The number of people unemployed increased by over 50,000 in the first three months of 2010, to slightly over 2.5 million according to figures recently released. The international labour organisation figures show that unemployment is currently at the highest level since December 2004.
The declining job market shows no sign of recovery according to Ian Brinkley associate director of the Work Foundation “Job losses accelerated in the three months to March. Nearly 80,000 jobs in this period compared with job losses of 12,000 in the three months to December. “
How does this affect landlords?
Economic uncertainty and job insecurity is having a duel affect on landlords according to letting experts. Firstly new tenants are increasingly unwilling to agree to longterm tenancy agreements, with the average tenancy now under a year in London. Shorter tenancies increase the likelihood of properties being unoccupied more often than planned for by landlords.
Frequently empty properties and tenants inability to pay rent due to unemployment can have an extremely big impact on landlords who rely on rental income to pay mortgages and other property bills. Landlords faced with these difficulties are urged by experts to maintain communication with tenants in order to negotiate an agreement that reduces the impact of a tenant’s unemployment on both parties. Landlords should also consider rent guarantee insurance to protect them from loss of income.
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