Menu
Add a property
Add a property

Tag: Rental properties

Landlords back minimum housing standards

by Sorcha DugmorePosted on

Landlords across the UK are showing their support for policies ensuring minimum housing standards, according to a new survey conducted by the Paragon Banking Group. The results of the survey show that the majority of Landlords believe that all rental properties should meet a set of minimum standards to ensure safe and comfortable living conditions for tenants.

The standard would include requirements for heating, insulation, and ventilation, as well as basic amenities such as running water and working appliances.

This marks a significant shift in attitude among Landlords, who have previously been resistant to government regulations and requirements for rental properties. Showing that they clearly recognise the importance of providing safe and comfortable homes for tenants.

Commenting on the survey results, John Heron, managing director of mortgages at Paragon, said: “It’s clear from our research that the majority of landlords are supportive of minimum standards for rental properties, and this is a positive step for the sector as a whole.”

Heron added that the survey results reflect a growing recognition among Landlords that good quality housing is essential for the success of the private rented sector. He also noted that many Landlords are already investing in their properties to meet or exceed minimum standards.

The findings of the survey have been welcomed by housing campaigners, who have long called for greater regulation of the private rented sector. The government is currently considering proposals for a new minimum standard for rental properties, and the survey results may provide additional support for these efforts.

Overall, the survey suggests that Landlords are increasingly recognising their responsibility to provide safe and comfortable homes for tenants. By supporting minimum housing standards, Landlords can help to improve the reputation of the private rented sector and ensure that tenants have access to high-quality rental properties.

How to guarantee rental payments as cost of living increases

by Sorcha DugmorePosted on

Cost of living prices in the UK have been steadily increasing over recent years, having serious consequences for renters. A study in August 2022 revealed that food prices had risen by 12.5% compared to one year earlier. Additionally, rising gas and electric prices are putting huge strains on renters across the UK trying to keep up with the rising prices without compromising on their quality of living. 

Many renters are now facing difficulties being able to pay their monthly rent, due to no fault of their own. Long-term renters chose rental properties which fitted their budgets given the average cost of living prices at the time of entering their rental contract. However, renters who have been in their property for 2+ years are now finding their financial circumstances drastically changed, despite having stayed in the same property. 

Whilst a lot of renters have developed plans to cope with the rising costs, the significant increase in cost of living is inevitably causing serious problems for some renters, with knock-on consequences for landlords as tenants struggle to pay rent each month. 

What can landlords do to guarantee rental payments? 

When entering into new rental contracts, landlords should now pay more attention than ever to the average cost-of-living in the local area, and account for this when bringing in new tenants. Ensuring that your potential new tenants can provide proof of yearly income 30 times the rental cost will create a safety-net which should guarantee timely rental payments each month, whilst leaving space for cost of living prices to increase further throughout the next year. 

In addition to this, the most effective way to ensure timely rental payments is to enter into a “Rent Guarantee Scheme”. For a small monthly payment, this insurance will guarantee rental payments when a tenant does not pay their rent within 10 days of it being due – meaning that landlords will receive the rental payments each month even when their tenant is unable to pay. 

In summary, the cost of living crisis in the UK continues to cause serious challenges for both tenants and landlords. However, by developing an informed plan, landlords can limit the impact these challenges have on their monthly profits and gain more security with their investments.

Time to invest in rental properties?

by Sorcha DugmorePosted on

New investment into private buy-to-let properties is stagnating, whilst tenant demand for rentals is increasing; it’s no surprise that the UK is facing a serious rental crisis. Increased competition for rentals across the country is driving rental prices higher each month – But private landlords still seem hesitant to expand their rental portfolios. 

Why are landlords selling up? 

Going back a couple of years, the pandemic created a huge sellers market across the UK. This, teamed with Rishi Sunak’s stamp duty holiday, created a “selling fever” as many private landlords jumped at the opportunity to sell-up. 

This loss of private landlords has been intensified in the last year by a decrease in new landlords wanting to invest in buy-to-let properties. While the current rental crisis will be a contributing factor as private landlords wait for a more stable economy, there are likely additional factors at play which make this investment seem less appealing. One concern for new landlords will be the costly eco upgrades they will be required to make to properties by 2030. 

