Graham Norwood

Topsham

Editor at LettingAgentToday

Editor at Landlord Today

Editor at Introducer Today

Journalist at Property Investor Today

Journalism, Topsham, F1, Food, Labradoodle Walking, Cinema - and a lot less besides…

Articles

Propertymark expands member helpline across all disciplines - Introducer Today

2 weeks ago | introducertoday.co.uk | Graham Norwood

Propertymark is expanding its helpline team to help members with regional and discipline-specific legislation. Open Monday to Friday, Propertymark’s member helplines are run by experienced teams who support members with day-to-day questions, helping to resolve queries and manage difficult situations. Taking over 20,000 calls a year across all topics, this knowledge is then distilled into FAQs and factsheets, which members can access 24/7 as part of their membership.
New mortgage for HMOs based on EPC rating and council licensing

2 weeks ago | introducertoday.co.uk | Graham Norwood

Specialist mortgage lender Pepper Money has launched its new product for Houses of Multiple Occupation. It will enable limited companies and landlords with at least 12 months of homeownership experience to mortgage or remortgage on new and existing HMO houses of up to six bedrooms, provided the property is appropriately licensed at the time of completion. Pepper says it’s responding to a gap in the specialist lending market for landlords looking to expand and diversify their portfolios.
Lender boosts shared ownership proposition by opening to more providers

2 weeks ago | introducertoday.co.uk | Graham Norwood

Newcastle for Intermediaries has extended its Shared Ownership proposition to offer the scheme through a panel of registered For-Profit Shared Ownership providers. The lender first introduced its Shared Ownership proposition to the market in 2022, offering a range of products that support first time buyers and other borrowers with limited affordability.
Society launches Rate Reducer products aimed at new-build buyers

2 weeks ago | introducertoday.co.uk | Graham Norwood

Darlington Building Society has launched a new suite of five-year fixed-rate products under the Own New Rate Reducer scheme, offering up to 95% LTV for new-build purchases. The products are available to a wide range of borrowers, including first-time buyers, skilled workers and those on visas.
Co-Op transfers mortgage portfolio containing mortgage prisoners

2 weeks ago | introducertoday.co.uk | Graham Norwood

It’s been reported over the weekend that the Co-Operative Bank is transferring a mortgage portfolio – which contains mortgage prisoners – to Topaz Finance. The FT reports that the portfolio at the Co-Op Bank, which was acquired by Coventry Building Society earlier this year, contains mortgage prisoners. These are borrowers unable to switch to a better deal, even if they are up to date with their payments, because their loan is in a closed book of an inactive firm.
Government refuses to reveal impact test of Renters Rights Bill on courts

2 weeks ago | landlordtoday.co.uk | Graham Norwood

A lettings industry supplier claims the government has refused to publish the Justice Impact Test for the Renters’ Rights Bill – a document the Bill’s impact on the courts and tribunals system. Reapit has been in correspondence with the government regarding the Renters’ Rights Bill and requested access to the relevant Justice Impact Tests.
Government in no rush to progress Renters Rights Bill

2 weeks ago | landlordtoday.co.uk | Graham Norwood

The government appears to be in no rush to make progress with the Renters Rights Bill – no space has been made for it in the House of Lords this week. The Bill completed its committee stage in the Lords on May 15, almost four weeks ago. The parliamentary process is that it then moves on to the Report stage: this is when all members of the Lords have a further opportunity to review and amend the Bill after it’s been amended at the committee stage.
Renters Rights Bill might destabilise housing market says data expert

2 weeks ago | lettingagenttoday.co.uk | Graham Norwood

A co-creator of the Halifax house price index is warning that Angela Rayner’s Renters Rights Bill could destabilise the housing market. Professor Joe Nellis, who is also an economic adviser at accountancy and advisory firm MHA, was speaking after his own index produced its most recent data, reflecting a dip in prices. Nellis comments: “The Halifax House Price Index has recorded a surprising 0.4% dip in UK house prices in May.
Miliband says solar panels to be mandatory on all new-build homes - Landlord Today

2 weeks ago | landlordtoday.co.uk | Graham Norwood

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband says the “vast majority” of new homes in England will have to carry rooftop solar panels from 2027. Details are to be released in the autumn. Speaking to the BBC, Miliband says the initiative is “just common sense” and the panels will save the typical household £500 a year on energy bills.
More than seven in 10 tenants don’t receive official How To Rent guide

2 weeks ago | lettingagenttoday.co.uk | Graham Norwood

A solicitors’ firm claims 72% of tenants did not receive the official government How To Rent scheme when they moved in. The survey by Birkenhead-based PHR Solicitors was relatively small – only 559 responses – but shows a strong majority of tenants not receiving the guide, despite this being mandatory at the start of a tenancy since 2015. The guide provides tenants with information about their rights and responsibilities as a renter, including the agent’s and/or landlord’s obligations.