Category Archives: News

Complex Buy to Let Index for Q2 2012

The Mortgages for Business Complex Buy to Let Index for Q2 2012 has just been released in the latest issue of FirstRate. The main findings show: •  Yields on multi-units increase to 7.5% in Q2 •  Complex buy to let returns consistently higher than vanilla •  Mainstream vanilla buy to let yields fall to 6.1% in… Continue Reading

Demand for Lettings Increases

According to statistics from rightmove, the last 3 years has seen a 135% increase in demand for lettings, as measured by search activity. Across the country, according to rightmove statistics, 56% of tenants are “trapped renters”, unable to buy a property, and stuck on the lettings cycle.  With their latest figures showing that nearly 40%… Continue Reading

Universal Credit and Housing Benefit

  Universal Credit is a new single payment for people who are looking for work or on a low income. Universal Credit will help claimants and their families to become more independent and will simplify the benefits system by bringing together a range of working-age benefits into a single streamlined payment. The new Universal Credit… Continue Reading

Charities Plea For Government To Reconsider Cutting Housing Benefit For U25’s

Following Conservative Party proposals to cut housing benefit for under 25s, charities have united to send a joint letter to the Prime Minister asking him to reconsider. The letter, which was published in The Times newspaper, calls for David Cameron to re-consider his proposals, or risk having a ‘disastrous impact on thousands of young adults.’ Ten charities in total… Continue Reading

PRS Continues To Grow, According to Government Figures

According to government figures released in the department for Communities and Local Government’s English housing, the proportion of people living in the private rented sector rose again last year. The survey shows that 17% of households (3.62 million) lived in the private rented sector in 2010/11, an increase from 2.45 million in 2005. In contrast the number… Continue Reading

Scottish Rent Deposit Scheme

The Scottish Government has announced a private rent deposit scheme, which will become compulsory from November. The tenancy deposit scheme is free for landlords and letting agents, and tenants will have access to a free and independent dispute resolution service when the return of a deposit is in dispute, much like the Deposit Protection Scheme currently in… Continue Reading

Government Should Simplify Tax For Private Landlords, Says CLG

The Communities and Local Government committee has recommended that the government simplify tax and regulatory structures that apply to private landlords. CLG has put forward proposals in an effort to create an environment in which small private landlords are encouraged to expand their portfolios and invest in new build housing. It said investment by large… Continue Reading

Government Review Recommends Changes to Favour Private Rented Sector

An influential government-commissioned review is set to recommend sweeping changes to planning and funding rules to favour the private rented sector over affordable homes. The proposals are likely to be included in Sir Adrian Montague’s review of the private rented sector, which is expected to be published next month. They include pushing councils to change… Continue Reading

Rental Market Increases Again!

The UK rental market saw a 6.34 % increase in the number of properties advertised between January and March 2012 compared with the same period last year, according to global information services company, Experian. It also found that the number of properties for sale dropped by 2.53 percent. Experian’s Movers Index shows that the number of properties… Continue Reading