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Calum Weaver, Head of Residential Lettings at Robinson & Hall, provides a useful update on the residential lettings market…
Buyers are staying in the rented sector for longer to save for a higher deposit.
New statistics from the Mortgage Advice Bureau show first time buyers are aiming to save for a higher deposit before purchasing a property. Subsequently, many would-be buyers are staying in the private rented sector for longer and adding to an already crowded market.
Demand is outweighing supply.
Due to buyers staying put in the rental market, there is a large influx of people turning to lettings in comparison to a low number of rental properties coming to the market, resulting in huge demand for rental properties.
Record rents are being achieved.
The demand and supply issue is one of the many reasons we are achieving record rental figures for our clients. For example, we let a two-bedroom property in Kempster Court in Bedford last year for £850 pcm; this year it is achieving £1000 pcm. As part of our management service, we supply our clients with comparable property reports and market value figures annually. We then contact the tenant(s) to discuss the rent review.
Continue to maintain your property.
Another opportunity to maximise your investment is to, if required, carry out refurbishment works to the property once a tenant has vacated. As part of our managed service, we will attend the property with a company approved contractor when notice has been received to obtain quotes, meaning refurbishment works are scheduled to start as soon as the tenant vacates. This is in conjunction with contacting our database of prospective tenants to secure a replacement with the intention to eliminate or reduce a void period.
To find out more information about our residential lettings service or to book a no obligation lettings appraisal, please contact 01234 351000 or email lettings@robinsonandhall.co.uk
Calum Weaver, Head of Residential Lettings at Robinson & Hall, provides a useful market update…
“Robinson & Hall has remained incredibly busy since the start of the year with a high number of tenants looking to secure their next home.
Online enquiries have not replaced the importance of face-to-face contact in property transactions. Through COVID we found virtual viewings to be a valuable tool, however we are now seeing increased in-person appointments. This means we can better understand the applicant’s requirements and can show them all suitable properties, including those properties that are soon to be coming to the market. There is every chance we already know the ideal tenant for your property!
We are expecting the demand to continue with a limited number of properties coming to the lettings market. This is due to a growing number of tenants relying on rental properties because of increased mortgage rates, and the cost of living crisis bringing challenges for first time buyers. This will result in record rent prices growing at the fastest annual rate for more than a decade.
According to Zoopla, the property portal, rents across the UK have been growing faster than earnings. Conscious of this, we want to further protect our landlords’ assets and minimise risk. Therefore, we have introduced rent and legal protection which you can decide to take out at the start of each new tenancy.
Robinson & Hall has further invested in its lettings division and introduced the benefit of each client being assigned to one dedicated staff member who has a strong understanding of the client’s property. The staff member will be first point of call, from arranging viewings to a tenant moving in, with regular feedback being given along the way. They will also provide the aftercare, including carrying out regular inspections, reporting and monitoring of maintenance works, maintaining the property’s compliance, issuing monthly rent statements and carrying out rent reviews.”
To find out more information about our residential lettings service or to book a no obligation lettings appraisal, please contact 01234 351000 or email lettings@robinsonandhall.co.uk
Our residential lettings department has a new Head of Residential Lettings, Calum Weaver, who joined Robinson & Hall in December 2022.
Originally from London, Calum has previous experience in working for both corporate and independent estate agencies and has worked with a range of clients and a wide variety of residential properties. He then moved to Bedford to gain experience as a Business Development Manager looking after the lettings department for several offices across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.
Calum manages the Residential Lettings team at Robinson & Hall and is responsible for maintaining our large portfolio of lettings properties and ensuring that our landlords and tenants are provided with outstanding advice and customer service. His goal is to develop strong relationships with our landlords and continue to develop his knowledge in this ever-changing industry.
In his spare time, Calum enjoys travelling, landscape photography and is a keen footballer.
If you are considering letting your property, would like to find out about the service we provide and obtain a free lettings appraisal on your property, then please contact Calum on 01234 362930 or email crfw@robinsonandhall.co.uk
Your rental property could be one of your biggest investments so it makes sense to keep it in good condition. Extreme weather conditions during the winter months can take their toll on homes. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help prevent or limit damage, which could save you a lot of money in the long run.
Below is an essential maintenance checklist to ensure your rental property remains in good condition during the winter period.
Any gaps or cracks in the exterior of your property could result in long term problems if left untreated. If moisture from the outside finds its way into the property, you could be facing serious damp and mould issues. This is easily avoided through regular inspections and property maintenance.
Key areas to focus on include:
A blocked gutter might not seem like a big problem, but it can lead to major damage. An overflowing gutter or a split resulting in a leaky gutter can mean water discharging straight onto your walls. Water will penetrate brick and stonework leading to damp and if it freezes in the cold, water can quickly cause serious damage to masonry.
Keeping your roof in good condition is a year-round concern. Although in a stormy, cold wintertime, it’s even more important. Check for cracked, broken or missing tiles. These can all let water in, causing damage to the structure of the building.
