Landlord Expert - Free UK landlord Information, Advice & Support

Landlords will be fined if their tenants are illegal immigrants!

U.K. landlords would be fined thousands of pounds if they fail to check the visa status of their tenants to ensure they’re legally in the country, under planned legislation as the government tries to win back voters....

Seaside towns heads chart for highest rental yields for landlords

Port cities and seaside towns head up the table of the most lucrative places to buy property to rent out, according to latest research. Landlords with houses in ...

11% increase in 'grandlords' to boost retirement income

Pensioners are becoming landlords to boost their retirement income, with Saga reporting an 11pc increase in so called "grandlords" who rent out a property to ...

The Landlord Associations top tips: Becoming a landlord

Buy-to-let investments are enjoying a mini boom. Rents are rising because many young people can’t afford to buy. But should investors be piling in when house ...

When it comes to student accommodation, UK landlords need to raise their game

Ben Hall - managing director of Loft Interiors and www.Student-furniture.co.uk - discusses the shift in attitudes towards student accommodation and urges landlords to respond to the trend for staying in halls of residence throughout a student’s university life....

Rents are increasing quickest in one and two bed properties

Properties with just one or two bedrooms provide the highest rental returns for buy-to-let landlords, according to data released today, as demand for renting has pushed monthly payments over the last year....

New regulations governing letting agents practices: How does this affect the UK Landlord?

MPs are set to approve rules that are hoped will banish rogue lettings agents, forcing them to sign up to schemes that provide victims of unscrupulous practices with compensation....

First quarter of 2013 witnesses new high in remortgaging activity

The first three months of 2013 has witnessed a new high in remortgaging activity, with more landlords trying to raise enough capital to ...

Buy to let shows, courses and seminars: Are they worth the time and money?

Property events, such as the London-based Property Investor Show, are a perfect way for landlords to gain free advice, without falling victim to costly catches......

UK tenants in 'severe arrears' as evictions reach record number

Buy-to-let landlords are being warned of a rise in the number of UK tenants in "severe arrears". The Tenant Arrears Tracker, published by ...

Landlords: New tax year ignites warnings from HMRC

With a new tax year commencing, and repeat warnings that HMRC are cracking down on tax evasion amongst residential landlords, the Landlord ...

Landlords: How to make the most profit from your current tenancies

What is more valuable to you as a landlord: raising the rent yearly in line with inflation, however often you have to ...

The Landlord Association: Follow two simple steps when letting a property

If your tenant slips on a poorly tiled floor and injures themselves, you, the landlord, need to make sure you are covered ...

Are letting agents worth the money?

Buy-to-let investors have traditionally had two choices when it comes to finding tenants and managing properties – pay a letting agent a ...

Government efforts has given buy to let investors "arbitrage of immediate return"

Rightmove says government efforts to bolster lending had created an "arbitrage of immediate return". Britain's biggest property listings website today said investors were piling ...

Property Investment is a free for all Buffett

We are hard-wired to run from danger, which made sense when our principal concern was not getting eaten but is less helpful ...

Top 5 tips for buy to let investors

Robbie Fowler, the former Liverpool and England footballer, set up a "property academy" for would-be investors after becoming one of the biggest ...

Anyone can be part of the latest buy to let boom, from single mothers to accountants...

Capital to spare? Then you have almost certainly considered buying to let. It is as popular today as it was in the heady ...

Landlord possession claims continue to rise

The government’s latest Court statistics show that there were 103,329 landlord claims in 2012 that led to an order for possession being made ...

Buy to let school set up by Robbie Fowler

Robbie Fowler, the former Premier League footballer, has launched a "property academy" to teach the secrets of buy-to-let investing. The former Liverpool star, ...

Banks and Building Societies seem to favour landlords

This month, a reader in Yorkshire submitted the following question to our Personal Effects column: "I wish to avoid my investments being used to support ...

Energy Efficiency: 'One in 10 buy-to-let homes will be unlettable in five years'

One in 10 buy-to-let homes will be unlettable in five years' time unless landlords take steps to improve their properties' energy efficiency. New ...

Buy-to-let lending grew by a fifth year-on-year reaching highest level since 2008

Buy-to-let lending grew by a fifth year-on-year across 2012 to reach its highest level since 2008, lenders have said. The appetite for buy-to-let lending has ...

How to: Making your buy to let investment more profitable

Letting agents’ fees can be irksome, sudden repairs inconvenient and void periods stressful. But the biggest cost a landlord faces - one ...

Number of landords on increase - threatening rent rises

The property supply shortage in the rental sector could ease this year as more private landlords plan to invest in the buy-to-let sector, ...

Landlords taking advantage of Funding for Lending scheme

Landlords are looking to take advantage of slightly looser bank lending to add to their property portfolios according to a raft of research ...

UK tenants want to meet the landlord when viewing a rental property

A new property rental survey conducted by Online letting agents, Tenants4U, has revealed that over 80% of tenants would prefer to meet the landlord when viewing a residential property*. ...

Ed Miliband says he will weed out unfit landlords ripping off their tenants.

Ed Miliband has set out plans to protect tenants who rent from private landlords in a speech fleshing out his vision for a one nation labour party. ...

The first half of 2013 will see the buy to let market thrive and grow

Around 55% of landlords are planning to expand their portfolios in the next six months according to research by Mortgages for Business....

New Bank of England lending scheme gets UK landlords active again

Landlords are looking to take advantage of slightly looser bank lending to add to their property portfolios according to a raft of research from the rental market. ...

How to deal with emergencies as a landlord

Renting out a property is a great way to have a regular income. Whether you're looking for some extra cash each month to supplement your wages or looking at renting as your sole source of income, it’s an excellent means of giving yourself consistent revenue....

Why buy to let continues to deliver

New Year is about new challenges: gym memberships, diets and vows to stop smoking. The property market is full of challenges, too; ...

The ridiculous list of rules set by one landlord goes viral

A tweet has gone viral after a young actress tweeted a list of ridiculous demands her potential landlord expected tenants to abide by. After he ...

Message to private landlords: give universal credit a chance

Few systems have caused as much controversy before even being launched as the government's universal credit. It draws together all welfare claims into ...

The Landlord Association's number 1 website records 100,000 visitors in December

LandlordExpert.co.uk, the UK's biggest landlord website has reached a milestone in the number of visitors it received during December 2012. The website, now a loyal ...

UK Buy-to-let Landlords expect rents to rise in 2013

Results from an LSL Property Services study show that just over a third of landlord insurance holders expect to increase rents in 2013....

39% of landlords expect rents to rise

While just 1% of property investors anticipate they will reduce rents next year, 39% of the 1,223 landlords polled by LSL Property Services ...

Buy to let borrowing is currently the highest it's been in four years

Buy-to-let mortgage lending has reached a four-year high as activity in the market continues to recover from its low base, lenders said today....

Can we become a buy to let landlord as first time buyers?

Question: My boyfriend and I would like to buy a flat together, but don't want to live anywhere that we can actually ...

Lettings industry has 'a total lack of effective regulation'

A clampdown on the lettings sector is needed to stop rogue agents turning it into "the property industry's Wild West", the Royal Institution ...

Landlord & Letting Awards integrity questioned

By Richard M Harber - Partnership Director for The Landlord Association. Each year, the Landlord & Letting Awards takes place in a semi-glitzy venue pouring accolade ...

House prices falling slowly

Its latest monthly survey says average prices have been unchanged this past month at just under £164,000, and are 1.2% lower than in ...

What can be done to encourage landlords to help tackle the housing crisis?

Councils need to up their game: They need to offer a more professional service that competes with the high street so landlords aren't ...

ARLA: Demand is still outweighing supply significantly

ARLA, the Association of Residential Letting Agents has reported that demand for quality properties to rent is still firmly outstripping supply – ...

Landlords reject government plans for housing benefit reform

Landlords in the private rented sector have roundly rejected the Government’s welfare reform plans for housing benefit, and point to a lack of ...

20% rise in number of buy to let mortgages is evidence of further growth

Buy-to-let is back, as cheap mortgages and strong tenant demand encourage more people to invest in property again. The number of new buy-to-let ...

Rental yields up 0.4% in October

Tenants saw their rents undergo the slowest monthly increase for five months in October, according to the latest buy-to-let index from LSL Property ...

Home ownership falls to lowest level in 25 years

Homeownership is "in crisis" in the UK, with owner-occupation falling to its lowest level since 1988, according to a report published by lobby ...

What do the new squatting laws mean for landlords?

The government's decision to introduce new legislation to criminalise squatting in residential buildings throughout England and Wales has been met with much interest. Opponents ...

Buy to let mortgage arrears reach record low

Out of 42,000 live mortgage accounts 572 (1.36%) were in arrears of three months while those accounts one month in arrears dropped below 900 ...

Demand for rentals are up - and so are yields for landlords

A string of new surveys show increasing numbers of investors returning to buy-to-let as restrictions on mortgages continue to force would-be first-time buyers ...

1-in-8 mortgages now a buy to let deal - reaching record high

Britain is issuing the largest number of 'landlord loans' since records began, official figures have revealed. One in eight mortgages now a buy-to-let loan deal ...

Cannabis farm discovered by landlord

Officers found an address in Baydale Road, Darlington, had been used for growing the drug, in May, which led to the capture of two ...

New mortgage range launched for smaller-scale landlords

Paragon has launched a raft of new buy-to-let mortgages for professional and smaller-scale landlords. The loans include fixed and tracker rates offered under both the Paragon ...

UK House prices rise fastest for 2 years reaching record high

The 1.1 per cent rise in September for England and Wales was the biggest year-on-year rise since November 2010. It took typical prices ...

Unlawful landlords give the decent majority a bad name

Speaking at a conference held by the National Approved Letting Scheme, Alan Ward from the Residential Landlords Association said he does not think ...

Rent arrears at highest level in 4 years

Landlord possession claims in England and Wales are rising as rent arrears increase to their highest level in four years, it is ...

Good advice for DIY landlords

Dismal returns on bank deposits and annuity rates near historic lows are encouraging more retirees to consider becoming buy-to-let landlords. But ...

Buy to let investors advised: Grab the bull-market by the horns

Rising unemployment, government spending cuts, falling house prices, mortgage meltdown, doom, gloom... will the last person to leave the UK please turn out ...

Rental yields continue to go up as property prices fall

Gross yields on complex buy to let property in the third quarter of 2012 rose on all property types apart from semi-commercial, according to ...

Private rented sector to grow further as more landlords invest

With high prices, unrealistic deposit requirements and mortgage constraints making homeownership unattainable, the expansion of the private rented sector (PRS) looks likely to ...

Buy to let landlords warned: Get-rich-quick property schemes in UK & US are risky

Britons sick of plummeting pensions and rock-bottom savings rates are being targeted at presentations that promise to reveal the secrets of the ...

Rental arithmetic

Since 1925, successive law reforms and government policies have encouraged home ownership as tenure of choice.Moving through the post-war rebuilding period, many people moved from ...

Shelter: Landlord complaints up by a quarter

Freedom of information responses from 310 local authorities showed complaints rose by 27% between 2008/9 and 2011/12 - from 67,283 to 85,639. Shelter said ...

Overseas landlords entering the UK are making it harder for first time buyers

The Bank of England stated: “Foreign investors have branched out of commercial property in the capital and begun also to invest in the London residential lettings market.” ...

Strong month for landlords as record rents rise while arrears fall

• Rents rose for a fifth consecutive month in August, reaching new high of £734 pcm • Average rents climbed by 1.2% compared to July, hitting news peaks in five regions • Tenant arrears fall for first time in three months, with 9% of rent late or unpaid...

Falling mortgage costs and soaring rents have left homeowners better off than those renting

According to the Halifax Buying vs Renting review, the average cost of buying a three-bed house stood at £600 in June. This compares with £732 a month for renting the same property, 18% higher than buying....

UK landlords must start to consider security for long term tenants

Britons have long held on to the belief that owning your home is the ultimate goal. But after a decade of house prices rising three times as fast as incomes, followed by a decline in the number of mortgages available after the bust, owning bricks and mortar is no longer a viable option for everyone....

The 'stock market' is out and 'buy to let' is in for young investors

Recession-scarred young investors are turning their backs on the stock market, spurning the advice of financial institutions and professional advisers, and opting for a buy-to-let property as their pension....

