‘Landlords cannot continue funding tenants where the government should be helping out’

admin    Uncategorized     agents

NRLA Chief Executive Ben Beadle has appeared on Channel 4 News to defend the government’s decision to remove the stay on possession hearings, the first of which will be heard today in courts around the country.

Appearing alongside Dan Wilson Craw, deputy director of Generation Rent, Beadle was challenged on whether it was the right time to restart evictions and why landlords need recourse to the Section 21 ‘no-fault’ mandatory eviction process.

“The courts have put in pretty strict measures to ensure that, if there are local lockdowns, the enforcement of eviction notices will not proceed,” he told Channel 4 reporter Fatima Manji.

“Landlords aren’t property tycoons and they don’t have massively broad shoulders to be able to carry on funding [tenants] where the government should be helping out.

“Section 21 notices are not being prioritised under the Master of the Rolls working group guidelines, and only the most serious cases are to rise to the top to be dealt with.

Beadle told the programme’s seven million viewers that landlords “don’t wake up and think ‘I’ll evict my tenant today’ – there is invariably a fault,” he said.

“I accept that selling a property is not the fault of the tenant, but we must look at the full financial package that is available to both sides. And landlords have faced increased costs and taxation, so we’re now facing the perfect storm.

“But this is not the time to be increasing rents.”

During the programme Wilson Craw’s key message was to call for ‘no fault’ evictions to be banned.

Beadle countered that the new court rules that went live today “are going to give courts serious teeth including the deprioritisation of Section 21 evictions, which is what Dan is calling for.”

The government has already announced that it intends to scrap Section 21 evictions once Covid is over.

Watch the Channel 4 interview in full.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – ‘Landlords cannot continue funding tenants where the government should be helping out’ | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: ‘Landlords cannot continue funding tenants where the government should be helping out’

Law Society says eviction rules must support tenants and ensure access to justice

admin    Uncategorized     agents

New housing possession rules unveiled by the government must protect vulnerable tenants, ensure access to justice and prevent a spike in homelessness, the Law Society of England and Wales warned today. On 20 September, the UK government lifted its stay on housing possession proceedings

The post Law Society says eviction rules must support tenants and ensure access to justice appeared first on Property118.

View Full Article: Law Society says eviction rules must support tenants and ensure access to justice

Revealed: How Covid is changing the student accommodation sector

admin    Uncategorized     agents

The impact of Covid 19 on the student accommodation sector was swift, with Students leaving their accommodation to return home in significant numbers.

Many students, without part-time work because of the pandemic, struggled to make rent payments creating pressure for Landlords. A number of Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) providers responded by enabling students to cancel their contracts, with one provider – Unite Students – cancelling over £100 million of rent payments.

Continued demand

Even during the peak of the lockdown restrictions, it was noticeable that demand for student accommodation remained. Enquiries for student accommodation were up 38%.

This demand was driven by students who were midway through their degree and through new applicants, attracted by the quality of UK universities. A university education is highly regarded and despite the challenge of online learning, a record 40% of the UK’s 18 year olds applied to go to University this year. Therefore the number of students studying for a degree remains robust. 

Shifting patterns of demand

The potential impact of reduced numbers of international students has been widely covered by media. In reality, the number of international students who have a place this year at University is up by over 1,000 to 71,320.

Again the demand is there, however the main concern is whether these students will take up that place or choose to defer. This seems to have had an impact in London and in particular on purpose build student accommodation, which would typically rely on volumes of international students.

Outside of London there has been less of an impact. One major change Accommodation For Students (AFS) has seen is increased demand for shared housing and HMOs, which are up 42%.

Growing in interest in shared housing

This growth in interest in shared housing at a time when we would typically see the majority of demand for PBSA reflects three things;

·        Increase in applications from domestic students to UK Universities

·        The impact of Covid 19 on accommodation choices

·        Delays in existing students finding accommodation as a result of lockdown

As a result, AFS anticipates a busy early letting season (October – February) where groups of students traditionally seek to secure their shared housing for the next academic year.

This in particular will be driven by increasing numbers of domestic students looking to move on from University owned halls. However, the ‘season’ may start a little later than in previous years as some University stagger return dates and it may take longer for this year’s cohort of students to orientate themselves into student life, because of some of the social restrictions that are in place.

