‘Buy to let’ properties are a popular investment  in a market which is extremely buoyant, with far more applicants than properties; driving the rental returns ever higher. Positive news for landlords then who must take care in an industry that is becoming more and more tightly regulated.  New legislation over the last couple of years, including the ‘Right to Rent’ checks under the Immigration Act, has imposed further obligations on landlords with harsh penalties for failure to comply. Keeping up with what has seemed like a barrage of new legislation has been quite a challenge for us, too.  As an ARLA agent, and with a dedicated legal helpline, we are kept fully informed of new legislation before it comes into effect. This gives us the opportunity to get to grips with any new requirements in good time; staff training is an ongoing process! Where we manage a property, a landlord will not necessarily need to know the law in detail as we will act on their behalf, ensuring compliance. However, Karen Elson, who heads up our Lettings department, has become quite concerned where ‘let only’ landlords are turning to Strakers for legal advice; these landlords can find themselves quite vulnerable, having fines imposed on them for failure to adhere to the legislation or, potentially, being denied the right to evict a tenant.  If you have any concerns whatsoever about the lettings process as a whole, do get in touch. We can offer you advice, keeping you up to date, or, if you prefer, we can simply take away all the pressure by providing you with a fully managed service. Remember, agents fees are tax deductible and, by giving you peace of mind, they could be worth their weight in gold! You can contact Karen directly: karen.elson@strakers.co.uk      More...