Four New Year’s Resolutions Landlords Will Love

It’s 2022. A new year, new hopes, and a new focus on getting rid of old ways of doing things that are holding us back.

And landlords are not immune to wanting a fresh start. January always sees us have plenty of enquiries from landlords keen to improve the way they do things.

Below are four resolutions we can help landlords make, but more importantly, keep.

To make more money

This one is a balancing act. You want to be profitable without being mercenary. … Continue Reading…

How to Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions

According to data analytics firm YouGov, at the end of 2020, around a fifth of the adult population in the UK made New Year’s resolutions.

And this year promises to be no different as some of us vow to make a positive change to our lives in 2022.

YouGov states that women (23%) are more likely to make New Year’s resolutions than men (15%).

The ten most popular things people want to tackle are, in no particular order:

Losing weight

Saving more money

Exercising more

Improving their … Continue Reading…

Living with Your Parents? You’re Not Alone

Remember when you were younger and you couldn’t wait to move out of your parents’ house, rent your own place and live independently? Well, times are a-changin’, and being an adult with your own bills, mortgage payments, and countless other expenses has lost its charm for many.

In fact, more and more people are going back to their roots, moving in with their parents, in-laws, or other family members to cut down costs and maximise space.

For many cultures, multigenerational living is … Continue Reading…

Nightmare Before Christmas: A Cautionary Tale for Landlords

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

That was until Mum and Dad, joint owners of a rental property, received a panicked phone call from their tenant.

What was the matter?

In a highly charged conversation, the tenant explained that a pipe had burst and was causing severe water damage.

The problem needs to be sorted – ASAP!

Dad, who had been hoping to settle his brain for a long winter’s nap, springs … Continue Reading…

Be Wary of Scammers This Christmas

Which classic festive song opens with the line, “It’s Christmas time, there’s no need to be afraid.”?

Easy, eh? It’s Band Aid’s “Do They Know it’s Christmas?”.

And while no one should be scared during the festive season, we should all be aware of one set of people hell-bent on cheating people out of Christmas cheer – scammers.

Scams are more prevalent now than ever due to the pandemic driving more people online to buy gifts and the relentless pace of modern life … Continue Reading…

Christmas Toy Appeal

For many of us Christmas is a joyful time of year; spending time with loved ones, sharing gifts and comfort. However, not everyone sees Christmas the same. For many families it is a challenging time, and financial pressures can make it even harder to enjoy the fun of the festive period. Which is why this year we have partnered with Family Action’s Toy Appeal to help make Christmas magical for the children they support.

Each year, Family Action receive requests from … Continue Reading…

Richard James Named Best Agent In The Central Region By Relocation Agent Network

We are proud to announce we have been crowned ‘Best Agent in the Central Region’ by Relocation Agent Network. We received our 2021 Best Agent Central Regional Award at a recent Awards Dinner, which followed the Network’s National Conference and Best Regional Award Richard JamesExhibition.

Held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Friday 3 December the Awards Dinner was hosted by television broadcaster and technology journalist, Georgie Barrat.

The annual prize gives the winning Network member the title of ‘Best Agent in … Continue Reading…

A Guide to Rent Guarantors for Landlords

When a landlord has a niggle of anxiety over whether a prospective tenant will pay their rent, there is a way they can help protect their investment.

A landlord can ask a tenant to provide a guarantor to ‘guarantee the tenancy’.

Guarantors are often family members or close friends – and a little bit like a human safety net.

If the tenant can’t (or won’t) pay what they owe the landlord, the guarantor has to stump up the cash – or face the … Continue Reading…

What Makes a Property Unmortgageable

Selling a property can be tricky at the best of times, but when a property is deemed unmortgageable things can get complicated.

‘Unmortgageable’ means lenders won’t allow a potential buyer to borrow the money they need to buy a property. For many sellers, this can be a knockout blow and can significantly reduce their options.

Here are five common reasons why lenders won’t finance a purchase.

1) The property is uninhabitable
This applies to derelict properties, buildings that have been abandoned, that pose safety … Continue Reading…

Councils Under Pressure to Clamp Down on Lax Landlords

Landlords who struggle with all the rules and regulations associated with renting out a property – be warned.

Councils are coming under increasing pressure to throw the book at landlords who flout the law.

Even if you’ve gotten away with a ‘near enough is good enough’ approach so far, winging it isn’t a sustainable long-term strategy.

Calls for a get-tough approach

The demand for stricter enforcement is coming from two sides: tenants’ rights groups (as you might expect) and the private rental sector itself.

The … Continue Reading…