Writings for Landlords

Despite the hype of many rental surveys, official statistics have shown that private rents nationally are growing below inflation – and more slowly than social rents.

The Residential Landlords Association has called on the industry and the Government to establish a common survey on rents, following an investigation showing a chasm between different rent indices.

The average fixed buy-to-let mortgage rate fell again in the last quarter of 2012, according to buy-to-let specialist TBMC.

Rental price growth is likely to slow this year, with supply set to grow as private landlords – dubbed a ‘rag-tag army’ – invest more.

Private rents in England are rising by an average of almost £300 a year, according to Shelter.

A slump in the number of private landlords in London willing to take homeless people on benefits must be addressed, town halls have warned.

The boss of a collapsed letting agency which lost £1.2m of money belonging to over 300 soldiers, including those serving in Afghanistan, has been disqualified for nine years.

A new conference for landlords and letting agents is to be held in March at Birmingham.

Landlords who refuse to comply with requests to improve their properties should be charged a £400 admin bill when orders are made against them. These would include improvement notices, prohibition orders and management orders.

The critical question of whether rent paid in advance is a tenant’s deposit is to be decided by the Court of Appeal.