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 A warm welcome to the April edition of the Lenwell newsletter
With the clocks having moved forward an hour to British Summer Time and the hours of daylight increasing, the property market has moved into its traditionally strong period of Spring and Summer. The activity levels at our branches are high, despite the challenging economic picture, and the private rental sector continues to grow.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, despite having little room to manoeuvre in his recent Budget, was able to offer some additional assistance to first time buyers buying new homes and also to portfolio landlords in respect of stamp duty.
In this edition Lucinda Newell takes her own inimitable look at the key points from the Budget.
The other articles cover some of the interesting news in the marketplace at this time.
Happy Reading!
Rob Wellstead
Managing Director
 Energy Bill could have major impact on private rented sector
Motions put forward in the House of Lords would prevent landlords renting out properties with energy performance certificates (EPCs) with ratings lower than band E, potentially from 2016, and homes lower than band D from 2019
.... to read more click here
Novice landlords need to be aware of risks
With current housing market conditions favouring the rental sector, let-property insurance specialist PropertyRisks believes that we may be seeing a new tranche of inexperienced landlords coming into the market. The company is urging agents to recognise that novice landlords may not be aware of all of the risks involved in renting out property and to ensure that they are given proper advice at the outset.... to read more click here
The Lucinda Newell Column
To be seen pottering along the highways and byways of Luton in her Mini Clubman, her trusted Scottie Malcolm at her side, our super sleuthing property rental expert Ms Lucinda Newell is on the case on your behalf!
As an avid follower of politics and a more than interested consumer and taxpayer I was naturally interested in seeing what George Osborne’s first Budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer had in store ..... to read more click here
Pressure remains on private rented sector post-Budget
The Budget has done little to help the housing market, some experts have said.
Although stamp duty changes are set to boost the buy-to-let market, the reform will chiefly benefit institutional investors rather than individual landlords. And critics widely denounced the flagship Firstbuy Direct scheme as being more about helping new homes developers than first-time buyers. And all agreed that pressure is set to remain on the private rented sector
.... to read more click here
 Landlords believe renting will rise
Some 71% of landlords believe that renting is becoming increasingly popular, with demand continually outstripping supply, the Association of Residential Lettings Agents has said.
The latest English Housing Survey shows that the private rented sector now accounts for over 15% of housing in the England, yet this is still nowhere near the scale of its European counterparts.... to read more click here
And finally...Grant Shapps says he’ll sling out the squatters
 Following pledges made by Justice Secretary Ken Clarke, to make squatting illegal, Housing Minister Grant Shapps has claimed that he has "locked the door" on squatters' rights for good, by strengthening the Government's advice to homeowners looking to protect their properties.
The Government says that will take steps in the ‘New Year’ (presumably he means 2012?) to make squatting a criminal offence - but the Minister argued that now was the time to "redress the balance and make sure homeowners were fully aware of their rights".... to read more click here
Sincerely
The Editor
editor@lenwell.com
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