Friday 31 December 2010

House prices rose slightly during 2010 says Nationwide


House prices ended the year barely higher than they started, according to the latest survey from the Nationwide building society.

It says prices rose by 0.4% in December, leaving them also 0.4% up on a year ago.

It means the average UK home now costs just under £163,000.

The Nationwide forecasts that house prices will continue to drift down in the first half of 2011, as they have been doing for the past few months.

Read the full story here House prices rose slightly during 2010 says Nationwide

Thursday 30 December 2010

Buy-to-let investing: the outlook for 2011


Lorna Bourke analyses the prospects for buy-to-let investors over the coming year.

"The coming year is likely to be something of a curate’s egg for buy-to-let investors. Rising demand for rental properties from frustrated first time buyers will support rents and there may even be room for an increase.

"On the other hand, a rise in unemployment as the spending cuts bite will see rent arrears mounting and some young tenants may just decide to move back in with their parents. Meanwhile, with first time buyers still struggling to save the deposit for a property, house prices at the lower end of the market could slide, creating buying opportunities for buy-to-let investors – if they can get a suitable mortgage."

Read the full article here Buy to Let investing: the outlook for 2011

Wednesday 29 December 2010

Find a Tenant Quickly and Cheaply


If you are looking for a tenant there is no quicker or cheaper way than using our Find a Tenant service.

You can advertise your property to rent on well over 200 property websites, including all the major UK property websites such as Rightmove, FindaProperty, Zoopla, Prime Location, Google, Gumtree, Fish4Homes and Yahoo.

And it costs just £45 per advert - including VAT.

Adverts on over 200 property websites are placed through our business partners Rent on Time who will help you design the advert for maximum effect and pass all leads through to you straight away.

Click here for more information Find a Tenant

Please remember that advertising a property to rent on NetRent.co.uk remains free of charge for both landlords and letting agents, please click here for more information Property Advertising on NetRent.co.uk

Friday 24 December 2010

A Very Happy Christmas and New Year


A very Happy Christmas and New Year from everybody at NetRent.co.uk.


Thank you for all your support during 2010 and we look forward to working with you in 2011.

Thursday 23 December 2010

Local authority launches its own estate agency


A council in Wales has set up its own residential estate agency which also offers financial advice and mortgage services.

Property Bay Wales, launched by Neath Port Talbot Council, attempts to undercut other local agents by charging a fixed fee of £899.

The agency, which advertises itself as offering an “affordable alternative option”, also incorporates a lettings and property management business.

Read the full story here Local authority launches its own estate agency

Landlords join MPs in expressing concern over welfare gamble


An influential House of Commons Committee has accused the government of gambling with housing benefit reforms.

The Work and Pensions Select Committee report notes huge uncertainties surrounding the government’s reforms, with a call to monitor the impact and whether discretionary funding provided to local authorities will be sufficient to help support families with acute housing needs.

Click here to read the full story Landlords join MPs in expressing concern over welfare gamble

Tuesday 21 December 2010

UK home sales down in November, HMRC says


UK home sales fell in November as the property market showed little sign of fresh life at the end of the year.

There were 77,000 residential properties sold for more than £40,000 in the UK in November, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

This was down from a revised figure of 80,000 the previous month and some 6,000 fewer sales than in the same month a year earlier.

For more information please click here UK home sales down in November, HMRC says.

For a complete breakdown of the facts and figures please click here Property Transactions in the United Kingdom

UK property landlords reveal their worse fear is rental arrears, report shows


Rental arrears are still a worry for UK property landlords despite rising demand and predictions that the sector will be buoyant in 2011.

The good news is that 2010 is ending on a high note for the buy to let industry as an increasing number of residential landlords say that they are confident in the marketplace.

To read the report please click here December Upad Landlord Confidence Index.

Landlords worried about rent arrears can protect their income with Rent on Time, which ensures that your rent is paid, every month, whether the tenant pays or not. Please click here for more information Rent on Time.

Alternatively, you can insure against loss of rent with products such as Rent Protection. NetRent.co.uk offer landlords a complete range of insurance products through our business partners Towergate. For more information please click here Insurance through NetRent.co.uk.

West of Landlord Landlord Expo date announced


Thursday 9th June has been announced as the date for the West of England Landlord Expo. The West of England Landlord Expo is the largest local authority run landlord expo in the UK and has always been one of the best organised.

Like last year, the expo will be held at the Exhibition & Conference Centre, University of the West of England, Bristol.

For more information please click here West of England Landlord Expo

Monday 20 December 2010

UK mortgage lending fell in November, says CML


Mortgage lending fell 5% in November compared with the previous month and was down 10% on a year ago, lenders say.

Gross mortgage lending stood at an estimated £11.1bn - the lowest figure since April, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said.

It was also the lowest total in the month of November for a decade.

Lenders said the relatively low level of mortgage lending in the UK was likely to continue in 2011.

Click here to read the full story UK mortgage lending fell in November, says CML

Thursday 16 December 2010

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council added to our Working with Local Authorities pages


We are delighted to announce that Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council has now been added to our unique Working with Local Authorities pages.

NetRent.co.uk encourage all landlords and letting agents to form a strong working relationship with their local authority and we would also encourage landlords and agents in the Stockton area to join the Stockton Borough Council Landlord Accreditation Scheme.

