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Liberal Democrat Steve Webb, pensions minister, speaking in a debate in parliament on Wednesday, said that the controversial bedroom tax could be subject to change if there are impacts that the government has “not though of”. He said: ‘I fully accept there will be disruption as a result of this measure, which is why… Continue Reading
Category Archives: News
Liverpool Landlords To Become Licensed
Liverpool council are looking at ways to improve the quality of the rented accommodation in the city, and may ask landlords to sign up to a new licensing scheme, similar to that in the London Borough of Newham. There are over 50,000 rented properties in the city. The scheme would see all landlords agreeing to comply with… Continue Reading
6 Cheap and Quick “Fixes” to Improve Your Property’s Rental Prospects
Vanessa Warwick’s (www.propertytribes.com) 6 cheap and quick “fixes” to improve your property’s rental prospects and profits. 1. Kerb appeal Yes, I know it’s a cliche, but it’s a cliche for a reason! Because first impressions really do count. Some “no shows” of viewings may be because the prospective tenant reached the outside of your property and… Continue Reading
Scottish Rents Rise Following Shelter Campaign
Rents in Scotland have risen significantly following the ban on fees charged to tenants, according to the website, Citylets. The rise follows Shelter’s campaign to encourage tenants to reclaim their fees, and the implementation of tenancy deposit protection. Citylets has tracked rents for over five years and the latest rent rises it has reported are… Continue Reading
Rents Expected to Reach Record High in 2013
Rent costs are expected to rise to record highs in 2013, according to the Halifax, and increase by 18% over the next five years. The growth of the rental market, which has been driven by the phenomenon dubbed ‘generation rent’, shows no signs of stopping as more people turn towards renting properties rather than buying.… Continue Reading
31 House Rules for Tenants goes Viral!
A house hunter who was recently looking for a room to rent was surprised when the landlord gave her a list of 31 house rules. The rules included a fine of £100 for using additional heaters in bedrooms, and £15 for leaving dirty dishes in the sink. The rules also stipulated that tenants were not… Continue Reading
Subletting of Social Housing Bill Passed by Lords
A bill to criminalise the subletting of social housing in England and Wales has completed its latest stage in parliament. The Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Bill was passed by the House of Lords yesterday, and will now go back to the House of Commons before becoming law. The bill creates a new criminal offence… Continue Reading
Letting Your Property to Pet Owners
Landlords are traditionally resistant to letting to pet owners. With statistics showing that over 50% of households in the UK own a pet, landlords could be cutting down their potential market by more than half. The reason that landlords are so resistant is usually the fear of the damage that a pet can cause, be… Continue Reading
Ed Miliband Proposes Landlord Database
Ed Miliband, leader of the Labour Party, has proposed a national register of landlords and more powers for councils to tackle rogue landlords. A “national register” of landlords, the likes of which already exists in Scotland, was proposed under the last Labour government. This was abandoned by the coalition which said it did not want… Continue Reading
Number of Tenants in Severe Arrears Falls
The number of tenants in severe arrears fell in the last quarter of 2012, according to receivers Templeton LPA, part of the LSL group. There was a 15.6% drop in the number of tenants in severe arrears, which translates to 16,000 tenants. Although that still left 86,000 in serious arrears of two months or more,… Continue Reading