Time is money? Well yes, but did you ever use money to buy more time-saving services? It’s certainly possible with your rental property, and there are many time-saving tips and advice we can give you as well.

But will buying time – which is obviously finite – make you happier (and less stressed)?

Using money to buy more free time is linked to increased happiness according to recent studies published by the National Academy of Sciences.

The studies found that people who paid for time-consuming chores to be done, rather than spending their money on material goods, experienced greater happiness.

The UK Landlord Survey by Homelet, which surveyed over 3,000 landlords in January 2017, then revealed that 60.7% landlords who use a letting agent’s services use a fully managed service – thus having more free time!

And here’s an interesting comparison from the same Homelet report:

• Almost half 49.7% of the landlords own one rental property (61.8% using a fully managed service)
• Over a quarter 26.7% own 2–3 properties (48% using a fully managed service).

That means that many landlords tend to take on the property management chores themselves – and this is linked to the more properties they have.  Very interesting for us to see that, and we believe these are mostly retired landlords with more free time to spare!

When you consider that psychologists say that increased stress caused by increasing demands, leading to lack of time (or ‘time famine’) contributes to lower well-being and insomnia – some landlords are probably experiencing less sleep and more stress.  Even more amazing is that apparently even the very wealthy are often reluctant to pay people to do the jobs they dislike!

In the ‘Happiness Study’ more than 6,000 adults (including 800 millionaires) in the US, Canada, Denmark and the Netherlands were questioned about how much money they spent on buying free time.  Less than a third spent money to pay people to do the jobs they disliked – such as cleaning, deliveries and other property-associated chores.

The ‘happiness’ research found that money spent on time-saving services, compared with material purchases, increased happiness by reducing feelings of time stress.

Professor Elizabeth Dunn, who worked on the research, said “… my take home message is ‘think about it, is there something you hate doing that fills you with dread and could you pay somebody else to do that for you?’ If so, then science says that’s a pretty good use of money.” 

Do the day-to-day jobs in your life and rental property fill you with dread? Perhaps now is the time to think about paying for your local letting agent to take over the rental property management chores – such as cleaning, small repairs, and decorating – that use up your precious hours each month.

Why not reduce your stress and buy more time – and concentrate on the parts of letting you really need to do and outsource the areas you really don’t. The chores and ‘boring jobs’ might be causing you extra stress that you can really do without!

If you need help achieving a more managed service for your rental property, just give us a call – we’ll give you some more free time and take away some of the stress!

Are you an existing Letting Only landlord client at the Leamington Spa branch?

Did you know you can take the hassle out of rent collection and get a £50 cash back voucher for your next letting?

Our new Rent Collect additional service is available for just £18 extra per month when you use our standard Letting Only service for your next letting!

Take a look at your benefits

• Take care of the hassle of rent collection – with a monthly rent statement and annual statement for your completing your tax return.
• Chase up any late rent payments and offer the tenant a range of payment options – such as debit card payment
• Offer reasonable ongoing tenancy liaison with your tenant and taking appropriate initial action (such as when the tenant is in rent arrears)  – providing an audit trail of correspondence.
• Offer you other services such as rent reviews, and tenancy agreement renewals – saving you time and minimising void periods.

This is an exclusive offer and is currently only available to existing clients who have used our Letting Only service. For full terms and conditions, and to check if you qualify, please contact us on 01926 882555

We look forward to hearing from you!

We are delighted to announce that Caroline Kempster, Co founder and Marketing Director at The Letting People, was a finalist at the Woman Who….. Networks Awards.

Being interviewed at the event by Gary Jones of Leamington Hour, Caroline was delighted to receive recognition for her extensive local networking as marketing director at The Letting People.

If you are a local landlord, with a property to let out in Leamington Spa, Warwick Kenilworth and surrounds, please give her a call on 01926 882555.

We are proud to congratulate Caroline Kempster who received her finalist certificate at the Woman Who awards event held at Coombe Abbey last Friday 5th May. 2017

If you are a local landlord, with a property to let out in Leamington Spa, Warwick, Kenilworth and surrounds, please give her a call on 01926 882555

We wanted to show you around …

In case you haven't had a chance to visit us … we really wanted to show you around our offices in Leamington and take you out on a typical property visit.

So … we tidied our desks, polished up the photocopier, put our coffee cups away and put our best foot forward with a film crew! …. and here's our shiny new 30 second video …

Following the launch of the video…

We launched the video on our Facebook page and it had over 3000 views in the first two weeks! …. now you can watch it too. We'd love to know what you think.

We let, You relax

Property Type: 3 Bedroom End of Terrace House

Guide Price reduced to £220,000

Summary:

This spacious end of terrace property is located in the popular village of Ryton On Dunsmore. The property has three double bedrooms and a double aspect sitting room overlooking the front and rear of the property. In addition, the property benefits from gas central heating, double glazing and enclosed garden. The property is ideally situated with a recreation ground at the rear and in close proximity to current range of amenities including local shops, Public House, Church and Primary School. Also, easy access to the A45 for local transport network connections of Leamington Spa, Coventry and Rugby together regionally with the M45, M6 and M69 towards Leicester, Birmingham and London.

