Property of the week

This attractive three bedroom end of terraced house situated in a popular residential location. The property has just been refurbished with a new kitchen, new carpets and redecoration. The property has a sitting room with a moden decorative fire, a small study and downstairs shower room, it also benefits from a newly fitted kitchen. There are two double bedrooms a single bedroom and a family bathroom. The property has front and side gardens and a enclosed rear garden. The property is heated by gas central heating and is double glazed throughout. Garage en bloc. Call now to arrange a viewing!

Shop locally and support Bexhill town............

In the spirit of Christmas & because we want you to shop

locally anyone who likes Ark Residential on Facebook or

follows us on Twitter in December will be in for a chance to

 WIN £50 of  vouchers

for one of the shops listed below!!!!

Mosiaic Gallery      Silver nutmeg      PICTURE CRAFTS     Inner Angels

Scatterbox         DESTINATION          DRAYS

WARBURTONS    blush     Sweet Etcetra      CHIQUE INTERNATIONAL

Good news for landlords!

An announcement by the Financial Services Authority  is likely to further toughen lending criteria in a market already struggling. There's likely to be a an age-limit on mortgages, with lenders needing to show they've grounds to expect a loan to be fully paid off by the time a borrower's in his or her mid-70s. Interest-only mortgages without back-up from some kind of investment plan are likely to get the chop entirely. Self-employed borrowers will need to prove affordability with audited accounts. Mortgage brokers are already making noises about the effects on "struggling" homebuyers.

 Here at Ark we sympathise with people who want to get on the property ladder but it is good news for landlords.  If people with good incomes and credit scores can’t get mortgages then there are more quality prospective tenants to rent your property!

Landlords...........we have lots of people looking for property!

Its a busy time of year here in the Ark office, we have lots of people looking for a new home. If we dont have exactly what a person is looking for, we register them and contact them when new property becomes available.

We currently have 84 people registered and looking for a one bed property.

At the moment 2 beds are the most sought after and we have 108 people waiting for their perfect property.

3 and 4 beds are also popular and we have 32 people looking for a 3 bed and 4 people looking for a 4 bed.

As you can see we have lots of people registered and ready and waiting to move.

Call us today and we will be hapy to arrange a valuation on your property. We offer both straight let and fully managed options to ensure your property is well looked after whatever your requirements.

There's two sides to every story

A man mentioned to his landlord about the tenants in the flat above his. “Many a night they stamp on the floor and shout till midnight.” When the landlord asked if it bothered him, he replied, “Not really, for I usually stay up and practice my trumpet till about that time most every night anyway.”

Just shows you how it is all about perspective. There is no right or wrong, just what you have.

Deposit protection - tips for tenants

It’s so important for tenants to know their rights and responsibilities when it comes to tenancy deposits. Being clued up from the start will help avoid problems for everyone at the end of the tenancy; so here is some advice on what to do when moving in and moving out of your rented home.

• Before you hand over a deposit, ask your landlord if they are a member of a Tenancy Deposit Scheme – and which one!
• Check that your deposit has been protected and that you have received prescribed information within 30 days of the landlord receiving the money. Keep a receipt when you make the payment and if the deposit isn't protected within 30 days contact your landlord straight away to save everyone problems later. They might not be trying to cheat you – it could be a genuine mistake.

• Read and understand your tenancy agreement before you sign it. It has important information on what you can (and cannot) do during your tenancy. It may contain special clauses such as whether or not you can keep pets, or whether you have responsibility for particular aspects of the property such as a garden or valuable contents. If a dispute arises where you didn’t know about a clause in the agreement you may not get all of your deposit back!

• Get written permission from you landlord before you make any changes to the property. If you want to paint the walls or keep chickens in the garden, always consult your landlord and get agreement in writing. Be clear on how it is to be done, and in what condition the property should be returned.

• It is your responsibility to return the property in good condition. Clean the property regularly and if any damage occurs let your landlord or agent know in writing – don’t leave it until the end of the tenancy. If you live in a shared property you have joint responsibility for maintenance so keeping your own bedroom spic and span isn’t enough! Cleaning accounts for over 50% of deposit disputes and the shared facilities such as kitchens and bathrooms are your biggest risk. Even if it’s your flatmates who are messy, you still might have to pay to clean up after them!

• Attend the check-in and check-out inspections if you can. This is your chance to agree on the condition of the property and its contents. Keep a copy of the check-in report and write to your landlord as quickly as possible if there is anything you want to question.

• Only use agents who are regulated by a professional body such as NFoPP, RICS, NALS or The Law Society – or look for the ‘SafeAgent’ badge. A regulated agent has client money protection and a separate client account for any of your money which they hold.

• Make sure the agent and landlord know how to contact you at the end of the tenancy, so they can tell you about any problems with the property.

Five excellent reasons to only consider letting with an ARLA agent

By using a Licensed ARLA agent you are guaranteed:

·          That the agency is covered by our Client Money Protection (CMP) Scheme.

