Recent Articles in Problems and Complaints Checklists

Missing landlords – can we buy our freehold?
Dec 23, 2019

In this article, John Midgley, Head of Leasehold Enfranchisement at Seddons Law LLP and Director of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP), examines the steps that need to be taken to purchase your freehold when your landlord is missing.

Latest price report - where have all the sellers gone?
Dec 17, 2019

The consistent view running through this month’s indices is that there is little supply for buyers to choose from, but for those that are selling, there are deals to be done as the NAEA point out. Rightmove report there are "fewer new sellers than in the same period a year ago… the largest year-on-year slump in any month since August 2009” and Home.co.uk suggest that “Zoopla listings’ data shows that the number of new homes listed for sale per agency branch this year is lower than over the last four years”. A tough market therefore for buyers looking to purchase and indeed for the industry - who will no doubt be hoping the election will allow some certainty on how the country will move forward, and this will result in an early uptick in activity in 2020, rather than uncertainty and a slow market. To find out more, read Kate Faulkner's latest comprehensive price report.

What's the latest news on the London property market?
Dec 3, 2019

London is made up of 32 boroughs, some of which are host to some of the most expensive properties in the world, which reside next to social housing, owned by the state and rented at around a third of the cost on the open market.  London continues to see demand move onwards and upwards as the population is ever increasing from a mix of people who have lived there all their lives, through to those around the UK and abroad looking to find their own fortune! Because of the huge area London covers and the vast differences within it, we don’t like reporting just on ‘London’, so instead have created our own monthly London property report. Read more to find out what's happening to the London prices and rents.

Time to replace licensing with a Property MOT – let’s look after tenants, not keep failing them!
Nov 1, 2019

A while ago I started, on behalf of The Lettings Industry Council, to look at how well licensing was working, and at that point was fairly happy to remain neutral on whether it was a good idea or not. Sadly, though, my research has resulted in my feeling that licensing is an utter waste of time and money, and not really helping tenants at all. Few councils have prosecuted at anything like the level Newham have achieved, and some have introduced schemes and granted licences without ever having seen the property! Read my article to find out the reasons for taking this view  and take a look at  the TLIC’s solution/alternative - the Property MOT.

Properties are more affordable today than 12 years ago
Oct 3, 2019

I never quite understand why many property companies and much of the media think that only ‘bad news’ stories about property sell.  I also don’t understand why very few property companies, charities or property organisations aren’t telling people how affordable property is today, particularly for first time buyers, and still insist on making tenants feel so ‘miserable’ if they rent. I was asked to present at the recent RICS Housing Hub and chose the topic ‘how we can afford to put a home over everyone’s head’. To me that’s a question we should be asking and answering, rather than constantly shoving out ‘bad news’ stories. To find out more, read my article.