disputes handled by the TDS during 2009-2010, and mydeposits also reporting cleaning to be a major initiator of Alternative Dispute Resolution, can Landlords help to break this cycle? Kate Maddison from the Live Letting Exchange explores this...

Number of new tenants surge 20% in a month

The number of new tenants’ registering for rental accommodation through the Countrywide agency chain increased by 20% in May, compared with April. It was also a 28% increase compared to May 2010. While the sales side of Countrywide showed a 10% decrease in sales agreed in May, the number of properties available...

Tenant evictions up by 9% in a year

The number of court orders to evict tenants is up 9% in the last year, and look set to rise further. The number of tenants in severe rental arrears is up by 13%. However, the impact of tenants’ arrears has yet to filter through to landlords, with total buy-to-let mortgage arrears...

Managing agents are failing to monitor safety in blocks of flats

Millions of people, including tenants and leasehold owners, are at risk because many blocks of flats have not had basic health and safety inspections, some of which are required by law. According to data from block management firm Urban Owners, a significant majority of managing agents at blocks are failing to...

Buy-to-let mortgages being obtained for ordinary buyers

The Financial Services Authority has claimed that buy-to-let mortgages are being procured by mortgage brokers for ordinary residential buyers who would not pass the more stringent checking procedures required for ordinary residential mortgages. Ordinary residential mortgages are regulated by the FSA but buy-to-let mortgages are not. Writing in the current FSA newsletter,...

Landlord fined £4,000 over HMO

A Bristol firm has been fined £4,000 because it did not have a licence for an HMO. Digs (Bristol), which describes itself as a private group of student landlords, manages properties with more than 1,000 rooms in the city. On top of the fine, it was also ordered to pay costs totalling...

Shapps to force landlords to upgrade properties by law

Housing minister Grant Shapps has announced that the Localism Bill will be amended to include a requirement for private rental properties to meet higher standards. Shapps made the revelation during a question and answer session at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s conference and exhibition in Harrogate. He said: “I will not let...

Renting more expensive than buying in four out of five towns

Renting a home in Britain is currently 9.7% more expensive than owning, on average. It is cheaper to buy instead of rent in four out of five of the 50 largest towns and cities across the country. New research from Zoopla looks at the current asking prices and rents of two-bedroom flats...

Landlords given more time to make EPC changes

The Government has at the last minute abandoned attempts to introduce changes to EPC rules on July 1. A senior official at Communities and Local Government said yesterday that they had run out of time. It is understood that the Regulatory Policy Committee, which scrutinises new regulations, has failed to give clearance. The...

Asking price rents rise to new records

Asking price rents reached a new record high in May after four successive months of rises, according to the latest Buy-to-Let Index from LSL Property Services, which owns national estate agency and lettings chains Your Move and Reeds Rains. In May, the average rent in England and Wales rose by 0.5%...

Rents rise beyond affordability levels for some tenants

Increased tenant demand and low supply pushed rents higher in the three months to April, says the latest RICS Residential Lettings Survey. Although rents increased across Great Britain, it was London and the South-East where there were the most notable increases. Comments from surveyors reveal that rents in some areas have now...

More landlords turn down tenants on benefit

More than half of private landlords are planning to cut down on letting to tenants on housing benefits. The finding is in a survey by the National Landlords Association and comes as the Welfare Reform Bill reaches its report stage in the House of Commons. A key part of the Welfare Reform...

Housing market at tipping point as buyers prefer to rent

The housing market appears to be at a tipping point, with sales faltering and potential buyers thin on the ground – whilst rentals flourish. Two new surveys both tell the same story. According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the traditional spring bounce has failed to materialise. Its latest report, published this...

Landlords warned over periodic tenancies

Landlords should beware of the pitfalls of periodic tenancies. The warning has come from Benham and Reeves Residential Lettings, one of London’s largest independent lettings agents. It is advising landlords to do their homework when deciding on a tenancy agreement. According to director Marc von Grundherr, the periodic tenancy, which follows on automatically...

Lender unveils new mortgages for smaller landlords

Mortgage Trust, which has bounced back into the buy-to-let lending market, has launched six new products with rates starting at 4.3%. It has also launched some rapid remortgage products starting at 3.99%. The six new products are exclusively available via brokers, and cannot be obtained direct. Mortgage Trust acccepts online applications only and...

