Landlord Voice Magazine November 2015 - Edinburgh | Page 2

editor m o r f d r o w a the editor W hen you think about great capital cities such as London, Paris and New York, along with the usual glamour and excitement, you also picture sky-high living costs, crime and long hours at work. It may be surprising to know, then, that Scotland’s capital has been rated best place to live in the UK in a new quality of life index. The uSwitch index hoisted Edinburgh up to the number one spot, an improvement of 97 places compared to its 2013 ranking, saying the city not only has the lowest reported crime rate in the entire UK, but boasts cheap energy bills, an average salary of £29,558 and a disposable household income average of £20,083. It has long been known for its wealth, primarily as the UK’s second-largest financial services industry after London and more recently as a technology and software hub supported by more than 17,136 people, but Edinburgh’s cultural life is perhaps one of the richest of any city. Auld Reekie, as it is also known, is home to dazzling architecture, great museums and the biggest arts festival in the world, not to mention beautiful green spaces, beaches and great schools and universities. So Landlord Voice casts a reverent eye over the city for an idea of how far a pound will stretch when househunting for a buyto-let in the regular City Snapshots and In Numbers sections. In the news this month Welsh landlords begin the mandatory licensing process, the Government is tackling the housing crisis with its new Housing and Planning Bill and Chancellor George Osborne considers putting the reins on buy-to-let mortgages. We also chat with a first-time landlord about how she got her rental property off the ground with minimal help from property professionals and if you have a few minutes spare, why not strengthen your knowledge of Edinburgh in our Through the Years and Trivia Time sections. Ben McVay Ben McVay, Landlord Voice Editor 2 | LandlordVoice | November 2015 Landlords Insurance made Simple 10% OFF for Landlord Voice readers* Use promo code: VOICE8 Get a quote > simplelandlordsinsurance.com *New customer quotes only - excludes renewal quotes. Calls may be recorded and monitored for training and quality purposes. Simple Landlords Insurance is a business name of Millennium Insurance Brokers Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales Company No. 2103848. Registered Office: Quay Point, Lakeside Boulevard, Doncaster, DN4 5PL. Calls to 0808 are normally free of charge from landlines but charges may apply from mobile phones. Calls to 0330 numbers will cost no more than national rate calls to geographic 01 or 02 numbers and are included in any inclusive minutes or free call packages.