The rise of the illegal landlord

New research from the credit company Experian reports that there are three times as many council tenants subletting than originally thought by the Audit Commission. ( A Government organisation way out on its figures, surely not?)

The Experian figures estimate almost 160,000 council homes are being sublet compared to the 50,000 estimate from the Audit Commission.

The study was based on data from 125,000 properties run by 10 local councils and housing associations examining the number of tenants not currently occupying their tenancy address and found living at another property as well as analysing credit activity from adults found at the tenancy address.

The report said that if those homes were made available to people currently in temporary accommodation, which costs about £18,000 per year per tenant, the taxpayer would save more than £2 billion a year.

Read more in the Telegraph
Read more in the Guardian
Read more in Inside Housing

Free property management software, Free tenancy agreements

Gas Safety Checklist

1.  Landlords need an annual Gas Safety Certificate each year by law for all gas appliances, this includes boilers, gas cookers and gas fires.
2. Landlords need to use a Gas Safe registered engineer to fit, fix and check gas appliances in rental properties – it’s the law and will help keep tenants safe.
3. Landlords and tenants are advised  to see an engineers Gas Safe ID card and check the back of the card to ensure they are qualified to carry out the specific type of gas work.
4. Find a Gas Safe registered engineer in your area or call the free helpline on 0800 408 5500
5. Recognise the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning – headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness.
6. Check gas appliances for warning signs that they are not working properly e.g. lazy yellow flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks or stains on or around the appliance and too much condensation in the room.
7. Landlords are advise to install a carbon monoxide alarm  and locate it near to any gas appliances in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidance. Carbon monoxide can leak from appliances and kill.
8. Landlords and tenants should only use gas appliances for their intended purpose e.g. don’t use a gas oven to heat a room or use a gas barbeque inside the house.
9. landlords and tenants should always ensure there is enough ventilation for the gas appliances to allow them to burn correctly and make sure they are not blocking any air vents that provide an air supply to the gas appliance.
10. Anybody working with gas has to be Gas Safe registered by law. Report someone working without registration or call Gas Safe Register on the free phone number 0800 408 5500.

BTL mortgages - most popular

Visit Property Hawk mortgages and save time and money with our free online BTL mortgage finder.

Below is a selection of the most popular buy-to-let mortgages currently available.

If you would like to discuss your requirements with a member of the support team please telephone 029 2069 5446 or you can submit a quick enquiry directly to the team by filling in our online enquiry form.

Max LTV	Initial Rate	Term	Completion fee	Booking fee	Incentives	Overall Cost for Comparison
80%	5.49% Fixed	Jan 31 2014	2.5%	£0	Refund of valuation to a maximum of £500 and free legals for remortgages only.	5.8% APR
80%	4.99% Disc.Tracker	2 Years	£2995	£0	Refund of valuation to a maximum of £500 and free legals for remortgages only.	5.7% APR
75%	5.35% Fixed	Oct 31 2013	2%	£150	No	5.6% APR
75%	3.74% Disc.Tracker	2 Years	£1999	£250	No	5.4% APR
70%	4.5% Disc.Tracker	2 Years	0%	£199	Free valuation up to £335 for purchases and remortgages and free legals on remortgages only.	6% APR
70%	3.99% Disc.Tracker	3 Years	£849	£150	No	5.7% APR
65%	3.99% Fixed	Sep 30 2013	£1295	£250	No	5.5% APR
65%	4.4% Tracker	2 Years	2%	£150	No	5.2% APR
60%	2.99% Fixed	Oct 30 2013	£2495	£250	No	5.2% APR
60%	4.5% Fixed	Dec 31 2012	0%	£295	Free valuation and free legals for remortgages only.	6.1% APR

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.

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.

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Student investment opportunity 12% GIY

I recently stayed in Scarborough for the first time and was pleasantly surprised by the town. A lot posher than I thought. Admittedly we were staying along the North Shore.

Landlords interested in adding to their student portfolio could check this investment out which promises a gross yield in excess of 12%.


Carlton House, 1-3 Carlton Terrace, Scarborough
New Lease agreed with University of Hull 29 en-suite students rooms let to the University of Hull
3 self-contained flats
Gross annual income £85,993
GIY in excess of 12%
Offers in excess of £700,000, subject to contract

All enquiries:

James Wilson
Email: james.wilson@allsop.co.uk
Tel: 0113 236 6679

Michael Gorman
Email: michael.gorman@allsop.co.uk
Tel: 0113 236 6683

Landlord insurance - portfolio price beater rates

Supervised Accounts added to PM3

PM3 now allows users to open accounts they are supervising. If this matters to you, we can see that it matters a lot.

Repossession opportunities

Anybody who has been watching the financial media over the last few weeks will know that the stormy conditions are not confined to the weather.

Despite the fact that it is now 3 years since the economy was hit by the financial tsunami that was the 'credit crunch' many banks are still nursing exposure to the 'scooby loans' on their lending books.

They are slowly unwinding their positions by selling off repossessed property. Many of which find their way to the auction market. A glance down the list of residential properties available at the latest residential auction to be held by Allsops on the 15th September highlights the numbers of properties still hitting the auction rooms.

Somebodies pain could well be your gain. Have a look at our guide at buying at auction.

Landlord insurance - professional rates