One of Bristols Best - goodbye Gromit!

A fabulous 10 weeks of great Gromits popping up in all things green and brick. They’ve come and given a trail, an adventure a meaning to look around our great city, but sadly now they must go.

Having been a huge success throughout Bristol , with more than 200,000 people picking up a mad and 45,000 people downloading the specialist gromit finder - detect-o-matic Gromit-app raising a fantastic £20,000 for the Bristol Children's Hospital that the Grand Appeal supports.

The city was supported in all of it’s glory , museums and restaurants saw company figures almost double throughout the summer, making the Gromits an even more welcomed as visitors.

All 80 Gromits were designed by a great range of artists and celebrities - making a cracking , exciting and buzz bursting collection. The likes of Zayn Malik from One Direction and Joanna Lumley designed Gromits with poetry in motion and comic superhero themes. To boost ratings even further Buzz Lightyear and Elvis showed up through the eyes of our furry Bristolian friend.

A wonderful group of 630 adventure hungry explorers dedicated time and effort into finding all 80 Gromits, not just in our lovely Bristol but even further afield in Paddington and Cheddar Gorge, whilst over 3,000 met up with more than half of the shiny pups.

The gorgeous group have now been reunited and are receiving some much needed TLC , having ten weeks in the city has been an exhausting journey and one Bristol will remember fondly - only time will tell on how much more money we can raise for the hospital and our children - the collection of loveable Gromits will be auctioned off at the RWA in Clifton on October 3rd.

All we can say is , it’ll be nice to have them home, they’ve certainly been our best friend this summer!

Bristols Best

The best Bristol locations are easily chosen , Bristol has a wonderful selection to chose from , however the top five are firmly placed and have been for some time.

Take a look below to see why.

Clifton

Full to the brim with stunning heritage and architect and green note

s on trees . The modern eclectic  twist is truly inspired with Victorian buildings and Georgian inspiration. The streets are sometimes cobbled and the museums are high and perfectly placed by age old universities  - to which have educated the likes of …

Downend

The family hub - somewhere that’[s affordable for the professional family joe. A classic high street and pretty church , a mezze pub is included and quirky cafes along with the expected post office and travel shop make this a great place to rent or buy - it’s not got the speed of Clifton but then it doesn't have the price tag either.

Bedminster

The new and up and coming cosmopolitan property hotspot. dotted with cool cafes and town folk, this area is full of urban chic and student cool. A great place to rent or buy - find a park and chuck a frisbee - better still grow some veg at home and embrace the home-baked style of Bedminster funk.

Thornbury

A place your mum and dad bought in, once they had earnt enough. Slightly pricey for a slow paced suburb but safe, sound and well respected. Traditional pubs and restaurants, a home from home feel where people know your aunties cats name and when she had kittens. A great warm and cosy place to buy with fabulous schools and memorable firework displays on guy Fawkes night - ooh and a swimming pool in the local playing field - embracing community feel at it’s best.

Horfield

The in-betweeners location , it’s close to the heart of the city , has hotspots of social calendar filling - stretches onto the Gloucester road empire and homes a great leisure centre. People that live here have lived here for years , as have their parents and generations before them. Crime can creep  in being so close to the city scrapers - but be reminded , you can get a quirky Victorian flat for a good price and a short walk from all things exciting. Feel the real Bristol, deep into it’s roots in this part of town.

Bristol is definitely a city to be proud of - go hunting it’s tipped with smart cafes, chic vintage independents and professional business minds, Bristol offers greenery and concrete at it’s best.- a cool combination of all things a city should be.

Thrice- not as nice for Scottish landlord

Landlord Andrew Meehan was ordered to pay his tenants Ross Fraser and Alison Pease  a whopping £3,450 after he failed to secure their £1,150 deposit.

The cash deposit was not returned to the tenant as as it should have been. All deposits are now set to be paid into a specialist fund to protect tenants against this kind of situation. A prevention into deposits being lost or kept back from the rightful recipient  is crucial. Mr Meehan proved that the system can sometimes be abused by landlords and that if this is the case , then there is a hefty price to pay.

