What do you look for, when considering moving to a new area? Is it what’s on the inside that counts, or do you pay attention to the amenities in the surrounding area?
UK property portal Zoopla has revealed the results of its latest survey, which show what renters want in a new home…
You would expect to see factors such as low crime rate, good public transport and the accessibility of top schools in the area. However, 79% of those who took part in the survey responded that decent food delivery options are high on their list of priorities when choosing a new home.
With the multitude of food delivery apps now available, it has now become part of the property viewing routine for Millennials to open up their app of choice and check that their favourite restaurants will deliver to that address. Almost 75% of those aged 16-29 admitted that they regret not doing so when previously viewing a property. 55% of the respondents said that they will definitely do so next time they move.
In relation to this takeaway trend, 35% of Brits now believe that kitchens will reduce in size because of the increase in options for food delivery.
Laura Howard, Zoopla Spokesperson, commented: “It’s only natural that home design evolves to reflect our changing needs. In recent years, for example, open-plan kitchen/living areas have taken the place of dining rooms as lifestyles have become more informal.
“With the rapid growth in food delivery apps, it could be the case that meal preparation space becomes a less integral element of the kitchen/living area with increased room for families and friends to relax and socialise together. It all remains to be seen.”
The average amount spent on takeaways each month by those living in the UK is £46. This goes up to £50 for 16-29 year-olds. Birmingham alone has an average of £51, which is twice the amount spent by those in Belfast, the lowest spending city at £25.
Joe Groves, Head of Consumer Communications at Deliveroo, said: “A good takeaway goes hand-in-hand with move-in day, we know our customers depend on Deliveroo for that first meal using packaging boxes as table, we weren’t shocked to hear that food delivery is becoming increasingly important for British house hunters.”
If you’re letting to students, you may be worried about whether they’re going to pay the rent on time and look after your property. However, we’re dispelling the top landlord concerns when letting to student tenants.
Being a landlord can be one of the most satisfying careers, but it isn’t without its concerns. Whether you’re a new landlord or seasoned professional, the potential issues are likely to be the same – particularly with student tenants, who are living away from home for potentially the first time.
Broadband and utilities provider Glide has looked into the top concerns for landlords, to dispel the myths around letting to students:
Payment issues
It’s no secret that rent payments are a concern, especially for student tenants, who may not have had to deal with the responsibility of regular bills before. However, the stigma around students being irresponsible is outdated and not reflective of the current generation.
CPS Homes of Cardiff states: “Students make for reliable, almost guaranteed tenants each year, due to the academic cycle. You know that, if the current tenants are planning to leave at the end of their tenancy, a new group is just around the corner, ready and waiting to move in at the start of the next academic year. And, contrary to the beliefs of many, they are usually very prompt payers of rent, because they’re in receipt of a student loan that they receive termly.
“Having confirmation of this student loan is far stronger than an employment reference, because people are far more likely to quit/lose their job than drop out of university. If they ever do get into trouble with their rent payments, a parent or guardian will have usually agreed to act as a financial guarantor at the start of the tenancy. This means a landlord can approach said person and demand full payment of the balance owed.”
Dispelling the Top Landlord Concerns when Letting to Students
Property damage
A quick reaction to the thought of letting to students is raucous house parties that end in damage to the property. However, with higher fees than ever and the rising cost of living, students are drinking and partying less, which means that there is less chance of property damage.
Most students prefer to relax with their friends and socialise with a TV series instead. In fact, 82% of the students that Glide surveyed recently said that they would rather binge watch TV shows than go out. So, hopefully that’s reassurance in knowing that your property is less likely to get damaged than in previous years.
Noisy neighbours
Blaring music, shouting and screaming, and parties going on until the early hours are complaints that you don’t want to hear from neighbours who aren’t students and have to be up at the crack of dawn.
This generation isn’t the rebellious youth of yesterday – there’s a decline in youth crime, as well as drinking. This generation is steering to have the best future possible and doesn’t want to be derailed by connection in actions involving the police.
Finding the perfect tenants
Whether they are students or not, building relationships with your tenants is the key to success. Glide’s What Students Seek survey found that building and maintaining a good relationship with their landlord is one of the most important things when students look for a home.
If you make sure that you’re communicating with your tenants and are easy to reach, you’ll naturally build a good foundation for respect.
Alexandra Morris, the Managing Director of MakeUrMove, shares details on what landlords and tenants need to know about the Fitness for Human Habitation Act 101.
