Royal Wedding!
29 Friday Apr 2011
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in29 Friday Apr 2011
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in28 Thursday Apr 2011
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in28th April 2011 Councils all over UK ban shared rental properties Councils the length and spread of Britain are using a perfectly legal loophole in planning laws to prohibit private landlords turning their properties into small Houses in Multiple Occupations – six months ahead of the time when they will be needed most by small groups of sharers. According to different landlord bodies, Article 4 directions prohibiting HMOs are “popping up left, right and centre”. Landlords are being stymied by local authorities from attempting to offer a market solution to what homeless charities are warning could be a serious problem. Planned changes to the Shared Accommodation Rate kick in next January and will mean that an estimated 88,000 people in the 25 to 34 age range who are on housing benefit will have to seek shared HMO accommodation, virtually all of which would be in the private rented sector. From the New Year, changes to the rules mean that single people up to the age of 35 will no longer be able to live in their own self-contained rental flats. Instead, it will only cover shared accommodation. But landlords who are currently renting properties out to a single household will now have to seek planning permission in a growing number of towns if they want to let the same property out to between three, four or five people sharing. The Article 4 device was given to them as a perfectly legal cop-out by the Government. Local authorities which do not use Article 4 directions are assumed to have automatically permitted rental properties to be occupied by either one household or by up to six sharers. The current list of known local authorities using Article 4 directions to prevent HMOs, includes Oxford. Ian Fletcher, director of policy at the British Property Federation, said: “The Government’s policy on housing for young people is wholly contradictory at present. “On the one hand the Government wishes to change housing benefit payments to encourage up to 88,000 young people into shared accommodation. On the other hand, local authorities up and down the country are increasingly blocking the provision of houses in multiple occupancy, without having a clue whether they need more shared homes or not. “Councils should at least be under some sort of obligation to do a proper assessment of supply and need before they start reaching for Article 4 directions,” said Mr. Fletcher.
25 Monday Apr 2011
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inToday the Government’s major changes to Local Housing Allowance come into force. These changes, previously announced in last year’s Emergency Budget and the Government’s Spending Review, form part of a programme of 11 separate changes to Housing Benefit designed to cut around £2bn a year from Housing Benefit by 2015/16. These changes will have a massive impact on the private-rented sector and the 1.1 million-and-growing LHA tenants who rely on landlords for their homes. Throughout this period the NLA has been actively engagingwith civil servants, MPs and Ministers to argue against changes that might make LHA tenancies financially unsustainable and significantly increase rent arrears.
These changes will immediately affect all new LHA tenancies and those tenancies where there is a change of circumstances or are up for renewal. Existing LHA tenants will have access to 9 months transitional protection from these changes, so long as there are not any change in their circumstances.
Whilst most landlords can accept that the removal or the £15-excess and the introduction of national caps are ultimately fair and necessary, the rest of the programme of changes will damage the ability of private-rented sector to deliver housing to LHA tenants. One of the greatest worries landlords have is the danger of increasing rent arrears as tenants struggle to manage their drop in finances. To help combat these concerns, local authorities have been given the power to allow direct payment to landlords where landlords reduce the rent to an affordable level for the tenant.
The Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) has issued new guidance for local authorities on this issue and landlords should speak with their local benefits office for how it affects their tenants.
With the Welfare Reform Bill currently before Parliament (you can see the NLA give evidence to the Bill Committee here), more changes to LHA are on the way. And sooner than you might think, DWP Ministers have already announced that they are bringing forward the change that will see under-35 year olds only eligible for the shared housing rate of LHA to January 2012. Keep up-to-date with the developments by checking out the NLA website’s Welfare Campaign section.
25 Monday Apr 2011
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in25 Monday Apr 2011
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inpcm
Call 0843 314 0718
Date available: 30/04/2011
From the garden long range views can be had across Northampton
More to follow
The above property description may be an example only of the type of property, and may not be specific to the actual property and should not be relied upon as complying with any current legislation. These particulars, whilst believed to be reasonably accurate are set out as a general guide and outline and do not constitute any part of an offer or contract.
Intending purchasers or tenants should not rely on them as statements of representation of fact, but must satisfy themselves by their own inspection or otherwise as to their veracity. No person in this firm’s employment has the authority to make or give any representation or warranty in respect of the property.
Greatlets from Albion Properties is here to enhance your lifestyle with an excellent range of houses, apartments and all inclusive, ready to occupy stylish rooms, and a great range of well equipped shared houses and flats.
All our rooms are designed with the “YOUNG PROFESSIONAL” in mind, and have varying “DESIGNER” features included at a modest price.
The rooms and some houses can be rented on an all inclusive rent, covering gas, electricity, water and council tax, and in some, BROADBAND, on a six month term and beyond.
We also have commercial space occasionally available.
HOUSES and FLATS can be available on an EXCLUSIVE rental basis. References are always taken, as well as a deposit, except where an alternative scheme is offered. Most houses are recently renovated, double glazed and centrally heated.
Call 01604 636465 to arrange a viewing
“Albion Properties” is a Registered Trademark as is “Greatlets from Albion Properties”.
This Company has no association or any connection whatsoever with Albion Lettings.
22 Friday Apr 2011
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inLANDLORDS furious about plans to change legislation relating to the creation of multiple occupancy homes (HMOs) in Northampton have handed in more than 60 protest letters to the Guildhall. A consultation on whether Northampton Borough Council should bring in a non-immediate Article 4 direction within the wards of Castle, Abington, Trinity, Phippsville, Semilong, Kingsley, Kingsthorpe, St David’s, Sunnyside, Spring Park, Obelisk and Delapre and Briar Hill, ended on Monday. The direction, which is set to come into force on March 14 next year, would mean landlords have to apply for planning permission to convert a single occupancy home into an HMO. The council has already imposed an immediate Article 4 Direction within the wards of Sunnyside, St David’s and Obelisk, in Kingsthorpe, following pressure from residents in the area who petitioned for action following soaring numbers of HMOs in the region.
21 Thursday Apr 2011
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inThe Rent a Room scheme If you already have a lodger or are thinking about letting furnished rooms in your home, you can receive up to £4,250 a year tax-free (£2,125 if letting jointly). This is known as the Rent a Room scheme.
If you already have a lodger or are thinking about letting furnished rooms in your home, you can receive up to £4,250 a year tax-free (£2,125 if letting jointly). This is known as the Rent a Room scheme. Contact Greatlets.co.uk for further advice and action!
17 Sunday Apr 2011
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17 Sunday Apr 2011
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pcm
Call 0843 314 0718
Date available: 15/05/2011
3rd floor looking in to court yard and served by several lifts with consierge reception area and own gym and health suite on the ground floor.
16 Saturday Apr 2011
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in15/04/2011
‘Bonkers’, ‘misinformed’, ‘poorly thought through’. These were just some responses housing professionals gave Inside Housing this week when asked about the proposed tenant cashback plan unveiled by the government last week.