Landlord Licensing costs are a postcode lottery

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The cost of landlord licensing schemes in Britain are a postcode lottery reveals new research1 from Direct Line for Business. The analysis of licensing charges between local authorities show a large variance, with the cost of a new licence ranging from just £55 to £1,150

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Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 – Landlord Guide

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Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 comes into force today 20th March 2019

The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government has released its official guide for landlords. Click here to view the full guide.

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Leasehold reform – HCLG committee favour commonhold

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The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has net and called for wide ranging reforms to the leasehold system finding the balance of power in existing leases, legislation and public policy is too heavily weighted against leaseholders. Click here to view the full report.

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More assaults from TV channels

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Just before tuning in to BBC1 to watch yet another “Greedy, rogue, villainous, money-grabbing landlord programme�, I was watching a trailer for next weeks Kyle Files and guess what? It’s about rogue landlords!

I quickly switched channels and on Channel 4 dispatches was just ending.

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NatWest scraps 6-month letting mortgage rule

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Buy-to-Let Mortgages:

NatWest has announced that is scrapping the six month
maximum assured shorthold tenancy (AST) letting rules and also its outright ban
on letting to tenants claiming benefits.

The lender has confirmed, following pressure from the Residential
Landlords’ Association (RLA), it is to extend the maximum letting period of an AST
from 12 months to 36 months, and it will remove the its ban on housing benefit
claiming tenants.

The changes will affect new and existing landlords with
fewer than ten properties and brings its policy in-line with the bank’s other policies
for commercial buy-to-let customers.

The bank has told the RLA that it made the decision after
conducting an extensive review of its buy-to-let policies, in a bid to “better
understand the market and challenges that landlords and their tenants face�.

According to figures produced by the RLA, two out of three the
big buy-to-let mortgage lenders won’t allow landlords to rent property to
tenants receiving housing benefit.

Ever since the media took up the story the RLA has been
lobbying government to review the situation, urging the treasury to take appropriate
action.

NatWest is one of the first big mortgage lenders to work
with a landlord association and the homelessness charity Shelter to address the
issue of AST lettings and mortgage approvals.

Given the government’s policy of encouraging landlords to
offer longer-term tenancy, mortgage restrictions were a real stumbling block to
this.

It is now thought likely that other main mortgage lingers
will fall into line with the NatWest’s new policy.

RLA policy manager John Stewart said:

“We warmly welcome the announcement from NatWest.

“Around 20 per cent of all private sector tenants are in
receipt of benefits and we need to do all we can to support them to find the
homes they need.

“NatWest’s decision will make it easier for landlords to
rent to benefit claimants and agree long term tenancies where suitable. We urge
other lenders to follow this lead.�

Managing Director of Home Buying & Ownership at NatWest,
Ian McLaughlin said:

“I am pleased that we are introducing these changes and
extending our policy to support smaller landlords in this segment of the
market.

“We would like to thank Shelter and the Residential
Landlord’s Association for their thoughtful and thorough contributions to the
review, to help us better understand the market in this area and bring our
policies in line with those in our commercial segment.�

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – NatWest scraps 6-month letting mortgage rule | LandlordZONE.

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Politics take a toll on Your Investments. What should you do?

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Investing:

It seems we witness troubled times no matter in what part of the world we decided to live. From an economic point of view, last year was the very definition of turmoil: The Dow Jones saw the worst fall in December 2018, comparable to the one that had marked the Great Depression of the 1930s.

The Brexit problem negatively affects not only Britain or the U.K. pound, but also Europe as a whole while the US interest rate increased by the US Federal Reserve last year – paired with Trump’s decisions, trade wars, and usual shenanigans – weakened the dollar and sent “economic predictability� down the drain. It is clear that politics take a massive toll on our lives and our investments, no matter their nature. So what should we do?