Landlords move to cover rising demand in property rental market

Britons have long held on to the belief that owning your home is the ultimate goal. But after a decade of house prices rising ...

The 2nd quarter of this year saw buy to let lending grow by 5%

Buy-to-let lending has increased as landlords rush to cash in on cheap mortgages and rising rental yields, figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders have found. ...

Buy to let landlords are the big winners as rents increase by 4.3%

Buy-to-let-investors are set to make steady returns over the next 13 years as rising rents and a house price recovery boost the sector, according to two reports on the property market. ...

Half of UK landlords think now is a good time to invest in more buy to let properties

The buy-to-let market is ripe for landlords thanks to strong demand and low prices, an LSL Property Services survey has shown. ...

The Landlord Association to launch 'Panel of Brokers'

The results of a March survey by The Landlord Association of its members revealed that 48.5% did NOT have any insurance cover on their let ...

Landlords believe now is perfect for buying more property

Current house prices and demand for rental properties - why investors think that the time is now. In summary: 48% of investors believe that now is a ...

First time buyers are competing with landlords

The Bank of England stated: “Foreign investors [have] branched out of commercial property in the capital and begun also to invest in ...

The rental market - predictions and forecasts

It has recently been reported that buy-to-let investors are set to make a rather handsome return on their investments during the course of ...

Buy-to-let lending increased by 5% in the second quarter of 2012

In the three months to June, lenders advanced 33,200 loans, worth £3.9 billion...

Landlords of UK buy to let property are increasingly getting repossessed

Buy-to-let mortgage repossessions have hit a record high. But banks and building societies are lending more than ever before to buy-to-let investors.....

UK buy to let landlords experiencing high returns on student accomodation

Last week, 357,915 new UK students were accepted on university courses which will begin in October. And, with an additional 50,000 overseas students confirmed, demand for accommodation is high....

Property investment is bucking the economic trend

There are now more than 1.4 million buy-to-let loans according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) with director general Paul Smee ...

31% rise in buy to let mortgage valuations

The number of valuations for buy-to-let mortgages has risen, annually, by 31 per cent; the only sector of the market not to shrink in July, according to Connells Survey & Valuation....

Buy to let mortgages on the increase as it stays difficult to buy

Some 33,200 loans worth £3.9bn were advanced between April and June this year, an 18% increase on the amount of cash advanced compared with the same period last year, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said....

Do UK landlords care about the sex of their tenants?!

Over half of private property landlords in the UK care about whether their tenants are male or female, according to new research....

UK buy to let landlords can expect 3.9% increase in rents over the next year

Buy-to-let-investors are set to make steady returns over the next 13 years as rising rents and a house price recovery boost the sector, according to two reports on the property market. ...

Buy to let mortgage market at war as companies drop rates

Building societies across the UK are increasing competition within the buy-to-let mortgage market after a number of companies dropped their rate levels. ...

Low interest rates, booming rents and sliding house prices - a landlords dream

A slew of cut-price mortgage deals is tempting many to take the plunge into the market. But further house price falls could hammer ...

The key to a good tenancy is finding the right tenant at the start

Buy-to-let landlords are being urged to boost their vetting procedures after figures showed the number of tenants in severe arrears increased by almost ...

The UK needs a big boost in number of rental properties to cover demand

If the private rented sector is to meet the increasing challenges being placed on it to satisfy ever increasing demand, maintain standards and ...

TLA - If tenants miss rental payments, take action quickly!

Tenants often complain that they unfairly lose some or all of their deposit when a tenancy ends, but spare a thought for landlords whose ...

It's a good time to be buying more investment property

Figures are good for buyers making their first investment or for current buy-to-let investors. Although the news is filled with property woes at the moment, with ...

Barclays Bank say it costs nearly £200,000 more to remain a tenant for life than it does to buy.

interest rates would have to double from current levels for renting to be cheaper than buying the same home...

London landords aiming to win big during the 2012 Olympics

London landlords are renting out everything from vacant stores and sports fields to rooftops and abandoned quarries to cash in on the tight supply of space in the UK capital during the Olympic Games....

UK Landlords need tax incentives to be able to lower rents

Private landlords who provide lower-rent, longer-term tenancies for young people and families should get tax breaks to help avert a looming "homelessness disaster", a thinktank says....

Landlords in London are 3 times more likely to evict tenants on housing benefit

Landlords in the capital are more likely to evict tenants or not renew tenancy agreements than in other parts of the country as a result of housing benefit changes, research shows....

UK rental market has become a thriving income sector, boosting the economy

Cash buyers are finding that residential property investment stacks up, according to Savills’ latest report on the market....

5 key elements every UK landlord should have in place

LANDLORDS are being advised of their legal duties when investing in property to earn an income....

UK landlords are being warned not to do their own DIY fire risk assessments

Rented property, from new builds to conversions, bed-sits to 'houses in multiple occupation' (HMOs) can have their own particular fire safety requirements and need individual appraisals....

European regulations will not govern UK buy to let market

Buy-to-let is likely to avoid regulation from the European mortgage directive after a key vote allowed the UK to be exempt....

The Landlord Association's website reaches peak visitorship amid growing 'problem tenants'

The Landlord Association website had its biggest ever visitorship from landlords in May. LandlordExpert.co.uk, the UK's number 1 information website for landlords, was used by ...

Residential landlords in the UK are experiencing a very stable period

Residential property rents in the UK are showing small monthly rises in some areas and small falls in others, according to the latest analysis of the market from consultants Designs on Property....

Buy to let lending increased by 40% last year and looks to continue in 2012

Buy to let mortgage borrowing is expected to increase even more as lenders switch funds away from movers and first time buyers to landlords. ...

Buy to let is looking very positive for UK landlords say Nationwide

While the economy has entered into a double dip recession, the signs are that the buy to let market is in a buoyant mood. Almost three quarters of brokers surveyed believe the number of new landlords will increase this year....

UK landlords the big winners in mortgage shortage

The buy-to-let boom shows no sign of ending as the mortgage famineforces more middle-aged people to remain tenants rather than become homebuyers and rents continue to rise, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)....

UK property prices stagnate for first time 11 years say Rightmove

New sellers fail to raise their asking prices in the month of May for the first time since Rightmove began measuring housing market statistics 11 years ago....

Struggling first time buyers means better buy to let business for UK landlords

The return of the buy-to-let investor will lead to fears that first-time buyers are being squeezed out of the market by absentee landlords. ...

UK landlords are optimistic about the buy to let market

UK property investors remain positive about the outlook for the buy to let market, according to the latest Landlord Survey conducted by specialist lender, CHL Mortgages....

Pets can be a UK landlords worst nightmare so be vigilant say the AIIC.

UK landlords need to be aware that more residential tenants are hiding the fact that they have pets despite this not being allowed as part of their tenancy agreement. ...

Pensions should be able to include buy to let property say MP's

An influential select committee of MPs is urging the government to streamline pension and tax laws for landlords to stimulate investment in private rented housing....

The Landlord Association: Free for all landlords and still the largest

Why are The Landlord Association number 1? We are completely distinguishable from other landlord associations and landlord information websites. We are both the largest association ...

Landlords could avoid legal action thanks to a pioneering service

LANDLORDS can to sign up to a pioneering new service to help them avoid legal action if their properties become damp through no fault of their own....

London property values will increase by 22% over the next 3 years

Although residential property values will fall marginally in 2012, house prices will start to rise again next year and could increase by as much as 8% over the next three years, according to the latest CBRE house price forecast. ...

Buy to let lending out performed the rest of the market

Lending for house purchase last year was the lowest for 36 years, the Council of Mortgage Lenders has reported. Buy-to-let lending bucked the trend by showing 40% growth....

'Buy to let' is out and 'Build to let' is the future say Grainger

Grainger, the UK's largest landlord, thinks 'build-to-let' will have a valuable role to play in the UK property market, with its chief executive describing it earlier this year as 'the next big thing'....

Good news for UK landlords - Squatting to become a criminal offence!

Squatting, currently only a civil offence, will be made a criminal offence from September this year now that new legislation that will make it a criminal offence to occupy people’s homes has received Royal Assent....

UK landlords need more praise for their part in property market growth

Buy-to-let mortgage provider Paragon has praised the findings of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee's report on ‘Financing of New Housing Supply'....

Squatting is to become a criminal offence in September

The Landlord Syndicate, a network of companies providing a complete support centre for UK landlords, has welcomed the news that squatting is to ...

London and the South East remain strong rental sectors

The buy-to-let sector in London and the south-east remains a strong investment area for those looking to purchase rental property.This is according to ...

The plight of the 'accidental landlord'

There can be no dispute that it is becoming increasingly difficult for home owners to sell their homes in today’s uncertain market. According to property ...

Measures proposed to encourage landlords to submit tenant information

Landlords must be made to hand over tenant details to water companies so firms can chase bill payment, lobby group Water UK has told government. ...

HMRC is getting tougher with landlords who have ignored appeals to file their tax returns on time

From May 1st, late filers will have to pay £10 a day for up to 90 days on top of the £100 fine already imposed – making a possible maximum fine of £1,000....

The government had to introduce the higher stamp duty for UK landlords, say The Treasury

The UK’s largest residential landlords have warned that their industry has been put at risk by the government’s use of punitive stamp duty taxes to curb the practice of buying houses through companies. ...

Rents in the North are better than the South for UK landlords

Landlords in the North of England are making better returns than those in the capital, after a "significant regional shift" in the yields achieved by buy-to-let investors....

TDS say friction between landlords and tenants is disappearing

According to the English Housing Survey, some 2.75m households have assured shorthold tenancies and the latest CLG statistics show that around 2.36m deposits are now safeguarded....

Experian's 'Movers Index' shows UK rental market continues to grow

The UK rental market is flourishing with an additional 58,000 properties marketed in 2011 compared to 2010, according to Experian’s “Movers’ Index”, which offers insights ...

Rental market here for good report shows

BY 2016 demand for private rented accommodation could reach one in five households, resulting in a requirement for an additional 1.1 million rental ...

The rise of the buy to let mortgage and fall of the first-time buyer

Richard Sexton, business development director of e.surv chartered surveyors, looks at the rise of buy-to-let mortgages and the fall of the first-time buyer First-time ...

It pays to take advantage of the Olympic letting boom

When you cast an eye over the competitors limbering up to rent out properties during the London Olympics and Paralympics, it brings ...

Average rental yields increase across the UK

Buy to let investors across the UK saw a rental yield of 6.1% in 2011 with the average monthly rent climbing to £716 from ...

Landlords: When a tenant is in breach of contract the key is to use legal assistance, and swiftly

The ever changing face of the legal marketplace is a minefield, not least for the SME owner. The traditional interface between a solicitor and client ...

More home owners are being forced to move out and let their property to tenants.

Britain is fast becoming a nation of "accidental landlords" as home owners let out properties they cannot sell. However, lenders are toughening ...

Government proposals to allow buy to let investors to benefit from further tax breaks

Property investors are to be offered tax breaks on deals in an attempt by the Government to attract spending into the UK ...

Banks and building societies are lending more money to landlords than to ordinary homeowners

Lloyds Banking Group, and the country’s largest building society, Nationwide, have confirmed that their net lending to landlords currently exceeds net lending to homeowners. ...

Most UK landlords live a long way from their rental properties location

Research from the Association of Residential Letting Agents suggests that in Central London, there are almost twice as many properties in the PRS than landlords who reside in the capital, with a ration of 1:1.98 (landlords to properties in the PRS)....

UK rental prices ares still increasing, albeit at a slower pace

Rental prices increased at a slower rate early in the year as some tenants began to resist the sharp rises in rent levels seen in recent quarters, according to the latest RICS Residential Lettings Survey. ...

Top ten tips for becoming a UK landlord

ARLA has set out the essentials for all first time landlords on what they should consider before investing in a buy to let property. ...

UK landlords need tax relief like businesses say ARLA

Chancellor George Osborne is coming under more pressure from landlord and letting agent lobbies to ease buy to let tax in the forthcoming Budget. ...

50% more valuations for buy-to-let investors than a year ago

The Buy-to-let market saw 38% more valuations conducted for property investors in February than in January. ...

