The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) branded the Spring Budget delivered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in March a “missed opportunity” for the housing sector. Let’s see whether the latest UK property news headlines paint a rosier picture.

Renting set to boom as buying is even less affordable

At an average of £290,000 last year, house prices in England have now reached more than eight times the average annual salary, revealed Landlord Today on the 26^th of March.

Yet the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has calculated that a common measure of affordability of housing is just five times a buyer’s annual income.

The discrepancy leads the article to argue that the unaffordable high price of buying heralds a boom in renting.

In support of its argument, Landlord Today points out that:

• unsurprisingly, the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is the place where homes are least affordable – more than 34 times average incomes;

• even in the more affordable region of Wales, buyers would need more than six times their annual income to buy a home – again, well above the ONS measure of affordability;

• since 1997, average salaries have doubled – but house prices have shot up by more than four and half times; and

• a first-time buyer in full-time employment would need to spend around 14 times their annual salary to buy their home – yet anyone spending more than a quarter of their take-home pay on the mortgage is judged to be at risk of arrears in repayments.

Huge contribution landlords make to UK economy revealed

In an article on the 25^th of March, the Buy Association cited reports calculating that landlords comprising the private rented sector contribute some £45 billion to the UK economy.

In England and Wales, the biggest part (80%) of that contribution comes from medium and small property owners with fewer than 15 let properties. They account for some 3.8 million dwellings in the private rented sector which comprises a total of some 4.8 million properties.

It is not only a financial contribution since these owners of buy to let property sustain 390,000 jobs – either directly employed or those working in the industry’s supply chain.

Study says: “UK property offers the worst value for money in the developed world”

Citing studies by the Resolution Foundation, the US media channel Bloomberg on the 24^th of March slammed housing in the UK as some of the worst value in the developed world.

It reported that homes in the UK are not only older than those in other parts of the world but are also smaller – even “more cramped” than the average apartment in New York, says the article.

The problem of housing the UK’s population is rising up the political agenda insists the Resolution Foundation because rocketing prices mean that many younger people continue to struggle to get a first foot on the housing ladder.

What’s the average UK energy bill and how can I save money?

In its latest study of domestic energy bills, on the 22^nd of March, the online listings website Rightmove updated the current average costs.

Examples of the findings are as follows:

• 2-bedroomed flat – annual average bills range from £845 for the most energy-efficient dwelling to £4,737 to the least efficient;

• 3-bedroomed semi-detached house – from £1,187 to £6,279;

• 3-bedroomed detached house – from £1,193 to £9,143; and

• 4-bedroomed detached house – from £1,440 to £10,130.

If you are a householder looking to save money on those energy bills you might want to consider measures such as improving the insulation of your home, installing a smart thermostat, adjusting the flow temperature on any combi-boiler, requesting a smart meter from your energy supplier, and remembering to close the curtains or blinds at night.

Further reading: How to save even more money on your energy costs.

Bad debts are the scourge of many a business – and, for landlords of course this takes the shape of rent arrears.

Managing any rent arrears is important for the cashflow of any buy to let business and the bottom line of any profit you expect to make – an especially critical consideration at a time when changes in tax legislation and other government regulations are steadily squeezing your opportunities for running a viable business.

So, what are some of the steps you might take to reduce the incidence of bad debts and rid yourself of the curse of rent arrears? They fall under two broad headings – prevention and eviction:

Prevention

• prevention, of course, is much better than having to find the cure for rent arrears;
• that means exercising particular care in your selection of tenants by insisting on taking up references and conducting proof of income checks by way of payslips or a certified bank statement on the prospective tenant’s account;
• references from friends of the tenant are obviously less reliable than from, say, their employer or, even better, from a previous landlord;
• when evaluating the references, of course, your main aim is to try and establish that they are indeed able to afford the rent and that their past record suggests they are not going to fall into arrears;
• this takes a fair degree of judgment on your part, which is likely to stand you in better stead the more experienced you are in doing it;
• especially if you are relatively new to the buy to let business, therefore, you might want to use a professional reference checking service – if you are using a Lettings Agency, they can do this on your behalf;
• if any doubts arise during the reference checking process, you might want to insist on the tenant providing a guarantor – preferably a home owner themselves and certainly one with a UK address;
• if you go down this route, make absolutely certain that the guarantor is fully aware of their responsibilities and obligations in that role in the event of your tenant defaulting on rental payments;

