We’ve finally reached the end of what feels like a very lengthy General Election campaign. This historic, first December poll for almost a century has returned Boris Johnson to No.10 Downing Street with a stronger majority than when he entered. The Conservative Party had promised to push housing further up the agenda in the next parliament so, just what can we look forward to i ...
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A year in the PRS
As we bid farewell to an eventful and unpredictable 2019, we’ve looked at just what has changed in the Private Rented Sector since the start of the year. Interest rates: The Bank of England base rate remained unchanged throughout the whole year, staying at 0.75%, meaning official rates have not risen above 1% since February 2009. Interest rates were as high as 6% at the start o ...
The PRS and the Environment
One of the biggest topics dominating the news this year has been increased concern over the impact of climate change, pollution of our oceans and the quality of the air that we breathe. Many people agree that the Earth’s natural resources are coming under increased pressure as a result of single-use plastics, coal fired power stations and the impact of airplanes, cars, trucks ...
Introducing LetTrak
So much can change in a decade. Back in 2010 we thought we were tech savvy if we had an iPhone; whilst iPads had only just launched - and not many of us owned one. Meanwhile the concept of ‘working 9-5’ or commuting to office five days was set to change with the launch of WeWork in 2010; whilst taxi hailing firm Uber was already a year old. We didn’t realise it at the time, ...
Extreme Weather, Christmas Songs, and the General Election – but life goes on in the PRS
As we approach the final month of 2019, we’ve already witnessed the first extreme weather event of the season with devastating floods impacting parts of the Midlands and Yorkshire. The images of stranded cars, residential roads being passable only by boat and water gushing through family homes are all too familiar; but are devastating for everybody effected. Meanwhile, it seems ...
A decade of life in the Private Rented Sector
Over the past year rents have risen 2.7%, whilst the Office of National Statistics report that house prices have risen by just 1.3%. However, whilst we all often focus on what has happened versus the previous month or year - just how has the property market changed within the last decade? Start of the decade By the end of the decade Percentage of private tenant househo ...
Protecting your investment throughout winter
The recent floods across parts of the Midlands and Yorkshire remind just us how brutal the UK weather can be over the winter months. Our thoughts are with the many communities impacted by the floods. It is always astonishing to see just how much damage flood water can do to a property. In some instances, residents need to move out of their home for months- or even years- whilst ...
Could you become an Accidental Landlord?
Whether you’ve inherited a home, or moved in with a partner; if you find you now have a “spare” property - could you become an accidental landlord? The current economic uncertainty is causing some would-be-sellers to hesitate before putting their property up for sale – and so if you’d rather not sell a “spare” property right now, then you could find becoming a landlord provid ...
Political Uncertainty and the property market
After the recent ‘Super Saturday’ defeat in Westminster, it remains unclear whether we will leave the EU at the end of October. But now that a general election is expected early in the New Year, we have several more months of the main parties making claims and promises in the run up to the publication of their manifestoes. The policies intended to tackle what some describe as t ...
Rents continue to rise whilst house price growth stalls
haart says: Rents in the UK rose by 2.5% in September compared to the same time a month a year ago; the average monthly rent now stands at £967 Rents in London increased by 3.3% in September this year compared to September 2018; the average monthly rent in the capital now stands at £1,694 When London is excluded, the average UK rental value was £797 in September 2019, this i ...
Rent Controls: Explained
In the latest in our series of blogs, we ask “Would rent controls be a good, or a bad thing?” If some opinions in the market are to be believed, landlords are raising rents beyond reasonable expectation, whenever they like - which is why Rent Controls appear to be a policy the Labour party may adopt into a future manifesto. However, whilst the policy could appear to be in sup ...
Thinking of expanding your portfolio? We've assessed your options
Thinking of expanding your portfolio? We've assessed your options
How the property market is responding to Brexit uncertainty
Now that the evenings are drawing in and the familiar smell of barbeques wafting across from the neighbour’s fences are few and far between, we’ve clearly reached autumn. Although the seasons follow a familiar pattern and we’re all preparing for the colder months ahead - the world of politics is proving to anything but predictable! It seems the only thing with any certainty i ...
What will the next Government have in store for housing?
Although MPs aren’t due to return to Westminster until the middle of October, the annual Conference Season is now in full swing so there is no escaping politics. However, with a General Election widely believed to be on the way this year, all eyes will be on what policies each party could develop and form into their manifestos. What do we know so far about the main party polici ...
