At the end of 2019, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said “The costs of deposits make it harder [for tenants] to move. We are going to fix that.” A solution was outlined in the Renter’s Reform Bill during the Queen’s Speech in December 2019 - lifetime deposits.

Goodlord and DAS UK Group have been jointly awarded "Claims Partner of the Year" at the 2020 Insurance Times Awards. The accolade recognises their market-leading Rent Protection & Legal Expenses Insurance policy.

Rent Protection Insurance has never been a more crucial component of a letting agency's landlord proposition than it has been this year, providing landlords with the security of income in an environment of uncertainty. Now, it’s more important than ever that letting agents are offering their landlords this protection as part of a comprehensive proposition. Goodlord’s Head of Insurance, Oli Sherlock, answers questions about how the market has changed in 2020 and how Rent Protection Insurance can help you strengthen your offering to landlords in 2021.

“Being part of a corporate network as well as having independence as a branch is the best of all worlds,” says John Frost of Martin & Co Chelmsford, a franchisee operating its agency independently while under the branding of the extended Martin & Co network.

Covid-19 completely disrupted the plans of many businesses this year and will continue to have an impact on the global economy until the vaccine is rolled out. At the same time, an uncertain Brexit remains just around the corner. Ellie Donaghy, Head of Lettings at Andrews, and Jonathan Werth, Managing Director at LiFE Residential, joined Goodlord to discuss a challenging year and how they're preparing for 2021.🎧

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The latest Goodlord Rental Index shows a subdued rental market during November, thanks to the country-wide lockdown. Rents were down and voids were up, with the average income of tenants also starting to slide. However, the market picked up speed again during the last week of November, with renewed activity sparking an above average rate of new applications during a traditionally quiet period for the market. 

Tenant referencing is hugely important in the pre-tenancy process for landlords and letting agents - at any time and not just in the current uncertain circumstances. However, it’s come to the fore now for a number of reasons.

Consultation is now open on the government’s proposals to extend regulations on domestic smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in both social and private rented accommodation. The proposals include requiring social landlords to ensure at least one smoke alarm is installed on each storey of a building where any rooms are used as living accommodation; requiring carbon monoxide alarms to be fitted alongside the installation of fixed combustion appliances of any fuel type; and requiring private and social landlords to install carbon monoxide alarms in any room used as living accommodation where a fixed combustion appliance is used. The consultation will be open until 11 January 2021.

“We have been in business since 1933 and like to think of ourselves as the local property experts,” says Sara Grey, Lettings Manager at the Ripley and Horsley-based Wills & Smerdon.

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 Government has announced that England will be moving back into a system of tiered restrictions as part of its “Covid-19 Winter Plan” for when the second national lockdown ends on 2 December. Although the restrictions will be “tougher” than they were in October, it currently appears that the lettings industry will be able to continue operating as it has during the lockdown, with “moving home” listed as being exempt from the restrictions on gatherings at every tier. Courts will also remain open at every tier.