Best Letting Agents in the UK Announced

March 16th, 2010

Martin & Co have been shortlisted for another national award along with twenty-six local Martin & Co offices who have been shortlisted as one of the best letting agents in their region as part of at the Estate & Letting Agent Awards 2010 (ESTAS awards).

The results of the competition are determined by research carried out amongst landlords who are asked a series of questions about the service they have received from their agent. Over 19,000 votes were cast by members of the public in response to the research. There are 10 regional categories and shortlists for each region: Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, North East & West, Yorkshire & the Humber, Central, South West, Southern, South East and London.

Martin & Co are defending their title of Best Large Letting Chain 2009 and are hopeful of success at this year’s awards. “This award means a lot to Martin & Co and our offices as it is voted for by landlords. We pride ourselves on the unrivalled level of service that we offer all of our clients and last year’s award recognized that. However to have 26 offices shortlisted regionally is an even greater achievement and demonstrates the consistently high quality of service that our landlords can expect to receive throughout the UK.” commented Mark Burdge, Sales and Marketing Director at Martin & Co.

“Throughout the letting industry there is a constant need to improve customer service and these are the only awards that recognise just that. Word of mouth and customer satisfaction are powerful marketing tools. Thank you to all our landlords who completed a questionnaire as without their feedback we would not have been included in the shortlist,” added Burdge.

The awards ceremony will take place in London on 15th April. Phil Spencer, media personality and journalist who is perhaps best known as a co presenter on Channel 4’s Location, Location and Re-location, Re-location will be presenting the awards.

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David Cameron Welcomes the Opening of Martin & Co Witney

March 15th, 2010

Local economies and communities rely on local businesses, so the opening of the latest Martin & Co office is great news for Witney and the surrounding area. The importance of the locally owned letting agent’s opening was recognised by the leader of the opposition, David Cameron, who opened the office on Friday.

Martin & Co Witney franchise owners Judi and Andrew Ramsay (above right, with David Cameron) have an extensive background in the property industry having set up, and developed, an Estate Agency in Spain. ‘Valencia Choice’ was a start up company which enjoyed considerable success over a six year period before Judi and Andrew decided to return to the UK to start a new challenge. The local husband and wife team are ready to take lettings in the Witney area on to the next level.

“We have had considerable experience as landlords ourselves and are well aware of the generally poor level of service offered by other agents. We have also run our own successful estate agency in Spain, so we know what it takes to satisfy our clients. Attention to detail, working with landlords & tenants as individuals, and striving to match their requirements to the property, should ensure that we will build a reputation for customer service that will establish Martin & Co as the agent of choice in Witney” commented Judi.

“Housing is a basic need, but too often the service available to landlords and tenants is also basic. We know the industry and our key principle is to offer the best customer service available in the industry.” added Andrew.

There is no better place to be than Witney at the moment, according to Judi. “We have owned a house near Witney for many years. The area is expanding rapidly and is designated as a ‘boom’ town close to Oxford, with a lot of new housing developments, and so the location for a new rental business is very attractive.”

“We believe that Witney will continue to grow and need more housing. The council has plans for a number of new developments in Witney itself, and the nearby town of Carterton is home to the Brize Norton airbase which is expanding because of the closure of RAF Lyneham in the next couple of years. We have every intention of being a significant part of that local growth.” added Judi.

Although Martin & Co are a national brand, Andrew is keen to stress that the office is owned and will be run locally. “As a start-up business we will initially be employing one new member of staff but we plan to expand rapidly and be in a position to bring more employment to the area. We also intend to join the local community organisations that ‘put something back’ into the local community.”

“We care about the local area are delighted that David Cameron was able to come and officially open the office. We ask the question; if you’re anything other than delighted with your letting agent what’s stopping you from contacting us?”

The opening the latest Martin & Co office in Witney will increase the award winning brand’s coverage further across the local region, with offices located in Oxford, Banbury, Abingdon and Cirencester.

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Philip Schofield is the Dream Landlord!

March 11th, 2010

Tenants are seeking landlords as parental figures, new research shows that decisions are being made on whether the landlord can provide a shoulder to cry on.

