Energy Performance Certificates - Important Info for Landlords
Jane Gardner : Head of Lettings : 12 September 2008
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL LANDLORDS. NEW LEGISLATION REGARDING ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES FROM 1ST OCTOBER 2008.
As from 1st October 2008, all rental properties in England and Wales will be required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) prior to marketing.
The good thing is that these certificates will remain valid for 10 years, however, tenants will be able to see, at a glance, how energy efficient and environmentally friendly your property is! The report will give you the current ratings and the recommendations for improving the property in order to lower the running costs and CO2 emissions, in other words to help the environment.
Of course, it is another expense to consider at the outset of renting your property, but, in the long run, this legislation is designed to encourage people to consider their carbon footprint and, surely, that cannot be a bad thing.
For Landlords who have been trying to sell and are now considering the rental option, you would already have an EPC as part of your HIP. However, if you don’t have one organised and are marketing or considering marketing your property for rent, please call us to organise one or you could end up losing valuable marketing time while waiting on your certificate to come through.
Call your local Parkheath office for EPC details today.
Have you been offered a letting fee that is too good to be true?
Emily : Lettings Negotiator : 03 September 2008
Unfortunately it most probably is, with demand for rental property so high many agents are running out of properties to offer waiting tenants and in turn are slashing their letting and management fees in a desperate attempt to win instructions and attract landlord's.
It is only natural that Landlords should want to keep their costs down and even more so with the current state of affairs, many vendors are being forced to rent their properties out due to being unable to sell them in the current market. However Landlords need to be aware that when choosing a letting agent, the saying, 'You get what you pay for' very much applies in terms of service and professionalism. Cut price fees are likely to jeopardise quality of service and tenant, and it is worth bearing in mind that if an agent is offering a lower fee, because of their poor financial situation, they may not have sufficient funds to deliver any kind of a service at all. Fee cutting could end up being unsustainable and costly, and in the worst cases, cause agents to shut up shop, possibly leaving both landlord and tenant out of pocket.
Many people are under the misconception that it does not take much more than an advert in the local paper to rent a property, however in reality it takes a lot of time, money, hard-work and resources, to do the job properly. Some prime examples are knowledgeable staff trained in all legal aspects of lettings and therefore an understanding of the law and importance of abiding by it! A professional referencing service with rent guarantees offered as part of that service, an efficient and well organised management team available on call 24/7, all of this and more, resulting in a tenant’s safety and a landlord’s interest being protected at all times.
When deciding on a lettings agent, do not let price alone compromise the importance of experience, reputation and professionalism. Parkheath can offer all the above plus a fantastic enthusiasm and dedication to the industry, we are ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents) registered and so you can feel confident in the knowledge that you are in safe hands at all times when dealing with Parkheath.
Tenants– are you ready???
Jessica Ryan : Property Management Consultant : 01 September 2008
If you are looking at renting you better be ready for a whirlwind ride as the lettings market is going crazy. The market has changed; Landlords are no longer struggling to get a tenant to commit to a rental or having to consider a reduction on the rental price… These days Tenants need to look good for a Landlord and be quick to move because, to be honest, Landlords have a lot of choice!
This is where you want to ensure you have registered with Parkheath! We are gaining instructions to market quality properties daily and when you are registered with us you will receive the details by text bulletin and email as soon as the property comes on the books, giving you the highest chance of being first in line to view. In this bouyant market you need to be ready for anything as, if there is a property that you like, there is probably another prospective tenant right behind you.
These days it is also about offering the right price, prospective tenants are trying to outbid each other to secure the property they want. You have to be prepared to jump in feet first and move quickly if you see something that grabs your fancy. Make sure you have good references available and are prepared to put your money down before someone pips you to the post!
If you are a Landlord - don’t forget that Parkheath will also be texting and emailing your property as soon as it comes on our books, so none of this waiting around for an offer with us. No more losing revenue while the property sits idle, normally applicants are seeing the property on the first day and a lot of times by the second day we are approaching you with an offer.
