Posts with tag: tenants

Majority of tenants pleased with current landlord

Published On: June 15, 2015 at 3:09 pm

Tags: landlords,private rental sector,tenants

An encouraging survey has revealed that the vast majority of private rented sector tenants are satisfied with their landlord.

According to the research by Paragon Mortgages, 81% of UK tenants are pleased with their landlord, with 70% also saying that they felt their rent offered value for money.[1]

Homely

82% of people respondents to the survey also said that they felt that their rental property was their home, with 35% also saying that they expect to stay in the private rental sector for the forseeable future.[1]

However, the report also revealed that 12% of tenants would be uncomfortable when asking their landlord to extend their tenancy agreement and 6% said they had already asked for an extension and were refused.

57% of respondents said that they were happy with the length of their existing tenancy, with 17% saying they had were successful when asking for a longer term.[1]

Majority of tenants pleased with current landlord

Standards

John Heron, Director of Mortgages at Paragon, said that, ‘the research is really interesting. It is important that we understand the world from the tenant’s viewpoint so we can continue to deliver products that support better standards in the private rented sector.’[1]

‘There has been a lot of noise around the need for longer term tenancies for some time and I think there is a common misconception that landlords are not willing to be flexible in the tenancies they offer,’ he continued. ‘Our landlord research demonstrates that many are more than willing to extend terms and in 71% of cases, it was the tenant who chose to end the tenancy and not the landlord,’ he added.[1]

Concluding, Heron said that, ‘we are big supporters of offering longer term tenancies and we were one of the first buy to let lenders to announce we would support the Government’s new model lease and allow landlords to offer 36 months tenancies to those tenants who need that extra security, as we believe this is our social responsibility.’[1]

[1] http://www.propertywire.com/news/europe/uk-tenants-landlord-survey-2015061510630.html

60% of tenants hit by rent rises

Published On: June 10, 2015 at 1:02 pm

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: rent increases,tenancy agreements,tenants

60% of tenants in the UK have seen their rent rise on their current rental property at the conclusion of their tenancy agreement, according to new research.

Fees

A study by Ocean Finance has also revealed that many tenants are forced to pay over £100 to letting agents to secure a new contract. What’s more, the survey suggests that landlords increase rents by an average of £84 per month, or £1,008 per year, at the conclusion of an existing tenancy agreement.[1]

The survey shows that nearly half of tenants remain in the same house for a minimum of five years. This means they could be forced to pay nearly £600 in letting agents’ fees if they wish to continue to rent out their home.[1]

Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that prices on private rental homes increased by 2.1% in the year to March 2015. This was predominantly driven by the surging market in London and the South East.[1]

60% of tenants hit by rent rises

Booming

Ocean spokesman Gareth Shilton observed that, ‘the buy-to-let market is booming at the moment, driven partly by the London market, although there are strong hotspots across the country. As demand for rented properties continues to outstrip supply and many people struggle to get on to the housing ladder, landlords are in a strong position to continue to increase rents each time a tenancy agreement ends.’[1]

‘On top of rental increases, tenants are facing rip-off fees from letting agents, not just to take new tenancy agreements, but also to roll-on an existing tenancy for another six or 12 months,’ he continued. ‘As letting agency fees range enormously across the country and between agents, tenants are hit by charges for simply renewing their tenancies, credit checks, check in or check out fees. When tenants shop around for properties they should really do the same with agents. It’s very important to check all the additional fees when signing the tenancy agreement to avoid any financial difficulty in future,’ he added.[1]

[1] http://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/landlords/60-of-tenants-hit-hard-with-end-of-tenancy-rent-rise.html

Rental Evictions in the UK Study

Published On: May 18, 2015 at 12:18 pm

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: eviction notices,rental accommodation,rental evictions,tenants

Rental Evictions in the UK Study

The amount of tenants evicted from their rental homes is at a six-year high as rents remain expensive and benefits are cut. If you have been evicted from rental accommodation, The Guardian would like to hear from you.

