Leading Labour MP savages landlords over short-term lets ‘explosion’

admin    Uncategorized     agents

York’s MP has accused private landlords of turning the city into a short-let hotspot, draining it of people and revenue.

Rachael Maskell says that its 2,132 known short-term holiday lets are having a catastrophic effect on both the residential and student community.

“The average rental price is £945 a month in York, but landlords can make £700 for a weekend in an unregulated market where they are seeing the opportunity to make more money,” she told a Generation Rent podcast.

“We’ve seen a plethora of Section 21 notices issued, people being evicted and fewer rental properties available where we don’t have enough in the first place,” adds Maskell, who says as tenants are evicted, they are leaving the city, taking skills with them.

Luxury

Maskell has previously told the Commons that developers are building luxury accommodation in York, prompting the government to say it has achieved its housing target – but then these properties are simply switched over to Airbnbs.

The MP believes the Levelling up and Regeneration Bill, along with suggestions in the government consultation into the sector – looking at tougher checks and a self-certification scheme for hosts – don’t go far enough.

She says her Short-term and Holiday-let Accommodation (Licensing) Private Members’ Bill – which gets its second reading on 9^th December – is needed as it makes a case for a widespread licensing regime.

This would give councils the power to require licensing for converting properties into short-term lets, issue fines and vary rates of local taxes.

“Local authorities need the right to say no to a licence,” she asserts.

View Full Article: Leading Labour MP savages landlords over short-term lets ‘explosion’

‘Rent-to-Rent’ agency goes quiet leaving tenant without hot water or power

admin    Uncategorized     agents

The staff of a rent-to-rent operator in Birmingham appear to have gone to ground, leaving one tenant forced to wash with a bucket in his garden after his power was cut off in an energy bills dispute.

Nick, 36, tells StokeonTrentLive that he’s living off cold and pre-prepared food and has no access to hot water. He has been paying agent Virtual Rooms £500-a-month rent – including bills – for a room in the shared house, but now can’t contact the company, which is not answering the phone or emails.

Letting agency Virtual Rooms’ website has no properties for rent and seems to be completely non-compliant, without details of fees or membership of any redress, CMP or deposit protection organisation. Neighbouring companies who shared the city-centre address had never heard of the firm.

The case is unlikely to be the last of its kind this winter – many marginal rent-to-rent operators who offer tenants ‘all inclusive’ deals will now be struggling to make any profit as energy prices soar.

Showering

In this case, the unfortunate tenant is showering in the late afternoon once a bucket of water has been warmed by the sun, and is relying on an extension lead running from a neighbour’s home to keep his fridge and fish tank filter running.

He tells the website: “It started when the energy company knocked on the door one day to check the meter. Then all of a sudden the power got switched off and we had a letter saying £12,000 was owed on the gas and more than £5,000 on the electric. We’ve had no gas or electric since. We can’t live like this anymore.”

Councillor Marcus Bernasconi (pictured) labels it the latest in a long line of examples of absentee landlords causing misery for private renters in north Edgbaston, although the doesn’t make the important distinction between the landlord and the rent-to-rent operator involved.

He adds: “Virtual Rooms has questions to answer about how it has allowed this to happen. We need to clean this sector up for good. I’d urge those appalled by this story to submit to Birmingham City Council’s consultation on additional licensing for shared housing.”

View Full Article: ‘Rent-to-Rent’ agency goes quiet leaving tenant without hot water or power

Last chance to join the HMO event of the year on 30th September

admin    Uncategorized     agents

HMOs face an unprecedented clamp-down as many local authorities seek to regulate the sector more closely through additional licensing schemes or limit their numbers through Article 4 direction legislation.

But one organisation is seeking to change how houses in multiple occupation or HMOs are viewed by all stakeholders, be they agents, landlords, tenants or regulators.

That organisation is the HMO Awards, an event being held at the National Trust-run Stowe House in Buckingham throughout the afternoon and evening of 30^th September.

If you have an interest in HMOs for whatever reason then LandlordZONE would urge you to attend – tickets cost £200 ex VAT and cover both the conference and discussion forums taking place during the day, and the evening award event.

LandlordZONE has a vested interest in the awards, which have picked us as a finalist in the category of ‘Best HMO Content or Media’ within its Services section.

But the many other awards are really for those working at the coalface and include HMO Manager of the Year, Best HMO Agency, Best Professional HMO Manager and Best Student HMO Manager.

Vibe

“This isn’t a “black tie in a hotel” dinner, but a relaxing vibe where you can meet like-minded people in a beautiful location,” says Helen Turner (pictured) co-founder of HMO management platform COHO, which is organising the event.

During the day there will be eight ‘TedTalk’ style presentations by a raft of experts including portfolio landlord and former Rugby star Jordi Pasqualin.

These will take place between 2pm and 5pm. The awards will start at 5pm and go on until 7pm and then be followed by a celebratory drink and live band.

View Full Article: Last chance to join the HMO event of the year on 30th September

Property insurance costs

admin    Uncategorized     agents

Hi, I made a claim after my tenants ruined the property, stole the bathroom, kitchen, radiators.

The place has been empty since March so large loss of rent.

The insurers would only pay for the boiler to be replaced as this had been hit with a hammer many times.

View Full Article: Property insurance costs

Chronic shortage of rental homes pushes rents up 12%

admin    Uncategorized     agents

Fast-rising rent across the country is seeing a trend for tenants to move into smaller properties to reduce their bills – as rents rocket by 12%.

That’s according to the latest report from Zoopla which highlights there has been a jump in demand for one and 2-bed flats as renters feel the cost-of-living squeeze.

View Full Article: Chronic shortage of rental homes pushes rents up 12%

Government’s rent reforms concern landlords and agents

admin    Uncategorized     agents

A major survey has revealed that the government’s rental reform White Paper is causing growing concern for landlords and letting agents.

Published by Goodlord and Vouch, the survey saw thousands of industry stakeholders take part in largest ever state of the industry research.

View Full Article: Government’s rent reforms concern landlords and agents

Landlords have been treated unfairly, Truss tells Beadle

admin    Uncategorized     agents

The newly published Decent Homes Standard is yet another example of lawmakers laying down rules without any understanding of the rental market – but the new prime minister has promised a sea change.

New prime minister Liz Truss says she feels landlords have been treated unfairly by previous governments and wants to create a less hostile environment.

View Full Article: Landlords have been treated unfairly, Truss tells Beadle