Mandatory water meters

It looks like ministers are about to propose making water meters manadatory in residential property in a bid to bring down the UKs water consumption.

Read more in ThisisMoney

Discounted landlord insurance

Landlord tax deadline

Landlords remember to get your self assessment tax return in by the end of today.

Crossed fingers that the HMRC server handles the rush.

Landlord tax services

Google retires from property

Google have given up on the idea of competing against the likes of Zoopla, Rightmove and friends.

It seems that their property for sale/rent option on google maps wasn't been used so they've decided to retire this function over the next month

Well you can't win everything.

Alex Chesterman, Founder & CEO of Zoopla.co.uk said: "This has been an interesting experiment for Google with an outcome that has not entirely surprised us. Whilst Google is clearly the world-class leader at search, its real estate offering on maps did not provide users with the type of rich product experience of sites like ours. The overwhelming majority of consumers continue to use the leading portals as their online starting point for property search as demonstrated by over 5 million visitors to our site per month.”

Landlord insurance Quotes

Apprentice fraudster sentenced

This years 'Apprentice ' contestant, Chris Farrel has been given a nine month suspended sentence having been found guilty of mortgage fraud.

The ex- mortgage broker altered forms without the applicants knowledge inflating salary figures to meet lending criteria and therefore gain his commission.

I wonder if Alan would see it as creative thinking?

Read more at the BBC

Landlords need to make sure they use a reputable broker.

BTL mortgage search

Rents fall in December

Data from the British Property Federation (BPF) shows that tenants paid 1.2 per cent less last month, with rents averaging around £684.

Poor old Wales saw the biggest fall of 2.6 per cent, the south-east fell by 2.5 percent and London fell by 2.3 percent.

Let's hope this is just a reflection of the 'bleak mid winter' effect and not a longer term trend, that's all we need!

Cheap landlord insurance

Dubai's World sinks

Dubai's world is sinking, and I don't just mean metaphorically.

According to this report in the Telegraph the World development which was made up of a mass of sandy piles set in the sea ( probably not a good idea) is getting washed away.

So the herdsmen who happened on a bit of dessert with a load of oil underneath aren't quite as sharp as we thought. Surprise, surprise, I mean they bought Man City?

Dubai - what a mess.

Free property management software, Free tenancy agreements

Property price twitter - up/down

Up ten percent, down 10 percent, what's the difference?

Well, 20 percent.

House prices fall 2.2 percent in January according to Hometrack - Reuters
Sluggish start to 2011 housing market - Hometrack
Bank mortgage approvals drop 10 percent in 2010 - BBC
House prices set to rise 10 percent this year - Express
House prices grew 1 percent in 2010 - FT Advisor
Warnings over lack of mortgage lending - Telegraph

See all the property price tweets

Cheap online tenant reference

Price Comparisson Sites

Why price comparison sites aren’t the be-all and end-all

The internet is a wonderful tool, especially when it comes to carrying out research. It’s particularly useful for shopping around when it’s time to take out a new car or home insurance policy, allowing users to gain a large number of quotes in a matter of minutes, making their decision on which policy to take out a much easier process. It also provides an extremely quick way for consumers to see how certain variables – such as the level of voluntary excess they’re willing to pay – will affect the price of their premium.

One way in which people have really taken to gathering insurance quotes in recent years is by heading to price comparison sites – and while it’s clear that these sites do offer a wealth of information in a fraction of the time it would take to visit each individual provider’s site and request a quote one-by-one, it’s also hugely important to realise that they won’t necessarily provide you with the best price or overall package for your needs.

The reason? Some big name insurance providers choose not to give quotes via online comparison sites, choosing instead to avoid paying commission to such service providers and pass that saving on directly to the consumer. So when you next do an insurance comparison search, be aware that the cheapest deal that appears on your screen might not be as competitive as you could get from a provider that chooses to eschew comparison sites.

Your best bet is to head to some of the bigger name insurance providers’ sites individually and get a quote from them too. Yes, it’ll mean spending a little more time in front of the screen – but it’ll be worth it if you find you can shave a significant amount off what you previously thought was the best deal available to you.

That’s not to say that using price comparison sites is a pointless process; clearly, they provide a useful service. The best strategy is to get the additional quotes from individual sites as well as the output from your comparison search – if you’re prepared to put in a little extra leg work when it comes to gathering those extra quotes you could be handsomely rewarded.

