This week is SAFE agent awareness week.  We are a SAFE agent so you have the security of knowing your money is protected.  Why anyone would consider using an agent that is not willing to offer this security can only be due to a lack of awareness  - so help us spread the word and share this blog post!!

SAFE – Safe Agent Fully Endorsed – is a mark denoting firms that protect landlords and tenants money through client money protection schemes.

There are several schemes* in the sector operated by ARLA/NAEA, the Law Society, NALS and RICS to which agents voluntarily belong. The scope of these schemes varies and you should contact your agent for full details of the scheme of which they are a part.

Landlords and tenants often make decisions based on cost but it is important to ensure you ask your agent for details of the organisation they are regulated by and whether or not they are covered by a client money protection scheme. All agents who are part of ARLA/NAEA, the Law Society, NALS and RICS maintain and operate separate designated client accounts where your money is held completely separate from the operating funds of the firm. If the agent you are using cannot provide you with the assurance of knowing they are covered by a client money protection scheme the question you need to ask is why not?

Thought we would share this . .

ARLA: TOP TIPS FOR "GREENING" RENTED PROPERTIES

Landlords overseeing residential properties should consider measures to improve the energy efficiency of their properties, according to the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA).

The Government'sGreen Deal will encourage landlords to take advantage of up-front financing to make their properties more energy efficient, where tenants request improvements be made.

For those landlords who don't comply however, the Government has stated that it may introduce regulations to force landlords to improve their properties by 2015.

The Government's aim is for all properties with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of F or G to be improved beyond that grading, which may be a significant challenge for older properties.

So ARLA has come up with these simple tips to make your properties more efficient, thus saving money and further financial outlays in the future:

• Cavity wall and floor insulation: This can often be a disruptive process, but effective insulation will represent a significant step towards improving the energy efficiency of your property.
• Ensure you have effective loft insulation: Although many properties now have loft insulation installed, check the depth and quality. The recommended thickness is between 250-300mm for optimum energy efficiency.
• Insulate your water fittings: ARLA recommends that lagging should be installed around water pipes and boilers to minimise heat loss. As many will have experienced this winter, water pipes are also prone to freezing, so insulation should help to prevent this.
• Prevent draughts: Landlords should seek to block draughts in various parts of their properties, through draught proofing doors and windows, as well as reducing heat loss through floorboards.
• Install a thermostat on your boiler: Thermostats ensure that when a room reaches its optimum temperature of around 19?C, the heating is automatically switched off, thus reducing heating bills.
• Communicating with tenants: Effective communication between landlords and tenants can ensure that tenants are aware of the importance of energy efficiency, and take their own simple steps to reducing heating costs.

Ian Potter, Operations Manager of ARLA, commented: "Landlords can already take advantage of a tax allowance of up to £1,500 for these energy efficiency improvements through the Landlord's Energy Saving Allowance (LESA).

"It makes sense therefore for landlords to carry out these improvements straight away, as considerable cost savings can be made."

Landlords – Why choose Ark Residential?

We respect your property. We understand that every house, flat and maisonette is important. We will ensure that your property is marketed, managed and maintained to the highest possible standard.

1. Valuation of your property

We make sure that our experienced staff give you an accurate and honest valuation based on our knowledge of the local area and the current rental market. We will give you advice on rental value as well as recommendations on any additional actions that could ensure an optimum rental price.

2. Marketing

Marketing your property is the most important step when searching for suitable tenants. In the age of the internet, many applicants now use websites as their first port of call when looking for a new home. We market and advertise your property on all of the main internet sites, Rightmove.co.uk, Findaproperty.co.uk, Propertylive.co.uk and Primelocation.com as well as our own dedicated website Arkresidential.co.uk. We also advertise in the local Homes magazine to ensure those without internet access are not over looked. We have a large and prominent window display in our prime town centre location and use our list of registered applicants to make pro active outbound telephone calls as soon as a new property becomes available. We take numerous photographs of all of our properties and produce high quality colour particulars to give applicants clear and detailed information.

All viewings of the property are accompanied by one of our friendly and knowledgeable staff. This ensures the property is well represented and any questions can be answered quickly and efficiently. We strive to ensure applicants have a positive viewing experience and increase the chance of the property being let quickly.

3. Finding the right tenant

Getting the right tenant is key. We carry out rigorous referencing on all applicants. We take up both landlord and employer references. This ensures the applicants have been good tenants in their previous properties and verifies their income to ensure they can afford the rent. We also complete a credit check to ensure they do not have any bad credit, CCJs or bankruptcy judgements.

4. Sign up

Once the applicants have passed the referencing we will complete all paperwork that is required to ensure a smooth sign up. We can arrange for the property to be cleaned, and any checks that are required such as EPC and Gas Safety Certificate can be carried out by one of our qualified contractors. We can arrange for a full inventory of the property to be taken and presented in an easy to read format.

