Posts with tag: Just Landlords

Landlord protection is more necessary than ever as rent arrear cases rise in the UK

Published On: December 1, 2021 at 10:27 am

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Landlord protection is more necessary than ever as rent arrear cases rise in the UK

UK landlords are being urged to check that they have suitable financial protection for their property investments. This is following news of increased rent arrear cases.

Data from the Government shows that 7% of private renters in the UK were in arrears during April-May 2021. This is up from 3% in 2019-2020. Meanwhile, research conducted by BVA/BDRC for the NRLA reveals that 61% of landlords who had offered at least one tenant a rent-free or deferred rent period during the second quarter of the year absorbed the losses from their savings.

Landlord insurance provider Just Landlords highlights how vital suitable rent guarantee cover can be and comparing insurance products is key. Not compromising on the level of cover in favour of a lower price can help landlords find financial protection. Understanding the protection included with a policy can make it clear why one company may differ in price from another.

Just Landlords also points out that although some comprehensive landlord insurance products offer loss of rent protection, this might not provide the same cover as a separate rent guarantee insurance policy. The loss of rent and alternative accommodation cover included with its own Landlord Insurance may help if the property becomes uninhabitable. However, it isn’t applicable in the situation where a tenant can’t or won’t pay the rent.

Rent Guarantee Insurance for residential landlords

The specialist insurance provider noticed an increasing need for a rent guarantee product that can help in such situations. As such, it has launched a Landlord Legal & Rent Guarantee Insurance product for residential landlords, providing cover in four key areas*:

  • Rent arrears owed by a tenant,
  • Legal Defence,
  • Breach of tenancy agreement, and
  • Eviction

Landlords can tailor this product to suit their needs by selecting no excess, one month’s excess, or two months’ excess. A reduction in price is evident the more months’ excess that is opted for.

Sam Miles, Sales Director at Just Landlords, comments: “We know that at this time of year many landlords are looking to wind down for the festive period and are looking to sort any insurance renewals in the next few weeks. Compare products and rest assured the policy you have suits your needs, helping to keep your property and tenants safe.

“We believe our new Landlord Legal & Rent Guarantee Insurance is a strong product. We’re confident it can provide many landlords with suitable cover and help to provide peace of mind.”

*Policy limits and exclusions may apply, please see the policy wording for full terms and conditions.

Just Landlords is a trading name of Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Spectrum Building, 7th Floor, 55 Blythswood Street, Glasgow, G2 7AT. Registered in Scotland. Company Number: SC108909

Gas Safety Week – Five tips for landlords from Ideal Heating

Published On: September 16, 2020 at 8:13 am

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Categories: Landlord News,Lettings News

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Gas Safety Week

This week is the 10th anniversary of Gas Safety Week. During September every year, the Gas Safe Register works to raise awareness of gas safety in homes.

Just Landlords, the specialist landlord insurance provider, has updated its guide for landlords and tenants in order to help spread awareness across the UK.

Boiler supplier Ideal Heating has also provided the following five tips to help avoid unwanted breakdowns:

1. Get annual checks by a Gas Safe registered engineer 

  • Your gas appliances need a safety check every year – failing to correctly maintain your appliance could lead to serious problems including carbon monoxide poisoning
  • When having your service done, only use Gas Safe Registered engineers. This includes when installing any appliances too. Make sure you insist on seeing their Gas Safe ID card
  • This responsibility falls to landlords for appliances that are provided by you. Keep track of your Gas Safety Records and ensure gas appliances, fittings and chimneys are safe (in line with the Gas Safety Regulations 1998). If tenants have their own gas appliances in the rented property it is their responsibility to ensure that they are regularly maintained and serviced
  • Always ensure that your Gas Safe engineer has a copy of the manufacturer’s instructions and services your appliance in accordance with these. Your appliance manufacturer will be able to help if you don’t have a copy

2. Never block the ventilation around your appliance 

  • A lack of ventilation around appliances, whether indoors or outdoors can lead to a build-up on carbon monoxide
  • Ensure any gas appliances have good ventilation and are used in the intended way

3. Get a carbon monoxide detector and test it regularly

  • Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in your property/ies. Early warnings can save lives!
  • It’s also important to be aware of the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Encourage your tenants to know the symptoms which include, headaches, dizziness, nausea, tiredness, and breathlessness. (Think about whether symptoms improve when you leave the house – are others in the home suffering similar symptoms?)

