Insurance companies have paid out large amounts to customers as a result of the severe weather conditions over the past few months.

Recently-published figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) have revealed that insurance firms paid out £650 million during what was the coldest UK winter for 30 years.

Landlords who do not take proper inventories are risking their money, the National Landlords Association (NLA) has warned.

Some landlords are left with damage or cleaning costs or face having to replace furniture and fittings by not taking the proper precautions, the association claimed.

This could result in a drain on finances, which the NLA said is the "last thing" landlords need when they are facing rental arrears and void periods.

The association is launching a new inventory service offering a "simple" way for landlords to ensure their properties and contents are covered.

NLA chairman David Salusbury said: "Put simply, inventories are not an optional extra. They are just as important as getting your tenant to sign their AST, or protecting their deposit.

"If you want to avoid having to pay for your tenants even after they've moved out, taking an inventory will help."

He also urged landlords to consider proper check out reports at the end of a tenancy saying it was a sensible way to note any changes in the condition of the property.

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An increasing number of landlords and letting agents are using video evidence in tenancy disputes, according to one deposit protection organisation.

Up to five pieces of video evidence per week are now be submitted to the online dispute service of mydeposits.co.uk, a government-approved scheme.

Landlords looking to secure new mortgage deals are likely to find the market "pretty unchanged" over the next few months.

That is the view of Alexander Hall, which has met recent lending increases with scepticism.

The property firm indicated that there is likely to be a period of consolidation from lenders before better options for investors become available.

Landlords trying to make improvements to their properties need to recognise the limitations of their ability, experts have pointed out.

Rather than bringing in professionals, many people may try to carry out work on homes themselves.

However, Build It has urged landlords and other property investors not to complete dangerous activities themselves.

Property values in the UK increased lat month, the new Halifax House Price Index has shown.

The study indicated that home values rose by 1.6 per cent during September, marking the third month in a row when property prices have gone up.

September was also the fifth month overall in 2009 that has seen a positive change in house prices, while there was a 2.8 per cent jump in prices during the third quarter of the year.

Savings are being used to pay for home improvements as landlords and other homeowners look to add value to their properties, new research has indicated.

A study from the National Home Improvement Show revealed that 62 per cent of new features added to houses are funded by savings.

Landlords can make the biggest returns on investment by making simple alterations to their properties, a new survey has claimed.

Research from Halifax suggested that small home improvement changes are the best way to raise the value of homes.