So ladies and gentleman, if you want to find a property quickly - register with us today, although please be warned that there are no dawdlers accepted in the fast lane of lettings!!!
Your Steps to Renting a Property
Rickmansworth : 29 May 2008
STEP 1
Pick the area and type of property
While you may be boosting someone else's investment by renting (rather than investing in your own future by purchasing a property), there are huge upsides too; and the biggest is choice! When renting you can find yourself living in an area or type of house that you would never be able to afford to buy. Firstly set your budget and let that dictate the kind of property you can look at. Virtually every kind of home is available to rent, from a tiny bed-sit to a five bed detached house in the countryside. Look at the amenities available nearby and consider how the home fits with your desired lifestyle.
STEP 2
Be prepared and don't dawdle
Unlike the current situation for buying a property, you can't afford to delay decisions on renting the property you like. The recent removal of 100% and some 95% mortgages means fewer first time buyers can afford to buy, and so are continuing to rent, boosting rental demand. You need to be able to give firm clear decisions and have the funds in place to pay a deposit when you find the rental home you like, a brief hesitation could cost you your dream property.
STEP 3
Ensure it's all legal and safe
There are a host of laws designed to protect you as a tenant, from deposit protection schemes, to the need to get gas appliances checked once a year. Ask the landlord or their agent for proof that the house is safe and legal. The general state of the property will give you an idea if it is being correctly maintained or not. Check that safety devices, such as the smoke detector, are in working order. Ensure that you are signing a proper rental contract for full protection. If in doubt, make sure to use a regulated agent, look for the ARLA logo.
Parkheath have a dedicated Lettings & Management Team on hand to answer all your burning questions. Whether you are a Landlord or Tenant we have the Knowledge, qualifications and, of course, the experience to Make your renting experience a pleasure.
There is So Much for a Landlord to Remember
Rickmansworth : 21 May 2008
One of the most important things is to have an annual gas safety inspection carried out. This is a legal requirement with severe criminal penalties for non-compliance.
Gas is exceptionally dangerous, if a gas appliance leaks it could have very dangerous results; as a Landlord you could find yourself in a terrible position; as a Tenant you could find yourself injured or worse!! The whole point of instructing a Managing Agent is to enable the Landlord to sit back and relax while their investment is taken care of. When a property is managed by Parkheath, it is in the safest possible hands; we are fully aware of tenancy legislation, and we will arrange to have everything taken care of when it is required. At Parkheath we use only the best contractors to carry out Gas Safety Inspections on behalf and I cannot stress enough the importance of using a contractor with all the right qualifications, i.e. being a Corgi registered, experienced engineer.
If you are a Landlord…. why don’t you take a break from the stress that comes with the job and let our Management department take care of your property for you?
If you are a Tenant…. You can be assured that all the properties you view or rent with Parkheath, are going to adhere to all the safety legislation required to keep you safe!
Take The ‘Headache’ Out of Letting Your Property
Rickmansworth : 23 April 2008
Take the ‘headache’ out of letting your Property by having Parkheath Let & Manage it for you….
It has been another very busy month for the Parkheath Lettings & Management Team at our new Rickmansworth High Street offices. This month alone the Parkheath Lettings team have added another 5 properties to our Managed Property portfolio, taking the overall number to well over 100. Of these, a large percentage have been looked after by us for many years and we know the properties almost as well as the Landlords – if not better! We regularly receive testimonials from happy Landlords & Tenants, of which we are extremely proud. One such happy Landlord who lives in Australia, and whose property we have Let & Managed since 2003, sent me the following message…
‘We really appreciate the efforts you make looking after our property. You are always cheerful, professional and interested. Without you and your colleagues at Parkheath it would be impossible for us to maintain the property, as we are SO far away’.
We are always on the lookout for new additions to our portfolio and our hard working, in-house Management team are qualified & keen to look after yours. So if you are a Landlord and you want a stress free life – Call us at Parkheath and we can help you save time, sit back, relax and let us look after most important asset for you.
