Landlord Zone

Welcome to the Landlord Zone. This is a page of our blog dedicated to one of the most important groups within the property sector: Landlords.

 At Bristol Property Centre we always aim to build strong and professional relationships with any landlord that uses our services. We understand how important it is for a Landlord to issue their trust in letting agents, and always assure any new customers that they will not be disappointed with our services. 

This blog page will not only be used to highlight how our services can benefit landlords, but will also be used as a web space to discuss any industry related news or issues which may affect Landlords directly! Please feel free to contact us regarding anything discussed on our blog at info@bristolpropertycentre.co.uk. We are always interested in your views and are ultimately always here to help!

---

1/07/13: To furnish or not to furnish your buy to let property?

Well according to the Property Reporter that all depends on which demographic you are targeting. And whether you are looking for short term or long term tenants.

Here are the key points raised in their article:

Furnish if...

Your target group is young i.e. students or young professionals. These groups tend not to have removal van-loads of furniture to accommodate. Therefore they will be looking for a property that includes at least the basics, so we’re talking a bed, sofa and the all important white goods.

You want to take advantage of your tax allowances and claim 10% of the annual net rent. This will help to cover the costs generated by wear and tear to your furnishings.

Don’t furnish if...

Your target group is the older end of the demographic scale. These guys have accumulated furniture along the way and will be looking for unfurnished properties to accommodate their possessions. Especially their favourite chair.

You don’t fancy the responsibility of maintaining or replacing furniture. This also eliminates the hassle of pesky tenants who want to change or remove specific items of furniture.

---

24/06/13: Immigration Bill update regarding landlords

The newly proposed Immigration Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech in May might not be as hard-hitting on landlords as it first seemed.

Its main focus is the prevention of immigrants accessing services they are not entitled to. Initially it looked to be putting the onus on landlords to check the immigration status of their tenants. It was felt that landlords would feel the brunt by way of hefty fines if tenants were found to be illegal immigrants.

However, the Telegraph newspaper has reported that ‘officials in Eric Pickles’ department are now working on applying the change only in areas where immigrants are known to live in 'high occupation' houses, such as in places like Ealing and Hounslow. Further details are expected when the Immigration Bill is published later this year.’

So if this is successful not every landlord in the UK will be affected by the new Bill, just those in problem areas. Perhaps that’s some consolation...what do you think?

Bristol Property Centre is here to help with property management services and useful information via our Landlord Clinic. Give us a call on 0117 9073577 or send an email to info@bristolpropertycentre.co.uk.

---

17/06/13:“Our survey says...”

Funnily enough we mentioned in our previous blog, ‘What do tenants look for in a property?’ dated 15/4/13, how the lack of a good internet connection could be a deal-breaker with some tenants.

And it would seem we were right. According to Letting Agent Today, a series of focus groups and a nationwide survey of 1,500 students, have revealed that ‘...almost nine out of ten (88%) considered a fast internet connection the most important feature about a property.’

So landlords you might want to make sure your Internet connections and Wi-Fi networks are up to speed, especially if you want to cash in on the student rental market.

The research was commissioned by ‘accommodationforstudents’ and revealed many positive findings.  Letting Agent Today reported that ‘The majority of students (66%) who responded to the survey lived in properties which were managed by landlords and letting agents, and almost 60% of these had a positive relationship with them.’

Also that ‘When looking at where to live, the most important factor to a 58% majority of students was proximity to university, but with price the most influential factor in making the final choice. Most students in private rental accommodation were generally more satisfied that they were getting value for money than those in private or university halls of residence. Seven out of ten students feel that inclusive rents are important as this helps them keep track of their finances.’

On the negative side, the survey and article revealed that ‘...students reported a wide range of issues with landlords – the most frequently cited related to communication issues: either a perceived lack of response on maintenance issues (40%) or a general lack of communication (32.5%). Just over half (51%) of students felt their deposit had been unfairly with-held.’

We think you’ll agree this information gives a real insight into student letting.

---

10/06/13:Eek you’ve got squatters

An empty rental property is every landlord’s worst nightmare. Not only is it a loss of income that puts a real strain on your financial resources, it’s also a very attractive opportunity for squatters.

