Pay to view, not pay per view – commentary from our Partnership Development Manager, Neil Jackson (MARLA) Years ago, I warned applicants to avoid dealing with anyone who wanted to charge them for the privilege of viewing a property. Now, with the looming ban on tenant fees, I’m not so sure. The ban will cause […]
Read MoreSelective licensing has been in place in several boroughs for some time, but few councils have gone down the route of applying for the Government approval required to extend the schemes across their entire locality. The pioneer of widespread licensing was London’s Newham Council, and it has just had its permission renewed. There were some […]
Read MoreIn property, knowledge is powerful stuff. But where, amongst the thousands of stories, gossip and rumour, is the relevant stuff? And how do you find the time to keep up to date? Well, we’ve distilled the information. We’ve extracted the good stuff from the noise and left you with the pure, filtered essentials. We’ve called […]
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Councils and private landlords could, and should, work together. That’s a bold statement, we know, and one that might seem to be nigh-on impossible given this week’s news story about Havering Borough Council. If you’ve missed it, here’s a summary: A private landlord let a property on a 12-month tenancy to a woman who was […]
Read MoreIf you’re still working on the assumption that you’ll always be able to set the rent for your property, you might want to keep a close eye on the situation in Scotland. The Scottish Parliament has passed legislation which will enable local authorities to establish ‘Rent Pressure Zones’. The effect of these zones would be […]
Read MoreA few days ago, we posted a blog about reforms affecting the Scottish property rental sector. Similar changes are likely to be enforced across the whole of the UK in the future. The Department for Communities and Local Government has launched a consultation, calling for evidence to help develop plans to protect the consumer in […]
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We’re rapidly heading towards that time of year when everything stops working for the Christmas and New Year break. Although it’s not widely known or publicised, the courts generally operate an amnesty on evictions over the festive period. The exact dates vary, but can be as much as a fortnight either side of Christmas […]
Read MoreVery soon, new legislation comes into force in Scotland that will be a big shake-up for the private rental sector. Amongst the provisions of the housing bill are a new single form of tenancy and the introduction of a new tribunal which will handle all disputes. A further change is to be brought in in […]
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Tenants who break the terms of their agreement and sub-let their home face tough penalties – if they’re renting social housing. Social housing and council tenants who sub-let face being charged with a criminal offence, a hefty fine and the threat of a prison sentence. Not so for tenants who rent from private landlords. The […]
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Now the Government has promised a fund of £2bn to build affordable housing, who should rejoice? People on lower incomes would welcome rented housing at a price they can afford. But not everyone will get the opportunity. Housing shortage in the UK £2bn will fund the building of an extra 5,000 homes per year. Shelter […]
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Despite warnings from councils, charities and backbenchers, the Government is forging ahead with the Universal Credit scheme. Widely feared a social policy disaster, it changes the way people receive benefits. Six benefits now become one in the boroughs where it’s been adopted. A sound idea in principle: the idea is to simplify the system and […]
Read MoreThe UK culture values reserve and modesty. If you shout your achievements too loudly you soon get branded big-headed. Similarly, British consumers like to make their own judgements about the companies they buy from. They’d rather see a quirky ad that positions the brand than listen to a salesman tell them how brilliant the product […]
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The tragic events at Grenfell Tower have pushed the issue of housing standards to the top of the agenda. It is an emotive issue, but it’s also becoming a political one. As arguments continue about who is going to foot the bill for essential works to other tower blocks which have used the same cladding […]
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Making plans for 2018? What about student accommodation? Anyone whose personal experience of student housing dates back to the days before student loans will probably remember a breeze-block cell, a dingy bedsit or a house share reminiscent of a scene from The Young Ones. Accommodation for students was cheap, but it was rarely cheerful. But […]
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The costs of being a landlord If we had a pound for every time we’ve heard someone say that being a landlord and investing in property is a way to make easy money, we’d be sitting very pretty indeed. The truth is that although returns on a buy-to-let property can easily outstrip anything you’ll find […]
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