Month: April 2021

In this three-minute read, we look at a study that found some landlords were putting themselves and their investment at risk by cutting corners on checks and maintenance.

Landlords are leaving themselves exposed to the risk of criminal and civil prosecution by failing to conduct critical safety checks and taking a back seat on maintenance, a survey of renters has revealed.

The study by property management platform Plentific found that a surprisingly high proportion of landlords aren’t meeting their legal responsibilities regarding gas safety and that in some cases, tenants are handling maintenance and repairs.

The survey of 1,000 tenants found that:

• 46% of private tenants don’t believe their gas appliances have been checked in the last year.
• 52% of private tenants don’t have a gas safety certificate.
• 56% of private tenants don’t have a carbon monoxide alarm.

What the law says

Annual gas safety checks must be carried out at all rental properties by a qualified engineer and all tenants should receive a copy of the subsequent safety report.

Landlords who fail to meet these obligations could face prosecution – and be fined or imprisoned.

Furthermore, landlords could wind up embroiled in a civil suit if a tenant is injured or killed in a fire, explosion or carbon monoxide poisoning at the property.

Other maintenance issues

The survey also looked at how landlords respond to maintenance concerns raised by tenants.

About 40% of private renters said requested works were completed within three days, although overall, the average was ten days.

Issues raised included damage to the garden (26%), property damage (24%), ­maintenance (21%), and electrical problems (20%).

Worryingly, 37% of renters said they had organised repair works themselves (20% with permission from the landlord, and 16% without).

We would advise landlords in South Devon to oversee maintenance and repairs (or to entrust a property expert like a letting agent to handle it) to ensure that work is done to a safe standard for a fair price.

Faulty work could result in further problems down the line or damage to your property that proves costly to rectify.

Managing your responsibilities

Being a landlord comes with a host of legal responsibilities. If staying on top of all the paperwork and red tape feels overwhelming then you could benefit from working with a reputable letting agent like us. We can shoulder the burden for you and will advise you expertly and honestly.

Let us take the stress out of managing the property and use our experience to make your life a whole lot easier.

Please get in touch with us here at Chamberlains if you have any questions about property management.

© Chamberlains 2021

 

 

 

In this two-minute read, we show you how to make your South Devon home a healthier place for the planet.

Yesterday was World Earth Day. People across the globe were encouraged to be more mindful about the impact we all have on the planet.

But doing our bit for Mother Earth is a process and not an event as this article explains.

In our own homes in South Devon, we can continue to do things to help the Earth.  Here are some ideas.

Go local

The supermarkets are undeniably convenient. If you can though, frequent farmers’ markets. You’ll be reducing air miles, which is good for the environment and your health. It also means you’re not supporting the unethical, polluting mega greenhouses in places like the south of Spain. You can more often reuse egg boxes or berry baskets when revisiting your favourite stalls. There are also likely to be fewer plastic stickers on the produce.

Buy in bulk

Buying in bulk reduces the amount of plastic waste. You’re not buying lots of little ones just to throw them away. You can also often reuse the same containers too. This is great for cleaning products for the house or for humans. It’s also a great way to buy food. You’ll be doing good for the planet and your wallet too. Loo roll bought in bulk from hotel suppliers will reduce the amount of plastic wrapping around the packets. (You can also buy paper-wrapped toilet paper.)

In the garden

Prioritise native plants. Replace your lawn with short native grasses or, even better, plant vegetables. Use kitchen waste to create compost. Invest in a worm composter, or an electric one if you’re in a flat. You can even compost dog poop! (This is a special process, don’t just throw it in with your kitchen waste.) Buy seeds in bulk. Take any plastic containers back to the garden centre. Capture rainwater whenever you can to reuse later.

With the children

Refuse free pens and instead get refillable ones. Buy paperclips in bulk or get a staple-free stapler. Join your local library to borrow books and magazines. Teach children to draw or cut near the sides of pieces of paper. This offers more chances for reuse and instils the thoughtful use of resources from a young age. Always recycle used paper, after both sides have been filled. Make a bug hotel for the garden to encourage pollinators and explore the interconnectedness of the planet.

What eco-friendly ideas do you use at home? We’d love to hear your suggestions.

© Chamberlains 2021

In this two-minute read, we look at useful information which you might want to share with your agent to satisfy inquisitive buyers.

You can often tell whether a viewer is keen on a property from the questions they ask. And in our experience, the more specific the question, the warmer the prospect. When it comes to preparing for a sale, the more information that you can share with your agent, the better. Here are five typical questions to get you thinking.

• What are the neighbours like?

Your viewer is envisioning living in your property. Help them do this by letting your agent know the demographic of your neighbourhood. A good agent will assess the viewer’s preference and highlight those neighbours accordingly; families, elderly people, professionals, students, etc. Add extra information if you can: Are they friendly, quiet, helpful?

• Where are the closest bus stops?

Go a step further and provide information on the bus routes and the frequency of the service. If it’s only a ten-minute ride into town, or there’s a direct service to the leisure centre, let your agent know.

