Nearly half of landlords report tenant demand is increasing

The proportion of landlords reporting growing tenant demand was up from 40% during the final quarter of 2010. The proportion of landlords reporting increasing levels of tenant demand has now risen for seven consecutive quarters.

Looking forward, landlords expect tenant demand to continue strengthening with over half (52%) expecting demand to increase over the next 12 months, and only 6% forecasting a decline.

Nigel Terrington, Paragon Group Chief Executive, said: “Landlords are experiencing high levels of tenant demand, and this is expected to rise due to a number of factors, including social housing reforms, lifestyle choices, low numbers of first-time buyers and wider demographic changes.

“We are seeing evidence that strong tenant demand is feeding through to higher rents. A lack of available mortgage finance is restricting the sector’s ability to expand and needs to be addressed to create a healthy and vibrant buy-to-let market in the UK.”

Click here to read the full article Nearly half of landlords report tenant demand is increasing

NetRent Comment

We have made the same comments repeatedly on this Blog. A bottle-neck is being created by the lack of suitable mortgage lending in the UK. Long term this will ensure that when lending does return to more normal conditions we are likely to see another jump in house prices. Yet again we call on the Government to take action now and force the banks to start mortgage lending.

'1 in 3 tenants at risk from faulty gas fittings'

One-in-three tenants could be at risk from faulty gas fittings and appliances because landlords are failing to carry out annual gas safety checks, according to a survey conducted by flat and house-share website, Spareroom.co.uk.

Spareroom carried out a similar survey last year, and one year on there still appears to be a lack of awareness or concern amongst landlords, particularly amateur landlords, that they could be putting tenants at risk by not having an annual gas safety check.

The latest survey of UK tenants revealed that a staggering 34% are renting properties that have out-of-date gas safety certificates. Of those, 14% of tenants said the last gas safety check was carried out more than 12 months ago and a worrying 20% had never seen a gas safety check carried out while they had been renting the property.

Click here to read the full article '1 in 3 tenants at risk from faulty gas fittings'

NetRent Comment

There is simply no reason why landlords should endanger tenants lives by failing to have an annual Gas Safety check completed. Ignorance of this law is simply no defence. For their own safety tenants should demand to see their annual Gas Safety check.

NetRent.co.uk provide a huge Landlord Resource Centre with all the information that landlords and tenants need, click here for more information The Landlord Resource Centre

Finding a Gas Safe Registered engineer could not be easier, we have over 500 listed on our Business Directory. Every engineer listed will carry out Landlord Gas Safety Certificates. Click here for more information Plumbing & Heating Engineers

The Damage That Some Tenants Do

Today NetRent.co.uk launches a new campaign called The Damage that Some Tenants Do. This is aimed at highlighting the damage that some tenants do to their landlord's properties.

With the help of landlords and letting agents throughout the UK we will display photographs on our Facebook page of the damage left by some tenants - damage that landlords have to clean up and repair.

We are asking landlords and letting agents to send us their pictures of the mess and damage tenants have left behind.

The perception amongst too many people is that landlords are the villains of the lettings industry. The public rarely see the damage that some tenants cause. The public and the government normally only see and hear one side of the problems that beset this industry. We believe that it is time for some balance - and it is time that people see for themselves what far too many landlords have to deal with.

It is extremely rare that the sort of disgusting mess and damage in these photos is ever publicised. This is the damage that the media and organisations like Shelter ignore, this is the reality that too many landlords face.


These are the health hazards that landlords are left to clean up. This is the damage that they are left to repair.
 
Some may argue that landlords are covered. They say that landlords have the tenants deposit and can use that to clean the property. The reality is that no amount of deposit is sufficient to compensate for the trauma of having to deal with this. And in far too many cases the deposit is simply not enough to cover the financial loss incurred by landlords.
 
If you have photos of the damage that some tenants do please send them to support@netrent.co.uk and we will add them to our Facebook page. Please include your name, address and a telephone number or we will be unable to publish the photos. We will not divulge your details on Facebook or elsewhere.
 
Help us to help landlords and letting agents throughout the UK by sending your photos today. Please share the details of this campaign with other landlords and agents and encourage them to send their photos to us.

To view the NetRent Facebook page please click here The NetRent Facebook page.
 
If you have any comments you can add them to either the Facebook page or on the NetRent Forum, please click here The NetRent Forum.

Landlords warned after 'cannabis factories' found in tenants' homes

Police in Merton have dismantled two cannabis factories that had been set up at residential addresses in Durnsford Road SW19.

Acting on information received from members of the public, the Wimbledon Park Safer Neighbourhoods Team team contacted the landlord who was "very concerned to hear about the activities of his tenants”.

The landlord gave the police full access to this address and a second property he owned nearby.