Rent guarantee insurance

• as part of your preventive or defence strategy, you might also want to consider the inclusion of rent guarantee insurance in your wider landlord insurance policy;
• just as the name suggests, the cover provides compensation – up to a maximum amount, for a given period – if your tenant defaults on the rent or does a moonlight flit;
• it comes packaged with legal protection insurance – to cover the costs of any legal action you may need to pursue to evict the tenant concerned. IMPORTANT: Please note that to enjoy the benefits of a rent guarantee policy, you must obtain one Credit Agency Reference (from a reputable Credit Reference Agency) and at least one satisfactory written character reference for each tenant. Failure to do so will render any claim invalid;

Eviction

• at the first sign of any rental arrears, it is important that you talk to your tenant about them – and this relies on your having maintained a reasonable channel of communication and a good landlord tenant relationship from the beginning of the tenancy;
• the relevant legislation requires that you give the tenant every opportunity to clear the arrears – by attempting to agree a payment plan, perhaps;
• this might include coming to an agreement that any housing benefit to which the tenant is entitled is paid directly to you;
• it might also be the time for you to contact anyone who has stood as guarantor for the tenant and to put recovery of the outstanding rent into action by that means;
• if your efforts to recover any arrears from your tenant have failed, you are likely to want to take possession of your let property once again by serving one of two notices defined in law, before attempting to recover the outstanding arrears;
• a section 21 notice may be served for any reason and gives you automatic repossession of your property, but may only be used once the fixed term of an assured shorthold tenancy agreement has expired;
• a section 8 notice may be served for any reason given under the relevant legislation – including failure to pay the rent (with arrears that are longer than two months) and anti-social behaviour;
• in all cases you must give your tenant written notice, usually at least 2 months, of your intention to regain possession;
• if the tenant then refuses to leave the property, an order for eviction may need to be given by the courts and, if you served a section 8 notice, the court may also order the tenant to repay any outstanding rent at that time;
• failing that, you may need to consider legal action to recover the arrears, relying upon your legal protection insurance to cover the costs and your rent guarantee protection to compensate for arrears that have not been recovered through the courts.

Rent arrears are a curse for any landlord, but, having done your best to prevent their arising in the first place, rent guarantee and legal protection insurance may help you avoid the full extent of any loss.

Note: This information is based on current law as at April 2024, but may change. Please always seek professional advice.

If you are the landlord of buy to let property, what is likely to be one of your chief worries? If you are like the majority of landlords, this is likely to be a question of your tenants continuing to pay the rent when it falls due.

Payment, after all, is not only a question of the tenancy agreement to which you are both signed up, but rental income is also something on which you are likely to rely in order to meet the costs of running your buy to let business – costs such as the monthly mortgage repayments, the let property insurance you need to protect the property, and the seemingly never-ending requirement for maintenance and upkeep.

Indeed, your entire livelihood may depend on the collection of that rent and there may be many landlords who rely on such income as their pension.

That is why you may wish to consider residential let legal expenses and optional rent protection – you can find out more here.

What recourse might you have, therefore, if your tenants fail to pay their rent and slip into arrears and you don’t have rent guarantee insurance?

