EXODUS: Leading North London landlord family with 17 properties quits the sector

admin    Uncategorized     agents

A landlord family has sold its large portfolio in north London to a property group after renting its 17 homes out for 30 years.

The portfolio — which sold for an undisclosed sum — is made up of 10 houses and seven flats in St Albans, Fleetville, Harpenden and London Colney and was bought by Clarence Property Group (CPG) after being in the same family for two generations.

Originally owned by a landlord couple, the investment passed to their three children who opted to sell it as one portfolio. 

CPG owner Chris Johnson (pictured) made the purchase after contacting the family through Daniels Estate Agents, which had managed the portfolio for 30 years. 

“They were looking to wind down,” Johnson told The Herts Advertiser. “We approached them back in February, which coincided with them deciding to sell.”

Three of the houses are occupied by sitting tenants, while the rest are let on assured shorthold tenancies. The flats are in an unbroken block in Grosvenor Road, St Albans, with a large garden which CPG is considering for further development.

The flats are all let on ASTs, apart from one occupied by a sitting tenant. Johnson added: “The sitting tenants and all the flats will all be retained for long-term investment, while some of the houses may be sold in the short to medium term, as and when they become vacant.”

This is the St Albans-based firm’s second portfolio acquisition of the year, after it bought five freehold buildings in West Norwood.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – EXODUS: Leading North London landlord family with 17 properties quits the sector | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: EXODUS: Leading North London landlord family with 17 properties quits the sector

New Lords Committee launches inquiry on UK housing needs

admin    Uncategorized     agents

A newly created House of Lords Built Environment Committee has launched its first inquiry on the demand for new housing in the UK and how barriers to meeting this demand can be overcome.

The focus of the inquiry will be on the key factors shaping the type

The post New Lords Committee launches inquiry on UK housing needs appeared first on Property118.

View Full Article: New Lords Committee launches inquiry on UK housing needs

A step towards a fully digital planning system

admin    Uncategorized     agents

MHCLG has launched two new web apps to will help owners improve and extend their properties and are a step towards a fully digital planning system and will save time and money for developers, architects and homeowners by speeding up and simplifying the application process.

The post A step towards a fully digital planning system appeared first on Property118.

View Full Article: A step towards a fully digital planning system

DEADLINE: From tomorrow ALL new tenants must be checked for immigration status

admin    Uncategorized     agents

Right to Rent changes come in tomorrow (1^st July) when landlords will need to start checking the immigration status of all adults before they let a property, regardless of their nationality.

EEA citizens and their family members now need immigration status in the UK, in the same way as other foreign nationals, and can’t rely on an EEA passport or national ID card to prove their right to rent. 

Most will have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme and already have digital evidence of their UK immigration status.

The government has reassured landlords they won’t need to evict a tenant who doesn’t have settled status unless issued with a ‘Notice of letting to a disqualified person’ by the Home Office.

 It has also confirmed that retrospective checks on existing EU, EEA or Swiss tenants won’t be required.

Discriminatory

But landlords will be held to be discriminatory if they only check people who they think are not UK citizens – all tenants must be checked regardless of their status.

Tenants with settled status can evidence their right to rent by sharing their immigration status digitally using the online Right to Rent service on GOV.UK which includes their photograph and personal details. Landlords can also make hard copy checks using a newly updated property documents list.

During Covid, landlords have not had to physically inspect Right to Rent documentation or conduct checks face-to-face.

Full document checks had been due to return on 21^st June but, following the government’s decision to delay the full suspension of Covid restrictions in England, this has now been extended until the end of August meaning that scanned or videoed documents are still acceptable.

Read more about right to rent.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – DEADLINE: From tomorrow ALL new tenants must be checked for immigration status | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: DEADLINE: From tomorrow ALL new tenants must be checked for immigration status

TV show to feature landlord’s battle to get back property back from rogue tenant

admin    Uncategorized     agents

The next episode of the new and sixth series of Nightmare Tenants Slum Landlords is due to air on Thursday evening (1st July 2021) at 10pm on Channel 5 featuring evictions experts Paul Shamplina.

