Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction and rent collection firm are delighted to announce the association of KLP Solicitors with their group. KLP, headed by Philip Lafferty are superbly placed to assist in the expansion of the firm in relation to eviction proceedings, debt recovery and other property related litigious matters.
Philip is a commercial litigator with approximately thirty years of trial experience. Born in Yorkshire, Philip trained as a Barrister and Solicitor in Western Australis where he operated his own law firm for 18 years. He has conducted several hundred civil trials during his career and currently operate with his teams as KLP Solicitors in Central London.
Graham Kinnear of Landlord Assist comments "Landlord Assist have used the service of KLP on an ad hoc basis since their inception and we are delighted to announce the formal cooperation between ourselves and KLP. The services of KLP in relation to landlord and tenant matters are, in our view, superb and we are delighted that the Clients of Landlord Assist will benefit from them."
Philip Lafferty of KLP states "Both myself and my colleagues at KLP have extensive experience in Landlord and Tenant matters and we were therefore keen to undertake a collaboration with a firm offering national coverage. Having researched the market we were keen to undertake that collaberation with Landlord Assist. It was felt that their marketing, customer service and breadth of service offering puts them firmly as market leader in their field"
Stephen Parry, Commercial Director at Landlord Assist details "We select our partners very carefully to ensure that their business ethos matches our own in terms of service delivery and standards. We are delighted to be associated with KLP Solicitors and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Philip and his team."
Landlords and letting agents wishing to take advantage of the free, no obligation, initial advice from Landlord Assist should call 08707 662288 or contact them via their website www.landlordassist.co.uk
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Sunday, 27 September 2009
Take urgent action against rent arrears
Landlord Assist are urging landlords to contact them immediately their tenants fall into arrears. Recent research states that rent arrears is on the increase and according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders the number of buy to let mortgage accounts in three or more months of arrears has risen from 10,000 at the beginning of 2008 to 30,000 at present.
We are noted as stating in Property Investor News that "the oversupply of rented accommodation in some areas means that landlords are fighting for tenants and are vulnerable to increased voids"
Landlords who are suffering arrears should act quickly to protect their position.
We are noted as stating in Property Investor News that "the oversupply of rented accommodation in some areas means that landlords are fighting for tenants and are vulnerable to increased voids"
Landlords who are suffering arrears should act quickly to protect their position.
Scotland Evictions
Landlord Assist are reminding Landlords who have property north of the border that under section 11 of the Homelessess (Scotland) Act 2003, landlords and creditors must let the local authority know if they raise proceedings for possession of a property or serve certain notices that relate to a mortgage.
Punishment for Landlord
A landlord who breached health and safety regulations has received almost the maximum punishment magistrates could impose.
Mr Bensal was fined £9030 after pleading guilty to two breaches of rules relating to houses in multiple occupation.
Dartford Magistrates gave Bansal a £4515 fine for each offence with £5000 being the maximum. He was also ordered to pay £575 in court costs.
Landlords should seek advice on HMO matters if they are unsure. As this case demonstrates failure to comply can be expensive.
Mr Bensal was fined £9030 after pleading guilty to two breaches of rules relating to houses in multiple occupation.
Dartford Magistrates gave Bansal a £4515 fine for each offence with £5000 being the maximum. He was also ordered to pay £575 in court costs.
Landlords should seek advice on HMO matters if they are unsure. As this case demonstrates failure to comply can be expensive.
Oversupply of rental property
According to the RICS in the three months to July 2009 tenant demand for rental properties continued to rise, albeit at a slower pace.
The proportion of landlords considering selling a property at the end of the tenancy is unchanged at 1.8% suggesting that Landlords are in this for the long term.
The proportion of landlords considering selling a property at the end of the tenancy is unchanged at 1.8% suggesting that Landlords are in this for the long term.
Student accommodation
According to the accommodation for students the average weekly rent for student accommodation has now increased to £62.61 per week which is higher than last year. Landlord Assist foresaw this increase and suggested landlord look at student accommodation earlier this year.
The best value locations for student accommodation are detailed as being Stoke on Trent, Middlesborough, Crewe and Hull. The average rent for Stoke being the lowest at £41.90 per week.
The best value locations for student accommodation are detailed as being Stoke on Trent, Middlesborough, Crewe and Hull. The average rent for Stoke being the lowest at £41.90 per week.
Saturday, 26 September 2009
Local Housing Allowance
Grant Shapps MP has responded to an employee of Landlord Assist who wrote to David Cameron regarding the Local Housing Allowance system. We are grateful for his response which reads as follows:
Dear Gema,
Your letter regarding Housing Benefit was passed on to me by David Cameron's office as it falls within my responsibility as Shadow Housing Minister.
