Green Paper for Landlord Licensing and Letting Agent Regulation

It has been reported that the Government will introduce a Green Paper in the next 10 days that will require all Landlords in England and Wales to be licensed. Previously, landlords of three storey properties which have 5 or more separate non related tenants have also been required to obtain a license (such as student houses). Landlords in Scotland have been required to hold a license since 2006

The plan is that all private sector residential Landlords will be expected to pay an annual licence fee of around £50 in an attempt by the Government to stamp out poor Landlords who do not comply with safety regulations.

It is not clear what the fee is supposed to cover.Will a certificate will be necessary for individual properties? Will Landlords will have to submit gas safety certificates along with license application, like an MOT for car tax.

What is clear is that the legislation will be introducing a whole new layer and department of bureaucracy for the letting business.It is likely that the formality will deter smaller and one off investors in buy-to-let market, and pass on more expense to the tenant at a time when tenants are in more debt than any time in the last 20 years.

The Residential Landlord Association is also expecting the license to be accompanied by the introduction of a statutory regulator for Letting Agents to tackle rogue agents. This measure is not expected to be an issue; most good letting agents will already provide redress for all their activities

London Landlords Advised to Avoid Hidden Renewal Fees

The National Landlords Association (NLA), the leading national body for private-residential landlords in the UK, has called on landlords in London and the South East to shop around for letting agents that do not charge unfair, ‘money for nothing’ renewal fees.

Many landlords in London and the South East continue to be charged fees of around 11 per cent for renewing properties on a let only basis.

Over 70 per cent of landlords* consider this renewal fee to be unfair and not a true reflection of the work actually undertaken. It is a regional anomaly – a problem unique to London and the South-East. Most letting agents in other areas of the UK will not make any additional charges for a let only rental property.

During the economic downturn, the NLA strongly recommends landlords carefully consider all their options. Avoiding letting agents that charge this unjust fee will undoubtedly help to reduce landlords’ operating costs. The last thing any landlord needs at this time is a hefty bill from a letting agent who has done nothing to earn the fee

Fulham lettings agents: Lettings in London SW6

Fulham is adjacent to Chelsea and extremely popular with young professional singles and families. Originally, the area was a market garden and the architecture is mostly Victorian offering a range of family houses and converted flats. Fulham is in high demand with its direct links into the City and offers easy access to West London (i.e. Hammersmith, the M4, Heathrow Airport) and to the South West via the A3.

The abundance of Montessori Schools, nurseries and Prep schools make Fulham a popular choice for many young families, add to this the fact that the area has four parks, all with children’s facilities and tennis courts. The local Hurlingham Club and Harbour Club serve more sporty residents.

Lettings in Earls Court SW5

Earls Court was at one point known as Kangaroo Alley due to the vast number of antipodeans who stayed there, however this doesn’t apply as much anymore. It still has the reputation of an area where people stay – not where they live.

In addition to this, in the late 70′s and early 80′s it became the gay centre of London. Once again, this no longer applies although the area retains a large gay presence. Overall, Earl’s Court is a somewhat seedy, fairly uninspiring place – but it does have its moments.

Property in Ealing

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Lettings in Docklands: London E1, E14 & E16

Over the past 20 years, the population of the Docklands has more than doubled and the area has become both a major business centre and an increasingly acceptable area to live. Transport links have improved significantly, with the Isle of Dogs gaining a tube connection via the Jubilee Line and the Docklands Light Railway being extended to Beckton, Lewisham, London City Airport and North Woolwich. Canary Wharf has become one of Europe’s biggest clusters of skyscrapers and direct challenge to the financial dominance of the City. Further east, the Royal Docks are finally being regenerated most prominently symbolised the ExCeL Exhibition Centre.

Although most of the old Dockland wharves and warehouses have been demolished, some have been restored and converted into flats. Most of the docks themselves have survived and are now used as marinas or watersports centres. Although large ships can – and occasionally still do – visit the old docks, all of the commercial traffic has moved down-river.

The revival of the Docklands has had major effects in run-down surrounding areas. Greenwich and Deptford are undergoing major redevelopment, chiefly as a result of the improved transport links making them more attractive to commuters.

The Docklands’ redevelopment has, however, had some less beneficial aspects. The massive property boom and consequent rise in house prices has led to friction between the new arrivals and the old Docklands communities, who have complained of being squeezed out. It has also made for some of the most striking disparities to be seen anywhere in Britain: luxury executive flats constructed alongside run-down public housing estates.

Lettings Agents in Docklands, London E1, E14 & SE16

The London Docklands was once a major port with docks, wharfs and jetties bustling with clippers, barges and steamships loading and unloading their cargo. In past centuries there was a great sense of community amongst the dockers and East End labouers living here. Major residential development began in the 1980s and many of the warehouses have been converted into modern apartments and penthouses. Family houses are still rare in this part of London, but for young professionals working in “The City” on the north side of the river, it has become a convenient, cost effective and increasingly fashionable place to live.

Lettings Agents in Clapham: Lettings in London SW4

Clapham was originally a small hamlet in the early 19th Century. The area now has two main assets: Clapham Common and excellent transport links into Central London and the City from Clapham Junction. Properties in this area range from splendid Georgian and Regency homes surrounding the Common to Victorian terraced houses and conversion apartments. Shops and restaurants can be found on Abbeville Village and Clapham Old Town.

Lettings agents in Chelsea: Lettings in London SW3 & SW10

Chelsea is a district of London, loosely defined by the area around the King’s Road, beginning at Sloane Square at one end, and the “World’s End” public house at the other, the River Thames and the Victorian artists’ district to the south, and some parts between the King’s Road and the Fulham Road. The eastern boundary is defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above Sloane Square Underground and Counter’s Creek provided the original western boundary. The district is part of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Although the heady days of the Sixties are long gone the King’s Road still retains its charm and character and is an excellent street for shopping. As a residential area Chelsea has a reputation for elegance and is therefore home to many a celebrity. The properties are smart and can command high rental figures.

Notting Hill Lettings Agents: Lettings in London W11

Many of the grand refinements of Holland Park are also apparent in Notting Hill, but the neighbourhood has a younger, more bohemian feel to it. There is a variety of restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets, lively pubs, trendy bars and two local cinemas. The area is perhaps most famous for the Portobello Road with its busting markets and the annual Notting Hill Carnival. The vast majority of the large terraced houses have been converted into one, two and three bedroom apartments. There are also smaller houses and mews cottages. Hyde Park is a short walk away.