Articles by Nick Clay
Rent Smart Wales: Financial surplus - accountability deficit
Rent Smart Wales (RSW) oversees a national property registration and licensing scheme covering landlords and agents in the PRS. This report looks at the performance of RSW as it completes its first full business cycle. The report finds that RSW has benefitted from larger than expected revenues, but landlords feel the anticipated benefits of a national service have yet to be realised.
Taxing times ahead for landlords (despite evidence)
There has been much speculation that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is eyeballing Capital Gains Tax (CGT), as a mechanism to help pay for the response to coronavirus crisis. Evidence collected from landlords in the 2020 Quarter 3 survey suggests that if CGT is such a target then things may not turn out as planned.
Landlord Confidence Index (LCI) No.7: 2020 Q3
This is the Quarter 3 Landlord Confidence Index (LCI). Over 2,000 landlords participated in this research. The fragile confidence returning to landlords in the previous quarter appears short lived. As with the previous quarter, confidence is noticably low in London.
In Focus (2020, Qtr 2) - Regulation and management
This report forms one part of the quarterly In Focus series for 2020. This report focuses on the following: (i) The impact of the tenant fees ban on the operating model adopted by landlords. (ii) The views of landlords towards aspects of tenant deposit schemes. (iii) Electrical Installation Condition (EIC) Reports
Wales Tenant Saver Loan scheme - a key step towards a support package
In this short research note Nick Clay and Calum Davies review the Tenant Saver Loan Scheme recently launched by the Welsh Government. Using primary research, the NRLA endorse the scheme. Not only does it bring respite for landlords, it is a policy which supports those most in need. However this policy initiative, though welcome, is insufficient on its own.
Inventory clerks - an overview of users
This blog post reports on inventories and the use of independent inventory clerk services by landlords. The analysis is drawn from the 2020 Quarter 2 survey of the PRS undertaken by the NRLA. It highlights patterns of usage by different groups of landlords. It also signposts to further information
Landlord Confidence Index (LCI) No.6: 2020 Q2
This is the Quarter 2 Landlord Confidence Index. It shows landlord confidence remains low, but with a slight recovery from the previous quarter. It seems that many landlords are opting to freeze rents in the present economic climate. For the next twelve months many landlords are adopting a "wait and see" stance on the future of the PRS.
Research webinar - July 2020
The slides from the Research Observatory webinar, held in July 2020, are available here. This webinar introduces the Research Observatory team, and the role research plays in the NRLA. The webinar also introduces the Landlord Confidence Index as well as the results of the Quarter 2 landlords survey
Rental prices and real wages - the gap continues to grow
The lack of affordability of private rented properties in key locations has been the focus of fierce debate. The gap between rents and wages is again growing. Again the problem is not with surging prices but a dramatic fall in wages.
Possession Reform in the PRS: Section 21
Section 21 has provided an important assurance to landlords that they can regain possession of their property in legitimate circumstances. In response to proposed reform, this is the largest ever non-government survey of the PRS. It establishes what Section 21 means to landlords, agents and those supporting the supply of private rented properties.
