A letting agent was recently dismissed after reportedly making a derogatory comment about tenants on benefits. The incident reflects a negative view that still exists in parts of the rental market, but it also shows the reputational and legal risks of judging applicants by their income source rather than their individual circumstances. Tenants who receive benefits are not one uniform group. They may be working and receiving Universal Credit to top up a low income, living with

Selling a rental property does not always mean asking the tenants to leave. You can sell with tenants in situ, which means the buyer takes ownership of the property and becomes the tenants’ new landlord. Indeed, one property firm says 40% of landlord sales it deals with involve sitting tenants. This approach can offer a quicker and less disruptive exit, particularly when selling to another property investor. It also allows you to continue receiving rent during the sales proce

Researchers at the University of Sheffield have developed a new mapping tool designed to help councils identify areas with a high likelihood of substandard private rented homes. The Non-Decent Index uses housing, census and EPC data to predict where homes are most likely to fail the Decent Homes Standard and councils could use it to target inspections and communications, rather than relying only on tenant complaints. If you manage high quality rental properties, this is not s

Most tenancy problems don’t start six months in. They start in the first week. A rushed move-in, unclear expectations and even just one unanswered email can turn a good tenancy into a fractious relationship from the start. If you want fewer disputes and fewer negative reviews, concentrate on making the first 30 days a success. Here’s a practical framework you can run across your managed stock. Why the first 30 days matter more than you think Tenants form a first impression of

Letting agents handle large payments, sensitive documents and time-pressured transactions. That makes you a prime target for cybercriminals. Most attacks are not clever hacks; they are scams that rely on urgency and distraction. This article explains the common forms of cybercrime in lettings and how to prevent them. Here are the scams you will see most often, plus practical ways to stop them. 1) Invoice and bank detail change scams How it works A criminal pretends to be a l

A survey found that 41% of tenants feel more positive about renting than they used to. This can help you improve landlord services to meet the needs of your tenants.