News items by Tag: News Category

London is world's fifth-dearest 'high end rent city'

London may routinely win the dubious race to be the most expensive place in the world to buy a home but when it comes to rental property, it comes only fifth.

ECA International, a body that analyses expenses associated with globe-trotting business executives, says high-end rents for an executive's typical apartment - three bedrooms, in a sought-after area of the capital - have risen about two per cent in London in the past year and now stand at £5,000 per month. 

Bedroom tax: Two thirds of affected households now in rent arrears

Two thirds of households hit by the bedroom tax have fallen into rent arrears, according to new research published today.

An Ipsos MORI survey of 183 housing associations carried out for the National Housing Federation found that 66% of their residents affected by the controversial policy are struggling to pay their rent, with more than a third (38%) reported to be in debt because they were unable to pay the bedroom tax. 

LHA tenants are being “misrepresented”

A property website specialising in LHA tenants says the current media rhetoric around tenants on benefits is stigmatising the LHA market.

DSSmove.co.uk, a website tenants searching for LHA properties, claims Channel 4’s controversial ‘Benefits Street’ and Fergus Wilson, the Kent-based professional landlord who recently announced that he will no longer be accept benefit tenants, are giving a heavily distorted impression of the market.

Serious rent arrears 'biggest risk to lettings market'

More than 67,000 rental households across the UK now owe more than two months’ rent according to LSL Property Services.

The firm’s quarterly rental market analysis, looking at October to December inclusive, shows that those in severe arrears rose 2,000 since the third quarter of 2013. Even so, the number of households in severe arrears is still 26 per cent below the rate a year ago. 

Rental price gap widens across London

Data from the new Move with Us Rental Index, which focuses on Greater London, has revealed that there is now a £4,411 gap in asking rents across the capital. 

The most expensive borough in November 2013 was Kensington and Chelsea at £5,438 per calendar month, and Bexley the cheapest at £1,027.