04/03/2011
Welcome to the second issue of our Landlords enewsletter of the year. With the days growing longer and the daffodils beginning to appear I thought I’d share with you my thoughts on the housing market in general. There are a number of indications to suggest that activity levels on the sales side look set to increase as we move into spring.
Our sales offices have already experienced a significant increase in the number of people speaking with us and this has brought the usual seasonal upturn in the number of new properties coming to the market. The number of viewings too is higher and we expect to see a consequential increase in the number of housing transactions through the spring months. On the lettings side February saw continued excellent demand for rental properties throughout the areas in which we operate and I believe this will continue as we enter March. In the main demand continues to outstrip supply and particularly in the 2 and 3 bedroom sector of the market.
It is often the case that the market in this area is unfairly represented by the North West regional statistics. We are fortunate in that we live in a location which is regarded as desirable and as a consequence housing transactions continue even in difficult times. Employment levels, whilst worrying, remain higher than in many other parts of the country and this too helps in ensuring that the property market remains more stable than in many other locations around the country.
There are however some dark clouds which prevent property prices from rising at anything but a snail’s pace. The mortgage market remains tight with attitudes towards lending on residential property soured by the experiences post banking crisis. Although mortgages remain available and competitively priced for those requiring a low loan to value ratio, the higher risk attributed to first time buyers results in 85% / 90% mortgages remaining relatively expensive – although as I write, at long last, we are beginning to see some improvement here too which also extends to Buy-to-Let products also.
Should you be considering acquiring a property to let out we would be happy to advise you of its suitability and provide an up to date assessment of the value without cost or obligation and also please remember should you purchase a property from any of our offices and then instruct us to let and manage it we’ll let it for free*. I look forward to a further busy year on the lettings side and a year when I believe we will see sale prices remaining static but a steady rise in the level and numbers of housing transactions as people feel that they can buy with the reassurance of knowing that the value of their asset is unlikely to fall.
We look forward to hearing from you if we can be of assistance.
With very best wishes
Philip Chadwick FNAEA CertREA MARLA
Director of Lettings
* Subject to T’s & C’s
28/01/2011
Welcome to our first Landlords enewsletter of the year - A very happy and prosperous New Year to you all. January has been a busy month for us not only dealing with all the problems that a hard cold snap brings but with an excellent level of Tenant enquiries which has culminated in a high number of new lets agreed and move in's in the second half of the month and many booked in for February already.
One of the reasons for our success is, I believe, the fact that we are fortunate to be part of The Home Sale Network an organisation run by Cartus the largest relocation company in the country. They have secured the contacts to relocate in excess of 1500 employees to the South Manchester area over the next 6 to 12 months. As the only agent in the area to have been conducting seminars with these companies it has given us exclusive access to many first class ‘corporate’ tenants.
As the area’s leading Letting and Management specialist with 16 Letting centres and a dedicated Property Management Department covering South Manchester, North Cheshire and The High Peak I strongly believe we can deliver more viewings, maximise prices and achieve quicker lets.
I hope you will find the articles in this enewsletter of interest. Our service remains based on a strong personal commitment together with professional expertise from experienced local people who will, make every effort to let your property for the best price and in the shortest possible time.
Very best wishes
Philip Chadwick FNAEA CertREA MARLA
Director of Lettings
02/12/2010
More people set to move into private rented accommodation
In less than five years’ time, 17% of households will live in privately rented accommodation, it has been predicted.
The proportion would be up from 14% at present, according to Capital Economics.
The proportion of households in private rental accommodation has been growing steadily, after standing at 10% in 2001.
Ed Stansfield, chief property economist at Capital Economics, said: “Over the next three to five years, we think the most likely scenario is that the private rented sector will continue to expand. By 2015, it is plausible that 16% or even 17% of households will live in privately rented accommodation.”
He said the boom in tenancy demand was driven by students, immigrants and a rise in those squeezed out by property ownership.
He said it could be several years before house prices fall back to levels which makes home ownership a realistic option for many.
He also cited public spending cuts as increasing the number of tenants, as it would create more disadvantaged households whilst also reducing the provision of social housing.
09/10/2010
Use only ARLA, RICS or NALS agents, Shapps tells tenants
Housing minister Grant Shapps has urged prospective tenants to use only agents who belong to accreditation schemes.
His comments follow a report by Shelter which found that a number of landlords treated their tenants badly.
Shapps said: “Shelter’s campaign draws much-needed attention to the minority of landlords who seek to exploit their tenants, and the criminals preying on those looking for somewhere to live.
“I want to join with them in urging anyone looking for rented accommodation to protect themselves and their deposits by using agents belonging to accreditation schemes such as those run by the Association of Residential Letting Agents, the National Approved Letting Scheme or the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
“Tenants should also ask for clear written agreements with their landlords, and can challenge unfair charges through the Office of Fair Trading.”
Shapps added: “The Government is also doing its bit through the Tenant Deposit Protection Scheme, under which nearly 1.9m deposits are protected.