Key Features:

• 3 Double bedrooms
• End of Terrace
• Village location
• Gas Central Heating
• Double glazing
• Enclosed rear garden
• Drive area for off road parking
• Further scope for potential development subject to planning consents and building permissions and approvals etc.

Further information here: https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/44438860?search_identifier=67649f1a5d78798f22338c670686f18d#W8DTBVoMcwwXhBWd.97

+++++DRAFT NOTE: The information provided about the property has been submitted to the Vendor but has not been verified by the Vendor and therefore is distributed without any guarantee of accuracy.

The property details:

Ground floor

Front Entrance door into hallway with glass sliding door leading to:

Lounge

Double aspect with windows overlooking the front and sliding patio doors to the rear. The sliding patio doors lead to the patio and enclosed garden.

Feature fireplace (electric fire) with space for sitting and dining room area with door leading to:

Kitchen

Fitted with a range of base and wall units and including a built in electric double oven and hob. Space and plumbing for a washing machine and space for a fridge. Window and door leading out to the rear patio and enclosed garden. Additional window and door leading to:

Additional room space (currently used as a gym)

Window overlooking the front of the property and further door leading to the hallway.

First floor

Landing with loft access together with airing cupboard housing the gas boiler and with doors leading to:

Bedroom 1

Window overlooking the front of the property and built in wardrobe

Bedroom 2

Window overlooking the rear of the property and built in wardrobe

Bedroom 3

Window overlooking the front of the property with storage cupboard

Wet/shower room

Wet shower area with wall mounted electric shower. Wash basin and toilet. Window overlooking the rear of the property

Outside front

Block paving with car parking space and lawn area. Door leading to side storage space.

Outside rear

Block paving and lawn area. Enclosed fenced garden with rear gate and side gate and including shed storage. Door leading to side storage space.

Tenure: We understand that the property is Freehold

Services: We understand that Electricity, Gas, Water mains services are connected to the property

Council Tax: We understand that the council tax band for this property is To be confirmed

Energy Performance rating: The Energy Performance rating is To be confirmed

Viewing: All viewings are strictly by prior appointment with Coverworld Management Services Ltd T/as The Letting People. Please contact our office before your viewing appointment to confirm that the property remains available.

Location: The property is located at: Bagshaw Close Ryton on Dunsmore, Coventry CV8 3EX

Important: If there are any important matters which are likely to affect your decision as to whether to view or purchase the property you must contact us to obtain written clarification from us to your satisfaction before viewing the property.

Agent Notes and General Disclaimer:

Whilst Coverworld Management Services Ltd, T/as The Letting People endeavour to make Property Descriptions accurate and reliable, they should not be relied on as statements or representations of fact and do not constitute any part of an offer or contract. In addition, property descriptions are provided only as a general outline in good faith and from information provided to us and no Employee, Partner, Owner or Director of Coverworld Management Services Ltd T/as The Letting People has any authority whatsoever to give or make representation or warranty in relation to the property.

All measurements provided are approximate and for information guidance only and therefore are inaccurate. All prospective Buyers are advised to obtain their own measurements on inspecting the property before committing to any expense. Also, photographs and digital images are provided for general information only and do not imply that any item appearing in a photograph or digital image is included for sale with the property. In addition, furnishings, fittings and equipment are illustrative and may not represent these being present on viewing.

All those fixtures and fittings specifically stated on this property description have been advised by the Vendors to Coverworld Management Services Ltd T/as The Letting People as being included in the sale price. However, prospective Buyers are advised to confirm fixtures and fittings included when making an offer.

We would strongly recommend that all the information which Coverworld Management Services Ltd T/as The Letting People provide about the property is verified by you on inspection. Coverworld Management Services Ltd T/as The Letting People have not carried out any survey or tested any apparatus, equipment, fittings, installation or services including heating and so cannot verify they are in working order.

A copy of the Energy Performance Certificate may be viewed, on request, at our offices.

All prospective Buyers will be required to comply with Money Laundering Regulations which will require your submitting identification documentation and may also require proof of the source of funds.

The information displayed is a property advertisement and does not constitute property particulars. Any opinions contained within this property description are not statements of fact and may not represent the opinion of a potential Buyer and do not constitute any part of any offer or contract.

Coverworld Management Services Ltd T/ The Letting People has not verified legal title or lease details, service charges and ground rents as may be applicable and therefore Buyers must obtain verification of the legal title and all other details of the property from their conveyance solicitors.

Property description preparation date:

Version v1 12/07/2017

Today the kitchen is often the heart of your home, the place where all your guests meet up and the hub of your busy life. Isn’t it funny how we’re regularly drawn towards the kitchen when we visit someone’s home, or how people just seem to stay in there when there’s a family gathering or a friend pops round for a drink?