ARLA appeals to ministers to deal with rogue letting agents

ARLA has once again appealed to the Government to exercise more control over both landlords and agents in the private rented sector. It said in particular that unlicensed agents pose a ‘real threat’ to the sector. ARLA’s own licensing scheme is voluntary, and applies only to its own members, while letting agents...

Landlords warned tenants could claim human rights to stop eviction

Social housing providers must show that decisions to evict tenants are necessary and proportionate, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has said. Its advice will send shivers up the spine of the private rented sector, which is expecting a trial case to be brought at some point by a tenant who...

Half of tenants expect rents to rise

Half of tenants are expecting rents to rise over the next year, with one in seven expecting the hike to be more than 10%. According to a new report by Rightmove, out this morning, their fears are justified. The site says that its rental listings are down by nearly a quarter on...

A generation gives up on buying a house

Britain is home to a generation of renters who are giving up on buying their own home, says a report out today. They expect their mortgage applications to fail, so don't even bother to apply. If attitudes become reality, the shape of Britain’s housing market will be fundamentally changed within a...

Regional student accommodation does best for investors

Regional student letting accommodation is the best-performing property investment asset in the UK, says a new report by Knight Frank. It says that regional student accommodation outperformed all other property assets. It puts total returns for regional student accommodation at 14.65% last year and names Kingston, Brighton, Edinburgh and Durham among the...

Rents at record highs – but capital losses in sight

Rents regained their record highs last month, according to LSL, owners of the Your Move and Reeds Rains chains. The company said rents rose by 0.8% during April as annual rent inflation increased to 4.4%. The average rent stood at £692 per month, the same as last November, but 4.4% higher than...

One in two landlords now have tenants in arrears

More than half of landlords have experienced late rent payments in the past year, and cuts to housing benefit are expected to put further pressure on tenants.

 Research by the National Landlords Association has found that 52% of landlords have reported rent arrears in the past 12 months.

 The survey of nearly...

Rental homes with poor energy rating to be banned from market

Homes with a poor energy rating will be banned from the rental market in five years’ time, the Government has announced. Reactions have been mixed. Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne this week announced plans to introduce regulations to ensure that all landlords face minimum energy efficiency standards under the...

Calls grow for shake-up of 'archaic' eviction process

A radical shake-up of the ‘archaic’ county court eviction process is needed to help landlords and agents get rid of problem tenants, according to a lettings industry specialist. Sim Sekhon, director of Legal 4 Landlords, is calling on both HM Court Service (HMCS) and the Government to reform the way tenant...

Landlords ignore health and safety rules

Many landlords are still unaware of even basic health and safety rules when leaving their properties for rental, according to The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC). For example, one in ten rented properties have items such as soft furnishings, bedding and furniture that do not have the required fire &...

Henry Pryor Blog

The latest report from HM Land Registry piles yet more statistics on to our collective knowledge of the housing market in England and Wales. In their own recent report, Lloyds noted the sharp rise in the sales of million-pound properties across the UK (54% higher last year than in 2009) and the...

Landlord to pay court £30,000 after renting out dangerous home

A landlord who rented out a dangerous and sub-standard house has been ordered to pay £30,000 in prosecution costs within 12 weeks. He was also sentenced to six months’ jail, suspended for 12 months and given 200 hours of community service. Steven James Boote, 41, of Nuneaton, was prosecuted for failing to...

Shapps will not ease regulation burden on landlords 

Housing minister Grant Shapps has no plans to simplify legislation for private landlords. Replying to a parliamentary question asked by Adrian Sanders, Tory MP for Torbay, on whether he would reduce the regulatory burden, Shapps said: “The Government believe that, in regulating the private rented sector, it is important to strike...

Top Tips for Buy to Let Properties 

If you are looking at buying, or already own a buy to let property, then there are many things to consider. Purchasing a house and finding a tenant are not the only issues, there are other matters to be taken into consideration when letting a property; such as the kinds...

Let My Roof would like to present a furnished 2 bedroom first floor flat situated in the heart of Clapham Common.
The property benefits from 2 decent sized double bedrooms, a spacious lounge area, newly fitted modern kitchen with integrated appliances and a newly decorated and tiled modern bathroom with integrated shower.

