Blogs

Six ways to ensure your Christmas won’t cost the earth!

At Christmas, we generate more waste than any other time. We produce around 300,000 tonnes of cardboard packaging – probably even more this year as we increasingly move to online shopping. With environmental issues now so important, a big question mark hangs over the...

Aftermath st jude storm fallen tree residential road london passed over uk monday morning th august 34785965

Storm damage? Always call in the experts

Last week’s storms caused considerable devastation in parts of the country, with fallen trees and branches a particular problem. Emergency tree work is complex but it may be tempting to have a go at cutting up fallen branches or try to move smaller trees yourself, es...

Why the Settlers Court case is one to watch for RTM leaseholders

If you are a leaseholder in a block that has acquired the right to manage and live on a multi-building development, an appeal case heard in the Supreme Court in November could be important for you and your neighbours.The decision in FirstPort Property Services Limite...

All I want for Christmas... is more cash for cladding

Leaseholders facing big remediation bills for cladding on their blocks could be set for a happier Christmas than expected, following speculation in the press last week that the Government may finally be about to take action to help them.Sources described as “close to...

Why all stick, no carrot is no way to improve energy efficiency

The Government is rightly urging landlords to improve the energy efficiency of rental homes. But its approach appears to be all stick and no carrot. This is unhelpful and landlords are understandably unimpressed. New research from The Mortgage Works, reported in Lett...

Why holiday lets could put block insurance in jeopardy

It has become clear in the last 12 months that the proliferation of short-term lets in many parts of the country is having a major impact on the supply of long-term tenancies in the private rental market.Landlords, many of whom will have been worried that their tenan...

Legal cannabis grow room series marijuana growing cultivation plants bags under lights legal grow room series growing 139116000

How to weed out the cannabis crooks

Cannabis farms in rented homes are on the increase and landlords should be aware that this kind of criminal activity could be going on in their property.A week of action by the police in November highlighted these tell-tale signs:A sudden jump/fall in electricity bil...

Landlords: smoke alarms are now a legal requirement

Smoke is dark, fast, toxic and hot - and it is the biggest killer in domestic fires. This is the stark warning posted on fire safety product supplier First Alert’s website, highlighting the importance of fitting smoke alarms at home.In the UK there are around 200 dea...

Renters' Reform Bill: what will it mean for you?

People who want to be a buy to let landlord will need to think long and hard once the proposed Renters' Reform Bill comes in to force. The new legislation will have some serious implications for landlords and the planned changes will undoubtedly make some people thin...

Businessman observing chart downward trend closeup young caucasian his office desk full graphs charts 64150767

Possessions are down but will Government move on Section 21?

Apparently we can expect another ‘Christmas Truce’ on bailiff-enforced evictions over the holiday period. No one should find themselves homeless, particularly at Christmas, so it is encouraging to see that the number of possessions is down on this time two years ago....