Landlord and Private Rented Sector Update

Posted on April 26, 2013 by PropertyQuoteDirect

It’s been an extremely busy couple of weeks when it comes to landlords and the private rented sector, and here at PropertyQuoteDirect we believe that in order to be a great landlord you need to stay well informed! However, we also know that many of you simply don’t have the time to trawl through the internet all day, so here is our pick of the most important changes in the private rented sector that every landlord should know. Continue reading →

Letting Property Abroad

Posted on April 24, 2013 by PropertyQuoteDirect

Letting property abroad can be a fantastic way to make an investment and get a holiday home into the bargain. It can also be a great way to lose lots of money. If you’re looking to get into overseas property, here’s what you need to know to do it well. Continue reading →

Hit the beach…

Posted on April 22, 2013 by PropertyQuoteDirect

Landlords should invest in Britain’s coastal cities for the best returns. That’s according to new figures from HSBC.

Coastal cities often have plenty of cheap property. At the same time, rents are often relatively high. This may be because they often have young and transient populations who are keen to rent, but not to buy. Continue reading →

Protecting yourself against Rent Arrears

Posted on April 19, 2013 by PropertyQuoteDirect

There has been a lot of concern recently from landlords and political figures over the amount of people in the UK who are in danger of falling into rent arrears. Already there have been reports that the number of people who have missed two or more rent payments has increased by a substantial amount in the first quarter of this year alone, so what do you do if you are concerned about your tenants falling into rent arrears? Continue reading →

Benefit cap trial begins

Posted on April 17, 2013 by PropertyQuoteDirect

The government’s much-talked about benefits cap is being trialled from this week in parts of London. From Monday 15th April, people receiving benefits in Haringey, Ealing, Croydon and Bromley have had them capped at £500 a week, or £350 for a single person.

Those receiving benefits at above those amounts are likely to be living in areas where rents are high. A large part of their benefits will housing benefit. If someone is over the cap, it is their housing benefit that will be reduced.

That means that the cap puts many landlords at risk of arrears. Continue reading →

Win a Morphy Richards Coffee Maker!

Posted on April 16, 2013 by PropertyQuoteDirect

Here at PropertyQuoteDirect we know that landlords often spend a lot of their time running around making sure that all their properties and well maintained and that their tenants are happy. We also know that this can sometimes be extremely tiring, which is why we are giving away a Morphy Richards Coffee Maker to give you a little extra help in the mornings!

Not only will you be able to enjoy fresh filter coffee right in your own home, but you will also be able to wake up to your coffee all ready for you thanks to the machine’s timer feature! If you want to be in with a chance of winning this great prize all you have to do is visit our Facebook page, click on the ‘Promos’ tab and enter your details.

The competition ends Sunday 21st April at midnight so you need to enter soon!

Good luck everyone!

T&Cs
Entrants must be 18 years or older and based in the UK.
Winner will be chosen at random and announced on Facebook once all the entries have been counted. Prize must be claimed within 7 days or the winner will be redrawn.
If original prize is not available then another of the same or equal value will be provided.

Letting an ex-council home

Posted on April 15, 2013 by PropertyQuoteDirect

According to research by the GMB Union, 40% of ex-council properties in the London Borough of Wandsworth are now owned by private landlords. Figures for the rest of the country are likely to be similar, especially in urban areas. Continue reading →

Pests and your Properties

Posted on April 12, 2013 by PropertyQuoteDirect

There is nothing worse than finding out that one of your properties has become subject to a pest infestation, especially as it means that not only will you have to organise removing them but potentially also move your tenants out of the property until the pests are gone. Often pests can be dealt with easily, but there are ways to prevent them in the first place. Here we look at what you need to know about pests in your properties: Continue reading →

Landlords warned about ‘severe arrears’

Posted on April 10, 2013 by PropertyQuoteDirect

Landlords are being warned that the number of tenants in ‘severe arrears’ is increasing. In the first quarter of this year, the number of tenants behind more than two months on their rent payments increased by a hefty 5%. According to figures by property receivers Templeton LPA, the number of tenants facing court-ordered eviction rose by 10% in the same period. Continue reading →

Landlords face HMRC crackdown

Posted on April 8, 2013 by PropertyQuoteDirect

Landlords are being warned that the HMRC are looking to crack down on those who don’t pay enough tax. It’s easy even for conscientious landlords to sometimes fail to pay their dues, especially as tax affairs can complex and difficult to manage. But with HMRC targeting landlords now is a good time to make sure you’re paying enough. Continue reading →