We produce a comprehensive tenancy agreement for the new tenants to sign to ensure they are fully aware of their obligations during their tenancy.

We will also contact all of the utility suppliers with ingoing meter readings and ensure that the council tax department is aware of the date the new tenants are moving in.

As members of the TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme) we will register the security deposit and ensure it stays safe until the tenants move out.

We will make an appointment for the applicants to sign all of the paperwork and collect the deposit and first months rent. Once the applicants have signed up we will call you and advise you that the sign up is complete and you have tenants! We will also provide you with copies of all the relevant paperwork should you require it.

5. Managment

If you have decided to manage the property yourself we will pass on your details to your tenants should they need to contact you. We are, however, available to offer advice if required and we can also offer to arrange an inspection or gas safety check for a small fee on an as needed basis should you require it.

If you decide to go with our premium management service we will collect the rent from your tenants every month and forward it on to you. We will be the first point of contact for the tenants and our dedicated Property Manager is there to over see any repairs or maintenance that is required. We will contact you when tenancy agreements are due for renewal and are happy to give advice regarding rental increases. We also undertake regular inspections at the property to check that it is being kept in good order and to catch any repair issues before they escalate. In conclusion, if a tenant has a question, query or problem we will do whatever we can to resolve it while balancing it with the interests of our landlords.

Hastings Borough Council change council tax exemptions for empty properties

Landlords with property in Hastings should be aware of changes Hastings Borough Council are making to the Council Tax charges.

 

As from 1st April 2013 if a property has had more than 30 days Class C exemption you will be liable for the full Council Tax charge. Previously Hastings Borough Council would award this exemption for up to 6 months.

 

In addition, if the property remains unoccupied and unfurnished for a period of two years or more, the Council Tax charge will increase to 150%.

Not personally a big fan of EPC's just seems like more expense for landlords and so far we have had very little interest from tenants in ratings etc - but maybe this is set to change . . .

Here is what ARLA have to say on the topic

Cost of Government green measures for private rented sector landlords revealed

Landlords are urged to consider what works may be required to improve their property's EPC ratings sooner rather than later, to stay ahead of planned regulation.

Research provided by the BPF and Energy Saving Trust has shown that the cost of improving a typical F rated property to an E rating - which is likely to be the minimum standard for private rentals from 2018 - ranges from just £100 up to £660. However, improving the property to the highest possible EPC rating could cost almost £20,000.
With December's census revealing home ownership had fallen for the first time since records began and the number renting from a landlord doubling to 3.6 million homes, improving energy efficiency in the private rented sector will be key in helping to meet the Government's climate change obligations.
With this in mind the British Property Federation and the Energy Saving Trust today published a free guide explaining how landlords can plan and fund improvements to help ensure their investment will be lettable from 2018.
To meet the Government's energy efficiency rules, the guide reveals a typical:

• one bedroom Victorian mid-terrace converted flat will cost £659 to improve from an F to an E rated EPC, but £11,182 to improve from an F to a C rated EPC;
• two bedroom 1970s flat will cost £150 to improve from an F to an E rated EPC, but £14,927 to improve to a C rated EPC;
• two bedroom end-terrace Victorian house will cost £245 to improve from an F to an E rated EPC, but £19,586 to a B rated EPC (excluding earnings from feed-in tariffs);
• three bedroom mid-century semi-detached house will cost £100 to improve from an F to an E rated EPC, but £13,154 to improve to a B rated EPC (excluding feed-in tariffs).

Leak At France Factory Causes Strong Smell On Sussex Coast

Sussex Police have reported that the strong smell of a diesel type aviation fuel along parts of the East Sussex coast are because of a leak at a factory near Paris.

There are reports of it around Winchelsea and Fairlight as well as Hastings and Bexhill.

They say there is no danger to members of the public.

   

Important advice for consumers who have flues which run in ceiling spaces

Some properties, mainly flats and apartments, have been built with boiler flues which cannot be inspected because they are hidden behind walls or ceilings. The boiler flues that this information relates to are connected to room-sealed fan assisted boilers. If you live in one of these homes then please read on for more information so you know what to do.

Gas Safe registered engineers need to be able to see the flue − which take fumes away from the boiler − as part of essential safety checks whenever the boiler is worked on. A flue in poor condition, combined with a boiler that is not working properly, could put you and your family in danger from carbon monoxide poisoning, which can cause death or serious injury.

If your boiler is situated on an outside wall, it is unlikely you have this type of flue. Alternatively, if your engineer can see all of the flue, you will not need to take any further action in relation to this matter.

If you do have a boiler where all, or part of, the flue cannot be seen and you are a landlord, will need to arrange for inspection hatches to be fitted.   From 1 January 2013, any Gas Safe registered engineer will turn the boiler off, with your permission and formally advise you not to use it until inspection hatches have been fitted in appropriate places.

For more information visit   http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/advice/flues_in_voids.aspx