logo

Tag

private rentals

How High Will Monthly Mortgage Repayments Rise?

With the recent steep rises in the Bank of England’s interest rates, it was inevitable that mortgage repayments were going to rise. However, a recent survey suggests that the position is worse than most people expected. It’s now expected that monthly repayments will rise by an average of £617. The Research Results According to research by The Mortgage Lender (TML), 80% of homeowners are concerned about rising rates,
Read More

Avoid Having to Repossess Your Properties

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has just released the official figures for landlord repossessions during the period October to December 2022 — and they’re alarming. The number of repossessions in that time has risen by 98%. So why is this? And how can you avoid having to go through the costly and time-consuming procedure of getting your property back? The Rise in Repossessions The MoJ figures make alarming reading. Dur
Read More

Are Your Properties Mould-Free?

If you rent out residential properties, you must be aware of the tragic case of Awaab Ishak, the Rotherham toddler who died in 2020 from exposure to mould in a rented home. In this case, the property was owned by a housing association, but if you let your property privately, you could be personally responsible for such an incident. So, what do you need to know about mould and how to prevent it? What Are the Dangers f
Read More

Growing Calls for More Flexibility on Debt Repayment

It’s hardly surprising that the current cost of living crisis has seen a sharp rise in people with problem debts. Recent figures suggest that one in three households have missed paying a bill in the past year, and this looks set to rise. In this atmosphere, calls have been growing for banks and credit lenders to take a more flexible and compassionate approach to repayment by vulnerable debtors. The Problem With Lende
Read More

Landlords — Do Your Carbon Monoxide Alarms Meet the New Rules?

The many regulations imposed on landlords of residential rental properties may seem a hassle at times, but most are simply what a responsible landlord would want to conform to. This is certainly true of the rules around carbon monoxide alarms — and these are to be updated in a couple of months. Why Are Carbon Monoxide Alarms Essential? The last thing any landlord wants is for tenants or their guests to be killed by c
Read More

Client Money Protection Schemes — What Can You Expect from a Letting Agent?

When you’re selecting a letting agent to manage your rental properties, it’s vital to pick the right one. There are plenty of good agencies around, but unfortunately not every agency meets the minimum standards. Picking the wrong one could leave you in financial trouble. No doubt you have a list of questions for any prospective letting agency, but does this include whether they’re a member of a client money protectio
Read More

The Enforcement Conduct Authority — New Proposals for a Debt Enforcement Oversight Body

Many sectors of the financial world have their own independent oversight bodies. The best known is probably the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) but similar organisations operate in various areas of finance. One notable exception, though, has been the debt enforcement sector — but that may be changing. A prominent think-tank has brought together various sides of the sector and proposed a framework for a new oversigh
Read More

Right to Rent Checks — Covid Arrangements Continue till August

One of the more onerous duties imposed on landlords in the past few years has been the obligation to carry out Right to Rent checks on their tenants. Since March last year, the requirements have been adjusted to allow for lockdown rules, but what will the future bring? What Are Right to Rent Checks? The Immigration Act 2016 made it a criminal offence to rent a home or part of a home to anyone whose immigration status
Read More

If You Have Great Tenants, You Want to Keep Them — Here’s How

The perfect balance for any landlord is to ensure a regular, unbroken income from your property with a minimum of effort and hassle. And the best way of ensuring that is to keep any good tenants you already have. The obvious advantage of keeping a good tenant is that you won’t have gaps in the rent coming in, but there are other benefits. If the tenancy isn’t constantly changing, you’ll be spending
Read More

The Moratorium Ends — The Start of Back to Normal for Landlords?

Early in the pandemic, the government brought in a moratorium on evictions for rent arrears. While this was good news for tenants struggling to pay, often through no fault of their own, it’s been a nightmare for some landlords, who have been unable to do anything about lack of rent. From 1st June, however, the moratorium no longer applies — but is this really back to normal for landlords? The History of the Mor
Read More