Is now the time to start BTL?

The Daily Mail asks the question in this article, if you are thinking of starting your property investment career.

You probably don't want my answer..........

Time to invest?

Time to invest in your next rental property?

Due to a recent dip in rental property stocks coupled with an increased demand for tenancies, rental incomes have started to increase, offering higher rental yields for landlords. Letting Agents are always looking for new properties for rent, so now has never been a better time to start out as a landlord or increase your current rental holdings.

If you are thinking about expanding your current portfolio, now could be a great time to do it. Landlords are currently experiencing low levels of vacant properties, so by investing in a new property for rent, you could have your property possessed by a new tenant in a shorter time frame, and with a decent return on investment. There are many properties on the market that would offer a high rental income, if you do some research. Your local letting agent will be able to offer you advice on suitable properties that have rental potential, enabling you to move quickly and find a tenant that suits your requirements.

By taking advantage of the rental market’s trends, increasing and decreasing rents as applicable, you can stay abreast of the market and make sure that you capitalise on your investments. Knowing when to invest is a fine art, but by keeping yourself informed and up to date with rental movements, you can make the most out of every situation. Speak to your local Letting Agent today to see how you can build on and improve your current rental portfolio.

BTL mortgages - most popular

Interest Rate	Overall Cost for Comparison	Max LTV	Product Detail	Completion Fee	Early Repayment Charges
3.88% Tracker	4.1% APR	75%	Variable tracker rate of BBR + 3.38% for the lifetime of the loan. This product is available up to 75% LTV and there is a rental calculation of 100% at a notional rate of 8.5%. An application fee will apply. Available on a repayment basis only. The completion fee is payable at offer stage. Refer all cases for fees, maximum LTV and loan amounts.	0%	1% of original balance being repaid for 1 year
4.15% Fixed	5.3% APR	75%	Fixed rate of 4.15% for 1 year then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate of 4.60% to the end of year 5, then for the remainder of the term, the lender's standard variable rate of 4.60% + 0.50% . This product is available up to 75% LTV and there is a rental calculation of 130% at a notional rate of 6%. An application fee will apply.	3%	5% of amount being repaid for 1 year
4.25% Tracker	4.8% APR	65%	Variable tracker rate of BBR + 3.75% until 31/03/2013 then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate which is currently 4.74% for the remainder of the term. Free valuation up to £700 for purchases and remortgages and free legals on remortgages only. This product is available up to 65% LTV and the rental calculation is 125% at payrate. There is a booking fee of £250 and an application fee will apply.	0%	4% of amount being repaid until 31/03/2013
4.5% Tracker	5.1% APR	75%	Variable tracker rate of BBR + 4.00% for 2 years then reverting to a variable rate of BBR + 4.24% for the remainder of the term. This product is available up to 75% LTV and the rental calculation is 125% at payrate. An application fee will apply.	2%	3% of amount being repaid for 2 years
4.8% Fixed	5.2% APR	75%	Fixed rate of 4.80% until 01/04/2013 then reverting to a variable of BBR + 4.24% to give a current rate of 4.74% for the remainder of the term. The product is available up to 75% LTV and the rental calculation is 125% at the payrate. An application fee will apply.	2.5%	3% of amount being repaid until 01/04/2013
4.8% Tracker	5.6% APR	75%	Variable tracker rate of LIBOR + 4.00% for 2 years then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate of 4.60% + 0.25% = 4.85% to the end of year 5, then for the remainder of the term, the lender's standard variable rate of 4.60% + 0.75% = 5.35%. The product is available up to 75% LTV and the rental calculation is 130% at a notional rate of 7%. Please note that the completion fee will increase by 0.25% on applications for HMOs, freehold houses split into flats and limited companies. An application fee will apply.	2.25%	3% of amount being repaid for 2 years
4.89% Tracker	5.1% APR	60%	Variable tracker rate of BBR + 4.39% until 31/03/2013 then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate which is currently 4.99% for the remainder of the term. There is a free valuation and standard legal fees for remortgages. This product is available up to 60% LTV and the rental calculation is 125% a 4.99%. An application fee will apply.	0%	4% of original balance being repaid until 31/03/2013
4.99% Fixed	5.5% APR	80%	Fixed rate of 4.99% until 29/02/2012 then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate which is currently 4.99% for the remainder of the term. This product is available up to 80% LTV and there is a rental calculation of 125% at payrate. An application fee will apply.	3% (min £595)	5% of amount being repaid until 29/02/2012
5.74% Fixed	5.3% APR	65%	Fixed rate of 5.74% until 28/02/2013 then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate which is currently 4.99% for the remainder of the term. This product is available up to 65% LTV and the rental calculation is 125% at payrate. There is no completion fee. An application fee will apply.	0%	5% of amount being repaid until 28/02/2013
5.79% Fixed	5.2% APR	70%	5.79% fixed rate until 01/02/2013 then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate which is currently 4.79% for the remainder of the term. This product is available to first time buyers and up to 70% LTV. The rental calculation is 120% at payrate. An application fee will apply.	£1995	4% of the outstanding balance as of 1st January until 01/04/2013

