The latest news, views and data from the lettings industry.
Gold Key Lettings feels it has a responsibility as a letting agency to help its landlords avoid risk where possible, through a deep understanding of legislation, in-depth referencing processes, and a strong rent protection policy included in its managed proposition.
Christopher Watkin shares why letting agents should use newsletters, blogs, videos, and social media to win more landlords by providing information about their local property market.
The recovery plan for Covid-19 is seen by many as an opportunity to reinforce and boost the UK's commitment to bring its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 - and here are just three ways the housing market can play its part in 2021.
The guidance for landlords and tenants during Covid-19 has been updated to make serious rent arrears "greater than 6 months' rent" exempt from the extended evictions ban in England - removing the stipulation that rent accrued since the start of the first lockdown in March 2020 could be discounted.
This agent made the decision to set up a new lettings agency, Cloverhill Properties, bringing together her in-depth knowledge around relationship building and implementing digital solutions to create an efficient business with unique selling points from the get-go.
2021 is a difficult year to plan for - but there are certain predictions that can be made based on the current state of play in the property market. Five experts share their prognosis for the coming 12 months.
The government has announced that evictions will now not be enforced by bailiffs until at least 21 February 2021, while courts will remain open with court procedures "regularly reviewed", and a new "mediation pilot" will come into play.
The cost of rent saw only minimal change in the regions monitored by Goodlord during December, with average void periods either improving or holding steady.
As under Tier 4 restrictions, the lettings industry can continue to operate during the third national lockdown in England. Letting agencies can "continue to work" and people are permitted to move home.
Covid-19 guidelines for letting agents and landlords, updated with the introduction of a fourth tier and still applicable during the third national lockdown, continue to prioritise tenant safety while reminding agents of tenant protections in place.
“Rent arrears across our current portfolio of 220 properties is at less than 1% because we're vigilant in selecting quality tenants,” says Russ Blockley, Managing Director at Gold Key Lettings. “Once we're conducting a viewing for the applicant, we know that 80% of the vetting has been performed on that applicant during our pre-viewing protocol, for example.”
Topics: Business
What's your plan for winning new landlords in 2021? Christopher Watkin talked to Goodlord's Oli Sherlock in a recent webinar about his advice for agents on their approaches to getting new landlords on their books, with actions that will show you how to give your lettings business an uplift using tried and tested techniques.
🎬 Watch the whole conversation
🎧 Listen to the whole conversation
Topics: Customer experience
In 2019, the UK became the first major economy to pass laws to end its contribution to global warming by 2050, while 2020 saw calls for tackling climate change to be included in planning for a post-pandemic future. Energy in housing accounts for 14% of total UK emissions, according to the Committee on Climate Change - which means there’ll likely be a strong knock-on effect for rental energy standards to meet net zero goals, with the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards just the beginning. Going green may require investment but there are opportunities to be had.
Topics: Business
The situation with Covid-19 is rapidly changing and this article will continue to be updated throughout. For the latest guidelines, please refer to gov.uk.
Agents should be aware of an update to the guidance for landlords and tenants during Covid-19, which now states that "serious rent arrears greater than 6 months’ rent" will be exempt from the evictions ban - regardless of when the arrears started to accrue.
Topics: Covid-19
How can you differentiate yourself when starting an agency? That’s the question Catrina Merrigan asked herself when setting out to create Cloverhill Properties. With 10 years' experience in the lettings industry, she’s seen what works and what doesn’t. In her new business, she’s applied the best bits.
Topics: Business
The impact of the stamp duty holiday, the supply of landlords, and the continued strength of the lettings market are just some of the topics raised when predicting what 2021 may bring for the property sector, for these industry experts and Goodlord customers: Michael Jones & Company, Andrews, LiFE Residential, and Martin & Co Chelmsford - as well as Goodlord's CEO William Reeve.
Topics: Business
The situation with Covid-19 is rapidly changing and this article will continue to be updated throughout. For the latest guidelines, please refer to gov.uk.
The evictions ban in England has been extended for a further six weeks, meaning that evictions will not be enforced by bailiffs until 21 February 2021 at the earliest, aside from in the most "egregious cases". The "court rules and procedures introduced in September to support both tenants and landlords will remain in place and regularly reviewed" and a new mediation process will also be piloted in February.
Topics: Covid-19
The latest figures in the Goodlord Rental Index show that the December rental market held steady, despite pandemic fears heightening during the traditionally slow month for the sector, with improved void periods month on month in most regions, and minimal change in rental prices.
Topics: Data
The situation with Covid-19 is rapidly changing. For the latest guidelines, please refer to gov.uk.
The government has confirmed that people can still move home and continue to view properties during the third national lockdown in England, as under Tier 4 restrictions, while continuing to follow appropriate Covid-19 safety guidelines. The lockdown will come into law on 6 January 2020 and is expected to be in place until at least February half term.
Topics: Covid-19
The situation with Covid-19 is rapidly changing. For the latest guidelines, please refer to gov.uk.
The 2020 holiday period was disrupted by the introduction of Tier 4 Covid-19 measures across much of England, and now 2021 starts with a new national lockdown. The government has confirmed that the lettings industry can continue to operate under these restrictions, and its guidance for home moving emphasises that the safety of tenants should remain the "first priority" for agents and landlords.
Topics: Covid-19