1. If You Base Your Investments
on Forex

Forex traders
had a year similar to a ride in a roller
coaster. In the U.K., Brexit shook and is still rocking
the Sterling to its core, while the dollar is not the most reliable currency of
them all anymore. While the Euro stood its ground for the most of 2018, there
is enough political turmoil in the Eurozone to keep Forex traders on their toes
this year as well.

• According to Morgan
  Stanley experts, the dollar will have a challenging year ahead. They recommend Forex traders to build their
  strategies around selling the USD against the EUR during the forecast for
  inflation in the Eurozone.

Along with these
specialists, come others, from banks and financial corporations who envision a
time of depression in the U.S. economy, with the EUR strengthening its position
in the second half of 2019.

As for the GPD,
it seems everybody has the same stand: if a Brexit cancellation occurs, the GPD
might boost by 10%; on the other hand, if the Brexit passes – one accord or
another – the GPD will fall yet another 10%.

Now, if you have
a Forex trading account for a while, you
already know that significant news in
politics, economics, and social movements will have a strong influence upon
your trades.

• Experts, however, recommend you
  do not make impulse decisions.
• The rule of thumb is always to keep your cool no matter what. Before
  entering or exiting a trade based on a global event, allow the dust to settle
  for a few seconds, even if those seconds are crucial for achievement. They may also be vital for a loss.

2. If You Base Your Investments
on Stocks and Indices

According to the
same Morgan Stanley analysts, things are not and will not be as dark as they
seem right now. You can expect chief positive changes for investors seeking to
diversify their stock portfolios and their stock market gains.

For instance,
the tech sector is on the rise. You can approach the tech sectors in two
different manners:

• Wait for some highly praised and
  anticipated tech companies
  to go public in 2019, as they announced. IPOs are excellent
  opportunities for investors, and names like Pinterest, Slack or Palantir
  already keep investors on their toes.
• Keep your eyes on NASDAQ.
  Besides the fact that NASDAQ, in general, makes a viable investment opportunity
  for those interested in trading CDFs or buying index funds, tech companies
  usually disrupt the market as a whole – and you can take advantage of it either
  way.

Moreover, keep
your eyes open for Japan. Besides being amongst
the giants of the tech world, some Japanese companies seem to look
forward to expanding their businesses.

• Japan may offer new and old
  investors a handful of benefits no other countries or markets do these days:
  globalization, breathtaking innovations in technology, low-interest rates in funding projects, a relaxed money-borrowing
  environment, and blue-chip corporations
  with impeccable financial track records and balance sheets. 
• Same goes for Germany – keep an
  eye open for the DAX30, one of the most offering stock indices in Europe. With
  its strict rules for companies and its globally famous names under its belt,
  DAX30 is the opportunity for CDF
  traders versed in scalping strategies.

3. If You Base your Investments on Real Estate

Investing in
real estate takes many forms and methods. You can opt for a real estate
investment trust (REIT), a mortgage investment entity (MIE) – also known as a
mortgage investment corporation –, a real estate limited
partnership (LP), and, of course, the real
property you buy and resell or you buy for renting purposes.

All come with
their fair share of advantages and disadvantages, but all are profitable in the
long run if you manage to protect
your investments this year, especially if you are in the rental
business.

Real estate as
an investment is susceptible to short-term economic swings and depends a lot of
global economic changes and currency trends.

• If you still remember what the
  2009 financial crisis did to real estate
  in a rippling effect in the U.S., U.K., and the Eurozone, you know you should
  keep your eyes open to all breaking news referring to market plunges,
  exports/imports conflicts, trade wars, banks’ interest rates, and more.
• Opting for protective insurance
  and wrapping your real estate business in layers of protective legal structures
  are mandatory, especially when things are still blurry on all fronts.

Conclusion

Unfortunately,
like it or not, politics have a direct influence on the money we make or we
hope to make via our investments. If you have a broad
portfolio, it may be time to talk things with a brokering company and
understand the advantages (and downsides) of managed investment accounts, no
matter their type.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Politics take a toll on Your Investments. What should you do? | LandlordZONE.