The ARLA have the ability to make discretionary grants (up to pre-set limits) if you suffer financial loss due to the bankruptcy or dishonesty of the member and/or their firm.

·          That the agency has Professional Indemnity Insurance.

This ensures you are financially covered for successfull claims relating to members' negligence, bad advice or mishandling of data...

·          To be consulting with a qualified and trained agent who can give you professional up-to-date advice and guidance.

All our members are required to carry out at least a minimum level of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) each year and many do more.

·          That you are dealing with an agent who voluntarily follows the Code of Practice and Rules of Conduct laid down by their professional body.

If an agent does not follow the code, they can be fined or in the worst cases expelled from membership of ARLA. Our disiplinary process includes everything from cautions and warnings right through to more severe penalties of up to £5000 for each rule breached. You can be sure that the highest standards are upheld by our members.

·          That you have a route to redress should something go wrong.

It is a mandatory requirement that all our members belong to an independent redress scheme, the choice being either the Ombudsman Services:Property or the Propertry Ombudsman Service. This gives you the consumer an added level of protection. The Propertry Ombudsman Service can award payments of upto £25,000

Why should I have an inventory?

What is an inventory? 

An inventory is the itemisation of your property and its condition.

Who needs one?
Every landlord should have an inventory for each property.

Why ?
Because this outlines not only what is in the property, but also what condition it is in.

The property is unfurnished - do I still need an inventory ?
Yes, because the inventory will also point out the condition of the walls, curtains, carpets, bathroom, kitchen appliances, garden and the property as it stands.

The trouble is that many landlords believe that if their property is unfurnished, then they do not need an inventory, because there is very little that can be stolen, broken or damaged.

However, just think about your beautiful magnolia walls being painted pink and purple, the tenant leaves them in that state and claims they were like it when they moved in.

Or the double glazed door has a large crack in it, how do you prove it was sound when the tenants moved in?

The inventory is an invaluable tool in insuring that your property is returned to you in the same condition that it was handed over.

We reccommend that all landlords have one, it might be extra expense in the beginning but will save you time and money in the long run.

Ever wondered what we do all day?

A typical day in the office . . . . . . .   8.40 and the kettle is on – no time for Jill to get a cup of tea as she has a valuation first thing.  

Answer phone messages collected and we are sorting out a plumber asap as someone’s washing machine is leaking!  Sophie is getting paperwork ready as we have four people signing tenancies this week & Lucy is soon busy updating our website and phoning out applicants as we have taken on a new property.  Meanwhile Kate is off to do some inspections and Jill is back out doing viewings.

Grab a quick bite for lunch and then Jill has a check-out and an inventory to compile.  Kate is meeting with freeholders & contractors at a property to try resolve an ongoing roof leak into one of our flats! A holding deposit mid afternoon always puts a smile on our faces.  Tenants come in to the office to pay rent & report repairs, the handyman is in and wants a cuppa and we all need a chocolate fix!  A trip to the bank, keys cut and some money put on a gas card, rents transferred and a deposit cheque is in the post.  More applicants registered and more viewings booked ready to start again in the morning! . . . . .

Its condensation.....................

Black Mould…………….the bane of any letting agents life! It seems be more of an issue now than ever. Apparently it’s down to the weather and how humid it has been this year.

All the tenants think it is a problem with the property and all the landlords think it’s down to the tenant’s lifestyle. In all honestly it’s often a mixture of the two, which leaves us trying to get a resolution that both parties are happy with!

The main thing is preventing condensation

• Making sure the property is well ventilated – open a window in the morning, keep trickle vents open
• Don’t dry wet washing on the radiator
• Make sure your tumble dryer is vented
• Cover pans and close the door while cooking
• Open the window or leave the extractor fan on after showering or bathing

Sometimes more extreme action is needed – air bricks in the walls, extra powerful extractor fans or a dehumidifier. Generally however preventing condensation will prevent black mould growth.

Remember the mantra……..Ventilate, Ventilate, Ventilate!

Tenants are staying longer!!

Tenants staying for a record 20 months, says ARLA

Tenants are staying longer, with the average length of tenancy now standing at a record 20 months.

The Association of Residential Letting Agents says the increase is because of lack of rental properties, with 58% of ARLA agents saying that there are more tenants than properties available.

Ian Potter, ARLA managing director, said: “The private rented sector is clearly picking up the slack resulting from a flat housing market and the ongoing lack of mortgage finance.
With void periods being a significant drain on profits longer tenancies can only be a good thing for landlords!

Our Shop Locally Campaign!!

One of the things we love about Bexhill is that is does have lots of independent shops and they really do have great customer service. We value this about our town and want to align ourselves with these local traders to highlight to local people that we are also a small independent and really care about our customers.

We are running a campaign to encourage people to shop locally – our promotion intends to support and promote other local businesses as well as ourselves – see the preview below. 

