News from the Residential Property Investor, the bi-monthly magazine for RLA members other artilces from the April / May 2003 issue RPI news archive

In brief - April / May 2003

Electrical appliance maker Dimplex is targeting landlords by pointing out the savings to be made in annual maintenance costs by installing electric rather than gas heating fires ­ nearly £400 per fire over five years, it claims. 'The impact of complying with gas safety laws for a few years is now starting to really hit the bottom line', said product manager Chris Davis.

Better arson investigation techniques are needed, said the Government's Arson Control Forum. It has reported that only one in 12 arson fires reported to the police result in a suspect being identified, a figure that compares with one in four for other types of crime. It estimates arsonists are responsible for 3,600 fires every week, causing an average of two deaths, and £40m in damage.

Deposit Protection schemes should be made compulsory, the Citizens Advice Bureau has said after its latest research showed one in five tenants believed they had had their deposits unfairly withheld by landlords. 'We doubt tenants will appreciate the delays and extra credit checking landlords will have to undertake if this is introduced', countered RLA chairman Martin Moylan.

Returns of up to 12.5 per cent on residential letting investments can be earned in France. The claim comes from Fenmore Properties, a property sourcing company which concentrates on the Hautes-Pyrennees, Haute-Garonne, Haute and Aude regions of south west France. Properties can be bought for as little as £20,000 and even with a fully managed letting can yield 11 per cent, says the company (telephone 01273 819918).

Council tax will go up by an average of 12 per cent this year, according to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. This add an average £116 to 'Band D' council tax demands, bringing the national average to £1,080. Band D council tax now exceeds £1,000 a year in all parts of mainland Britain except Wales, said CIPFA
 

other artilces from the April / May 2003 issue

• Competent regulation
• Private landlords set for 'selective licensing'
• Local crackdowns on HMO landlords
• Property prospects better in the north
• Landlords shop for best mortgages
• DTI acts against property investment companies
• Letting returns put at over 20 per cent
• Average house tops £145,00
• London landlord given life sentence
• Government admits to wider anti-social problems
• In brief