IMPORTANT! Due to current market conditions, lenders are withdrawing and replacing products with little or no notice.
Please check our website regularly to see the most up-to-date products available.

Please visit www.propertyhawk.co.uk/mortgages.aspx to search the full product range and find a buy-to-let mortgage to suit your specific personal circumstances.

Email: info@propertyhawkbtlmortgages.co.uk

Tel: 029 2069 5446

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgages. The Financial Services Authority does not regulate some forms of mortgage.

---

Oxford licence on all HMOs

Oxford is the first city to make it mandatory for all shared housing in the private rental sector to be licenced.

The city councils scheme is predicted to cost £3.7m, and will be funded by the licence fees of between £372 and £500 per year dependent on the size of the property.

Oxford City council reports it receives 2000 complaints a year regarding the negative impact of badly ran HMOs.

Any landlords who fail to meet the new licencing requirements could face additional charges, or lose their licence.

Propertyhawk predicts that tenants will see their rents increase by between £372 and £500 once the measures come into action.

Special discount on landlord insurance

Scotlands new tenancy deposits

Scottish landlords will from March have to place rental deposits with an independent arbitrator.

As with the current tenancy deposit system in England and Wales any disputes between landlords and tenants over the repayment of a rental deposit will go to a mediation service

The Scottish government accuses landlords of keeping as many as 11,000 deposits, worth £3.6m, unfairly each year.

The new regulations were set out to the Scottish Parliament on Monday by the Housing Minister Alex Neil.

Read more on the new Scottish tenancy deposit scheme at the BBC

Free tenancy agreements

Tips On Tenancy Deposit Disputes 28: Types Of Evidence

Tip 28: Types of Evidence 

You may see adjudication described as a paper based process, which is slightly misleading because the adjudicators will usually accept evidence in electronic formats, including image files, audio recordings and video clips. What adjudicators do not want to see is physical evidence.

Please do not send in a corner of the living room carpet, so the adjudicator can judge whether it smells of cigarette smoke, a little bag of fluff to demonstrate that area behind the sofa hadn’t been vacuumed, or worse, a selection of the detritus from the student’s bedroom floor. On a practical level, the schemes generally keep files and evidence for a considerable period of time and it isn’t reasonable to expect filing cabinet space to be devoted to dirty carpet. On a personal level, it just isn’t nice to expect someone else to have to sniff something you think smells so bad it has to be replaced.

If you find a dirty area, film it, photograph it, record it however you can. Should you be concerned about smell, or something else that can’t be photographed, you might be best off employing an objective third party, perhaps and inventory agency, to record the condition of a property. 

More on third party evidence next week.

Tom Derrett is the Principal of Deposit Claim, an experienced deposit protection adjudicator and an expert on the Deposit Protection Schemes. Tom helps landlords to claim money through the deposit protection schemes.

Free property management software, Free tenancy agreements

Ecobuild 1-3 March 2011

Ecobuild is on 1-3 March this year, at ExCel in London.

Conferences, seminars, attractions, over 1300 exhibitors. Everything you would want to know about sustainable construction and the built environment.

It's all free - order a ticket and read all about it here.

Free property management software, Free tenancy agreements

Manchester landlords fined

Two Manchester landlords have been fined £4000 for failing to get a licence after been requested to by Manchester City Council.