This is one of the first cases to be brought to light by tenants, under the new government regulation scheme put in place in 2012 in Scotland.

It is a rule and warning that landlords will be ordered to pay up to three times the deposit owed to their tennant in the instance that they cannot return the original deposit amount upon leave of the rental residence.

The winning tenants - Ross Fraser and Alison Pease, said: "We are delighted with the sheriff's decision in this case.

"We believe it serves as a warning to other landlords about the necessity of complying with the tenancy deposit regulations, which remove the need for tenants to take rogue landlords to court to ensure the fair return of their deposits."

This is a major breakthrough in property law, lets hope it travels from city to city - reassuring landlords and tenants that there are rules and they are there to protect and serve, whatever you position.

L&G set to be come biggest landlord yet

The lord of the land has arrived. Legal & General (L&G) plan is to invest a whopping £15bn into housing , education, energy and transport over the next ten years. Mr Wilson has made a strong point that while house prices rising for house owners today is a very positive move on what has been a struggling property market since 2008, the rise in prices will only hinder the first time buyers of 2013 by making it even harder to reach that all important deposit. 

Nigel Wilson , head of Legal & General has stated to the BBC that there is  “intergenerational injustice” towards young people who simply can’t get jobs due to the recession and ridiculous  height of education fees.

Young people could feel their problems are exacerbated. Planning for more properties is hard and as Mr Wilson says "Planning in the UK is probably as difficult as it gets anywhere in the world,". Houses that are built are instead of a £120,000 house a year now scaled up to a £250,000 a year - a generous portion of which should be rented out to the FTB’s of society. Such an increase in supply will mean building on a green belt land - making it a positive move.

It is an excellent idea that before applauding ourselves when house prices increase, there should a system in place that allows a halt on value growth for a minimum of 3 years , encouraging supply on houses.

L&G have already made their first direct stamp within the housing sector, in March they purchased a 46.5% stake in the house builder Cala. Igniting their thirst for the rental market, as part of a strategy to target socially useful projects i.e. education. transport and energy sectors) to deliver high rates of return to Legal and General making them the next big thing - if not the biggest thing to come through into the land of landlords of since 2008 at the very least.

Get the Bristol Investment Buzz

Bristol is buzzing , with an exuberant night-life and eclectic mixture of arts. It’s pure heritage and the fact that's it’s homed the likes of ‘Banksy’ are just a few keys points of what draws a tenant from near or far.

A commuter city for the likes of London, Cardiff and Cornwall, the bright lights of Bristol are most certainly shining in the buy to let market. The university of Bristol is one of the UK's best , educating the likes of Darren Brown, James Blunt and Sir Jonathan Evans.

The SS Great Britain , Brunel Bridge and @Bristol explore building and University of Bristol  mean that Bristol is one of the few places to encapsulate modern and historic style in one city beat. Home to 13,000 students, the University of Bristol is a redbrick University and highly regarded in the UK. Whether looking to rent to student, business or professional tenants, there are many options to explore for the scoping prospective landlord.

Many people are now looking to rent in the vibrant Harbourside area of the city. Rental prices in On average rent paid for a one bedroom house was £543 per month, whilst the average price for property regardless of size is a collective of £707 per month. Rental prices in Bristol city expensive compared to the rest of the country due to the fact that it covers all niches and nik-pics of the average tenant aged 18-36yrs

The facts are clear, the rental is high but the perks are worth it . The education is rating , the history is still intact, the city is moving in a cosmopolitan and modern way with regards to attitude and architecture. Demand remains and the sight of a ‘to let’ board is rare - especially in the property hotspots of Clifton, Redland and Stokes Croft.

So, when choosing an investment property, one that will stand by you for the years to come - deliver a promising financial return. Move in the direction of the Bristol Property Centre (BPC) and select with people who know property AND the secret streets of the city it’s built in.

Renting in retirement

Did you know that 42% of private renters are retired? Well according to a report by Prudential they are and they pay an average of £423 a month in rent.

