This article is an external press release originally published on the Landlord News website, which has now been migrated to the Just Landlords blog.
Rates of rental arrears have dropped to the lowest number for more than two years, revealed the National Landlords Association (NLA).
The NLA’s recent research found that 39% of landlords have witnessed rental arrears in the past year, down by 9% annually, and back to figures seen in Quarter 1 (Q1) 2010.1
Void periods in private rental accommodation have also decreased by 5% since Q2 2013 to 33%, a number last seen in 2012.1
Arrears and Voids Decline
Regionally, voids are most seen in the North East, where 60% of landlords have suffered empty properties in the last three months, and are rarely seen in the South West, where just 20% of landlords have had vacant periods in the same timeframe.1
The study also discovered that seven in ten void periods are unexpected, and landlords cover the cost of empty properties in different ways:
- 33% of landlords use rent from their other rental homes to cover the cost of void periods.
- 10% use their other earnings.
- 9% use savings funds.1
Chairman of the NLA, Carolyn Uphill, says: “It is positive to see reductions in the instances of arrears and voids. This demonstrates that long term, enduring tenancies are on the rise, as it is in every landlord’s business interest to maintain good, long lasting tenancies and avoid voids.
“However, it is worrying that void periods often come as a surprise to landlords. Whilst voids represent more of a problem in the North than in the South, where demand is far higher, it is imperative that empty properties are filled quickly, following any necessary maintenance and improvements.
“The NLA’s advice to landlords looking to minimise void periods is to talk openly with their tenants about their future plans. This will give the landlord some idea of when the property might next be empty, and allow them to make any improvements and plan advertising activity in good time. It is also wise to budget for 11 months’ rent per year, to avoid needing to find additional funds to cover outgoings if a void does arise.”1
1 http://www.landlords.org.uk/news-campaigns/news/arrears-and-voids-decline