For more information please click here Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Bristol City Council Landlord Consultation Questionnaire


The Bristol City Council Landlord Consultation Questionnaire provides you with an opportunity to give your views on the development of the Private Rented Sector Policy Statement and contribute to its future content.

This is a confidential questionnaire run by an outside agency with a closing date of 18th January 2011.

For more information please click here Bristol City Council Landlord Consultation Questionnaire

For more information about how landlords can wotk with Bristol City Council please click here Bristol City Council

Wednesday 15 December 2010

NLA Gives Evidence to the National Assembly for Wales’ Community and Culture Committee Inquiry


On December 8th The National Landlords Association gave evidence to the National Assembly for Wales’ Community and Culture Committee Inquiry.

Quite rightly the NLA pointed out that there was sufficient enforcement powers already in place for local authorities to deal with rogue landlords but they argued that local authorities do not consistently enforce them.

Their representative also stated “Accreditation of landlords is the key as it provides the bench-mark of quality. With greater incentives from local authorities, more landlords will be encouraged to join accreditation schemes for their personal development and their legitimate business interests.”

NetRent agree that Accreditation is vital to the future of letting in the UK, however, we believe that Accreditation needs to bring tangible and quantifiable benefits to landlords who take the time and effort to become Accredited.

The NLA are seeking self regulation for landlords - NetRent do not believe that this will ever work in practice. The previous Westminster government undertook the Rugg Report which called for mandatory licencing of all landlords in England and Wales. Scotland already has such a scheme. We believe that mandatory licencing is the only way to begin to stamp out the significant minority of rogue landlords who tarnish the lettings industry.

NetRent call on the Welsh Assembly Government to add significant value to the Landlord Accreditation Wales Scheme and to introduce mandatory licencing of all landlords.

To read the NLA's press release please click here NLA Give evidence to the National Assembly for Wales’ Community and Culture Committee Inquiry

If you wish to comment on this Blog post or any other aspect of letting in the UK you can do so through the NetRent Forum, please click here The NetRent Forum.

Click here for more information about the Landlord Accreditation Scheme Wales

Friday 10 December 2010

Manchester City Council Landlord Forum 16 December


Manchester City Council are holding a Landlord Forum on Thursday 16th December 2010, starting at 6.00 pm in the Conference Hall, Level 2, Town Hall, Manchester. Refreshments and Registration will start at 5.45pm.

Topics include:

2011 Census - Find out more about the 2011 Census from the Office of National Statistics (ONS). What the Census means for Manchester and how you can help.

Local Housing Allowance – Proposals for Change. The Benefits Services provides an update on the proposed changes to Housing Benefit. Come along and find out how changes in calculation of rates willaffect you, your current and future tenants.

Warmer Homes - The City Council’s Energy Group joins us to provide an overview on Warm Homes and Warm Front Grants, which tenants are eligible and how you can apply.

Private Sector Housing Update - Following the feedback from the last Forum, Jenni Seex, Area Team Leader will be providing an update on PSH Licensing Enforcement.

Local Development Framework: The Core Strategy – Get the latest on Manchester’s Core LDF, including amendments to the Article 4 direction andchange of use to HMOs.

Our Advice Surgeries – The Landlord Advisor and Housing Benefit surgery will be held between 7.50pm and 8.30pm.

Be sure to join Manchester City Council for Coffee, Tea and Mince Pies. Please arrive early in time for Registration and Refreshments before the Forum starts at 6pm.

To book your FREE place contact Private Sector Housing on 0161 245 7850
Email: pshenquiry@manchester.gov.uk
Website: Manchester City Council Landlord Forum

Thursday 9 December 2010

Edinburgh Council Inside Letting - Issue 24 available now


The latest edition of the excellent Inside Letting magazine from Edinburgh Council is now available on-line. NetRent strongly recommend this publication to all landlords.

Inside Letting includes articles on the lettings market, latest news and features, events and training and much more.

Please click here to view Inside Letting.

Further information can be obtained from Lindsay Souter on 0131 529 2178 or by email at insideletting@edinburgh.gov.uk.

Click here for more information about the City of Edinburgh Private Housing Team.

More information can also be found on the NetRent website, please click here City of Edinburgh Council

Halifax November House Price Index shows prices still falling


The latest house price index from the Halifax shows house prices are still falling but the say that they don't expect to see a significant fall in house prices. Their Press Release reads:

"Prices fell by only 0.1% in November, and in the three months to November were 2.1% lower than in the preceding three months. The rate of decline in prices on the three month-on-three month measure has picked up over the past few months, but it remains well below the declines of 5-6% in the second half of 2008. The highly mixed picture of monthly house price rises and falls recorded this year continued. Such a varied monthly pattern is consistent with a relatively flat underlying trend for house prices.

"Higher numbers of properties for sale, combined with reduced demand, have caused the recent decrease in prices. There are, however, some tentative signs that homeowners are becoming more reluctant to put their properties on the market which, if continued, will help to relieve the current downward pressure on prices. Interest rates are likely to remain very low for an extended period, which will support the improved mortgage affordability position for homeowners. As a result, we do not expect to see a significant fall in house prices."

To see the full details please click here November 2010 House Price Index