Your property is probably one of the most expensive things you own, so you don’t want just any one moving in. Referencing is the best way to protect yourself against bad tenants, ensuring that they are who they say they are, giving an insight into their ability to pay the agreed rent and their history…

The trend of rising rents continued in January, despite it being a month that traditionally sees a drop in rental prices. This is the first time in the history of LSL Property Services collecting monthly rent data that they have seen an increase in rental prices in January. In January, LSL Property Services reported a…

The usual seasonal drop off in rents has almost come to an end, according to the latest figures from the rent index. The rent index tracks actual rents in real time, using information gathered from more than 5,500 landlords over the past 90 days.  It shows that the average rental price paid has increased by…

According the latest data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders, the number of properties being bought with buy-to-let mortgages increased by around 84,000 in 2011. During the fourth quarter of 2011, a total of 34,800 buy-to-let mortgages were advanced (a total value of £4 bn).  This was almost identical to the third quarter figures (34,300…

Following the release last week of the 2010-2011 English Housing Survey Report, we can see the difference between the private rental sector and social rental sector. The social rented sector accounted for 17.5% (3.8 million) of households and the private rented sector accounted for 16.5% (3.6 million) of households Over half of all private renters…

The Department for Communities and Local Government has published the English Housing Survey (EHS) Headline Report 2010-11. A summary of the key findings are as follows: Average weekly rents in the private rented sector continued to be well above those in the social rented sector (£160 per week compared to £79). 63 per cent of…

Responding today to Shelter’s five point plan for tackling “rogue landlords”, the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has called on local authorities to more effectively root out those who flout their obligations under the law. The RLA says that according to the Government’s English Housing Survey 84% of the over 8 million private rented sector (PRS)…

Shelter is asking Grant Shapps, the Housing Minister, to keep the Government’s promises in their Housing Strategy in November 2011: to ‘deal with rogue landlords’ and ‘tackle dangerous and poorly maintained homes’. Despite the Government’s assurances, Shelter says that rogue landlords are still cashing in on the high demand for rented homes, and trapping families…

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has published a report which reveals that most sale and rent back (SRB) transactions were either unaffordable or unsuitable, and should never have been sold. Firms in the SRB sector faced floods of complaints for offering last-chance below market value deals to home owners facing bankruptcy and repossession. The firms…

With the cold weather upon us, it is time to consider how to protect your buy to let investment against weather damage. If your property has a tenant in situ, you can begin by arranging a mutually convenient time to visit, and make checks both internally and externally. Pipes and tanks in the loft should…