Calls by Labour’s London Mayor Sadiq Khan to secure powers to implement private sector rent controls are facing increasing opposition. Business organisation London First says such a policy, if ever implemented, would hold back investment in house building. John Dickie, London First’s director of strategy and policy, says: “The Mayor is right...
There’s been a sceptical response to news leaked from government over the weekend suggesting that a database of rogue landlords would be opened up to prospective tenants, and widened in scope. The government over the weekend launched a consultation on the future scope database, which was introduced last year under the Housing and Planning Act...
Some 12 per cent of homes to let are operated by a ‘company landlord’ according to an analysis by Countrywide high-end agency brand Hamptons International. The figure, which has been assessed over the first half of this year, is the highest since 2011 and up from nine per cent in 2015,...
The number of film-related enquiries for short lets received by Knight Frank in the year to May has shown a rise of 82 per cent. The agency puts it down to the British film industry's tax breaks and the weaker pound since the EU referendum producing a pick-up in activity in the...
Another Martin & Co franchisee has acquired a nearby independent agency. The franchise firm’s Falmouth branch, run since 2013 by Felicia and Jon Sampson, has more than doubled the size of its business after acquiring a major Cornwall independent agent, Rainbow Property. Jon, who is an ex-Royal Navy officer and Felicia, a...
Introducing a ‘rogue landlords’ database without better enforcement would be a pointless exercise, according to the National Landlords Association (NLA). A rogue landlords database will finally be opened up to the public offering people, including private renters, an opportunity to search for “the crucial information they need before signing on the dotted...
The mayor of London has called for additional powers so he can introduce rent controls in the capital. Sadiq Khan believes greater controls are needed to rebalance London’s private rented sector and ensure that it is “fit for purpose”. Average monthly private rents in London have increased by 35% from £1,095 in...
Buy-to-let landlords are concerned about the proposed scrapping of Section 21 in the absence of a new system that allows them to regain possession of their property in legitimate circumstances. The government finally published the consultation of abolishing Section 21 repossessions in the private rented sector last week, which will run...
There has been a significant increase in the number of film-related enquiries for short-lets in London and the Home Counties, according to Knight Frank. There was an 82% jump in the film-related enquiries for short-lets received by the company in the year to May 2019 compared to the previous 12-month period. British...
Paragon has refreshed its buy-to-let mortgage range, offering lower interest rates, no up-front fees and £350 cashback on selected products. The new range includes two- and five-year fixed rate mortgages for portfolio landlords and five-year fixed rate mortgages for non-portfolio landlords, with products available at up to 80% Loan to Value...