-Wooden flooring and carpet throughout
-Modern and newly fitted integrated kitchen
-Modern and new fully tiled bathroom
-Gas Central Heating
-Double Glazing
-Standard White Goods
-Modern decor throughout and use of soft neutral colours
-Including a flat screen wall mounted TV

The flat is walking distance within minutes of Clapham Common London Underground station (literally opposite) on the Northern Line and a few stops away from the Victoria Line (Stockwell). There is a great network of buses and a cycle path straight in to London City.

The flat is surrounded by local amenities all within footsteps; such as local bars, restaurants, banks, supermarkets and gymnasium/leisure facilities. Opposite the flat there is Clapham Common which also provides a series of events and views throughout the year.

http://www.letmyroof.com/F116SW47AB(2385007).htm 

Video coming soon...

A one bedroom first floor furnished flat situated in the quiet streets of Earlsfield, walking distance from the station. Spacious, clean, well decorated with a very clinical feel and good natural light.

The flat features a spacious lounge, kitchen/diner with standard white goods and 4 hob gas cooker, oven/grill, a special featured modern tiled bathroom/shower with partitioned WC and offers a good sized bedroom. The property also benefits from double glazing, gas central heating, carpet and laminate flooring throughout.

The local area to this property is supported with Earlsfield Railway station which is only 5 mins walk around the corner and can take you straight in to Central London; a variety of local amenities and Garratt Green / Garratt Park.

http://www.letmyroof.com/139SW183QP(2360022).htm 

A new property come in to the market situated in the secure complex known as Witley Court on Coram Street; this is a highly sought after location as it is in Bloomsbury, minutes walking distance to Russell Square station, local amenities and many educational faculties.

Situated on the ground floor, this apartment comes furnished and benefits from 2 double rooms, a separate kitchen and spacious bathroom. The only utility to pay for is electricity; as the water and heating is paid for by the rates. Council tax is subject to status.  £325pw

A completely refurbished (furnished/unfurnished) 2 double bedroom property with an extra room that can be used as a study, nursery, dressing room or even a third bedroom. - Nearly ready..

The apartment is located within the popular location of Milton Mount and overlooking Worth Park and situated next to the Gardens. The property is conveniently located for local amenities, schools, National Rail and a little further away leisure centre. It is ideal for accessing the M23 and Gatwick Aiport within 10 mins.

The property has been entirely refurbished with a neutral colour decor throughout including new carpets and fresh paint on the walls; the bathroom and kitchen have also been refurbished and therefore brand new.

The flat is situated on the 4th floor and benefits from a secure entry phone system and secure key entry including lift access. There is double glazing throughout; if you have a vehicle, you can also take advantage of the off street parking.

The two bedrooms are of equal size and spacious enough for a double bed and other furnishings; the third spare room could be used for anything else as suggested; including a single bedroom. The lounge/diner is very spacious and has a full floor to ceiling window to maximise from the natural light which overlooks the gardens. The kitchen is tiled and equipped with integrated appliances such as a 4 hob gas cooker/oven/grill/hood, fridge/freezer and a washing machine. The bathroom is fully tiled and equipped with bath/shower wash basin and WC.

This property would suit a small family, a couple or even a single professional; however ideal for any Gatwick Airport staff as its within 10 minutes distance. Viewing is strongly suggested as this property may go quickly.

Trains/Planes:
-Three Bridges Station 0.9 miles
-Crawley 2.0 miles
-Gatwick Airport 2.0 miles

*Internal photos coming soon as the whole property is being refurbished, everything will be new!

For more current photos and video tour please visit:
http://www.letmyroof.com/416RH103DX(2315346).htm

Let My roof would like to present an immaculate and modern semi furnished top floor apartment (third floor). This property is situated on the highly desired location of Ferndale Road in Clapham North/Brixton SW9.

The property is surrounded by all local amenities within minutes walking distance together with great transport links; including Brixton Rail and Underground (Victoria Line) as well as Clapham North Underground (Northern Line).

The apartment benefits from secure entry phone system, double glazing throughout, a spacious double bedroom with a built in wardrobe and further space for more furnishings. The bathroom is well spaced and includes a bath/shower, wash basin and WC.

The lounge is very pleasant with plenty of natural light with an adjoining dining/kitchen area. The kitchen is fully equipped with an integrated fridge/freezer, ceramic 4 hob cooker/oven/grill/extractor hood and a washing machine; therefore all the essential white goods. The dining area is great and very convenient for entertaining also.

The whole apartment is modern, has a great feel and atmosphere; there are only six apartments within the block and all neighbours are very pleasant.

