In this episode of NRLA podcast Listen Up Landlords presenters NRLA CEO Ben Beadle (@BeadleBen) and Richard Blanco (@richardblanco_)  examine new research showing smaller landlords in the PRS contribute £45billion to the UK economy, and support almost 400,000 jobs. The report, by PwC, was commissioned by the NRLA in partnership with Paragon Bank and Ben and Richard are joined by Paragon’s Mortgages Managing Director, Richard Rowntree to discuss the findings, along with landlord Suzanne Smith of the Independent Landlord blog. Catherine Behdad, of the NRLA’s landlord support team, disc ..read more

In this episode of NRLA podcast Listen Up Landlords presenters NRLA CEO Ben Beadle (@BeadleBen) and Richard Blanco (@richardblanco_)  examine frustrations with local licensing schemes, and safety issues around ebikes and escooters that may be stored in your rental properties. Ben and Richard are joined by landlord Karen Gregory who has had to wait for years for one of her licensing applications to be processed, and Russell Moffatt, whose Metastreet software was developed to help local authorities process applications. With temperatures plummeting this month, Landlord Support Team leader D ..read more

In this episode of Listen Up Landlords, presenters NRLA Chief Executive Ben Beadle (@BeadleBen)  Richard Blanco (@richardblanco_)  welcome a panel of guests to look back over the last 12 months and forward to 2024. This was the year to Government finally published its Renters (Reform) Bill, at the same time as – following years of low interest rates – base rate hit 5.25% and average mortgage rates rose to well over 6%. The supply crisis in the Private Rented Sector has worsened, with latest figures from Zoopla indicating on average 25 people are looking at every available property to ..read more

In this episode of Listen Up Landlords, presenters NRLA Chief Executive Ben Beadle (@BeadleBen)  Richard Blanco (@richardblanco_)  shine the spotlight on the progress of the Renters (Reform) Bill, promising the biggest shake up of the PRS in decades. Ben and Richard are joined by Unipol chief executive Paddy Jackman, Tim Briggs, managing director of Legal Mentor and landlord Nick Duncan to discuss the very latest on the Bill’s progress through Parliament, and the potential implications for landlords. (Please note, the podcast was recorded just as the committee stage was com ..read more

In this episode of Listen Up Landlords, presenters NRLA Chief Executive Ben Beadle (@BeadleBen)  Richard Blanco (@richardblanco_)  look at the Government’s decision to abandon its plan to introduced a minimum EPC rating of C in rental homes. Ben and Richard talk to James Kent of NRLA compliance arm Safe2 about the decision and what it means, and to landlord Jill Lloyd who had already sold homes over fears they wouldn’t meet new standards, as well as paid for expensive improvements to others. Danny McKeown-Henshall of the NRLA Landlord Advice Team joins us for our regular update on th ..read more

In this episode of Listen Up Landlords, presenters NRLA Chief Executive Ben Beadle (@BeadleBen)  Richard Blanco (@richardblanco_)  look at the issue of pet friendly lets, and look ahead to Party Conference season, and the work the NRLA will be doing to represent landlords. We welcome Ben Parker, public affairs manager at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, to the show to discuss the challenges of pet friendly letting – as well as potential solutions – in light of the Government’s plans for rental reform. He is joined by Frances Boyt of ARLA Propertymark, giving the agents’ views on ..read more

In this episode of Listen Up Landlords, presenters NRLA Chief Executive Ben Beadle (@BeadleBen)  Richard Blanco (@richardblanco_)  look at the rising cost of building materials and the challenges in sourcing labourers for development and improvement works. The most recent data from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) shows that 87% of FMB members said the cost of materials has increased and 75% said that this would lead to an increase in the price they charge to the customer. More than half - 51% - said the lack of available labour had delayed jobs. Ben and Richard talk Jeremy Gr ..read more

In this episode of Listen Up Landlords, presenter Richard Blanco (@richardblanco_)  discusses NRLA calls to reverse the decision to freeze Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates – a move which has seen more and more tenants struggling to make ends meet. LHA rates are used to calculate benefit payments for housing costs. Historically rates were set at the average rental price for an area, with the sum regularly reviewed. However the rate was reduced to the 30th percentile in 2011. They were frozen between 2016 and 2020 when they were realigned to the 30th percentile once more at the outs ..read more

In this episode of Listen Up Landlords, presenter Richard Blanco (@richardblanco_)  is flying solo to examine the thorny issue of funding for building safety works.  In the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy new fire safety requirements have left tens of thousands of tower blocks across the country requiring vital remedial works, with the argument over who should fund these works still raging.   The Building Safety Act was intended to provide financial remedy for blocks of 11m or higher (so called ‘high-risk’ buildings).  In some cases, the developer is responsible for rect ..read more

In this edition of Listen Up Landlords presenters NRLA Chief Executive Ben Beadle (@BeadleBen) and Richard Blanco (@richardblanco_)  examine the recent Government announcements on anti-social behaviour and look at the latest advice when it comes to investing in property in turbulent economic times. Ben and Richard talk to landlord Alan Deeley, who used a Section 21 notice to regain possession of his property after suffering at the hands of anti-social tenants. With Section 21 to be abolished by Government as part of its rental reform plans, they ask whether new powers will go far eno ..read more