The report says that many have sold their own properties in order to release much needed cash. It lists the main reasons for this demographic choosing to rent as:

• A need to pay off debts – 40%
• To increase their retirement savings – 9%
• To pay for separations and divorces – 19%
• Because they can’t afford the cash deposit to buy a home – 35%
• Because they can’t afford to buy a home full stop – 41%
• As a lifestyle choice – 15%
• To financially aid their families

A retirement expert at Prudential, Stan Russell said: “Renting in retirement can make financial sense and accessing property wealth to boost retirement income is a genuine solution for many. Our research shows that many retired renters are perfectly happy with this arrangement.

“However, retirees should be aware of the extra financial burden they could be taking on if they choose to sell up and rent. I would urge everyone in the run up to retirement to speak with a financial adviser to help them plan and save for the income they’ll need to cover their costs when they stop working.”

Safety First

According to research by The Electrical Safety Council, a staggering 1.7 million tenants have reported electrical faults to their landlords. But what’s more worrying is that 1.3 million are still waiting for these issues to be resolved. 

Your landlord is legally obliged to ensure the electrical installation in the property is safe, otherwise they could face huge fines.

So before you move into a rented property, be sure to check that it meets with The Electrical Safety Council’s check-list below:

Check

• that sockets, switches and light fittings are in good condition with no signs of damage such as cracking or burn marks
• that leads (flexible cables) on appliances aren't damaged or frayed
• that any electrical appliances provided by the landlord have up to date PAT (Portable Appliance Test) stickers on them. Although this is not a legal requirement, it is recommended by the Electrical Safety Council. A typical PAT sticker will have been filled in by the electrician who inspected and tested the appliance. (PAT testing is not generally required if the appliance is under a year old.)
• that the consumer unit (fuse box) has RCD protection. An RCD is a lifesaving device that protects against electric shock and reduces the risk of electrical fires’

How does your garden grow?

It looked as if summer would never arrive and then bam, a heat wave. So naturally we make a mad dash outside to cash in on it, only to find the garden is also making the most of it. Where did all those weeds come from? Where the hell is the BBQ? And how am I supposed to get to the shed to unearth my sun lounger? Does this sound familiar?

Who’s responsible?

If you are renting a property, then it’s highly likely you are responsible for the upkeep of the garden or gardens and outside area. Your Tenancy Agreement should outline what is expected of you, if not speak to your landlord.

That’ll be you then

So unless your landlord is a keen gardener and kindly keeps everything looking lovely for you, you’ll just have to get out there and start gardening and mowing that lawn. Your landlord may have been kind enough to leave a lawn mower and tools to make the job easier.

Of course if you have limited time and the funds to hire a gardener, this is a great way to ensure your garden always looks tip top. This means you can make the most of outdoor summer living and keep your landlord happy too.

If you’re looking for a rented property with a garden in the Bristol area or you would like us to manage your property, give us a call on 0117 9073577.

What’s on the box?

So you’ve just moved into your fab new rented home. It’s just how you remembered it from the viewing, fully furnished and ready to live in. Brilliant. In fact you still can’t believe that your landlord had the good sense to install a huge wall-mounted flat screen TV. Result. But before you get too comfortable on the sofa and settle down for an evening’s viewing, have you checked that you’ve got a TV licence?

Has the landlord got it covered?

Your landlord may have also extended their generosity to cover the licence for the property too, but it’s best not to assume this. Always check before you find yourself in deep water with the guys at TV Licensing.

Who’s responsible for the TV licence?

Generally, tenants are responsible for acquiring the TV licence for the property they rent. This is true even if you only rent a room in a shared property, live in a self-contained annex or flat or rent the entire property. Also if you lodge in a property, but have a separate tenancy agreement.

Give us a call on 0117 9073577 if you need advice on your rented property or are looking for a new pad. We’re here to help.

Tenants: how to get your deposit back

So it’s time to hit the road and move on to a new home, which means you’ll want to ensure you get your full deposit back.  Now landlords are generally pretty fair people, so if you’ve not completely trashed their property there’s a good chance you’ll get it back in full.  However, if you just up sticks and leave without a little tidy up, then you’re asking to lose it.

