How to Advise Tenants Who Won’t Be Told about Mould

Let’s unpack what Wellingborough, Irthlingborough & Rushden landlords can learn from the findings of the memorably titled Mouldy Nation Report.

Firstly, before you ask, yes there really is a document called the Mouldy Nation Report (we’re not making it up).

Uswitch, an energy and finance comparison website, produced the report after surveying 2,000 people from across the UK about mould in their homes. It found that:

62% of people have an issue with mould in their home.

Of those with a mould problem, 64% were … Continue Reading…

How Landlords in Wellingborough, Irthlingborough & Rushden Can Beat the Blues

It’s the time of year when we fall into a post-Christmas slump because the weather is rubbish and money is tight.

And as a landlord living through lockdown, your relationship with your tenant may also be under strain.

Here at Richard James Lettings & Management, we can’t conjure up sunny skies or a lottery win, but we can help you improve your tenant situation.

We’ve come up with three ways to combat common issues which can make Blue Monday even more miserable for landlords.

Property … Continue Reading…

A Landlord’s Work is Never Done – Or Is It?

Picture this: It’s 4pm on Christmas Day, and you’ve just snuggled down on the sofa to watch a bit of telly. Your belly is full, and your lids are heavy after a Mistletoe Margarita or two (or three, but who’s counting?). Then your phone rings. It’s your tenant – and there’s a problem.

A pipe has burst in the flat that they rent from you and there is water everywhere. You need to get a plumber on it straight away, and … Continue Reading…

Five Ways to Raise Your Chances of Renting in Wellingborough, Irthlingborough & Rushden

One thing that seems almost Covid-19 proof is the desire for people in Wellingborough, Irthlingborough & Rushden to move home. The local rental property market has proven resilient this year, with people looking to rent new places to call home.

Below are five tips that’ll come in handy if you’re looking to rent.

Prepare Properly

Consider when you want to move and where you want to rent. Research the areas and the properties in your price range. Create a clear budget and include … Continue Reading…

A Guide to Expenses and Costs for Wellingborough, Irthlingborough & Rushden Landlords

To succeed as a landlord, you need to have a realistic idea about the costs you’ll encounter when letting out a property.

Many people think that being a landlord is child’s play; they assume that once the tenant has the keys, the only thing left to do is collect the rent each month.

But the truth is, letting a property comes with an array of grown-up financial and legal responsibilities. If you’re not on top of your obligations, you could lose money … Continue Reading…

Should Landlords in Wellingborough, Irthlingborough & Rushden, Allow Tenants to Keep Pets?

Should tenants be allowed to keep pets in rental properties? It’s a thorny subject that is back in the spotlight after an MP called for landlords to be more flexible on the issue.

Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell argues that preventing tenants from being with their beloved pet companion is cruel and discriminatory.

“For most people, being separated from your dog is really no different than being separated from your brother or your sister,” he says.

Mr Rosindell has put forward a bill that … Continue Reading…

Government Announces New Rule on Evictions During Lockdown 2

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced a ban on bailiffs carrying out eviction enforcement during the lockdown in all but the most serious of cases.

While the courts are continuing to hear eviction cases, under the new rules announced last week as England returned to lockdown, bailiff enforcement action cannot be implemented until January 11, 2021, “at the earliest”.

Mr Jenrick says the move protects those who have found themselves in financial difficulty through no fault of their own “while ensuring landlords … Continue Reading…

What frightens the wits out of landlords in Wellingborough, Irthlingborough & Rushden?

There are many different fears we all have in life.

There’s the fear of scary clowns like the one made infamous by the horror classic It.

Or more everyday things like fear of failure, of missing out or missing the bus.

One of the things we’ve become very skilled at over the years we’ve been working in the Wellingborough, Irthlingborough & Rushden rental market is helping landlords overcome their fears.

And below are four things landlords fear. The good news is we know how … Continue Reading…

Fans, Felines and False Teeth – The Weird Things Tenants Leave Behind

End-of-tenancy checks can spring all manner of surprises on landlords. Take, for example, the landlord in north-west London who discovered an abandoned kitten when taking possession of a property back in August.

The tenants had shot through and left the black and white fluff ball behind. Thankfully, our hero landlord rang the local rescue centre, The Mayhew, and raised the alarm.

An animal welfare officer was quickly on the scene and the feline fella, believed to be about six weeks old, is … Continue Reading…

The Ten Most Important Things Landlord’s in Wellingborough, Irthlingborough & Rushden Need

If you’re contemplating becoming a landlord, here’s a helpful checklist explaining what it takes to let a property.

You may wonder why a checklist is necessary. After all, how hard can it be? You buy a property, find a tenant, and boom, you’ve got the whole landlord game figured out. Wrong!

The private rental sector is subject to so many rules and regulations that even experienced landlords get caught out and make costly mistakes.

Here’s what you need to know.

1 Legal matters – There … Continue Reading…