Welcome to the first Belvoir Sheffield newsletter keeping you informed on the very latest industry news and developments. Here at Belvoir Sheffield, the leading letting agent in Sheffield, city centre we specialise in providing buy to let mortgage advice in addition to all of the necessary support needed to make your property investment a runaway success.
LATEST MORTGAGE NEWS
Landlords Struggling With Buy To Let Finance Drought
As the property market looks to be stabilising and experts are announcing a state of recovery from the proverbial rooftops, new research indicates that landlords are still struggling to secure buy to let finance. Journalist Tina Clough spoke to Belvoir Sheffield, the leading letting agent in Sheffield, city centre to find out the true extent of the problem.
Rick Flay, from Belvoir Sheffield who offer a vast range of houses to let in Sheffield, said, “Product availability has improved for general mortgages over the last few months, but in some cases those seeking buy to let finance have been effected. Despite this, there are a few firms out there still willing to finance such projects and here at Belvoir we are keen to offer our landlords with the very latest advice in an attempt to avoid such hurdles.”
The new figures launched by Paragon revealed that 54 per-cent of professional landlords had tried to take out a buy to let mortgage in the last three months but only ten per-cent of applicants had no trouble securing the financial help they so desperately needed.
The report also found that of those surveyed just 2.8 per-cent believed that the availability of buy to let mortgages had increased.
A recent study by moneysupermarket.com also backed up these findings and the firm suggested that despite the amount of applicants increasing, the number of buy to let deals in the current marketplace had remained static.
Rick added, “The market may be tough at the moment for landlords, but for those who have managed to secure finance, now is a great time to embark upon a property investment.”
Lib Dems £1 Million Property Tax: The lowdown
As the Liberal Democrats prepare to impose an additional tax equivalent to £4000 on owners of properties worth £1 million or over, Belvoir Sheffield the leading letting agent in Sheffield, city centre uncover both the pros and cons of this controversial scenario.
The measure which would affect over 4 million people in the UK, would require the revaluation of tens of thousands of properties and would raise £1.1 billion. Despite this, it is unclear how accurate this would be, as many of the figures on British house prices date back to Land Registry data from 1991.
Figures suggest that the owner of a house worth £1.5 million would incur an additional tax bill of £2,500 in tax per year, and a £4 million property would incur an additional tax bill of £15,000 a year.
Rick Flay at Belvoir Sheffield, who offer homes to rent in Sheffield,Sheffield apartments, and flats in Sheffield, said, “The media have labeled these new proposals as the ‘Death Tax’ and it is not hard to see why. Many homeowners feel that they are being persecuted for owning expensive properties, especially as they have worked hard to build a life for themselves, and this proposal will certainly be a kick in the teeth for them.”
“This proposal will also penalise pensioners who have bought houses years ago during their working lives, which have now risen in value. To expect a pensioner to be in a position to pay an additional annual tax above £2000 is just not viable.”
Belvoir Offer Property Protection With Great Value Insurance
As new figures launched by Redbrick indicate that only two thirds of ‘buy to let’ landlords have specialist buildings insurance for their investment properties, Belvoir Sheffield are launching their own great value alternative to building and contents insurance.
Covering accidental damage and malicious damage by tenants, the buildings and contents insurance from Belvoir Sheffield is all encompassing and cheaper than many mainstream providers.
Normal household policies often contain restrictions about the occupancy of a property, claims for malicious damage or other issues which could leave a landlord with a significant shortfall in the event of a claim. Additionally, seven out of eight landlords do not have any rent guarantee insurance which is essential in the current challenging economic climate.
Rick Flay, from Belvoir Sheffield who offer a vast range of houses to let in Sheffield, said,” Landlords are putting themselves at serious risk if they fail to take out suitable cover. Here at Belvoir Sheffield our policies cover a variety of eventualities and make sure that the landlord is kept safe from fire, explosions, flooding, malicious damage and in some cases the cover extends to periods when no one is in the property between lets.”
The range of policies available include:
Buildings and Landlord’s furnishings (if specified) are protected in respect of damage caused by:
• Fire, explosion, lightning, earthquake, aircraft
• Storm, flood, escape of water, oil, falling trees or aerials
• Malicious damage, riot, civil commotion, labour and political disturbance, theft and attempted theft
• Impact by vehicles, trains or animals
• Facilitating the repair of pipes
• Accidental damage to fixed glass, sanitary ware, underground pipes and services
• Subsidence, ground heave or landslip
FREE additional cover, often excluded from standard household insurance:
• Accidental damage including accidental damage by tenants
• Malicious damage by tenants
• Cover for vacant properties between lets (subject to the terms of the unoccupancy/empty buildings condition
and any cover restrictions as detailed in the policy)
• Cover will not be invalidated by any act or omission by the tenant which is unknown to the insured (Refer to policy
wording for full details)
Loss of Rental Income
• Loss of, or reduction in rental income following damage (as per the sum insured shown on the quotation / certificate)
• Provides cover until the property is re-let up to 36 months (many policies cease when the damage is repaired)
• Cover for additional expenditure to avoid loss or reduction in rental income including alternative accommodation
• Cost of re-letting
• Loss of rent following damage to managing agent’s premises
Property Owner’s Liability
• Limit of indemnity £5,000,000
For more information on any of the above issues or for a free obligation quote please contact Belvoir Sheffield on 08452 60 40 90 or alternatively visit their website at www.belvoir.co.uk/sheffield