Female tenants are more interested in landlord skills such as DIY (47% versus 35% for male tenants), but it’s men who are after a good listener (30% versus 20% for females), according to research carried out by the National Landlords Association (NLA), who surveyed 1,000 tenants.

27 tenants even went as far as to say they were specifically looking for a landlord with a mothering nature.

When asked for a preferred celebrity landlord Philip Schofield, the ITV presenter, came out top. John Terry and Cherie Blair were bottom of the pile.

The Television presenter’s sensitive nature seems to have convinced tenants, as 20% chose Schofield for his caring nature, 19% said he would be an approachable and friendly landlord, while 15% considered him to be reliable..
The survey’s leading lady landlord was property expert Kirsty Allsop, who came 2nd to Schofield overall.

Kirsty ranked highly for her sense of urgency in getting the job done appealed to over a quarter of the respondents, whilst 16% identified her maternal nature as a quality that would make her an ideal landlord. The female touch doesn’t just relate to a compassionate nature, as those surveyed ranked Kirsty’s DIY skills as more dependable than Schofield’s.
Alan Titchmarsh came in at third, followed by Fern Britton. Bob the Builder came in fifth place overall, his DIY skills were enough to beat off the competition of Sir Terry Wogan and Sir Alan Sugar.

David Salusbury, NLA Chairman, said: “The role of the landlord is evolving and it can no longer be just about business if you want to succeed. There now has to be a level of emotional investment on the part of both landlord and tenant.

“Tenants expect a high standard in properties they rent, but it seems they also expect to invest in a landlord who will understand their life pressures, offer emotional and practical support and, in some cases, become a friend or ’stand-in’ mother.”

When it comes to reasons to extend their tenancy agreements, researchers found tenants prioritised landlords with a friendly nature (37%) over those with good DIY skills (35%).

Responding to queries quickly (83%), not turning up unannounced (60%) and giving tenants space to enjoy the rental property (48%) were also key factors in keeping tenants happy and potentially renting their properties for longer.

This survey will be music to the ears of letting agents, as they strive to provide un-rivalled customer service to keep both their tenants and landlords happy.

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More People Renting in Recession

March 8th, 2010

The RLA has opposed government figures that suggest the private rented sector is responsible for the majority of household growth over the past ten years.

According to the “English Housing Survey: Headline Report 2008-09” (*), just published by Communities and Local Government, the number of properties in the private rental sector have risen by one million since 2001 to 3.1 million in total.

“It is hardly credible that there has been the claimed 50 per cent growth in rental properties,” says RLA chairman, Alan Ward.

The report shows that the private rented sector:

• has had an increase of 0.3% to 14.2% to off all properties

• has nearly as many families and children as the social housing sector
• only 11% of tenants unhappy with their property, compared with 16% of social tenants
• has twice as many tenants in full time work as the social sector
• has property with, on average, a higher energy rating than owner-occupied properties.

“But, even though we dispute the extent of growth in our sector, it’s inevitable, in a recession, that more people turn to renting rather than buying,” says Alan Ward

“For one thing, fewer houses are being offered for sale and new-builds are also down dramatically with only 60,000 built last year – so people who have no need to move are renting instead.

“The availability of mortgages and the level of deposits required – not less than 20 per cent – means first time buyers are staying in rented property for longer.

“And for some, it’s a lifestyle choice to rent rather than pay for a more expensive mortgage. Typically £650 would pay only the interest on a £160,000 mortgage rising to around £1,000 a month on a repayment – which equates to the rent on quite a large property outside London.

“We expect rental demand to remain strong for the foreseeable future – unless the government introduces any unnecessary legislation that forces landlords out of the market.”

(*) www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/ehs200809headlinereport

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Landlords – How are tenants searching for your property?

March 3rd, 2010

All landlords understand that reliable and trustworthy tenants are the key to maximising the returns on their investment, but often landlords are out of touch with how these tenants find their properties.