Platform say that the let-to-buy market is a growing one

The dedicated intermediary lender of The Co-operative Bank said it had seen a rise in the number of home-owners choosing to rent their existing property instead of selling it – so called ‘let-to-buy’ ...

Around two thirds of UK landlords are more confident in the buy to let market

Rising tenant demand, high rents and reduced housing stock as the main reasons for the 70% assurance in the sector, the research from online lettings agency Upad shows. ...

Thinking of becoming a buy to let landlord?!

Are you a first-time ‘buy-to-let' investor? Or, are you looking to add to your property portfolio? If so, you're not alone. New figures have shown that buy-to-let mortgage applications are on the rise. And, the increase is being partly driven by first-time landlords looking to take advantage of low interest rates and cheap property....

Newbuy is the first government backed mortgage scheme for new builds

The first ever government-backed mortgage indemnity scheme is set to be launched within the next few weeks. The NewBuy Guarantee scheme which starts in March, aims to help 100,000 homebuyers who only have access to a 5% deposit...

Rental yields continue to move upwards

Better news for buy-to-let investors One of the UK's biggest property landlords, LSL Property Services, claims UK rents pushed a 0.1% smidge higher in January ...

One in three families and individuals rent their home from a landlord or state organisation

Home ownership has fallen to its lowest level since Margaret Thatcher was in Downing Street, official figures have shown. Just 66 per cent of homes are ...

Only two areas in UK have seen house price rises since 2007 peaks

According to the Halifax bank, the only two areas to increase were Rochford in Essex and South Lakeland in Cumbria. Sixteen of the top 20 best ...

Rents rise in January for first time ever

In January, the average rent in England and Wales increased by 0.1% to £712 per month, the first time since LSL began compiling the index ...

CML: UK buy to let making great strides as lending increases

The number of properties in the UK being bought with buy to let mortgages increased by around 84,000 in 2011, modestly helping to increase the ...

UK Housing Market: What to expect in 2012

Housing professionals have always known 2012 would be a busy year, with a raft of new initiatives coming into effect as the government tries to ...

Landlords increase buy to let portfolios by 20 per cent in 2011

Buy-to-let is bouncing back while the rest of the property market struggles, with mortgage figures showing landlords purchasing 20 per cent more homes last year. The ...

Buy to let continues to progress nicely in 2012

As young home-hunters continue to struggle to get on the property ladder, property owners with an eye on the rental market have a vastly greater ...

£1000's set aside for housing poor tenants have not been spent by councils

New figures show that nearly £1m of the £20m set aside for discretionary housing payments in 2010-11 by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was left untouched by councils....

2012 to be an olympic year for buy to let

This summer, the UK will play host to the much-hyped London 2012 Olympics, with the hope that the economy and the property market will have ...

Investment in UK property last year ended on a high

Investment in UK commercial property hit 32.5 billion British Pounds in 2011, in part due to a boost in the final quarter of 2011 as transactions were pushed through before the close of the year, according to new research from CBRE. ...

Elderly social housing tenants must not be overlooked by UK landlords

The latest research from flat and house share website, Spareroom highlights some serious problems at the heart of the UK’s rental industry....

20% of UK Landlords increased their rental property portfolios in 2011

The latest Young Index report of Private Rented Sector (PRS) sentiment shows that 19.1% of landlords added additional residential property assets to their portfolios during 2011. ...

UK landlords can expect a good 2012 as tenant demand rises

Landlords and letting agents could be set for another bumper year, as historic low interest rates and gradual easing of lending restrictions continues to stimulate growth for buy-to-let properties. ...

Buy to let lending criteria being relaxed by Yorkshire Building Society

Competition in the buy-to-let mortgage market intensified today, as Yorkshire Building Society announced a relaxation of lending restrictions and expansion of deals across England and Wales. ...

Potential HMRC tax investigations of UK Buy to Let landlords

The Revenue has set about expanding its spot-check regime, meaning potential investigations for thousands of landlords and business owners across the country. Landlords need to be prepared for an unwelcome knock on the door......

Buy to let landlords should be wary of older properties

As 2012 is expected to see an increase in buy to let activity in the UK, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is recommending that private landlords should take care when buying older properties....

Co-Op to lend £600 million to Buy to Let investors in 2012 via Platform

The Co-operative Bank’s dedicated intermediary mortgage provider has ring-fenced £600 million to provide funding to the sector this year. ...

New buy to let mortgage deals and slashed rates offered by Abbey

Following its entrance into the buy-to-let market last month, Abbey for Intermediaries will launch new tracker and fixed rate deals for purchasers and remortgagers, and rate reductions on existing buy-to-let products, tomorrow (17 January)....

Belvoir say UK landlords must set realistic rental costs

Dorian Gonsalves, managing director of Belvoir Lettings, said: “I predict that rents will rise moderately, remaining more or less in line with inflation and salary increases....

UK homeowners having to rent out their homes and becoming landords, is on the rise

The number of homes coming onto the rental market because they cannot be sold is increasing in some parts of the UK, causing a rise in the number of 'reluctant landlords', according to new research from the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA)....

What is in store for the buy to let market in 2012?! There are different opinions...

Opinions on the prospects for the 2012 buy-to-let market in the UK differ quite markedly. On the one hand some think that with more people being forced to rent because of tighter lending requirements the market will continue to offer opportunities. ...

UK property market gets a boost from student accommodation

According to the latest industry reports, UK student accommodation continues to outpace the rest of the property market as investors continue to take advantage of a shortage of university housing places and a growing number of wealthy overseas students....

UK landlords get some better mortgage options

UK buy-to-let landlords looking to expand their portfolios in 2012 can look forward to enjoying greater choice thanks to growing competition among companies that provide mortgages....

UK tenants in financial difficulty is increasing rent arrears for UK landlords

Soaring rents in 2011 have pushed up the number of tenants in severe arrears by 18% annually to the highest level since the third quarter of 2008 and the numbers of court orders to evict tenants are up 11% in the last year as landlords take a tougher stance....

UK rental market will continue to prosper in 2012

The outlook for property investors in the UK remains positive for 2012 in spite of flat or falling prices, as demand for rental property is ...

Christmas period seeing rents fall slightly

Rents dipped for the first time in ten months, according to the latest Buy-to-Let Index from LSL Property Services plc. In November, the average rent in ...

UK landlords experience rises in rental yeilds

The latest RICS Residential Lettings Survey reports rising yields on rental properties as a result of increased tenant demand and rising rents. In the three months to October, 15 per cent more chartered surveyors reported rental yields rose rather than fell. ...

UK landlords are enjoying rising rents and cheap mortgages, but the buy to let bubble may burst!

As investors snap up properties out of reach of first-time buyers struggling to save for a deposit, experts warn that annual returns from rent will not always be this high — and could fall drastically....

The housing strategy simplified

Housing transactions have slowed and the influx of frustrated buyers into the rental market has pushed rents up to record levels. The government says getting the ...

Buy to let mortgages reach a record 1.4 million

Britain is in the grip of a buy-to-let boom as landlords cash in on the fact that young people cannot afford to buy their own ...

Leading tenant eviction firm fully supportive of plans to make squatting illegal

Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction and referencing firm, is fully supportive of Government plans to make the practice of squatting illegal. The amendment to the Legal Aid, ...

72% of all landlords positive about future of buy to let

Landlords are increasingly positive about the outlook for the buy to let property market in the UK, according to specialist lender CHL Mortgages’ latest landlord ...

UK landlords are experiencing good times as rents hit record high

Buy-to-let landlords profit as rents hit record highs. The mortgage famine means rising numbers of people cannot afford to buy and so demand for rental accommodation sharply exceeds supply....

Barclays increases loan-to-value limit for buy to let mortgages

Barclays has increased its maximum loan-to-value on buy-to-let mortgages to 75 per cent, up from 60 per cent, as it looks to increase its lending in the sector. ...

Buy to let lenders under pressure to supply more products

The buy to let market has been transforming into a mega market for investors. Renters have pushed demand to high levels and there is a great need for adequate rental properties....

UK property market bolstered by booming rental market

If you ignore the irony and the glaring injustices the UK property market is a wonderful land of magic and dreams at the moment. The ...

Demand in rental property will see buy to let industry remain strong

Demand for rental properties will remain strong and continue well into 2012 says Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction and referencing firm. Since the start ...

Buy to let interest rates are falling due to competitive mortgage market

Analysis of the buy-to-let market confirms rates and in most cases fees have fallen substantially since September 2010, but are still higher than residential mortgages....

The buy to let buzz has arisen again!

The Twittersphere has been all a-tweet with the revival of the buy-to-let market. With more people giving up on attempts to buy property......

Renting is becoming unaffordable for most UK families say Shelter

Although renting has traditionally been regarded as a cheaper alternative to home ownership, the credit crunch and high house priceshave forced many potential homebuyers to remain as tenants....

Buy to let will not come under new EU regulation

Last week the European Parliament’s Internal Markets and Consumer Protection committee, one of two committees scrutinising the directive, published its report on the EC’s proposals. The ...

Buy-to-let sales have risen sharply in the past six months

Sales to investors have been in decline since 2007 when the buy to let boom turned to bust. But Barratt, the UK’s biggest housebuilder by volume said the trend reversed in the first six months of this year as sales to investors, mostly in the UK, rose about 25 per cent on the same period in 2010. ...

UK property prices creeping upwards again

Britons seeking to sell their house lifted the asking price slightly in September, in the hope that prospective buyers will be pressured to purchase a home in the run-up to Christmas....

UK Landlords are legally obliged to carry out gas safety checks

Landlords are putting their tenants' lives at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning or potential explosions by failing to carry out annual gas safety checks, according to a report from Gas Safe Register....

Housing market under pressure over economy fears

Economic uncertainty and lack of mortgage finance ensured that the UK property market remained subdued in August, according to the Royal Institution of ...

Savills: UK property still good choice for investors

A new report published by Savills has noted that investors consider the UK property market - and London in particular - to be ...

ARLA are right to suggest making licensing for agents and landlord mandatory

A private landlords body has said it is disappointed the government has decided not to require landlords and agents to be professionally qualified. The ...

A third of UK landlords could be in trouble if interest rates rise

Most pundits do not now believe that interest rates will go up this year, and there is even speculation of a further drop next. Lenders, who rely on swap rates rather than what the MPC decides, have recently been on a spree of rates chopping....

Housing crisis could force millions of families to rent from rogue landlords

There are more than 3.4 million households in rental accommodation in England alone, up 40% in the last five years. Experts say a combination of soaring prices and house building at its lowest level since the 1920s......

Number of homeowners predicted to plummet

The UK housing market could be set for a “crisis”, a leading governing body has warned, unless the government take firm action to ...

sixth successive monthly rise as rents hit new high

Rents rose for the sixth month in a row in July, to a new record high, according to the latest Buy‐to‐Let Index from LSL Property ...

Mortgage rates hit record low with first time buyers shut out

Lenders have slashed fixed-rate mortgages to record lows, but Britain's biggest firm of property valuers has revealed only existing homeowners are benefiting, with first-time buyers ...

UK housing market remains stagnant as buy to let increases

Research released today (August 9th) by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) reveals that the UK housing market remains stagnant with 22 ...

Interest rates unlikely to rise as economy takes turn for worse

Minutes to its July meeting show that the monetary policy committee of the Bank of England judged that recent economic weakness had reduced the ...

Housing market suffers giving more strength to the rental market

The Council of Mortgage Lending recently released data showing the housing market is struggling to keep up with the volume of the first ...

Bank of England: Buy to let continues to grow

Buy-to-let investors are making the most of first time buyers' misfortune and snapping up houses, according to the Bank of England. In its latest ...

Being a buy to let landlord: Top Tips

Taking on a buy-to-let property and being a landlord is not just a shrewd investment move in today's economy, it's providing an essential ...

Rental properties snapped up within a day of being advertised as rents hit record high

Rents in England and Wales rose by 0.7% in June to reach a new record high of £701 per month in June, pushing annual rent inflation to 4.1%. In London, rents broke through the £1,000 a month barrier for the first time, rising by 1%......

UK landlords look for more buy to let opportunities

A preference for renting over buying is surging in Great Britain and landlords are confident the trend will continue, according to a new survey conducted by CHL Mortgages. The 2011 Landlord Survey revealed that 33% of landlords are seeking new investment opportunities within the next 12 months. ...