He will be seen helping landlord Sam Mubarak who bought a house for his mum but, when she became ill and moved back in with him, he then converted into an HMO.

A year-and-a-half ago, one of the tenants stopped paying rent and refused to move out, leaving Sam nearly £11,000 out of pocket and desperate to get his property back.

Vandalism

Other cases featured in the programme include letting agents Karen O’Connor and Gemma Painter who investigate claims of vandalism and anti-social behaviour at a property they manage in Wigan. 

When they discover the tenant is no longer living there, they track her down and discover she’s abandoned the property and has tried to move in somewhere else via a fake reference.  

Also, lawyer Chris Sharpe is called in to evict squatters who have taken over a commercial warehouse in Hackney, London and in Darwen, Lancashire letting agent Paul Ainsworth-Lord issues eviction proceedings on a tenant with over £3,000 in arrears. 

But his attempts at evicting him are delayed when the tenant refuses to leave unless Ainsworth-Lord gives him a good reference. 

The lawyer knows there’s only one way to sort out the problem – going straight to the tenant’s guarantor. But will she play ball with him or make the whole situation worse?

Watch the previous episode of the series aired on 24th June 2021.

Find out more about evictions. Read more stories about HMOs.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – TV show to feature landlord’s battle to get back property back from rogue tenant | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: TV show to feature landlord’s battle to get back property back from rogue tenant

Greedy Rich Landlord raking it in collecting Taxpayers money he’s not entitled to

admin    Uncategorized     agents

It’s official, DWP Universal Credit will keep paying Landlords money they are not entitled to, wasting Taxpayers money.

Benefit tenants, here is another reason (of many) why you can’t secure accommodation any more. Shelter, DWP UC will pay me £20,000 over 3 years

The post Greedy Rich Landlord raking it in collecting Taxpayers money he’s not entitled to appeared first on Property118.

View Full Article: Greedy Rich Landlord raking it in collecting Taxpayers money he’s not entitled to

It’s good to be beside the seaside

admin    Uncategorized     agents

Post Lockdown research by  GetAgent.co.uk, indicates that Great Britain’s historic towns have become the most in-demand buying locations in the country, with higher annual price rises than any other type of British town.

In the past year

The post It’s good to be beside the seaside appeared first on Property118.

View Full Article: It’s good to be beside the seaside

BREAKING: Welsh government launches £10m rent arrears grant scheme for private tenants

admin    Uncategorized     agents

The English government is under pressure today to bring in a rent arrears relief grant programme after the Welsh government followed its Scots counterparts and announced a £10m Covid-related rent arrears relief scheme.

The new Welsh Tenancy Hardship Grant will start in a few weeks and is designed to help people in private rented accommodation who are struggling to pay their rent because of the pandemic.

“This help in Wales follows that of Scotland, and exposes England as being the poor relation when it comes to support for the private rented sector. It is time for the Chancellor to provide similar assistance for landlords and tenants in England,” says Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the NRLA.

Qualifying tenants must have fallen behind on their rent by more than eight weeks between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.

The scheme has strings – rent arrears can be due to a loss of income due to furlough and a reduction in work or because they were only able to claim Statutory Sick Pay when ill with Covid-19. It is only open to people who are not receiving housing-related benefits.

This scheme will replace the existing Tenancy Saver Loan, which was introduced in December 2020 and is in addition to existing support financing. Anyone who received a loan will have that loan converted to a grant.

“I understand the stress and worry people will be experiencing if they have fallen behind in their rent,” says Welsh minister Julie James (pictured).

“Once someone falls behind with their rent it can be increasingly difficult for them to catch up without support.

“We know that if they are made homeless, the impact on them and their families is huge – so too is the cost to public services of dealing with homelessness.

“I urge anyone who is struggling to pay their rent – even if they’re just starting to have difficulties – to contact their landlord or agent and organisations like Citizen’s Advice or Shelter Cymru so they receive the right advice and support.”

Positive step

“Today’s announcement is a positive step for both landlords and tenants in Wales and will help keep people in their homes,” says Ben Beadle (pictured).