How to protect your rental property from squatters

Checking that your empty property is as secure as possible is a given, but it doesn’t hurt to check it regularly for signs of a break in or squatters. Make sure all windows and doors have the appropriate locks. Remove ladders or objects from the exterior of the property that could aid squatters or thieves’ entry. Install CCTV as a deterrent and an easy way to monitor the premises when you can’t visit regularly.

Remove the opportunity

Engaging the services of a letting agency can speed up the rental process and thus limit the time your property is empty. Letting agents generally offer several levels of service, from full to partial management.

By getting a letting agent onboard you can relinquish some or all of the responsibility that comes with managing your rental property or properties. They will handle viewings, checking prospective tenants’ credentials, manage the day to day running and ensure that the property meets all the latest regulations.

Get in touch

for further information on our

property management services

and see

Landlordzone.co.uk

for advice on dealing with squatters.

---

4/06/13:Landlords and tenancy deposit schemes

So we’ve asked on our blog homepage if tenants are up to speed with the Government-backed tenancy deposit protection scheme. That’s because the charity Shelter has revealed that one in three tenants are clueless about the protection available to them.

With that in mind, do you as a landlord know your legal obligations regarding the tenancy deposit scheme? We’re pretty certain you do, but just in case they have slipped your mind, here’s a quick reminder courtesy of the GOV.UK website.

• You are legally required to place your tenant’s deposit in a Government-backed tenancy deposit scheme within 30 days of receipt
• The Government recommends the following four schemes: Deposit Protection Service (Custodial and Insured), MyDeposits, Tenancy Deposit Scheme and Capita Tenancy Deposit Protection
• Your tenant is entitled to their deposit at the end of the tenancy as long as they have met the terms of the tenancy agreement, paid the rent and bills and not damaged the property
• The deposit must be returned to the tenant within 10 days of the tenancy ending
• The deposit will be protected by the tenancy deposit scheme if you are in dispute with your tenant

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

---

28/05/13: Rent Check report reveals growing private rented sector in England and Wales

A new Rent Check report by BDRC Continental and Allsop LLP shows that the private rental market is growing. In England alone, 3.8m homes (17%) of all households are private rentals.

The report gauges the actual rents agreed by members of the National Landlords Association (NLA), which amounts to over 1,500 private landlords in England and Wales.

According to mortgageintroducer.com, Director at BDRC Continental Mark Long, said: “The Rent Check report will track movements in the private rented market every six months analysing changes in actual rental rates by property type and region. We believe it is the final piece of the jigsaw providing essential insight into this important part of the housing market rather than relying on the marketing material and advertised rental rates that have been available until now.”

The propertyreporter.co.uk outlined the report’s findings: 

• 87% of landlords achieve their listed asking rent or higher
• 61% of landlords are confident in the prospects for their own letting business
• 41% of all surveyed landlords have agreed higher rents over the past 12 months, compared to 7% who have agreed to lower their rents
• Almost a quarter of landlords (23%) plan to purchase further property in the next 12 months
• The average tenant stay in a rented property is now in excess of two and a half years

---

20/05/13: Spotlight on private landlords

The debate regarding the proposed Immigration Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech at the Opening of Parliament on Wednesday 8th May rumbles on.

According to an article in the Financial Times, The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors had this to say: “The government has stubbornly refused to look at introducing better laws to protect both landlords and tenants – it is unacceptable that it expects the property industry to deliver its immigration policy.”

The new Bill is putting the onus on private landlords to check the immigration status of their tenants. The penalty for landlords not toeing the line could result in hefty fines.

Here at Bristol Property Services we maintain the importance of running thorough identity checks for all potential tenants, something that is also reiterated by Caroline Kenny of the UK Association of Letting Agents in The Financial Times’ article.

She said of the new Immigration Bill: “For the majority of letting agents, highlighting any immigration irregularities is already usual practice by undertaking thorough identity checks, including taking copies of prospective tenants’ passports, as well as work permits and resident visas where appropriate.”

Feel free to contact us if you would like advice on how the new proposed Bill may affect you as a private landlord.

