LANDLORD NEWS AND ADVICE FROM UK'S LARGEST ONLINE LETTING AGENT
The latest from the world of lettings and written for landlords. Top stories, advice, commentary and analysis...
Keep the discussion lively, if you read an article and have some thoughts, please comment. We’re always looking for new landlord tips and stories so if you have something you’d like to share please let me know, simon@upad.co.uk (editor).
Archive for the ‘Property Market’ Category

How to spot a buy-to-let hotspot
Are you considering making your next buy-to-let investment? Then chances are you’ll be hunting down a property that’s as cheap as possible but has the potential to generate a high rent and achieve an attractive gross yield, something some say only ‘neighbourhoods on the up’ are likely to offer. But how do you spot potential postcode ‘goldmines’? Transport ‘tentacles’ In cities... Read more

Will the benefits payment changes scare off private landlords?
When the coalition came to power in May 2010 one of their key aims was to reform the benefits system and reduce the annual £22 billion housing benefit bill, but will the changes affect private landlords? Here’s our summary... Overview: The cuts are to be achieved via three policies; making tenants more responsible for their own money via a single, universal benefit payment that includes... Read more

Top tips for working out the best rent for your property
How much is my property worth? For landlords managing their own properties, what’s the best way for them to work out the optimum rent for a flat or house? This is a question that, until recently, was answered only by hours spent scouring local newspapers or scanning high street window displays. But the increasing sophistication and reach of the internet means the lettings market is now more... Read more

Should UK landlords be bullish or bearish in 2013?
According to our figures, a mere 63 per cent of landlords remain bullish on the outlook for the UK private rental sector in 2013, a drop of nearly 10 per cent compared to this time last year. Our latest Landlord Confidence Index (December 2012) reveals that whilst confidence overall in the UK buy-to-let market remains positive, not all landlords may be quite so bullish in 2013. James,... Read more

Great news for buy-to-let investors, bad news for home-owners
With house prices down in the dumps, buy-to-let yields have risen even further according to a new report by Mortgages for Businesses. HMOs in particular have seen a large rise from 9.2% to 11.1%. This is great news if you are looking to invest in buy-to-let properties. With house prices falling you should be able to pick up properties cheaply, and gain a good rental income in the process.... Read more

Rip off London – concern grows as London renters pay £41 extra per month according to new figures
Following a monthly rise of 0.9% to £1,047, London's rents have reached a new high for the second month in a row according to the latest figures from LSL Property Services. Currently, London renters pay an average of £41 extra per month, a 4% increase compared to June 2011 and with rents around 80% higher than the rest of the UK, are London's renters being "ripped off"? Indeed, the... Read more

72% of landlords more confident in buy-to-let market
Our Private Rental Sector Health Check for April 2012, has revealed that almost 72% of landlords are more confident about the UK buy-to-let market in April than in the previous month of March. We asked 498 landlords whether they were more or less confident – nearly 72% said that their heightened assurance in the market was attributed to factors such as rising tenant demand, increasing rents... Read more

Commercial property: what you need to know
Commercial property is a wide-ranging sector incorporating shops, warehouses, factories and shopping centres. The quality of the occupant is key for reliable rental payment and trouble-free income. Robert Farago, chief investment officer at Schroders Private Bank, said that amid the turmoil in financial markets, "the UK commercial property sector has been an oasis of calm...even if there is a... Read more

70% of landlords more confident about UK B2L
Our Private Rental Sector Health Check for January 2012, has revealed that almost 70% of landlords are more confident about the UK buy-to-let market in January than they were at the end of 2011. A total of 411 (70%) respondents highlighted rising tenant demand, high rents and reduced housing stock as the main reasons for boosting their assurance in the buy-to-let market. James Davis, our... Read more

London homeowners go for gold as new Olympic lettings service launches
Its official, the race is now on as London homeowners seek to cash in on the estimated 500,000 visitors flooding into London this summer to witness the 2012 Olympic Games. A prime case is the former Spurs and Arsenal defender Sol Campbell's, who will be renting out his Chelsea townhouse for £75,000 a week, around four times its value throughout the Olympic Games. Like Sol, londoners have... Read more

60 Seconds with James Davis
What is your role? Founder & CEO of www.upad.co.uk What is Upad in a nutshell? Upad is the UK's largest online lettings agency. We help landlords let and manage their properties nationally, and because we've grown so large, we can pass on massive savings to landlords. How is it different to other lettings agencies? Our landlords are generally experienced buy-to-let professionals who... Read more

Rents set to stabilise in 2012
Rents in the UK are set to stabilise in 2012, according to the Belvoir rental index. The index suggests that rents will rise in line with inflation and salary increases in 2012. This marks a change from the previous couple of years which have seen rents persistently rise. However, as always with these national surveys there are regional fluctuations, with London and the Home Counties set to... Read more