You raise a number of very pertinent points regarding the payment of benefit for housing to tenants and although initially the intention to give social tenants more felxibility was welcome the Government's policy is causing problems.
For the tenants themselves often managing their own finances is a struggle and by mismanaging their housing benefit there have been cases of tenants becoming homeless where previously this would not have happened.
In terms of supply, people may also put off investing for housing for social rent and importantly, many landlords are already refusing to let their properties to housing benefit claimants reducing supply and putting additional pressure on local authorities and their housing stock.
Please rest assured that this is an area of policy we are currently looking into; thanks again for your correspondence. Please don't hesitate to get in touch in the future if there is anything else you would like to discuss.
Yours sincerely,
Grant Shapps MP.
Dear Gema,
Your letter regarding Housing Benefit was passed on to me by David Cameron's office as it falls within my responsibility as Shadow Housing Minister.
You raise a number of very pertinent points regarding the payment of benefit for housing to tenants and although initially the intention to give social tenants more felxibility was welcome the Government's policy is causing problems.
For the tenants themselves often managing their own finances is a struggle and by mismanaging their housing benefit there have been cases of tenants becoming homeless where previously this would not have happened.
In terms of supply, people may also put off investing for housing for social rent and importantly, many landlords are already refusing to let their properties to housing benefit claimants reducing supply and putting additional pressure on local authorities and their housing stock.
Please rest assured that this is an area of policy we are currently looking into; thanks again for your correspondence. Please don't hesitate to get in touch in the future if there is anything else you would like to discuss.
Yours sincerely,
Grant Shapps MP.
Thursday, 17 September 2009
The oldest tenant to be evicted?
A 98 year old woman who terrorised neighbours and assaulted carers is likely to be the oldest person in Britain to be evicted.
The tenant was given 28 days to leave her flat after a Judge heard that she kept fellow residents awake by banging on their doors and windows.
Southampton Court heard that the tenant was mentally capable but also that her phone had been cut off after she made 264 calls to police without a god reason in two years. Social services had removed the emergency call button after she raised the alarm 563 times in one month.
The court also heard that emergency service staff would only visit in pairs due to the risk of being assaulted.
The tenant was given 28 days to leave her flat after a Judge heard that she kept fellow residents awake by banging on their doors and windows.
Southampton Court heard that the tenant was mentally capable but also that her phone had been cut off after she made 264 calls to police without a god reason in two years. Social services had removed the emergency call button after she raised the alarm 563 times in one month.
The court also heard that emergency service staff would only visit in pairs due to the risk of being assaulted.
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Get the right person for the job!
Landlord Assist are urging Landlords to review their list of contractors to ensure compliance with the law following the recent prosecution of a Gas Engineer who was not registered on the Gas Safe Register.
Graham Kinnear of Landlord Assist details that the work carried out by the engineer in Hull contained numerous defects. The engineer pleaded guilty to seven breaches of the Gas Safety (Installations and Use) Regulations 1988 and four breaches of the Trade Descriptions Act. The critical issue here is that the occupiers of the property could have been put at risk.
The Health and Safety Executive spokesman Chris Chambers says "We urge homeowners to be on their guard when having gas work carried out at their properties and to always check that the fitter is on the Gas Safe Register."
Kinnear continues – "In addition Landlords should ensure that electricians are qualified and hold a Part P certificate and indeed all contractors should carry liability insurance. The landlord has a duty of care to the tenant and this should never be breached otherwise it can lead to the tenant raising a claim against the landlord"
Landlord Assist, who specialise in tenant referencing and the eviction of bad tenants, advise on landlord and tenant matters throughout the UK from a team of dedicated professionals and Stephen Parry of the firm comments "In this increasingly litigious world Landlords should ensure works are in accordance to legislation to ensure compliance to their obligations and the safety of their tenants. Failure on either part can leave them open to being litigated against."
Landlord Assist provide free, no obligation, initial advice and can be contacted on 08707 662288 or via their website at www.landlordassist.co.uk
Graham Kinnear of Landlord Assist details that the work carried out by the engineer in Hull contained numerous defects. The engineer pleaded guilty to seven breaches of the Gas Safety (Installations and Use) Regulations 1988 and four breaches of the Trade Descriptions Act. The critical issue here is that the occupiers of the property could have been put at risk.
The Health and Safety Executive spokesman Chris Chambers says "We urge homeowners to be on their guard when having gas work carried out at their properties and to always check that the fitter is on the Gas Safe Register."
Kinnear continues – "In addition Landlords should ensure that electricians are qualified and hold a Part P certificate and indeed all contractors should carry liability insurance. The landlord has a duty of care to the tenant and this should never be breached otherwise it can lead to the tenant raising a claim against the landlord"
Landlord Assist, who specialise in tenant referencing and the eviction of bad tenants, advise on landlord and tenant matters throughout the UK from a team of dedicated professionals and Stephen Parry of the firm comments "In this increasingly litigious world Landlords should ensure works are in accordance to legislation to ensure compliance to their obligations and the safety of their tenants. Failure on either part can leave them open to being litigated against."
