Keeping up with the constantly evolving legislation in the private rental sector has become par for the course for landlords and letting agents. After all, those who fail to comply risk hefty fines and could lose their rights to evict troublesome tenants should such a situation...
Intro Karen Buck MP has introduced a Private Mem- bers Bill on housing fitness which is set to return to the House of Commons for its Report Stage on 26th October 2018. The Bill is seeking to amend the relevant sections of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. It seeks to modernise...
Gas safety remains an absolutely critical part of being a landlord and, by extension, a letting agent. The requirements around gas safety have evolved over the years and its current form is the Landlord’s Gas Safety Certificate, which has been in place since 2009...
When is the best time to sell my home? There are all sorts of myths about when is the best time to sell, but each neighbourhood and each home is different, so read on to find out when is the best time for you. Is there an optimum season for selling? Spring always...
Receiving offers on your property can be a very exciting time, but it is always good to keep level-headed to make sure you get the right offer for you. Considering the offer It is normal practice for buyers to offer 5-10% less than the advertised asking price so...
Presentation matters. Buyers are coming to look around your property, and you need to make an effort to show your home at its best. Don’t make buyers imagine how good it could be – show them. Decide on the strengths of your property and show them off. Go all out to...
Four quick wins to make before you put your property on the market: 1. Declutter Buyers can often struggle to see past heaps of furniture and personal items, and they can make rooms feel small. Consider renting some external storage space to house items until you move. But try...
Five long term considerations if you’re thinking about moving in the coming months or years: 1. Central heating Installing full gas or oil heating to your property could add to the purchase price of your home. 2. Double glazing Double glazed windows are far more...
1. Don’t look for them through Gumtree This has got to be number one for so many reasons. Many landlords I speak with use Gumtree in order to source tenants as they think its ‘cheaper’ (not so cheap when you have a tenant 6 months in arrears who wont...
As of 1 st June 2019 the Tenant Fee Bill came into effect. Although landlords across the country may have heard whispers of the Tenant Fee Bill, many have failed to consider the impact it will have for them and the changes to their working practices that they will need to...
I had an interesting discussion with a gumtree landlord recently about 'right to rent' checks on new applicants. Their view was that agents (or landlords with new lets) are not required to check the ID of UK citizens, it could be deemed as discrimination if we did and potentially...
A dog may be a man’s best friend, however not every buyer will feel the same as you do about your beloved pet. So here are our top 8 tips on how to ensure potential buyers are not put off by your furry friends. 1. Remember to repair any damage caused by pets, including...
With trends moving towards long-term rents, it is inevitable that tenants will want to be able to have pets, but landlords are understandably going to be hesitant to allow them to do so, even though there are clear advantages in allowing pets on the property. It can be a fine...