Have you met the Pet Consultant?

Henry has extensive experience of moving and settling into new homes having been born in Perth Australia, 3 further homes, and then rehomed to find himself in Leamington Spa! He is a flat-coat retriever and is now very knowledgeable about the parks and gardens of both Leamington Spa and surrounding areas including all the best places for a run and swim.

Henry is regularly found in Jephson Gardens in the morning where he meets the new dogs in the neighbourhood and at the weekends in the Aviary Cafe for his breakfast treat. If you are looking for a new home with your dog, Henry recommends some very helpful information which may be obtained from the Dogs Trust at http://www.dogstrust.org.uk and http://www.letswithpets.org.uk and we will also do our best to find your dog- and human-friendly home. Woof Woof!

Landlords: What does the brand say about your Letting Agent?

Caroline Kempster, co-founder of The Letting People discusses the importance of branding at a recent 4N Networking 4Sight event in Leamington Spa. Anthony Kempster co-founder of The Letting People comments "Caroline has been instrumental in developing and nuturing The Letting People brand to being much more than a logo! Landlords should consider the importance of a strong and easily recognisable brand when choosing their letting agent. The Letting People are passionate about lettings; the business and the brand is all about "people" and building long term relationships".

Landlords: Whether you are buying, selling or letting to find out more about The Letting People property investor services visit click here https://www.thelettingpeople.co.uk/buy-to-let

Book you FREE local property investment discussion today. 

 

 

 

Are you giving the taxman too much of your income from your investment property?

Are you giving the taxman too much of your income from your investment property?

Do you know 51 ways to save property taxes?

Are you using a non-specialist accountant?

This book by Iain Wallis could save you ££££s in property taxes! It has 51 top tips to enable you to potentially keep more of your income from property – be that income tax, corporation tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax – and therefore spend your money saved on what you want to spend it on!

Imagine how you could spend your money that could have gone to the taxman – perhaps on an extra holiday or on some nice surprises for your family? …. or perhaps to secure the future for your children or even your grandchildren?

To *claim your FREE book (£24.99 RRP) instruct your local The Letting People branch to let your property.

Please be quick … This is a limited FREE offer only available to landlords who advertise their property to let with their local branch of The Letting People before 30th June 2015.

 

Call today to book your marketing appraisal:

01926 882555 (Leamington Spa) or leamington@thelettingpeople.co.uk

OR

01908 713000 (Milton Keynes) or miltonkeynes@thelettingpeople.co.uk

*Please note this offer may be withdrawn at any time.

The Letting People launch property investor services

Whether you are starting out on your search for a purchase, or have found the property you wish to purchase, we can offer a service that is right for you. From initial search through to completion we can focus on what is important to you whether this is capital growth, rental income, and/or simply saving your time! More income less fuss with a specialist and personal service. This service is only currently available at our Leamington Spa branch. Find out more here https://thelettingpeople.co.uk/buy-to-let

Our 5 top tips for keeping your gardens (and your tenant…) low-maintenance!

A garden can be a real selling point for tenants who look forward to a summer weekend eating al fresco, or seeing their children playing outside.  

However, all the seasons can create a great deal of garden maintenance issues that few tenants will have the time or skills to deal with.  

Here are a few ideas to keep the garden, and hopefully your tenant, as low-maintenance as possible!

1. Do away with the grass! It looks lovely when it’s neatly mowed – but lawn-maintenance is a big problem for most tenants who may never have used a mower before! 

The best bet is concrete and paving stones of various types – or stone chippings with a mesh to stop the weeds.

Decking too can look stylish, but be careful as it may become slippery and therefore dangerous when it’s wet.

2. Raise the borders! Very few tenants will have the time to regularly tend to the borders and the edges, and may want to avoid bending down to pull out the weeds, etc.  Raised beds will be more likely to get a bit more care – and can be used for additional seating if built at a comfortable seat height.

3. Throw on the bark-chippings. These will let through the rain and keep the roots of plants watered, but should also keep the weeds down.

4. Choose plants carefully. Many plants will look after themselves and dense planting of easy-care plants will prevent any weeds becoming established.

5. Employ a gardener! Perhaps just a few times a year this will be money very well spent. Use to cut back any trees and hedges, clear up fallen leaves, pull out or treat any stubborn weeds, and to check any trees or plants that might affect garden walls, drains and guttering.

Are you interested in what you have just read? The Letting People employ several local garden contractors who can assist you with all the above jobs, and maybe some other gardening works we haven’t covered here.  Please Contact your local branch for more details.

Image courtesy of FDP 2014

Viewings Advisors (Freelance/Self-employed) Job Vacancies

Letting You Let Our Properties? 

Viewings Advisors (Freelance/Self-employed) Job Vacancies

… is this “up your street”?  

  • Are you looking for a new and interesting freelance/self-employed opportunity in and around Leamington Spa?
  • Are you currently self-employed and would you relish the flexibility of working around your own interests?
  • Do you have a real interest in meeting new people and finding out what is most important to them?
  • Do you have an interest in and/or experience within the property industry?
  • Do you have use of a car, SatNav, mobile phone, and laptop/computer?
  • Are you available for up to 5 days per week including most Saturdays?

If you can answer ‘Yes’ to the above, we have very interesting and worthwhile Viewings Advisor positions available, with good rates of pay plus commission.

If this sounds “up your street” please email your current CV with a covering letter stating why you are interested, and full contact details to: caroline@thelettingpeople.co.uk

Previously this vacancy had over 100 hits on The Letting People website in one day!

 … so don't miss out … Closing date for CVs: Thursday 7th August

Anniversary celebrations announcements

2014 sees some special anniversaries here at The Letting People.

