Category: Covid Updates

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The Dangers of a DIY Tenancy Agreement

tenancy agreement

Type ‘tenancy agreement’ into Google and you’ll get thousands of results offering free online templates and guides to writing your own rental contract.

So why bother using a letting agent to sort out the tenancy agreement if you can do it yourself? What could possibly go wrong?

Well, quite a lot. Hastily downloading a template from the internet and high-fiving yourself for a job well done could prove to be a costly mistake.

It might not become apparent for months or even years, but if you get into a dispute at the end of a tenancy, or want to regain possession of the property, you could find your contract is worthless.

In this quick read, we look at the dangers of a DIY tenancy agreement.

Legally unsound

Incorrect legal terms, illogical clauses, confusing wording… all of these can cause problems when a tenant moves out or challenges something in the contract. There have also been many changes to renting rules over the last few years (with more set to take effect soon), which could render your DIY agreement useless.

Using an agent with access to a properly drafted, legally sound, up-to-date tenancy agreement can save you a fortune in stress, hassle and expense in the long run.

Other legal requirements

At the beginning of a tenancy, landlords must provide the tenant with a number of important documents – not just a tenancy agreement. These include gas and electrical safety certificates and information about the relevant deposit service the landlord uses.

A freestyling approach to establishing a tenancy could mean you fail to get this paperwork right – an outcome that could invalidate whatever tenancy agreement you do have. This means any dispute will be even more protracted and expensive.

Notice periods

The same applies to serving notice. If the tenancy was set up incorrectly without all the paperwork provided to the tenant, it could invalidate any notice you serve. Are you up to date with all the recent rule changes to notice periods? An agent definitely will be.

Setting up a DIY tenancy agreement might seem like a way to save money, but in the long run, you could be left seriously out of pocket. Protect your investment, and let Chamberlains do the hard work for you. Contact us today.

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Why Sellers Should Use High-Quality Property Photos 

property photos

When selling a home, good-quality property photos help you attract more buyers and achieve a higher asking price. What’s not to love? A three-minute read.

One of the golden rules of property selling is not to skimp on photography. And you don’t have to take our word for it – look at the results of a recent survey of home buyers.*

A survey of 1,300 people who had purchased a property within the past six months revealed three critical things:

  • Photography creates a powerful first impression (and we all know first impressions count). 93% of respondents said they formed an opinion of a home based on the imagery.
  • Dodgy photos cost sellers money. 62% of buyers said they’d make an offer below the asking price if the pictures were poor.
  • Good photos generate viewings. 94% of buyers were more inclined to view a property that was marketed with good photos and/or a video tour. Meanwhile, 78% said they’d be less likely to view a property if the photos were howlers.

Why quality pics matter

As most smartphones have decent cameras, you might assume that anyone could grab a few snaps of a property, and no one would be the wiser.

But most prospective buyers are sophisticated social media users and scroll through countless high-quality images online every day.

When buyers see dubious, poorly lit snaps they assume that the seller either doesn’t know what they’re doing or is desperate to offload (both options are likely to prompt a reduced offer).

Conversely, good-quality photos are a sure-fire recipe for attracting higher offers. Property photographers know all the lighting and perspective tricks to ensure a property looks light, bright and welcoming.

But wait, there’s more!

One issue that we’ve noticed in our agency, but didn’t come up in the survey, is that many buyers share the listing of a property with family and close friends before making an offer.

The buyer may be wobbling and want a second opinion or relying on the Bank of Mum and Dad for help with the deposit. So, it goes without saying that you want the images in the listing to be good quality.

We always use high-quality photography here at Chamberlains, as we know it gives sellers the edge. Get in touch with us to learn more about our comprehensive property marketing strategy.

* Survey by Giraffe360.

 

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The property market remains open despite new lockdown

The property market remains open despite new lockdown

The South Devon property market remains open despite new lockdown

The Prime Minister announced at 8pm on Monday evening that people in England will be going back into lockdown following a surge in Coronavirus cases.

The tighter restrictions include schools shutting until the February half-term for most pupils. People must now work from home if they can, and only essential shops can remain open.

Which leads us to how these new measures will affect people wanting and needing to move home.

According to the Government’s latest advice issued on its website, people CAN still move home as long as they follow the guidelines in place.

At the end of this article, there is a link to the information the Government issued this evening.

The section which addresses the property market states.

Moving home

You can still move home. People outside your household or support bubble should not help with moving house unless absolutely necessary.

Estate and letting agents and removals firms can continue to work. If you are looking to move, you can go to property viewings.

Follow the national guidance on moving home safely, which includes advice on social distancing, letting fresh air in, and wearing a face covering.

We’re Here for Our Community

We will be available to take calls and respond to any property related questions you may have about this latest twist in what’s been a traumatic time for many of us.

