The recovering private rental sector is beginning to adjust to new regulations. Some city councils are choosing to adopt ‘Landlord Licensing Fees’ to improve the standard of private rental homes. These fees are issued on the premise that good property management will be upheld and to prevent anti-social behaviour. A novel idea in order to improve the welfare of the tenants occupying these homes. However, the price will surely be pushed onto the tenant, effectively saying you want it, you pay for it.

The benefit for landlords is the increasing restrictions for young adults to be able to afford to buy homes with the strict mortgage selection criteria currently in place. The number of 20-24 year olds staying at home is on the rise, with 26%* unable to afford the growing costs of moving out.

However, there has been an increase in the number of young adults ‘hutching up’**, the process of young people finding smaller accommodation to share. Consequently, this amplifies the demand for properties offering Housing in Multiple Occupancy (HMO).

*https://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/family-demography/young-adults-living-with-parents/2013/sty-young-adults.html

** (Mish Liyanage via LettingAgentToday.co.uk, October 2014)