By visiting the link below, you can contribute to the study, or use the form to share your experiences. You can remain anonymous or alternatively email guardian.witness@theguardian.com.

Visit http://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/may/15/have-you-been-evicted-from-rental-housing-in-the-uk to share your views.

Generation Rent’s New Director Revealed

Published On: May 15, 2015 at 2:50 pm

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: Generation Rent,housing crisis,tenants

The director of tenant lobby group Generation Rent, Alex Hilton, is stepping down from his position today.

Hilton is leaving the organisation and Betsy Dillner will be replacing him as director.

Dillner is currently the Community Campaigns Manager at the group after joining in January 2014. She has been at the front of a development-of-local-grass-roots campaign around the country.

Generation Rent’s New Director Revealed

Dillner hopes to make the future brighter for communities. She previously lived in the USA, where she was a community organiser focusing on areas such as housing, immigration, health care and finance sector reform.

Dillner has a BA in Women’s and Gender Studies and an MA in Community Organising from Queen Mary University of London.

Chair of Generation Rent, Stephen Battersby, says: “As the first director of the organisation, Alex has raised housing up the political agenda and highlighted the plight of private tenants, which for too long has been ignored by national and local politicians.

“Alex has raised the profile of the organisation beyond our wildest dreams and this should enable us to increase the number of supporters and also encourage others to work with us to help private tenants who are disadvantaged.

“The board has great confidence in Betsy and her appointment also highlights that working with private tenants at the community level is a priority area.”¹

Hilton explains: “The housing crisis is the biggest issue of our era and it has been a privilege to be part of Generation Rent. However, I have decided that the one piece missing among a diverse range of housing campaigners is a credible and effective political voice. I now intend to work full time on creating and building that voice.

“We have a new government, an opposition uncommonly receptive to ideas and a growing body of people demanding change. I know that Betsy has the steel and the energy to take advantage of the opportunities to empower renters.”¹

Dillner says: “In 18 months, Generation Rent has built up incredible momentum, and I look forward to building on the work Alex and the team have done. The housing crisis continues to cause hardship for renters and their families, and we will remain at the forefront of the growing movement to fight it.”¹

¹http://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2015/5/generation-rent-appoints-new-director

Tenants Believe Rent is Value for Money

Published On: January 24, 2013 at 9:29 am

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Finance News

Tags: rent prices,tenants,value for money

A survey from the National Landlords Association (NLA) has revealed that most UK tenants believe that their rent provides good value for money.

This is despite rents rising significantly in recent years and wages struggling to keep up.

Tenants Believe Rent is Value for Money

The study, undertaken by the NLA, found that almost three-quarters (73%) of respondents thought that the price of rent for their property was either good or very good value for money.

Just a fifth (20%) of tenants said that it was poor value, with only 3% claiming it is very poor.

After a period of increases in rent, the majority of landlords haven’t raised their rents in the last 12 months, also states the survey.

This was reflected in just over 70% of tenants revealing that they pay the same, or a reduced amount (3% of respondents), compared to a year ago.

Carolyn Uphill, NLA Chairman, says: “It’s pleasing to see that so many tenants perceive their rent as good value, because landlords face a lot of unjustified criticism for the rising costs of living.

“The NLA has long argued that rent levels in the UK are a consequence of a market economy, with the determining factor at present being a chronic undersupply of affordable housing, compounded by lethargic efforts on the part of Government to foster more construction.”

“On the whole, the findings are encouraging for tenants; they demonstrate that rents on private lets over the past year have remained fairly stable and show that, in reality, very few feel pressured to move out or actually have their tenancy terminated by their landlord, a common misconception,” she explains.

Uphill concludes: “However, most important of all the findings suggest that the majority of landlords are in the business of providing good quality, affordable homes and are making sustainable tenancies a mainstay of most tenants’ rental experience.”¹

¹http://old.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Most-tenants-believe-rent-is-value-for-money