In these troubling financial times it is impossible for landlords to predict whether their tenant’s circumstances will change in the future and whether they will always be able to pay the rent, even though they have a successful reference. With the number of rental arrears on the increase across the nation, it is important that landlords don’t let their investment suffer.

Steve Barnes, Broking Manager, said:

“Drawn out legal wrangles, legal expenses and missed rental payments can be a nightmare and play havoc with the landlord’s investment and financial planning. In the current financial climate our customers wanted a policy that would be cost effective and provide legal assistance and rent guarantee in the event of a tenant falling into rental arrears.  That is why we have launched Total Rent Guarantee Insurance.” (http://www.totallandlordinsurance.co.uk/products-and-services/total-rent-guarantee-insurance/)

The policies are available both online and by phone, although there are significant discounts if purchased online.  Online, landlords can purchase legal expenses for just £45 saving £31.85 and combined legal expenses & rent guarantee insurance for just £94.50 saving £31.80 over the call centre price.

For more information on Total Rent Guarantee Insurance – go to www.totallandlordinsurance.co.uk.

Total Landlord Insurance brought to you by Hamilton Fraser Insurance

Total Landlord Insurance is a trading name of HFIS plc. HFIS plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

For general information about Total Landlord Insurance visit our web site at www.totallandlordinsurance.co.uk or telephone on 0800 63 43 880

Charlotte Martines joined Martin & Co in April 2010 as Facilities and Training Academy Assistant and has now been promoted to Training and Events Co-ordinator. Charlotte’s new role will be to plan and organise company events and ensure that all the franchises in the network are on the relevant training courses. Charlotte commented: “I am delighted with my new position and am excited to get stuck in to my new role”.

Lisa Purdey has now taken on the role as Recruitment Manager, previously Internal Recruitment Co-ordinator. Lisa joined Martin & Co in February 2009, a year after the recruitment department started. Lisa has seen considerable growth over her time at Martin & Co and now welcomes Faye Gliddon as the new Internal Recruitment Co-ordinator.

Faye joins Martin & Co with 9 years recruitment experience, previously recruiting for organisations including IBM, JP Morgan, Google, Barclays, Lloyds TSB and Honeywell. Faye managed high volume recruitment projects and one off specialist campaigns, including recruiting personnel at all levels from entry level trainees to Director/Executive professionals.

Faye added: “Recruitment is important to any organisation and getting it right is imperative. I have always made every attempt to ensure I deliver an exceptional service and take the time to listen to both clients and candidates alike at all times. With this at the forefront of my mind, it has allowed me to carve an extremely successful career in recruitment.”

The newly promoted Internal Recruitment Manager, Lisa Purdey commented: “We both have extremely high standards and are focused on providing the best recruitment service, we built-up excellent rapport during the interview process and I look forward to working with Faye and expanding the recruitment department.”

Faye added: “I am looking forward to learning and developing my knowledge of the UK lettings market and recruiting some fantastic staff for the entire franchised network.”

Martin & Co are committed to training and placing successful staff within their franchised network including their head office in Bournemouth.

EFS had worked with Detectomat’s SRC 3000, a radio-linked, wireless solution system, in which each unit transmits data by radio frequency to a receiver before. They knew that it offered the considerable advantages of being wire free, which not only include avoiding damage to historic walls and ceilings but also cost. Because installation is so fast, labour charges are kept to a minimum and there is very little noise and disruption, another important factor in this sought after residential area.

Douglas and Gordon, an up market London estate agent, block and property Management Company, instructed EFS to install independent wireless fire alarms into each of the 5 separate entrances knowing that they would respect the nature and quality of the building.

EFS are based in Kent to provide fire protection for many types of businesses throughout Kent and London including offices, warehouses, schools, manufacturing plants, listed buildings, private residential, private commercial, retail, care homes, local authority premises, hotels and many others.

Sophia Scott, Douglas and Gordon’s Property Manager commented, “Elite Fire Safety carried out their works swiftly and kept disruption for the residents to a minimum. The Detectomat wireless system is much smaller and more discreet than others I have seen and does not detract from the look of the building, I would not hesitate in using Elite or Detectomat’s SRC 3000 again.”

Detectomat’s products offer ranges from design conscious detector covers for residential and commercial applications to conventional, addressable and leading edge wire-free systems, marketed under the company’s “Wireless detect” brand. For further information on Elite Fire Safety or Detectomat’s Wireless detect systems call 01579 321750 or email Detectomat@leighandersonassociates.com.

Total Landlord Emergency Cover is a cost-effective insurance product that provides immediate assistance in the event of a domestic emergency at a rental property.

The policy provides cover 24 hours a day 365 days a year for call out charges, labour and repairs for emergencies such as the breakdown of the heating system,
plumbing and drainage problems.