Read more about the cases here

Free tenancy agreements

BTL mortgages - most popular

Interest Rate	Overall Cost for Comparison	Max LTV	Product Detail	Completion Fee	Early Repayment Charges
3.88% Tracker	4.1% APR	75%	Variable tracker rate of BBR + 3.38% for the lifetime of the loan. This product is available up to 75% LTV and there is a rental calculation of 100% at a notional rate of 8.5%. An application fee will apply. Available on a repayment basis only. The completion fee is payable at offer stage. Refer all cases for fees, maximum LTV and loan amounts.	0%	1% of original balance being repaid for 1 year
4.15% Fixed	5.3% APR	75%	Fixed rate of 4.15% for 1 year then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate of 4.60% to the end of year 5, then for the remainder of the term, the lender's standard variable rate of 4.60% + 0.50% . This product is available up to 75% LTV and there is a rental calculation of 130% at a notional rate of 6%. An application fee will apply.	3%	5% of amount being repaid for 1 year
4.25% Tracker	4.8% APR	65%	Variable tracker rate of BBR + 3.75% until 31/03/2013 then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate which is currently 4.74% for the remainder of the term. Free valuation up to £700 for purchases and remortgages and free legals on remortgages only. This product is available up to 65% LTV and the rental calculation is 125% at payrate. There is a booking fee of £250 and an application fee will apply.	0%	4% of amount being repaid until 31/03/2013
4.5% Tracker	5.1% APR	75%	Variable tracker rate of BBR + 4.00% for 2 years then reverting to a variable rate of BBR + 4.24% for the remainder of the term. This product is available up to 75% LTV and the rental calculation is 125% at payrate. An application fee will apply.	2%	3% of amount being repaid for 2 years
4.8% Fixed	5.2% APR	75%	Fixed rate of 4.80% until 01/04/2013 then reverting to a variable of BBR + 4.24% to give a current rate of 4.74% for the remainder of the term. The product is available up to 75% LTV and the rental calculation is 125% at the payrate. An application fee will apply.	2.5%	3% of amount being repaid until 01/04/2013
4.8% Tracker	5.6% APR	75%	Variable tracker rate of LIBOR + 4.00% for 2 years then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate of 4.60% + 0.25% = 4.85% to the end of year 5, then for the remainder of the term, the lender's standard variable rate of 4.60% + 0.75% = 5.35%. The product is available up to 75% LTV and the rental calculation is 130% at a notional rate of 7%. Please note that the completion fee will increase by 0.25% on applications for HMOs, freehold houses split into flats and limited companies. An application fee will apply.	2.25%	3% of amount being repaid for 2 years
4.89% Tracker	5.1% APR	60%	Variable tracker rate of BBR + 4.39% until 31/03/2013 then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate which is currently 4.99% for the remainder of the term. There is a free valuation and standard legal fees for remortgages. This product is available up to 60% LTV and the rental calculation is 125% a 4.99%. An application fee will apply.	0%	4% of original balance being repaid until 31/03/2013
4.99% Fixed	5.5% APR	80%	Fixed rate of 4.99% until 29/02/2012 then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate which is currently 4.99% for the remainder of the term. This product is available up to 80% LTV and there is a rental calculation of 125% at payrate. An application fee will apply.	3% (min £595)	5% of amount being repaid until 29/02/2012
5.74% Fixed	5.3% APR	65%	Fixed rate of 5.74% until 28/02/2013 then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate which is currently 4.99% for the remainder of the term. This product is available up to 65% LTV and the rental calculation is 125% at payrate. There is no completion fee. An application fee will apply.	0%	5% of amount being repaid until 28/02/2013
5.79% Fixed	5.2% APR	70%	5.59% fixed rate until 01/02/2013 then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate which is currently 4.79% for the remainder of the term. This product is available up to 70% LTV and the rental calculation is 120% at payrate. An application fee will apply.	£1995	4% of the outstanding balance as of 1st January until 01/04/2013

IMPORTANT! Due to current market conditions, lenders are withdrawing and replacing products with little or no notice.
Please check our website regularly to see the most up-to-date products available.

Please visit www.propertyhawk.co.uk/mortgages.aspx to search the full product range and find a buy-to-let mortgage to suit your specific personal circumstances.

Email: info@propertyhawkbtlmortgages.co.uk

Tel: 029 2069 5446

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgages. The Financial Services Authority does not regulate some forms of mortgage.