---

13/05/13: How to sniff out naughty tenants

Of course we’re talking about tenants who smoke in your property or keep a pet, when the tenancy agreement clearly states this is not permitted. Obviously this is fairly difficult to ’police’ and it’s not advisable to stake out the said property either. However telltale signs during routine inspections will bring certain issues to light. This will put you in a better position to reiterate the rules stipulated in the tenancy agreement to your tenants.

Things to look out for

Cigarette and cigar smoke is pretty easy to detect in a property as the smell lingers long after the offending article has been extinguished. Also white or light coloured paintwork tends to discolour faster through the effects of cigarette smoke than age. More obvious signs are of course ashtrays and cigarette packets.

Pet hates

The presence of pets in a property on the other hand can be harder to prove. Cats for instance can be put outside when it’s time for a routine inspection. Should they be in the garden or waiting on the doorstep, tenants can easily say they belong to a neighbour. However, the smell of dogs and caged animals can giveaway their residency in the property. As can scratched wallpaper or furniture by a cat.

---

07/05/13: Assessing the wear and tear of your property

As a landlord you are responsible for the upkeep of your property to ensure that your tenant or tenants are living in a safe environment. This includes addressing all maintenance issues promptly, especially if they are emergencies. However, your tenants also have a part to play in keeping the property up together too.

Trying to determine what is reasonable wear and tear on your property or items included on the inventory can be tricky, especially as this is a bit of a grey area regarding official guidelines. However there are a few points to take into consideration when assessing what is fair wear and tear and what is not.

• The age of the property or item in question
• Its quality or condition at the beginning of the tenancy
• Depreciation
• How long the tenants have been in the property
• If the tenants are smokers
• If the tenants have pets
• If the tenants have children living in the property

All of these points should be factored in to help you come to a fair decision.

If you need any further advice please contact us and we’ll be happy to answer your questions. You can reach us by email or by calling 0117 9073577. Don’t forget to check out our Landlord Clinic too.

---

29/04/13: Reclaiming ‘buy to let’ expenses

We all know that you have to put something in to get something back. The same goes for ‘buy to let’ properties. As a landlord you want to ensure your new property is in good nick and will command a decent rent, as well as quickly attract potential tenants.

As we mentioned in a previous post, your rental has to have appeal otherwise tenants will look elsewhere. Which is why you often have to invest in a few improvements and repairs before your property is ready for your first tenant to move in.

According to Landlordzone.co.uk, as a landlord of a ‘buy to let’ property you are able to reclaim some of your expenses before your first tenant moves in. Here’s what their report said:

Allowable expenses

Pre-letting expenses are allowed if:

• The money was spent within seven years of the date the first property in a portfolio was let
• The expense would have been allowed as a business expense if the property business was already underway

Typical pre-letting expenses would be repairs and redecoration and the cost of advertising for tenants.

Other costs would be mortgage interest, council tax, insurance, utility bills and general business running costs until the date the tenant takes over the property.

Take a look at their report to find out what expenses are disallowed.

---

22/04/13: Evicting tenants

There are some jobs we all hate doing and will avoid at all costs, such as cleaning the oven. But sometimes you just have to grit your teeth, roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty.

The same applies to being a landlord. If you rent out a property then at some point you may have to do some dirty work, such as evicting a tenant.

What do I need to do?

First of all you need to ask your tenant to leave by way of written notice. This must outline your reasons for eviction and the date by which you wish your tenant to vacate the property. You are also required to include information regarding where they can get advice.

What if my tenant won’t leave?

If your tenant hasn’t vacated the property by the date you stated, you may be forced to apply for an order from the county court. In other words a possession order. This is the next step in the proceedings, but be aware that your tenant may be entitled to remain in your property until the possession order comes into effect.

If you would like more information or advice on the subject, please get in touch as we are only too happy to help.

---

15/04/13: What do tenants look for in a property?

Believe it or not tenants aren't content with just a working toilet anymore; they quite like doors on bathrooms too!  Getting your property ready for potential tenants to view and making it appealing is very similar to staging your property for sale.

