Landlords prefer to avoid court
The latest survey information from the National Landlords Association (NLA) shows that when things don’t work out with a tenancy, landlords prefer to sort things out amicably rather than resorting to the legal rights conferred by the Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) agreement typically used between landlords and tenants.
More than half (56 per cent) of landlords said that they had used the ‘softly, softly’ approach, successfully persuading an unwanted tenant to leave without recourse to the courts.
The NLA’s chairman, David Salusbury, comments: ‘There’s a variety of reasons why landlords may want tenants to leave. Non payment of rent, not looking after the property, causing a nuisance to neighbours, to name but a few. If they possibly can, landlords will avoid the expense and hassle of evicting tenants through the courts.’
Indeed, the legal process to remove tenants tends to be long, onerous and expensive. Landlords report that it takes an average of just over six months to secure an eviction. 47 per cent said it took between three and six months, 21 per cent between six and nine months. A small but significant minority of eight per cent reported that on average it took more than a year to get troublesome tenants out of the property.
Revolving-door décor
The latest research from MINTEL finds Brits now updating their home decor as often as they update their wardrobes. Fast fashion is moving into the housewares market as today just one in four British adults believes it is worth paying more for housewares that last. What is more, fashion beats functionality, with fewer than one in five (18 per cent) buying kitchen and housewares items for function rather than style.
‘It is clear that the British are now taking a more “throw-away” approach to decorating their homes. Indeed, housewares are replaced not because they are old or worn, but simply to get a new look,’ says Richard Caines, senior retail analyst at MINTEL. ‘This lifestyle has been made possible by falling prices in the housewares market, with Britain now enjoying more choice and better value for money than ever before. This is very much a trend from the clothing fashion world, where people are buying high fashion items at rock bottom prices, so that they can afford to update their wardrobes as often as they desire. This trend is epitomised by the fact that many of the most dynamic fast fashion clothing stores are now entering the housewares market.’
EU expansion brings more buyer choice
One year on from the expansion of the European Union (EU), property investors have been making the most of the enlargement by snapping up property in many of the new member states. Overseas investment has fuelled the housing market in many countries such as Cyprus, Hungary and the Czech Republic, and all eyes are now on the next batch of prospective member states to see if their property markets have similar potential.
Nick Clark, managing director of the Property Investor and Homebuyer Show North, which has a strong focus on overseas property, comments: ‘Sharp investors are constantly on the look out for where the next hot spots are going to be and many of the new EU member states have not disappointed.
‘Cyprus is without doubt the big success of the new EU states with many people who have bought property on the island seeing impressive returns. The Czech Republic, Hungary, and Malta have also seen similar effects one year into their membership and up-and-coming areas of Slovenia, Poland and Estonia are hoping for similar success fuelled by increasing tourism and commercial investment.