Broken and missing tiles can also let high winds pass through, resulting in further tiles being lost. What could have been a relatively cheap and quick fix could turn into a major repair job.
Make sure the boiler has been serviced; it’s going to be working harder over the next few months. Consider putting a service plan in place and if it’s a gas boiler, make sure the gas safety certificate is up to date.
Every habitable floor of a rental property must have a working smoke alarm and any room with a solid fuel appliance, e.g. a working fireplace, must be equipped with a carbon monoxide alarm. While testing your alarms, check the burglar alarm is working for added tenant reassurance on dark nights.
When water freezes in extremely cold weather, it expands and can result in burst pipes. To prevent this:
Sometimes extreme cold weather can freeze locks. Rather than getting a late-night call from a tenant locked out of their home or incurring an emergency call out cost from a locksmith, a pre-emptive spray with lubricant will prevent sticking.
One of the most important ways you can protect your rental property over the winter is to provide your tenants with a list of emergency numbers to contact if things go wrong. This should include:
This is particularly important if you are planning to go away over the Christmas break.
By providing your own list of numbers, you can ensure that any repairs or maintenance issues are dealt with by reliable tradespeople. At Robinson & Hall our Lettings department has an out of hours line which tenants can call and we instruct a reputable contractor, so landlords don’t have to!
For more information or to book a no obligation lettings appraisal, please contact Raj.
Over the last ten years there have been changes to, or implementation of, over 175 sections of the regulations affecting the private rental sector. At Robinson & Hall Residential Lettings, we pride ourselves on being up to date with current legislation and best practice. We hold the ARLA Propertymark and as a firm are regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Our lettings team’s top 5 tips for compliance and a seamless tenancy in 2022 are:
Following the UK’s departure from the EU, we can no longer rely on a European Economic Area (EEA) passport or a National ID Card to prove a person’s right to rent in the UK. Evidence of their immigration status must be obtained through the Home Office online service which stipulates their status and the expiry. It is therefore essential the checks are conducted throughout the tenancy.
The new Code paves the way for the introduction of certified digital Identity Service Providers (IDSPs) which will run digital identity checks for British and Irish citizens as part of the Home Office’s introduction of the Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT) framework.
Adjusted checks, following on from COVID19, using video calls will continue to be accepted until 30th September 2022.
Landlords will have until 2026 to ensure all their rental properties achieve band C on the EPC before letting the property. For existing tenancies, the landlord will have until 2028 to meet the requirement.
Landlords under the current minimum rating of E need to invest only up to a maximum of £3,500 which means rental properties can still be let out despite being below an E rating.
The penalty for not having a valid EPC will also be raised from £5,000 to £30,000 from 2025.
All landlords will also now be obliged to ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is installed in any room of their properties where there is a fixed combustion appliance (including a gas boiler). Where a new fixed combustion appliance is installed, a carbon monoxide alarm will be required to be installed by law. Gas cooker appliances are excluded from the new rules.
With rents continuing to rise, it is good practice to decorate your rental properties every five years to ensure maximum rents can be achieved.
Did you know that anyone can open an agency without having qualifications, experience or knowledge? Therefore, it is extremely important to choose an agent which is regulated by a respected industry body and has a proven track record of letting and managing properties within the area.
For more information or to book a no obligation lettings appraisal, please contact Yasmine.
Over the last ten years there have been changes to, or implementation of, over 175 sections of the regulations affecting the Private Rental Sector. At Robinson & Hall Residential Lettings, we pride ourselves on being up to date with current legislation and best practice. We hold the ARLA Propertymark and as a firm are regulated by The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Our lettings team top 5 tips for compliance and a seamless tenancy in 2022 are:
Following the UK’s departure from the EU, we can no longer rely on a European Economic Area (EEA) passport or a National ID Card to prove a person’s right to rent in the UK. Evidence of their immigration status must be obtained through the Home Office online service which stipulates their status and the expiry. It is therefore essential the checks are conducted throughout the tenancy.
Landlords will have until 2026 to ensure all their rental properties achieve band C on the EPC before letting the property. For existing tenancies, the landlord will have until 2028 to meet the requirement.
All landlords will also now be obliged to ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is installed in any room of their homes where there is a fixed combustion appliance (including a gas boiler). Where a new fixed combustion appliance is installed, a carbon monoxide alarm will be required to be installed by law. Gas cooker appliances are excluded from the new rules.
With rental market prices continuing to rise, it is good practice to decorate your rental properties every 5 years. This will almost guarantee a yearly increase as well as satisfied tenants.
Did you know, anyone can open an agency without having qualifications, experience or knowledge? Therefore, it is extremely important to choose an agent which is regulated by a respected industry body and has a proven track record of letting and managing properties within the area.
For more information or to book a no obligation lettings appraisal, please contact 01234 351000 option 1.
Jennifer Holbrow, Head of our Residential Lettings department, outlines how we can let your property in six steps.
1.Choosing your letting agent
Once you have decided that you would like to rent out your property, you need to choose the best letting agent that suits your particular requirements. At Robinson & Hall, we have 139 years’ experience letting a wide variety of properties and work hard to get the best possible rental return within the time period allotted.