Here’s a little guide to help you recoup your deposit when it’s time to say adiós:

Don’t have the mother of all parties the night before you’re due to handover the property and run through your inventory.  That is unless you have a biohazard team booked in to clear up the carnage at 06.00 hours.

Do engage the services of a professional cleaner if your tenancy agreement states this as a term or speak nicely to an OCD friend or your mum.  If the property is in tip top condition you’ll get your deposit back.

Don’t expect your last minute bodged DIY attempts to rectify or cover up damage to cut it with your landlord or letting agency.  For instance placing the sofa in the middle of the room to disguise a damaged carpet will definitely raise suspicion.  As will missing furniture and your evasiveness as to where the fridge freezer might be.  This will generally not be sufficient to ward off probing questions.

Do make good any damage that has occurred during your tenancy with the help of a professional.  Or replace ‘missing’ or broken objects to lessen the impact on the return of your deposit.

Bedroom Tax still making the headlines

We’re not surprised really are you? The Government’s Bedroom Tax or under-occupancy charge came into effect on April 1st of this year and is not popular among tenants. And we’re betting it has caused plenty of upheaval for landlords too.

In May we saw the first casualty of the new policy when Stephanie Bottrill took her own life. She was very clear about who she blamed in a note left to her son. It read: "Don't blame yourself for me ending my life. The only people to blame are the Government."

This month a march organised by the Birmingham Benefit Justice Campaign took place in her memory and was reported by the BBC. Bridget Parsons who is one of the organisers said of the Bedroom Tax: “It's throwing thousands of people across the country into despair. People simply can't afford to pay, they're facing eviction.”

The BBC also revealed the findings of a ‘report by the University of Cambridge and seven housing associations across the eastern region’. It claimed that the Bedroom Tax did not work and only increased the need for one-bedroom properties in the region which would take years to build. In the interim period tenants are facing increased financial difficulty.

Renting may become the norm for the next generation

A report by the Halifax has revealed that the next generation may follow in the footsteps of our European neighbours who find it favourable to rent property as opposed to buy.

The Evening Standard’s article dated 17th June, shared statistics from the report:

• Eight thousand people were interviewed for the survey and 52% believed that renting would become the standard
• In 2011 the same question elicited the same response from 46% of people surveyed
• The 20-45 year old age group didn’t have faith in the Government’s efforts to help first-time buyers
• 40% were unsure that Help to Buy and NewBuy Government schemes would help either
• 30% of 20-45 year olds believed the schemes may help, but 30% believed the opposite too
• 71% of younger people surveyed thought the difficulties faced by first-time buyers would cause a divide between those who can and those who can’t afford to get on the property ladder
• Of the non-homeowners surveyed, three-fifths were concerned that retirement would be hampered by lifelong rental obligations
• One-fifth of the people surveyed had given up trying to get on the property ladder

Positive response to The Property Ombudsman Scheme

In a bid to stamp out rogue letting agents, The Property Ombudsman Scheme is pleased to announce that ten thousand letting agents have already joined the scheme.

According to Letting Agent Today, the new scheme reached this impressive number of members at the beginning of May. It is hoped more letting agents will follow suit as the year continues.

Chief operating officer Gerry Fitzjohn of The Property Ombudsman said: “We started 2013 with 9,750 lettings branches so are delighted to have passed the milestone of 10,000 letting branches in membership.

“TPO welcomes the housing minister Mark Prisk’s recent announcement that all lettings agents will be required to join a redress scheme such as TPO but we still have to work out the detail with the Government as to how this change will be implemented.

“Given that 10,000 letting branches are already voluntarily members of TPO, it is clear that we will be able to make a major contribution to those discussions.

“Those agents are signed up to our comprehensive code of practice, providing consumers with clear understanding of the service standards they can expect of TPO agents, who make up a majority of the industry.

“The code gives consumers confidence they will be treated fairly and that risk to them is reduced because there is a process for resolving disputes that may arise.”