Let them know

• it might seem an obvious course of action, since most tenants are going to know full well when they have fallen behind with the rent;

• but it important you let your tenant know that you are aware they are slipping behind with the rent;

• you might want to avoid appearing too threatening at this stage, since there may be any number of reasons why the tenant has temporary difficulties in paying the rent and your aim, after all, is simply to ensure that you are paid what you are due, remaining on the best possible terms with your tenant;

Your records

• similarly important – and something that might seem too obvious to mention – is your need to keep a careful record of when rent is due, when it is paid and when it is not;

• if subsequent action comes down to the wire of your considering legal action to recover outstanding rent, then your written records are clearly going to count for a great deal;

Demand action

• if your tenant has not responded to your letter notifying him that rent is due or has failed to answer your telephone calls, it may be time to up the ante and send a letter by recorded delivery demanding that all rent due is paid;

Is there a guarantor?

• the Consumers’ Association’s magazine Which? suggests that you might also follow up your demand for outstanding rent with any rent guarantor – once again, this needs to set out precisely how much rent is due and for what period, explaining some of the consequences for the guarantor if the rent is still not paid;

The two-month milestone

• if your tenant has still not paid the rent within two months of it falling due, you have the legal right to recover possession of your property under Section 8 of the Housing Act 1988;

• this is effectively an eviction notice on the grounds of non-payment of rent and something you might want to keep up your sleeve only as a last resort;

• legal proceedings such as this always involve costs, although these, together with the rent you are due are going to be awarded by the courts if you succeed in your action;

With the best will in the world, even the best tenants may default on their rent from time to time, in the event of their finding it genuinely difficult or impossible to pay. How far you are prepared to press for payment of what is due may call for a fine judgment as to the potential costs and hassle, compared to the actual debt outstanding and your assessment of the tenant’s finally paying.

Instead of pursuing court action, for instance, you might decide to support your tenant through their current financial difficulties on the understanding that the problems are essentially temporary.

You might offer further help by proposing a plan by which the tenant may pay off outstanding rent in instalments, thus spreading the burden of repayment.

Or, you might also want to suggest to your tenant that they consider applying for housing support if their circumstances suggest that meeting their rental obligations is likely to be a longer term problem.

Note: This information is based on current law as at April 2024, but may change. Please always seek professional advice.

If you have decided to sell off your property portfolio, we have put together some quick tips to help you achieve your investment objectives.

Assess your portfolio

Begin by evaluating your entire property portfolio. Determine which properties you wish to sell and consider factors such as location, market value, rental income, and potential for appreciation.

Get help

Seek advice from estate agents – they can provide valuable insights into market conditions, pricing strategies, and the sales process.

How many agents should I use?

This really depends on what you feel comfortable with.

An agent offered a sole agency, for example, may be able to quote a cheaper rate of commission in the property is sold within the term of your contract with them – typically a period of between 8 and 12 weeks. If you make the wrong appointment, however, you are effectively stuck with that agent for the duration of the contract – and if any property in your portfolio is sold by another agent during this period, you still need to pay the sole agent’s commission.

The multi-agency approach allows competition between those agents you choose to instruct and the commission is paid only to the agent who successfully sells your property – so rates of commission tend to be higher.

You might want to beware of instructing too many agents, however, since a proliferation of marketing attempts for the same property may give buyers the impression that you are desperate to sell – and the offers you receive are likely to reflect that impression.

Prepare your properties

Prepare your properties for sale by ensuring they are in good condition and making any necessary repairs or upgrades to enhance their appeal to potential buyers. Consider staging the properties to showcase their full potential.

Set a competitive price

Determine the asking price for each property based on its market value, comparable sales in the area, and your financial goals. Price your properties competitively to attract potential buyers and maximise your return on investment.

Viewings

• if you have a whole portfolio of properties on the market, you are unlikely to want – or even have the time for – managing viewings entirely on your own;

• indeed, this is a valuable part of the service likely to be offered by any estate agent worth his salt;

• nevertheless, remember that you still have an interest in making the agent’s job as easy as possible and granting viewings to suit their schedule rather than your own – the agent still needs to be able to communicate with you;

Offers

• one point that is especially relevant, of course, once offers start to come in;

• the agent’s job involves rather more than simply receiving an offer and passing it on to you – there is a lot of information, relevant to the buyer’s ability to pay and when the sale might be completed, which you need the agent to collect on your behalf;

• although you may reasonably expect your estate agent to play an active part in negotiating with potential buyers, beware of granting any permission for the agent to reveal how much you might be prepared to accept as a purchase price – it is likely to be used by the buyer as the new negotiating price;

Manage the sales process

Throughout the sales process, stay organised and proactive in managing the sale of your property portfolio. Keep track of important deadlines, paperwork, and communication with buyers, agents, and other parties involved in the transaction.

