A High Specification 2 double-bedroom flat in Warwick

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This high specification, 2 double-bedroom, 1st floor stylish apartment, with a spacious living room, en-suite shower-room and bathroom, and allocated parking, is located in a development within walking distance of Warwick’s town centre, and the train stations. The apartment, fitted to an excellent standard, and has a high specification kitchen, with gas central heating and radiators, and double-glazing,

Asking price £190,000. More information on Zoopla here: http://tinyurl.com/jerbvwt

 

A 2 bedroom ground floor flat in Warwick

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This spacious ground floor flat with 2 bedrooms, and a small courtyard garden is conveniently located between Warwick and Leamington’s town centres,

Key Features:

  • Courtyard garden
  • Spacious living room
  • Located between Warwick and Leamington Spa town centres
  • Owners furnishings may be available by separate negotiation

Asking price £140,000. More infromation available on Zoopla here: http://tinyurl.com/hpsu2wt

The Letting People Leamington Spa accredited by Checkaprofessional.com

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We are delighted to announce that The Letting People Leamington Spa is now accredited with http://www.checkaprofessional.com/TheLettingPeople

We are really proud of the references received by checkaprofessional.com from some of our valued long term clients and accountants

This is a bad idea …

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“Ban on letting agent tenant fees” 

 

Landlords hit as Chancellor shifts letting agent charges away from tenants

 

Despite the housing minister MP Gavin Barwell saying in September that it was a “bad idea” it was confirmed in the Chancellor’s, MP Phillip Hammond’s Autumn Statement of 23rd November that letting agents’ fees levied on tenants will be banned *as soon as possible. Prime Minister Theresa May has also voted against such a ban, twice, in the Commons.

Richard Price, executive director at the UK Association of Letting Agents (UKALA), said: ‘A ban on agent fees may prevent tenants from receiving a bill at the start of the tenancy, but the unavoidable outcome will be an increase in the proportion of costs which will be met by landlords, which in turn will be passed on to tenants through higher rents.’ 

The Letting People are proud members of UKALA, since 2002, and also members of government-accredited redress schemes – and, as such we are a company that is at the forefront of best practice.  Obviously we will continue to have to charge a fair and reasonable fee for the work that is done to maintain our high quality of services in full compliance for both the landlord and the tenant.  

Sadly, some less scrupulous letting and estate agents may have charged over-the-top tenant and landlord fees for many years – and have thereforebrought the lettings industry into disrepute. We will continue to work with our landlords to ensure that our fees remain reasonable and competitive – but sadly it is expected that the tenant services – currently covered by the tenant’s fees – will result in these costs being transferred to our landlords.  We will notify you as soon as possible what this will mean in terms of increased costs for you to consider inevitable reasonable rent increases.

*The Letting People await a clear directive on this – no exact details and timescales have been released yet.  As soon as we have clear guidelines on the exact measures that will be taken, we will announce these as quickly as possible.

If you would like to voice your opinion to your local MP about these

changes – please do get in touch with us.

SOLD ***Attention property investors*** A 1 bed ground floor canal side development flat in Warwick

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SOLD A well-presented, ground floor, one double bedroom, apartment overlooks the Grand Union Canal

Property features

Off street parking
Central heating
Double glazing
Waterfront
No chain
Allocated parking space
Close to A46/M40
Own private entrance door to footpath
Dishwasher, fridge-freezer, oven and hob included in sale

Built in 2006, this well-presented, ground floor, one double bedroom, apartment overlooks the Grand Union Canal. The property is well-positioned has a nearby, allocated parking space, and is within easy reach of Warwick town centre, two train stations, and with particularly easy access to the A46/M40.
 

Asking price £155,000. More information on Zoopla here: http://tinyurl.com/z3myjpd

The savvy landlord’s six secret tips to selecting and using a letting agent wisely

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When selecting a letting agent the savvy landlord goes straight to a specialist.  In the same way that you would go to a dentist if you had toothache or an optician if you needed an eye test, there are times when you really need to find a lettings specialist!

This is The Letting People’s top tips for selecting your letting agent, and for using their letting services effectively. 

  1. Visit the agent’s offices. Satisfy yourself that the agent has a good local presence with offices situated in an area where you and your tenants can easily visit. Yes, we all know that the vast majority of tenants search online for a property, but when it comes to making an application and paying over any fees, rent or deposit monies, most tenants want to know they are dealing with a local reputable agent and many will arrange a personal visit to the agent’s offices. Also, you and your tenants may want to visit to discuss your tenancy in more detail and to ensure that before signing the tenancy, at the agent’s offices, all parties fully understand the terms of the tenancy.    
    Top Tip 1 – Check the Agent has local, secure, private and confidential office space.
     
