Landlords: how much are you giving back?
1. Landlords Make a Valuable Contribution to Local Communities
Landlords often face criticism, but the majority are responsible contributors to the private rental sector (PRS) and their local communities. While bad landlords may dominate headlines, new research highlights the significant positive financial impact that landlords have on local economies.
2. New Research: The Financial Impact of Landlords
According to research conducted by mortgage company Aldermore, private landlords contribute significantly to their local economies by hiring local tradespeople and businesses for property-related services. The study polled 1,000 UK-based landlords and revealed some compelling statistics:
- Over 80% of landlords who needed repairs or renovations turned to local companies.
- On average, landlords spent £1,443 in the past year on plumbers, builders, letting agents, and other tradespeople – the majority of whom were local.
3. Breakdown of Spending in the Rental Sector
The study found that landlords spent significant amounts in the last year across various services:
- Letting agents: £900 million
- Small-scale repairs: £442 million
- Plumbers: £396 million
- Electricians: £375.4 million
- Builders: £377.3 million
- Cleaners: £243.2 million
This showcases the broad economic impact landlords have on their local communities.
4. Supporting Local Economies
- Almost one-third of landlords expressed a desire to actively support their local economy by hiring local tradespeople.
- One in four landlords also noted that local suppliers tend to be more cost-effective than nationwide alternatives.
5. Changing the Narrative
Landlords now have evidence to counter negative perceptions. The research highlights that the majority of landlords play a crucial role in maintaining their properties, supporting local businesses, and fostering economic growth within their communities.
6. Final Thoughts
Next time landlords are under fire, they can point to the data. Their financial contribution and commitment to supporting local economies make them an essential part of the community.
Under Offer: This term applies to a property where the landlord is considering an offer but remains on the market. It implies that further offers may still be considered until the landlord formally accepts or declines the current offer.
Let Agreed: This term indicates that a landlord has provisionally agreed to enter into a rental agreement with a prospective tenant, pending additional checks and referencing. It doesn't require the prospective tenant to have paid a holding deposit.
Let: This term signifies an established binding rental agreement between the landlord and tenant.
For both lettings and sales, the guidance addresses additional terms:
New On The Market: This term is used for a property not advertised since its last sale or rental. It should only be used for a brief period.
New Instruction: It applies to a property assigned to an agent for marketing recently, even if it was previously listed with another agent without being sold or rented.
New and Exclusive: This term refers to a property that is either new on the market or a new instruction, exclusively available through a specific agent or portal.
New Method of Sale/Let: This term is used when a property is being marketed for sale or rent using an alternative approach to the original advertisement, such as transitioning to an auction or sealed bid.
Reduced: This term indicates that a property's price has recently been reduced. The reduction should be genuine and comply with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute's guidelines on pricing practices.