Competitive renting

We’ve all heard of competitive Dads, but what about competitive renting? Of course we are referring to the fact that a larger number of people are looking to rent as opposed to buying property at the moment.

Tenants are two-a-penny

Once upon a time just finding the perfect rental pad was the only obstacle for tenants. Nowadays they are up against high volumes of renters also competing for the best bargain, the ideal location and the most amenable landlord.

So how do your tenants seeking their dream rental property win landlords over?

Make the right impression

As with any scenario when you want to impress, such as meeting prospective in-laws or a potential boss, it’s beneficial to look the part. Looking a complete state could easily translate as ‘I don’t care how I look, therefore how I treat your fixtures and fittings and property’. Dressing smartly will say ‘I care about my appearance, myself and therefore your property’.

Offer the complete package

Be polite and personable. Show enthusiasm for the property, but keep it genuine. And most importantly take the paperwork your potential new landlord will want to see. This includes positive references, proof of employment, bank details and a guarantor’s letter if required. This display of organisation will go down well with your landlord and may just give you the edge over other interested parties.

Shelter watches tenants’ backs

Calling all tenants! Did you know that your landlord is legally obliged to place your deposit in a Government-backed scheme within 30 days of receiving it? This is to protect you from unfair deductions to your deposit and from it being withheld altogether when your tenancy ends.

The Telegraph newspaper reports that following a survey of 4,000 tenants in England by the charity Shelter, nearly one in three tenants is unaware that this protection exists for their benefit. Shelter proactively campaigned for a change in the law to protect tenants.

Here’s what the charity’s chief executive, Campbell Robb had to say on the new findings: "We campaigned for this change in the law to stop renters from losing money in unfair deposit deductions, so it's extremely worrying that so many are still unaware of their tenancy deposit rights.

"We know that most landlords do the right thing but unfortunately some are still unaware of their responsibilities to protect the deposits that are given to them in good faith.

"At Shelter we hear from thousands of renters who have huge chunks deducted from their deposit for no good reason, or who have to wait months to get their money back."

For more information on the Government-backed tenancy deposit protection scheme, visit the GOV.UK website.

Increased use of Accelerated Possession orders by landlords

As the nation battles the ever-increasing cost of living, the Independent reports a rise in ultra-quick evictions for tenants in rent arrears.

According to findings by legal information provider Sweet & Maxwell, landlords are not hanging around when it comes to evicting struggling tenants. Instead they are implementing accelerated possession orders. These can be facilitated online and enable landlords to evict tenants once their tenancies have expired.

The use of such orders through the courts (England and Wales) has increased by 42% in the last year from 7,196 to 10,244.

Tenants are up against increased rents, the newly enforced Bedroom Tax, the rising costs of food and heating, as well as high unemployment.

The Gov.uk website has useful advice for tenants facing the possibility of eviction and the threat of an accelerated possession order. Here are some of the valid points they raise about the latter.

Your landlord can only evict you using an accelerated possession order if:

• you have an assured shorthold tenancy or a statutory periodic tenancy
• you have a written tenancy agreement
• they’ve given you the required written notice (a minimum of 2 months) in the right form
• they haven’t asked you to leave before the end of a fixed-term tenancy

How private rental is impacting on childhood

According to the charity Shelter, the constant upheaval of moving from rented property caused by 6 or 12 month tenancies, is having a negative effect on childhood.

The charity recently identified the following concerns in a report called Growing up renting:

• 1 in 10 renting families have had to change their children’s school in the past five years
• 44% of renting parents say that their child would have a better childhood if they had more stability in their home
• 13% said that the move was stressful or upsetting for their children
• 1 in 8 renting families (13%) reported having to sofa surf with family and friends while between homes

Shelter has advocated the need for a change in the length of tenancy contracts since September last year. Their proposal for a Stable Rental Contract could give families with children more stability by providing them with more realistic five year tenancies.

This in turn could provide private landlords with long term tenants and lessen the rigmarole of securing new tenants or extending tenancies every 6 to 12 months.

What do you think of Shelter’s suggested Stable Rental Contract? Does it appeal to you as either a landlord or a tenant? Let us know your views.