4. Test your CO alarm regularly and check that it is still within the expiry date printed on the alarm

  • Encourage your tenants to check appliances for warning signs! If appliances have a pilot light, do you have to relight it? If so you should get your appliance checked 
  • If you see yellow, lazy flames on your gas hob, rather than the usual blue ones, your hob needs to be checked immediately
  • Any staining or excessive soot build up on or around appliances might also signal problems
  • Is your appliance performing differently to normal or displaying fault lights or codes? Time for a Gas Safe registered engineer to check it
  • Check when you last had your gas appliance serviced and ensure you regularly have it maintained
  • All other fuel-burning appliances (e.g log burning stoves) should also be checked and maintained by qualified engineers

You can find further advice on the Gas Safe Register website: www.gassaferegister.co.uk/help-and-advice.

Chris Jessop, Customer Services Director Ideal Heating, comments: “Many people do not take gas safety seriously enough. Neglecting to follow guidance on checks and maintenance can be life-threatening and so initiatives like Gas Safety Week are massively important in helping protect people, homes, and workplaces.

“At Ideal Heating, we place huge importance into making sure staff are fully trained and up to date on the latest best practise. The safety of our customers is paramount and we work closely with Gas Safe Register in support of their initiatives throughout our normal working practices every day.”

Problems with gas in a home can cause serious health issues concern which might even be a threat to life. Getting your appliances checked regularly can help to prevent this.

You can enter your postcode here to see reported gas threats in your area: www.staygassafe.co.uk/.

Expectations for changes to the private rental sector in 2020

Published On: January 3, 2020 at 10:28 am

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Categories: Landlord News

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changes to the private rental sector in 2020

As we enter a new year (and a new decade!), specialist landlord insurance provider Just Landlords has collated a list of the biggest changes it expects to see for the private rental sector (PRS).

Here’s a summary of what is likely to be just around the corner for landlords, letting agents and tenants:

  1. Section 21 – Abolishing this as an option for landlords looking to evict their tenants will mean big reforms to the Housing Act.
  2. EPC law – As of 1st April, landlords will need to ensure the properties of all private tenancy lets have an Energy Performance Certificate rating of E or higher.
  3. Grenfell Tower – All building types are under scrutiny, including those in the PRS, to make sure we’re doing all we can to avoid such a devastating event happening again.
  4. Rent controls – There has been a mixed reaction to this suggestion, so we’ll see if it comes up again in 2020.
  5. Mandatory three-year tenancies – The initial proposal was not well-received, but will we hear more on the matter? It has to be said that some would benefit from the option of a three-year contract.
  6. Rogue landlord database – Will tenants and prospective tenants finally be able to access this database to help avoid falling victim to rogue landlords?
  7. Landlord taxes – Already an issue driving many from the market, will our current Conservative government lessen the burden or increase it?
  8. Brexit – Are you as fed up with this portmanteau as we are? We’re Brired of Brearing about it… The official deadline is 31st January, so 2020 will be the first year we feel the effects of whatever decision is made.
  9.  Lifetime Rental Deposits – This one could really make a difference to the ease of renting for all involved. We hope the Government turns its attention to this sooner rather than later!

Em Morley, spokesperson for Just Landlords, comments: “We say these are our expectations, rather than predictions, as this is the least we’re expecting from the Government and local authorities.

“Progress is vital for the sector, as it’s about more than the businesses of landlords and letting agents. It’s also about the supply of safe, comfortable and affordable housing needed in the UK.”

Read Just Landlords’ full article on their blog.

Have you Entered Just Landlords’ New Year Competition?

Published On: January 24, 2019 at 10:58 am

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There’s only a week to go until Just Landlords’ latest giveaway ends, so now is the time to enter, if you haven’t already!

This is your chance to win a NutriBullet Balance Smart Food blender, worth £149.99, and get 2019 off to a healthy start. These blenders are not only great for making soups, smoothies and sauces, but can also connect to your smartphones, via an app, to tell you the nutritional content of whatever you add to it. Sticking to that healthier lifestyle could not be any easier, with one of these in your kitchen!

