2013 was another great year for Buy to Let investors, with the demand for rental properties outstripping supply and rents increasing. The average rent paid by tenants in Britain increased by 2% in 2013 to £854 a month, according to property firm Countrywide. Tenants have been squeezed by rising prices, with many unable to access mortgages or…

According to letting agent Belvoir Letting, demand for buy to let homes will continue to drive the rental market in the coming year as accidental landlords sell up. Belvoir Letting claims accidental landlords will take the chance to sell their homes as prices rise and mortgage restrictions ease with the help of government backing. This…

The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, recently announced a new vision for the improvement of the capital’s housing market. The proposed strategy will provide more than £1bn in funding for the development of new homes in the city and will also have an impact on the private rented sector (PRS). The Greater London Authority plans…

During the abnormally cold winter of 2010, between 24 November and 31 December alone insurers paid out £1 billion to customers who had suffered burst pipe damage.  Protect your properties from the cold weather this winter. Burst and frozen pipes Losses resulting from burst / leaking pipes or faults in a property’s plumbing system have…

Following the storms last week, many landlords are now looking to make claims on their insurance. Are you insured for damage to your property? Insurance is designed to cover unexpected circumstances. If a tree has fallen and hit your house, your residential landlord property insurance should cover the damage. Check your policy to see how comprehensive your…

September was a good month for the private rental sector (PRS) according to figures from LSL Property Services. LSL have revealed that rents hit a record high during September. An all-time high LSL’s Buy-to-let Index for September found the typical rent across England and Wales stood at £757 per month, which is the highest figure…

We were recently asked by LandlordZONE to write an article about the benefits of being a DIY landlord: Being a DIY landlord doesn’t have to be difficult and can save you a fortune in fees. With the advent of online letting agents, thousands of landlords are seizing the opportunity to take a more hands-on approach…

Tenant referencing is becoming increasingly important for private rental sector landlords in the UK with a reported rise in tenants in severe arrears. In the first quarter of 2013 severe rent arrears rose by 4,000 to 94,000 and is the fourth highest figure on record, according to Paul Shamplina, founder of Landlord Action. “The highest…

One of our founders, Simon Fice, has had a baby boy! Luca James Richard Fice was born at 6.48 this morning, weighing in at 8lbs, 2 oz. Congratulations to Simon and his wife, Fiona, from all of the team at The Online Letting Agents

Housing benefit to be withdrawn for unemployed under-25s Young unemployed people will lose their housing benefit and jobseekers allowance entitlements, David Cameron announced. The party floated a similar idea in June 2012 but a Liberal Democrat veto stopped it in its tracks. The previous proposal was aimed at reducing public spending and would apply to all under-25s,…