Beyond 2020 

UK Universities are world class. Oxford University continues to top the list of the world’s best Universities. This quality will continue to attract students and the sharp rise in the number of 18 year olds in the UK, with a million more in the next ten years, point to continued growth in the sector and the need for student accommodation.

While the long term prognosis is positive, there are short term challenges to overcome. However there are some positive trends for landlords and agents to capitalise on – in particular the growing interest in shared housing.

To capitalise, a radical strategy would be to build some flexibility into tenancy agreements to adapt to the short term impact of Covid, as many in the PBSA sector have.  However, the basics of good marketing, competitive pricing and the right location should be enough to ensure a positive outcome for most.

Simon Thompson is CEO of AccommodationForStudents.com

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Revealed: How Covid is changing the student accommodation sector | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: Revealed: How Covid is changing the student accommodation sector

New kitchen nightmare?

admin    Uncategorized     agents

So finally after Covid-19 eased off, we got round to start the kitchen which was planned before. The contracted company couldn’t do all the work and agreed to be flexible with me finding a new builder for them to then fit the kitchen once the builder has done all preparation work.

The post New kitchen nightmare? appeared first on Property118.

View Full Article: New kitchen nightmare?

My goals for Property118 in 2021

admin    Uncategorized     agents

Before the end of 2021 I want every person who buys a UK property for rental investment to able to make an informed choice about the optimal ownership structure to meet their short, medium and long term objectives.

To achieve that I need every estate agent and mortgage broker to have ‘front of mind thinking’

The post My goals for Property118 in 2021 appeared first on Property118.

View Full Article: My goals for Property118 in 2021

Paul Smith: Why I won’t give anyone a refund, including a sick student signed off by her doctor

admin    Uncategorized     agents

A sick woman fighting to get £13,000 back from Touchstone Education says she feels “raped” by her dealings with the property investment training firm.

The woman – who wants to remain anonymous – has appeared in a video on the Andrew Burgess Property Education Truth Seekers YouTube site, speaking about how her attempt to get a refund on the basis of ill health left her feeling violated when the firm asked to look at her medical records.

She first paid £1,000 for a Touchstone Education online course and then another £12,000 after attending a very persuasive ‘free course’ last year – which was to pay for about seven courses and a monthly meeting.

But after being signed off sick for six months with complex physical and psychological problems, her GP agreed that attending a course could seriously affect her health, and wrote to the company supporting her claim.

Touchstone Education boss Paul Smith says he can’t comment on an individual case due to GDPR rules, but that when people ask for a refund it’s better to encourage them to finish their course.

“If someone has made that decision to invest in themselves, it’s not unusual to get cold feet, and people can miss a session, and when you speak to them they are embarrassed,” Smith tells LandlordZONE. “You need to get straight back on the horse again; those people that come back, the next month are typically gold standard.”

He says that when someone says they’re too busy it’s better to help them do the full course than give the money back. “That won’t change their life, but doing the whole course probably will.”

Smith adds that this year, out of all the thousands of people it has dealt with, only five have made any kind of refund request. “Our goal is to help people become wealthy and get a positive income for property. If that person isn’t happy with my decision we invite them to take it up with the ombudsman and will help them through that process. We have never had the ombudsman find against us.”

Watch an interview with the former student involved

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Paul Smith: Why I won’t give anyone a refund, including a sick student signed off by her doctor | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: Paul Smith: Why I won’t give anyone a refund, including a sick student signed off by her doctor

Portfolio landlord banned from operating rental properties after sleaze conviction

admin    Uncategorized     agents

A landlord in Glasgow convicted of stalking a woman has been struck from the landlord register, preventing him from letting out his 14 properties.

Joga Singh, 48, was found guilty last year of repeatedly approaching the woman in Paisley Town Centre, following her and asking for money in return for permission to take photographs of her wearing underwear.

He was sentenced to a community pay back order of 252 hours and placed on a non-harassment order for one year.

Proving the effectiveness of landlord registration – something that’s already in place in Northern Ireland and Wales, as well as Scotland, with proposals to introduce it in England – Singh appeared before Glasgow City Council’s licensing committee this week.

