InventoryBase Blog

Investment property landlords are selling up, claims Belvoir

According to letting agency Belvoir, there has been a large rise in the amount of investment property landlords selling their rental homes, as well as a significant decline in the number of people becoming investors in the PRS (Private Rented Sector). Belvoir also reports that the reasons behind landlords leaving the market is primarily down […]

October 2, 2018

Lettings sector set to recover but not for three years

A new study has revealed the forecasts for the buy-to-let market and hints at bad times ahead for investors, landlords and agents until 2021. After three years, it is predicted that the market will stabilise, and return to growth for the following two years, up to 2023. The study was commissioned by Shawbrook Bank, and […]

October 1, 2018

Generation Rent organisation blames Section 21 notices for homelessness

The organisation responsible for campaigning on behalf of renters in the UK, Generation Rent, has begun fighting to oppose the use of Section 21 notices by landlords, which it claims are the primary cause behind homelessness. A Section 21 notice allows letting agents and landlords to evict tenants without providing a reason, and it’s typically […]

September 28, 2018

Letting agents to be brought under Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive

It has been announced that letting agents will be brought into the scope of anti-money laundering regulations set by the EU. Letting agents which facilitate transactions for rent of at least €10,000 each month will be held accountable under the Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive. This means that letting agents operating in London will be most […]

September 27, 2018

Nottingham Council warns landlords against increasing rents to pay licences

The council responsible for a controversial licencing scheme in the private rented sector is attempting to defend its launch on the grounds of safety and health. On 1st August, a new licencing scheme was introduced by Nottingham Council to cover around 32,000 properties rented privately.This will account for approximately 91 per cent of the total […]

September 26, 2018

New study reveals home ownership is falling

Home ownership amongst the younger generations has fallen in all income groups, according to a new large-scale research project focusing on those aged between 25 and 34. The study, conducted by the Institute of Fiscal Studies on behalf of the BBC, has shown that amongst the top 20 per cent of the 25 – 34 […]

September 25, 2018

InventoryBase to present their market leading property inspection software at Agent Rainmaker LIVE.

InventoryBase will be at the Agent Rainmaker LIVE Exhibition at the Thistle London Heathrow Terminal 5- 28th-29th September. The Agent Rainmaker LIVE event taking place in London this week will see professionals throughout the Estate & Letting Agency industry come together. InventoryBase will be exhibiting at the event, and giving property professionals the opportunity to […]

September 24, 2018

How the referral fee ban will not make services cheaper

There are consultations currently taking place to find practical solutions to the Government’s concerns surrounding estate agent referral fees. Current proposals set by the MHCLG (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) aim to amend or possibly eliminate estate agent commissions for service referrals, such as EPCs and conveyancing. Currently, one of the most controversial […]

How to protect your home when tenants go on holiday

It is likely, at some point during a tenancy, that your tenants will go away on holiday and leave your property empty, and possibly vulnerable. Here, we guide you through the best ways to protect your home when your tenants go away on holiday. Visual deterrents for thieves. Most burglaries happen when nobody is home, […]

September 21, 2018

The most affordable London boroughs to rent

A new study has revealed which London boroughs contain the cheapest properties to rent in the city. The research has shown that South East London and Bexley are among the cheapest areas to rent in London for a household of four people. Assuming that there is one person per bedroom, the data was collected from […]

September 20, 2018

Private rented sector grows 36 per cent in 10 years

A new study has discovered that the private rented sector (PRS) has expanded by 36 per cent in the past decade – twice the growth rate of households. This progress is likely to continue due to the decline in home ownership, especially amongst the middle-aged and younger generations which are faced with a receding social […]

September 19, 2018

How long does it take to evict problem tenants?