Average London rentals exceed £1,000 barrier

Average rents in London through £1,000 barrier, with properties snapped up within a day of being advertised. Rents in England and Wales rose by 0.7% in ...

Home shortage sees UK rental prices rise

A shortage of homes to let has forced rent levels higher and further increased the squeeze on cash-strapped consumers, according to figures ...

Dispatches: Investigating rogue UK landlords

With the UK set to become a nation of renters, it’s rich pickings for rogue landlords at the moment. In Channel Four’s Dispatches: Landlords from Hell, ...

Landlords encouraged to focus on home improvements

According to Halifax, UK house prices crept up last month in good news for estate agents yonder. But prices in Northern Ireland are still ...

Rogue operators revealed in Channel 4 documentary

Rogue operators in last night’s Landlords from Hell documentary on C4 were shown as greedily preying on their tenants, providing squalid, damp and ...

Buy to let property more affordable for landlords

The cost of expanding a rental property portfolio could now be more affordable for landlords, according to recent statistics.May saw house prices fall ...

Mortgage defaults to rise in coming months

Mortgage lenders expect the number of people defaulting on their home loans to rise in the coming months, according to a new survey. The Bank ...

Emigrating? Need to know how to rent your property from abroad?

The reasons to emigrate are many, as is the timing. For some the decision is taken when retiring, for others it’s simply to start ...

Dispatches: Landlords from Hell

In this undercover Dispatches investigation, which airs on Channel 4, Monday 4th July at 8pm, Jon Snow reports on the return of the slum ...

Buy to let hailed as 'revolutionary'

The boss of a mortgage provider has hailed buy-to-let as "revolutionising" the rental market by driving up standards and providing an attractive alternative ...

FSA: Buy to let mortgages may have become the new 'self-cert'

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has accused intermediaries of abusing buy-to-let mortgages by providing loans for ordinary residential buyers, in a move which ...

Countrywide reports surge in rental market as buyers struggle set to continue

The UK rental market surges as buyers continue to face barriers, report Countrywide. The UK residential sales market remains relatively static with modest improvements in ...

The science behind the growth in the rental market

There is a question at the moment, as if there is some sort of mystical force at play, over why the UK buy-to-let scene ...

Number of UK tenants over 2 months in arrears increased by 13% in Q2 2011

The number of tenants over two months in arrears increased by 13% in Q2 2011 compared to the same period in 2010, research by Templeton LPA reveals...

Paragon: Buy to let has revolutionised the rental market

Buy-to-let has revolutionised the rental market, driving up standards and choice for consumers, the managing director of Paragon Mortgages has claimed. At today's (22 June) Council ...

Social landlords: A model of discretion

It’s his job to police all organisations that handle public data. Christopher Graham, the information commissioner, tells Simon Brandon why he’s got his ...

Landlords urged to become aware of missed tax breaks

Buy-to-let mortgage specialist Paragon said landlords could offset many of the costs incurred through letting property against their income, but many were unaware ...

IMLA: Buy to let lending regulations will have detrimental effect on private rented sector

IMLA, the trade body representing lenders who market their products through brokers, has hit out at a planned European Directive to regulate buy-to-let ...

Rents up 4.4% over last 12 months

The average rent in England and Wales increased by 0.5% in May to reach £696, according to the latest Buy-to-Let Index from LSL Property ...

Proposed energy bill amendment could force landlords to refurbish

Landlords will be forced to refurbish hundreds of thousands of the UK's most draughty and energy-inefficient homes or find themselves blocked from renting them out, ...

ThinkTank: 'Number of homeowners set to fall by 2 million over next decade'

The number of people who own homes is set to fall by almost two million by the middle of the next decade, leaving ever ...

More than half of all private landlords planning to reduce lets to housing benefit tenants

The National Landlords Association questioned 455 private landlords with LHA properties and discovered that 58 per cent said they would have to cut ...

Landlords are lining up more property

Whilst the UK residential property sales market fluctuates from one month to the next leaving many locked out of making a move, landlords ...

UK rental yeilds reach record high

The average rent paid by tenants in England and Wales matched a record monthly high of £692 in April, according to a survey....

London leads the way as rent rises are predicted to continue

Increased tenant demand and low levels of rental properties coming into the market means rental prices are set to rise further, surveyors have ...

interest rate rises will aid recovery of UK housing market

If the UK economy improves later this year the Bank of England could be forced to make a series of sudden interest rate ...

House prices fall at fastest rate in almost two years

House prices fell at their fastest annual rate for 19 months during May as buyers continued to stay away from the market, figures ...

New lettings index launched by major firm

A major new national lettings index launches today, providing facts about rents, tenant demand and regional differences and trends in the buy-to-let market. ...

Uk landlords believe tenant demand will rise further

Some 49 per cent of UK-based landlords believe that now is a good time to invest in new property. In comparison, just 19 per ...

Becoming a landlord offers so many benefits

Good deals are available for those with enough money to invest in a buy to let arrangement. This is especially a good target area if ...

Renting: Pros now outweigh the cons

The idea that paying rent each month is dead money is outdated and untrue, according to one industry figure.Chief executive officer of Firstrung Paul ...

Most UK residents are set on renting era

The report, entitled The Reality of Generation Rent Perceptions of the First-Time Buyer Market, found that 77 per cent of 8000 20 to 45 ...

Top 5 tips for creating the perfect rental property inventory

Top 5 tips for creating the perfect rental property inventory... When renting out your property, it's important to complete a comprehensive inventory before your tenants take ...

UK property rental values hit record high

The strongest April on record in the rental market has taken the cost of renting to its highest ever level. A spring surge in demand increased ...

Rental Yields: What you should be charging your tenant

Potential landlords entering the buy-to-let market will have a variety of reasons for doing so, but ultimately they will all want to achieve ...

Landlords have never had it so good

Landlords have seldom had it so good. A lack of stock, a dearth of mortgages and instability in the market has seen some ...

Renting is set to become the British way

A generation of young British adults is close to giving up hope of ever owning their own place to live. A startling new ...

House prices set to rise 4 per cent a year until 2015

The UK property market has hit rock bottom and will begin to turn around ahead of Christmas, it is claimed. But the recovery will be ...

UK house prices recover lost ground

House prices crept higher in May and have now cancelled out all the ground lost since last summer, Nationwide figures show. House prices increased by 0.3% ...

Report shows that Central and Eastern Europe will give best returns

The recently published Invesco Real Estate Spring 2011 House View report is demonstrating that the property markets in Central and Eastern Europe are ...

London letting agency under police investigation

Police are continuing their investigations into a lettings agency after landlords complained that thousands of pounds owed to them had allegedly not been ...

Paragon notices positive turn in buy to let

First-time buyers are being squeezed out of the housing market and forced to rent for longer, pushing rents to their highest level ...

Private rental market to continue to prosper landlords

The high demand for rented accommodation means landlords will enjoy their current returns for another five years or so, it has been claimed.Director at ...

Rising rents taking toll on UK couples

Data from easyroommate.co.uk also said that one in nine renters looking to flatshare will be living with a partner and that the demand ...

London rents rise for 20th consecutive month

Rent in London is continuing to increase, according to research by Knight Frank, which found that the price of leasing a home in ...

Investopedia.com's take on the property market

The statistics surrounding home ownership are worrying. A new report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has reported that just one in four couples ...

Rising tuition fees may spark reinvention of student landlords

Student landlords may need to reinvent themselves over the coming months to accommodate for changes in the circumstances of their student tenants, says Landlord Assist. ...

Fire Safety Legislation warning to landlords

Landlords and agents of blocks of flats are being warned to make sure they are conforming with fire safety legislation in the wake of ...

What is buy to let insurance?

If you’re thinking about renting a property to tenants, you’ll also need to think about purchasing buy to let insurance. Also known as landlord insurance, this ...

UK House prices reach highest level in 3 years

U.K. home sellers raised asking prices to the highest since June 2008 this month after public holidays in April limited the supply of property for ...

This is Money: Tops tips for buy to let landlords

Poor old buy-to-let. Once upon a time it was David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Kate Moss all rolled into one – making headlines on ...

The unlikely comeback of buy to let

The financial crisis was supposed to spell the end for buy-to-let mortgages, which turned thousands of Brits into amateur property tycoons. In fact, ...

Landlords advised to remortgage before interest rate hikes

Housing market analysis is showing that first time home buyers are still finding it difficult to purchase. At least that is so for those ...

Buy to let mortgage availability increases further

The number of buy-to-let mortgages available in the UK has reached a two-and-a-half year high as lenders return to the market, figures have ...

Strong demand in rental market and improved finance good news for landlords

Strong demand in the rental market is combining with improved availability of mortgage finance for landlords. And that’s good news for the buy-to-let ...

almost 50% of landlords report increase in tenant demand

Almost half of landlords reported that tenant demand rose during Q1 2011, Paragon’s Private Rented Sector Trends Report reveals. The research shows 49% of landlords experienced ...

L&G: UK buy to let has great potential

A recent report by Legal & General Mortgage Club is mainly focused on the future of the British buy to let and rental property ...

Banks now prefer buy-to-let landlords over first-time-buyers

While would-be first-time buyers languish, buy to let is doing well – if not exactly booming. And the reasons are easy to see. In a recent housing industry debate organised by HSBC, Nationwide's group distribution director said......

Buy to let market is growing and developing

The buy-to-let mortgage market is continuing to show signs of growth and development as more lenders enter the marketplace, according to TBMC’s Landlord Profile Tracking Index....

Buy-to-let investors are returning to the market in considerable numbers

Buy-to-let investors are returning to the market in considerable numbers which is having a knock-on impact to potential first-time buyers....

Landlord insurance for UK landlords is a must in todays climate

If you own a property which is not used as your home but as a rental business then are you aware that standard buildings and contents cover is insufficient (and in some cases will be declared void if your property is occupied by tenants rather than yourself)?...

Buy to let lending increases.

Rental Property is in high demand across the UK and the reason is two-fold.......

UK tax changes may encourage investment funds to become residential landlords

A series of tax changes being planned by the U.K. government may encourage investment funds to become residential landlords, and boost business for the country’s housing developers says international agency CB Richard Ellis....

Rental yields continue to rise

March saw the cost of being a tenant rise for the second consecutive month, according to research. Lettings agent network LSL Property Services revealed that the ...

University fee hike could effect landlords

Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction and rent collection firm, is concerned that rises in tuition fees could have a damaging effect on private landlords with ...

Buy to let market continuing to blossom

The buy to let market is now a market worth returning to for investors, as returns are increasing to as much as 8%. Southampton ...

Buy to let predicted to explode again after predicted tax cuts

The Coalition has identified buy-to-let as a way of solving Britain's housing shortage and wants to attract investment into residential property by ...

Three UK landlords are in a battle to avoid paying VAT

Three housing associations based in the midlands are to apply to HM Revenue and Customs to be exempt from paying value added tax on shared services. ...

Focus: buy to let mortgages

Buy-to-let mortgages have become available in the United Kingdom in the late nineties. A buy-to-let mortgage is a mortgage used by landlords to ...

Landlords: Beware of get rick quick schemes

NOVICE buy-to-let investors are being targeted by a new wave of ‘creative financing’ schemes, a lettings specialist has warned. Belvoir, based in Marsh Road, Luton, warns ...

Chancellor sees buy to let as key to property market

The British Coalition Government announced that buy to let is the best way to solve the housing shortage problem in the country. Moreover, it ...

Average rental yields rise again but tenant arrears increase

A recent research by LSL Property Services showed that rents in England and Wales rose by 0.2% in February, to £684. This represents a ...

Cost of renting goes up

Tenants signing new contracts suffered a small rise of 0.2% in rents during February 2011, pushing the average rent in England and Wales ...

Flood of mortgage products should be treated with caution

There is more choice for clients but this can’t hide the fact that the focus for lenders has moved to affordability There are now twice as ...

Bank base rate held at 0.5%

The previous change in Bank Rate was a reduction of 0.5 percentage points to 0.5% on 5 March 2009. David Newnes, estate agency managing director at ...

Landlords looking to benefit from increasing tenant demand

This year and next year both look set to be good times for buy-to-let (BTL) landlords but tenants will have to compete for the ...