Scruples

• one final decision might be seen as testing your scruples as a property dealer;

• once an offer has been made and accepted, do you then withdraw the property or properties from the market or stand by the principle that nothing is certain until contracts have been exchanged in the hope of receiving a higher bid? The choice is yours of course.

The sale of a property portfolio is not something you are likely to want – or are capable of – taking on by yourself. If you intend seeking the relevant professional help of an estate agent or agents, you might want to keep in mind some of these tips and suggestions.

What are the current hot topics of UK property news? Let’s delve behind some of the headlines to find out.

New attack on Airbnb landlords in Scotland – possible bin collection charges

The government in Scotland already regulates Airbnb properties more stringently than elsewhere – these short-term lets must be appropriately licensed and their landlords may have to pay a higher rate of Council Tax and business rates. A story in Landlord Today recently suggests that those controls may be tightened still further.

In a measure that some may see as purposely punitive, Edinburgh council has floated the idea of charging Airbnb landlords for their rubbish bin collections. It is argued that tenants of such short-term lets tend to generate higher volumes of household refuse.

Average rent in the UK: February 2024

The online property listings website Zoopla published its annual round-up of the UK rental market on the 12^th of February.

The principal takeaways from the site’s overview included the following:

• average rents in the UK have risen by 8.3% in the past 12 months – an annual increase of £1,100 or an additional £90 a month compared with a year ago;

• putting that 8.3% growth into perspective, however, it still represents a slowing of the inflationary trend of rent increases – last year saw a drop from an 11.4% increase to the current 8.3%;

• across the UK as a whole, the average rent currently stands at £1,220 per month – with a range from £2,119 in London to £695 in the northeast of England;

• despite the rent controls that are in force there, Scotland registers the highest rate of increase in rents;

• London – where rents are already so high, they have effectively reached a rental ceiling – records the slowest rate of growth in the past 12 months;

• as the cost of living crisis continues to challenge the affordability of rents, Zoopla forecasts a continuation of the downward trend in the levels of rent increases.

Fundamental interventions needed to correct housebuilding

Citing a recent report by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Propertymark on the 26^th of February pointed to some of the issues currently hampering the competitiveness of the housebuilding industry.

The CMA looked to address shortcomings it has identified in the quality of housing that is being built, the efficiency of land management, the role of local authorities as they oversee the production of housing in their respective areas, and the ability of the housebuilding industry to innovate.

The report highlights an industry in which speculative private development predominates within an environment shaped by unpredictable and complicated planning regulations. Together, these create long-term obstacles to housebuilding output in the UK.

Checklist of what to look out for when viewing an older property to buy

If you are thinking of buying an older property, the Daily Mail on the 26^th of February suggested some of the things you might want to consider:

• older properties will require more repairs and maintenance – their upkeep will be more expensive;

• despite their appealing appearance, many older properties come with unwanted issues that can prove expensive to remedy – thorough inspection and investigation are essential before you buy;

• although you might be breathing new life into old homes, their repair and upkeep are likely to require specialist tradesmen such as electricians, plumbers, and roofers;

• look out for potential structural issues, infestations by pests or rodents, troublesome roofs, mildew and mould, and the likely difficulties in extending storage space in quirkily designed period homes.

A quarter of buyers “bribed” sellers to secure a purchase reveals survey

A story in Estate Agent Today on the 28^th of February illustrated how the current housing market strengthens any seller’s hand.

It revealed that as many as one in four buyers have been prepared to “bribe” the vendor by offering all manner of inducements – from cash to payments in kind.

