The latest official statistics confirm the housing market is sluggish and is not showing any signs of a revival at any time soon. The government’s Communities and Local Government statistics for July show that house prices fell 1.5 percent year on year and a nominal 0.3 percent from June. The average house price is now […]

Homeless charity Shelter claims around 1,500 rogue landlords are making life a misery for tenants. The figure was pinpointed from asking councils across England and Wales about private housing complaints. The response was councils have received 86,628 complaints from tenants in the past year. The calls for help highlighted potentially life-threatening dangers like hazardous gas […]

A Scottish landlord could face jail after he aggressively attempted to evict a heavily pregnant tenant over late rental payments from a two-bedroom Fife property. He is said to have told police officer that “It is cheaper my way.” to evict the tenant rather than go through the courts. The eviction noticed had been issued […]

Capital raising to invest in more property is driving the buy to let remortgage market, according to a lender. Almost half of landlords (47 per cent) told Paragon Mortgages that their main reason for remortgaging was to raise funds to expand their portfolios. More than a third (35 per cent) switched mortgages for a better […]

Buy to let fraudsters lied about rental returns and finding tenants in a scam that tricked investors out of more than £1 million. The property investment club sold 21 houses in Burnley and Pendle, Lancashire, to Irish landlords by offering false promises about the likely real returns. In fact, Manchester Crown Court heard the sale […]

What do you think of the way councils operate in relation to housing in your area? Do you think they are on the ball? – Helpful? – Proactive? – A blessing or a curse? Not only can I guess your response but also the look on your face as you read those words. But soft………what […]

Property investors are ready to see prices at least double in some London hotspots, according to estate agents Knight Frank. Some neighbourhoods may see prices shoot up by up to 140 per cent by the end of 2016, says the study. The findings reveal different price drivers for neighbourhoods across the capital – but two […]

A landlord is counting the cost of taking a year’s rent upfront from renters who turned out to be a drugs gang who turned his buy to let home in to a cannabis factory. The house was destroyed in a fire sparked by the gang tampering with the electricity supply to bypass meters in the […]

Surging buy to let mortgage applications have boosted mortgage valuations to record summer levels, according to surveyors. Property valuations for landlords were up 85 per cent in August on figures of 12 months ago, according to Connells Survey and Valuation. The total number of valuations in August was just 4 per cent lower than July, […]

Councillors have warned HMO landlords to put their house in order or face prosecution. The warning was triggered as magistrates in Bath fined two local landlords for breaching HMO licensing conditions. Richard Seccombe was ordered to pay £700 plus £15 victims surcharge and £100 costs for flouting fire safety in a rental property in Wells […]

At Your Property Network we are often approached by first time property investors who are confused about the best way to set about building a small to medium sized property portfolio. Many have a reasonable amount of capital behind them and can see the very real attractions of long-term investment for capital growth and pension […]

After another bad few months for landlords in tenant disputes, the AIIC have issued more tips to help landlords in adjudications. According to The Deposit Protection Scheme’s findings, June 1st to August 19th saw over 1,000 disputes with 60% due to damage to property. Cleaning costs played a part in 40% of the disputes and […]

Homes are still 25 per cent too expensive and the market needs to carry on adjusting, according to a new house price survey. Economic analysts Fitch Ratings have introduced yet another house price survey in to an already confused and crowded market. The firm is inviting comments about the underlying model – a copy of […]

A letting agent confessed to a judge that he dipped in to rents and deposits paid by tenants to keep his struggling business afloat. Zulfiqar Hussain, who traded as Charles Lawson Lettings in Oxford, pleaded guilty to eight charges of unfair commercial practice and transferring criminal property at the city’s crown court. The charges arose […]

The Scottish housing market is still on the slide as house prices have dropped on last years figures but back down to 2009 levels. The research by Dunfermline-based ESPC found the average house price in Edinburgh for the past three months is 3.6% down on the same period last year. In Edinburgh’s suburbs, three bedroom […]

Landlords are becoming more family orientated and buying bigger homes to rent, according to a buy to let mortgage lender. Paragon Mortgages research highlights that landlords buying investment property this quarter are keener on larger homes. Around four out of 10 are looking to invest in semi-detached houses and a fifth are looking to buy […]

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has urged letting agents to join a new money protection scheme for landlords and tenants. Timing his support with the public launch of SafeAgent, the move is seen as massive support for the fight against rogue letting agents and a snub for the established Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA). SafeAgent […]

Letting agents have turned up the heat on the government to regulate the private rental sector another notch. The spat is over who controls letting agents by managing accreditation.

The cost of buying a rental home is set to rise again as banks and building societies tighten their grip on hidden fees New rules culling the number of property professionals that can act for buyers mean choice of lawyers and valuers is limited.

Whether you are wallpapering an entire room or just a feature wall, here are a few pointers. It is quite straightforward to calculate how much wallpaper is required. Measure the height of room, either from ceiling to skirting, or picture rail to skirting for full walls. Add on the pattern repeat. Now measure right round […]

Inexperienced landlords can quickly find themselves out of pocket if they fail to protect their property with specialist buy to let insurance. Rental property must have the right protection as insurers will refuse to settle a claim if standard homes cover is in place. Landlord insurance is like any other cover – the features, benefits […]