Times have changed

As with most industries, the property industry, both sales and lettings, has traditionally relied heavily on local newspapers to promote their properties. The property supplement was often the only way in which a passive tenant audience would look for properties. However times have changed, and so has the way that tenants search for properties. The internet has revolutionised the way consumers search, often consumers will do their research online before contacting a seller or agent – lettings is no different. The property industry, along with travel, finance and recruitment was one of the first industries to pioneer the internet, for example the Martin & Co website has existed for over 12 years now!

Papers declining

Whilst the argument for the survival of local papers in communities is a valid one, the reality is that it’s not how tenants are searching for houses to rent. The reason advertising revenue is falling; both in the TV and press industry is because the way consumers find and receive information has changed. In the past a tenant would be expected to receive information that was delivered directly to them via advertising, but this is no longer the case.

Immediate

A tenant looking for a property is no longer prepared to wait a day, let-alone a week, for the local property supplement. They want to be able to find information immediately and easily and the internet allows this.

Internet = ideal for lettings

The internet is also a vital tool in an industry that is as fluid as lettings. Properties can be instructed by a landlord and within a few hours they have already been let out, often meaning that a weekly lettings supplement in the paper is full of properties that have already been let out.  The internet allows real-time information to be communicated.

Why are agents in the local paper?

If this is the case then why do agents often appear in the local paper? Well some agents may not fully appreciate the changes in the industry and the power of the internet. However more often than not it is because that agent’s landlords perceive that the paper is where their leads are coming from. Of course some tenants will prefer to search via the traditional methods, such as the paper but with the cost of newspaper advertising compared to that of a property portal’s subscription, is capturing this 10% of tenants cost-effective?

However

Local papers do have their use for the lettings industry. Whilst using the property section to rely on leads may be a flawed method, using the paper to communicate is still important. How will prospective tenants know which website to go to? How will prospective tenants know which agents are running special offers? Pro-active agents will keep a presence in their local paper, using it to generate brand awareness but will not rely on it as a direct source of leads.

The future

The internet is not going away and with broadband access improving it is likely that the number of people using the internet as their first port of call will increase. Ideally a landlord’s agent should be listed on all major portals that suit their local area, as well as have access to their own advanced website, such as martinco.com. However it is important to recognise that a high street presence is still important. Other industries such as the travel industry has seen a mass migration on to the internet, but consumers still like to be able to walk in and have face-to-face communication, often friendly staff and a professional service are the deal clinches on the leads that a website generates. We are asking the question to all landlords:

Is your letting agent doing enough online to market your property to the widest possible audience and get your property let?

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Locked in, with clients!

March 3rd, 2010

New Martin & Co Abingdon franchisees, had rather an eventful first move in with the a new client last week, however being a resourceful Martin & Co franchisee being locked in wasn’t going to hold Karen back, as she recalls below:

“The client got us to bring forward the moving date from 1st April to 26th Feb – but forgot to give us the all important list detailing exactly what should be in the property, such as furniture etc.  As a result we “marched in” last Friday, to discover that they required all the crockery and cutlery to be in the property, but the landlord had taken them out.  I was very calm and thought I would have a quiet word with the landlord on my mobile outside, but when I tried the front door I discovered that I (and 3 clients) were locked in, as the barrel of the lock had slipped!!!  It was all very exciting (especially as the property backs onto the Thames, so no way out there…), but eventually we managed to use my credit card to slip the lock, we later replaced the barrel.

The client was delighted with Karen’s quick thinking, “We all laughed hysterically at first when we realised we were locked in, but thankfully we were able to get out reasonably quickly without damaging the property.”

Karen is joint franchise owner of the Martin & Co letting agent in Abingdon.

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Breaking Up But Living Together

March 2nd, 2010

The tough economic climate is forcing couples who have broken up to continue cohabiting, according to results of a survey from easyroommate.co.uk, the house and flatshare website.

Key Survey Findings:

  • More than one in four couples (28 per cent) who had split up said they had no choice but to continue living together in their rented property.
  • Of these, 74 per cent admitted to finding the experience stressful (although a contrary two per cent claimed to have enjoyed it).
  • Financial pressure was the main reason given for ex-partners continuing to share a home, with a massive 63 per cent saying they couldn’t afford to live on their own.
  • The survey also found that around one in forty ex-couples who had bought a home together were forced to carry on cohabiting due to negative equity, with the average amount coming in at around £12,000.

