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Almost 90% Of Landlords Are Owed LHA Rent

UK landlords have little confidence in the current Housing Benefit system and the majority would try to avoid accepting tenants in receipt of benefits due to the extra hassle and headaches that dealing with local authorities and local government departments cause. Landlords claim that tenants who do not receive any form of welfare support are […]

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Government Set For Lords Battle On Welfare Reforms

The coalition Government face another battle over welfare reforms, this time in the House of Lords. The outcome will affect individuals and families in receipt of local housing allowance (LHA) or housing benefit, who are in private rented sector (PRS) properties. The Welfare Reform Bill, currently going through the House of Lords, is set to […]

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New Landlords Urged To Adopt Good Business Practices

The downturn in UK property valuations has lead many existing homeowners, some of whom are desperate to sell up, to consider alternative ways to cash in on their current property, without having to sell it below their expected valuations. A fairly noticeable proportion of these vendors are choosing to become first-time landlords, rather than settling […]

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A Million Reasons Not To Be Thankful

Up to a million families across the UK now face a bleak future as the cuts to housing benefit take effect. Homeless charities including Shelter, Crisis and even the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) have all been campaigning against the Governments welfare reforms where the new LHA caps restrict the maximum LHA payable to between £250 […]

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Property Damage At The End Of A Tenancy

Who pays for repairing the damage at a rental property can depend on what exactly has gone wrong. Landlords are responsible for damage to the fabric of the property, such as, missing roof slates causing damp, broken down boilers and leaks and all landlords should have suitable Buy-To-Let insurance in place to cover the costs […]

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Insurers Set For Storm Payouts

The wild winter storm that rocked most of the UK last week caused widespread damage but the Association of British Insurers (ABI), reassured all policyholders, including those with landlord insurance policies,  that claims would be dealt with swiftly. The torrential rain and gale force winds caused extensive disruption across the UK’s transport network, damaged properties […]

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Is It Really A Happy New Year For Benefit Tenants?

Researchers claim that the uk’s welfare reforms will make more than three quarters of a million homes unaffordable for tenants. The Government Welfare Reform payment caps came into force this week (1st January 2012) meaning that more than 810,000 private rented homes unaffordable for tenants claiming the housing allowance under the new “Universal Credit” system. […]

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Is It Worth Having Landlord Insurance?

With some landlords feeling the financial pinch, a small minority of ill advised or inexperienced landlords are attempting to reduce costs by cutting vital corners such as on repairs or worse, on their insurance policies. As the owner and landlord of a buy to let property, adequate insurance is required to protect the fabric of […]

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Landlords Fear Rent Arrears Increase

Rent Arrears are set to rise in the UK Private Rented Sector, (PRS), during 2012 as more landlords face dealing with tenants who cannot afford the rental payments on their residential property. The UK media reported at the end of last year that the number of court orders to evict tenants had risen by 11% […]

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Big Changes In Store For UK Private Rental Sector

There could be big changes in store for the UK private rental sector should there be an exodus of inexperienced or accidental landlords from the market. The rental market in the UK could be significantly impacted in the event of a mass departure of inexperienced and accidental landlords from the sector. This is the suggestion […]

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UK Empty Properties Up By 1.8% In 2011

Despite campaigns from all quarters of the media and industry bodies, the number of empty homes in the UK increased significantly in 2011, new research has shown. Data from the Communities and Local Government department, (CLG),the Office for National Statistics, (ONS), and Halifax’s own housing statistics database, the study revealed a 1.8% rise in empty […]

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The Funniest Repairs And Complaints Received by Letting Agents from Tenants

(These are 100% Genuine and are taken from actual letters and comments on forms). • I want repairs done to my cooker as it has backfired and burnt my knob off. • I wish to complain that my father hurt his ankle very badly when he put his foot in the hole in his back […]

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As If Landlords Could Afford A Laugh

Landlords often have to chase tenants for the rent, often payments are missed due to extraordinary circumstances, Here are some of the best Tenant Excuses For Not Paying The Rent • “I can’t pay my rent as my BMW is in the shop, and I cannot afford to pay for both.” • “I can’t pay […]

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Eviction Research Makes Gloomy Reading

New research from Shelter highlights the areas of the UK where people are most at risk of losing their homes. 111 households is at risk of eviction by either a landlord or mortgage lender, with those living in London most at risk, followed by the residents of Manchester, Slough and Peterborough. Shelter’s study also reveals […]

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Rents Fall Despite Rental Demand

Rents have fallen for the first time in 10 months as landlords look to keep homes occupied over Christmas, but rents in some parts of the UK have bucked the downward month-on-month trend. The typical residential property rent in England and Wales dropped by 0.4% to £717 a month in November, the first month-on-month fall […]

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