Top Tips for Spot On Property Photography

Property photos are far and away the most important asset in marketing a property in both the sales and lettings markets. Good images show a property truthfully and also in the best possible light (pun intended). Whilst post-production can tweak/magic/erase a few wrinkles (like turning a wintery grey sky blue or even vamoosing a neighbour’s unsightly bin), it is far simpler to start with good images than to try to correct them after the fact. And the uncomfortable truth is that with only one chance to make a first impression, you don’t want to give the people viewing your property any reason to swipe left - and they can be a fickle crowd. 

Read More

Go Digital with Virtual Staging

Go Digital with Virtual Staging

In another recent article, we discussed the importance of visual imagery in the marketing of your rental or sales property and in particular, dressing & styling packages for rental properties.

In recent years however, another alternative has become a cost-effective way to show your property to best advantage… virtual staging.  

Read More

Dress for Success (aka Property Staging)

There’s a saying that you should dress for the job that you want. We think the same applies when it comes to finding new tenants or a buyer for your property.

We’re all well-versed in the concept of property dressing within the sales market. You may even have heard stories of people putting the coffee on or leaving out freshly baked bread in the kitchen before viewings to create that ambiance. What is becoming far more common however is dressing lettings properties to attract discerning tenants, particularly in central London.

Read More

New Courts to Tackle Backlog of Evictions

Lord Chancellor Unveils Plans for Ten 'Nightingale Courts'

On 19 July the Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland, announced that ten ‘Nightingale Courts’ would be set up rapidly to help deal with the backlog of evictions proceedings. With court services having been suspended from March for all ongoing housing possession action in England and Wales due to the coronavirus, the industry has been expressing increasing concern at the significant backlog in the Courts.

On 22 July, it was announced that possession proceedings would recommence from 23 August and MP Christopher Pincher, whilst recognising that the prioritisation of cases is the job of the judiciary, expressed his belief that it is important that serious and antisocial cases be heard as soon as possible.

Two of the new Courts will be located in London and other measures are also being put into place to ease the pressure on the court system, including longer opening hours in order to increase the number of cases that can be heard in a day and continuing to use video technology to hear cases where appropriate.

Through our considerate and professional dealing with our tenants, we have a great track record of keeping our landlords up-to-date with their rent payments.

To work with us - and help avoid the build-up of arrears that can lead to a lengthy eviction proceeding - contact us now.

Landmark Government Bill on Building Safety Published

Draft Building Safety Bill Published 20 July 2020

First announced in January, the government recently published its draft ‘Building Safety Bill which aims to make residents safer in their homes and deliver the biggest changes to building safety for nearly 40 years… It will improve regulations as the Government seeks to bring forward a “clearer system with residents’ safety at the heart of it” with residents having helped to develop the proposals through engagement groups.’ says Propertymark, the UK’s foremost property association.

Propertymark further explains:

‘Under the new rules, people living in high rise buildings will be empowered to challenge inaction from their building owners, have better access to safety information about their building, and will benefit from a swift and effective complaints process.

A Building Safety Regulator, already being set up within the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), will be established and equipped with the power to hold building owners to account or face the consequences and will enforce a new, more stringent set of rules that will apply for buildings of 18 meters or more or taller than six storeys from the design phase to occupation.

The Government views the draft Bill as legislation that will evolve as further evidence and risks are identified to ensure that residents’ safety is always prioritised and will also provide new powers to better regulate construction materials and products to ensure they are safe to use.’

The government will be publishing a new manual to the regulations to help ensure that building owners are clear on what steps they need to take to make their buildings compliant and - most importantly - safe.