Looking ahead

We have seen another year of rental growth throughout London, with many of our clients achieving record prices. There continues to be a high demand for housing in the capital and the surrounding areas. This significant interest means we’re regularly receiving exceptional offers from great tenants and we expect this to continue into the new year.

We support our landlords by finding first-rate tenants, largely corporate or professionals looking for long-term tenancies. This demand from tenants has outstripped the properties available, and as a result of this, 70 per cent of tenants have opted to stay in their homes and renew their tenancies.

Our primary aim is to deliver the best result for our landlords by ensuring we never have any empty properties and rent is always paid. We are proud that less than one per cent of our landlords have experienced rent arrears over the last year, and we are one of the only agents who collect their fees when the rent is paid every month.

Keeping up with legislation

More landlords than ever are looking for a professionally managed service to stay compliant, with over 170 pieces of legislation relating to rental property. In fact, most of the properties we look after are managed, as landlords trust us to care for their assets and keep them in prime condition. These managed homes receive the attention of our dedicated Property Managers, who are never more than 15 minutes away from the properties in their portfolio.

Renters Rights Bill

The Government recently published the first draft of the Renters Rights Bill. The purpose of this bill is to raise the standards of housing within the private rented sector to reduce any risks to both landlords and tenants. By addressing the key issues, both our landlords and tenants will be better protected. We expect to see more landlords looking to use qualified professional Estate Agents to find tenants, manage their properties, and look after their long-term investments.

If you would like to know more about the Renters Rights Bill in detail, please contact your local Jackson-Stops office and one of our experts will be happy to advise you.

Electrical safety:

In 2020, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector Regulations were introduced, which ensured electrical installations in rented properties are inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at least every 5 years. This resulted in many landlords organising an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) for the first time in 2020, placing a high demand on electricians and increasing prices. To avoid this again in 2025, please consider instructing an electrician to carry out the EICR before the end of this year and ensure that they are listed on the Competent Persons Register, if you need any help, please speak to your local office who will be able to assist you.

Gas safety:

A gas safety certificate is required if your property has a gas supply. Annual checks can be carried out two months before the expiration date while keeping the same anniversary date. If there’s a communal boiler, we also recommend that the communal boiler gas safety certificate be provided to the tenant annually. If your current certificate has expired, we can help you arrange this.

Smoke alarms and Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors:

It is a legal requirement to have smoke alarms on every floor of a rented property and a CO detector in any room where fuel is burned. Please remind your tenant to test them regularly and yourself when you inspect the property. Most alarms only last for ten years, so please make sure they do not expire during the tenancy. Our property managers take responsibility for any properties we manage and are equipped to replace faulty alarms or batteries.

Damp and mould:

When you visit your property, please pay close attention to any signs of damp or mould, as it is your responsibility to ensure the property is free from hazards. If there are signs or your tenant reports that it is present, you must act promptly and agree to a plan of action with your tenant. Our property managers are experts are preventing these issues, so will be happy to advise you if this occurs at your property. We also share a Damp and Mould Guide with all our tenants, which you may find useful.

We have a specialist Design & Refurbishment team who can help you make the most of your property and add value to your investment. We work closely with trusted contractors, architects, interior designers, and surveyors and can offer turn-key design and project management for everything from bathroom and kitchen refurbishments to extensions and conversions.

Our experts, who have extensive experience in property management, architecture, and construction, will assess your property and develop ideas with you to maximise its potential. We regularly communicate with our local lettings and sales teams to give you accurate and up-to-date market advice so you can trust us to come up with the best plan for your property’s future.

Further advice and information can be found here.

If we aren’t already managing your investment and you would like to find out more, please contact your local Jackson-Stops office.

Exclusive mortgage offer

With mortgage rates constantly changing, now is the perfect time to take advantage of our exclusive offer of a fee-free remortgage consultation with our team of buy-to-let mortgage specialists. So whether it’s checking you’re on the best deal or refinancing to fund another buy-to-let, we’re here to help. To take advantage of our complimentary mortgage health check, click here.