http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/blog The LandlordZONE Weblog - news, economic and legal developments, current affairs and a knowledgebase for those involved with Rental Property, residential and commercial: Investors, Landlords, Property Managers, Letting and Estate Agents, Tenants and Professionals. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:36:53 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en A substantially slowing sales market has lead to many estate agents who have never before dealt with residential lettings to begin doing so in order to supplement their income. According to ARLA-registered Leaders – one of the UK’s largest independently owned letting specialists - this means there are now more novice ... http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/blog/press-releases/80-of-landlords-recognise-importance-of-arla-membership Unscrupulous landlords are to be driven out of Oxford by the creation of a public register displaying details of approved homes for rent. Chris Kearney, Oxford Mail - 17 July 2008 An increase in the number of landlords prosecuted by the city council in the past year for renting out unfit properties ... http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/blog/news/boot-out-the-rogue-landlords Part 1: Private Rented Housing’ At over GBP500 billion, the value of the Private Rented Sector now outstrips the total of all privately-owned commercial property, including offices, shops, hotels, factories, warehouses and leisure facilities. In a report for the Association of Residential Letting Agents, ARLA, published today, Monday 14 July, the Private ... http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/blog/press-releases/%e2%80%98the-modern-uk-housing-market-%e2%80%93-origins-and-prospects-private-rented-housing%e2%80%99 Rent-to-buy scheme to help first-time buyers and new local housing companies among a raft of measures announced today. Kate Ahira and Chloë Stothart, Building Magazine - 16 July 2008 Housing minister Caroline Flint will today announce a series of measures to support the ailing housing market in an attempt to keep government ... http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/blog/news/government-acts-to-help-housing-market Nearly nine out of ten (85%) private tenants are concerned over increases in domestic energy costs, while 42% claim to be very concerned, according to new research on current attitudes to energy efficiency, conducted by the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes (EEPH). Clearly feeling the squeeze, caused by rising energy costs, ... http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/blog/press-releases/energy-efficiency-is-a-major-factor-when-renting-property The Council of Mortgage Lenders has drawn up a blueprint to address the funding problems in the mortgage market. The idea, which has already been submitted to the Crosby review team and to the Treasury, is an innovative approach which helps the financial system to help itself. It could help ... http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/blog/press-releases/cml-urges-treasury-to-adopt-innovative-funding-solution The opportunity to join a select group of business leaders, parliamentarians, entrepreneurs and respected commentators on commerce in the UK was afforded to Jane Pickup, Managing Director of Style Counsel Interiors and Congleton Business Woman of the year following an invitation to an exclusive reception at the House of Commons. Attendance ... http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/blog/press-releases/house-of-commons-invitation-accepted-with-style Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are central to the US housing market Simon Atkinson, Business reporter, BBC News - 14 July 2008 When UK lender Northern Rock hit difficulties last year, the queues forming outside its branches across the UK provided a very visual image of the problems that it faced. A few ... http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/blog/news/the-importance-of-freddie-mac-and-fannie-mae Kate Barker believes that Britain should escape a recession such as those suffered in the early 1980s and early 1990s Gary Duncan, Economics Editor, The Times OnLine - 14 July 2008 The Bank of England must guard against keeping interest rates too high for too long and from tipping Britain's economy into ... http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/blog/news/the-bank-of-england-must-avoid-rate-overkill-says-kate-barker Last week the penny finally dropped about the housing market. The Halifax numbers were awful. A 2pc fall on the month was bad enough, but this came after earlier large falls. Roger Bootle, The Times OnLine - 14 July 2008 Over the past three months prices have fallen by almost 6pc - ... http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/blog/news/house-prices-could-fall-back-a-long-way-after-their-excessive-rises