You need to show off its best attributes and play down its worst points.  Not that we’re suggesting you've got anything to hide.  On the contrary, just about any negative can be turned into a positive.

It just takes a little imagination and a good look at your property through potential tenants’ eyes.  This way you’ll identify areas that need attention and make your property stand out on the rental market and appeal to renters.

Space matters

Utilise your property’s space well and don’t overfill if furnished.

Good connections

A poor Internet connection and bad mobile phone reception at your property could be a deal breaker for many tenants.

Storage for all

Many of us have far too many belongings so adequate storage space in a property is very attractive to tenants.  They won’t however relish sharing the wardrobe with your belongings!  Make sure you remove all of your bits and bobs before renting your property.

Get in touch with us if you would like our advice or help with managing your rented property.

---

08/04/13: Giving you complete peace of mind

As a landlord there are many benefits to using our Fully Managed Service here at the Bristol Property Centre.  The list is long, but here are the key advantages.

We make sure your tenants are fully referenced, we take care of the viewings and then we ensure the smooth day to day running of your property.  We also deal with the legalities by ensuring your property adheres to the latest regulations.  This will give you complete peace of mind that everything is as it should be.

In general most tenants are reliable, trustworthy and respectful of your property, but there’s always an exception to the rule.

Take the amazing story recently reported by the BBC of a tenant who sold his landlord’s property on the Internet.  It sounds unbelievable doesn’t it but it really did happen.  According to the BBC the tenant had only been in the Devonshire property for four months before he put it on the market.  By posing as the owner, he successfully sold the property and then made off with £90,000 from the sale.  The landlord only happened upon the scam by chance when he clocked a For Sale sign outside the property as he drove past.  You’ll be pleased to know the tenant has been caught and sentenced.

With Bristol Property Centre on board there won’t be any nasty surprises lurking around the corner as regards to your tenants.

---

25/03/13: Property Inventories

Keeping track of things in your own house can be troublesome enough, let alone in the properties you rent out. Keeping an inventory will be beneficial to both you and your tenants and is an essential part of the landlord service.

An inventory is a list of all contents of a property present when the tenant moves in. The inventory will also make note of the condition of each item, known formally as a “schedule of condition”. This list will be used before and after a tenant moves in, allowing landlords to make a comparison between the condition of the items listed at the beginning and end of the tenancy. If an item’s condition has degraded beyond what would be expected from general wear and tear then the landlord can determine what damages can be subtracted from the deposit to cover the cost of repair or replacement.

This list should be prepared prior to move-in day and presented to the tenant so that they can agree with the assessment. It is a good idea to take photographic evidence of all or at least the more expensive items in the property as a safety net.

If you require further advice on creating, updating and concluding an inventory form then please get in touch with us, we’ll be happy to help. You can get in contact with us in the comment section below or via our site.

---

18/03/13: Avoiding Bad Tenants

In our main blog post this week we mentioned some common mistakes that landlords are prone to making. One of the mistakes we mentioned involved avoiding bad tenants and so for this week’s landlord blog we will carry on with the topic and provide our readers with some tips to avoiding trouble tenants.

Referencing
This is one of the most important stages in ensuring you secure a good tenant. Be thorough in your approach to referencing and consider using a tenant referencing service. Speak to the tenants previous landlord and ask lots of questions. Ensure the tenants references are legitimate as well.

Visit The Tenant
This might be a little too personal for some landlords but it does provide a great insight into how the tenants will treat the property. Look for signs of damage, the smell of smoke or any evidence of bad tenancy. Again, don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Maintain Good Relations
A tenancy - landlord relationship is a two way relationship. As important as it is for the tenant to adhere to the rules it is important for you to do your part. Maintain a positive relationship by dealing with issues in a professional and efficient manner. If you have built a positive relationship with a tenant they will be less likely to cause trouble.

---

11/03/13: Long Term Tenants

For this week’s blog post we thought we would share with our landlords some of the benefits of a long term tenancy. Keeping a tenant for a long period of time can be a little tricky but if you manage to keep a tenant for a long period of time there can be many advantages. Listed below are some of the benefits associated with a long term tenant-landlord relationship:

Income
The most obvious of the benefits. The longer you retain the tenant in your property the longer you will be receiving payments. An empty property won’t earn you any rent.

