The Times reports that all private landlords in the UK may have to be registered before letting residential property under new government plans mooted to curb abuse in the rental market.It is estimated that the number of private landlords has risen to about one million in England and Wales and it is felt within the government that moves must be taken to prevent unscrupulous landlords from exploiting tenants.The proposal is that anyone letting a residential property would have to pay a fee, mooted to be £50 to start with, to register with a national body. Those required to register would include developers, buy-to-let investors and those who have become landlords because they cannot sell their properties and have let them out instead.See the full article from the Times here. If you would... Similar posts

In the face of the current financial discomfort being experienced by most citizens, it is interesting to see how current events in the market are viewed by others, particular those in funds that have been set up specifically to invest in so called 'toxic assets'.Take a look at this recent piece on the site courtesy of OPP. It essentially outlines how investment funds are hunting distressed property assets across Europe and the US at the moment - at a time when the average investor is doing exactly the opposite. It gives a significant insight into the mind of an investor looking for an opportunity to buy into the market when the 'populist opinion' is that you should be getting out. The reason these funds are looking for these assets: "It’s cheap and no one else wants it but there’s... Similar posts

The RICS UK housing market survey for August 2008 showed that the average number of transactions fell further in August as a lack of mortgage finance continues to stifle the ability of buyers to access the market.81% more Chartered Surveyors reported falling rather than rising house prices, a decrease from 83.1% in July.The continued inability of many to secure mortgage finance is reflected in the collapse in transactions.  The average number of transactions per surveyor (over the last three months) is now at 12.7, the lowest figure since the survey began, with estate agents in a number of regions reporting less than a sale per week. In June and July, surveyors reported that many sellers had dropped asking prices to more realistic levels and that predatory buyers were waiting to pounce... Similar posts

For those of you who have ever considered one of those 'small investments' in UK land which is being presented as land with the potential for 'rezoning' then you may well need to have a read of the following and the Guardian's piece here.This particular area of the property market is fraught with danger, particularly for those with no knowledge of the UK property market and the ins and outs of the planning process across the UK. In the main the UK is very slow to rezone green belt land, so be very careful about what you're buying, no matter how inexpensive it may seem. That is, of course, unless you are happy to lose your 'investment'. If you visit the UK Land Investments site all you'll find is a letter from the administrators. This liquidation of companies is a typical ploy by land... Similar posts