Richard Blanco

Property can be like a game of snakes and landlords. When you’re new to the business hopefully you will climb a few ladders, but you can be particularly vulnerable to slithering down the occasional snake.  Here are my tops tips for avoiding the pitfalls.
1. Tempted By New Build
NLA research tells us that 80% of smaller landlords with between one and four properties have new builds.  These shiny new properties can be very tempting particularly when they are promoted by skilled marketing teams.  Buyers are often […]

In 2014, I had numerous discussions with fellow landlords and journalists about the perils of rising interest rates. It was also during 2014 that predictions for when base rate would begin to rise shifted from Spring 2014 to the current consensus of Spring 2016.
The historically low Bank Base Rate of 0.5% has kept mortgages relatively low for many householders throughout the latest UK recession and the fragile recovery which we are now experiencing.  There is no doubt that this has kept a lid on repossessions […]

It never ceases to amaze me how something as seemingly benign as a valuation can be the cause of so much frustration.  I’ve come to learn over the years that it is the most critical part of the financing process.  It would seem that all kinds of legal uncertainties can be airbrushed away with an indemnity policy.  But if the valuer says the property is worth less than you would hope or its condition makes it unfit as lending security, then you can kiss goodbye […]

I spoke to The Times Bricks & Mortar journalist, Robin Ash, last week about the prospect of interest rate rises and how these might affect landlords.  He thought it was paradoxical that there was a lot of activity in the buy to let lending market at the moment despite falling yields and the likely increase in lending costs.  Latest NLA research backs up his sentiments that there is increased confidence among landlords.  62% say that prospects going forward are good and many ‘amateur’ landlords who […]

If you’ve spent any time in auction rooms recently – or spoken to agents  – you’ll know that the market is becoming quite lively.  There are a number of hotspots in my home territory, London, where pent up demand is being frustrated by lack of supply in many neighbourhoods.  It has become a vendor’s  market and as more people are encouraged to sell, we are likely to see a further increase in activity in the near future.  Don’t just take my word for it:  last […]