His representative Archie MacIver told councillors that he had been a landlord for 21 years, dealing with many hundreds of tenants without issue.

“His moment of madness has brought a fairly good life crashing to a halt. He is a married man with three children, but the family is separated as a result, said MacIver.

Ashamed and remorseful

“He is utterly ashamed and remorseful. There is no running away from the fact that what happened here was extremely serious, distasteful and worrying.”

The committee heard that he had been refused an HMO licence last year. All Singh’s properties are managed by letting agents which means he doesn’t need to be in contact with his tenants and has told them about his conviction. However, the committee agreed to remove him from the landlord’s register.

The register lets anyone looking for information on landlord or property registrations for all private rented property in Scotland, and includes contact details of owners and agents, and information on enforcement orders. Landlords must be registered or face a fine of up to £50,000 and a ban on letting properties of up to five years.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Portfolio landlord banned from operating rental properties after sleaze conviction | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: Portfolio landlord banned from operating rental properties after sleaze conviction

DWP Pensions Minister has not got a clue how Universal Credit works

admin    Uncategorized     agents

Benefit tenants, you cannot get accommodation, because the DWP Pensions Minister Will Quince has not got a clue how Universal Credit works and the biggest UC Landlord in Nottingham here can no longer take you. https://t.co/AuoqDsQ2ct

MP Will Quince

The post DWP Pensions Minister has not got a clue how Universal Credit works appeared first on Property118.

View Full Article: DWP Pensions Minister has not got a clue how Universal Credit works

National Landlord Investment online Super-shows for 2020

admin    Uncategorized     agents

As a live event, 2020 has presented us with exceptional challenges. Our response is to lead the market by delivering the first-ever online show dedicated solely to the UK buy-to-let market. Partnering with an established digital events platform, the National Landlord Investment Show will be delivering 3 online events throughout October and November.

The post National Landlord Investment online Super-shows for 2020 appeared first on Property118.

View Full Article: National Landlord Investment online Super-shows for 2020

Welsh government extends Covid-19 eviction protection measures to next March

admin    Uncategorized     agents

In-line with those in England, it was announced Wednesday 15^th September that letting agents and landlords in Wales must wait six months (as opposed to the usual 2 months notice) before they can start new possession claims, except where anti-social behaviour or domestic violence is involved.

Under the powers of the Coronavirus Act 2020, the deadline has been extended until 31 March 2021, the original deadline being 20 September 2020. Housing Minister, Julie James MS also confirmed there will be a pause on physical evictions both during the festive period and within any further local lock-down, the same as the UK Government announced recently.

The Minister in Wales also announced that, with immediate effect, tenants can be given shorter notice periods if they are involved in anti-social behaviour or domestic violence, the same as before COVID-19 regulations came into play.

A formal announcement of the change will be made along with the publication of regulations before the end of this month.

Where rent arrears have accumulated due to the Coronavirus pandemic, private rented sector tenants will soon be able to apply for a loan in Wales through the Tenancy Saver Loan Scheme, opening at the end of September 2020. The Welsh Government is providing £1.4 million to boost services that support people in Wales to manage debt problems.

Unrelated to to the pandemic, the Welsh Government is to continue with its tenancy changes with their Bill to amend the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 which aims to increase the security of tenure for tenants. The Bill will extend the no-fault notice period from two to six months, and landlords will be prevented from issuing a no-fault notice until at least six months from the date of occupancy.

The change will mean that in Wales tenants will get a minimum of 12 months’ security of tenure from the commencement of a residential tenancy contract, giving Welsh tenants greater security than anywhere else in the UK.

Julie James MS, Minister for Housing and Local Government says:

“The Coronavirus pandemic is continuing to have a significant impact on daily life and is still posing major challenges for all of us, I have therefore acted to give additional protection to renters. I am committed to ensuring we continue to protect renters whilst at the same time mitigating impacts on landlords and protecting communities from the harmful effects of ongoing anti-social behaviour.”

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Welsh government extends Covid-19 eviction protection measures to next March | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: Welsh government extends Covid-19 eviction protection measures to next March