2. Choosing the right lettings package for your needs
Robinson & Hall offers two packages; fully managed and let only. Our bespoke property management packages are designed to suit your requirements, offering you full support along the way. Fully managed gives you the peace of mind that you can leave everything to us to deal with on your behalf, whilst in the knowledge that your property and tenancy will be fully compliant with all legislations. Let only allows you to have a more “hands-on” approach with the day-to-day running of your rental property.
3. Marketing your property
Robinson & Hall will market your property in order to get maximum exposure by using various advertising platforms. Your property will be advertised on the leading property portals such as Rightmove, Zoopla, Robinson & Hall’s social media accounts and our own website.
4. Getting your property ready to let
First impressions are very important so it is crucial to ensure the property is as presentable as possible. With our extensive knowledge in the lettings field, we can work with you to ensure that your property meets the requirements for a rental and is appealing to potential tenants.
5. Moving in your new tenant
Prior to your new tenant moving in, Robinson & Hall will ensure:
• your tenant has been properly referenced
• the property is compliant with all essential regulations
• properly signed contracts are in place
• the first month’s rent and deposit has been paid
• the deposit has been protected
6. Completion
Upon completion, keys will be released to the tenant on moving in day. For managed properties, we will provide the tenant with contact details of their dedicated Property Manager.
For more information or to book a no obligation lettings appraisal, please call 01234 35100 or email lettings@robinsonandhall.co.uk
When putting your property on the rental market, the first task is choosing a lettings agent to suit you. Anyone looking to let their property often has to decide between a smaller independent agency that specialises in the area or a much larger corporate agency.
Independent agencies are able to give you a more bespoke and personal service, tailored to suit your particular needs. For example, marketing a property and giving efficient feedback is imperative in the first stages of renting your property. Smaller agencies that specialise in a specific area are able to provide a much more in-depth understanding of the rental market in that particular region, rather than a corporate company using a generic template.
The benefits of using Robinson & Hall, which is an independent agency, include: –
For more information or to book a no obligation lettings appraisal, please call 01234 351000 or email lettings@robinsonandhall.co.uk
What is rising and penetrating damp?
Damp takes on a few different forms and can affect almost any type of property. Rising damp is when water from below a building rises through porous materials, such as bricks and mortar. When houses are built, they have a damp course laid within the walls near to the ground to prevent rising damp but it can fail over time, allowing rising damp to happen.
Penetrating damp is caused by issues such as leaky guttering, cracks in external walls and faulty roofing, all which allow water to seep through into a property.
Condensation
Condensation appears when excess moisture in the air comes into contact with a cold surface, so you’ll likely have seen it on cold walls and windows. It can lead to mould growth and tends to be worse in winter. It can be caused by poor ventilation, poor insulation or faulty heating and ventilation systems in the property.
What causes mould?
All of the above issues can cause mould to grow. Damp that is left untreated or if the type of damp isn’t properly diagnosed can lead to mould in a property. Mould is a fungus that can affect people’s health and can appear in a variety of colours and textures, depending on the type of and extremity of the damp causing it. It could be green, fuzzy, black or even blue.
What responsibilities does a landlord have?
Because there are different causes of damp and mould, tenants and landlords can have difficulty deciding who is responsible for fixing the problem. The repairing obligations will be set out under the relevant Tenancy Act (Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 or where applicable the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986) which have slightly different responsibilities. However; Generally defects and repairs of the structure and exterior of the dwelling-house will be the landlords’ responsibility.
When damp is caused by condensation, it is usually because the property needs to be properly ventilated and heated. If this isn’t due to faulty heating systems or windows, the tenant needs to make some changes to help alleviate the problem. For example, cooking, hanging washing inside or taking a hot shower all create high amounts of moisture and can cause a lot of condensation.
Landlords should also be aware that treating damp is a mandatory repair under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).
Prevention
To beat condensation, the three main steps are:
• Improve ventilation;
• Consider your heating and insulation; and
• Clear any condensation that does form.
A landlord should also make sure that that the roof, guttering and drains are all kept in good working order, particularly after heavy rain, storms or snow.
Some other tips include:
• Wipe down windows and sills every morning;
• Deal with steam from cooking by using an extractor fan and always cover pans and pots when cooking;
• Get rid of bathroom moisture: keep the door of the bathroom closed and open a window when showering;
• Open a window for at least 15 minutes each morning;
• Keep a property evenly warm, especially during the colder months; and
• Don’t hang clothes to dry indoors.
For more information or to speak to our Residential Lettings team to find out how we can help you, please call 01234 351000.
Jennifer Holbrow, Head of Residential Lettings, provides the following advice for looking after your property during the winter months.
Tips for looking after your heating system:
If your property is empty then ensure the following:
For further information or to find out how our Residential Lettings department can help you, please contact Jennifer Holbrow on 01234 362906 / 07876 835832 or email jeh@robinsonandhall.co.uk.