In a survey of more than 1,000 transactions, 89% of purchasers confessed that the sweeteners they offered the vendor led to success. The most common bribes related to a quick purchase being available (28%) because of the absence of any chain or the fact that they were a cash buyer (24%) prepared to offer proof of the funds available.

Cash backhanders, a free meal and baked goods were also offered.

Unfortunately, no you cannot. If your tenants were forced to vacate your property as a result of an insured risk, your let property insurance may offer you contributions towards your loss of rental income and emergency accommodation expenses for your tenants.

However, tenants fleeing leaving large rent arrears would not be covered under those clauses.

Many landlord insurance policies, including those offered by Cover4LetProperty, include provisions for compensating for lost rental income. However, it’s important to understand that this compensation typically applies to income lost due to severe insured events, such as a significant fire or flood rendering your property temporarily uninhabitable and unrentable pending repairs.

The cover for loss of rental income is usually limited, either by a specified time period or a predetermined amount, often calculated as a percentage of the total sum insured under your primary landlord insurance policy.

It’s crucial to note that these compensation provisions do not cover instances where:

• tenants withhold rent due to disputes with you as the landlord;
• tenants accrue rental arrears due to reasons such as accidents, illnesses, pregnancy, unemployment, or redundancy;
• tenants abscond, leaving behind unpaid rent;
• you are unable to recover unpaid rent from a deposit held by a registered deposit protection company, even after attempting to do so.

Therefore, your landlord insurance typically does not offer recourse for recovering rent arrears. Rent guarantee insurance, however, is a separate product that you can purchase alongside your landlord insurance. In the event of a tenant falling into arrears or vacating the property, rent guarantee insurance serves as your primary means of defence.

Optional insurance options – Residential let legal expenses and optional rent protection

At Cover4LetProperty we are pleased to offer optional, additional cover to your let insurance property.

Our landlord legal protection insurance provides you with comprehensive cover for your legal costs (up to set amounts) at what we believe is a competitive price, offering you peace of mind.

Additionally, our rent guarantee insurance offers reassurance should your tenant defaults on rent payments or absconds, by providing compensation up to specified limits.

Key benefits of our residential let legal expenses and optional rent protection insurance policies include:

• available as a standalone policy to complement existing residential let property insurance cover;
• cover for loss of rent up to monthly policy limits or until vacant possession is obtained;
• reimbursement for lost salary or wages incurred while attending court or tribunal hearings as a witness or defendant, subject to policy limits;
• legal costs covered for exercising your rights to evict individuals not authorised to be on the property, excluding tenants with permission;
• cover applicable to all residential tenant types, including flats;
• our policies not only compensate for lost rental income but also offer generous legal protection cover, including legal costs (up to set limits) associated with recovering rental arrears from tenants awaiting eviction or those who have absconded.

Investing in our residential let legal expenses and optional rent protection insurance ensures you are prepared for unforeseen circumstances and protects your interests as a landlord.

How can I make sure my tenant pays the rent?

Although there is no guaranteed method of avoiding such things happening, it is always highly advisable to move quickly to deal with any non or late payment of rent. Whatever might have been the case in the past, today tenant eviction can be undertaken relatively quickly and smoothly – providing you make sure you comply with all required legal processes.

You should never, of course, use any form of direct or indirect threat with your tenants, unless it conforms to the law.

For example, formally notifying them of your intention to seek an eviction notice might be considered to be legal at the appropriate stage. By contrast, refusing to attend to an emergency repair until they paid your rent arrears might not be legal.

We are pleased to accept a wide variety of payment methods, including some of the most popular in use today.

That includes the following options:

• credit cards – carrying most of the major market brands (excluding American Express);
• bank debit cards – these essentially involve the payment coming directly out of your bank account;
• cheques.

We recognise that in tough economic times, paying for your insurance premium in one go is not always easy. Many people may also try to regularise and manage their expenses to coincide as far as is possible with their income.

That is why we may outline to you, offers and opportunities for paying your premium through what are effectively instalments.