Alternative Solutions

According to easy roommate’s survey, of those people who are able to move out after a breakup:

  • 36 per cent move into a flatshare
  • 28 per cent move back in with parents
  • 19 per cent move into their own rented accommodation
  • 9 per cent purchase a new home

The reasons given for choosing a flatshare were:

  • 64 per cent said it was the cheapest way to live in their chosen area
  • 14 per cent said it was to expand their circle of friends and kick-start their social life
  • 13 per cent said it was because they would rather flatshare than live alone

Taking in a lodger:

  • This was another popular post-breakup solution, with over a third of respondents (35 per cent) choosing to let a room to a lodger.
  • Of these, 85 per cent wanted to continue living in the same house but needed financial help with the mortgage or rent and the bills.
  • Nine per cent, however, simply wanted to share the house with someone to make it feel more like a home after their partner had left.

Jonathan Moore of easy roommate says: “Relationships don’t always work out, but the recession is preventing even more couples from making a clean break when they split up.

“Difficulties in selling houses, negative equity hell and not being able to afford to move out are forcing more people to carry on living with their exes.  Needless to say, this is usually awkward and distressing.

“However, there other cohabiting options available after a relationship ends. Moving into a flatshare can offer an escape route – and is usually more affordable than renting alone.  Flatsharing also offers the opportunity to meet new people and avoid loneliness.

“For those whose ex-partner has moved out, taking in a lodger can help meet the additional costs of paying a mortgage or rent.”

*”Purchasing a home does not offer the flexibility that many are after. The employment market is suffering and people have to be able to move to ensure that they get work as well as the flexibility needed for a change in one’s circumstances. Peoples attitudes towards lettings is changing and it is now seen much more a s a lifestyle choice rather than one enforced by financial circumstances.” added Mark Burdge of letting agent, Martin & Co.”

*Taken from www.findaproperty.com

**comment added to original article.

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Mp Goes Back to the Floor to Experience Life as an Apprentice with UK Letting Agent

March 1st, 2010

Angela Smith, the MP for Sheffield Hillsborough, has gone ‘back to the floor’ to experience life as an apprentice in support of a national campaign aimed at encouraging more employers to provide Apprenticeships in the region.

The ‘back to the floor’ initiative devised by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) to support National Apprenticeship Week 2010, saw Angela Smith MP roll up her sleeves to tackle life as an apprentice in the lettings industry.

The unique experience gave Angela the opportunity to visit Martin & Co Letting Agents in Sheffield as she shadowed 19-year-old apprentice Tom Perry, currently in his first year of an apprenticeship in business administration working towards a level two NVQ.

Angela Smith MP for Sheffield Hillsborough, said: “National Apprenticeship Week has been a great opportunity to see young people in their place of work and the dedication they put in to their training to give their career the best possible start.”

Tony Deveney, manager at Martin & Co Sheffield North, said: “Tom is our first apprentice, and he is a real asset to our team. The Apprenticeship scheme allows us to invest in the right people and develop a talented, skilled workforce, who are ready to hit the ground running within our business – adding significant value to our future productivity and growth. At Martin & Co we are committed to offering the highest levels of customer service and industry practice and feel that it’s a fantastic opportunity for individuals just starting out to get practical experience, everyone’s a winner!”

In total, seven MPs across Yorkshire are shadowing apprentices working in their constituencies; from those working in hospitality, childcare and horticulture to others in engineering, market research and hairdressing.

The back to the floor experiences are all part of Apprenticeship Week which is taking place from the 1st to the 5th February.  Organised by the National Apprenticeship Service, the Week aims to celebrate apprentices and raise awareness of the value they bring to UK businesses.

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Residential Landlord Association Warns of student ghettos

March 1st, 2010

Deplorable and draconian – says RLA describing the potential for new government measures defining how and where people will live.

The announcement by the CLG (January 27 – www.communities.gov.uk) of new Use Classes Order, which defines how a property can be legally used, and the introduction of a definition of what constitutes a HMO – House in Multiple Occupation – has been the result of a public campaign often referred to as “Studentification”.