---

Jump to fixed rates

As inflation continues to rise the fear of a rise in interest rates has caused a rush on property owners jumping on to fixed rate deals.

Read more in Thisismoney

Search best fixed rate BTL mortgages

Property price twitter - bouncy

Uncertainty and talk of spring bounces, it's all mixed up at the moment.

Property sales levels stabilise but outlook uncertain - RICS report
Property prices set for spring bounce - Express
Instructions plummet to 18 month low - The Negotiator
New home prices hold in 2010 - Propertytalklive
Snow blamed for lack lustre property market - BBC
UK Housing market to get tougher for first time buyers - Telegraph
Property price gaps set to widen, north/south, old/young, poor/rich - Citywire


See all the property price tweets

Cheap online tenant reference

Zoopla android app

Zoopla have launched a new app for android phones so if you like the idea of getting mobile with your Zoopla then read more here

Washing your face

"As long as it washes it's face" - do you remember the days when that was a landlords mantra?

"Things can only get better!" playing on the radio, Tony Blair happy and smiling, the only way was up.

Well that was then, and this is now, and landlords can't afford to just keep washing their faces. They really need to be scrubbing behind ears, mopping pits and freshening up their nether regions.

Landlords are watching rising inflation and all the talk of interest rate hikes with real concern.

The harsh reality of managing property is the additional costs of maintenance and letting fees on top of mortgage repayments. Rental properties get tired very quickly and sorting them out is costly, letting agents fees eat another 7 percent plus out of the rental revenues and landlord insurance and licences bite further.

With no sign of 'capital growth' happening for a long time to come and lending criteria frosty the old remortgage saviour is not an option.

Rent increases have eased the stress, but with rising unemployment and wage freezes coming on stream from the austerity measures these will be pushed to keep growing at any real rate.

Let's not mention the increasing number of tenants failing to meet their rental payments.

So those landlords who continued to wash their face whilst Blair lost his smile and D:ream became a nightmare are going to need to build a war chest and keep back as much rental profits now whist interest rate stay low to prepare for harsher time to come......

and harsher times are coming, that's a certainty, if you can't see that you need to wash that sleep from your eyes and stop dreaming.

Search BTL mortgages for best fixed rates

Taking action

Having resolved not to dither during 2011, Property Sparrow has taken action.

Her bus driver tenant's resolutions would appear to be: stop paying the rent, stop answering the phone and stop answering the doorbell. He seems to be sticking to his resolutions very well this year.

Exasperated, Property Sparrow has served a s.21 notice and is waiting to hear from the County Court. She received a letter from the Council's Housing Advisory Team this morning. Presumably the tenant has shown the notice to them and it's good to see that the Council says that the notice 'appears to be valid.'

Property Sparrow hopes to hear from the Court soon. This tenant is just sitting it out now.

Free property management software, Free tenancy agreements

Landlords threaten FTBs

As the rental market conditions continue to improve for landlords as regards positive cashflow from increasing rents and low mortgage repayments we are looking to buy property again. It's starting to makes sense again!

This increased interest on new property purchases will continue to put pressure on the first time buyer market as there is a strong shared property criteria between the two markets.

Citywire predict that Buy to let investors will start to crowd out first time buyers because of their ability to provide larger deposits.


Shop around for landlord insurance

Tenants struggle to meet rents

The Association of Letting Agents report a rise in the number of tenants not meeting rental payments.

This rise is the first recorded increase for the past 18 months and maybe points at things to come as the effects of the austerity measures bring about job losses and pay cuts.

Ian Potter, Operations Manager at ARLA, said: "At the beginning of last year we predicted that the number of tenants having difficulties paying rent would increase and unfortunately, this seems to be the case today.

"It is a situation which can have serious repercussions throughout the PRS as, without guaranteed rent income, landlords may also have problems paying mortgages. At worst, it may result in a rise in repossessions."

Cheap landlord insurance

London rental recovery

Rents in central London continue their steep upward climb according to figures from Frank Knight.

In the prime areas of Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Mayfair, Frank Knight reported that rents increased almost 16 percent a year earlier.

They increased 2.2 percent from the third quarter.

Read more on the rental recovery here


Discount Landlord Insurance

Leicester Landlord Fined

A Leicester landlord, Anthony Gordon has been fined £17,000 by magistrates for a series of failings in the safe management of the rental property that were seen to put tenants safety at risk, including not providing light bulbs in the hall and landings of the property.