This property would be suited for a single professional or couple. Viewing is strongly suggest as this property may go quickly.

Video Tour:

http://www.letmyroof.com/F5228SW98AS(2322751).htm

It's always a question we ask ourselves; and that is... How exactly can we measure customer satisfaction.   If we achieve our goals everytime, if we go beyond the call of duty everytime and if both Landlords and Tenants and happy... the question remains.

The answer may not be quite obvious, so long as we maintain our current standards; there will never be an opportunity or reason to measure our customer satisfaction.  

Let My Roof at your service.

Let My Roof would like to present an immaculate 2 bedroom apartment situated minutes away from Purley Railway Station (in easy reach of London Bridge/East Croydon/Gatwick) and all other high street local amenities.

One bedroom has an en-suite bathroom with shower, WC and wash basin. There is also a main bathroom with bath, shower, wash basin an WC.

The property benefits from off street parking, secure phone entry system, double glazing, gas central heating, fully fitted and integrated kitchen equipped with all standard white goods. inc dishwasher, fridge/freezer, washing machine, 6 hob gas cooker and extractor hood.

There are 2 large double bedrooms, a very spacious lounge, open plan kitchen/diner and new carpets throughout. This apartment also benefits from a fantastic private patio garden great for the summer, entertaining, open outside space and BBQs.

It's amazing what price some of the properties are in London; let alone the City Centre. Near the more affluent parts of London, we have seen some properties that vary from £675pw to £1200pw and even more in other areas.

Let My Roof has recently attracted an international audience.  With clients from all the way from US and France who have just settled in; talking to people from Italy, viewings for clients in Netherlands, Sweden... and other countries.

Let My Roof would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and all the best for 01/01/11

It has been great finding tenants for properties within the UK, however it puts a different angle on things when dealing with overseas clients.  It's always a pleasure to deal with and satisfy the needs; as it is always a job well done and another happy customer.  Let My Roof at your service...

Let My Roof would like to wish everybody a very Merry Christmas, enjoy the celebrations and get ready for the new year. Let My Roof at your service.

Even in this weather, snow blizzards and -10 degrees; we still battle through and are showing our clients properties.  Although it is quieter than usual due to the adverse weather conditions; transport is limited... and we still reach our destinantions on time.

However Let My Roof does give up or give in; at your service.

Fantastic studio apartment... Only £325pw

Let My Roof would like to present a very spacious studio apartment in the heart of London situated in the highly sought after location of University Street; just off Tottenham Court Road and minutes away from Euston, Goodge Street and Warren Street Stations.

This property benefits from laminated flooring throughout, a fully fitted kitchen with standard white goods, inc washer dryer, cooker, fridge/freezer and microwave. A very spacious common area with plenty of storage facility, i.e. cupboards and wardrobes, the bathroom which is separate, has a WC, wash basin and bath with overhead shower.

The studio is situated on the third floor with lift access, quiet hallways, 24 Hrs security, concierge, phone entry system and surrounding local amenities. There is no gas or heating charges... Only electricity and council tax (subject to status).

So who has been busy, caught up in looking for properties... or even stuck in this winter snow...  I must say, it has been the coldest we have ever experienced.

Good times though, even through the thickest of snows, we have been able to reach clients and carry out appointments.

Properties in London Central, SW London and parts of Surrey; Let My Roof at your service. 

Let My Roof has properties in Purley, Morden, New Malden, City of London and Colliers Wood

Let My Roof would like to present an immaculate part furnished 3 bedroom apartment located within the highly sought after development known as Ashley Heights; situated minutes from Purley Railway station.

The apartment comes with allocated off street parking and is surrounded by local amenities such as 24Hr Supermarket, Banks, Restaurants, Leisure Centre and transport links.

The apartment benefits from 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms with shower facility, spacious lounge area, open plan kitchen/dining area, standard white goods i.e. cooker, fridge/freezer, washer/dryer and dish washer. Other features include double glazing, central heating, allocated off street parking, modern features throughout and a secure entry system.

£1150pcm

Let My Roof would like to present a 2 bed flat coming on to the market soon.

Located minutes walking distance from Morden Town Centre situated on London Road between Morden South Rail and Morden Underground. The flat is on the first floor based in the popular development known as The Holt.

The property benefits from one double bedroom and one single bedroom with fully fitted wardrobe, living room, kitchenette, separate WC and bathroom with overhead shower; the property has allocated off street parking, communal garden, balcony access, gas central heating and standard white goods.