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Iain Duncan Smith & Andrew Neil for Upcoming Landlord Investment Show

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Investment Show:

The UK’s largest landlord exhibition, the National Landlord Investment Show, will return to London Olympia on the 21^st March for its 12th appearance at this location.

The National
Landlord Investment Show is the UK’s leading landlord and property exhibition and
offers attendees a chance to connect with thousands of other professionals in
the industry, such as investors, management companies, letting agents and various
suppliers of buy-to-let services. 

This month,
guest appearances will be made by Iain Duncan Smith and Andrew Neil, who will
both be partaking in the Government Panel Debate, sponsored by Nova Financial
and Less Tax 4 Landlords. Well-known political broadcaster Andrew Neil will
chair this himself, and will welcome other notable individuals, including the
Rt. Hon. Iain Duncan Smith, Paul Mahoney (Nova Financial), Tony Gimple (Less
Tax 4 Landlords), Sarah Davidson (This is Money).

With a substantial
expected turnout of up to 4,000 UK landlords and property investors, a large
focus will be on how landlords can grow and retain portfolios with success, with
in-depth discussions set to take place on important issues facing the private
rented sector today. These include Brexit, property licensing, tax, finance,
immigration and much more, which will be covered in seminars on the day
delivered by industry experts.

There will also
be a question and answer debate that will discuss the issues that UK landlords
are currently facing, exploring the various changes that individuals in this
sector should be aware of and predictions about the future of the industry. Attendees
will be given a unique opportunity to voice their own opinions and raise
questions that matter to their own individual operations.

Tracey Hanbury,
co-director of the Landlord Investment Show comments: “The Landlord Investment
Show is a unique opportunity for companies to showcase their services to landlords
throughout the UK.  Since we first
established the event, it has developed a strong reputation in the sector and has
attracted some of the industry’s most valuable players, including, Less Tax for
Landlords, NatWest Bank, Barclays Bank, Nova, Landlord Action, Strawberry Star,
and Alan Boswell Group.�

Steve Hanbury,
co-director of the Landlord Investment Show comments: “This exhibition provides
landlords with a unique and comprehensive opportunity to discover the latest
trends, news, insights and advice that matter to the industry. It is unlike any
other exhibition in that it gathers together so many of the UK’s leading
figures in the property world, with huge opportunities to share and
connect.  It’s also free to attend! So
anyone with an interest in areas such as property tax, buy-to-let opportunities
or legislation changes really has no excuse not to join us on the 21st.�

To learn more about The Landlord Investment Show or book free tickets to attend, visit the website: https://www.landlordinvestmentshow.co.uk/

Contact Information:

Tracey@landlordinvestmentshow.co.uk

Contact number:
020 8656 5075

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Iain Duncan Smith & Andrew Neil for Upcoming Landlord Investment Show | LandlordZONE.

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If someone said by this time next year they could make you a property millionaire, would you be interested?

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Alex Cook, Litigation Solicitor and Partner at Helix Law offers his view on the world of property development training.

Would you like to get rich quickly? There’s a host of people out there telling us we can all be property millionaires – but at what cost?

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Security & Locks – Buy to Let Renovation & HMO Projects

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Security:

Renovating a buy-to-let
property can be a great way for landlords to increase the rental income on
their property, or to turn a profit from a recent property purchase. Updating
kitchens and bathrooms or redecorating throughout makes a place much more attractive
to prospective tenants. For older, larger properties, renovations may include
completely overhauling heating, hot water systems and windows, or converting it
to flats to become an HMO (home of multiple occupancy).

A renovation project is
also an opportunity to upgrade a property’s security, sometimes something that
landlords overlook. How can landlords ensure the safety of their tenants and
their property after a renovation project? And what protections are they
legally obliged to deliver?

Let’s take a look at the
options with research undertaken by the home security experts at Locksmith Nottingham.