Note that if you do use any form of credit facility in order to pay insurance premiums, you may incur various forms of interest rate and funding charges. In some cases, the providers of credit may also wish to perform a credit reference check on you before advancing you any of their facilities.

We wish to make clear that we are not qualified to offer you financial advice. However, it might typically be more cost-effective to pay your premiums in one go rather than to borrow money and pay interest on that borrowing.

If you have an alternative payment option you would like to discuss with us, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Where it is humanly possible to do so, we will always try to be flexible to accommodate our customers’ requirements.

Dealing with pests in a property can be a frustrating and sometimes alarming experience for landlords and tenants alike. From rodents to insects, pests can cause damage, health hazards, and discomfort. However, determining who is responsible for addressing pest issues in a rental property isn’t always straightforward. In this blog, we’ll explore the responsibilities of landlords and tenants regarding pest control.

Understanding landlord responsibilities

As the owner of the property, landlords have certain legal obligations when it comes to maintaining a safe and habitable living environment for tenants. These responsibilities include ensuring that the property is free from hazards and infestations, including pests. Landlords must:

• provide a pest-free environment: Landlords are responsible for ensuring that the property is free from pests at the beginning of the tenancy. This includes conducting regular inspections and taking necessary measures to prevent infestation;

• take prompt action: If pests are discovered during the tenancy, landlords must take prompt action to address the issue. This may involve hiring professional pest control services to eliminate the infestation.

Plus, landlords must keep on top of repairs and maintenance. As the landlord of the property, you are responsible for the structure and fabric of the building, toilet facilities and drainage, utilities and any fittings.

This basic responsibility is likely to be made clear in the tenancy agreement and is, of course, the basis on which insurance for landlords makes provision for safeguarding the structure and fabric of the let property.

Landlords are responsible for repairing any structural issues or entry points that may be contributing to pest problems, such as cracks in walls or gaps around doors and windows. If pests are getting into the let property because of holes in the wall, damaged sewer pipes, or some other structural defect, therefore, it is the landlord’s responsibility to tackle the pest problem by repairing the building.

You might need to fix pipes, brickwork, doors or skirting boards if mice or rats have chewed through them, for example.

Landlords have a particular responsibility for repairing as a matter of urgency any damage that has been done to electrical wiring – failure to do so might not only land you in trouble with Health and Safety Legislation but might even invalidate your insurance.

Tenant responsibilities

While landlords bear the primary responsibility for maintaining a pest-free property, tenants also have a role to play in preventing and addressing pest issues. Tenants should:

• report pests promptly: Tenants should report any signs of pests to the landlord or property management as soon as they become aware of them. Prompt reporting can help prevent the infestation from spreading and causing further damage;

• maintain cleanliness: Tenants are responsible for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene within the property, as poor sanitation can attract pests. This includes proper disposal of food waste, regular cleaning, and keeping living spaces clutter-free. For example, if the infestation of pests is caused by the tenant’s lifestyle or living habits – such as failing to deal properly with rubbish or not clearing away food scraps – the responsibility is the tenant’s and he or she must deal with it;

• co-operate with pest control measures: If pest control treatments are necessary, tenants should cooperate with the landlord or pest control professionals by following any instructions or guidelines provided.

Resolving disputes

In some cases, disputes may arise between landlords and tenants regarding pest control responsibilities. It’s essential for both parties to communicate openly and attempt to resolve the issue amicably. Keeping records of communications and any actions taken can help resolve disputes more effectively.

Conclusion

In the UK, the responsibility for pest control in rental properties primarily falls on landlords, who must ensure that the property remains free from infestations and hazards. However, tenants also have a role to play in preventing and reporting pest issues promptly. By understanding their respective responsibilities and working together, landlords and tenants can maintain a safe and comfortable living environment for all parties involved.

Maintenance is something to think about throughout the year for any property owner. Only by keeping your home in a good state of repair can you get optimum enjoyment from it and maximise its capital value. Regular home maintenance also allows you to spot or get on top of any problems before they potentially become something major.

