Renting news

Landlords 'should visit properties frequently'

Buy to let property owners should frequently visit the houses and flats they own in order to check for any signs of damage or structural problems, it has been advised. Nick Oldridge, a spokesperson for the DIY advice site Roofapedia, said that people renting can often not report structural problems, meaning that landlords should regularly look at their properties for ...

7th Jun 2012

'Many measures in place' to protect tenants

There are plenty of measures in place to protect people moving into rental property, which should assuage any fears that potential tenants have, one expert has pointed out. UK property expert Sue Hopson said the market is "heavily legislated" in favour of the tenant, with a "huge" amount of legislation added every year to lettings under the Housing Act. ...

25th May 2012

Good tenants 'more important than short-term rents'

It is more important for landlords to secure good tenants to fill their properties than it is to maximise short-term rents, one specialist has noted. UK rental property expert James David made the comments after recent figures revealed that rents rose by 0.5 per cent on a monthly basis as rental demand increased in April, with annual rental inflation standing at 2.4 per ...

23rd May 2012

Landlords 'must be aware of the law'

Buy to let property investment can be a lucrative business, but landlords need to be aware of the law if they are to be successful and the process is to be trouble-free, one expert on the subject has noted. Tessa Shepperson from Landlord Law said that the main problem for landlords is not knowing what the law is. If landlords deal with things properly and comply with the ...

17th May 2012

Pre-tenancy screening 'a wise option' for landlords

It is a wise decision for landlords to screen potential tenants before they allow them to occupy their property, it has been advised. Tom Entwistle, from the advice organisation Landlord Zone, said that buy to let property owners need to do all they can to protect themselves against non-payment, late or partial payment of rent. He said that the most important aspect of ...

14th May 2012

West London 'most popular' for Olympic rentals

West London is proving more popular than any other area of the capital for property rentals during the Olympic Games, a new report has revealed. Research carried out by ViveUnique found that 89.5 per cent of bookings for the Olympic period are for homes outside of East London, despite this being the area with the easiest access to the sites of the events. West London is the ...

10th May 2012

Communication 'essential' between landlords and tenants

It is vital that buy to let property owners maintain excellent levels of communication with their tenants, according to one expert who has said that neither party should underestimate the value of maintaining a solid relationship. Marie Parris, managing director of George Ellis Property Services, said that the current economic uncertainty means that this relationship is ...

10th May 2012

UK rental prices 'set to rise'

There is set to be a further rise in UK rental prices in the weeks and months ahead, it has been predicted, which may result in people considering moving to other areas. UK property expert James Davis said he "strongly believes" that rental values will continue to increase in the UK and does not see a reason why the situation will change, on the back of the fact ...

9th May 2012

Happy tenants 'equal to a successful investment'

Landlords whose tenants have high satisfaction levels and appear to be generally happy can class their investment as a success, one expert been noted, though there are many other reactors that buy to let property owners must bear in mind. According to Malcolm Harrison, a spokesman for the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, it is not "rocket science" being a private landlord, ...

2nd May 2012

Olympic effect on rents 'will be minimal'

The effect that the upcoming London Olympic Games will have on rental prices in the capital is likely to be minimal, if felt at all, one analyst has predicted. London property expert Michael Banks said he does not foresee the Games having an affect on the market, though there may be some landlords focused on short-term corporate lets who will "do okay" out of it. ...