News

“How many more times?” deposit campaigner asks after £200,000 fraud

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

A property campaigner has described the case of a letting agent only convicted of £200,000 of fraud involving deposits following a private prosecution after police decided not to investigate as “stunning and alarming”. A court heard Timothy Shinners of Bolton failed to place deposits in a Tenancy Deposit Scheme “time and t...

Revealed: The North East’s £19m council house repair bill

Friday, July 14, 2017

The 10,000 Tyne and Wear council houses which became vacant last year required £19m of improvements before they were in a fit state to rent again – with only £350,000 of costs recovered from the tenants who caused the damage. Freedom of Information requests from North East renting reform campaigner Ajay Jagota reveal Newcastle...

Questions to answer for “terrified” deposit scheme boss

Thursday, July 6, 2017

•     Property reform campaigner: “This isn’t a White Paper, it’s big business bully tactics”. •    Jagota tells Hooker: “I’ve answered your questions. Now it’s time for you to answer mine”. A leading property campaigner believes the boss of a tenancy deposit...

North East house prices up since Brexit vote

Thursday, July 6, 2017

•    Regional house prices down 0.4% on last month, but higher than they were at the time of the EU referendum •    Average home worth £669 less in June than in May •    Prices rise 2.1% in Cramlington, 2% in Jarrow and 1.6% in Whitley Bay, but fall 2.9% in South Shields and 2.6% in...

£5.8bn rental deposit bill by 2021, despite government cap plans

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

•    Major cities like London, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and Leeds to lose out on £3.1bn as one in four households to become privately rented. The amount of cash sitting in rental deposits is set to soar by 40% over the next 5 years – despite government plans to cap deposits announced in last week’s Que...

Letting Agent fee ban “could be here by the autumn”

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

•    Property campaigner: “Election result means ban could be here by autumn... it’s likely to be one of the few bits of legislation a minority government will be able to pass”.  The government has used this afternoon’s Queen’s Speech to confirm that letting agents fees will be banned in Eng...

“Powerless” new Housing Minister cannot fix housing crisis

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

•    Property campaigner: “It’s clear from history that if you want lasting change, you have to have a lasting housing minister” Alok Sharma MP is Britain’s latest Housing Minister – although yet another new minister is expected in August 2018. 15 MPs have now held the position of housing minis...

How much damage does a traditional tenancy deposit really cover?

Friday, June 9, 2017

New research reveals that traditional tenancy deposits barely cover the cost of the most common causes of damage to rented homes. A survey by interior design firm Hillarys suggests the main reasons for landlords or letting agents withholding deposits at the end of a tenancy are: •    Broken furniture – 29% •&nbs...

North East house prices strong and stable as General Election approaches – meaning good news for both the many and the few

Friday, June 2, 2017

•    Regional house prices practically unchanged over past four weeks – falling by 0.2%  •    Average property in the region now valued at £166,125 – 0.2% from April but up 5.8% year on year. •    Prices perform strongest this month in Easington (2.2%) and in Bly...

Everton top the Premier League of renting

Friday, May 26, 2017

•    Champions Chelsea relegated along with Arsenal and Spurs as Everton pip city rivals Liverpool to the title.... at least when it comes to returns for property investors •    New look Premier League table would see relegated Sunderland and Middlesbrough qualify for Europe. A new look Premier League whe...