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 […]

Builders who took safety shortcuts in a purpose-built private student hall of residence were ordered to pay more than £14,000 in fines and costs in court. Cost Design Ltd and UK Real Estate Ltd – part of developers MCR Group – admitted breaching building regulations before Manchester Magistrates Court concerning the development in Grafton Street, […]

Over 300,000 people and businesses you want to promote your event to receive our eNewsletters every week. Having organised, promoted and presented several highly successful property events I’ve written this article for all those organisers of property workshops, training courses and networking events that take place throughout the UK every month. I know how much […]

I have purchased some of my best property deals at auctions but it is not for the faint hearted. When buying at an auction these are the major considerations: Why wasn’t the property sold by an estate agent? They are usually marketed by an estate agent before they get to auction! Is there a problem […]

Yesterday (Friday 2nd September 2011) I attended a buy to let investors workshop at the Holiday Inn Kensington, London which was organised by Paul Shamplina of Landlord Action. I had been invited as a special guest of Paul Shamplina, the founder of Landlord Action to review the event and provide constructive feedback. Landlord Action is […]

Twitter may be a toddler in terms of age, but when it comes to purpose the microblogging site has managed to become the most useful utility for keeping up with news and hot topics as they happen. It is huge. And growing incredibly fast. This seemingly frivolous social networking site has become one of the […]