News from our blog
Will the proposed ban on Second homes effect landlords.
In the past two years since the pandemic, city-dwellers have taken to country and seaside settings in droves. They have flocked to Devon,Cornwall, North Wales, the Lake District and many parts of Scotland. Local residents are pushing back, and want homes to be bought by locals – not by investors and second-home owners.
The Government’s new levelling up bill offers local councils the freedom to double council tax on second homes in England as a deterrent.
So, will these proposed changes affect landlords? Click image to find out
Regular inspections
When it comes to letting out a property, there’s a lot to think about when considering the Landlords legal obligations and the importance of tenant safety during the term. Our ever-evolving legal system has, and shall continue to develop, rules to ensure all parties are kept safe and legally coherent as possible when an agreement is being made. From a Landlord’s perspective, documentation such as tenancy agreements help to prohibit possible mistreatment or unlawful letting during the term. Additionally, documents such as safety certificates help keep tenants protected in relation to several factors, these include electrical appliances, gas appliances, carbon monoxide and smoke alarms etc. Click image to read more on how we provide peace of mind for landlords..
Dress to impress!
The moment a tenant steps into the property, they will have an idea of whether they can see themselves living there. A touch of paint to the front door and a fresh neutral colour scheme throughout offer a versatile backdrop for any prospective tenant to consider how their belongings might look in situ. Neutral flooring and carpet is an appealing feature to a prospective tenant – it is worth selecting a carpet that is easily cleaned and cost-effectively replaced, as accidents do sometimes happen. If lightbulbs have lost their glow, replace them. All these things demonstrate that this Landlord cares, and are likely to appeal to a tenant who wants to make your property a cosy home.. click image to read more.
Tax changes from April 2023
WHAT LANDLORDS NEED TO KNOW..
Over the last couple of years, the Government has made a number of changes to the way income and profits are taxed. Some of these will take effect from the new tax year on 6th April, with higher earners and those letting via a limited company most affected.
Here’s a round-up of what you need to know for this year as a landlord and property investor. Click image to read more..
Small garden ideas
If you have a little outdoor space, you may think you’re limited in what you can accomplish with your garden. Even the tiniest plot may be transformed with a plethora of great and innovative small garden ideas.
Little gardens may need a bit more consideration than larger gardens, but they offer numerous benefits. For starters, it encourages you to be more creative, which may lead to a unique style and beauty. Another significant advantage is that, given their small size, they are frequently low maintenance.
You can find plenty of small garden ideas to inspire you, whether you want to construct an outstanding balcony garden, squeeze garden furniture into a courtyard, or fill a plot with greenery.
So, get creative and see what you can come up with whatever room you have
Why choose an independent agent.
We go the extra mile
From the testimonials that we have received down the years we know how much our clients value our service. Our reputation means everything to us, and we pride ourselves on the fact that our clients recommend us to their friends, which speaks volumes! We know how stressful renting a property is, and it’s our role to make sure that we take as much stress and strain out of the process for our clients. We really do go the extra mile! Click image to read more..
Decorating your rental property..
Whether the property is a totally unfurnished blank canvas, or is part-furnished and gives you something to work with, one thing’s for sure when it comes to renting: although not technically your house, you can quite easily make it feel like your home. And doing so doesn’t have to cause any damage or result in leaving items you’ve bought behind when you move on, either.
Check out our creative cosmetic tips for how to put your own stamp on a rental properly, while still being able to leave without a trace after your tenancy is up. Click image to read our simple guide.
Questions to ask when viewing a property..
It’s important to be prepared for rental viewings, so come with a list of questions to ask the letting agent or landlord. Write down their responses or save them to your phone, to help ease the renting process. Click image to read some important questions to ask at a rental viewing..
Register your home appliances..
Whether you are a landlord who supplies appliances to a tenant in a rental property or a homeowner who has bought their own appliances, there is one thing we are all guilty of when it comes to registering those appliance. We don’t!
Almost every home appliance we buy has a sticker on it encouraging us to register the appliance, often offering a free extended warranty in exchange for our popping online and completing a form. The majority of us look at this activity with cynicism. Surely the item is guaranteed under consumer law and all the manufacturer wants is our contact details? We will then get bombarded with letters in the post, text messages and emails. So, we think, there is no point in registering the item. We’re sure it is covered anyway and it avoids the plethora of messages that we really don’t want. That’s not the whole story, though and there are some really important reasons why we should all be registering the home appliances that we buy. In this article we will take a look at why you should reconsider registering your home appliances. PS you can also opt out of receiving those sometimes-irksome marketing messages – click image to read more..
All you need to know about Deposits
Deposit Schemes
Tenancy deposit scheme have been around for more than a decade – but they can still be tricky to understand for tenants.
In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about how the schemes work, the rules around them, your obligations as a tenant and what your landlord must do to stay compliant.
What is my tenancy deposit for?
Tenancy deposits are sums of money payable by tenants and used as security by landlords against costs or damage at the end of a tenancy.
Does my landlord have to take a deposit from me?
Landlords aren’t legally required to take a tenancy deposit, but it’s highly recommended and the vast majority do.
If your landlord is letting their property through an agent, they will always be required to take a deposit.
What is deposit protection?
If you sign an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST), your tenancy deposit must be protected in a deposit protection scheme, which is government-backed.
Deposit protection was introduced for all ASTs starting after April 5, 2007.
If you’re renting a property from a private landlord, your tenancy is an AST and it began after April 5, 2007, your deposit must be protected.
If your tenancy began before April 6, 2007 and you haven’t signed a new agreement since, your deposit is probably not protected and is not required to be by law.. click image to read more..