Maybe that’s why more and more kitchens are becoming open plan and more welcoming?

When you let your property, it’s an important factor for your tenants when choosing where to live. The kitchen usually stands right alongside the bathroom as a deal-breaker when it comes to deciding which property is their chosen future home.

So, what should you consider if you’re looking for a professional tenant? Does it matter? And how much of a change are you going to have to make to let your property quickly?

Improve your valuation

Firstly, upgrading your kitchen isn’t just to help your property become more attractive to your tenants; it also raises the rental value of your property. The kitchen is an important factor in the advertising of your property and enhancements could mean an increased rental too.

Open it up

If your space allows, you might want to consider adding some real wow factor with an open-plan breakfast/dining area. Modern life dictates that we’re socialising on the go, and the kitchen is a place where people feel ‘at home’, so having it all open and combined makes sense. It’s also becoming something that tenants looks for in a property.

Brighten it up

Go light and bright with your kitchen units and choose gloss to reflect more of the light if you can. The look and feel of a gloss kitchen will be modern and more suitable to a professional tenant, and also very simple to keep clean. The gloss finish is easier to clean and also shows up the odd spill clearly too, which should encourage a regular quick wipe over and will therefore keep the unit doors and drawer-fronts looking shiny and pristine.

Darken those tops

For your worktops, we’d suggest a darker matt, non-scratch, and hardwearing worktop. This will disguise any scratch marks and also look cleaner for longer, making it lower maintenance for your tenants. With a darker worktop and brighter units, you’ll get a stylish contrast too.

Machine washable

Appliances like a dishwasher, washing machine and even tumble dryer are becoming more standard now. It’s highly recommended that you fit a dishwasher and washing machine if at all possible.  If tenants have used these appliances in previous homes, this could be an obvious deal-breaker when there’s a similar property which has them.  Additionally, if they haven’t had one before – the dishwasher could just be the ‘wow’ factor they’ve been searching for!

Where to start?

A good kitchen fitter will be able to design a layout to match your criteria. If you’d like to know more, please just ask. We’re well-connected with kitchen experts in our area and know the best people to speak to.

Having a clean and clever design for your kitchen means you’ll get that wow factor and possibly keep your tenants for longer too, as their experience of enjoying the kitchen, and welcoming friends and family, will be far greater.

Enhancing or revamping the heart of your tenant’s home should certainly make your life easier – and your rental property more enticing too!

Newsflash!

Sajid Javid MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, just shared some really good news for landlords. Well, it’s good news for those landlords doing the right thing, anyway.

In his speech to the Conservative Party Conference on Sunday 1^st October, Javid said “At the Autumn Budget (expected 22^nd November) we will bring forward new incentives for landlords who are doing the right thing.”

This announcement seems to follow on from his statement that the Government wants to “give tenants more security of tenure in their homes” and that “all landlords should be offering tenancies of at least 12 months to those who want them”.

We have yet to find out what those ‘incentives’ might be and what they’ll be for, but we’ll keep our fingers crossed for good news on 22^nd November for those landlords who are ‘doing the right thing’!

Although Mr Javid’s speech included the statement that “many landlords offer a good, secure home for all their tenants”, he also seems to want to be seen as tackling a “broken housing market” and helping “communities failed by the system”. 

He also stated that everyone should have a “right to a home that is decent and safe”.

In order to bring in “new measures to strengthen tenants’ rights” and “strict minimum standards” the Government are proposing:

• That all letting agents are regulated
• To make it compulsory for all landlords to be covered by a redress scheme with an ombudsman, so that tenants have a quick and easy resolution to disputes

The Letting People have been proud members of the UK Association of Letting Agents (UKALA) for over 15 years, which means that some of the rules the company is regulated by include:

• Abiding by a code of conduct
• Meeting a minimum qualification standard
• Having adequate client money protection insurance
• Belonging to an independent redress scheme

It seems very likely that it will become compulsory for all landlords to be regulated to these same standards. According to Caroline Kenny, Consultant to UKALA, this could mean that private landlords who choose not to use an agent will need to offer the same level of independent redress as letting agents.

Caroline also considered that this proposal “seems fair, although if the standards are to be equal across the board, this could be costly for small landlords”.

So, is it good news for you? Well, if you’re a good landlord who does things by the book, then it certainly sounds like it.

If you’re not? Well, your time may well be up come Autumn Statement time.

Need help? We’re more than happy to discuss it with you – just ask! 

In case you missed it…..

The rise of the live-in landlord

In recent years, the Government’s Rent a Room scheme has become more popular than ever before. The scheme, which currently lets landlords earn up to £7500 a year, can provide a tax-free benefit for private landlords looking to let out a single room or an entire floor within their property.

If this sounds like you, or someone you know, The Letting People can help! We have successfully let out several rooms on behalf of local live in landlords

Caroline Kempster is presented with the marketing co-ordinator award for the best group in the country at 4N networking evening event in Leamington Spa with Brad Burton present.