Richard Blanco

There has been a worrying increase in calls for rent controls recently. The Labour Party Private Housing Policy Review in December 2012 calls for annual indexation of rent increases once the initial rent has been set. More worryingly, MPs such as Jeremy Corbyn and this week David Lammy seem to be calling for a return to something akin to 1970s housing policy. Lammy’s comments were in response to the introduction of Universal Credit in four London boroughs on 15 April 2013 where the total welfare cap of £500 per week for families or [...]

I chair the regular NLA London Regional seminar sponsored by Edmund Cude at the Institute of Directors.  This month we were looking at the un-joined-up housing policy of the current government, proposals from shadow housing minister Jack Dromey MP, welfare reform impacts in Hackney presented by Jennifer Wynter and realistic strategies for dealing with rogue landlords.  Mira Bar-Hillel from the Evening Standard joined us for the panel discussion to stir things up.
My thesis on un-joined up housing policy consisted of a critical analysis of some of the contradictions of welfare reform, article [...]

Over 660,000 tenants will be affected by the government’s bedroom tax – or under occupancy penalty to give it its official title – from 1 April 2013.  The aim of the policy is to reduce the £20 billion annual housing benefit bill by £1 billion over two years and create a fairer system within the social rented sector.
So how will the tax or penalty work?  Firstly it will only affect tenants in council or housing association accommodation who are claiming housing benefit.  Each adult is entitled to one bedroom.  Under 10s are expected [...]

The private rented sector now stands at 18% of housing stock and is projected by some to grow to 25% by 2025.  Lenders are key to this growth.  Many landlords have proved we are a pretty safe bet when it comes to lending with repossessions in the buy to let sector standing  at just 0.13%.  I make  presentations on financing your portfolio from the landlord’s perspective and I often hear frustrations from colleagues.  I’ve summarised here some of the ways that lenders could be more landlord friendly
1. End high arrangement fees and confusion [...]

The absurdity of Newham’s borough wide licensing scheme became clear this week as it emerged that of the estimated 35,000 privately rented properties in the borough only 19,000 – or 54% – have actually applied for the license, according to a letter sent by the council  to me and other Newham landlords.   That means that instead of focusing resources on finding rogue operators, council staff will now have to trace these 16,000 properties.  The deadline for applications was 31 January 2013.
Newham’s Mayor, Sir Robin Wales, believes that most anti social behaviour across the [...]