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

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

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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.

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

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.

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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

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