News items by Tag: News Category

Landlords set to lose out for blacklisting tenants

Local Housing Allowance rates – the allowances paid to people claiming housing benefits - which will take effect from April this year have been published by the Department for Work and Pensions.

And a number of the 16 categories for shared bedroom and one, two and three bedroom properties have gone up - prompting criticism of landlords who "jumped the gun" and banned applicants on housing benefit. 

London rent soars, arrears down says latest index

The average rental income for a landlord in London has reached an extraordinary £38,000 per year with a yield of an equally amazing 14.6 per cent, according to research from LSL Property Services.

These figures dwarf typical incomes for landlords in every other region of the UK in LSL's latest Buy To let index which shows - outside of the capital - very mixed results. 

Landlords “ready to help tenants in trouble”

According to a new survey from the AA, seven out of 10 landlords say they’ve drastically changed their plans in the past year to go and help out a tenant with a household repair.

The research from AA Home Membership, conducted amongst 200 landlords, reveals that in the past year one in five have returned from a holiday early and another one in five has had to find a babysitter. 18% have taken time off work and 16% have left a wedding or other special event. 

LHA tenants are being “misrepresented”

A property website specialising in LHA tenants says the current media rhetoric around tenants on benefits is stigmatising the LHA market.

DSSmove.co.uk, a website tenants searching for LHA properties, claims Channel 4’s controversial ‘Benefits Street’ and Fergus Wilson, the Kent-based professional landlord who recently announced that he will no longer be accept benefit tenants, are giving a heavily distorted impression of the market.

Serious rent arrears 'biggest risk to lettings market'

More than 67,000 rental households across the UK now owe more than two months’ rent according to LSL Property Services.

The firm’s quarterly rental market analysis, looking at October to December inclusive, shows that those in severe arrears rose 2,000 since the third quarter of 2013. Even so, the number of households in severe arrears is still 26 per cent below the rate a year ago. 

Not renting to tenants on benefits is short-sighted and self-defeating

A North East property boss has described himself as “shocked” by one of Britain’s best known landlord’s decision to evict 200 tenants simply for being on benefits – calling the decision “short-sighted and self-defeating.”

Fergus Wilson – who owns nearly 1000 properties in Kent with his wife Judith –hit the headlines this week for issuing eviction notices to every tenant who receives welfare, and has announced that he will no longer accept applicants on housing benefit.