Last month, the Government introduced the Fitness for Human Habitation Act. This law, which is also known as the Homes Act, essentially ensures that all rental properties are deemed safe.
While the majority of landlords will only rent out properties that are safe, the new law protects tenants should their landlord fail to keep them safe.
Who does the act apply to?
The Fitness for Human Habitation Act is applicable to all social or private rental properties. This means landlords are responsible for adhering to the Act, and tenants can take action using the Act if their landlord doesn’t keep to the new laws.
Tenants who signed a tenancy agreement from 20thMarch 2019 will be able to use the Fitness for Human Habitation Act straight away, if they feel their rental property is not safe.
However, tenants who signed a tenancy agreement before 20thMarch 2019 won’t be able to use the Fitness for Human Habitation Act. If you have a secure or assured tenancy, statutory tenancy or a private periodic tenancy, you will be able to use the Act from 20thMarch 2020. However, if the tenancy is a fixed term contract that began before 20thMarch 2019, then tenants will have to wait until the end of the tenancy.
That’s not to say that any problems tenants – who signed their tenancy before 20th March this year – face with their rental property cannot be dealt with, as you can still complain to your letting agent or local council about taking action.
Exceptions to the rule
While tenants are entitled to a home that’s safe and fit for habitation, there are some exceptions where your landlord wouldn’t be responsible.
One instance is if the tenant is responsible for the reason why a property is no longer fit for habitation. This could be due to damage caused by the tenant or through illegal activity. Where this is the case, the tenant will actually be the one responsible for putting the problem right.
When it comes to possessions, the landlord is only responsible for possessions that are included in the inventory at the start of the tenancy, and not the tenant’s own possessions.
Landlords may also need to seek permission from all parties before taking action on making a rental property fit for habitation. For example, in the case of flats, landlords will have to get permission from the building owners, and even the council, before they can make certain changes to a property.
Lastly, landlords are not held accountable for acts of God, such as fires, storms and floods, as these are beyond a landlord’s control.
The words “Property Management 101” on a yellow legal pad
What is considered a problem under the Fitness for Human Habitation Act?
There are several aspects which could make a property no longer fit for human habitation.
These include if a building is structurally unstable, or problems such as damp, lack of ventilation, carbon monoxide, overcrowding, and problems with drainage, and the supply of hot and cold water.
This list isn’t exhaustive by any means, and tenants should check if a potential problem is listed in the Fitness for Human Habitation Actor in the tenancy agreement.
There are also a number of places for tenants to get more help, including Citizens Advice, Shelter, the local council, or check Generation Rent’s website for local tenants’ rights groups.
What to do if you think your rental property is unfit for habitation
If you find any of the problems listed here within your rental property, the first step is to notify your landlord. Once your landlord is aware of the problem, you should allow a reasonable length of time for them to rectify the problem, which is dependent on the scale of the problem.
However, if your landlord fails to fix the problem in a reasonable length of time or at all, then you can use the Fitness for Human Habitation Act.
Using the Fitness for Human Habitation Act
Before using the Fitness for Human Habitation Act, tenants should contact their landlord a second time to notify them of the problem. This is because, if it is taken to court, tenants have to show they tried to sort the problem with their landlord.
In this second piece of contact, tenants need to highlight the problem, when they first reported it to the landlord, and any consequential problems that have resulted due to the rental property not being fit for habitation. If your landlord still fails to put the problem right, then the next step is court.
If a case gets taken to court, then evidence will be required. This includes copies of contact made between the tenant and landlord, or even a letting agent and local council regarding the problem.
Tenants will also need photographic evidence, a doctor’s note if it has had an impact on their health, receipts of anything that has had to be replaced, a copy of the tenancy agreement, or proof that rent is being paid to the landlord.
Winning or losing the court case
If a landlord is found to have not provided their tenant with a home fit for habitation, the courts will either enforce the landlord to undertake the work to make the rental property habitable or make the landlord pay compensation to the tenants.
The compensation amount will be based on the length of time the rental property was deemed unfit for human habitation, the seriousness of the problem and the impact this has had on the tenant.
If a tenant loses their case, then they will have to pay the legal costs associated with taking the case to court.
It’s worth reiterating that, if a tenant is concerned the property they’re renting is not fit for habitation, they can also consult with the local council, as they can take action on a tenant’s behalf for free.
Landlords, if you want to ensure your rental property meets the Fit for Human Habitation Act, make sure you have read the Government’s How to rent guide.
Many tenants are relatively flexible when it comes to the area that they are happy to live in, but there are plenty of other features of a rental home that renters will simply not compromise on, Zoopla has found.