Stability
A long term tenant ensures you are receiving a steady inflow of rental income. Stability can be hard to find in the modern housing market and so a long term tenant can be the perfect means to steady a ship.

Marketing Costs
Getting your property out there and seen by potential tenants can be costly. If your property is already occupied you won’t have to make the financial and physical effort to get that empty property filled.

Keeping a Good Tenant
A good tenant can be tricky to find. So if you’ve managed to find one that’s going to stick around keep them. It can make your life much more pleasant if you aren’t having to worry about any issues that you may experience with bad tenants.

---

04/03/13: All Agents

So for this blog post we thought we’d do a little bit of showing off of something we are quite proud of. All Agents is the UK’s largest directory and review website dedicated to the property industry. The site provides customers with an independent platform from which they can assess the services being provided to them by an individual agent.

We currently boast an overall customer rating of 4.84 out of 5 stars, which if it was a film would be a pretty good film! We have yet to receive a single disapproval from any ratings given which provides a great counterpoint to our 32 recommendations. We actively promote the sharing of the views of our customers by linking directly to All Agents on our site so if you have worked with us in the past and would like to leave a review please go ahead! Here is our All Agents page:  http://www.allagents.co.uk/bristol-property-centre/

---

25/02/13: Landlords and Retirement 

A recent report carried out BM Solutions/BDRC Continental has provided an insight into the ways many landlords hope to use their property portfolio after they retire.

The study revealed that a greater number of British landlords are now seeing their investment in property as a ‘fallback’ when the times comes for them to retire. 84% of those surveyed believe the money they bring in from tenants will serve as a supplement to pension savings. Six in ten of those who participated in the survey were confident they could live fully on the money gained from their property after retirement.  

Planning for retirement has never been more important. A recent report from HSBC concluded that the United Kingdom is the worst country in the world at saving for retirement. The average briton was found to spend 19 years in retirement but their savings will often run out after just seven. What are your thoughts on the value of property prior to and during retirement? Let us know in the comments below!

---

18/02/13: Potential Landlords 

For this week’s landlord blog we thought we’d share some advice for potential landlords who may be reading this blog. Becoming a landlord can be an incredibly rewarding experience but making the transition into becoming a landlord can be a little daunting. Listed below are some selected tips taken from 10 tips from The Telegraph on how to become a successful landlord:

• Learn to Listen
• Do Your Homework
• Be Prepared to Travel
• Shop Around
• Be Reasonable

---

11/02/13: Advantages of a Fully Managed Service

Here at Bristol Property Centre we offer two services to potential landlords. For this blog post we thought we’d go into a little more detail on the advantages landlords can expect to find when using our Fully Managed Service.

Our fully managed service will see your property advertised on national websites and will see an eye catching ‘to let’ board placed at the property. We offer 7 days a week accompanied viewings, both day and evening. Tenants will be fully referenced and the day to day running of your property will all be taken care of by us. Listed briefly below are some of the other advantages a fully managed service can provide:

• With us looking after any day to day issues the property may experience you will have a lot less to worry about with regards to management.
• We will remain up to date with the property regulations and laws to ensure the property we manage is kept up to code. You won’t have to worry about keeping on top of legal matters, leave that to us.
• We are the first point of contact for tenants in case of an emergency so you won’t have to worry about remaining contactable at all hours.

---

04/02/13: Property Valuations

In today’s hectic property market the contrasts in rental prices from one street to the next can be quite staggering. Finding out what your property is worth can be a tricky process. There are many factors, both internal and external to take into account before reaching a rental price. Getting the balance right is tricky, too low and your property isn’t achieving its potentia,l too high and you risk pricing it out of the market.

Luckily there is help at hand. Here at Bristol Property Centre we offer a FREE Property Valuation service to help potential landlords get the best out of their property. Simply fill out our online form and we’ll get back to you ASAP with suggested prices and advice to ensure that your property achieves its potential. Find our form here: http://bristolpropertycentre.co.uk/free_valuation.asp

---

28/01/13: Green Deal and Landlords

The long awaited Green Deal was launched today after being drawn up in May 2010 by the Coalition Government. Available in both England and Wales the green deal is a great opportunity for landlords to improve the look and energy efficiency of their properties.

