Helping Innovate Property (HIP) – Blog, Housing Market News and Articles

Interested in property? be sure to watch this great interview if you have not seen it with Renegade Economist and the ‘man who owns 900 houses’, it is sure to make you smile.

Read the rest of this entry »

Anti-social behaviour is a subject close to the hearts of many and it is more complex than it appears on the surface, particularly when it is viewed from the perspective of management. We have recently been faced with the issue of excessive noise created by neighbouring tenants hosting parties and every website I look at says that it is recommended that the neighbours be approached first. I can see some merit in that, as sometimes they genuinely don’t know that they are causing a bit of a disturbance to others and respond accordingly. This is what we always do as the resident management company but what happens when reasonableness doesn’t provide the hoped-for response?

Read the rest of this entry »

For my first article I have decided to focus on something very close to my heart – information provision, or in our case, the lack of it when it comes to selling, subletting or parting with possession of a leasehold flat.

Most leases have a minimum requirement that compels leaseholders to serve notice and these are known as assignment conditions.

Read the rest of this entry »

There are a rising number of landlords in the UK today, with reports of considerable numbers of first time landlords entering the market. With interests rates at an all time low, those with savings are now looking at the rental market as a way of generating an income. The rental market is showing good resilience at present as some first time buyers struggle to access a suitable mortgage and look for accomodation.

If you are one of these ‘unplanned’ landlords and are considering this option for the first time, you must be both eager to take advantage of the opportunity and considerate to the possible risks involved. We have produced some handy tips that will help you take this step boldly and confidently.

Read the rest of this entry »

Buy to let was once the king of the investment portfolio, quite often a sure fire solid investment. As we have all seen the property market has changed, some say never to return to what we have seen in days gone by.

Read the rest of this entry »

Landlords and managing agents are now acting on the EPC requirements of the EPBD legislation ahead of the 1st October. We recently posted about Landlords EPC requirements and wanted to add further information in regard to what counts as marketing a property and what certain scenarios require.

As of the 1st October 2008; when as is usual a letting agent managing agent or landlord produces details for marketing purposes of the property which is being offered for rent it will often consist of information including:

Read the rest of this entry »

HIP-Consultant.co.uk have been providing EPCs for Landlords as the important date of the EPBD legislation nears i.e. 1st October 2008. We have been pleased to be able to help Landlords apply for energy saving grants to act on the recommendations within the Energy Performance Certificates for their rented properties.

Landlords are able to apply for energy efficiency grants/allowances and have been able to since the Landlord’s Energy Saving Allowance (LESA) scheme was introduced on 6th April 2004 and then 2 years later expanded upon. It will be of interest to see if the level of LESA applications rise due to the Energy Performance Certificates that Landlords will soon require and have to make available. See this post for more information for when Landlords must provide EPCs.

Read the rest of this entry »

From 1 October 2008 all homes being let will be required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

The complexities of this legislation seems yet to be fully understood by all and has promted us to expand our EPC FAQ page.

Some of the points of the legislation which I feel are paramount to Landlords are:
Read the rest of this entry »