Letting Agent Talk
Swapping tenants mid tenancy ~ Importance of tenants attending check out.
Check Outs: In a recent survey in September 2015 the DPS (Deposit Protection Service) reported that nearly 50% of tenants do not bother to attend check outs. The survey was of 8035 tenants and those that had not attended are a reported huge 48%, nearly half of which said they had not been invited to…
Alex Evans
Smoke alarms, EPC’s and floor plans.
Smoke alarm and CO2 detectors With the recent new legislation for landlords to provide such working alarms at the outset of new tenancies we have come across a handful of properties at check in since 1st October where landlords/agents have not fully complied with the new laws. Considering this leaves the inventory clerk, agent and…
Alex Evans
Agency Essentials that every busy letting agent needs…
If you’re a letting agency business owner, you have limited time to spend on many tasks. You have to ensure that the business is gaining new ground and winning business, and this can only be achieved when you streamline your operations. Technology is playing an ever more critical role in helping property professionals stay competitive…
Retaliation Eviction – Can the Councils Cope?
Press release from Landlord Action: Today [Thursday 1st October], as part of The Deregulation Act 2015, a whole range of changes come into force which affect whether or not a landlord can serve a Section 21 notice on an assured shorthold tenancy (in England) as well as changes to the form itself. However, following lengthy…
Christopher Walkey
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms – do you have the right checks in place?
It’s been widely reported that landlords will be required by law to install working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their properties, under measures announced by the then Housing Minister Brandon Lewis back in March 2015. The Government’s aim is to create a safer private rented sector, and a key part of that is to…
Alex Evans
Legionella risk assessments: I can hear the landlords across the country groan…
The letting industry is awash with rules, regs and requirements ranging from deposit schemes to referencing to immigration checks through to inventories, smoke alarms, gas safety checks and now legionella (legionnaires’ disease) risk assessments. I can hear the landlords across the country groan….. yet another hoop to jump through, yet another cost to bare and surely its all…
Alex Evans
Seeking new landlords? Look at both ends of the spectrum.
You’ll all be familiar with the phrase ‘generation rent’ but a new report from economists at accountancy firm PwC suggests that the rental market is set to thrive and actually grow over the next 25 years. The research even goes as far as suggesting that over half of under 40s will be living in properties…
ARPM
Legionella and HSE Guidance – Why ignorance is not always bliss…
The HSE recently published its guidance document on Legionella risk assessment and control and more specifically the required response from landlords and managing agents (known affectionally as ‘ the duty holder ‘). Wonder if that title comes with an Oscar styled trophy? Love a bit of bling….. 🙂 Anyway; there are many, many, many discussions…
Landlord Action appeals to Ministry of Justice to transfer more evictions to the High Court.
The length of time it is taking to get a County Court bailiff appointment once a possession order has been granted, in some cases up to three months, is having considerable financial impact on landlords. As a result, Landlord Action is campaigning to enable more eviction cases to be transferred up to the High Court…
Christopher Walkey
Important Information For Letting Agents: The Fixflo Report 2015
The 2015 Fixflo Report has shown a marked improvement in repair management by letting agencies across the UK but it highlights that they are still losing clients due to poor repair management processes. This year the Fixflo Report was supported by the Association of Residential Letting Agents (‘ARLA’) and combined results from a survey of…
Alex Evans
Buying with “sitting tenants”
Finding a buy-to-let property with a tenant already occupying is in many respects an ideal situation for a new landlord looking to buy that property, there will be income from day one of ownership and all the hassle of finding a tenant would have been avoided, however before any potential buyer goes rushing ahead with…
Alex Evans
Buying a buy-to-let project.
An easy mistake to make when deciding to start a portfolio of buy-to-let properties is to under estimate the need for a professional approach and that infact you are running a business, to many it can appear a relatively simple way to make money with little risk, emphasis should be made on maximising potential return…
Alex Evans
Revealed … 75% of landlords left their agent due to poor service.
The Landlord & Tenant Survey, carried out by The Property Academy every year, has recently been published. With approximately 5000 participants, it’s one of the largest independent national surveys carried out each year. The results gave some key insights for letting agents when looking at how to grow your business. Landlords were asked what their…
2 Minute Repairs Survey: Your Chance To Win A £50 Amazon.co.uk Voucher!
Last year The Fixflo Report highlighted some startling trends for the lettings industry. Of particular note was the fact that over half of the property managers surveyed knew of a landlord who had switched agency due to a repair-related issue. This year’s survey is now open and there are TEN £50 Amazon.co.uk vouchers available for…
Alex Evans
Know your Money Laundering Red Flags
The term “Red Flag” originated during the days of gallant galleon combat where ships would signal their intent to engage each other in battle. Alas, those were simpler times. Criminals and scoundrels nowadays are unfortunately less forthright and you need to look for other signals that might be putting your business at risk. As I…