Sometimes the best-intentioned efforts can have unintended consequences. The government, for example, has been making fairly robust efforts to try to help renters, but at best they appear to have had limited impact. At worst, they may have actively backfired. Social rental versus private rental It may be a bit […]
The buy-to-let (BTL) market is an attractive destination for investors seeking to reap the full financial benefits that come from property investment. The combination of long-term capital growth and regular rental yields is an enticing proposition, particularly when compared to the performance of other assets in this low interest-rate environment. […]
Landlords in the UK are struggling to keep pace with new reforms that have been introduced over the past 12 months, new research from Market Financial Solutions (MFS) has found. The bridging lender commissioned an independent survey of 400 UK landlords, all of whom let one or more residential properties […]
As the old saying goes – be careful what you wish for. The government wished to tilt the housing market towards first-time buyers and away from buy-to-let investors and that is exactly what they did. The problem is that, for a number of reasons, demand for property to rent is […]
From June this year (2019), it will become illegal for landlords to charge “add on” fees to tenants to cover the cost of extra services such as the cost of hiring a third-party to manage the inventory for a property. While it remains to be seen what effect this change […]
From June 1st, 2019, the Tenant Fees Act comes into force, in England. For landlords who use agents, it is important to understand the implications, as one possible outcome is that agents could increase fees elsewhere. Andrew Turner, chief executive at Commercial Trust Limited, looks at the issues that landlords […]
From March 20th, 2019, properties in the private rental sector will need to meet new standards under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. Andrew Turner, chief executive at specialist buy to let mortgage broker Commercial Trust Limited, looks at what the new legislation means for landlords. For most […]
This year has started with chill winds blowing through much of the country, leading to many people deciding to stay at home as much as they possibly can. The question for landlords, however, is whether their investment properties are as safe as bricks (and mortar) or whether cold winds of […]
The Tenant Fees Bill has received Royal Assent and will become law on June 1st 2019. The Bill is set to make the cost of moving home cheaper for tenants – and could lead to a surge in tenant demand in June and July. The effects of the ban on […]
What do landlords and agents need to know? Andrew Turner, chief executive at specialist buy to let broker Commercial Trust Limited, takes a look at some of the implications. From June 1st, 2019, the Tenant Fees Bill becomes law and a wide range of issues that landlords and letting agents […]