  2. Talk to the business owner(s) or director(s). As a valued landlord client, have your property appraised by a senior business decision maker, who has done it all before, so you can benefit from their experience and ensure you get the best rental advice and are able to discuss and negotiate the terms of business specific to your individual circumstances.
    Top Tip 2 – Do your research. Check the agent’s business profile on Linked-in.
     
  3. Confirm the agent’s membership of professional bodies. Ensure your agent is a member of one of the professional bodies such as UKALA, NAEA, ARLA, or RICS and ask to see evidence of the agent’s client money protection insurance.  If your agent is not a member of a professional organisation which has a redress scheme, or does not have client money protection, are they trained specialists in lettings?  What would you do and where would you go for compensation if things are not done properly?
    Top Tip 3 – Check for the certificates.
     
  4. Do not pay a penny until your property is let. This may sound obvious, but it still needs saying.  However, if you are just starting out on the process, you will need to obtain an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) prior to marketing and your agent should be able to arrange this at your cost.  Otherwise, save your money.  It is your agent’s business to find suitable tenants for your property and to seek your agreement to proceed with taking up the references and to the signing of the tenancy agreement – before charging you for the service. 
    Top Tip 4 – Read the Agency Agreement carefully and watch out for ‘upfront’ fees.
     
  5. Check your Agent is advertising on all the major property portals. Be aware of your agent’s ability to obtain a tenant quickly.  Advertising on the main property portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla will be at an additional cost to the agent and be reflected in their fees. However, you do not want to have long void periods. The main property portals, taken together with the agent’s own website, should enable the agent to find a suitable prospective tenant quickly.
    Top Tip 5 – Choosing an agent simply on low cost may eventually mean you will wait much longer for a suitable tenant and this will cost you considerably in lost rental.
     
  6.  Let the Agent do the viewings. Your agent should be available to arrange viewings at a reasonable date and time convenient to the prospective tenant applicant. The agent will be able to identify the prospective tenant’s needs and match your property to their requirements, including any negotiation to secure the deal.  Prospective tenants arrange viewings, usually at short notice, and often during office hours.  Generally they do not hang about or wait patiently. Are you available to leave work at short notice, or able to leave a meeting early?

    Top Tip 6 – Let the specialists do the job of securing the best deal for your letting. If you want to meet the prospective tenants, before giving your agreement to proceed, instruct the agent to arrange a joint meeting with the prospective tenant, the agent, and yourself – all present at the property.

A specialist letting company

Residential lettings is a specialised business and, as a landlord, there are numerous legislative issues for you to be aware of.  Many of these issues will be costly if you have been found to be negligent or operating illegally.  This is where a specialist lettings company will be able to add value to your letting, as typically all the staff will have been trained in lettings and will be able to utilise their skills and expertise to ensure your letting goes as smoothly as possible.

We set up The Letting People to meet landlord demand for a local, independent and specialist letting agent.  Whether you are renting for the first time, or are an experienced property investor, we can give you advice on every aspect – from choosing the most suitable property to finding the perfect tenant.

Contact The Letting People now on 01926 888255 (Leamington Spa) or 01908 713000 (Milton Keynes) for further information

Anniversary celebrations announcements

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2014 sees some special anniversaries here at The Letting People.

12 busy years –

Since the Letting People were first founded in March 2002, in a very small office (approx. 60 square feet of useable space) in Leamington Spa!  Weekly newspaper advertising was crucial, the cost of mobile phone calls were extortionate, and hardly any of our customers had access to email… today internet advertising is crucial, mobile phone calls are sensibly priced, and we expect everyone to have daily access to email (or even Smart phone or tablet communications!)

10 happy years –

Since Anthony & Caroline Kempster, the co-founders of The Letting People were married in May 2004, in Warwick Register Office, with the reception in The Restaurant in the Park, Jephson Gardens. Our photographer didn’t have a digital camera – so please excuse the blurry picture!  This year we celebrate our Tin Wedding Anniversary so we are off to visit a tin mine in Cornwall whilst on our second honeymoon!

10 ‘team’ years –

Since Christine Kelly and Michele Thomas came to join us in our second office premises in Leamington Spa in Holly Walk.  We’ve been through another two office moves together, and today are all incredibly proud of what we have achieved in the last decade.

2 growth years –

Since Ziaull Hussain came to join us – first on a year’s undergraduate work placement, and now as a full-time Lettings Co-ordinator who commutes daily, through all weathers, to Leamington from Birmingham.

1 franchise year –

Since Philip Rayner and Michael Lomax joined The Letting People as our first franchise branch in Milton Keynes.  With their combined experience gained in the construction industry, and marketing and design knowledge, their partnership is ideally suited to develop their lettings business in a thriving city.

 

Photo credit: Darwin Bell via Compfight cc