“Landlords not protecting deposits face tough penalties and I would urge any landlord not already registered with the scheme to do so.”
Source Estate Agent Today
Gascoigne Halman are members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Association of Residential Letting Agents and the National Association of Estate Agents.
25/08/2010
22/07/2010
Do you have a property to let? Considering buying to let?
With demand surging and rents rising if you already have a property you let out or are considering buying to let it’s an excellent time to talk to us.
As the area’s leading Letting and Management specialist with 16 Letting Centres and a specialist Property Management Department covering South Manchester, North Cheshire and The High Peak we have exclusive access to 100’s of new prospective Tenants moving to the area over the next 6 to 12 months.
We can deliver more viewings, maximise prices and achieve quicker lets.
Buy a property through any of our offices and complete before 30th September 2010, instruct us to let and manage it and we’ll let it for FREE
Please call me on 01625 533563 or drop me a line at lettings@gascoignehalman.co.uk if you would like to know more.
Yours sincerely
Philip T Chadwick FNAEA CertREA MARLA
Members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the National Association of Estate Agents, the Association of Residential Letting Agents and the Deposit Protection Scheme
22/06/2010
21st June 2010
Unprecedented rental demand in June – MORE PROPERTIES REQUIRED
Gascoigne Halman – South Manchester, North Cheshire and The High Peak’s leading letting specialists with 16 letting centres throughout the area – has reported an exceptional level of new lets in June, following on from a very busy April and May.
“We have exceeded our lettings forecasts by a significant margin in June and a number of our lettings managers also achieved new personal bests in the number of properties they let”, says Gascoigne Halman’s Director of Lettings, Philip Chadwick: “We have seen an exceptional level of demand in the last couple of months and are extremely proud of our staff, not only for coping with the demand, but for maintaining our high levels of customer service that we pride ourselves on. This achievement is down to teamwork and the dedication of all our employees, not just our lettings and property management staff, but our many employees in administration, IT, marketing, accounts and HR”.
“It is also down to the proactive approach we take in understanding and adapting to current market forces. We always advise our landlords honestly and accurately on precise market conditions to ensure that they let their property as quickly as possible at the best possible rent.”
Strong demand for rented accommodation looks set to continue. According to a recent survey young people in the UK are now twice as likely to rent long term compared to the previous generation.
The survey questioned 1800 people aged between 18 and 30 years and found that approximately a third (30.8%) have rented three or four properties, whilst only 17.5% of the previous generation had rented a similar number at the same age. 34.2% of those that currently live in rented accommodation confessed that they enjoy independence from property ties and a further 31.6% said they enjoy the flexibility to move around.
Says Philip: “With rental demand as strong as it is, and our reputation as a professional, trustworthy and experienced letting specialist well-established, we see a bright future for this side our company”.
“The public, landlords and tenants alike, are becoming more aware of the importance of using a reputable letting agent which understands and complies with the many legal obligations involved with letting property. We have always been at the forefront of best practice and improving standards in the industry and I believe this lies at the heart of our success.”
All that said we need more properties to let.
For further advice and information please contact Philip on 01625 533563 or email: lettings@gascoignehalman.co.uk
26/05/2010
We are members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, National Association of Estate Agents, Association of Residential Letting Agents and Deposit Protection Service - Is your agent?
28/04/2010
As we move into what is traditionally the start of our busiest period of the year(May to September)activity I'm pleased to report is good. The press is full of the fact that supply of property in the private rented sector is at it's lowest for many years. Tenants are staying longer, traditional first time buyers are still facing a funding issue as are investor Landlords and with sales having picked up vendors are not having to turn to the rental market to find a way to move on.
If demand continues to outstrip supply simple economics will prevail and rents will surely rise. We are are already seeing a firming up of prices in certain area's of the market and this will doubtless spread if new instructions are not forthcoming. A good time to buy? With interest rates still at a low level and still some good buys out there surely so for the Landlord not looking to borrow more than 75% of the purchase price.
So if you're considering purchasing please remember we are running our BOLOF (buy one let one free) offer until September this year. Contact any of our offices for a leaflet on how it works.
Good hunting,
Best wishes
Philip
Philip T Chadwick FNAEA CertREA
Director of Lettings
Gascoigne Halman
13/04/2010
Landlords don't forget................
Buy a property through
Gascoigne Halman and
we’ll let it for FREE!
If you are thinking of buying a property
to let out or adding to your existing
portfolio you need our BOLOF!
(Buy One Let One Free).
Agree to purchase a property through
any of our 16 Offices covering South
Manchester, North Cheshire and The
High Peak from the 1st March 2010
and complete by 30th September
2010, instruct us to Let and Manage
it and we’ll let it for FREE.
Normal Terms and Conditions of Business otherwise apply:
First Let Only.
Subject to sole Agency Instructions.
25/03/2010
12/02/2010
22/01/2010
Welcome to our January Newsletter
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