12 busy years –

Since the Letting People were first founded in March 2002, in a very small office (approx. 60 square feet of useable space) in Leamington Spa!  Weekly newspaper advertising was crucial, the cost of mobile phone calls were extortionate, and hardly any of our customers had access to email… today internet advertising is crucial, mobile phone calls are sensibly priced, and we expect everyone to have daily access to email (or even Smart phone or tablet communications!)

10 happy years –

Since Anthony & Caroline Kempster, the co-founders of The Letting People were married in May 2004, in Warwick Register Office, with the reception in The Restaurant in the Park, Jephson Gardens. Our photographer didn’t have a digital camera – so please excuse the blurry picture!  This year we celebrate our Tin Wedding Anniversary so we are off to visit a tin mine in Cornwall whilst on our second honeymoon!

10 ‘team’ years –

Since Christine Kelly and Michele Thomas came to join us in our second office premises in Leamington Spa in Holly Walk.  We’ve been through another two office moves together, and today are all incredibly proud of what we have achieved in the last decade.

2 growth years –

Since Ziaull Hussain came to join us – first on a year’s undergraduate work placement, and now as a full-time Lettings Co-ordinator who commutes daily, through all weathers, to Leamington from Birmingham.

1 franchise year –

Since Philip Rayner and Michael Lomax joined The Letting People as our first franchise branch in Milton Keynes.  With their combined experience gained in the construction industry, and marketing and design knowledge, their partnership is ideally suited to develop their lettings business in a thriving city.

 

Photo credit: Darwin Bell via Compfight cc

The savvy landlord’s six secret tips to selecting and using a letting agent wisely

When selecting a letting agent the savvy landlord goes straight to a specialist.  In the same way that you would go to a dentist if you had toothache or an optician if you needed an eye test, there are times when you really need to find a lettings specialist!

This is The Letting People’s top tips for selecting your letting agent, and for using their letting services effectively. 

  1. Visit the agent’s offices. Satisfy yourself that the agent has a good local presence with offices situated in an area where you and your tenants can easily visit. Yes, we all know that the vast majority of tenants search online for a property, but when it comes to making an application and paying over any fees, rent or deposit monies, most tenants want to know they are dealing with a local reputable agent and many will arrange a personal visit to the agent’s offices. Also, you and your tenants may want to visit to discuss your tenancy in more detail and to ensure that before signing the tenancy, at the agent’s offices, all parties fully understand the terms of the tenancy.    
    Top Tip 1 – Check the Agent has local, secure, private and confidential office space.
     
  2. Talk to the business owner(s) or director(s). As a valued landlord client, have your property appraised by a senior business decision maker, who has done it all before, so you can benefit from their experience and ensure you get the best rental advice and are able to discuss and negotiate the terms of business specific to your individual circumstances.
    Top Tip 2 – Do your research. Check the agent’s business profile on Linked-in.
     
  3. Confirm the agent’s membership of professional bodies. Ensure your agent is a member of one of the professional bodies such as UKALA, NAEA, ARLA, or RICS and ask to see evidence of the agent’s client money protection insurance.  If your agent is not a member of a professional organisation which has a redress scheme, or does not have client money protection, are they trained specialists in lettings?  What would you do and where would you go for compensation if things are not done properly?
    Top Tip 3 – Check for the certificates.
     
  4. Do not pay a penny until your property is let. This may sound obvious, but it still needs saying.  However, if you are just starting out on the process, you will need to obtain an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) prior to marketing and your agent should be able to arrange this at your cost.  Otherwise, save your money.  It is your agent’s business to find suitable tenants for your property and to seek your agreement to proceed with taking up the references and to the signing of the tenancy agreement – before charging you for the service. 
    Top Tip 4 – Read the Agency Agreement carefully and watch out for ‘upfront’ fees.
     
  5. Check your Agent is advertising on all the major property portals. Be aware of your agent’s ability to obtain a tenant quickly.  Advertising on the main property portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla will be at an additional cost to the agent and be reflected in their fees. However, you do not want to have long void periods. The main property portals, taken together with the agent’s own website, should enable the agent to find a suitable prospective tenant quickly.
    Top Tip 5 – Choosing an agent simply on low cost may eventually mean you will wait much longer for a suitable tenant and this will cost you considerably in lost rental.
     
  6.  Let the Agent do the viewings. Your agent should be available to arrange viewings at a reasonable date and time convenient to the prospective tenant applicant. The agent will be able to identify the prospective tenant’s needs and match your property to their requirements, including any negotiation to secure the deal.  Prospective tenants arrange viewings, usually at short notice, and often during office hours.  Generally they do not hang about or wait patiently. Are you available to leave work at short notice, or able to leave a meeting early?

    Top Tip 6 – Let the specialists do the job of securing the best deal for your letting. If you want to meet the prospective tenants, before giving your agreement to proceed, instruct the agent to arrange a joint meeting with the prospective tenant, the agent, and yourself – all present at the property.

A specialist letting company

Residential lettings is a specialised business and, as a landlord, there are numerous legislative issues for you to be aware of.  Many of these issues will be costly if you have been found to be negligent or operating illegally.  This is where a specialist lettings company will be able to add value to your letting, as typically all the staff will have been trained in lettings and will be able to utilise their skills and expertise to ensure your letting goes as smoothly as possible.

We set up The Letting People to meet landlord demand for a local, independent and specialist letting agent.  Whether you are renting for the first time, or are an experienced property investor, we can give you advice on every aspect – from choosing the most suitable property to finding the perfect tenant.

Contact The Letting People now on 01926 888255 (Leamington Spa) or 01908 713000 (Milton Keynes) for further information