Monthly Archives: June 2013

Best Places to Invest in Buy to Let Properties

If you are looking for a buy to let investment, we have the lowdown on the latest property hotspots!

Location  Property Price  Average Monthly Rent  Average Rental Gross Yield 
1. Southampton £138,311 £901 7.82%
2. Blackpool £75,943 £494 7.81%
3. Kingston upon Hull £69,519 £450 7.7%
4. Manchester £102,631 £650 7.60%
5. Nottingham £83,313 £524 7.55%
6. Coventry £104,970 £624 7.13%
7. Slough £171,581 £975 6.82%
8. Oxford £244,893 £1,375 6.74%
9. Liverpool £91,012 £498 6.57%
10. Portsmouth £141,971 £775 6.55%

Leeds Council Uses Legal Loophole to Avoid Bedroom Tax

Leeds council has been using a loophole to avoid some of it’s tenants falling victim to the bedroom tax. They have reclassified more than 800 “spare” rooms in its social homes as “non-specific rooms”  in order to sidestep the controversial bedroom tax. This means that tenants in affected properties are no longer classified as underoccupying their homes, and… Continue Reading

RLA Accuses Shelter of “Anti-Landlord” Campaiign

The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has accused Shelter of playing the ‘anti-landlord card’ with its campaign to end the fees lettings agencies charge to tenants. According to the RLA, the charity’s stance will only hurt tenants, as it will lead to increasing costs for landlords, which will result in rents rising. “Once again we have Shelter… Continue Reading

Shelter says Letting Agent fees are “Out of Control”

Housing and homelessness charity, Shelter, have described the fees charged by letting agents across Britain as “out of control”, and claim that they are forcing millions into debt. It claims that on average tenants are being charged £350 for everything from fees to set up a tenancy, administration fees, holding fees, credit check fees and check-in… Continue Reading

Proud to be members of The Property Ombudsman Service

The Online Letting Agents are proud to be member of The Property Ombudsman Service. Why should you choose a letting agent who is registered with TPO? Registered agents must follow The Property Ombudsman Letting Code of Practice. This sets out the framework within which registered agents must operate and the standards of service they must… Continue Reading

A Tenant’s Guide to the Custodial Deposit Scheme

In April 2007 it became law for all assured short hold tenancy deposits taken by landlords or letting agents to be protected in a Government-authorised tenancy deposit protection scheme. The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) runs the only custodial scheme authorised by the Government.  Their custodial scheme means that your deposit is paid to the… Continue Reading

Bank of England Leaves Base Rate Unchanged!

The Bank of England has decided to keep its stimulus programme of quantitative easing (QE) unchanged and also announced today that interest rates will remain at 0.5%. The decision was widely expected, with most analysts not expecting any change in policy until the new Bank governor, Mark Carney, arrives in July. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has… Continue Reading

Councils Struggle to Cope with Demand for Emergency Payments

Following the introduction of the so-called “bedroom tax” on 1st April this year, local councils have seen a surge in demand for discretionary housing payments (DHP) leaving housing associations struggling with the additional workload. DHPs are temporary payments provided by councils in order to help cover costs when there is a change in the benefit… Continue Reading