Parkheath Helps Landlord Win Court Claim
Rickmansworth : 05 March 2008
My Lettings Director & I went to Court this week on behalf of one of our Landlords, who resides in Australia. We have been looking after this particular property for many years but recently had the misfortune of a Tenant who did not pay their last months’ rent and left the property with a little to be desired! Being ARLA agents, we were confident that with a first class Tenancy Agreement in place and a full Independent Inventory check, at both the start and the end of the tenancy, that the Landlords would be awarded the money owed to them – and we were right, we won the full claim plus costs, and our Landlords are delighted!
Court Action is something we endeavour to avoid, as it is very time consuming and stressful for all concerned, however, we appreciate that at times, it is necessary. We want our Landlords to know that, should the need arise, we have the correct knowledge and are capable to undertake this as part of our Managed Service, often without the need of Solicitors. If you want to instruct an agent who knows about Lettings Residential Law, then call us today on 01923 721900 and instruct us to Let & Manage your Property, you’ll have the peace of mind to know
that we will be there for you in every eventuality.
The Importance of an Inventory.............
Rickmansworth : 20 February 2008
Many Landlords ask us:
"Why do I need a professional inventory, my property is unfurnished, there’s nothing in it?"
The most common problem arising between the Landlord and the Tenant is a dispute about the condition of the property and/or it’s contents, at the end of the tenancy. Now that the Tenant’s Deposit is held in a Tenancy Deposit Scheme (by law the Landlord can no longer hold the Tenant’s Deposit on most Tenancies) it is not possible to make deductions from the deposit, without PROVING that the Tenant has caused unfair wear & tear, or damage to the property. It is almost impossible to prove this without having an inventory from the outset of the tenancy, which has been prepared in an ‘un-biased fashion’ i.e. by an independent 3rd party!
Parkheath use the services of an excellent professional inventory company called HC Inventories, who are members of the AIIC (Association of Independent Inventory Clerks). The clerk, Harvey (pictured here), will meet the tenant at the property on ‘moving-in day’ and conduct a room by room inspection and produce a full detailed report with photographic evidence. Even if the property is unfurnished it is imperative to record the condition of the walls, windows, carpets, appliances and lighting etc in case of a future dispute. The inventory clerk will return again at the end of the tenancy to conduct a ‘check-out’ report, which will be passed to the landlord to assist in assessing how the Tenancy Deposit Scheme will return the security deposit.
Our considerable experience has shown that a detailed inventory conducted at the start the tenancy leads to a much higher chance of the property being returned to the Landlord in the same condition at the end of the tenancy. It is always money well spent and I have never known a Landlord to regret spending the money for a Professional Inventory. If you have any questions regarding this please call me,
Landlords - The Importance of Choosing an ARLA Agent
Head Office : 04 January 2008
ARLA is a regulatory body for Lettings Agents in the United Kingdom which is recognised as the leading professional body for the rentals sector by government, local authorities, consumer interest groups and the media. Membership is only open to agents who can demonstrate that they have a thorough knowledge of their industry, and that they conduct their business in a professional manner.
Choosing the wrong agent can have dire consequences for landlords, including huge legal expenses, loss of rent, long void periods, loss of tenant’s deposit and penalties for not complying with legislation. By contrast, the right letting agent can maximise your chances of enjoying a trouble-free and profitable let, and give you the confidence of knowing that everything is being looked after legally and reliably on your behalf. Consulting a professional, experienced and trustworthy letting agent is often the key to a successful investment. Parkheath joined The Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA) in 2003, primarily to provide peace of mind to their landlords and tenants.
With more than twenty different regulations, Acts and rules that landlords must abide by – a recent change to the Housing Act (2004) allows Ministers to introduce further regulations without reverting to the House of Commons – it is now more important than ever that you and your letting agent keep up to date with legislation affecting your investment.
Parkheath are fully bonded members of ARLA and have built their reputation on providing a friendly, reliable and professional service. We have remained the first choice for thousands of landlords and tenants across North West London.
Has Your Agent Joined The Tenancy Deposit Scheme?
Head Office : 25 March 2007