Although no suspects were found at either location, police recovered a substantial amount of equipment including lighting, transformers, fans, ducting, fertiliser and pots, all specifically installed for the illegal production of cannabis plants.

Click here to read the full story Landlords warned after 'cannabis factories' found in tenants' homes

NetRent Comment

Years after the first cannabis farms were first found in rented property the problem still exists. Virtually no insurance exists to cover this problem so the whole bill for repair falls on the landlord. That bill can run into tens of thousands of pounds and can even lead to prosecution of the landlord.

Usually simple precautions like full credit referencing and not accepting cash up front will protect the landlord but our advice is when in doubt do not let to tenants you are not completely sure about.

Is it the right time to sell your buy-to-let property?

Not long ago, buying a property to rent out was viewed as a good bet by those with money to invest.

The potential to make big, long-term profits and a good interim income, made such properties an attractive investment.

Then came the credit crunch and a subsequent property price slump. This created a new kind of property owner – the accidental landlord.

Needing to move home and unable to find a buyer, an increasing number of people had no choice but to let their old home and buy or rent another.

Many homeowners are still in this situation and eager to get out of it.

Click here to read the full story Is it the right time to sell your buy-to-let property?

NetRent Comment

Whether this is the right time to sell your buy-to-let property or not is a personal decision, based on personal circumstances. However, if you feel that it is worth exploring then you can advertise a rental property for sale on NetRent.co.uk for just £24. There are no other fees or commissions - and you can advertise on NetRent even if you have appointed an estate agent.

Click here for more information Sell Your Rental Property on NetRent.co.uk for just £24

Social tenants could get paid to carry out own DIY

Social housing tenants in England could be given money to maintain their homes.

The government says it wants to reward tenants who take pride in looking after their homes, by giving them control over their repairs budget

It says housing associations and councils spend £1,000 per property a year on repairs - and often tenants could do the work themselves.

The National Housing Federation said the idea was worth testing and welcomed pilot schemes with two landlords.

Click here to read the full article Social tenants could get paid to carry out own DIY

NetRent Comment

We think that landlords would welcome anything that encouraged tenants to look after their properties so this is certainly an idea worth further investigation. If it proves successful it will be interesting to see whether or not this idea can be carried through to the private rented sector.

Landlords Question 'Del Boy' Housing Benefit Policy

The British Property Federation (BPF) has questioned a move that would see council staff having to wheel and deal with local landlords to reduce their rent in return for the comfort of getting paid directly.

It has been confirmed today that this policy will only last for two years.

Previously Welfare Reform Minister Lord Freud had urged landlords to "meet us half way" by lowering rents in exchange for a return to the system of direct payments, where rent is paid directly to the landlord by the local authority, rather than by the tenant.

Click here to view the full article Landlords Question 'Del Boy' Housing Benefit Policy

Agents and conveyancers call for binding pre-sale contracts

A group of agents and conveyancers has called for a legally binding preliminary contract to reduce the risk of fall-throughs.

The E-Homebuying Forum, a group set up to improve the house buying and selling process, is now to work on the development of such a contract.

Currently, 31% of house transactions in England fall through, with high-price and mid-price properties being particularly affected.

Click here to read the full story Agents and conveyancers call for binding pre-sale contracts

Shapps: 'Landlords can legally use force on squatters'

Homeowners who are victims of squatters can use violence to break in and forcibly remove them, ministers have claimed. Squatters who retaliate or defend themselves will face tough criminal sanctions under measures planned by the Government.

The anti-squatting package is designed to curb a growth in commercial and residential properties being taken over by well-organised squatters who exploit legal loopholes to take possession of hundreds of empty buildings.

Critics claim the new measures will encourage vigilantism and result in increased violence.

Click here to read the full story Shapps: 'Landlords can legally use force on squatters'

Landlord fined £135,000 for inadequate fire precautions

A landlord has been fined £135,000 and ordered to pay £23,000 costs for breaching fire safety regulations when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court on March 29, 2011.

On February 14, 2008 a fire occurred at the premises, which was sub-divided into flats up to four storeys high. The fire, which started on the ground floor, spread throughout the building, in total 13 persons escaped with some of them having to clamber over the roof to get away from the flames and smoke.

Click here to read the full story Landlord fined £135,000 for inadequate fire precautions

Housing benefit cuts deter landlords from letting

Some landlords are no longer willing to let properties to people on housing benefits as the government's new lower rates take effect.

The new measures would cut out £2.4bn from the housing bill and save the taxpayer an estimated £1bn by 2013/4.

The government says they do not expect many landlords to leave the housing benefit market.

But landlords say they could suffer if interest rates and mortgage payments go up as income from rent falls.

Click here to read the full story Housing benefit cuts deter landlords from letting