“HMO legislation already introduced by this government in 2006 has been badly implemented with poor landlords escaping many of the measures. Only the compliant majority have been affected, with little improvement to property standards or benefits to tenants” says Alan Ward RLA chairman.

The government statement refers to “problems due to large student populations and HMOs, meaning shops, businesses and pubs simply close down creating ‘ghost neighbourhoods’.”

Comments Alan Ward – “This will be nothing to the economic decline of bars, restaurants and local shops if students and young professionals are deprived of the choice of locality in which they can live. Packing them into expensive halls of residence neither gives them the experience of independent living, nor integration with thriving communities. It will create student ghettos.

” This is the dangerous use of planning legislation for social engineering to stop students living close to their university, and other social groups such as immigrants.

“The government has jumped its own gun by announcing measures before the results of its own enquiry into HMO licencing – commission from BRE and due last summer”.

A further government measure – same CLG announcement – to create a National Landlords Register, has been estimated to cost £300m – and the RLA has called for a cost-benefit analysis to be provided.

Says Alan Ward – “The Register is a last gasp gesture which I doubt we shall see implemented by this government.

The RLA supports the raising of standards for landlords and good management of rented property. We have recently announced an accreditation scheme which will achieve just that.

We call on the CLG to ensure that local authorities use existing measures – which amount to more than 60 – to stamp out the worst landlords.”

*Whilst we at Martin & Co will always welcome plans to improve the standard of accommodation for tenants, these proposed measures need a lot more research and on the surface don’t seem to solve the well documented problem of ’studentification’.

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Use a letting agent and help protect yourself against criminal gangs

March 1st, 2010

Landlords’ properties are being targeted by criminal gangs as a cover for illegal activity, according to the National Landlords Association (NLA), the leading representative body for private-residential landlords in the UK.

Privately-rented homes across the UK are being used as a smokescreen to grow cannabis in homemade ‘factories’, and produce the harmful drug crystal meth. But it’s not just drugs. Prostitution is also found across the private-rented sector, with homes being used as brothels. Criminals are attracted to rented properties, often in quiet residential areas, as a base to operate without the fear of being disturbed.

Unfortunately, when these kind of crimes take place, it’s the landlord who ends up footing the bill. Many insurance policies are rendered invalid when criminal activity takes place in a property and the damage caused can run into thousands of pounds.

One NLA member lost £20,000 when two of his properties were used to grow cannabis. The gang involved took out internal walls and rewired the property directly to the electrical mains. And landlords who find brothels in their properties and fail to report them can face prosecution.

Five ways to beat the criminal gangs:
1. Take detailed references. These should include a credit check, and references from their employer and their current landlord.
2. Don’t take rent up front. Often criminals offer this as way to ensure they are left alone.
3. Check on the property regularly. This can be done at least quarterly and more regularly if you have concerns, provided you have given sufficient notice.
4. Get to know the neighbours, as they can alert you to any suspicious activity.
5. If have suspicions of criminal behaviour do not confront your tenant. Go straight to the police.

David Salusbury, Chairman, NLA, said: “It is vital landlords are aware of the threat these criminals pose. Criminal activity not only has an impact on the landlord’s property, but on the community as whole. The production of some drugs involves highly flammable material, which poses a dangerous fire risk. More worryingly, criminals use the proceeds of their crime to fund other, more serious crimes such as people trafficking.

“You may think ‘it will never happen to me’, but these incidents are on the increase. The checks you make before a tenant moves in are a key way to prevent becoming a victim of these crimes.”

*”Landlords may initially be put off by the thought of using a letting agent, as they are concerned about costs. But a letting agents such as ourselves have rigorous procedures in place to stop unsuitbale tentants getting through. We heavily check all of our applicants using systems that most landlords don’t have available to them. In a lot of cases using a letting agent proves to be cost-effective, as well as giving you peace of mind that you’re investment is protected.” added Mark Burdge, sales & marketing director.

article taken from www.housefund.co.uk

*comment was not included in original article.

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