With two new Housing Ministers and a new PM: What is in store for the Private Rented Sector
As the summer defined by record-breaking heatwaves being followed by torrential rain and storms starts to draw to a close, we hope the autumn weather will be a little more predictable. However, it is just a matter of days until Boris Johnson’s brand-new Government returns to Westminster, and speculation is mounting about just what may happen between in the 59 days between the 3 ...
Tenant demand increase, as supply of rented homes falls
The most recent data released this month shows that rents across the UK have risen by 2.3% versus the same time last year; this is up from 1.8% in June. Meanwhile, our own data from June revealed that there has been a staggering 23% surge in the number of tenants looking to rent compared to the same time last year, however this is not being matched by supply - which is down 19% ...
What is Build-to-Rent, and how will it affect Private Landlords?
Build-to-Rent: Explained So, just what is ‘Build-to-Rent’ – and how may it impact private landlords? More than a decade ago, a comprehensive report into the Private Rented Sector was released which concluded there was an urgent need for institutional investment into private rented homes in the UK. Some believed the plan was to squeeze private landlords out of the market – howe ...
Right to Rent: The Facts
Since 2016 landlords in England have been required to check whether prospective tenants have the right to reside in the UK. The scheme is not without controversy, with many claiming landlords shouldn’t be required to fill the role of a ‘Border Agency’. What are the requirements: Firstly, as a landlord you – or your agent – must establish whether the applicant either has a pe ...
Top Kitchens for Bakers
The new series of the Great British Bake Off is upon us again with Paul, Prue, Sandi and Noel back on our screens, you may be planning to bake along with the challenges and thinking you need a bit more space to create those awesome showstoppers or maybe practice for the next series! You may just be an experienced home baker looking for more space. If you know your choux past ...
Top tips for renting at University
The start of the first semester is not too far away, hopefully you (or your family member) has got a place at one of their chosen universities and are now looking forward to life as a fresher! There will be a lot to prepare for the start of the first semester. What you may not know, is a lot of first year students look for housing off campus for the second year as early as th ...
As the UK welcomes a new Prime Minister into Number 10 - what changes can we expect to see for the Private Rented Sector?
After a lengthy leadership battle, we finally have a new Prime Minister installed at No.10 Downing St as Theresa May passed the baton as Leader onto former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. Mr Johnson made a number of bold promises during his campaign, including a pledge to reduce the levels of stamp duty payable – and there is speculation he may go even further by switching the ...
Rents continue to rise whilst property prices continue to slow
The average rent in the UK is now £941 per month, up by 1.8% (£17) versus the same time last year The region with the largest year-on-year increase is Northern Ireland, showing a 4.7% (£30) increase on the same time last year When London is excluded, the average rent in the UK is now £781 per month, this is up by 1.8% (£14) on last year Average rents in London are now £1,611, u ...
Schools Out - Great locations for kids activities
Schools out for Summer! We have picked out some great places to visit over the summer holidays, especially if the heatwave continues. You may love these places so much you may want to move here? If so why not book a free property valuation here. We have picked some top picks for buying and renting in each area which are featured below. Weston-super-Mare As well as the Gr ...
What changes may be in store for the property market with Boris Johnson as Prime Minister?
The race for the new Conservative leader, and more importantly, Prime Minister came to an end yesterday, with Boris Johnson winning 66% of the vote. Now the announcements have been made, we take a look at what the possible changes could be for the property market. Proposed Stamp Duty Reforms Johnson has said in the past that he would like to overhaul the stamp duty system, r ...
What is the Tenant Fees Act and what will it mean for lettings
The government have enacted a piece of legislation called the Tenant Fees Act. As of 1 June 2019, this new Act will make significant changes to the private rented sector in England (the legislation for Wales is separate and will come into force on 1st September 2019), but what does it say and what impact is it expected to have on landlords and tenants? What is the Tenant Fees ...
Government announces five-week cap on rental deposits- but haart goes one better
The government has recently confirmed that it will cut the maximum deposit for rentals of less than £50,000 to five weeks, down from six weeks. According to the National Landlords Association and the Residential Landlords Association, the reduction could force landlords out of the market. However, haart partnered with flatfair earlier this year to launch a solution which protec ...