Articles by Nick Clay
Rent Controls & the PRS
This report documents the experience of cities which have been subject to some form of rent control. The paper highlights the inescapable truth that rent controls simply do not work.
Landlords put on brave face as impact of Coronavirus outbreak begins to bite
In March the RLA undertook a survey of its members examining how the Coronavirus crisis has affected them, their relationship with tenants and their property business. The survey finds landlords are nervous and feeling somwhat overlooked by government. There was however broad support for strands of the government's response.
Profit is coming from relationships, not price increases
The broader economic environment remains somewhat bleak, but rather than allow this to add to the gloom, Nick Clay, suggests the positive relationships RLA members have with tenants will see them through these less certain times.
Lending figures continue to show hesitant PRS
New figures from the FCA/Bank of England on the value of residential loans and buy-to-let activity do not yet show the PRS is back to being a favoured vehicle for UK investors and entrepreneurs.
Section 21 & Landlord Experience
The NRLA has been aware of pressure to reform legislation which impacts on the Private Rented Sector (PRS). Yet Section 21 is a commonly used mechanism by landlords: This note reviews the 2018 Quarter 4 survey to better understand the reasons why Section 21 is needed.
Private Housing and price inflation - Rent growth continues to lag price indices
In this post, Nick Clay from NRLA research looks at the latest inflation figures and trends in the Index of Private Housing Rental Prices (IPHRP).
A focus on PRS change
The rapid growth of the PRS is now levelling off. Does this represent a new equilibrium in housing tenure? NRLA researcher Nick Clay looks more carefully at the dynamics underneath the headline data.
Universal Credit and Landlords - some solutions for persistent roll-out problems
The 2019 Q1 State of the PRS report focuses on the roll-out of Universal Credit and the imapct it has had on landlords. The majority of landlords report that Universal Credit claimants do go into arrears, despite claims to the contrary.
Landlords shine brightly... but energy efficiently
This deep dive into the 2019 Quarter 3 survey reflects on the landlord community's investment in pushing up the energy efficiency of their properties. With much more needed to be done, there is a clear case for a mechanism to bring forward investment and move energy efficiency in the PRS still closer to wider government objectives.
Rental price growth: Weak but sustained - An analysis
The Index of Private Housing Rental Prices (IPHRP) continues to be below key measures of inflation. This is the 30th consecutive month the increase in rents in the PRS has been below BOTH the CPI and CPIH.