Look out for an initiation coming your way!  Or visit us at Ark to collect one.

The beauty of Bexhill is its independent shops. As Bexhill’s Independent Letting Specialist we want you to support local independent businesses. If you instruct us to let your property or recommend us to a landlord and we let their property this invitation will entitle you to a £50 voucher for one of the listed local shops!

Mosiaic Gallery Silver nutmeg PICTURE CRAFTS Inner Angels

the living spa Scatterbox Destination DRAYS

WARBURTONS blush Sweet Etcetra CHIQUE INTERNATIONAL

Olympics 2012

It started with the amazing opening ceremony and has just got better and better for London 2012. Everyone in the Ark office has been watching the olympics.We have found ourselves watching events that we know nothing about but not being able to do anything until the medals have been won.

The GB athletes have been amazing and it has made us all proud to be British. Lets see if we can make 40 medals before the end of the games.

Lets not forget the Paralympics are still to come, more amazing athletes to cheer on and hoefully even more medals to be won.

Buy to Let Top Ten Tips

1.         Buy -to-Let is a medium to long term investment.

2.         Seek independent advice regarding the best areas for buy-to let investment.

3.         Do your sums, many buy-to-let lenders require rent to be 125% of the mortgage payments. 

4.         Have a contingency fund for repairs and to cover any void periods.

5.         Use an ARLA agent.  They are bonded, hold Professional Indemnity Insurance and have trained staff.

6.         Consider a rent guarantee policy.  For whatever reasons tenants may stop paying rent - but your mortgage still needs to be paid.

7.         Consider how hands-on you want to be.  Inexperienced or busy landlords may want an agent to manage their property.  Others may just require a tenant finding service

8.         Consider the age and standard of the property.  Recently built properties or properties that have been fully renovated are likely to have fewer maintenance issues.

9.         Is the property freehold or leasehold?  Bear in mind costs attached to a leasehold property.  Service charges and ground rent are the responsibility of the landlord.

10.       Don't let personal taste cloud your judgement.  Be sure the property you choose meets local market requirements.

More ideas from the government to make it tough for landlords!!

Plans to abolish 6-month council tax break on empty homes could hit landlords

Currently, if tenants leave an unfurnished property, the landlord benefits from a six-month council tax break.

Under the Localism Act, the Government is proposing to replace it with a clause that would let local authorities charge whatever they wanted on empty homes for the first six months.

Nor is it simply landlords who will feel the pinch. Vendors who fail to sell quickly could find themselves paying tax on two properties.

Bexhill carnival

With over a hundred balloons to inflate and tie with ribbon it was a busy start to carnival day in the Ark office!!  This year to join in the fun and as some publicity for our latest promotion to shop locally - we decided that handing out helium balloons and some of our invitations would be a good way to join in the carnival celebration. 

It was a bit trickier than it looked and we got into a bit of a knot with our handfuls of balloons. We now have a new found respect for the man outside the office who was holding a far bigger bunch of foil balloons with no knotting issues at all (apparently its all in the combing of the ribbon!)  

Carnival followed its great traditions and we saw our usual favourite floats but best of all we enjoyed seeing lots of local people out to watch and enjoy the procession. 

We were impressed with the lovely manners of the Bexhill kids who gave us big smiles and thanks for their balloons – it is definitely a tradition we will maintain. 

Look out for a ‘shop locally’ invitation coming your way soon . . . . . . .

Olympic torch comes to Bexhill

For once the weather was kind to us. The rain held off and the sun actually made an appearance. It rare to see Bexhill this busy but everyone really made the effort. People were lined 3 and 4 deep around the De la Warr Pavilion waiting for the flame to arrive.

Made extra special by the fact that the flame was being carried by celebrity Eddie Izzard who was born and raised in Bexhill, there was a real buzz about the town. Everyone was waving flags and getting very excited.

Then blink and you'll miss it, here he is and there he goes! A very speedy Eddie ran past with the torch amid cheers and shouting. However, after his 300 metre sprint he stuck around to chat to fans and pose on the roof of the De la Warr. Some children were even lucky enough to have the opportunity to have their photo taken with the torch!

Probably a once in a lifetime event, we can all say that we saw the actual olympic flame pass through our little old home town of Bexhill on Sea!

Home of the Week

This beautiful four bedroom house is currently our home of the week. We are so surprised no one has snapped it up yet, it is beautiful! It is modern thoughout and has a fitted kitchen with integral appliances. Two of the four bedrooms have en suite bathrooms and there is also a family bathroom and a downstairs wc - thats a lot of toilets! The house has a conservatory, pretty garden and two parking spaces. It really is stunning and would make a lovely family home. Call us today and we would be happy to show you round, its on for £1200 per calendar month and we think its worth every penny!

Hello!

Welcome to the blog from the office of Ark Residential. Your local independant letting agent. We aim to offer an informative and sometimes humorous look at the letting industry.