Website launched to shine light on bad tenants

Website has been launched to protect the nation’s landlords, local authorities and letting agents from nightmare tenants. Lorna Rose, of Cricklade, has joined forces with two ...

How the UK buy to let market is being driven by changes in society

In the past, the idea that a British man's home was his castle, and Margaret Thatcher's right-to-buy scheme added to a general attitude that owning your own property was something everyone should, and could, aspire to. ...

Rental demand will continue to outstrip supply during 2011 and 2012

Demand for private rental sector (PRS) property will continue to outstrip supply for much of 2011 and into next year, the Association of ...

UK house prices fall in February

UK house prices fell more sharply than expected in February, reversing a similar rise in January and suggesting the market is set to ...

Rents continuing to rise

Residential property rents in the UK increased at a rapid pace in the three months to the end of January, as falling supply ...

Renting has become a more culturally acceptable lifestyle choice

Dev Malle, sales and marketing director at Personal Touch Financial Services, discusses why buy-to-let has become such an important part of the UK ...

Landlord fined £20k for breach of FOUR fire safety regulations

Hitesh Mashru, of The Fairway, admitted breaching four fire safety regulations after the blaze, above the Thai Sunset in Bushey High Street on ...

Landlord prosecuted for failing to adhere to gas safety laws

Michael J Smith failed to maintain gas appliances and pipework or get them safety-checked within 12 months at the Conisbrough property, and did ...

There is light at the end of the tunnel for the buy-to-let market

They often say that cash is king, and in the current climate of financial restrictions and the imposed requirements for higher deposits this has never been more relevant....

'limbo' landlords being forced to let their properties get hit with huge fees

The fragile housing market has meant some owners must let their home because they are unable to sell. They might need to buy or ...

Report: What will happen to UK house prices?

Let's look at what's happened to house prices when interest rates moved during the past six decades: 2007 to the present Starting with the present, during our ...

UK & London property looking good for fund managers

Around 70% of this money is earmarked for inner London broadly split between prime property at £2.5 billon and fringe at £2.8 billion. Investors ...

Increasing landlord investment aids falling rents

The latest buy-to-let Index from LSL Property Services found the average rent in England and Wales dropped by 0.3% to £682 per month. This ...

Investors are being drawn back into rental housing market

Traditionally, the British have been predominantly home owners. Early in their careers, people would save just enough to make a down payment on ...

Average house price up 3.1% in February

The average asking price for a typical UK property increased by 3.1 per cent in February, according to a new report from Rightmove, which ...

The rise of the "limbo-landlord"

The shortage of private rental stock that has buoyed rents in recent months could ease if Rightmove’s outlook for 2011 proves accurate. Yesterday the property ...

Despite slight Jan falls, 8% rent rises are expected this year

First-time buyers who can't yet afford to buy will be dealt a further blow with rent rises of as much as 8% expected, according to ...

Rents fall for second consecutive month

More investors have been encouraged to join the buy-to-let market in the recent past, which has helped push residential rents down for a ...

The old 'Average Buyer' is the UK landlords new 'Average Tenant'

The start of this year is very much a repeat of 2010 and in the latest Rightmove February House Price Index 2011 is expected to be characterised by what may well be the new norm, with the ‘average’ buyer of yesteryear locked out of the market. ...

Landlords advised on how to make properties more energy efficient

Residential landlords have been handed advice on ways that they can make their properties more energy efficient. The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) ...

Energy efficiency advice issued for UK landlords

Landlords with residential properties in the UK should consider measures to improve the energy efficiency of their properties, according to the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA)....

Exciting news for landlords, a new 85% buy to let mortgage is being offered

Kensington Mortgages is offering the first buy-to-let mortgage for landlords who only have a 15% deposit in more than two years....

Buy to let mortgage lending falls for the 4th month

The latest figures released by the Council for Mortgage Lenders (CML) show that mortgage lending to landlord insurance holders who want to purchase buy-to-let properties has declined for the fourth consecutive month......

Why first time buyers are turning to the rental market

With the property market in the state that it is and the mortgage market looking no better ahead of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) mortgage ...

Government ministers urged to liase with landlords in benefit crisis

Ministers have been urged to avoid a looming housing benefit crisis after new research revealed that welfare cuts may spark an exodus of better landlords from the housing benefit sector. ...

House prices unlikely to go up in short term

landlords have been told that average rental prices are not anticipated to go up in the "next few months".According to LandlordZONE.co.uk, the effects of government ...

Is this the right time to be a buy to let landlord?

Stagnant house prices and increasing demand from tenants could provide a good opportunity for landlords. With many potential first-time buyers unable to get on the housing ...

Rental yields fall 1.2% for first time in 11 months

Property rents in the UK have fallen for the first time in 11 months, dropping by 1.2% in December to an average £684 per month, ...

Rental demand will continue to hold up during economic downturn

Individuals with landlords property insurance may be pleased to hear an expert has predicted rental demand will continue to "hold up". Tom Entwistle, director ...

Renting is the preferred choice as UK sales market slumps

Attitude to renting property in the UK is changing as fewer people are able to buy and are forced into becoming reluctant tenants, research suggests......

Arrears set to rise as tenants using credit cards to pay rent

Tenant defaults could soar over the next year amid reports that many have borrowed money on a credit card to pay their mortgage or rent ...

'Access to buy to let financing will improve in 2011'

In the opinion of Mr. Terrington, chief executive of Paragon, access to buy to let financing will improve in 2011. According to estimates of Paragon, ...

Reluctant landlords: Tips to let your property

IF your home is for sale but you’re at the end of your tether trying to get the price you want, you could find yourself ...

Landlords confident about their prospects in 2011

Buy to let mortgage holders can be confident about their prospects for the coming 12 months, according to Paragon.Nigel Terrington, chief executive of the group, ...

Landlords: How to raise the rent you charge

For a free Section 13 Notice (Increasing Rent Form) please email info@landlordexpert.co.uk. We will email you the editable document by return. This document will be ...

41% of landlords looking to increase rents in 2011

Rent climbed steadily last year and it looks like the trend is set to continue in 2011, as landlords look to increase prices....

Rents rose for the 10th consecutive month

In November, the average UK rent rose to £692 per month – squeaking ahead of October’s record high of £691. However, the growth of 0.1% represents the smallest increase since rents began to rise in February....

Social landlords will become accredited 'Green Deal Providers'

The government has confirmed social landlords will become accredited ‘Green Deal providers’ under its multi-billion pound flagship retrofit scheme, being unveiled today....

Top 5 tips for budding buy to let landlords

It needs to be a considered process and you need to understand what it entails before jumping in. Becoming a landlord is not as easy as putting your money in the bank – after all, your bank manager won't ring you in the middle of the night asking you to fix the boiler – so you need to be prepared for hassle and hard work....

Buy to let activity has increased according to 47% of brokers

Around half of directly authorised intermediaries have experienced an increase in buy-to-let enquiries in the last three months and are more confident in the sector’s future, according to TMA. ...

Vacant periods continue falling in buy-to-let sector

The length of vacant periods in Britain’s buy-to-let sector continued to decline, according to figures released by LSL Property Services, suggesting that demand for rental ...

Buy to let sector will remain 'strong, sustainable and profitable'

With confidence returning to the buy-to-let industry, Bob Young, managing director of CHL Mortgages, explains why the problems of the past few years mean the future of buy to let looks rosy......

RICS: Buy to let being supported by pension crisis

The UK buy-to-let market is being supported by the ongoing pensions crisis. That is according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics), which finds that ...

Buy to let mortgage market rises again

The history The rise and fall of the buy-to-let landlord seems to have been linked in with the housing boom and crash. As banks began to see ...

Paragon make pre-tax profit of £71.8m

Paragon made a pre-tax profit of £71.8m in its last financial year, up from £54.3m in 2009. The group today announced its preliminary results ...

Rents continue to increase as arrears improve

Residential landlords in the UK are having to deal with fewer tenants who have fallen into arrears, according to new statistics released by LSL Property ...

Mortgage famine pays for landlords

Buy to let landlords are big winners from the mortgage famine, enjoying rental yields above 6 per cent and rising while more than half of all ...

Rental yields predicted to increase even further for landlords

The buoyancy of the UK rental market continues with over 40% of renters stating they believe rents will be higher in 12 months’ time. According to ...

Landlords to see average rents exceed £700

The national average rent is expected to hit £722 per month within a year if inflation continues at its current rate, according to LSL Property ...

£2.8bn advanced to landlords in Q3 of 2010 - 33% increase on 2009

The recovery in the buy-to-let market continued in the third quarter, boosted by strong demand for rental property. A total of £2.8bn was advanced to investment ...

London property market continues to impress

With mortgage lending generally flat during September according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), the trade body representing building societies, other data released by ...

House prices record biggest monthly drop in three years

UK property asking prices have recorded their biggest monthly drop in nearly three years as desperate sellers try to get the market moving ahead of ...

Industry spokesperson recommends landlords seek alternate loans now

All buy-to-let property owners holding landlord insurance who are considering securing another loan may well benefit from the suggestions made by an independent financial adviser ...

How the rental market gave birth to new era of scammers

If Harry Harris looks unhappy there is a good reason – he and five close friends lost £1,600 each in an online rental scam which ...

Brokers report improvement in availability of buy to let mortgages

Almost half of mortgage brokers reported an improvement in the availability of buy-to-let mortgages during the third quarter of 2010, according to research by Paragon ...

House prices tipped to rise 16% by end of 2014

House prices will be 16% higher than they are today by the end of 2014, an economics consultancy has predicted. The Centre for Economics and Business ...

Government pledges to shut the door on squatters

The government has pledged to "shut the door to squatters" by educating homeowners on their rights when their properties are invaded.Housing minister Grant Shapps today ...

Landlords urged to make their rental properties eco-friendly

Landlords are being strongly urged to renovate their rental properties to make them environmentally friendly as part of a new strategy entitled the Green Deal, which ...

Third quarter of 2010 sees noticable improvement in buy to let mortgage availability

The third quarter of 2010 saw a noticeable improvement in the availability of buy to let mortgages, according to Paragon Mortgages. Paragon’s Financial Advisor Confidence ...

Has demand for buy to let mortgages dropped?

According to a David Lawrenson, the landlord expert at LettingFocus.com, the demand for buy to let mortgages has dropped from where it was several years ago......

Deputy Prime Minister introduces new Green Deal for households and businesses

Plans for a new Green Deal for households and businesses were outlined today by Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, as he spoke of the Government's ...

Praise for newly unveiled Green Deal which effects landlords

The head of campaigns for WWF-UK has applauded the government's decision to include the private rented sector in its recently-unveiled Green Deal, which was announced ...

is 'Build to Let' going to become the UK way?

Iain Hutchinson is a London property developer and landlord who thinks that Britain's property owning democracy for all is at an end and that the ...

Landlord faces punishment over fire alarm failure

BAY MP Adrian Sanders' parliamentary battle to introduce laws forcing landlords to fit fire alarms to their properties has been praised by the county's fire ...

recent times has seen the rise of the non-professional landlord

The flooding of the buy-to-let market by non-professional landlords in recent times has led to the sector experiencing a mini-boom, which presents lenders and advisers ...

House price crash is real possibility

More reports have been published pointing to a UK house price crisis. Recently figures showed the lowest mortgage approval rate for ten years whilst both ...

'Meet with your tenant at end of tenancy' advises Chief Exec

Landlords have been handed advice on how to avoid disputes over deposits with their tenants.Eddie Hooker, chief executive of mydeposits.co.uk, suggested landlords meet with tenants ...

Buy to let mortgage availability to increase further as market continues to improve

According to a comparison portal Which4U, Paragon Group has published a new Private Rented Sector Trends report for the 3rd quarter of 2010. The figures revealed ...

Private landlords are biggest winners from cutbacks in affordable housing targets

Plans to build up to 150,000 affordable homes over the next four years are lower than the Housing and Communities Agency's previous target of 155,000...

UK landlords should take notice of single-room rate extension

Extension of the single-room rate announced in yesterday’s Spending Review, will mean that a private-rental tenant aged under 35 will only receive housing benefit if living in shared accommodation....

