InventoryBase Blog

More 40-somethings renting rather than buying

More middle-aged people are now living in private rental accommodation. According to data analysed for the BBC News, this age group is now twice as likely to be renting from private landlords than 10 years ago. Whilst rising property prices are the main factor, putting ownership out of reach for many workers, others turn to […]

July 6, 2018

Calls to reduce buy-to-let investor taxes

With the supply of rental properties falling, calls are being made to take a fresh look at the tax burden on buy-to-let investors. The Residential Landlords Association is calling on the government to look at the taxes that landlords pay as the number of properties to let dwindles. The problem will only become more acute […]

July 5, 2018

London Emerges as World’s Prop-Tech Capital

Experts have hailed London as the top city in Europe for using technology in the built environment. The news has been revealed in a report called Future Proof Real Estate – Is the Property Sector Ready for the 2020s? from Osborne Clarke. This research looks into how the technology sector believe innovation will change Europe’s […]

July 4, 2018

Other than location, what perks would make a tenant pay more rent?

Whilst location is still the key when it comes to getting the right buy-to-let investment, it seems there are other factors to consider when marketing your rental property. Tenants are willing to pay more for features and facilities that add value to them. LSL Property Services recently quizzed more than 3,000 tenants to find out […]

July 3, 2018

More affordable homes needed for workers in the North

New research is showing a need for buy-to-let investment and affordable homes in various towns and cities in the north of England. The problem of a lack of decent buy-to-rent properties is not just confined to London and its commuter towns. But for shrewd investors, they can get more property for their money if they […]

June 29, 2018

Tenants are seeking ‘greener’ landlords

Whilst location and price are very important considerations when investing in buy-to-let properties, it is now worth looking at how eco-friendly a property is or could become. Obviously, research needs to look into the profitability of a property and its potential yields, but it is also worth investigating what green modifications can be made. According […]

June 28, 2018

Tenants confused about how to make housing complaints

Nearly seven out of every 10 tenants are confused by the system for making complaints about housing. The Ombudsman Services, which resolves complaints between parties, has been asking for opinions about how complaints within the housing sector should be dealt with. From the responses, 69% of people were confused by the system set up to […]

June 27, 2018

Proptech investors tracks property portfolios

A new proptech company has found a way to use artificial intelligence to track the licensing regulations of all properties in the UK in real time. This can be used to make sure property portfolios are compliant with the law. It is being developed by proptech company, GetRentr. This will be of great benefit to […]

June 26, 2018

Rental housing costs and lack of decent properties affecting businesses

The housing crisis continues to have a negative impact on the economy. Now high rents and a lack of decent rental properties in London are affecting companies trying to recruit or even retain staff. The latest CBI/CBRE London Business Survey shows 66% of people surveyed said that availability of properties and housing costs are having […]

June 25, 2018

Landlords must ensure compliance with new regulations

New regulations have recently come into force which will affect landlords regarding the information they keep about their tenants. The General Data Protection Regulation came into effect on May 25, so landlords will need to make sure they are ready to comply with the regulations by then. Basically, it means more rights for people whose […]

June 18, 2018

Selective licensing working in landlords’ favour

Selective licensing to combat antisocial behaviour in areas of low housing demand does have its benefits. Many landlords have viewed selective licensing in certain areas of a borough as another piece of administration to deal with, as well as another financial burden. Professional landlords have to pay for a licence for each property within the […]

June 14, 2018

Buy-to-let investors look at holiday rentals for top yields

Holiday rental properties are now enjoying higher yields than residential buy-to-lets, according to new research. Second Estates, which is a real estate fund for people investing in UK holiday properties, shows holiday rentals are among the highest returning assets in the property sector. Its study found that holiday property yields have been 1.1% higher than […]

June 13, 2018

Landlords ready to quit over problem tenants

Problem tenants are causing massive problems for landlords, with one in three thinking of quitting the buy-to-let sector because of them. National online letting agent for tenants and private landlords, MakeUrMove, has warned that one-third of landlords are considering moving out of the private rental sector because of ‘challenging’ tenants. Difficulties include tenants who do […]

June 12, 2018

Rents rise in most UK regions

Rents have risen in three-quarters of UK regions, with the average rent for a new tenancy now standing at £918 a month. Rents rose by 1.5% in April, compared to the same time in 2017, according to figures from the HomeLetRental index. If London is excluded, the average monthly rent is £761, which is a […]

June 11, 2018

New legislation having adverse effect on rental sector

New rental legislation from the UK and Scottish parliaments are already having a knock-on effect in the buy-to-let sector by deterring many people from investing further in properties. It is having an effect on landlords throughout the UK, potentially leading to fewer rental properties, which would only exacerbate the housing crisis. Buyers in Scotland who […]

June 8, 2018

One in four landlords are not properly insured

A quarter of all landlords do not have the right insurance and so could find themselves out of pocket should they need to make a claim. Buy-to-let investors need the appropriate landlords’ insurance to protect themselves, their properties and their tenants. This is different to a standard home insurance policy, which some landlords have inadvertently […]

June 7, 2018

Property prices may increase as forecasts make buy-to-lets an attractive investment

Buy-to-let investments remain a sound business, despite changes to mortgage relief, stamp duty and new regulations. Investing in bricks and mortar is still more reliable than the volatile stocks and shares market. Although yields may not be as strong as a few years ago, property prices continue to rise, which makes it a good long-term […]

June 6, 2018

New online firm set to further shake up rental sector

A new company is set to shake up the way that people find properties and landlords find tenants. This is totally in tune with the majority of today’s tenants who want quick and easy ways to view and book their next rental properties online. The traditional high-street letting agents and property firms are facing fierce […]

June 5, 2018

One in five landlords ‘selling up’

One in five landlords is planning to offload properties onto the market this year. Figures from the National Landlords Association show that 19% of buy-to-let investors are planning to sell property. Of these 380,000 investors, 45% are planning to sell apartments, while 33% are looking to offload terraced properties. Only 7% of those surveyed say […]

June 4, 2018

Building regulations found to be broken

Britain’s building regulations are felt to be in tatters, according to a government review ordered following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. In June last year, 71 people died in the fire which engulfed the 24-storey social housing building in London. The cladding is believed to have been one reason why the fire took hold so quickly. […]

June 1, 2018

Choice widens in buy-to-let mortgages

Landlords have much more choice in buy-to-let mortgages and loans, compared to a year ago. Despite mortgage relief being phased out and tighter regulations regarding landlords’ borrowing, there is now more choice than ever. Data from Moneyfacts shows there are 2,022 buy-to-let financial products on the market, which is 29.8% more than this time last […]

May 30, 2018

Rogue landlord register proves to be a capital idea

All London boroughs have shown their support for the capital’s Rogue Landlords and Letting Agents checker. All 33 of them have signed up to the scheme, says London Mayor, Sadiq Khan. He said his campaign to name and shame rogue and unscrupulous landlords has now reached a significant milestone. When the database was launched in […]

May 29, 2018

Technology improving the rental industry

Award-winning British law firm, Mishcon de Reya, is putting its faith in technology since launching the MDR LAB programme for startups. In this, its second year, the programme will enable six companies to work alongside Mishcon de Reya’s legal and business operations teams for 10 weeks. The companies will gain access to the law firm’s […]

May 28, 2018

Landlords fined over Right to Rent checks

More than 400 fines have been issued since the Right to Rent immigration checks were introduced two years ago. Under the scheme, landlords and agents have to find out if a tenant has a legal right to be in the country. Effectively, it means landlords are doing the jobs of immigration officers. Up to the […]

May 25, 2018

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