Letting fees ban confirmed in Queen’s Speech

There was confirmation yesterday in the Queen’s Speech that fees charged by Landlords and Letting Agents will be banned with the announcement of the draft Tenants’ Fees Bill. Cox, Chief Executive, ARLA Propertymark comments on the draft Tenants’ Fees Bill to ban charging tenants ‘lettings fees’ announced in the Queen’s Speech: “The announcement of the…

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Consultation on the ban on fees will begin March/April

Press release from Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) last week, 19th January, they commented on the debate in the House of Lords where it was announced the consultation on the ban on fees will begin in March/April. David Cox, Managing Director at Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) says: “After almost two months of…

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ARLA responds to Scottish Government’s proposals

In a news report published yesterday 9th January on their website The Association of Residential Landlords (ARLA) responds to Scottish Government’s proposals on new private residential tenancy. ARLA has responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the proposals for regulations and policy supporting the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016, arguing that the forms and…

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Rent increases continue to decrease in November says ARLA

Press release including November Private Rental Sector (PRS) report from ARLA on Monday 19th December headlined ‘Eight in ten letting agents expect rents to rise next year’   The report leads by stating: In November, the number of tenants experiencing rent increases continued to decrease, at 16%, a decrease from 18% cent in October. David…

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Make 2017 the year you actually increase letting fee income

It’s about now when property experts start looking into their crystal ball to predict what might happen in the coming year. While speculation makes for entertaining reading, it’s planning – not star gazing – that should form the last few weeks of 2016 and into 2017. It’s possible that the proposed ban on letting agent…

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Who’s Your Pacemaker?

Do you ever watch the London Marathon or the Great North Run? I do, with a mixture of awe and guilt. Awe that so many people had taken on such a momentous challenge, of their own free will, and guilt, that I was enjoying the event from my sofa, while many people less fit than…

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Housing announcements in the Autumn Statement

The Chancellorÿ announced yesterdayÿ in the Autumn Satement a new œ2.3 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund to deliver up to 100,000 new homes in areas of high demand and a further œ1.4 billion to build 40,000 additional affordable homes, also another œ1.7 billion by 2020-21 will be used to speed up the construction of new homes…

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Autumn Budget Statement – What’s in it for Housing?

Later today the Chancellor Philip Hammond will deliver his Autumn Budget Statement to the House of Commons, it will be the first for the new Chancellor and Prime Minister Theresa May. Some experts are expecting a possible cut in stamp duty on house purchase to help regenerate the housing market which appears to have slowed…

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Big Increase in supply of rental housing stock

Headlines to yesterdays press release from The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) reads ‘Supply Of Rental Housing Has Increased To An 18 Month High’   David Cox, Managing Director, Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), said: “This month’s findings paint a really positive picture for renters. Although demand is rising, we’ve seen this happen…

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Reminder to Landlords and Letting Agents in Wales

A reminder to Landlords and letting Agents in Wales  that from the 23rd November this year they must be licensed to be able to carry out letting or property management activities. The new rules require that all landlords with property in Wales must register themselves and their rental property addresses with Rent Smart Wales by…

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The real cost of expanding or diversifying your agency

The motto ‘speculate to accumulate’ is true – growing or diversifying to capitalise on market conditions is a great way of increasing profits and building a more secure business model. The whole idea of growth, however, is to increase profitability and not see any new income wiped out by set up costs and bigger overheads.…

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Qualification requirements for Scottish Letting Agents

Letting agents in Scotland will see significant changes over the coming years with the introduction of a Letting Agent Code of Practice and Client Money Protection (CMP). The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) has introduced  qualifications to ensure Scottish letting agents are equipped for such regulatory change that is expected to come into force…

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Do 0% fee deals work?

There is a huge temptation to offer 0% fees to attract new house sellers and landlords as a new start up agent .. in fact, many established agents do it as well.…so every agent, new or old could learn something from this article. The idea of 0% (free) is attractive, especially to new start estate…

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