UK property prices in October soared by 3%

As sellers showed resistance to the changes in the market conditions, those selling their homes in Wales and England reportedly increased selling prices by a stooping 3.1%, which was approximately over 7,000 – 236,846....

Calls for letting agents to be governed by consumer legislation

The Property Ombudsman, Christopher Hamer today called for residential property letting agents to be brought under the same consumer redress law that governs sales agents....

Countrywide Surveying Services is appointed as the only panel manager for The Swift Group.

Under the terms of the agreement, which commenced on 1st September, Countrywide will exclusively manage all valuations for The Swift Group, which is a specialist secured loans provider....

UK buy to let mortgage market improving

Arecent press release published by Moneyfacts, online portal for comparison of financial services, on October 11th 2010 suggests that the UK buy to let market is improving....

Professional UK landlords are dramatically increasing their portolios

Of the buy-to-let business handled by intermediaries during the period, 48 per cent was for experienced landlords to expand their portfolio, according to Paragon's financial adviser confidence tracking report....

House prices up 8.3%

The UK average house price rose by 8.3 per cent in the year to August 2010, compared with a rise of 8.4 per cent in ...

Is the buy to let mortgage market making a comeback?

Whilst there are still only just over 300 buy to let mortgage products available, some 10% of the number available at the peak of the ...

Campaign launched to speed up eviction process

A campaign has been launched for Parliament to change the law to speed up the eviction process and give landlords more right of access to ...

Lack of housing supply to push up rental prices

A surge in demand for rented property over the summer in the UK has outstripped rental supply, new research shows. Tenant registrations soared over July and ...

Landlords adopting cautious approach to expansion plans, reveals Landlord Assist

Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction and rent collection firm, believes that landlords are adopting a more cautious approach to the way they operate as ...

Rental scammers and rogue landlords

As hundreds of thousands of university students make the mad dash to find rented accommodation for the new academic year, they are warned to watch out for rental scammers and rogue landlords......

Landlords missing out by rejecting LHA tenants

Many landlords are missing out on a significant percentage of the rental market by refusing to accept tenants who are in receipt of housing benefit, ...

The Landlord Association on BBC Radio KENT

Membership Director for The Landlord Association appeared on BBC Radio KENT this morning. Listen to the live recording......

Landlord Expert in running for private rented sector Oscars.

The number 1 landlord information and advice website and only free association of landlords in the UK, www.landlordexpert.co.uk, has been shortlisted for national Landlord & Letting awards....

Landlords submit their ideas for reform to the government over private rented sector

LANDLORDS have listed the top law reforms which would “help revitalise the private rented sector and secure a better future for the UK’s stock of more affordable housing”......

Is a house price crash on the cards?

As the UK property market stumbles and fears grow of a house price crash, more and more people are looking to the private rental market ...

Buy to let lender improves its mortgage range

Landlords seeking attractive home credit and mortgage products in the near future might be interested in some new offers from one financier.The Mortgage Works (TMW) ...

August rises see rent rates hit highest level since September 2008

Landlords increased rents in August at the steepest rate since August last year, raising them by 1.4 per cent, according to the latest buy-to-let index from LSL Property Services......

UK landlords may have to wait 7 years to recover initial investment

UK property investors who purchased buy to let property in 2007, at the peak of the housing boom, might be trapped in negative equity for 4 more years....

House prices remained stable in August

customers might already be aware that Halifax has reported that UK house prices stayed broadly the same in August 2010.According to its latest statistics, typical ...

Property Investment delivering good returns

Investment grade market let residential property delivered a solid 4.7% six month total return to June, according to the inaugural IPD UK Biannual Residential Investment Indicator......

New rental laws mean more red tape for landlords

New rental laws mean many tenants will, from next month, automatically have formal Assured Shorthold Tenancies - this is a move that will push extra responsibilities on to landlords and agents with hefty fines if they do not comply... ...

84% of landlords see arrears remain stable over past 12 months

Landlords have been celebrating a strong performance from tenant arrears last year, according to latest research by LSL......

UK Post Office reduces its buy to let rates by massive 0.8%

The UK Post Office has reduced its buy to let mortgage rates, knocking down the interest it charges by an impressive 0.8% figure. The Post Office ...

Rising rent due to homes shortage in Oxfordshire

Tenants in Oxfordshire are having to pay higher rents due to a shortage of properties, a study has found. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said more than a third of agents have seen an increase in rents during the past three months......

Best buy to let rates still out of reach for most landlords

The best UK buy to let rates are still remaining just out of reach for many British landlords, with fees demanded for buy to let mortgages staying incredibly high for the best rates......

Landlords being forced to pay massive mortgage fees

Landlords are being asked to pay massive mortgage fees despite a surge in loans being approved. There were 24,900 buy-to-let mortgages granted in the second quarter ...

Rents up 2.3% on the year as rates near previous high peak

Landlords pushed up rents for the sixth consecutive month, raising them by 0.5% in July, according to the latest Buy-to-Let Index from LSL Property Services, the lettings agent network... ...

UK rents continue to increase

The average UK rent is now £676, 2.3% higher than a year ago. This rise follows the increase of 1.4% in June. Rents are now just £12 per month shy of their peak two years ago....

Bank of England vote to keep rates on hold

Bank of England MPC members voted 8-1 to keep rates and quantitative easing on hold at the August meeting, but once again warned of prolonged inflation. ...

House prices fall 1.7%

The latest research carried out by online property portal, Rightmove, suggests that property asking prices in Great Britain have declined by 1.7% in August, marking ...

Buy to let mortgage lending at two-year high

In the second quarter of 2010, the number of buy-to-let mortgages taken out was 24,900, up 13% on the previous quarter, and 15% higher than ...

CML: Buy to let market continuing to improve

The freezing up of the buy-to-let mortgage market that emerged as an unwelcome side-effect of the credit crunch appears to have eased a little, according to the latest buy-to-let survey results from the Council of Mortgage Lenders......

Student rents rising sharply, new research reveals

Figures from accommodationforstudents.com (afs) show the average weekly student rent now stands at £65.30, 4.3% higher than last year (£62.61). The previous two years’ increases were just 1.6% and 1.7%... ...

Lack of finance hindering landlords

Lack of finance is preventing private landlords from taking advantage of lower property prices and a thriving rental market. That’s the finding from the latest Upad.co.uk Landlord Confidence Index survey......

Andreas Panayiotou backs buy-to-let again

In a rare interview, Panayiotou, who was one of the few to call the top and bottom of the market, said: ‘Residential property is very safe. It will be good long term. There’s a shortage of housing, and developers have stopped building.’...

Landlords advised to go direct to lenders

Landlords looking to boost their holiday property portfolios in the UK would be well-advised to go direct to lenders themselves for financing, rather than turn to middle-men, it has been suggested......

Northern Rock announces rate cuts on buy to let mortgages

Last week the UK-based lender Northern Rock announced that it has improved its terms on buy to let and residential mortgage offers......

The Times: Figures point towards improving picture for landlords

Residential rents are now rising across the UK, and are forecast to continue growing for at least the next two years – leading some analysts to suggest returns on buy-to-let property look attractive again......

Latest research shows 9 out of 10 landlords anticipate property values to rise

According research conducted by the Young Group, 87% of residential landlords in the London area anticipate the values of their properties to continue increasing or—at ...

A new guide for landlords and tenants

A new guide published online by MyDeposits.co.uk aims to ensure that both landlords and tenants are on the same page when it comes to determining what constitutes fair wear and tear of a rental property....

Buying a home beats renting in 74% of UK locations

Buying a home beats renting in 74% of locations around the UK – which is good news for first-time buyers, provided they can get the required deposit together and meet the lenders’ new tougher affordability criteria......

UK landlords concerned about rents not covering mortgages

Four out of ten landlords reckon they would not be able to cover the mortgage payments on their properties if interest rates increase by two per cent......

More tenants in need of homes than landlords have available say ARLA

The availability of rental properties is worsening, with not enough rental properties available from UK buy to let landlords according to research out today from the Association of Residential LettingAgents....

Crackdown on unlicensed HMO landlords

It is illegal for landlords of multiple occupation properties to operate without the correct documentation, and now SHEFFIELD Council has launched a crackdown on rogue landlords who have failed to register for a compulsory licence....

Lack of finance for landlords predicted to effect student accomodation

Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction and rent collection firm, is concerned that a lack of finance deals available to landlords will lead to a severe shortage in student accommodation for the forthcoming academic year......

Research shows landlords confidence growing

Research carried out by rental website Upad suggests that a clear majority of residential landlords are positive about the buy-to-let sector’s prospects in the near future......

UK house prices may not increase for a decade!

Decades of stagnant or falling house prices have been predicted by one of the nation's leading accountancy firms, as estate agents and mortgage lenders also warn that the next year will see a marked weakening in the property market....

Poor inventories 'costing landlords £12 million a year'

Poor inventories are costing UK property landlords some £12 million a year in lost claims as a lack of prepared evidence works against them in the event of a deposit dispute, according to the industry......

Landlord admits to gas safety check failures

TENANTS’ safety was put at risk after North East landlord Home Group failed to carry out gas safety checks......

Nationwide figures suggest second wind for buy to let

House price growth has stalled, according to Nationwide's June index figures, yet estate agents report that residential rents are rising. Could the housing market be undergoing a structural shift towards renting, rather than owning property?......

Landlords issued warning over 'unfit' properties

A warning has been issued to UK residential landlords about unfit properties following an incident in Peterborough......

Buy to let sector may be effected by proposed mortgage caps

The Bank of England is considering proposals to place a limit on how much homebuyers can borrow, in order to finance the purchase of their house......

Housing market 'not looking good'

The housing market was flat in May with the number of mortgages approved for house purchase broadly unchanged, according to the Bank of England......

Budget News: CGT tax rise lets landlords off the hook

Buy-to-let sector breathes sigh of relief as rise in capital gains tax announced in today's emergency budget is less than originally feared......

Budget News: Landlords warned of painful times ahead

Landlords are forewarned of painful times ahead, following tomorrow’s emergency Budget....

Chancellor must protect landlords from CGT blow

The Chancellor must ensure landlords are not driven from the market by any rises in Capital Gains Tax in his first Budget this week, according to the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA)... ...

Landlords under the taxman's gaze

Buy-to-let investors who avoid paying tax on their profits are coming under greater scrutiny by the taxman, according to leading accountants......

"CGT rises will NOT deter property investors"

Leaders, a UK letting specialist, are confident that buy-to-let will remain a popular investment option, even if the rate of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rises......

UK landlords register scrapped by new government

The well-meaning but flawed national register of UK landlords will not be brought forward by the current Government, it has been announced... ...

UK landlord and letting agent regulation proposals have been ditched

The government announced yesterday that plans for increased regulation on letting agents and landlords will be scrapped. Grant Shapps, the Conservative housing minister, told Parliament that new rules will be drawn up......

UK buy to let is on the rise again!

The buy-to-let sector was emblematic of a British housing boom that saw property prices triple over a decade. It grew to represent 12 percent of new mortgages at its peak in 2007 as investors seeking higher returns poured money into real estate......

Worlwide property investment is on the rise again, with the US showing best returns

Global property fundamentals are still on average in the early stage of recovery but investment values have rebounded for the best properties with the US currently offering the most attractive returns, it is claimed....

UK landlords suffer twice the amount of rent arrears than 2 years ago

A total of 34% of private landlords have experienced arrears problems over the past 12 months, according to researchers BDRC Continental, compared with 16% in the third quarter of 2008.......

Capital Gains Tax rise will cripple UK buy to let market

The Coalition is considering increasing the level of CGT on the profit of the sale of non-business assets from the current 18 per cent to 40 or even 50 per cent, leaving buy-to-let investors facing the prospect of hugely inflated tax bills......

UK house prices expected to remain 'broadly stable'

"Unless there is a significant spike in interest rates, which we are not expecting, a major dip in prices is unlikely to occur over the next year," chief executive Graham Beale told reporters, adding a lack of credit and high prices relative to salaries would act as an upward limit....

Landlords see portfolio values rise

Many of Britain’s residential landlords have portfolios worth significantly more value than they did last year, due in large part to increased purchasing activity in the buy-to-let sector......

New lender enters the buy to let mortgage market

The beleaguered buy-to-let mortgage market has received a boost with the launch of a new lender in the sector......