Broking Manager, Steve Barnes, said:

“Domestic emergencies at landlord’s rental properties can be inconvenient and sometimes difficult to resolve. It is not just boilers that go wrong, plumbing,
drains and lost keys can cause inconvenience for landlords. At just £70 per property we feel that this policy represents excellent value for money and
provides reassurance for both landlords and tenants that emergency assistance is only a phone call away. Introductory discounts are also available for limited period”.

Total Landlord Insurance will also be extending their range of landlord focussed products to include Rent Guarantee insurance and Tenant Referencing soon.

Steve continued:

“Our customers are at the heart of our business and we will be adding more products and services to our website to provide landlords with a one stop solution
for their insurance needs”.

For more information on Total Landlord Emergency Cover, or any of Total Landlord’s other insurance products, go to www.totallandlordinsurance.co.uk or
call free on 0800 63 43 880.

Franchise owner, Kevin Jones can’t wait to get things going. He said, “I am ready to get underway and compete in the lettings market, I’m looking forward to the challenge and I want to offer a professional service to both tenants and landlords”.

Martin & Co have already carried out business in Swindon and Kevin states “this time we are here to stay”. The new office is ideally located on Commercial Road which is more central and larger than the previous Martin & Co office premises.

Kevin comes from a background in microelectronics, having worked with a number of companies all across the UK. In his time as an engineer, Kevin achieved the role of Director where he managed a team of over 20 engineers world-wide. Kevin see’s the Martin & Co opportunity as a new challenge in his life which he is excited and passionate about.

He added, “Many letting agents in the area do not offer customers the service that they deserve, I want to turn this around and get people talking about Martin & Co’s outstanding customer service as this is something I pride myself in”.

So why did Kevin decide to enter the lettings industry and why Martin & Co? “It’s a unique industry where both suppliers (landlords) and customers (tenants) are in need of a great service and I know I can provide this. Also, you don’t need to be in the industry to recognise that the trend in housing is moving towards lettings.

People are starting to realise that buying a home isn’t flexible enough and that lettings can provide the adaptability and consistency they need. Martin & Co operates as a large family business with all franchisees supporting each other and a head office team that offers all the centralised functions that you would expect. Not forgetting they are the UK’s Number 1 letting agent and this is something I want to be associated with”.

Kevin reminds us however, “Although it is a franchise, it is important to remember that it is my own business. I want the Swindon office to become established in the local area and hopefully it will stay in my family for years to come. I will employ only the very best professionals to assist me in my business so that we offer the very best service locally. I’m looking forward to working with Martin & Co and I can’t wait to get started”.

Martin & Co is the UK’s leading dedicated residential lettings specialist with over 170 offices throughout the UK.
Started in Yeovil in 1986 by Chairman Richard Martin the company was franchised in 1995 and is a full member of the British Franchise Association.
In recent years the company has been recognised with awards such as Franchise of the Year 2008 and Best Large Lettings Chain 2009.
Martin & Co are continuing to grow and are on track to have over 200 offices in the UK in 2010.
www.martinco.com

A topic of much debate, many industry figures have commented on the potentially damaging effect that these cuts will have on thousands, increasing tenant indebtedness and causing landlords to fall into mortgage arrears.

Paul Shamplina, Founder of Landlord Action comments “ever since the current LHA system came into effect in April 2008, our instructions against tenants in this sector have rocketed. In 2010, Landlord Action’s cases relating to LHA tenancy failure rose by 16%.

The LHA system can work but landlords are increasingly put off renting to this sector and current incentives, by way of direct payment, come at the price of lower rent, which naturally doesn’t have great appeal. I feel that landlords do not truly understand the capping system coming into effect.”

Councils rely on landlords in the Private Rented Sector to help provide accommodation to social tenants, but with the forthcoming reduction in allowance likely to plunge people into further arrears, landlords are going to be increasingly sceptical.

Paul continues “if we don’t educate landlords now, they will leave the social sector altogether and focus on the Private Rentals where they can charge higher rent to tenants, not claiming Housing Allowance. This could be counter-productive situation for the Government. Council Housing has an average 5 year waiting list, so the Government cannot afford to lose landlords renting to LHA tenants,”

The seminar, hosted by Shamplina, will be geared towards providing private landlords, letting agents and temporary accommodation suppliers with greater understanding of the LHA system and the impact of the new proposals.

The event will also welcome top experts in the sector including Bill Irvine, director of HB Advice & Advocacy and former head of benefits for one of the UK’s largest councils, and John Craddock, who has over 20 years experience at The Rent Service and The Valuation Office Agency and whose research has a direct effect on LHA in London.

