29th 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.
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15th 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?
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11th 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...
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11th 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?
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29th March 2017
After attending the annual ARLA Propertymark Conference and Exhibition yesterday, Concentric HQ are pleased to confirm to their clients that the government have accepted the Client Money Protection Review (CMP) and will be introducing mandatory CMP for all letting agents.
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20th February 2017
It’s a common phrase you see rounding off nearly every rental listing - “No DSS”. DSS – being the now-defunct Department of Social Security – refers to LHA tenants, the catch-all term for low-income tenants who claim Local Housing Allowance (LHA), named after the now-defunct Department of Social Security.
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16th February 2017
The growth of the buy-to-let market isn’t slowing down, as the housing shortage in the UK continues. Because of this, you now see a lot of information out there to help landlords get the best rental yields for their properties, but interestingly there is less information on capital appreciation. More associated with buyers and vendors, capital appreciation is also a factor that landlords need to consider when they invest in property, now more than ever.
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12th January 2017
Choosing the right letting agent can be a difficult task. Many landlords dive in without giving it much thought. After being in the industry for as long as I have, I know how to separate average agents from the exceptional ones, and why would you settle for anything less than exceptional? The right letting agent will make you money and free you from the day-to-day tasks that stop you from doing what you’re good at.
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16th September 2016
In my experience there are three main areas in Birmingham which are particularly popular with HMO investors. The first one is right next to our office in the Edgbaston area. The reason this is such a popular area for HMO is probably down to a couple of things: the first one being the style of properties. these are predominantly Victorian with least two reception rooms and a usable attic.
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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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