To begin to take advantage of the Green Deal permission must be sought from the tenant before you sign up to the deal. This is important for both legal and professional relationship reasons. As you will know if you have read our accompanying main blog post the Green Deal is paid back through the electricity bill of the property. If it is your tenant who pays the bill it will be they who pay it back. This is perfectly fair as it is tenant who will benefit from the lower energy costs.

The Green Deal has the potential to be a great property improvement aid and should be seriously considered by landlords. If you would like to know more about The Green Deal please get in touch with us here: http://bristolpropertycentre.co.uk/contact_us.asp

---

21/01/13: Helping Tenants Stay Warm

For this Landlord Blog we thought we’d follow on from the topic raised in our main blog by suggesting a few ways that landlords can help make their properties more energy efficient. 

• Insulation can make a big impact on a properties ability to maintain heat. Applying a jacket to a hot water tank allows for a much higher retention of heat. Loft insulation also helps stop heat loss, for it to be effective it should be a minimum of 270mm deep.

• Get the basics functioning well. Every little helps so ensure that the little things are taken care of. Fix leaky taps, check for draughts and install energy saving lightbulbs.
• 
  
• Encourage your tenants to take energy saving steps. Provide tenants with helpful advice on ways they can save energy themselves in their day to day living.

---

14/01/13: 31 Reasons to Avoid a Property

For this landlord blog we thought we’d share with you the story of a landlord’s list of 31 bizarre rules currently going viral on the net.

Laura Evelyn, a London based actor, recently posted a photo of a typed list of conditions she was given upon viewing a property in London. To be handed a list of 31 rules upon entering is striking enough but the rules themselves are what make it the story so bizarre. Laura posted photo’s of the list onto Twitter where it was soon shared by thousands.

Here are the 4 photographs taken by Laura which cover all 31 points:
Photo 1 - Photo 2 - Photo 3 - Photo 4

Both tenants and landlords have rights and it is important both are respected. For help or advice on this subject please get in contact with us, we’d be happy to help. Just don’t hand out rules like these!

---

07/01/13: Safety Regulations This Winter

We’re definitely into deepest darkest winter now, and so we thought we’d use this blog to talk to our landlords about the variety of safety regulations that we require.

As it gets colder and colder we are reminded how important heating is in keeping us comfortable through the dark winter months. Whatever the method of heating used, it is important to ensure that each house's heating system is safe for the occupants.



We require that each of the following be checked before we begin work with a landlord:

1. Gas Appliances
2. Electrical Equipment
3. Fire Regulations
4. Energy Performance

Professional and accurate attention to each of the above provides both us and the tenant peace of mind where safety is concerned. If you would like more advice on maintaining a safe property please get in contact with us here: http://bristolpropertycentre.co.uk/contact_us.asp

---

2/01/13: Help is at Hand!

To begin this post we would like to wish all our landlords and tenants a very happy new year. We hope you continue to find success in letting out your property in this new year. We’d like to take this opportunity to remind our landlords to check out our landlord clinic for all the advice they will need this year!

Our Landlord Clinic is an area of our website designed to provide landlords with all the information they will require for the private rented sector. The clinic contains a list of common questions and answers for landlords, and a submission form for additional information. We guarantee a response to each submission within 24 hours.

Once again we’d like to wish our landlords happy new year. Don’t forget to check back regularly!

---

17/12/12: Safety Regulations This Winter

It’s certainly got chillier of late. We’re definitely into deepest darkest winter now, and so we thought we’d use this blog to talk to our landlords about the variety of safety regulations that we require.

As it gets colder and colder we are reminded how important heating is in keeping us comfortable through the dark winter months. Whatever the method of heating used is, it is important to ensure that each house's heating system is safe for the occupants.

