1st August 2016
NEWS: Moving out One month on and everyone in politics, on TV and in the media has stopped talking endlessly about the European referendum. Thank goodness for that! Unfortunately, they're now talking endlessly about Brexit — and chances are they won't stop talking about it for the next five years. Because as new PM Theresa May made clear just as she was about to move into her new home, Number 10 Downing Street, “Brexit means Brexit — and we're going to make a success of it!” Which is a much better message to send than, “Brexit means Brexit — and we're going to make a hash of it!” In the main, landlords seem to be sanguine about the EU result. For one thing, as the Sunday Times pointed out, it may mean fewer rules with a “potential question mark over, for example, the EU ban on letting homes with poor energy efficiency, due to start in 2018.” It's not yet clear what will happen to Brits who own properties abroad, mind you — and depending on which newspaper you read, house prices are either tumbling or rising, post-referendum. Either way, buckle up, property watchers. This Brexit thing could be quite an interesting ride...
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1st July 2016
NEWS: Heading for the door marked 'Brexit' Seismic. A political earthquake. Unprecedented. In the early hours of 24 June, the superlatives started to fly as it became clear that the British public had voted to leave the European Union. The political ramifications were immediately apparent: within hours, David Cameron had resigned and Boris Johnson was being talked of as his successor. The financial markets and the pound plunged. Yet in property terms — as with so much else connected to this historic vote — it's unclear as to what could happen next. Melanie Leech, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation, summed up the mood of many property experts and analysts, however, with her statement. “The priority for the government and the Bank of England must now be to stabilise the position and maintain confidence in the UK,” she said. Depending on what side of the remain/leave divide you are, this is either a desperately worrying and uncertain time — or the beginning of an exciting new era of UK growth and opportunity...
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1st June 2016
NEWS: Referendum time Brexit, we have been told, could cause a variety of problems, the biggest of which (by some margin) is World War Three. On the other hand, it has also been suggested that staying in the EU would be tantamount to appeasing Hitler. Yes: we've not had the most edifying or rational of debates in the run-up to the EU referendum. But at least it's here: the month when we put our cross in the box marked Britain 'in' or 'out' of Europe. There is, though, just time to squeeze in one more in/out warning. Echoing similar sentiments from the International Monetary Fund and the National Association of Estate Agents, Chancellor George Osborne has said that houses could be worth up to 18% less by 2018 if the UK votes to leave. Energy minister Andrea Leadsom from Vote Leave, meanwhile, said this was “an extraordinary claim” and that “the greatest threat to the economy is the perilous state of the euro.” So that's just as confusing as ever, then. Roll on 23 June.
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20th March 2016
I was talking to a landlord at a networking event last week, and he was explaining that he has no idea what all the fuss is about, and how he gets his files and move ins done in just 10 minutes, why on earth would he consider outsourcing this function?
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4th February 2016
Evictions are getting harder, tightening up regulation and paperwork, immigration act, Rent Smart Wales (licensing), tax changes reducing cash flow and stamp duty changes are all making the lot of a landlord much harder and is probably making many question, why they do what they do and whether to continue, so what is the objective here?
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29th January 2016
Landlords have for a long time in British society been demonised and certainly prior to the introduction in 1988 of The Housing Act, accusation could legitimately be levelled at certain individuals who did not show due care and regard to their tenants. Houses were often overcrowded, gas appliances not safe and evictions carried out which could be seen as retaliatory or without any meaningful notice.
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11th January 2016
It seems the government have decided that landlords are profiteering greedy individuals that don’t deserve to make a profit, in fact they’re doing their damnedest not to. Under the new “Clause 24” taxation system, some landlords will not make any profit at all, pushing them further and further into debt. We’re already seeing some frightening and shocking reactions to the new system and I wonder where it’s going to lead.
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1st December 2015
Proposed changes for the housing sector through the Housing Bill 2015 The government is proposing quite a few changes to the housing sector at the moment and is currently in discussion with the industry as to how these will be implemented across the board which landlords may need to be aware of as it will affect both landlords and agents. The bill in fact covers many areas, not just the PRS (Private Rented Sector) but within this article I want to look at the items that directly affect us as residential property practitioners
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29th October 2015
· Three in five letting agents in the West Midlands saw rent increases for tenants this month · Supply in London still remains an issue · ARLA issues September Private Rental Sector (PRS) Report
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30th September 2015
David Cox, managing director, Association of Residential Letting Agents, comments on legislation coming into force affecting the Private Rental Sector: “As of Thursday 1st October, it will be compulsory for landlords to have fitted smoke alarms on every floor of their property where there is a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation. They will also be required to put a carbon monoxide alarm in any room where solid fuel is burnt.
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