1st May 2019
The new Tenant Fees Act comes into force on the 1st June 2019. So what is it? And how will it affect landlords and tenants?
READ MORE2nd April 2019
Want to extend your home, or a property that you are planning to buy? Here's how to do it without having to submit a planning application. Permitted development rights enable homeowners to make certain building works on a property without planning permission from the local council and without approval from a neighbour.
READ MORE29th March 2019
From 1st April 2019, it has become mandatory that all property agents hold a registered membership with a certified money protection scheme. This is by way of insurance for landlords and tenants, to prevent rogue agents from keeping back money from deposits and rents if something goes wrong. Let’s look at what this means for landlords, and what you should be looking out for when you employ an agent to manage your properties.
READ MORE15th March 2019
Since April 2018, it has been possible to be banned from being a landlord. Not unlike facing a 12 month ban from driving if you break the law, as a landlord, you could now be stopped from letting out or managing properties for being found guilty of housing offences. It’s a pretty radical, although arguably necessary move, brought into play to crack down on rouge landlords and agents. So what does it mean, exactly, and how could it affect you?
READ MORE13th March 2019
That's one of the key takeaway messages in the Chancellor's Spring Statement this week. As the government introduces its Future Homes Standard, requiring that all new-build properties use low-carbon heating and become more energy efficient. Other headlines included the expansion of the Affordable Homes Guarantee Scheme by up to £3 billion. Which will enable housing associations to build an extra 30,000 new homes through the scheme.
READ MORE11th March 2019
In simple terms, Article 4’s were put in place a few years ago to manage the growth of HMO units in certain areas, and have been rolled out by councils across the country recently. If a proposed HMO is to be in an Article 4 designated area, then any would be HMO landlords would have to seek planning consent under Article 4 in order to be able to set up and operate a HMO in that area, but your HMO may also NOW need a license too...
READ MORE11th March 2019
2019 is proving to be an unpredictable market for properties in the UK. As with many other industries, people are hitting pause in anticipation of the outcome of the Brexit deal. Could this turn out to be a good thing for landlords?
READ MORE4th February 2019
It's long been understood that colour has the power to transform behaviour and shape the way that we perceive a wide variety of goods and services. Businesses spend millions in branding and marketing to encourage us to chose their brand above others. In our homes, we also use colour to affect the mood and ambience of each room. With brands such as Dulux investing heavily in the branding of colours to reflect the style, heritage and personality that we want to portray.
READ MORE28th January 2019
If you are a HMO landlord in England, you will be aware of the various legislation which goes with renting a property to multiple occupants. But even if you don’t think of yourself as a HMO landlord, the likelihood is that you might have properties, now or in the future, which are classed as HMO’s without realising it. In October 2018, there were some vital changes in legislation and licencing, which could mean that you will need to have a licence where you didn’t require one in the past...
READ MORE22nd January 2019
Property prices in England and Wales have been on the rise for some time, the average overall price rising by 5.1k, or 2% between December 2017 and November 2018. But interestingly, the Wolverhampton property market has far exceeded the trend, outshining the rest of the country by a staggering amount. Here, we will take a look at some of the numbers, and the reasons behind them
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