David P. Callaghan

3 days ago | thenegotiator.co.uk | David P. Callaghan

A total of 40 landlords have joined forces with a letting agency in its legal action over “extortionate” licensing fees. Martin & Co is leading the fight against Leicester Council for what it is calling an “astonishing £1,290 per property” charge in selective licensing areas. The agency is being helped by JMP Solicitors from nearby Grantham in the effort to ensure the fees are “fair, transparent, and lawful”.

3 days ago | thenegotiator.co.uk | David P. Callaghan

For most conveyancing firms, estate agents are more than just introducers – they’re the lifeblood of the business. In fact, over 80% of instructions come via estate agents for many firms. That’s why it’s absolutely essential for conveyancers to prioritise delivering outstanding customer service to the agents they work with. At a time when buying or selling a home remains one of the most stressful life events, estate agents and conveyancers need to operate as a cohesive team.

4 days ago | thenegotiator.co.uk | David P. Callaghan

Nearly half of all landlords are planning to put the rent up ahead of the Renters’ Rights Bill becoming law as expected later this year. Buy-to-let lender Landbay found that 44% of buy-to-let property owners want to raise rents before the bill is enacted. Most likelyLandlords with portfolios of between four and 10 properties are most likely to increase their rent (32%), closely followed by those with between 16 and 30 properties (28%), Landbay says.

4 days ago | thenegotiator.co.uk | David P. Callaghan

Tenant campaigners claim renters have saved almost a billion pounds in estate agent charges since the Tenant Fees Act came into force six years ago. Pressure group Generation Rent says £889 million has been saved in fees that became illegal under the act. In the year before the ban came into force in 2019, the group says 45% of the 1.05 million tenants who moved home were charged fees, at an average of £269 per household.

5 days ago | thenegotiator.co.uk | David P. Callaghan

Many second home and holiday let owners are avoiding draconian council tax charges by ‘flipping’ their properties onto the business rates list, Colliers claims. By limiting the time a property is rented out, an owner can pay business rates instead of council tax and claim relief. And the incentive to ‘dodge’ tax this way is greater now many local councils are charging double council tax on second properties.