The seminar will be held at the Holiday Inn Kensington Forum, London on 25th March 2011 from 9.00am to 5.00pm, Along with one being held at the Crown Plaza, Birmingham on Friday 8th April 2011. All Delegates will receive lunch and refreshments as well as a comprehensive education pack detailing everything to do with Local Housing Allowance.

For further information please visit www.landlordaction.co.uk/LHA or telephone Landlord Action on 020 8906 3838

About Landlord Action
Landlord Action is a UK based organisation helping landlords and property professionals deal with problem tenants.

Founded in 1999 as the first ever fixed-fee tenant eviction specialist, they revolutionised this area of legal practice. They have acted in 17,000 problem tenant cases and are considered the authority in this field. Unlike solicitors, Landlord Action will not act for tenants, only landlords and property companies.

Landlord Action run a free advice line to help landlords and property professionals understand their rights: 0333 240 9767
www.LandlordAction.co.uk

About Paul Shamplina
Paul Shamplina is one of the key founders of Landlord Action with 23 years experience in the legal field. He has previously worked as a legal clerk, private investigator, debt collector and certified bailiff.

He has appeared regularly on TV and radio and lectures across the UK at landlord seminars and events and still works full time in the office, heading up the team of advisors.

Paul believes passionately in the rights of the landlord and is always available for comment on any landlord/tenant matters.

The attendees at the conference included a wide range of senior industry figures representing areas such as finance and investment, social housing, planning, construction and development.

One of the keynote sessions was a debate with Lord Freud, the Welfare Minister which was facilitated by the cross bench peer Lord Best.

Before answering questions from the audience, Lord Freud took the opportunity to explain the Government’s welfare reform agenda, with particular regard to the upcoming changes to Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance.

The issues raised by the audience included the potential for increased homelessness due to the reduction of LHA rates to the 30th percentile of the market, the extension of the shared accommodation LHA rate to single claimants under 35 and the possibility that local authorities may be given the power to pay LHA direct to landlords in the future.

With regard to the final point Lord Freud said, “I am determined we have a constructive relationship going forward, over the long term, in the interests of both parties,” he said, confirming that landlords prepared to “meet us half way” by lowering their rents could expect a return to direct payment – where rent is paid directly to them by a local authority, rather than by tenants.

Lord Freud acknowledged that many tenants may find it difficult to maintain their rental payments when the changes to the LHA system come into effect on their claims. However he pointed out that the Government has substantially increased the Discretionary Housing Payment budget to provide extra support for tenants and therefore the possibility of increased homelessness due to these measures would be minimal.

Throughout the day Settled Housing Solutions demonstrated our LHA Calculator software to the
attendees. The feedback we received from both social housing providers and landlord representative bodies was extremely positive and most could see the benefits the software could provide to their respective businesses.

Settled Housing Solutions Consultancy Service was formed in 2007. We are the leading practitioners in the delivery of housing and homelessness legalisation with a strong emphasis on forming effective partnerships with the private rented sector.

For more information about Settled Housing Solutions Consultancy Service contact Alan Elborough alan@settledhousingsolutions.com Tel 0208 340 5526 Mobile 07739 405486 or visit our website www.settledhousingsolutions.com

The pair are keen to get the ball rolling in Camden, David added “We are both extremely excited to open the doors to the public; we both have previous lettings experience at managerial level and can offer landlords and tenants a different service to other local agents”. As previously mentioned, brothers, David and James have already been running their own lettings business named ‘DJ Property Lettings Ltd’ which started in 2008 in the Surrey area and is still running today. The businesses figures speak for themselves, they managed to market properties/rooms successfully to maintain 95% occupancy of their properties. This is a figure which many other agents can only dream of.

The brothers’ have worked together previously in a number of different jobs, ranging from interpreters to managers of a bespoke tourist retail outlet. Being brothers they are constantly in contact with each other and always sharing new business ideas. They believe that this opportunity with Martin & Co is going to bring the best out in them and will enhance their working relationship further.

“The main downfall for many letting agents across the UK is the customer service they offer, this is something which James and I pride ourselves in. Customer service is something we take very seriously as we know this is one of the most important things to get right when running any business. For landlords, renting out your property can often be stressful with a lot of hassle involved. The same can be said for tenants, it is not always an easy process. This is why James and I offer a stress-free service to all our customers”, commented David.

David’s brother James, shares his brother’s enthusiasm in the lettings business. He mentioned, “It is amazing how many sales-based estate agents have recently opened a letting arm in an attempt to bolster their flagging sales. “Little do they know the lettings market is a surprisingly specialised field with over one hundred pieces of legislation with which to contend! The sudden push towards lettings over the last year is not surprising; everybody is realising that buying a home is not flexible enough whereas letting a property can provide the adaptability and consistency which people need”.

