If you have joined the ranks of an estimated £2.8m buy to let landlords in the UK, your property is an investment – probably one of the most valuable investments you are likely to make. It makes sense, therefore, to protect that investment with one of the wide range of products designed to provide the safeguards you need, according to the changing circumstances of your property holding. But before we actually look at some of the principal ways in which landlord insurance may continue to protect your property, let’s take a look at the different types of landlord there are in the UK. This is imp ..read more

Last month’s Spring Budget was billed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer as a “Budget for Long Term Growth”. Only time will tell whether it achieves that aim but, in the meantime, let’s look at just what the budget holds in store for landlords. Please note that this is based on the author’s current understanding and research and therefore should not be deemed as professional advice. Holiday lets Recent years have seen quite widespread criticism of the growing number of short-term holiday lets – especially in tourist hotspots. Some might argue that the favourable tax regime granted to landlords ..read more

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) branded the Spring Budget delivered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in March a “missed opportunity” for the housing sector. Let’s see whether the latest UK property news headlines paint a rosier picture. Renting set to boom as buying is even less affordable At an average of £290,000 last year, house prices in England have now reached more than eight times the average annual salary, revealed Landlord Today on the 26th of March. Yet the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has calculated that a common measure of affordability of housing is ..read more

Bad debts are the scourge of many a business – and, for landlords of course this takes the shape of rent arrears. Managing any rent arrears is important for the cashflow of any buy to let business and the bottom line of any profit you expect to make – an especially critical consideration at a time when changes in tax legislation and other government regulations are steadily squeezing your opportunities for running a viable business. So, what are some of the steps you might take to reduce the incidence of bad debts and rid yourself of the curse of rent arrears? They fall under two broad heading ..read more

If you are the landlord of buy to let property, what is likely to be one of your chief worries? If you are like the majority of landlords, this is likely to be a question of your tenants continuing to pay the rent when it falls due. Payment, after all, is not only a question of the tenancy agreement to which you are both signed up, but rental income is also something on which you are likely to rely in order to meet the costs of running your buy to let business – costs such as the monthly mortgage repayments, the let property insurance you need to protect the property, and the seemingly never-e ..read more

If you have decided to sell off your property portfolio, we have put together some quick tips to help you achieve your investment objectives. Assess your portfolio Begin by evaluating your entire property portfolio. Determine which properties you wish to sell and consider factors such as location, market value, rental income, and potential for appreciation. Get help Seek advice from estate agents – they can provide valuable insights into market conditions, pricing strategies, and the sales process. How many agents should I use? This really depends on what you feel comfortable with. An agent of ..read more

What are the current hot topics of UK property news? Let’s delve behind some of the headlines to find out. New attack on Airbnb landlords in Scotland – possible bin collection charges The government in Scotland already regulates Airbnb properties more stringently than elsewhere – these short-term lets must be appropriately licensed and their landlords may have to pay a higher rate of Council Tax and business rates. A story in Landlord Today recently suggests that those controls may be tightened still further. In a measure that some may see as purposely punitive, Edinburgh council has floated t ..read more

Unfortunately, no you cannot. If your tenants were forced to vacate your property as a result of an insured risk, your let property insurance may offer you contributions towards your loss of rental income and emergency accommodation expenses for your tenants. However, tenants fleeing leaving large rent arrears would not be covered under those clauses. Many landlord insurance policies, including those offered by Cover4LetProperty, include provisions for compensating for lost rental income. However, it’s important to understand that this compensation typically applies to income lost due to ..read more

We are pleased to accept a wide variety of payment methods, including some of the most popular in use today. That includes the following options: credit cards – carrying most of the major market brands (excluding American Express); bank debit cards – these essentially involve the payment coming directly out of your bank account; cheques. We recognise that in tough economic times, paying for your insurance premium in one go is not always easy. Many people may also try to regularise and manage their expenses to coincide as far as is possible with their income. That is why we may outline to you ..read more

Dealing with pests in a property can be a frustrating and sometimes alarming experience for landlords and tenants alike. From rodents to insects, pests can cause damage, health hazards, and discomfort. However, determining who is responsible for addressing pest issues in a rental property isn’t always straightforward. In this blog, we’ll explore the responsibilities of landlords and tenants regarding pest control. Understanding landlord responsibilities As the owner of the property, landlords have certain legal obligations when it comes to maintaining a safe and habitable living environment fo ..read more