Research by the property portal found that 61% of tenants are not dead set on the area that they are looking to live in, but they are not so flexible when it comes to nearby amenities, including shops, bars and entertainment.
The survey of more than 1,700 tenants across the UK asked respondents what they would or would not be willing to compromise on when looking for their next rental home.
Following nearby amenities being crowned as the factor that tenants are least likely to compromise on, the number of bedrooms and size of property were ranked in second and third place.
These three features were ranked above inclusion of outside space, which came in fourth place, and proximity to family and friends, which ranked tenth.
The top ten, from least to most likely to compromise on, are:
Nearby amenities
Number of bedrooms
Size of property
Outside space
Distance from place of work/study
Price
Décor/furnishings
Proximity from transport links
Standard of the property
Proximity to family/friends
Annabel Dixon, the Spokesperson for Zoopla, says: “Our research paints an interesting picture of renters’ priorities when looking for a new home. It may come as a surprise to discover that renters are more likely to prioritise access to local amenities over the number of bedrooms and rental price.
“Given that the majority of renters are open-minded on location, our research highlights an opportunity for letting agents to introduce renters to new areas that they wouldn’t have considered themselves.”
Landlords, take this research into account when marketing your rental properties!
Property search data from Zoopla over the past 12 months has been analysed to reveal the most popular parts of London for private tenants.
The property portal found that Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs (E14 postcode) is the most popular location for private tenants looking for a home to rent in London.
The W2 postcode district, which encompasses Paddington and Bayswater, was ranked the second most searched for location for a rental property in the capital, while SE1 (South Bank, Bankside, Bermondsey and Waterloo) came third.
Battersea, where there is a number of new build to rent schemes being developed, entered the top ten, as the tenth most popular part of London for private tenants.
Top 10 most popular parts of London for tenants
E14 – Canary Wharf/Isle of Dogs
W2 – Paddington/Bayswater
SE1 – Southwark/Lambeth
N1 – Islington
NW1 – Camden
E1 – Whitechapel/Stepney Green
SW6 – Fulham
NW3 – North and East Hampstead
NW6 – Kilburn/West Hampstead
SW11 – Battersea
Annabel Dixon, the Spokesperson for Zoopla, says: “It’s perhaps no surprise that Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs has been highlighted as a popular choice for London renters. This area has long been associated with gleaming office towers, but it is now buzzing with new restaurants, bars, shops and homes, transforming it into a sought-after destination to live as well as work.”
The portal has also segmented the most popular rental searches by property type and number of bedrooms, to reveal that E14, again, topped the list for tenants seeking a one or two-bedroom apartment.
Londoners looking for larger homes to rent showed a strong preference for the capital’s outer zones, with eight of the top ten most popular areas for searches on three and four-bed houses located in the southwest and northwest.
Dixon comments: “Renters searching for larger family homes in the capital showed a clear preference for the suburbs, with Colindale, Hendon and Kingsbury the most searched locations for three and four-bedroom houses.
“These areas are ideal for young families looking for space to grow, with leafy surroundings and several well-regarded schools nearby.”
People who live alone are more likely to rent their homes than those living with a partner, ideal flatmate has found.
According to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, the cost of living alone has hit a huge 92% of the average income, making it far harder for single people to get onto the property ladder.
The figures also show that the number of those who live alone is continuing to rise, up by 16% to 7.7m of all households over the 20 years from 1997-2017. This is projected to hit 10.7m by 2039.
The greatest expenditure for those who live alone is housing costs, including rent and bills.
Households in the 25-64-year-old age range who live alone are less likely to own their own homes than couples, at just 50% of households, compared to 75% respectively.
This means that people who live alone have fewer opportunities to accumulate wealth through purchasing property and paying off a mortgage, with some homeowners having benefitted from significant house price growth.
Tom Gatzen, the Co-Founder of ideal flatmate, says: “While we are currently seeing an upward trend in single occupant living, as a result of a growing population and social factors, such as an increase in divorce rates, we are also seeing a similar increase across other living habits, such as co-living.
“While living alone is more prevalent across older age groups, we’re seeing a growing preference amongst younger generations to live in share households. This is not only helping them to address the financial issues head on, but can also help with other disadvantages associated with living alone, such as a lower level of wellbeing.”
He believes: “If properly considered and developed, this lifestyle trend could go some way in addressing the predicted uplift in those living alone over the next two decades and the negative impact that this could have on this segment of the population.”