We require that each of the following be checked before we begin work with a landlord:

1. Gas Appliances
2. Electrical Equipment
3. Fire Regulations
4. Energy Performance

Professional and accurate attention to each of the above provides both us and the tenant peace of mind where safety is concerned. If you would like more advice on maintaining a safe property please get in contact with us here: http://bristolpropertycentre.co.uk/contact_us.asp

---

10/12/12: Association of Residential Letting Agents Issues Warning

Tenants across the UK have been warned to be on the lookout for rogue lettings agents. The warning was issued by the Association of Residential Letting Agents, and encourages tenants to be on the lookout for letting agents who may be not be all they seem.

Tenants were advised to check logos and watch for signs of bad practice, such as landlords offering property for a much lower price than similar properties, or advertising properties with no deposit to pay.
Ian Potter, managing director of ARLA, said: “Unfortunately, there are many horror stories of rogue lettings agents, as the rental sector is unregulated. This means anyone can set up shop as an agent, or become a landlord.”

We thought we’d share this with our landlords, as although we are not affiliated with the ARLA, we do share their condemnation of rogue letting agents that have the potential to damage our profession. We are members of both The Property Ombudsman and The National Approved Letting Scheme. For more information on the services we offer, and the standards we set, please view the following link: http://bristolpropertycentre.co.uk/aboutus.asp

---

26/11/12: New Mayor New Changes?

Last Tuesday the city of Bristol welcomed its’ new mayor: George Ferguson. The results of the mayoral vote were announced on Friday the 16th as it was revealed that Mr Ferguson had pushed Labour’s Marvin Rees into second place. With a new mayor comes new changes and we are interested to see what will be in store for housing in Bristol.

George Ferguson is no stranger to property. He established The Tobacco Factory in Bristol’s Southville and owns a variety of property around the city. Before the election Mr Ferguson said Bristol would be used ‘as a test-bed’ for innovations in planning powers, transport, housing and job creation. We hope that his experience in property heralds a bright future for housing in Bristol.

There is certainly a demand from the people of Bristol for housing to be addressed. Recently ThisIsBristol magazine asked its readers ‘How should the new mayor solve the city's housing crisis?’ 34 per cent of readers said the mayor should concentrate on finding land to build new homes and attract investment, while 31 per cent said they should focus on finding ways to help young people get on the housing ladder.

Mr Fergusson’s term as mayor of Bristol will run until May 2016. During that time we will keep you up to date with any changes that will affect our landlords. So watch this space!

---

19/11/12: Helping Landlords

The Guardian recently provided readers, specifically landlords, with a selection of top tips to successful communication with their tenants. The advice was provided by various heads of communication from a host of housing groups across the country and contains some great expert insight. We thought we would select some of our favourite pieces of advice for our landlords here at BPC to read:

Keep it fun and engaging where possible: People don't like to be told much these days – if a piece of communications is enticing or fun people find themselves drawn in without realising it.

It's good that social media is a place for negative comments: It means you can publicly show how great your customer services teams are. Bromford have found customers go full circle and end up becoming positive ambassadors once we've helped them via Facebook.

Complex issues need face-to-face contact: The resident involvement calendar and options are a perfect medium for Facebook, but on the more complex issues we have found that residents value a face-to-face contact more.
For more expert advice on a multitude of different topics then don’t forget to head over to our landlord clinic:  http://bristolpropertycentre.co.uk/landlords_clinic.asp

---

12/11/12: Types of Property Management

We offer two excellent and accommodating services to suit landlords that may require varying levels of involvement on our part.

Our Fully Managed Service will allow you complete peace of mind as we will take full control over your property. This service will result in your property being advertised on national websites and an eye catching ‘to let’ board. We will provide accompanied viewings 7 days a week including in the evenings and your tenants will be fully referenced and looked after as part of the day to day running of your property. This is an ideal service for those who may not be comfortable or able due to prior commitments to look after the day to day running of their property.

Our Let Only Service will also result in your property being advertised on national websites and an eye catching ‘to let’ board. Similar to the fully managed service we will also provide accompanied 7 days a week viewings in both the day and evening time. We will fully reference your tenants but here is where the plans we offer differ. As part of our Let Only Service we will leave the day to day running of the property to you.