Latest RICS survey shows rents are rising again

Good news for landlords as according to the latest RICS Lettings Survey, a lack of rental property is pushing rents higher......

The buy to let sector is clearly improving

Buy-to-let (BTL) investors have been given reason to cheer, after it was revealed lenders are beginning to return to the sector and interest rates continue to drop......

Capital gains tax convinces some landlords to sell

According to a report in The Guardian and figures released by James Hyman, a real estate specialist and partner at Cluttons estate agency, the number of residential landlords seeking to sell some of their properties before the government increases......

Buy to let mortgage market is gaining momentum

Paragon, the specialist buy-to-let lender, has reported an 84.3 per cent increase in pre-tax profits to £29.3m for the six months ending 31 March......

The Buy to let mortgage market continues to grow

THE availability of buy-to-let mortgages has continued to improve with the launch of a new range for landlords with only a 20% deposit....

How will the new government effect the buy to let sector?

Capital gains tax will be raised in a new government policy to be included in an emergency budget. This could see a flood of properties for sale as buy-to-let investors look to beat the rise......

Landlord jailed after blaze left tenant with less than one percent chance of survival

A landlord has been jailed for two-and-a-half years after a fire in one of his properties left a teenage tenant so badly burnt she was given less than one per cent chance of survival. ...

Landlords thirsty for London property but finance still an issue

Positive sentiment is heavily skewed towards London, appetite to invest is strong, but access to appropriate finance is preventing them from purchasing additional property......

Tenant suffers 90% burns as landlord failed to fit fire alarm

LAYLA SKALLII'S dreams lie in tatters - her life and family destroyed because her millionaire landlord failed to fit her shabby flat with a smoke alarm......

Landlords should take advantage of hung parliament

That is the view of David Plaister, MD of LetAssured UK, the property management company set up by landlords for landlords. “Figures released by mortgage lenders indicate that house prices fell by 0.1% in April,” said Plaister......

UK house prices likely to rise throughout 2010

UK-based property investors could be interested to hear that real estate values in the country are likely to continue to rise over the course of 2010....

Death of the amateur landlord?

Landlords in the UK should adopt a proactive and professional approach to marketing their properties if they want to achieve business success and avoid losing money......

Void periods improving for landlords

Void periods for rental property in the UK remain high and still pose a threat to landlord portfolios but have stabilised, according to new figures from the National Landlords Association......

Buy to let landlords urged to capitalise on tax breaks

Buy-to-let landlords need to ensure they are making the most of their allowable tax breaks, buy-to-let mortgage specialist Paragon Mortgages has warned... ...

House prices jump 1% in April

U.K. house prices jumped more than twice as much as economists forecast this month as the property- supply shortage persisted, Nationwide Building Society said......

Buy to let mortgage market back on track

The buy-to-let mortgage market is clambering to make up for lost ground and has improved enough for it to have been deemed to have turned the corner by an expert in the market......

Larger scale landlords to expand portfolios

The UK’s larger private landlords look set to take advantage of the improving buy-to-let market, according to the latest landlord sentiment survey from LSL Property Services......

Landlord fined £8k by environmental health

Residential landlords in the UK have been reminded of their responsibilities with regard to fire safety by an incident in Swindon......

Mixed feelings from landlords as property prices pick up

UK landlords have noted a gradual increase in property prices, leading to mixed news for the sector, according to a new survey......

Landlords optimistic but some worry around corner

there are signs that residential landlords may soon face more competition and an even more challenging business climate......

Buy to let mortgage advice in demand

Buy-to-let mortgage advice proved to be one of the most popular mortgage information searches last month, according to one advice service......

Landlord returns improving as rents rise

The latest buy-to-let index from LSL Property Services shows returns improving as rents nudge up slightly... ...

Landlord insurance is a must in today's rental market

In today's rental market it is extremely important for landlords to ensure they have adequate cover for their property, not just to insure against possible property claims, but liability claims as well......

Landlord survey: Buy to let mortgage market could see a boost in Q2

The buy to let mortgage market could see a boost shortly as more existing landlords intend to purchase an investment property in the second quarter of the year......

Regulation and red tape for the modern day landlord

The private rental sector has finally been recognised as a serious contributor to the housing market by the government. And more importantly, the value this sector adds to the economy has also been noted......

Campaign group PricedOut has attacked tax-breaks for buy-to-let investors

Admission from the Treasury under Gordon Brown as chancellor runs counter to previous government rhetoric on the relationship between a rise in buy-to-let activity and a shortage of homes for first-time buyers, according to the PricedOut group......

Landlords to vote conservative

According to the results of the most recent Young Index poll, a significant majority of residential landlords prefer the policies adopted by the Conservatives, over what Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s Labour Party has planned......

Buy to let mortgage activity 19% higher in Q1 of 2010 than Q4 of 2009

The recovery of the housing market continued to pick up pace in March, with the number of valuations on compared to February, according to the latest research by Connells Survey and Valuation......

Tricky times not over yet for landlords

Landlords still facing rent arrears and red tape......

Fixed rate mortgage loans a better option for landlords

Many real estate specialists in Britain believe that the residential property market is well on the road to recovery and considering that the last major crisis took place some twenty years ago......

House prices rise again in March

U.K. house prices rose in March as potential sellers delayed putting their properties on the market, sustaining values as demand waned, said Nationwide Building Society......

Property auctions report increase in female investor numbers

A new wave of wealthy private investors is entering into UK auction houses, hoping to snap up lucrative commercial property assets, or residential buy-to-let investments......

Nationwide: House prices are rising

The Nationwide reported today that UK house prices increased by 0.7% month-on-month in March......

Interest rate rises and the effects on landlords

As a buy to let landlord in the UK you may have mortgages on some or all of your properties......

End of 'fat-cat' letting agents?

LetAssured UK is hoping to unite landlords across the UK and put an end to “fat-cat” letting agents who have charged “astronomical fees for non-existent services” throughout the buy-to-let boom years......

Rents rose 0.7% to £820pcm this month according to FindaPropertry.com

Rents rose 0.7% to £820pcm this month, the second consecutive month of rising asking rents, which are now £16pcm higher than in January. The annual rate of decline has also reduced......

New tenancy deposit rules come into effect in October 2010

New rules to protect tenants with tenancies worth between £25,000 and £100,000 a year will soon witness increased deposit protection from October 2010......

2010 budget doesn't take private rented sector into account

Yesterday's (March 25th) Budget announcement that stamp duty is set to be abolished for first-time buyers purchasing properties under the value of £250,000 should be extended to buy-to-let landlords, one expert has suggested......

British Property Federation joins 'Cut the VAT' for landlords coalition

The British Property Federation (BPF) has joined the Cut The VAT coalition to encourage the tax on home improvements and maintenance to be reduced to five per cent, aiding buy to let property insurance holders......

A decent article from the NLA defending landlords

Landlords are not to blame. Reading the article reminded me of just how undervalued landlords, and the homes they provide, are in Britain – despite how vital they are to communities up and down the land......

97% of landlords voice protest over LHA payment

UK private sector landlords have voiced the loudest protest yet over the government’s indirect payment of local housing allowance via tenants......

Election must not be used as excuse to abandon private rented sector

A leading body representing buy to let insurance policyholders has warned that the election must not be used as an excuse to avoid supporting the growth of the private rented sector (PRS)......

Leaders: Landlords are looking to expand portfolios as activity increases

Leaders are reporting a resurgence of interest in buy to let in the South, with an increase in enquiries from landlords considering buying a property to let for the first time and those wanting to extend their portfolios. ...

Buy to let landlords set for rental boost

The supply of new properties coming on to the rental market has fallen for the second consecutive, says the latest RICS Lettings Survey......

Landlords are set to reap rewards suggests expert

Professional landlords who purchased properties more than three years ago will now be able to reap the rewards of their investment, one expert suggests....

Landlord tax break plans causing friction in housing market

Thousands of first time buyers will be priced out of the housing market if the Treasury presses ahead with plans to offer new tax breaks to buy-to-let investors, campaigners warn today......

Rental yields reach 2 year high, rising 10.6%

Annual buy-to-let yields rose by 10.6 per cent in February to reach a two-year high, research has indicated. In addition, the average rent rose by ...

Expats take control of their frozen UK pensions to release cash

Many expats with frozen UK pensions have been very pleasantly surprised by the options available since the legislation regarding pensions recently changed. Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pensions [QROPS] are the schemes that have been approved......

Tenants have been encouraged to check their landlords charges

Renters should check their leasehold bills from landlords to see if there are any service charges added on that they could question, it has been stated......

Buy to let landlords in favour of new mortgage regulations?

The majority of landlords support stronger regulation of buy-to-let mortgages and advice, according to a survey conducted by LSL Property Services plc, which owns the UK's lettings agent network, including national chains Your Move and Reeds Rains......

Landlord Questions: Dealing with a dodgy renter

How to get compensation from a letting agent who lands you with a dodgy renter.....

Landlords should still be cautious despite rental increases

Philip Suter of jml-property-insurance.co.uk who has been a Landlord for over thirty years, said ” it is good very good news that rents are now recovering again, however landlords should still remember that tenants can get into financial difficulties and consider very strongly taking out Legal Expenses Insurance and Rent Guarantee Insurance..."...

buy to let mortgage lenders ease lending restrictions

Buy-to-let mortgages are starting to return to borrowing limits last seen before the credit crunch......

Boss of leading landlord insurance firm positive about rent rises

The boss of the UKs leading specialist insurance provider to the lettings industry has welcomed the latest FindaProperty Rental Index revealing a rise in asking rents by 1.2% to £814 pcm. But he warned it may not be good news across the board......

Buy to let mortgage lending is on the increase, says expert

“It's a great relief for investors that buy-to-let finance is starting to get to get easier to find. The numbers of loans advanced has climbed steadily for two consecutive quarters, and lenders are gradually loosening their purse-strings..."...

Goverment plans for private rented sector branded 'unrealistic'

“Government plans for the private-rented sector are completely unrealistic.”...

Buy to let mortgage lending increases again

Buy-to-let lending grew for the second consecutive quarter during the final three months of 2009 as the market continued to show signs of improving, figures have shown......

Buy to let best returns table by postcode

Buy-to-let investors looking for the best returns should look outside trendy hotspots, with many less fashionable areas delivering far better returns, a study shows......

Rental yields up as demand hits lowest level in 2 years

Rents increased 1.2% in February following two months of decline over the festive period and New Year, according to the FindaProperty.com Rental Index......

Landlords urged to read Estate Agent contracts

Buy-to-let landlords in the UK should ensure that they carefully read estate agents' contracts before signing anything, one expert has advised......

Letting survey reveals missed opportunity

A recent survey conducted by rental website lettingaproperty.com, showed that 14% of enquiries received were from tenants that are unemployed and that 8% of these tenants were claiming Local Housing Allowance (LHA)......

187% profit for uk buy to let landlords

Residential property has been a better investment than cash, shares or bonds over the past decade, in spite of significant falls in house prices between 2007 and 2009, according to Halifax research......

Buy-to-let yields fall

Yields on buy-to-let property fell to 4.75% in January, the lowest level since August 2008, as rents fell and property prices continued to increase. However when house prices reached their lowest in March 2009, yields peaked at 5.1%......

Mortgage Indemnity Cover

A type of insurance policy that covers the lender against loss if you stop paying your mortgage, the property is sold and the lender does ...

Government launches initiative to monitor landlords

The UK government has today launched a new initiative which will allow tenants to post feedback on their landlords on a new online forum......

Buy to let grows for second consecutive quarter

Buy to let lending grew for the second consecutive quarter during the final three months of 2009 as the market continued to show signs of improving, new figures show......

Buy to let doesn't need more regulation, just better credit flow

Yesterday, the CML reported that new buy-to-let lending increased for the second consecutive quarter in the final three months of 2009......

Expats, now is the time to take control of your frozen pensions

Attention is being brought to expat landlords of UK property. They are being urged to take control of their frozen UK pensions and release the significant funds held within them. Many previously unknown, rewarding opportunities await non resident UK landlords.... ...

House prices still on rise but more supply will flatten growth

UK residential property prices rose for a seventh consecutive month in January, increasing by 0.6% but the outlook for the year is flat, according to the latest index to be published......