Why should landlords invest in Buy-to-let now? 

With the above in mind, landlords will likely be concerned about stepping into new buy-to-let investments, but with the right plan 2023 might be the perfect time to invest. 

Historically, the best time to make an investment is when the property landscape looks bleak. Currently, buying competition is low and house prices continue to plummet across the country. In December 2022, the average UK house price dropped for the third month in a row by 1.5%, creating interesting affordable investment opportunities. 

With increasing rental demand landlords will be able to charge higher rental prices, driving up yields for properties which were bought for lower prices. 

Landlords who are still considering selling-up should consider selling their more expensive properties in the South in trade of new affordable investments in the North. Rental yields are increasing rapidly around cities such as Birmingham and Manchester, now could be the perfect time to capture these opportunities whilst property prices are still low. 

Whilst no investment is risk-free, a property investment strategy tailored for the current market can still yield very profitable results. There will be some short-term hurdles which come with investing during a rental crisis but the right investments should lay a strong foundation for a lucrative long-term investment.

Best investment opportunities for 2023

by Sorcha DugmorePosted on

A new year often provides an opportunity to take stock of your current investment and reflect on your ambitions for the year to come. You may be considering new investment opportunities or wondering how the housing investment landscape has changed over the last year. 

To help you start your new year with a plan, we’ve identified some investment opportunities which have a lot of potential in 2023. 

Apartments or houses?

Whilst traditionally you may have sought out larger properties or single houses, it’s time to think small and explore apartment rentals. Generally, apartments offer a lower capital entry point, higher yields and more of a hands-off, hassle-free investment. With rental prices continuing to increase, young renters will be seeking cost-efficient homes which will undoubtedly continue to increase the popularity of apartments vs houses. Being a more cost-efficient entry point, apartments are a great starter property for new investors. 

Student Accommodation 

As we’ve covered in a previous article, a handful of northern student cities seem to be leading uk rental yield increases. Including; Newcastle Upon Tyne (Avg. 9.8%),  Manchester (avg. 10.1%), Bradford (10.6%) and Nottingham (11.3%). Renting to students often bring higher yields by charging rent per person rather than by property. Student rentals in busy cities will always be in high demand, making for a fast tenant turnover with each new semester. 

Looking beyond London

Research suggests that cities in the North and Midlands are becoming the new hot-spots for property investment in the UK. With cities such as Birmingham and Manchester rapidly growing in popularity with both movers and businesses (attracting higher numbers of young professionals) these cities are prime hot-spots to invest in early 2023 before property prices peak with the rising popularity. 

Property will always provide great investment opportunities, but it’s vital to be strategic with your investments to ensure you are getting your desired yield. Always conduct thorough research before making a new investment. 

New limitations on social housing rent increases

by Sorcha DugmorePosted on

Driven by inflation and high rental demand, rental prices are increasing across the country. But what does this mean for landlords? And what are your limitations when considering rental increases? 

Social Housing rental increases 

Housing associations are considering the impact of rental increases for social and affordable housing tenants; several options are now being considered to offer support to tenants dealing with these price increases. Most notably, new limitations are being implemented in 2023 to cap rental costs for social housing tenants. 

Why does action need to be taken? 

Monthly rental costs for Social housing are permitted to increase by up to CPI plus 1% annually. However, in August 2022 the Bank of England forecast that CPI would be 9.9% in Quarter 3 of 2022, suggesting very significant rental increases would be permitted in 2023-24. These increases will inevitably cause significant pressure for some social renters as they struggle to keep up with the price increases. 

In October 2022, the UK government launched a consultation to cap these social housing rental increases in 2023. The consultation proposed to protect existing social tenants from significant rent increases in 2023 by capping social housing rent increases from April. The consultation considered rental increase caps at 3%, 5% and 7% in response to these concerns. 

Whilst many social housing providers might independently choose to cap property rental below CPI plus 1%, imposing a rental increase ceiling would provide protection for tenants who are in exceptional circumstances. 

The Government has now confirmed that these rental increases will be capped at 7% from April 1st 2023, this change also applies to shared ownership tenants. 

A detailed report of the October consultation can be found here. 

The new cap on rental increases for social housing tenants in 2023 should offer a sense of security and protection to tenants concerned about rental increases.