Landlord Assist provide free, no obligation, initial advice and can be contacted on 08707 662288 or via their website at www.landlordassist.co.uk
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Landlords to receive housing benefit direct?
Landlord Assist applaud the efforts of the National Landlords Association who are to lobby central government in an attempt to change the policy on housing benefit.
The group claims that millions of pounds have been wasted by government reforms to housing benefit. It says that the governments local housing allowance had caused "major problems"
The NLA state that in many cases, the cash was not being passed on to landlords which was leaving them out of pocket.
They state that "If something isn't done then landlords who currently operate in this market will be leaving in their droves and it will be the most vulnerable tenants who will be left out in the cold"
Landlord Assist have dealt with numerous cases where the tenant is in receipt of a housing benefit award yet elects not to pay the rent and therefor on behalf of its Landlord Clients, supports the NLA in their efforts.
The group claims that millions of pounds have been wasted by government reforms to housing benefit. It says that the governments local housing allowance had caused "major problems"
The NLA state that in many cases, the cash was not being passed on to landlords which was leaving them out of pocket.
They state that "If something isn't done then landlords who currently operate in this market will be leaving in their droves and it will be the most vulnerable tenants who will be left out in the cold"
Landlord Assist have dealt with numerous cases where the tenant is in receipt of a housing benefit award yet elects not to pay the rent and therefor on behalf of its Landlord Clients, supports the NLA in their efforts.
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
buy to let is back!
Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction and rent recovery firm recently reported that the Buy To let market was starting to return and their thoughts have been vindicated by a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors report which states that the supply of rental property coming to the market is falling quickly leading to the hardening of rents and reduction in void periods experienced by Landlords.
In an optimistic sign for landlords many estate agents are reporting more landlords wanting to increase their portfolio and take advantage of the strengthening of rents together with the still depressed sale values. These suggestions are further galvanised by the latest figures from the internet site findaproperty.com who state that rents have increased by 2.5% and the supply of rented accommodation has declined by 16%
According to Stephen Parry of Landlord Assist, Buy to let has long been a good hedge against inflation and a useful retirement pot for many people. All the signs are there that this market place is returning and that capital values will begin to increase in accordance with growing demand from investor buyers.
In an optimistic sign for landlords many estate agents are reporting more landlords wanting to increase their portfolio and take advantage of the strengthening of rents together with the still depressed sale values. These suggestions are further galvanised by the latest figures from the internet site findaproperty.com who state that rents have increased by 2.5% and the supply of rented accommodation has declined by 16%
According to Stephen Parry of Landlord Assist, Buy to let has long been a good hedge against inflation and a useful retirement pot for many people. All the signs are there that this market place is returning and that capital values will begin to increase in accordance with growing demand from investor buyers.
Monday, 7 September 2009
Developer Guilty of Tenant Murder
According to the BBC News Channel a developer arranged the killing of a tenant after he refused to leave a building earmarked for redevelopment.
Thanos Papalexis, 37 allegedly hired henchmen to kill a caretaker in March 2000.
The Court heard that the landlords financial affairs were precarious and he was paying £60,000 a week in bridging finance.
The developer was arrested in November 2008 after police had finished building a case against him.
Thanos Papalexis, 37 allegedly hired henchmen to kill a caretaker in March 2000.
The Court heard that the landlords financial affairs were precarious and he was paying £60,000 a week in bridging finance.
The developer was arrested in November 2008 after police had finished building a case against him.
Saturday, 5 September 2009
Jealously is a nasty trait!!
Landlord Assist, considered by many to be the market leaders in tenant eviction are flattered to learn of a competitors google advertisement which is entitled "Landlord Assist - The Leading Tenant Eviction Company" and then diverts to their website. We are deeply flattered that they also acknowledge we are the leading eviction company however we would be grateful if they would desist from trying to confuse the public.
For clarification the "leading eviction company" can only be reached at www.landlordassist.co.uk or 08707 662288
For clarification the "leading eviction company" can only be reached at www.landlordassist.co.uk or 08707 662288
Third Party Renewal Commission
Letting agents should be aware that the recent OFT v Foxtons case has highlighted the issue of third party renewal commissions where a landlord sells the property to another landlord, with the tenant remaining in situ, yet the agent seeks to bind the new landlord to the renewal commission.
The Office of Fair Trading are not keen on this clause and Agents should consider whether it should be included in standard terms and conditions in future.
The Office of Fair Trading are not keen on this clause and Agents should consider whether it should be included in standard terms and conditions in future.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)