Will Help Turn Tenants Into Buyers?

The stamp duty holiday scheme has been of significant help to many people in the housing market, but not first-time buyers. Many FTBs have felt overlooked in the property market, but at their recent party conference, the Conservative Party have claimed they will usher in new assistance for first-time buyers.

Boris Johnson announced plans for a new scheme to help people arrange long-term fixed rate mortgages for up to 95% of their home’s value.

What help might be on offer?

Zoopla have classed the key points from the Prime Minister’s speech at the Conservative Party Conference as:

  • The Prime Minister has promised to increase the availability of mortgages for buyers with small deposits
  • The government believes it will enable an additional two million people to buy a property
  • Johnson said it would represent the biggest expansion of homeownership since the 1980s

Mark Hayward, Chief Executive of NAEA Propertymark, comments: “We welcome the Prime Minister’s comments today which shows a positive change in tone by promoting a generation of renters to become a generation of buyers. We encourage lenders to come on board and support this initiative to enable first time buyers to enter the property market by future proofing the financial burden many face. We want to see intent become action quickly so that first time buyers can make the most of the current stamp duty holiday and continue to stimulate the housing market.”

Industry experts have their say

Craig McKinlay, New Business Director at Kensington Mortgages, comments: “The ‘Generation Buy’ scheme will be, in effect, a replacement for Help to Buy. Only a few lenders are dipping in and out of the high LTV market at present with ‘flash sales’ due to sheer demand – so this should reassure some lenders to enter more permanently and support first-time buyers.”

Craig also said; “However, for others, the scheme could lead to further capacity issues for those being selective with their offering to manage demand. On the whole though, like the introduction of Help to Buy in 2013 helped boost confidence and ease lenders back into the small deposit market, we hope this scheme will do the same.”

James Forrester, Managing Director of Barrows and Forrester, comments: “Today’s (6th October) announcement will no doubt excite a nation of aspirational homebuyers who have already been sent into a frenzy over the prospect of paying no stamp duty. However, for Boris Johnson to claim this will help fix our broken housing market is not only laughable but quite frankly an insult to those who find themselves priced out of homeownership. The cause of the dire situation we find ourselves in is the Government’s sustained failure to build enough affordable housing year in, year out.”

James also said; “The inadequate supply of housing to meet demand is one of the driving factors that has caused house prices to spiral and to continue to mask this failure by further fuelling demand is irresponsible. Instead, their time would be better spent reallocating wrongly classified green belt land so it can be utilised for housing and preventing the big housebuilders from drip-feeding housing supply in order to keep their profits up.”

At Williams of Petersfield, we aim to support the Petersfield community as much as we can, and we know this is an extremely trying time. A lot of people are looking for support and guidance, and if you have any property or housing related questions, we are more than happy to assist you, so contact us today.

 

Support For Landlords Dealing With Tenant Fees Act

There is no denying landlords have had a tough time of things recently, and issues may become more challenging before they become easier.  There is a need for support for landlords. With new regulations on their way in 2020, many landlords are still coming to terms with regulations brought in last year!

There is confusion in the lettings industry over the Tenant Fees Act, and there are fears this will lead to com plaints being made against landlords. Many of these complaints will be unfounded, but dealing with these complaints will be a concern for landlords, and will cause some sleepless nights. At Williams of Petersfield, we are on hand to assist local landlords as best we can, so if you have any issues or complaints, please let us know.

Tenant Fees Act is updated in 2020

A company which assists automated payment technology used by many landlords, PayProp, has spoken about their concerns for landlords with the Tenant Fees Act. Even though the Act was introduced in 2019, it will be extended to cover all tenancies from June 1 2020.

Neil Cobbold is the Chief Sales Officer of PayProp, and he said; “There is likely to be confusion among tenants over the next few months. Until June 1, active tenancies are still subject to the old rules until their tenancy renews or the legislation is extended. This confusion could lead to consumers wrongly complaining to the redress schemes about agencies which are, in fact, acting lawfully. However, now is the right time for landlords and letting agencies to make sure they have all their processes in place to ensure they are not overcharging renters and that they remain compliant with the Act.”

There are approved redress schemes, the Property Redress Scheme and The Property Ombudsman, and media reports suggest more than 200 com plaints have been filed against agents. There is a belief that some of these complaints come from tenants who don’t understand why they are being charged certain fees or why the deposit is larger than the stated deposit cap.

We provide support for landlords

Cobbold continued by saying; “There is no indication of how many of these complaints were upheld by the redress schemes…however, under 250 complaints is a relatively small number when one considers that the PRS and TPO represent thousands of letting agencies across England. This could save time, protect relationships and allow agencies to focus on other important parts of their business. There is no excuse for agencies or landlords to be charging illegal fees or holding deposits on new and renewed tenancies that are above the cap, leaving themselves open to reputational damage or potential fines.”

There is no denying the importance of clear communication between landlords and tenants. It is vital landlords reach out to tenants before June 1 to explain the situation at their rental property, and how it affects the tenant. At Williams of Petersfield, we are here to assist you, and if you need any help in this matter.

If you are a local landlord requiring help managing your property or dealing with tenants, please get in touch with Williams of Petersfield today.

Petersfield Landlords: Is Your Home Fit For Human Habitation?

We know that Petersfield landlords have a lot to consider, but at Williams of Petersfield, we aim to provide as much support and guidance as we can. If you struggle to stay in touch with regulations, rely on us to keep you informed and up to date. There is a new Act coming into effect this month, and it is vital you are aware of how it may impact your business.