For those of you who don’t already know, here’s what you need to do to enter:

  • Head to Facebook or Twitter
  • Like/follow the Just Landlords page
  • Comment with the hashtag #JLNewYear on the pinned competition post
  • Like and share the pinned competition post

Once you have followed those instructions, you will be entered into the giveaway. Just Landlords will be selecting a winner at random, from all who have successfully followed all of the steps, as specified in the terms and conditions for the competition. 

It is definitely worth giving this one a go, as it’s so easy to enter. However, if this prize does not interest you, there is no need to feel disappointed. This is Just Landlords’ first giveaway of the year, and the Landlord Insurance providerhas plans for many more to come in 2019. Be sure to follow them across all of their social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn), to ensure that you don’t miss out. We will also continue to keep you updated on the latest Just Landlords competitions.

You have until 4:30PM on Thursday 31st January to enter, and the winner is due to be announced on Friday 1st February.

The full terms and conditions can be read here: https://www.justlandlords.co.uk/news/new-year-2019-competition-terms-conditions/.

Just Landlords’ New Year Competition – Win a NutriBullet Balance Smart Food Blender

Published On: January 14, 2019 at 10:01 am

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Categories: Property News

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If, like us, you are excited by the prospect of “New Year, new you”, then you’ll be interested in our sister company’s latest competition.

Just Landlords is giving away a NutriBullet Balance Smart Food Blender, over on Facebook and Twitter, as a way to help one lucky follower kick-start their plans to develop a healthier lifestyle.

These blenders are a great way of creating healthy smoothies to drink on the go, packed with fresh ingredients. They are perfect for those who like to know exactly what’s going into the food they are eating, or those fussy eaters who want to make specific ingredient combinations.

This blender is particular special, as it can detect the nutritional value of all the ingredients you put into it, such as protein, fat and carbs, as well as the overall calorie content. It can then connect to your smartphone, via the NutriBullet Balance app, to send over this information for you to track.

Just Landlords could not have made this competition any easier to enter; anyone on social media will be able to give it a go. To enter, head over to the Just Landlords Twitter or Facebook page, give them a follow, like the pinned post and comment with the hashtag #JLNewYear.

With the readers for both Landlord News and Just Landlords consisting of a mix of property professionals and tenants, this prize could benefit someone in more ways than one. As well as using the blender for yourself, it could make a great addition to a landlord’s let, if they are interested in furnishing the property to a high-end standard.

The competition began on 2ndJanuary, and will be running until the end of the month, so you still have plenty of time to enter.

The winner is due to be announced on Friday 1st February, so you will want to keep an eye on social media posts from Just Landlords on that day!

The terms and conditions for the competition can be read here: https://www.justlandlords.co.uk/news/new-year-2019-competition-terms-conditions/

The Team is Back in London for the Landlord Investment Show!

Published On: June 13, 2017 at 9:49 am

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Thursday (15th June) will see the Landlord News team join our partner Just Landlords in London for the Landlord Investment Show.

The Landlord Investment Show is hosting its 48th event this week at the London Olympia, and it’s set to be bigger and better than ever!

Our writers Rose and Ryan will be on the stand with Landlord Insurance expert Just Landlords to discuss the latest landlord updates and all of the wonderful, free content you can receive by signing up to Landlord News.

We will have our essential landlord factsheets on the stand for all of those that sign up to Landlord News on the day – so don’t forget to put your email address down!

Come and pick up one of our handy folders

Come and pick up one of our handy folders

We are also giving away our much-loved key rings and handy portable phone chargers, which always go down a treat.

Just Landlords is available to go through its award-winning Landlord Insurance options, and show you how easy it is to get instant online quotes and cover.

If you don’t yet have your free tickets for the event, get them by clicking here: http://www.landlordinvestmentshow.co.uk/olympia

The day will be packed out with industry experts and the chance to network with fellow landlords.

Over 100 leading suppliers of buy-to-let services, including Just Landlords, will be exhibiting on the day to show you how they can help grow your lettings business.

The Landlord Investment Show is also hosting one of its largest seminar programmes to date on Thursday, with more than 40 speaker sessions.

At the end of the day, an expert property panel will take place, featuring the former secretary of state for work and pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, and the Economics Editor of The Sunday Times since 1989, David Smith.

As ever, we are really looking forward to meeting more London landlords and showing them how Landlord News can help them keep up to date with all of the goings on in the property market – come along!