But unlike the first lockdown hope is now on the horizon.

We will get through this together. Remember ‘it’s always darkest before the dawn.’

All of us at Chamberlains are committed to ensuring our clients, colleagues and communities remain safe. We will do everything in our power to play our part in the fight against this awful disease.

Here is the link to the Government’s latest Coronavirus guidelines. Page 17 features the Moving Home advice.

https://tinyurl.com/yynh94ug

Stay safe South Devon.

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Lockdown Update for Sellers and Buyers in Teignbridge

Lockdown Update for Sellers and Buyers in Teignbridge

Lockdown Update for Sellers and Buyers in Teignbridge

In this two-minute read, we look at what the announcement on Saturday by Prime Minister Boris Johnson means to home sellers and buyers in Teignbridge.

Just over a week ago we received confirmation England was going into lockdown from Thursday, November 5 until at least December 2.

So, how will this affect people in the process of moving or thinking about selling in Teignbridge?

Well, firstly it’s good news from a property moving perspective because the Housing Minister Robert Jenrick confirmed in a tweet on Saturday evening that the market was still very much open for business.

QUESTION:

‘Can I still move home?’

ANSWER:

‘Yes – the housing market will remain open throughout this period. Everyone should continue to play their part in reducing the spread of the virus by following the current guidance.’

The Minister’s tweet linked to an information guide about the new lockdown which you can find at the bottom of this article.

At Chamberlains, we continue to work hard for our sellers and buyers in a Covid-19 secure way, while strictly following the regulations laid out by the Government.

Yes we Can

We will still offer virtual tours and carry out video valuations.

We can still conduct safety first viewings using PPE, hand sanitisers and social distancing.

We will continue to push hard to progress any sales that are currently going through.

And we will keep everyone we work with updated about any changes that may happen.

Here for YOU

We appreciate this is an anxious time for many of our clients and that’s why we want you to contact us if you have any questions, concerns or need to get a better understanding of what’s happening.

As we were in the first lockdown, we are 100 per cent committed and focussed on doing the right things for our clients, our colleagues, and our community.

Thanks for reading.

PS: Here’s the Government article:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november

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What Teignbridge Landlords Need to Know About Evictions During Lockdown 2

What Teignbridge Landlords Need to Know About Evictions During Lockdown 2

What Teignbridge Landlords Need to Know About Evictions During Lockdown 2

In this two-minute read, we look at the new rules on eviction enforcement during the latest lockdown.

 

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced a ban on bailiffs carrying out eviction enforcement during the lockdown in all but the most serious of cases.

 

While the courts are continuing to hear eviction cases, under the new rules announced last week as England returned to lockdown, bailiff enforcement action cannot be implemented until January 11, 2021, “at the earliest”. 

 

Mr Jenrick says the move protects those who have found themselves in financial difficulty through no fault of their own “while ensuring landlords have access to justice in the most serious cases”.

 

He adds: “We are now going further by protecting renters from eviction during the new national restrictions and throughout the Christmas period – with a pause on bailiff activity other than in the most serious circumstances, such as anti-social behaviour or fraud.”

 

There are a few exceptions to the enforcement ban. The bailiffs can act on cases of illegal occupation, fraud, anti-social behaviour, eviction of domestic abuse perpetrators in social housing and where a property is unoccupied following the death of a tenant. 

 

The government says it also intends to introduce an exemption for extreme pre-Covid rent arrears.

 

Uncertainty and case backlog

The latest announcement from the government adds another layer of complexity to the legal landscape when it comes to evictions.

 

This year landlords have had to contend with an eviction ban and an extension to the eviction notice period.

 

To further complicate matters, courts in England are currently working through an unprecedented backlog of cases caused by the first lockdown and eviction ban.

 

As a result, any landlord considering eviction proceedings should prepare for nightmarish delays (and bear in mind that even in the pre-COVID-19 era, the process took months).

 

That’s why here at Chamberlains we advise landlords to view eviction as the absolute last resort. 

There are several ways to avoid the tenant-landlord relationship breaking down to the extent that eviction is the only answer. 

 

By investing time and effort into managing your tenant relationship, and by being thorough with reference checks, record-keeping and inspections, many issues can be resolved without legal action.

 

And if a dispute does occur, expert negotiation and communication can mean a finding a solution without the lawyers getting involved.

 

Investing in a professional letting agent can save you as a landlord time, money, and stress. As the nation continues to navigate its way through the uncertainties of the pandemic, having an expert on your side who can look out for your best interests will help you sleep well at night.

 

If you’d like to know more about how to avoid getting tangled up in the messy eviction process, then get in touch with us here at Chamberlains. We’re happy to provide expert advice on how to manage property investments while staying on the right side of the law.