Be ready for further changes in the rental sector

All landlords in the country should be mindful of the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act. This Act comes into effect on the 20th of March. Rental property is required to be fit for human habitation at the start of the tenancy and throughout the lease.

The Homes (Fitness For Human Habitation) Act applies to:

  • Tenancies shorter than seven years, taking effect on or after the 20th of March 2019
  • New assured, introductory and secure tenancies, taking effect on or after the 20th of March 2019
  • Fixed-term tenancies which renew from the 20th of March 2019

From 20th of March 2020, the Act applies for all periodic tenancies.

There are exemptions to the Act. If the tenant, or their possessions, have caused the problem, landlords are not required to resolve the issue. If a problem is down to an Act of God, the landlord is not responsible for the matter. If a landlord is unable to gain consent for improvement work, they will not be responsible for the problem. Also, if a tenant isn’t an individual, with examples of this including the tenant being a Housing Association or Local Authority, the landlord will not be responsible for improvements.

The Act applies to the rental dwelling and common areas where the landlord carried an interest.

The courts are responsible for determining if a property is fit for humans or not. The basis of the court’s findings will be made on Section 10 of the Tenant Act 1985.

Landlords should consider:

  • A lack of ventilation at the property
  • A lack of natural light in the rental property
  • Issues with hot and cold water
  • Difficulties in cooking food
  • Difficulties in washing up
  • Dampness
  • Unstable structure

Landlords could face a compensation order

When a house is deemed unfit for human habitation, and the landlord is to blame, the court can order necessary improvements at the rental home. The courts can also order the landlord to pay compensation to the tenant. The amount of compensation required will depend on many factors. The impact on the tenant, the length of time the tenant has endured a problem and the condition of the rental property are all factors that will influence any compensation.

Most landlords across the country, and in Petersfield, will not be affected by this new Act. However, with tenants having the right to sue landlords when a rental property is in poor condition, landlords must be aware of the new Act.

If you are a Petersfield landlord and you require assistance in letting property, contact Williams of Petersfield, and we will be more than happy to assist you.

Landlords Feeling Optimistic For 2019

You would forgive some landlords for not feeling optimistic about the condition of the rental and lettings market. In recent times, the Government has imposed many new regulations and challenges on landlords, and there has been anecdotal evidence of many lettings professionals deciding it is time to leave the market. Thankfully, a recent study suggests otherwise, and it looks as though there are many landlords feeling optimistic for 2019. Continue reading “Landlords Feeling Optimistic For 2019”

20% of English Households Live In Private Rented Property

If you are considering the rental market, or you just want an overview of the complete property market in England, you’ll be interested to note that one in five households currently rent privately in the country. With 20% of the market, this is a notable part of the market and with predictions suggesting that this will increase further in the next few years, it is easy to see why many people are considering the rental market.

It should be stated that homeownership is still the most common tenure in England with 63% of households. There are 14.4 million homes in England with owner-occupation status and 34% of English properties are owned outright and 28% of properties in the country are currently under mortgage.

There is also the social rented sector to consider and this accounts for 17% of households in England, which is equivalent to 3.9 million households.

Owner-occupation levels have fallen in the past decade

Statistics provided by the English Housing Survey offers an insight into the current market and recent behaviour. Something which will be of interest to investors is the fact that owner-occupation has dropped considerably from its peak in 2003, when it reached 71%. There has however been a consistent level since 2013/14 so it may be that the market is plateaued with first-time buyers replacing people selling up to move on or who pass away. 2013/14 was also the year when the number of outright owners was greater than the number of mortgage holders, a return which has remained true since then.

An aging population shapes the property market

While there may be many reasons for this status, it is likely that the aging population of the country has influenced this. After all, with people living longer, they have hopefully paid off their mortgage before now, which is reflected in the status of property owners.

are landlords selling

While shared ownership has been stated as a way of getting on to the property ladder, it only accounts for less than 1% of all owner-occupiers which equates to around 136,000 households. Another interesting issue from the findings is the fact that homeowners are getting under. In 2016/17, homeowners under the age of 35 accounted for 9% of the market. Just two decades ago, the same group accounted for 18%.

In the same time-period, there has also been a significant increase in the size of the private rented market. In fact, this has accelerated greatly in the past 10 years, with 2 million households being added to the sector in this time, resulting in 4.7 million households being classed as private rental property in 2016/17.

A variety of factors shape the property market, and therefore, so many investors have confidence in the rental market. There are so many signs that indicate this will be a market that continues to grow for years to come, offering confidence for people looking to enter the market. If you are a Petersfield landlord looking for support or you would like guidance on becoming a landlord in Petersfield, contact Williams of Petersfield and we will be more than happy to assist you.

Petersfield Landlords: Ready For New HMO Minimum Standards

Being a landlord is difficult. Many people look at rising rents and increasing demand for rental accommodation and assume that being a landlord is a simple and straightforward process. This is far from the case though. Just keeping up with changing regulations is a full-time role in itself and at Williams of Petersfield; we aim to provide Petersfield landlords with as much assistance as we can. There are new HMO minimum standards being introduced from October 1st 2018. Continue reading “Petersfield Landlords: Ready For New HMO Minimum Standards”

Legislative Changes The Biggest Threat To Landlords

Being a landlord can be very difficult and there are many challenges that must be overcome, including legislative changes. In recent times, there have been notable rental fee increases and to the outsider, this will seem like positive news for landlords.

Continue reading “Legislative Changes The Biggest Threat To Landlords”