The property was also a unlicensed house in multiple occupation and had no valid gas and electricity safety documents.

The fine amount was based on £10,000 for being unlicensed, and a further £1,000 for each of the other offences.

Free property management software, Free tenancy agreements

Tips On Tenancy Deposit Disputes 27: Claim For Everything

Tip 27: Claim for Everything

There can be some confusion over how much landlords may claim for in deposit protection disputes. I think it stems from a slight misinterpretation of the scheme rules, which tend to include a statement to the effect that the scheme cannot adjudicate on claims over the value of the deposit.

Some landlords and agents have interpreted this to mean that the total amount that they are claiming for may not exceed the amount of the protected deposit. What it actually means is that the adjudicator cannot award more than the amount of the protected deposit.

Given that the majority of claims are marked down in some way by the adjudicator, landlords would be well advised to claim for everything that they are owed. If the adjudicator considers that you are owed more than the value of the deposit, you will simply be award all of the deposit. If you fail to claim for some of the money you are owed, you increase the probability that the tenant will get away without paying you.

Tom Derrett is the Principal of Deposit Claim, an experienced deposit protection adjudicator and an expert on the Deposit Protection Schemes. Tom helps landlords to claim money through the deposit protection schemes.

Free property management software, Free tenancy agreements

7% guaranteed rent

But it is in Suffolk!

Landlords looking to invest can do so with a guaranteed rent offered by house builder  Taylor Wimpey.

The 7% gross yield is being offered for 2 years.


Stacy Dornan, Regional Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey, says: “With banks offering low returns on savings, savvy people with money in the bank are switching to an investment in bricks and mortar.

“By doing this now they are taking advantage of today’s great prices and a 7% rental yield on a selection of properties at Concept.

“And better still, a buy-to-let home looks set to become a brilliant investment, especially as property prices pick up again. Because of their proximity to US Air Force bases at RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath, high-quality rented properties in this area are always in demand – making the rental potential at Concept even stronger!”

To find out more.

Mortgage Search

Renting to tenants and pets

Pets in rental property ....... debate.

The Express and Star ( I was a paperboy for this regional newspaper back in the early eighties ) suggests that landlords should review a ban on pets in their rental properties.

In the past I have posted on the downside of renting to dogs, or at least tenants with dogs, which then lead to me receiving a whole bunch of incensed hate mail from the nutty dog lovers brigade. ( you know the ones that don't have kids and think that their springer spaniel actually understands what they're saying.)

However I do feel that I have changed my tune.

You see the one good thing about renting to tenants with dogs is that they are more desperate than the usual fancy free none dog owning tenants, and a desperate tenant doesn't like moving.

Once in a rental property the dog owning tenant is more likely to stay longer.

You see they know how hard it was to find a landlord who would let to them and Mutley in the first place.

Making them far more reticent about going through that whole rejection process again.

Long lets are lovely for landlords, reduced void, more money and less hassle.

You might find when you finally get back your rental property after a nice long let that it has an over-powering smell of damp dog, but you'll get used to it.

My border terrier has a whiff of stale Weetabix........ and to be honest I quite like it.

Discount landlord insurance

Desperate Dubai Landlords

Landlords in that awful PR spun fantasy land of Dubai are now so desperate to find tenants for their over developed sandpit that they are offering to pay prospective tenants relocation costs, including packing and removals.

Other scorched landlords are offering free stays in Dubai's luxury hotels,..... well let's face it they've got enough spare rooms.

Local property experts predict an over supply of 100,000 residential units in Dubai by the end of next year.

We thought times were hard in 'dear old blighty' but at least landlords can be reassured by the restrictive supply of property that will continue to shield us from complete financial meltdown by inflating rents.

I never thought I'd say it but, "I love our bureaucratic, obstructive planning system!"

and I hate Dubai as a place to invest.

Live property auction

If you want to check out a live residential property auction then check out the site mustbesold.com.

Having a quick look it looks like this auction house has got hold of some repossessed Irish property, however the next date for the full auction is 2nd February.  Guide prices start at £12,000 for a terrace house so as prices are expected to lurch lower, could this time to grab a property bargain!?

