InventoryBase Blog

Why property inventory reports are crucial

Property inventories are now no longer just a tool to prevent disputes around cleanliness and condition. With house ownership moving further and further out of reach for renters across the UK, tenants are becoming more assertive and more knowledgeable about their rights. In addition to this, taxation and legislation for rental properties has become increasingly […]

July 12, 2019

How inventories could be crucial in rental reform

According to some of the largest providers of inventory services in the UK, independent inventory reporting is to become the perfect companion to the proposed housing reforms from the Government. It has now been predicted that a single-route, clear complaints system, which was proposed within the Housing Complaints Resolution Service from the Government, could be […]

July 9, 2019

Letting fee ban in Wales receives royal assent

After it received approval from the National Assembly for Wales, Julie James, the Minister for Housing and Local Government has affirmed that the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Bill received Royal Assent. This means that the legislation, which bans the majority of fees charged to tenants in Wales, has passed the third stage of legislative […]

July 5, 2019

How AI will transform the rental sector

From rent payment reminders to complex compatibility algorithms, technology is transforming the property rental experience. Technology such as dating apps has transformed the lives of many, and at the same time, the huge rise in property prices has pushed a generation out of home ownership. It was always going to be just a matter of […]

July 1, 2019

There is still time to prepare for the new rental laws

New legislation is set to transfer the attention of housing associations to the quality and safety of existing housing stock. This will likely cause pressure, but it is essential that property managers, letting agents and landlords prepare for this. After all, those that suffer most are always the ones most resistant to change, while those […]

June 28, 2019

The importance of inventories for tenants

Moving into a new property is an exciting time. However, it can often come with its own stress and issues. An inventory report is usually issued to the tenant by the managing agent, and it’s where the condition and any damage to the property is thoroughly noted and documented. Inventory reports are imperative for privately […]

June 25, 2019

Do you know your responsibilities as a landlord?

Becoming a landlord continues to remain an attractive prospect for many. With regular income from rentals alongside future capital growth, it is easy to understand why. However, the occupation is not without its challenges. Landlords have faced a barrage of new laws and regulatory changes in the last few years, which have proved difficult to […]

June 21, 2019

Inventory guidance released by TDS to coincide with the introduction of the tenant fee ban

The TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme) has announced new guidelines on inventory reports in an effort to support letting agents and landlords in-line with the ban on tenant fees, introduced on 1st June 2019. Also known as the Tenant Fees Act, the new law is applicable to letting agents operating in England, and will mean that […]

June 14, 2019

What to look for in a property inspection

A checklist for property inspections is extremely useful for letting agents and landlords. A checklist guides agents on what must be assessed, as each property is different, making it easy to make a mistake in an inspection. Inspections are a crucial aspect of being a property manager or letting agent. If landlords fail to ensure […]

June 11, 2019

Brexit chaos reduces number of Chinese investors

The uncertainty which is currently being caused by Britain exiting the EU has had a striking effect on the numbers of Chinese investors making residential acquisitions within the UK, according to the latest statistics. The research, conducted by the largest international property portal in China, Juwai.com, shows that property buying from Chinese investors has waned […]

June 7, 2019

Right to Rent could become more complex in aftermath of Brexit

Mishcon de Reya, the leading legal firm, has warned that the rules and regulations around Right to Rent could evolve to become even more complex for landlords and letting agents after Brexit. This warning comes despite the recent court case at the High Court, which deemed that Right to Rent breached the human rights of […]

June 6, 2019

Key answers for letting agents

Here we discuss how letting agents can offer value for money, impress prospective clients and overcome price objectives. How can letting agents demonstrate value for money to vendors? The best way for letting agents to demonstrate true value is to illustrate what sets them apart from the first moment they take a phone call from […]

June 5, 2019

Property market in Barcelona bounces back during first months of 2019

Confidence appears to have returned to the property market in Barcelona following a period of hesitation in the aftermath of the 2017 independence push on 1st October. This is according to the first quarter results of 2019 from Lucas Fox, the Spanish property experts. The property firm reported that house sales had more than tripled […]

May 31, 2019

Could landlords be rated online by tenants?

Some bad landlords who are guilty of terrible misdemeanours are able to avoid justice due to weaknesses within legislation in the UK, which often allows the worst landlords to continue operating. But one person is aiming to redress this power balance, by creating a scheme which allows tenants to give their landlord a rating online. […]

May 29, 2019

How proptech can add value to the lettings sector

Proptech is becoming increasingly important in the lettings sector, thanks in part to the changing 24 hour a day nature of consumer demand. This is being primarily driven by the millennial generation, who currently take up a large section of the lettings market, as well as a growing portion of the sales market. However, proptech […]

May 27, 2019

A look back on Theresa May’s impact on the property sector

With the saga of the UK leaving the European Union dragging on, it’s likely that the event could signal the downfall of current Prime Minister, Theresa May. Rather than another speculative piece on Brexit, here we discuss her record on the UK’s housing issues. Ms May’s speech at Downing Street on 13th July 2016, just […]

May 24, 2019

Buy-to-let landlords continue to enjoy stable yields across Wales and England

The average rental price in Wales and England has risen over the past 12 months at a rate of 0.4 per cent per month. This now means that the average rent pcm (per calendar month) rose in February 2019 to £861, the latest research from Your Move has shown. The study from the UK estate […]

May 23, 2019

How letting agents can cover their costs after tenant fees ban

The tenant fees ban, which prohibits letting agents and landlords from charging fees to tenants in England, will come into force, finally, on 1st June. First introduced in November 2016, when the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, revealed the plans for the new rules in his Autumn Statement, the Tenant Fees Bill is widely regarded within the […]

May 15, 2019

Pensions versus property: what is the best investment?

The founder of an online lettings agency, Upad, has claimed that he does not have a pension fund. James Davis has instead chosen to invest in 20 buy to let properties, and like many property investors, he is certain that this will fund his retirement. Mr Davis explains that should property prices continue rising over […]

May 10, 2019

How AI could impact the lettings sector

AI (Artificial Intelligence) is taking an increasingly larger role in our everyday lives, from drones and driverless cars to Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa. Therefore, it comes as no great surprise that the lettings sector is slowly adopting this new technology. Proptech is quickly gathering traction within the lettings sector. An investment management and professional […]

May 7, 2019

The top five problems proptech is solving

Proptech has the potential to revolutionise the property sector. Technology continues to be introduced on a large-scale in the lettings sector, and according to a recent report, capital investment within the sector grew in 2017 to almost $12.6 billion. Proptech shows no signs of slowing its progress, and now is the perfect time to choose […]

May 3, 2019

What is next for the tenant fee ban?

Those in the lettings sector will be aware of the upcoming ban on tenant fees. The Act has made its journey through parliament, and will be implemented in England from 1st June, 2019. This means that now is the time for letting agents to prepare for the new legislation. Agents must now be forward thinking […]

April 30, 2019

the value of using measurable inventory reports

Inventory Reports – The Measure of Value

We live in an age where everything is on demand meaning inventory providers have had to react to that demand with a greater flexibility in their availability which often includes all weekend working, late night and early morning report requests. In some respects this is nothing new; other supplier industries to the property sector such […]

April 17, 2019

Zoopla to begin refusing ‘No DSS’ adverts

Zoopla, a leading property portal website, is to begin refusing advertisements for property lettings which contain instructions from landlords that include ‘No DSS’ or any other block for tenants who receive housing benefit. Zoopla announced it will prohibit landlords from posting adverts which state ‘No DSS’, which is a commonly used term that refers to […]

April 12, 2019

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