£875pcm

This studio is awesome and could not have been let to a better tenant... Glad to have met you ;o)  ...and the Landlord is happy also.

Studio Flat in Barbican walking distance to the station; I think it's really good.  Have a look if it's still available in the Properties To Let section of the website.

An amazing 5 bedroom furnished apartment available... for only £850pw... bargain!!!

5 bedrooms on Charlotte Street going for a steal... want to know my week exclusive price... get in touch to find out!  It's less than £900pw

Even though it was a strike by the London Underground, Let My Roof was not defeated... still got to all my appointments on time and clients went away happy, only to request another viewing tomorrow and securing if not one property... two of them. 

Let My Roof, at your service...

London City properties are in... all around Euston, Russell Square, Holborn and Kings X... and so many students are interested but just don't know what the reality is... they want a palace and next to nothing... Zone 1 is not like that...

All Bloomsbury properties have gone and new ones have come in:

New Cavendish Street - 1 double bedroom apartment

Charlotte Street - 2 double bedrooms

Hampstead Road, London NW1 - 4 bedroom

Check out the To Let page

3 bedroom flats £450pcm inc bills, internet (council tax subject to status of tenant).

The afternoon always knows what the morning never suspected...

2 bedroom apartment in Battersea from £1300pcm... Brand new!

Brand new 2 bedroom furnished modern apartment in Battersea, walking distance to Clapham Junction Station.  Surrounded by local amenities, just off Battersea Park Road.  Perfect for shares, professionals or small family.

The property benefits from:

- Gas Central Heating
- Double Glazing
- Laminated Flooring throughout the apartment
- Open plan lounge which is very spacious
- Fully fitted integrated kitchen
- Fridge/Freezer and Washing Machine
- Very spacious bedrooms
- Good quality bedroom furniture
- Luxury high grade furniture and fittings
- Fully tiled bathroom

Ready to move in now!  Must be seen, you will not be disappointed.

From £1395pcm

3 Bedroom maisonette for £345, with very spacious rooms...

I was shocked to learn yesterday evening that the tenants I referred to SW Estates in Norbury SW16 were being moved out by the Landlord after they just spent all weekend movning in... SW Estates told there had been some complications... which was an understatement.

They finally done it... and what a great game it was; last half of extra time, ended with a great goal...!

Netherlands 0 : Spain 1

4 Bedroom house in Tooting will go like a hotcake at £1750

A thought and prayer to go out to those who lost loved ones and lives on 7th July almost 5 years ago.

Need a 3 or 4  bedroom house in SW London or surrounding counties before the 10th July 2010 if you know of anyone

But maybe not hard enough, we were robbed one... but still didn't have what it takes.  Let's not let it get us down.

Can you imagine doing viewings on a Sunday, that's how good we are

Let My Roof Channel is live on you tube with tours of properties.  Check out the first tour of a property in Streatham Vale.

http://www.youtube.com/user/LetMyRoof 

Let's see what is in store... more viewings for Morden, Streatham Vale and Wimbledon

So, who is up to what on the weekend... don't forget, there a 3 properties To Let each in Wimbledon, Morden and Streatham Vale... also join the Facebook group Let My Roof

Have you joined the 'Let My Roof' group on Facebook yet, c'mon... don't be shy; lend your support and invite your friends also 

Have you joined the Let My Roof group on Facebook yet...?  If not, join up and invite your friends to join also; let's become popular ;o)

Need more properties and Landlords in SW London, there is an incentive for referrals up to £100 which can't be bad...

3 bedroom furnished property available in wimbledon. Only £375pw

Check out www.justgiving.com/let-my-roof and donate generously.  Thank you

Let My Roof Ltd is officially a member of the Ombudsman for Letting!!!  Awesome...

It hurt, however had to be done... Public Liabilty, Professional Indemnity and Legal Cover all sorted; now the application for Ombudsman for Lettings can be submitted.  A cost that I should receover very soon, fingers crossed.

Nearly there now... just getting closer now to completion, just a few more things to do and I should be done.  Looking at sometime next week to kick off and go live.

Just added the new incentive for referrals... you could earn up to £100 per referral... not bad I don't think!  Terms and condtions apply. 

Yes, it's the long weekend, but not for me... I am still working at it trying to finish the site...  I will however take some time off this evening ;o)