 Mortgage and Finance Advice

Interest rates unchanged

The Bank of England have left interest rates unchanged again - read more in this Beeb article.

Property price twitter

It's largely looking pretty negative this week .........

Potential interest rate misery for 3 million home owners - Telegraph
Belfast housing market crisis worsens - Belfast Telegraph
Now is a good time to buy a home - Lovemoney
Stalled auctions herald property crisis - Thisismoney
Tough outlook as lender remains squeezed - Estate Agency Today
Blizzards freeze property market - LondonEveningStandard
Property prices could drop 10 percent in 2011 - Daily Mail
House prices could fall to 2004 level this year - Telegraph
Average house price to drop down to 150k from 200k - Telegraph
House prices fall 1.3 percent in December - Daily Mail
Property wealth gap widening - Financial Times



See all the property price tweets

Cheap online tenant reference

Is there any reason why a tenant can withhold paying rent?

Yes, your tenant can withhold rent if there are any repairs to the property. The tenant has a duty to inform the landlord of any repairs, but unfortunately the first you may hear about it is at court when you have asked the court to order possession because of rent arrears.

You could prevent this by carrying out regular inspections of the property, However in reality this is not always possible as tenants often deny access. You should write to the tenant giving them 24 hours written notice of your intention to inspect the property and keep a copy of the letter. You should then make a note of any cancellations by the tenants or incidents when the tenants have refused to let you in or have been out.

Rebecca Brough is a Solicitor at Fidler and Pepper who deals with Residential Landlords on a daily basis. Rebecca offers landlords requiring legal help a Free initial consultation.

Free property management software, Free tenancy agreements

Cutting Out Estate Agents?

Will Cutting Out The Estate Agent Ever Work?

Hard economic times often push through changes in the way we go about doing things. People’s budgets are often squeezed, and therefore new ways to save money start to come about. The ‘For Sale By Owner’ model of selling property is nothing new, in America it is extremely popular, although here in the UK it’s still and unknown quantity.

Pros:
The benefits are that you cut out the middle man, thus saving thousands on estate agent commission. You also have the complete freedom of how to market your property, and you also have 100% control over the sale of your house. You can arrange viewings when it’s convenient for you and no-one else!

Cons:
The biggest problem surrounding this business model is that it’s unknown, and many people fear this especially when it’s the sale of their home. It’s still quite a new market, so the amount of potential viewings maybe limited.
We’ve yet to see whether this will be a popular way of selling property in the UK, but it could be quite an interesting watch, especially as people are looking for new ways to save money.

Well...he who dares rodders....he who dares!!

Us For Homes are one of the UK’s largest For Sale By Owner portals, with thousands of privately advertised properties across the UK. Take a look at the site to find out what it’s all about...

Shortage pushes people to rent

The FT at the weekend reported that the continued shortage of homes or more accurately homes that first time buyers can afford is underpinning the health of the private rental sector.

In the last ten years from 2000 the value of the private rental stock has increased by 178% which despite the recent slump in house prices illustrates the long-term attractions of investing in residential property.

Savills research also shows that the private rental sector now accounts for 12% of the total housing stock, up from only 9% in 2000.  The respective share in total housing stock value has also increased from 11% to 14%.

The value of private rented stock increased by 178 per cent to £587bn in the 10 years to 2010. The sector now accounts for 12 per cent of total housing stock, up from 9 per cent in 2000, and 14 per cent of its total value, up from 11 per cent.

Landlord insurance quotes

TDS takes a million

Landlord deposit scheme mydeposits.co.uk has just taken it's millionth tenancy deposit.

My Deposits operates the insurance based franchise awarded by the government when mandatory deposit protection was introduced on 6th April 2007.

This tenancy deposit scheme which is mainly aimed at portfolio landlords who want to retain their tenants deposits; celebrated the millionth milestone by donating a £1000 to student charity Free Enterprise.

Tenancy Deposit Scheme - which scheme?

Which landlord insurance?