Keeping your property in a good state of repair, too, is typically a condition of your property insurance.

With the month of March now upon us, here is a checklist of some of the home care tasks to which you might want to turn your attention. They fall neatly into three broad categories – essential safety checks, scheduled maintenance, and those spring cleaning jobs that help to usher your home into a bright new season.

Safety first

Safety is a priority, of course, so the following simple tasks can be considered essential first steps:

Smoke alarms and CO detectors

• smoke alarms and carbon dioxide detectors are only as good as their last test – so make sure to carry one out right now. In fact, many sources recommend you check your alarms weekly or once a month at the very least;

• do it by pressing the button on the casing and holding it down until you hear the loud siren emitted by the device – and also remember to replace the battery annually;

• safety equipment manufacturers Kidde recommend that you replace these essential safety devices at least once every five to ten years – along with any carbon monoxide (CO) detectors every seven to ten years;

Safe electrics

• during the winter months, your electrical outlets probably came in for more than their usual fair share of use – as those appliances that are no longer needed can be unplugged, check that none of the outlets or circuits was overloaded or poses a risk of shorting or other disruption of supply;

• if you have young children in the house, make a modest investment in some safety covers for electrical outlets to discourage curiously prying little fingers;

• check when you last had your electrics tested – it is recommended that homeowners have them professionally checked every ten years, while landlords should have them checked every five years advises the Skills Training Group;

• landlords are legally bound to carry out such inspections at least once every five years and a copy handed to the respective tenants.

Scheduled maintenance

Remember that effective maintenance relies on a steady schedule and that it doesn’t all need to be done all at once. Even so, March is an ideal month in which to start the ball rolling as your home transitions from the gruelling punishment of winter’s elements to the quieter, balmier days of spring.

Your maintenance schedule for the month might therefore include the following tasks:

The roof over your head

• if there’s one part of your home that needs the utmost attention in your maintenance schedule it’s the roof – it’s what provides the only shelter for the whole building, after all – so, check for any loose, slipped, or missing tiles;

Rainwater goods

• an equally essential maintenance task is the clearance of all the gutters and downpipes – the rainwater goods – of the debris that is almost certain to have accumulated during the winter storms;

Damp and condensation

• keeping the rainwater goods clear of debris plays a key role in discouraging the penetration of water and damp – through the roof, gutters, or even the brickwork of your home;

• damp and condensation can quickly escalate so that you have problems with mould on the interior walls – the heavy showers that are often experienced in springtime will only exacerbate the problem;

• these problems can prove very stubborn to remedy, so prompt action is essential – not only to protect the structural integrity of your house but also to safeguard the health and wellbeing of your family;

Windows and doors

• the winter weather might also have found its way through gaps in your windows and doors – letting in the wind and rain;

• now is the time to tackle those gaps with the appropriate fillers – and touch up any repairs with a protective coat or two of paint;

Central heating

• your boiler – and the entire central heating system – is likely to have been pressed into more or less continuous service during the winter months;

• now that the weather is warming a little and you have the chance to shut it down for a while, it is time to commission a full-scale service so that you can safely leave the system until you next need it the most come the autumn and winter;

• annual boiler inspections are typically a condition of your home and landlord insurance.

Spring cleaning

It’s no accident that the Great British Spring Clean – organised by Keep Britain Tidy – runs from the 15th until the 31st of March 2024.