For both of the above services we work on a No Let No Fee basis. We can help you with letting out a property whether it is your first, second, third, fourth - you get the picture. Get in contact with us here: http://bristolpropertycentre.co.uk/contact_us.asp

---

5/11/2012: Free Property Valuation 

Looking to rent your property out but not quite sure of some of those finer details yet? At Bristol Property Centre we offer an entirely free property valuation for landlords interested in letting out their property.

Simply follow this link to our Free Property Valuation form where you can fill in a few basic details about both yourself and the property you wish to be valued. Submit the completed form and we will get back to you as soon as possible with further details on your property.

The service ensures you get the most out of your property and should you wish to continue with the letting process we will be there to help you. We always provide the best service to landlords we work with and we simply won’t be beaten on fee! We look forward to hearing from you.

---

29/10/2012: The Landlord Clinic

At Bristol Property Centre we often receive many enquiries from Landlords seeking advice about managing their property, their tenants, other maintenance issues and most recently information about the Green Deal initiative. 

Over the next few weeks we are aiming to launch a Landlord clinic on our main website which provides a digital space for Landlord's to ask any questions or seek any advice they may require. This service is of course free and is designed to provide Landlords with help and support they may feel they lack. 

Due to our years of experience in lettings and our extensive knowledge of the Bristol property market we feel we are fully equipped with necessary tools to help Landlords manage their properties. We will of course keep you posted for when the Landlord Clinic goes live and welcome any questions or comments in the mean time!

---

22/10/2012: Sustainable Housing

Over the weekend the winners of the Sustainable Housing Awards 2012 were announced, where impressive developments, architects, housing groups and properties were rewarded for their developments in ecological and sustainable measures for the property sector. “Go Green” seems to be the key phrase of the moment  within the property sector, particularly  following the launch of the Green Deal Initiative at the beginning of October. 

The Green Deal Initiative provides the opportunity for private landlords and homeowners to implement ecological changes to their properties which is initially paid for by the Government. The ecological work is then repaid via savings made in energy bills. The Energy Act 2011 aims to ensure that the Green Deal and incentive of cost effective energy efficiency improvements are implemented throughout the private rented sector. 

The Energy Acts asserts that from April 2018 all private rented properties should comply with the minimum energy efficiency standard rating. With this statistic in mind we will not be surprised if many landlords aim to make ecological changes over the next year or so. We at Bristol Green Property centre have been swatting up on the Green Deal Initiative and are available to assist Landlords with this new Government scheme.

---

15/10/2012: Benefits of Property Management at BPC

We know a lot of landlords prefer to manage properties themselves due to negative experiences with high street letting agencies. However, at Bristol Property Centre we aim to do things a little differently...

- Fee Guarantee Scheme: This is our scheme where we ensure we will not be beaten on fees and landlords will never have paid such a great price for such a great service!

- Customer relations: We aim to build strong, trusting and effective relationships with both our tenants and our landlords. Our tenants quickly realise they can contact us with any question or query, and landlords soon realise we aim to manage and maintain their property as it is our own

- We save you money: Not only do we ensure we are not beaten on fees, but we also ensure that you are not out of pocket for any maintenance fees - We have excellent contacts who complete maintenance jobs to a high standard at a great cost

- Regular Checks: Aside from being available for our tenants and landlords all hours for any problems, questions or queries we also check all properties every three months and document all rooms through the power of photography. We then send these images across to you so you are happy with the maintenance of your property. 

For any further information on our full management services please do not hesitate to contact us at info@bristolpropertycentre.co.uk 

---

08/10/2012: Green Deal Initiative

The Government have recently issued the Green Deal Initiative for private landlords within the UK. This initiative provides landlords with the funding to make ecological developments and changes for their property, and then to repay this money through the costs saved on fuel bills. In theory we believe this makes perfect sense, and not only helps to support sustainable measures, but also combats issues of fuel poverty for any tenants. 

Bristol County Council has recently held an evening event to discuss how the Green Deal works for private landlords in the area. We would love to hear from any attendees of this event to not only attain their perception of the Green Deal, but also whether you intend to take advantage of this initiative? 

Get in touch at info@bristolpropertycentre.co.uk