“We welcome that the Welsh Government has listened to NRLA calls to introduce an improved scheme that will help more tenants pay their rent.

“It is essential that the grants are made as accessible for tenants as possible and implemented effectively. We encourage landlords who have tenants with arrears to make them aware of the scheme.”

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – BREAKING: Welsh government launches £10m rent arrears grant scheme for private tenants | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: BREAKING: Welsh government launches £10m rent arrears grant scheme for private tenants

Tenants wariness of flat and house sharing on the rise, says academic Covid research

admin    Uncategorized     agents

The pandemic has prompted a drop in the number of people wanting to flat or house share while more tenants now want to live with smaller groups of people.

A survey by the University of Bath and flat-sharing site Ideal Flatmate reveals a big shift in attitudes since the start of Covid, with trends likely to remain beyond the lifting of lockdown restrictions.

The site, a matchmaking service that pairs up compatible flatmates, found that 64% of respondents would feel uncomfortable living with people who broke the social distancing rules, which it reckons could affect flatmate preferences in the future.

Most (68%) flat-sharers still prefer to live in cities although there has been a shift towards rural locations, such as villages, towns or suburbs. Many young sharers have relocated back home to families during the pandemic.

Working from home

The study also found an increased desire for gardens and green spaces, with a 33% rise in flat-sharers saying this would be a key factor in the future. Meanwhile, 55% of flat-sharers now work from home more than they did before Covid.

Tom Gatzen (pictured), co-founder of Ideal Flatmate, says it was aware of anecdotal evidence about sharers discussing attitudes to Covid before they move in with strangers.

“This is borne out by the research, with two-thirds not wanting to live with people who have broken the rules,” says Gatzen.

“This is likely to remain a factor as we move out of lockdown and the vaccine campaign is rolled out amongst the youngest population groups in the UK.”

Read more about Covid and tenants.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Tenants wariness of flat and house sharing on the rise, says academic Covid research | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: Tenants wariness of flat and house sharing on the rise, says academic Covid research

Barking tornado: Battered streets see high winds, flash floods and property damage

admin    Uncategorized     agents

A freak weather event shocked residents and left extensive damage in its wake in Barking, East London and Essex, last week. Photos and video footage from the scene showed heavy black cloud circling in the sky and swirling winds amassed over the area.

Eyewitnesses described debris, rubbish and heavy objects such as fence posts flying through the air and swirling round and round. Footage shared on social media revealed collapsed garden walls, bricks scattered across driveways and fallen tree branches strewn across flooded roads littered with partially submerged cars.

Although it was over in just a few minutes, the ‘Barking tornado’ caused severe flash flooding in nearby Havering and Dagenham, damaging homes, roads, electrical equipment and vehicles.  

Damage to property was particularly extensive, with many homes suffering damaged roofs and shattered windows.

How common are tornados in the UK?

According to the Met Office, although tornadoes in the UK are not on the large scale that you might find in the US, there are about 30 tornadoes on average recorded in the UK each year. They mostly occur during the summer and autumn. Most tornadoes, although they produce damaging winds, do not lead to widespread destruction.

Tornados originate during thunderstorms when winds rise from the surface, come together, and begin to rotate. The rapidly rotating column of air that reaches between the base of a storm cloud and the earth’s surface creates the famous circular twister image of the tornado. If the column does not reach the surface, it is classed as a funnel cloud.

The Met Office is investigating the ‘Barking tornado’ – Craig Snell, a forecaster at the Met Office, said that they couldn’t currently confirm or deny that there had been a tornado, but that “all the ingredients” for a tornado were present.

Met Office forecaster, Matthew Box, said “it is probably that a brief tornado did occur.”

Prior to this freak weather event, the nearest tornado to Barking happened in 2006 in West [IM1] London, and the year before a tornado in Birmingham caused quite a bit of damage to the local area.

Freak severe weather events are on the increase

Although tornados are rare in the UK, extreme weather events are increasing. A Met Office study has shown that an extended period of extreme winter rainfall in the UK, similar to that seen in winter 2013/14 (one of the wettest on record), is now about seven times more likely due to human-induced climate change.

