A new report on Britain’s “squeezed middle” claims that a radical shift is taking place in the housing market among under 35s in the low to middle income bracket (LMI). According to the Resolution Foundation, household income for LMIs typically amounts to a net £20,500 and in the last six years, the number of LMIs [...]
private rented
Lower / middle earners stuck as tenants
A new report on Britain’s “squeezed middle” claims that a radical shift is taking place in the housing market among under 35s in the low to middle income bracket (LMI). According to the Resolution Foundation, household income for LMIs typically amounts to a net £20,500 and in the last six years, the number of LMIs [...]
Private rented sector running out of space
The UK’s private rented sector is rapidly running out of space, with new tenancies having hit sky-high levels over the past year. According to latest research from the Association of Registered Letting Agents (ARLA), 74% of its 6,000 members have experienced record tenant demand in the past 12 months, with London and the south leading [...]
Rogue landlord complaints soar
Shelter is urging councils to crack down on rogue landlords, claiming that complaints about serious and potentially life-threatening hazards, such as dangerous gas and electrics, have risen by 25% over the past two years. Having contacted every local authority in England to identify the scale of the problem, the housing charity discovered that there are [...]
Next generation more likely to rent than buy
A new report from Legal & General Mortgage Club promises valuable insight into the shape of the UK’s private rented sector and buy-to-let market. According to the lender, the buy-to-let market hit its lowest level for eight years in 2009, when new lending to landlords fell by nearly three quarters from its previous peak. However, [...]
Private rental voids continue to fall
The average void period in the UK’s private rented sector has fallen for three consecutive quarters, according to buy-to-let mortgage specialist, Paragon. In the first quarter of 2011, strong tenant demand reduced the average annual void period to 2.8 weeks, with the figure having steadily declined from a high of 3.5 weeks in the Spring [...]
Private landlords to mop up anti-social behaviour evictions
The Residential Landlords’ Association (RLA) is calling for greater efforts to combat the problem of anti-social tenants in the private rented sector.
The move follows an announcement by Housing Minister, Grant Shapps, that “neighbours from hell”, who cause misery and fear for social housing tenants, face swifter eviction.
New measures mean those found guilty of housing related [...]
Landlords “lukewarm” on Green Deal
The Residential Landlords’ Association (RLA) has given a lukewarm reception to the government’s “Green Deal” as a means of raising energy efficiency in private rental properties, and lowering gas and electricity bills for tenants.
The Green Deal, due to start in 2012, will allow householders, landlords and businesses to improve insulation in their properties, with the [...]