BTL mortgages - most popular

Interest Rate	Overall Cost for Comparison	Max LTV	Product Detail	Completion Fee	Early Repayment Charges
3.88% Tracker	4.1% APR	75%	Variable tracker rate of BBR + 3.38% for the lifetime of the loan. This product is available up to 75% LTV and there is a rental calculation of 100% at a notional rate of 8.5%. An application fee will apply. Available on a repayment basis only. The completion fee is payable at offer stage. Refer all cases for fees, maximum LTV and loan amounts.	0%	1% of original balance being repaid for 1 year
4.15% Fixed	5.3% APR	75%	Fixed rate of 4.15% for 1 year then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate of 4.60% to the end of year 5, then for the remainder of the term, the lender's standard variable rate of 4.60% + 0.50% . This product is available up to 75% LTV and there is a rental calculation of 130% at a notional rate of 6%. An application fee will apply.	3%	5% of amount being repaid for 1 year
4.25% Tracker	4.8% APR	65%	Variable tracker rate of BBR + 3.75% until 31/03/2013 then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate which is currently 4.74% for the remainder of the term. Free valuation up to £700 for purchases and remortgages and free legals on remortgages only. This product is available up to 65% LTV and the rental calculation is 125% at payrate. There is a booking fee of £250 and an application fee will apply.	0%	4% of amount being repaid until 31/03/2013
4.5% Tracker	5.1% APR	75%	Variable tracker rate of BBR + 4.00% for 2 years then reverting to a variable rate of BBR + 4.24% for the remainder of the term. This product is available up to 75% LTV and the rental calculation is 125% at payrate. An application fee will apply.	2%	3% of amount being repaid for 2 years
4.69% Fixed	5.2% APR	60%	Fixed rate of 4.69% until 31/12/2012 then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate (SVR) which is currently 4.99% for the remainder of the term.This product is available up to 60% LTV and the rental calculation is 125% at 4.99% (SVR). An application fee will apply. Free legal fees for remortgages.	£999	4% of original balance being repaid until 31/12/2012
4.79% Fixed	4.8% APR	70%	Fixed rate of 4.79% until 31/01/2012 then reverting to a variable rate of BBR + 3.99% to give a current rate of 4.49% for the remainder of the term. This product is available up to 70% LTV and there is a rental calculation of 125% at the reversionary rate. An application fee will apply.	£2495	2% of the amount being repaid until 31/01/2012.
4.8% Fixed	5.2% APR	75%	Fixed rate of 4.80% until 01/04/2013 then reverting to a variable of BBR + 4.24% to give a current rate of 4.74% for the remainder of the term. The product is available up to 75% LTV and the rental calculation is 125% at the payrate. An application fee will apply.	2.5%	3% of amount being repaid until 01/04/2013
4.8% Tracker	5.6% APR	75%	Variable tracker rate of LIBOR + 4.00% for 2 years then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate of 4.60% + 0.25% = 4.85% to the end of year 5, then for the remainder of the term, the lender's standard variable rate of 4.60% + 0.75% = 5.35%. The product is available up to 75% LTV and the rental calculation is 130% at a notional rate of 7%. Please note that the completion fee will increase by 0.25% on applications for HMOs, freehold houses split into flats and limited companies. An application fee will apply.	2.25%	3% of amount being repaid for 2 years
4.99% Fixed	5.5% APR	80%	Fixed rate of 4.99% until 29/02/2012 then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate which is currently 4.99% for the remainder of the term. This product is available up to 80% LTV and there is a rental calculation of 125% at payrate. An application fee will apply.	3% (min £595)	5% of amount being repaid until 29/02/2012
5.59% Fixed	5.2% APR	70%	5.59% fixed rate until 01/02/2013 then reverting to the lender's standard variable rate which is currently 4.79% for the remainder of the term. This product is available up to 70% LTV and the rental calculation is 120% at payrate. An application fee will apply.	£1995	4% of the outstanding balance as of 1st January until 01/02/2013

IMPORTANT! Due to current market conditions, lenders are withdrawing and replacing products with little or no notice.
Please check our website regularly to see the most up-to-date products available.

Please visit www.propertyhawk.co.uk/mortgages.aspx to search the full product range and find a buy-to-let mortgage to suit your specific personal circumstances.

Email: info@propertyhawkbtlmortgages.co.uk

Tel: 029 2069 5446

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgages. The Financial Services Authority does not regulate some forms of mortgage.

Council tenant eviction proposal

Minister Grant Shapps is proposing the eviction of problem council tenants should be made easier and quicker under plans for a new “mandatory ground for possession”.

Read more in the Telegraph

The worlds of the private rental sector and social housing edge ever closer together .........

Free property management software, Free tenancy agreements