Inside Property with Richard Blanco

The inventory and return of the deposit are key aspects of being able to end a tenancy well – but what if the tenant is in arrears or has breached the contract? How can tenants get redress if their landlords don’t comply with regulations? And what of the softer sides of ending the tenant landlord relationship…. how can staying on good terms help to oil the wheels over those inevitable bumps in the road? Richard Blanco is joined by inventories expert from No Letting Go, Lisa Williamson, Head of Dispute Resolution from My Deposits, Suzy Hershman and Al McClenahan, Director of Justice4Tenants.

Letting Agents are facing a raft of regulatory changes in 2019. From April they must have a dedicated bank account and insurance for clients’ money and tenant fees will be banned from June 2019. Meanwhile the government has asked a working group to consider compulsory training and trade body membership plus the establishment of a regulatory body. What is morale like amongst letting agents and how will the sector change in the coming years? Enforcement will be down to trading standards, but will they have the resources? And are these changes a real victory for the consumer? Richard Blanco is joined by David Cox, CEO of Arla Propertymark, Fiona Exley from London Trading Standards and Business Transfer Agent, Adam Walker.

How important is design for let properties? As a landlord, should you always stick to neutral or can you safely stray into something more adventurous? To furnish or not to furnish? Are there particular sectors, like HMOs, where design adds considerable profit? If you are a tenant do you despair at having to put up with the landlord’s leftover furniture and would you prefer more freedom to redecorate your home to your taste? Richard Blanco is joined by designers Nicola Geldart from David Phillips, Julian Maurice of Icon Living and East London portfolio landlord, Toby Scrutton to unpack the issues and offer some useful tips and guidance.

Inside Property is produced in collaboration with the National Landlords Association. Photo courtesy of David Phillips.

Would you be interested in joining a listeners panel? This would involve a 2 hour meeting in person or by skpe in central London to let us know your views about the programme. If so, please get in touch here. Thank you!

This is the final episode in the 2017-18 series, we will be back at the end of January 2019.

How would you feel about compulsory three year tenancies? Would they provide essential security of tenure for families or pose too big a risk for landlords? The government has appointed the third housing minister this year. What will Kit Malthouse bring to the table and how confident are you that housing really is a priority for ministers? Will the Bank of England end nearly a decade of ultra low interest rates and increase them this August? And we discuss a new initiative to help student landlords support tenants with mental health issues. Richard Blanco is joined by Chris Norris, Director of Policy & Practice at The National Landlords Association and Carol Lewis, Deputy Editor of Property and Personal Finance at The Times.

Inside Property is produced in collaboration with the National Landlords Association.

Would you be interested in joining a listeners panel? This would involve a 2 hour meeting in person or by skpe in central London to let us know your views about the programme. If so, please get in touch here. Thank you!