98% of agents predict a buoyant lettings market

A majority (98%) of letting agents expect the lettings market to stay the same, grow or grow substantially in the next 12 months, according to the tenant referencing agency, HomeLet....

New range of buy to let mortgage products launched

The Mortgage Works has introduced a new range of Buy to Let Stepped Tracker mortgage products......

Nationwide forecasts 10-15% house price increases in 2010 but Halifax says no gains

Hot on the heels of the Nationwide Property survey which suggested a 10% to 15% increase in UK property prices in 2010, the Halifax survey is very different......

Landlord fined for failing to have boiler inspected

Carbon monoxide flooded the kitchen of a property after a landlord failed to have a boiler service, it has been reported......

Government considers tax cuts for buy to let investors

In an attempt to revitalise the property market and prompt more property developments, the government is considering granting institutional investors a stamp duty concession in order to encourage them into becoming professional landlords....

Tenant evictions decline by 11%

Tenant evictions in England and Wales have fallen by 11%, according to easyroommate.co.uk...

BPF: Landlords are the only way to fill housing gap

Landlords and the private rental industry have been the "white knight" of the UK's housing market in recent years......

subletting a real danger to landlords, warns expert

Over the past 12 months Landlord Action, a specialist in tenant eviction, has seen a 15 per cent increase in the number of overcrowding tenancy cases, partly due to the recession....

Hometrack: House prices rise in Jan for sixth month in row

U.K. house prices rose for a sixth month in January as a shortage of homes for sale supported property values, Hometrack Ltd. said. ...

Gordon Brown announces plan to restrict shared rental property

A plan announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s government to restrict the development of new shared rental properties in the UK may result in more hassle for residential landlords and fewer affordable accommodation......

Student buy to let excels in rental market

The UK’s student buy-to-let sector remains buoyant while average private sector rents across the UK may have fallen or remained stable over the past year....

Legal & Law: PAT testing for landlords

Each year over 30 people are killed due to faulty electrics in the UK. These deaths in most part are avoidable and landlords are been urged to carry out regular PAT test on all portable appliances in rented properties and accommodation to make sure the appliances are safe for tenants to use and meet legal requirements....

Buy-to-let mortgage specialist Paragon reports arrears improvement

The lender saw the proportion of its borrowers behind on their mortgage repayments by three months or more fall from 1.54% to 1.50% in the fourth quarter of 2009....

Tenancy deposit schemes: Rate hikes and the low down

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme's recent rate hike has forced agents to review their options. Here, we bring you an exclusive Q&A on all you need to know about transferring tenancies to Mydeposits, one of the two alternative deposit schemes....

Increasing number of tenants establishes renting trend in UK

It will be a good year for landlords and letting agents as more tenants are coming into the market. ...

Investors: Buy property now

Investors are increasingly backing the housing market. Have they already gone too far? ...

Rightmove: Brits confident of house price increases this year

U.K. house prices will extend gains over the next 12 months as supplies remain constrained and the economy improves, Rightmove Plc said, citing a survey of consumers....

Claiming rent arrears from bad debting tenants: Law change helps landlords

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has halved the amount of time a residential landlord has to wait before claiming arrears from tenants. ...

Huge rise in property valuations signals recovery

Valuation activity in the residential housing market more than doubled last month compared with the previous year, according to the latest data from Connells Survey & Valuation...

Latest research shows 2009 was better than 2008 for landlords

Buy-to-let investors enjoyed a 7.6 per cent annual return on their investments last year, compared to a loss of 8.8 per cent in 2008, according to new research....

Rival mortgage lenders slash rates

Renewed competition in the mortgage market has prompted the UK's biggest lenders to cut the cost of new home loans and ease lending criteria. ...

Buy to let investors return at first time buyers expense

Buy-to-let investors are back in favour with mortgage lenders for the first time in two years, raising renewed concerns that first-time buyers could once more be squeezed out of the market for one and two-bedroom properties by landlords....

Landlord murdered and butchered by tenants

Two lovers murdered their landlord and scattered his body parts across the countryside in a plot to steal his identity, a court heard today....

UK landlords could face prosecution for not complying with The Regulatory Reform Order

Three years after changes to fire safety law, London Fire Brigade is warning that many businesses still don’t have enough understanding of how the law affects their business or premises......

UK property prices likely to flatline rather than increase or crash

The latest press release from one of the cheerleaders of Britain's still-bloated property market, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors(Rics), is today headlined "House prices continue to rise, albeit at a slower pace"......

Confidence returns amongst professional landlords

CHL Mortgages has today (7 January) released the results of its first quarterly survey of landlord customers to reveal a growing confidence in the buy-to-let sector - and a return to professionalism......

December 09 shows another rise in UK house prices

House prices increased for the sixth consecutive month in December and have now shot up by 9.4% since reaching a low in April 2009. The latest figures from Halifax show that prices are now 1.1% higher on an annual basis... ...

A reduction of 1 % will hit UK house prices 2010

Property values will drop 1 percent after stagnating in 2009 Hometrack said in a statement today. Prices increased 0.1 percent in December from the previous month to an average £156,900......

UK buy to let market confidence improves says Young Index

Results of the Young Index, published last week suggest that consumer confidence in the UK property market continues to improve......

RICS says that house prices will rise in 2010

The forecast by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors suggested the value of a typical British home would end the 2010 “one or two per cent higher” than their current level......

Property investment hotspots outlined to UK landlords

Landlords may be interested in investing in one of the "numerous property hotspots" created as a result of the international recession, according to Property Frontiers......

Buy to let investors regain confidence in UK rental market

Landlords can look forward to annual returns averaging £16,000 next year as the housing market continues to stabilise, according to LSL Property Services, the UK's biggest lettings agent group......

UK landlords set to have a good year in the 2010 buy to let market

2009 saw buy-to-let re-emerge as an attractive investment and 2010 is set to be a strong year for landlords, according to LSL Property Services......

Buy to let investors are being offered great rates when accepted

Something extraordinary has happened to buy-to-let mortgages in the past two months. If you do qualify for a buy to let mortgage, you're likely to be offered a cracking rate of interest......

Houses for sale in less prosperous areas will suffer from stamp duty increase

Tens of thousands of sales could fall through when the tax reverts from a concessionary £175,000 to its old level of £125,000 on January 01, it is claimed... ...

UK buy to let market will struggle in 2010 says ARLA

While 2009 was a difficult year for the entire property market, 2010 looks likely to present an even greater challenge for the private rented sector (PRS), according to the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA)......

UK landlords will benefit from stamp duty holiday ending

Lettingsearch.co.uk believes the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s decision not to extend the stamp duty holiday due to end on 31st December, is good news for landlords......

The UK landlords image has been improved by the recession

Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction firm, is convinced that the traditional image of the buy-to-let landlord has improved as a result of the recession....

Property club failure scares UK buy to let investors

Nearly 300 angry investors are at risk of losing of hundreds of thousands of pounds following the liquidation of a Sussex-based buy-to-let club......

Will UK house prices continue to rise next year?

For close observers of the UK's property market, 2009 was a big surprise. Contrary to almost everyone's expectations, prices started rising in the spring and have kept on going pretty much every month since then......

UK overseas property investors could be the current big winners

New research claims that Britons who bought overseas properties four years ago in investment hotspots (but without a foreign mortgage) could cash in on significant gains, despite the recent volatility in global property prices......

UK house prices rise for the 7th month in a row

U.K. house prices rose for a seventh month as the labor market showed signs of improvement and the recession eased, Nationwide Building Society said......

A two year low for buy to let remortgaging says Paragon

The proportion of landlords remortgaging their investment properties has fallen to its lowest level for two years, according to research by Paragon Mortgages......

Wealthy UK property investors to up their spending!

With the average high net worth investor already holding 28% of investments in various types of property, the long-term advantages of this investment type may make wealthy investors reach for another helping of property investments......

Regulations governing buy to let will help say Assetz

Proposals for the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to regulate buy-to-let lending have been welcomed by Assetz, which has declared the UK is entering a new phase for buy-to-let investment......

UK landlords urged to ensure electrical equipment is safe

Each year over 30 people are killed due to faulty electrics in the UK, and according to government figures almost 20% of all fires in UK homes are also caused by electrical faults......

Buy to let mortgage borrowing will be regulated

In new measurers aimed at protecting UK mortgage borrowers, the Treasury has set out its intention to regulate the buy-to-let lending market......

Buy to let lending is on the up if Paragon's success is a guide

Paragon Group the UK largest buy-to-let lender’s profits were up 1.1 per cent on 2008’s £53.7m. The group attributes its resilience to carefully mortgage book management....

A call to UK landlords has been made to allow pets

The devastating floods in Cumbria have indirectly highlighted one of the problems that is putting strain on UK rescue centres; the strict ‘no pet’ policies held by some landlords of rentable properties....

Buy to let is enticing professionals back into the market

Professionals are also increasingly active in London’s property market, according to Cluttons, the estate agents, either acquiring rental flats or homes for their grown-up children. ...

UK landlords adding to their portfolios more than ever before

Research from Paragon Mortgages has revealed that the proportion of landlords obtaining buy-to-let mortgages for portfolio extension purposes has hit its highest level for the best part of a decade......

UK Housing Market May Take Until 2014 To Return to 2007 Peak

U.K. house priceswill probably fall next year, and it may take until 2014 to return to the levels at the 2007 peak of the country’s biggest housing boom, according to a Bloomberg survey....

UK landlords will be governed by new laws in April 2010

New laws aimed at providing better services for council tenants will be launched in April 2010, the Government has announced....

CML reports 10% growth in buy to let sector

The buy-to-let mortgage market was given a timely tonic last week as it was revealed that gross lending in the sector grew by 10% in Q3, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML)......

Stamp duty holiday ends on 31st Dec.

First-time home buyers have just weeks to complete their deals before the government's temporary stamp duty exemption expires. Househunters seeking properties worth between £125,000 and £175,00...

Average rents ‘surprisingly resilient'

Average UK rents have experienced a very modest fall of 0.3% during the last 12 months, despite the bleak economic backdrop......

House prices predicted to yo-yo

Over the course of 2010 Savills forecasts for both the prime and mainstream markets indicates that as cash buyers are satisfied and shortages decline there could be a brief period of headline grabbing price falls of up to......

Recession has created a more "conscious" landlord

The good news for tenants is that the downturn has unearthed a new type of landlord — the socially aware. After falls of as much as 30 per cent in the price of some residential property, many of the highly leveraged......

1.2% rise in UK house prices in October say Halifax

UK house prices rose by another 1.2% in October, according to the Halifax, which the bank says is the fourth monthly increase in a row....

As UK house prices start climbing again, housebuilders report an encouraging quarter

Home sales in the financial year to date have been remarkably stable with net private reservations averaging 45 homes per week......

New LIVE FAQ service launched by The Landlord Association

The landlord Association has launched a new state of the art website with a unique new service which answers landlords questions in a LIVE format......

Landlords are being "too optimistic"

Landlords are being wildly optimistic about the potential of the buy-to-let market. Stop kidding yourselves - you're still in for a rough time, says Christina Jordan...

NEW CALL TO SCRAP STAMP DUTY

A property sector coalition is urging the Government to abolish the “anachronistic” Stamp Duty Land Tax, which it views as “a tax on aspiration”......

Landlords could face tough times ahead

With the UK still in recession property landlords will continue to face tough times in terms of collecting rents but a plan by opposition politians to re-introduced payments direct to property owners could ease the situation, it is claimed....

Drop in number of ‘reluctant landlords'

The number of reluctant landlords has fallen for the third quarter in a row....

Buy to let is being tipped as a growth sector

The overriding feeling among brokers and lenders at the Mortgage Intelligence annual conference last week was cautious optimism on the outlook for the mortgage sector into 2010. A number of economic factors suggest things can only get better and more dynamic and proactive brokers are well positioned to take advantage of any upturn...

Landlord fined for failing to protect tenant

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning landlords to be extra vigilant in ensuring the properties they own contain safe gas appliances that are correctly checked and certified....

Buy to let investors snapping up bargains and reviving the market

Buy-to-let investors are back, according to the latest figures, which show that estate agents have reported an increase in landlords buying property in the past three months. Figures compiled by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) showed......

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