A landlord insurance study has revealed that it takes on average almost four months before bailiffs appointed by the courts can remove bad tenants from a landlord’s private rented property. Landlords based in London are the most probable to be pushed to evict tenants, whilst those based in the South West, West Midlands and North […]

September 18, 2018

Landlord in Liverpool receives prison sentence

Violet Musoke, a landlord based in Liverpool, has been handed a three month prison sentence for failing to acknowledge improvement notices and unlawful eviction for a flat she let. Described as a selfish, heartless and cruel landlord, Musoke attempted to force Dennis Adderley, 79, her long-term tenant, from his home. The disabled tenant, who was […]

September 17, 2018

Landlords are being pushed into short-term lets due to government legislation

Landlords are increasingly seeing calls for rent control, longer-term tenancies, increased taxation and regulation of buy-to-let properties. Under these conditions, landlords will surely begin looking at alternative business models or they may even abandon the private rental sector (PRS) altogether. These scenarios are putting a large amount of strain on the private rented sector, leading […]

September 14, 2018

The Habitable Homes Bill and its potential to transform lives

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill has been deemed an opportunity for social and private tenants to avoid renting property from rogue landlords, and it would give them the opportunity to go to court if the home is ruled unsafe. First debated in January, the bill has the potential to transform the lives of […]

September 13, 2018

Electrical checks every five years to become compulsory for landlords

In July 2018, the government announced new measures concerning building safety, and a new consultation on fire safety and building regulations. However, the government has not yet published further details surrounding the announced requirements for landlords within the private rented sector, including conducting electrical installation safety assessments every five years. So far, the government has […]

Top tips for first time landlords

As the number of laws and regulations governing letting property in the private rented sector continues to grow, becoming a first-time landlord can be daunting. Here are some tips to help you understand the obligations and legislation to abide by. Landlord licence Firstly, you must check with your local council to see if you require […]

September 12, 2018

Private rented sector hits 10 month high in rent hikes

It’s been revealed that the number of tenants experiencing rent hikes reached a 10 month high in June this year. The amount of tenants seeing rent hikes increased to 35 per cent, up from May’s figure of 28 per cent. This is the highest level of rent increases since August 2017, which saw the same […]

September 11, 2018

Survey claims 84 per cent of PRS tenants are content with their property

The most recent English Housing Survey conducted by the Government has shown that one in five residents in England now rent through the private rental sector (PRS). This figure has risen significantly since the current survey was introduced in 1996. The report has also shown that the vast majority of tenants within the private rented […]

September 10, 2018

Rent a room relief test for shared occupancy leads to unnecessary complexity

The UK Government has announced an agreement to retain the current rent-a-room annual relief amount of £7,500. However, a new assessment, named the “shared occupancy test” has also been proposed. The aim of the test is to ensure that landlords renting their spare rooms are able to continue qualifying for the relief. The Association of […]

September 7, 2018

Landlords given incentives to house the homeless

Landlords are being given assistance in order for them to help people who are at risk of homelessness. The idea has been introduced by Barrow Borough Council, which is offering incentives to landlords such as free gas and electricity checks. As in many other districts, the Cumbrian town has a severe lack of affordable housing […]

September 6, 2018

New licensing scheme set up to improve standards

A new licensing scheme has been set up for private rental properties in Nottingham in a bid to drive up standards. Nottingham City Council has set up the selective licensing scheme to cover around 32,000 private rental homes across most parts of the city. The aim is to improve conditions for tenants, so that they […]

September 5, 2018

Is it time to scrap tenants’ deposits?

The idea of scrapping rental deposits has risen again, thanks to a start-up which replaces deposits with an insurance policy. Instead of handing over a deposit of between four to six weeks’ rent, tenants can take out an insurance bond. Typically, this would cost them the equivalent of around one week’s rent. Many tenants would […]

September 4, 2018

Landlords offered cash to revamp properties

Landlords are to be offered cash incentives to repair and improve rental properties which are under par. The pilot scheme has been launched in Oldham to improve rental stock so that it meets the minimum housing standards. Oldham Council is also hoping the pilot scheme will increase awareness about rental property standards and increase the […]

September 3, 2018

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