• Which way does the garden face?

For those with outside space, most people want to know which way the garden faces. If you’re unsure, there’s a helpful app called Lumos, which will point you in the right direction (excuse the pun!). Garden furniture purposely positioned in sunny spots will show potential buyers where to go for a bit of R&R.

• Where do the kids next door go to school?

It’s good if you can let your agent know which school catchment your property sits in. It’s great if you can tell them where the local kids go. Parents’ school preferences vary – with some prioritising the same school as local friends over Ofsted reports.

• Which takeaways deliver here?

If a buyer is wedded to their weekly teatime treat, this will be essential information. If you have a recommendation, let your agent know – you might tempt prospective buyers with new or unique culinary delights in your local neighbourhood.

If you’re thinking about a property move and want to know more about what information to start collating (or if you have a recommendation for a local takeaway), feel free to get in touch.

© Chamberlains 2021

 

In this two-minute read, we look at how landlords can foster a good rapport with tenants.

Every successful landlord needs a rock-solid tenant retention plan or what we like to call “a happy tenant strategy”.

This is because happy tenants are loyal tenants. And loyal tenants are more likely to stay in your property for longer, helping you to avoid the ultimate landlord bugbear – high tenant turnover.

Whenever a tenant moves out, the landlord gets hit with extra costs such as end-of-tenancy cleaning and repairs and marketing and reference checks to cover the new tenancy.

Then there is the issue of lost rent when a property sits empty in between tenancies.

So, it makes good business sense to minimise turnover by going the extra mile to keep hold of good tenants.

Here are six tips for South Devon landlords for avoiding tenant turnover. 

• Choose the right tenant

By following a detailed selection process and carrying out thorough credit and reference checks, you’re more likely to land a “keeper” in the first place. 

• Good communication

Ensure your tenants can quickly get in touch with you (or your representative) when they need to. If they raise an issue, listen to their concerns and try to be accommodating. While you want the relationship to be business-like, it also needs to be personable. 

• Keep on top of maintenance and repairs

Ensure the property is kept in good condition and respond promptly when there is an issue. If you ignore a tenant’s complaints, they’ll wonder if the grass is greener elsewhere.

• Be honest 

Don’t overpromise or be economical with the truth. Trust is important in the tenant/landlord relationship. 

• Don’t set the rent too high

Setting the rent too high can be a false economy. If a tenant feels that they’re getting ripped off, they’ll quickly move on – leaving you to fork out to find a new tenant.

• Be flexible

Give requests about decorating or having pets due consideration (even if you’re initial instinct is to say no). If a tenant feels that they can create a home environment in your property, they’re more likely to stay for a long time. If a tenant is working out well, consider offering them a longer lease.

Get in touch with us here at Chamberlains to find out how we can help you find and retain good quality tenants.

© Chamberlains 2021

 

In this three-minute read, we list five things South Devon sellers should look for in an estate agent.

It pains us to say this, but a recent survey found people were more likely to trust a traffic warden or a lawyer than an estate agent.

When it comes to telling the truth, it seems that only politicians have a worse reputation than estate agents (source: YesHomebuyers.com).

As you can imagine, this frustrates us. Firstly, we’re a hardworking South Devon business with a strong track record – just ask our happy customers. We know there are some cowboys out there – and thankfully, the industry is working to weed them out – but we hate being lumped in the same category as them.

Secondly, selling a home is one of the most significant transactions a person makes in their lifetime. We hate to think that people are being led through that process by someone they think is a consummate liar. It must make the whole experience more stressful.

So, we’ve put together a five-point list of things to look out for when you’re hunting for an estate agent you can trust.

• Word of mouth 

Speak to friends and family about their experiences of selling in South Devon. Don’t just ask them to name a good agent but dig deeper to find out: how long it took them to sell their property, if the agent’s valuation was realistic, who conducted the viewings, and if the customer service was up to scratch. Checking Google Reviews is a great place to start!

• Marketing research

Identify popular agents in your area and scrutinise how they market their properties. Look for good quality photography and well-written property descriptions as these are vital ingredients for achieving top price. Dodgy snaps of cluttered rooms, and minimal information, should set off alarm bells.

• Are they registered?

All UK estate agents who deal with residential properties must register with either the Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress Scheme. These organisations deal with customer complaints (hopefully, you won’t have any, but it’s good to have peace of mind). If they’re not registered, steer clear.

• Are they a member of a professional body?

Many good agents will be part of a professional body, such as the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) Propertymark, or the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Membership shows they take their professional responsibilities seriously.

• Realistic valuation

If an agent vows to sell your home for a price that far exceeds market trends or your expectations, be suspicious. They’re either over-promising to win your custom or clueless (or both!). Either way, buyers won’t buy it (literally), and you’ll wind up dropping the asking price later. Don’t fall for this time-wasting exercise.

To find out more about why people in South Devon have been trusting us with their home sales for years, give us a call.

© Chamberlains 2021