The month comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, they say. In the meantime, therefore, you have the time to start the spring cleaning that will spruce up the whole home and make it especially welcoming to family and friends:

The front lobby

• start your spring cleaning at the entrance to your home – it’s in the hallway at the front door where winter coats, macs, wellington boots and the like are all likely to have been left;

• put them away until next year and you’ve immediately signalled the start to sunnier, drier, and altogether warmer days ahead;

Lighten-up

• you might take a similar approach to the heavier-duty deep-pile rugs that kept you warm throughout the winter months and replace them with lighter flat-weave coverings in natural fibres;

• in the bedroom, that is likely to mean switching the winter-togged duvet for a lightweight summer one;

Dusting

• as the lively beams of Spring sunlight are welcomed into your home, there’s a risk they’ll highlight the dust and cobwebs left over from the dismal Winter;

• take your duster and a vacuum cleaner, therefore, to those inaccessible ceiling corners and skirting boards;

Open to the outside

• March marks a transition from a Winter spent indoors to the promise of a Summer outside;

• so, you might want to take this opportunity to get things ready for that move to more activities outside – blow the cobwebs off the lawnmower and oil those shears, therefore, and begin to get the garden into shape;

A view from the patio

• you’ll want to sit back and admire all that hard work, of course, so scrub the winter’s grime and detritus from the garden furniture, hose down the patio, and launder the soft furnishings.

Home maintenance in March is one of those times when the chores are the most welcome – getting ready for that reawakening of the coming months is bound to put a spring into the stride of your maintenance efforts.

Further reading:  UK property maintenance tips and Spring property maintenance tips.

Whether you are a homeowner or landlord, one of the biggest assets you’re ever likely to own is your property. It is hardly surprising, then, that the value of that property – and the factors that may affect it – remains a critical consideration.

So, let’s make a brief review of the six principal issues that (reportedly) can affect the value of your property.

1. Energy efficiency 

It seems that every other media story about the homes we live in features some reference or other to energy efficiency and broad questions of sustainability.

It is no accident, therefore, that a story in Landlord Today on the 29^th of January 2024 explores the issue of energy-efficient homes in more detail. Indeed, the story asserts that any home that is not energy efficient is likely to be subject to a sharp decrease in its value.

One of the principal objections raised by some homeowners and landlords about making their property more energy efficient is the cost. Yet, as we explained in our article entitled “How to save even more money on your energy costs” energy efficiency is, in fact, the route to reduced expenditure on fuel bills.

2. Location

“Location, location, location” – it’s the well-worn catchphrase of estate agents the world over. And for good reason. It’s the key to any property investment rationale, stress property specialists Beech Holdings.

It is easy to see why the location of a property is frequently the single most critical driving force in determining its value. Location is a prime consideration for any buyer, therefore, and you may also consider the ease of accessibility to other places and to your overall lifestyle.

3. Connectivity

During the restrictions, lockdowns, and homeworking upsurge during the recent Covid-19 pandemic, it was hardly surprising that reliable and efficient connectivity at home became the number one priority – especially, it seems, for renters, according to the Property Notify website at that time.

The issue remains a particularly hot topic and features in a major annual conference and exhibition entitled the Future of UK Connectivity – it is next scheduled to take place at London’s ExCel centre from the 11^th until the 12^th of September 2024.

4. Transport

Access to reliable transport links is frequently cited by tenants on the lookout for property to rent. If you are a homeowner especially concerned about curbing your reliance on the motor car, your valuation of a property may also be influenced by the availability of good transport links.

A fact sheet prepared by Homes England and published on the 2^nd of November 2023 also recognised the importance of transport infrastructure and services in the provision of new homes, along with the capacity of any current public transport services and of the pedestrian, cycling, and road network.

5. Nearby amenities

Wherever you intend to set up home – whether as an owner-occupier or tenant – the proximity of local amenities will help to determine the value of any property.

In a posting dated the 9^th of October 2023, the online property listings website Good Move mentioned the heightened appeal of properties closer to local amenity hubs compared with those in more remote locations. So, homes that are closer to the shops, schools, green spaces, restaurants, pubs, and community centres are likely to win you over quicker than more isolated properties.

6. Crime

If there’s one thing you’re likely to value over and above the price of a property it will be your ability to enjoy it in peace, free from any constant worries about the local crime rate.

Indeed, property specialists Spot Blue assert that crime rates for any particular area are critical to investment decisions. There is a wealth of resources to help you determine the potential impact of crime on property values in your area. These include the interactive Crime in My Area website developed by security firm ADT.