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Labour Manifesto Pledges :

Housing Benefit will be reformed to ensure that we do not subsidise people to live in the private sector on rents that other ordinary working families could not afford. And we will continue to crack down on those who try to cheat the benefit system.

We will guarantee the three million households who rent from a private landlord the right to a written tenancy agreement and access to free and impartial advice; and we will establish a new National Landlord Register.

We will introduce a new Warm Home Standard for social housing and regulate landlords so that privately rented accommodation is properly insulated. We have legislated for compulsory contributions from energy companies to protect the vulnerable.

A ‘Respect’ standard for the private rented sector will be introduced; and local ASB champions will make agencies work together to tackle cases.

Conservative Manifesto Pledges :

Amend the ‘Use Classes Order’ so that people can use buildings for any purpose allowed in the local plan.

We will also abolish Home Information Packs, which have made a significant contribution to problems in our housing market.

Keep Energy Performance Certificates to help people improve.

Raise the inheritance tax threshold to £1 million.

Make permanent the £250,000 SDLT threshold for first time buyers.

Create a ‘Green Deal’, giving every home up to £6,500 worth of energy improvement measures – with more for hard-to-treat homes – paid for out of savings made on fuel bills over 25 years.

Lib Dem Manifesto Pledges :

There should be quality social and private rented housing available for those who need or choose it.

Make sure that repossession is always the last resort by changing the powers of the courts.

Bring 250,000 empty homes back into use with cheap loans and grants as part of our job creation plan.

Begin a national programme to insulate more homes paid for by the savings from lower energy bills.

Make sure every new home is fully energy efficient by improving building regulations.

Scrap Home Information Packs, retaining the requirement for homes to have an energy performance certificate.

Plaid Cymru Manifesto Pledges :

There should be an immediate cut in VAT to 5% on all home maintenance, repairs and improvements.

A moratorium on stamp duty for first-time buyers.

Primary legislation relating to housing should now be devolved to the National Assembly.

UKIP Manifesto Pledges :

Require those on benefits starting with Housing and Council Tax Benefit recipients in private rented homes - to take part in council-run local community projects called ‘Workfare’ schemes.

Scrap Home information packs.

Please note that the text contained within this document is made up of extracts from the political party manifestos available at time of writing. This document is not intended as an exhaustive summary of party policies.

All content and style remains the responsibility of the originating organisations. ]]> Wed, 14 Apr 2010 07:26:00 +0000 http://www.rentedonline.co.uk/news/leading-parties-manifesto-breakdown-regarding-the-housing-market/ http://www.rentedonline.co.uk/news/leading-parties-manifesto-breakdown-regarding-the-housing-market/ private landlords are keener than ever to ensure their properties are rented out.

It is important to all landlords to keep costs down while finding good quality tenants.

Rented! – tenant finding online shares their top tips on how to ensure your rental properties are successfully rented in a quick and cost effective manner:

1. Look after your tenants – your tenants are not only paying your rent but also living in your investment. Keeping good tenants for the long term is generally so much better than not looking after your tenants and having to spend time and money finding new tenants once or twice a year. Property maintenance issues should be dealt with quickly and even a Christmas card and bottle of wine at Christmas ensures that your tenants know that you are a human and not just a scary landlord!

2. Keep notes on tenancy renewals – to keep voids to a minimum keep track of your tenancy renewal dates. Keep a note in your diary two months before the tenancy is up to contact your tenant and ask if they plan on staying in your property. If they are planning to move out start marketing your property with a letting agent or marketing it directly to tenants via a tenant finding company or local newspapers

3. Finding tenants directly – more and more tenants are keen to rent directly off the landlord rather than via a letting agent – this can save both the landlord and tenant money. You will need to make sure you are available to do viewings yourself, carry out the proper tenant referencing and use a deposit scheme for any tenant deposits. Also ensure you are working within the landlord and tenant act 1985

4. Great value advice – have a problem with a tenant? Need some advice on new legislation? Don’t contact a solicitor as these can be very expensive – in the first instance contact your Landlord Association. They are experts in the letting/landlord industry and from less than £100 a year you have access to an advice line for free!

5. Save money and time - If you have more than one property use the same carpets, tiles and fittings in each one – much easier if you need to replace something quickly and you can keep a record of the cost and supplier they were sourced from too
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