Letting Agent Talk
TRADITIONAL TENANT REFERENCING IS A DEAD
A Sheffield-based letting agent and prop-tech entrepreneur claims that traditional tenant referencing is dead, as it uses old and slow systems, has little technology support and is grossly overpriced. For years, letting agents have had to use traditional referencing suppliers, who provide an expensive, out-dated service. They are mostly owned by large insurance companies, who use referencing…
EAN Content
CAN LETTING AGENTS RECOVER FROM THE FEES BAN?
Findings from the latest annual report from Fixflo reveals that the fees ban could entirely wipe out some agents’ profits, with half of agents believing they will lose between 10% and 30% of their revenue. Almost 10% of those asked, said they would lose 30% or more of their income and agents cited loss of…
EAN Content
Fractional Ownership: London’s Investment Secret
London has been a centre of the international real estate community for many years now, remaining popular despite Brexit fears over the last few years. Whilst traditional real estate investment maintains at a sensible level, a newer investment technique – fractional ownership – has also started to gain traction and become popular but what is…
EAN Content
Health and Safety Features to Consider as a Landlord
As a landlord you have many responsibilities, and most of them pertain to the health and safety of your tenants. If your property is deemed unfit to live in, not only will you receive numerous complaints from your tenants, but you can also be needlessly endangering lives and be liable for legal action if it…
EAN Content
Ending or Extending Your Tenancy: Everything You Need to Know
At the end of your rental period, you will need to decide whether to end or extend your tenancy. You may already know which route you want to take, but perhaps you’re unsure what’s expected of you. You may also be unclear about your rights as a tenant when ending or extending your fixed-term contract….
EAN Content
LETTING AGENTS FACE SHORTAGE IN RENTAL STOCK AS LANDLORDS EXIT THE BTL MARKET
A Sheffield-based letting agent and prop-tech entrepreneur reports that many agents have experienced a significant drop in stock levels, as landlords continue to exit the market. Simon Tillyer, Director of SheffLets and Vouch, the low-cost referencing app, has seen rental stock drop by 25% over the last quarter in his agency, as higher stamp duty,…
EAN Content
Student housing league table – which university towns offer the best buy-to-let returns for landlords:
As university students prepare to return to their studies and A-level students find out if they got into their uni of choice, new research reveals landlords willing to rent to students are reaping the rewards – with above market average rental yields. In a new league table published today, Simple Landlords Insurance rate universities by…
EAN Content
Landlords, Complete these Seasonal Maintenance Tasks this Summer
Summer has truly been in full swing this year, with record-breaking weather and a heatwave to rival 1976. With such extreme temperatures seen this year so far (who remembers the Beast from the East?), seasonal maintenance is essential for landlords. During this rather parched summer, Just Landlords has highlighted the seasonal maintenance tasks that all…
EAN Content
Tenant Fee Ban – Your Options
Let’s make no bones about it. When the Tenant Fee Ban comes into force you WILL: See a DROP in your income and profits Achieve LOWER service levels LOSE more landlords So what are your options for overcoming the challenges faced by letting agents? Options Pros Cons Sell up Quick cash injection Your business ceases…
EAN Content
What is your plan for the ban?
After attending a recent ARLA meeting where their solicitor spoke about the impending fee ban and if/when it was due to happen I left with a rather large sense of foreboding. His best guess was that the ban would hit in April 2019, just 9 months away. He went further and said he had seldom seen a piece…
EAN Content
Inventories – why have them done?
The AIIC (Association of Independent Inventory Clerks) is working towards making inventories mandatory in residential lettings. This has caused a storm not just against inventories being made mandatory, but against having inventories at all. Surely, the need for professional, independent inventories is clearly accepted by now. Or not? Mandatory or not, we’re convinced of the…
EAN Content
When in-house isn’t always best
If you work in lettings, the last thing you want to do is rile both tenants and landlords, but it appears a leading online estate agency has done just that. How? It has taken its property management service in-house. Until May 2018, Purplebricks outsourced its property management to High Street agents under a white label…
EAN Content
How to add value to your BTL property
Whether you’re a seasoned investor or a first-time landlord, increasing the value of your buy-to-let will no doubt be a priority. When it comes to achieving a better rental rate, read on for the essential steps that will keep your property competitive. Pay attention to the market There’s little point styling your flat to suit…
EAN Content
New 3 year tenancy proposal could see London tenants losing out
The government is proposing an increase to the length of minimum lettings agreements. If the change in regulation comes into effect, tenants will be able to secure a minimum 3-year tenancy term, with a 6-month break clause for tenants and landlords. The change has been proposed by the Secretary of State for Communities, Rt Hon…
EAN Content
How to find the perfect property manager
In an agency sector where it’s increasingly hard to maintain an income and create new revenue streams, property management presents a way to keep money flowing into a lettings business. Whether you’re expanding your team or would like to offer property management for the first time, you’ll quickly discover that finding the right management candidate…
EAN Content