So why did the pair decide to use Martin & Co? “It was simple; we had both been running our own lettings agent and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We wanted to be a part of a brand which the public are familiar with, what better brand to be with than the UK’s number one letting agent. Martin & Co operates as a large family business with all franchisees over the UK supporting each other and a head office team that offers all the centralised functions that you would expect to find in a major, successful UK business.” Said James. He added, “We are both looking forward to working with Martin & Co to establish the Camden office for many years to come. Our expertise and industry knowledge can be put in to play and we can’t wait to keep learning. Martin & Co’s Training Academy is second to none, they run many courses every year and we are sure to be taking advantage of them to further our industry knowledge”.

Martin & Co is the UK’s leading dedicated residential lettings specialist with over 175 offices throughout the UK. Started in Yeovil in 1986 by Chairman Richard Martin the company was franchised in 1995 and is a full member of the British Franchise Association. In recent years the company has been recognised with awards such as Franchise of the Year 2008 and Best Large Lettings Chain (Gold in 2009 and Silver in 2010).
www.martinco.com

December 2010

A lettings agency in Manchester has picked up a top accolade in the International Residential Property Awards 2010. Yourshack, which focuses on letting and managing properties in Manchester city centre, won the Five Star award in the Best Lettings Agency category.

The distinguished panel of judges included editor-in-chief of International Homes, Helen Shield, along with a host of experts in the field of property, design and construction.

The awards celebrate the highest levels of achievement by companies operating in all sectors of the property industry.

Yourshack has developed a package of innovative services for tenants that it claims will enable landlords to differentiate their property in the market place, giving them the potential to: fill their properties quickly; maximise rental price and benefit from extended rental periods.

The forward thinking agency has harnessed social media to build a network of professional tenants and potential tenants; regular social events bring this network together. These events combined with effective use of various social media portals attract young professionals, particularly those new to the area.

As a result of this, properties can not only be filled quicker but be filled with high quality tenants from this pool of people. This method has proved successful for Yourshack who have achieved a staggering 99% occupancy rate and an increase in prices on a portfolio of 70 units let and managed by Yourshack in 2009/2010.

ARLA registered Yourshack was founded by Directors Mark Taylor and Mark Pickles. They developed their business model over a number of years from experience gained finding and managing over 1000 tenants in properties in South Manchester, including trialling the social events and networking concepts.

The founders began working together in the mid-nineties and today have business interests across the residential property sector including Property Investment, Development, Lettings and Technical Consultancy and also picked up an award in the Best Property category.

Mark Taylor, Managing Director at Yourshack commented:

“We are delighted, to pick up the highest level of award possible is a great achievement for the team and recognises everything we are doing to maximise revenue for our landlord clients.”

www.yourshack.co.uk

Settled Housing Solutions Consultancy Service are holding a free Local Housing Allowance (LHA) seminar for landlords and letting agents in Haringey. The purpose of the seminar is to provide landlords and letting agents who house tenants on receipt of LHA a free advice and information session on the impact of the incoming proposed LHA reductions.

The two hour seminar will be held at: Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, 1 Philip Lane, Tottenham, N15 4JA on Friday 10th December 2010 from 12-2pm.

The seminar will be hosted by Settled Housing Solutions Consultancy Service who are the leading experts in delivering local government and private rented sector training and advice services on Local Housing Allowance and Housing Benefit.

The seminar will provide a simple breakdown of the proposed LHA and Housing Benefit changes, how the cuts will affect the private rented sector in Haringey and what landlords and lettings agents can do to reduce the possible impact to their lettings business.

The event will also provide a useful platform for landlords and letting agents to share their concerns with other landlords and letting agents who also operate in the Borough of Haringey.

Alan Elborough – Co-Founder and Director of Settled Housing Solutions commented: “As we are recognised as the leading providers of LHA advice and training seminars around the UK we have received many inquiries from the private rented sector in Haringey requesting advice and information on this very important issue.

Haringey currently has over 13,000 tenants in the private rented sector receiving Housing Benefit and as a Haringey based business who continues to have close links with local landlords and tenants in the borough we wanted to provide what support we could to hopefully reduce the impact on the local community”.

LHA Calculator

On the day we will also be launching our new LHA Calculator .The newly developed desk top aid has been designed by LHA practitioners and in full consultation with local Haringey landlords and in seconds the calculator will accurately forecast the LHA rates now, the maximum limits, the projected 30th percentile and the extension of the single room rate to under 35′s.

Landlords and Lettings Agents or representatives from the local press who are interested in attending the seminar should contact

Settled Housing Solutions LHA Advice Centre on 0208 340 5526 or visit our website www.settledhousingsolutions.com