1. How the Type of Renovation Project Determines the Kind
of Locks You Choose

When renovating any
rented accommodation, it’s worth considering the type of property. As a
property owner, you could rent out properties such as flats, houses, holiday
homes, Airbnb rentals, and HMOs. Because of this, the type of lock that you
will need will vary.

Modern flats and homes
are most likely to have locks that rely on the use of a cylinder. If you rent a
property in a high-risk area or want to offer tenants additional security, you
may want to consider anti-snap locks, like those made by Ultion. These cannot be
snapped easily by burglars (making forced entry much more difficult).

Holiday homes and Airbnb
rentals may benefit from smart or keypad locks. Smart/keypad locks allow you to
change access codes easily, preventing people who have already used the property
from reentering.

2. Main Access Security and Front Doors

The next step when
renovating a property is to consider which type of security lock you will use
on your front door. You could use a standard five-lever mortice lock, but you
could save money on insurance premiums and improve security by choosing one
that conforms to BS3621 standards.

There are even smart
lock options here, which may encourage prospective tenants to pay a premium
rents.

3. Other Doors and Access

Considerations for HMO
properties differ. Not only do you have to provide adequate security for each
dwelling, but you must also provide a method for people to gain access to
common areas of the building, such as the main door to hallways. Front door
access can either by via a standard key operated lock, or a keypad lock where
residents have to enter a code. If you rent multiple holiday units that share
common areas, you may want to adopt a similar set up.

4. Window Security and Locking Systems

Criminals don’t always
enter a property through the front door, the windows can often be a week point.
That’s why it’s so important to have great window locks in place, not only to
protect your tenants but to prevent costly criminal damage to accommodation.

The best window locks
are those that snap shut as soon as you close the windows. These are common on
casement windows (that rely on a hinge to open). There are other windows
security systems that you might want to consider, including those that prevent
windows from being opened wide enough to allow a burglar to get in.

5. Fire Safety Law and Locks in Homes of Multiple
Occupancy

The law on HMOs has
changed recently, in October 2018, with minimum room sizes introduced for
sleeping areas. Parts of the property like kitchens and hallways that are
classed as common areas are subject to stringent fire safety regulations, the
responsibility for them falls to the landlord. Kitchens and hallways are,
therefore, subject to the same fire safety rules that govern shared internal
spaces according to The Housing Act, 2004.

Landlords are
responsible for ensuring that all escape routes are clearly marked, that there
are fireproof doors, fire protection, and warning systems and fire
extinguishing facilities, like fire blankets and fire extinguishers, in shared
locations. In these situations, landlords will need to provide a method for
tenants to gain access to shared areas, that complies with fire safety as well
as tenant/property security.

Managing shared area
security can be tricky, depending on where the area is and whether it has
external access points. You may want to consult with a professional locksmith
and fire safety expert as part of any major work to an HMO property.

6. Managing Locks Once Renovations Are Complete and
Tenants are in Place

Once renovations are
complete and tenants are in place, it’s important to have a plan for managing
locks. Ideally, you should have set out in the tenancy agreement the landlord
and tenant’s responsibilities regarding locks and your role, especially in
shared accommodation.

7. Conclusion

If you’re renovating a
property, it’s well worth considering your security situation, especially when
you are thinking about making changes to accommodation with shared areas.
Landlords need to make sure that they follow all regulations, while at the same
time finding lock and security solutions that meet their tenant’s needs. With
the right locks for the job, landlords can boost the security of their
accommodation, prevent burglary, improve fire safety and reduce insurance
premiums.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Security & Locks – Buy to Let Renovation & HMO Projects | LandlordZONE.

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Fire starting tenant an “affront to human decency”

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Joshua Rosenberg, a tenant in Clackmannanshire, has been found guilty and jailed for 12 years in Glasgow’s High Court for attempted extortion, attempted fraud, wilful fire raising and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

After moving into the property Rosenberg immediately started sending threatening emails to the two sisters who owned the property and their solicitor demanding compensation starting with £3,500 and escalating to £95,000 by February 2015

Alison Davidson

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