Category: landlord insurance

Are landlords tax dodgers?

Posted on 20th September 2012

A UK investigative website that specialises in exposing tax loopholes used by the wealthier echelons of society believes buy-to-let landlords are avoiding up to £2 billion of tax each year by swapping mortgage loans from their own homes to those they are letting out to tenants.
Exaro claim that the tax bonus enjoyed by buy-to-let investors is roughly the same amount the Government intends to whittle away from Housing Benefit claimants and accuse millionaire property owners of using the tax loophole to avoid paying taxes. Their […]

Tenancy deposit scheme will benefit students

Posted on 19th September 2012

Students entering rented accommodation for the first time this year will be among the first to benefit from a new scheme which it is hoped will end the large number of disputes over deposits.
In the past, generations of students have found to their cost that when a deposit on rented accommodation is paid before moving in, there is no guarantee of getting it back when moving out. However, students renting properties this academic year are going to be among the guinea pigs for Scotland’s […]

Landlords warned about rogue letting agents

Posted on 18th September 2012

As the boom in the letting sector shows no sign of easing property investors with an interest in landlord insurance are being urged to choose carefully when it comes to selecting a letting agent.
With still no sign of an official national regulation body in sight, the Property Ombudsman is reporting an ever growing number of complaints surrounding private letting arrangements. It is a fact that more and more estate agents are moving over to the lettings sector as house sales crumble, and that the growth […]

Private landlords urged to check they have adequate insurance

Posted on 17th September 2012

A claim made by a private landlord has highlighted the importance of landlord insurance. The landlord put in the claim for £400,000 after a fire broke out in a block of flats. However, the landlord in question is out of pocket by £100,000 after realising that he had been under-insuring the property for years.
The high profile of the case has seen a number of private landlords seeking professional advice on the actual cost of rebuilding their properties. Fires are quite common in a rented property […]

Landlord's negligence punished by the courts

Posted on 14th September 2012

The onus of responsibility that falls on a landlord’s head was demonstrated at Westminster Magistrates Court earlier this week when a landlord received a suspended jail sentence because of his ignorance over his legal responsibilities.
For anyone entering the letting industry and thinking there is little more to the profession than buying a property, organising landlord insurance and then finding a tenant, the experience of Stephen Clayden, Gail Calvert and her daughter should act as a stern reminder that things are not that simple. The couple […]

Council comes up with a plan to suit landlords and tenants equally

Posted on 13th September 2012

Property investors with an interest in landlord insurance are being sought after by a North London council with a view to leasing their properties from them.
The innovative approach to a local housing shortage has seen Hertsmere Borough Council link up with local property management experts Genesis to launch Hertsmere Homes. The company operates as a private leasing agent and is helping to alleviate the problems local people are having in finding accommodation. The company is inviting local landlords to sign up to the scheme which […]

Landlords urged to look long term

Posted on 10th September 2012

As the housing shortage continues to send tenants into the arms of residential landlords, property investors with an interest in landlord insurance are being urged to consider arranging long term leases and improving their properties if they want to get the greatest benefit out of an ever increasing market.
A recent report from the housing industry shows the average age of a first time buyer is now 39, mainly as a result of the strict lending terms banks are still demanding to hand out a loan […]

Majority of landlords are thinking about signing up to the green deal

Posted on 7th September 2012

Research has claimed that just over half of private landlords are seriously considering taking up the Green Deal initiative. According to the NLA (National Landlords Association) their latest Landlord Panel survey shows that 63% of landlords say they are aware of the Green Deal and 56% are considering taking advantage of it.
Under the Green Deal which is due to start on October 1st, private landlords will be able to get an upfront amount to make energy-saving improvements to their properties such as installing insulation or […]

Record level of complaints but landlords generally doing a good job

Posted on 6th September 2012

Holders of landlord insurance policies in a northern city are being urged to buck up their ideas as complaints from tenants reached a record high last year.
The beautiful city of York has for many years attracted tourists from all over the world, and students have flocked to the city to study there. As a result rented properties have been highly sought after and property investors have done their best to meet the demand. However, not all landlords have been conducting their business in a fit […]

Landlords look to bridging loan brokers to help them expand their portfolios

Posted on 4th September 2012

With no end in sight to the boom in the letting business, landlords are even turning to more expensive loans in a bid to expand their portfolios in time to take advantage of the present situation.
A report by bridging loan experts West One Loans says that more and more brokers are being approached by professional landlords keen to get buy-to-let loans but who have been turned away by High Street Banks. 98% of brokers interviewed said they were doing more business now with property investors […]