Several indicators in the latest UK State of the Climate report show that the UK’s climate is becoming wetter. We all remember the month of May, which brought heavy downpours to much of the UK, with Wales seeing its wettest May since records began in 1862 and all countries of the UK experiencing rainfall well above the long-term averages for the month.

The UK Environment Agency has warned that we’re going to get more intense bouts of flooding and scientists predict that climate change is likely to lead to higher storm surges as sea levels rise. Over the past few years property owners across the UK have experienced some of the worst weather damage on record, with many suffering uninsured losses due to torrential rain, gale-force winds and flooding.

Preparation and maintenance more important than ever for landlords

A few weeks ago, LandlordZONE’s insurance partner, Hamilton Fraser Total Landlord Insurance, offered landlords advice on how to prepare for torrential downpours and strong winds in response to flood alerts and weather warnings. But this latest freak weather event highlights the need for landlords to be prepared at all times – despite major improvements in weather forecasting since the Great Storm of 1987, sometimes the forecasters are still caught out by the severity of extreme weather.

When the weather is unpredictable, as it has been over the last few weeks, a storm or severe rainfall can arrive with little warning. The best way to reduce the likelihood of damage to your property is through regular maintenance.

By routinely carrying out the steps below a couple of times a year, you will have the peace of mind that you’re doing all you can to reduce the likelihood of severe weather causing damage to your property.

Essential maintenance for landlords

1. Clear gutters and drains

Landlords are legally responsible for maintaining and repairing external structures, including drains, gutters and external pipes. So, make sure you clear gutters, downspouts and drains of debris that might cause a blockage and lead to leaks or overflow into the property.

• Inspect the roof and carry out repairs

It’s generally a good idea to inspect the roof before winter and assess it after to see whether there’s been any damage. Replace any loose, cracked or broken roof tiles or slates and don’t forget to also inspect the chimney for cracks or loose brickwork and make sure it’s fitted with a storm collar to prevent water leaking into the loft.

• Trim trees

Tree maintenance is best carried out in winter when there are no leaves and it’s easier to locate any dying or loose branches that need removing. Cut back any low-hanging branches too, particularly if they overhang areas where people walk or are close to another property.

• Secure fences

It’s particularly important to make sure fence panels are secure and free from rot, as they are usually excluded from insurance policies in the event of a storm, yet they are at risk of being lifted up by heavy winds and can cause extensive damage, for example smashing windows, due to their size and weight.

• Check windows and doors

To reduce the likelihood of water damage, check that windows and doors are watertight and secure.

You can find out more about how to protect your rental property from severe weather in Hamilton Fraser Total Landlord Insurance’s comprehensive guides, Protecting your rental property from storms and Measures that must be taken to prevent flooding in your properties.

Arrange landlord insurance

Damage cause by severe weather, be it a storm or a flood, can be very expensive to rectify. At Hamilton Fraser Total Landlord Insurance, the average claim for flash floods is £17,708, so it pays to be protected.

Steve Barnes, Associate Director at Hamilton Fraser Total Landlord Insurance, says, “With extreme weather events increasing steadily over recent years, it’s vital for landlords to not only do as much as possible to prevent flooding in the first place, but to ensure they’re properly covered too. Hamilton Fraser Total Landlord Insurance is signed up to the Flood Re scheme, which will cover buy to let properties as long as they meet the criteria outlined here. The scheme raises funds to cover flood risks in insurance policies and reimburses the insurer after a paid claim is made, helping to keep premiums down.”

Having comprehensive landlord insurance in place provides reassurance that you and your property are protected should the worst happen and you need to carry out expensive repairs. A comprehensive policy like Hamilton Fraser Total Landlord Insurance’s Premier policy will not only cover the cost of repair work, but also loss of rent or alternative accommodation.

As a valued LandlordZONE reader you’re entitled to 20% off Hamilton Fraser Total Landlord Insurance’s policies, call the team today on 0800 63 43 880 quoting code LZ2021 or get a quote online in under 4 minutes. 

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Barking tornado: Battered streets see high winds, flash floods and property damage | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: Barking tornado: Battered streets see high winds, flash floods and property damage