Hips Suspension Encourages More People to Enter the Market
25th June 2010
Following the Government’s suspension of Home Information Packs (HIPs), Home Sale Network members cite the suspension as one of the strongest influences in encouraging more people to enter the property market.
Will interest rates rise?
15th June 2010
Michael Arthan from Barbers comments on the Bank of England’s decision to retain the Bank base rate at half of one percent for the sixteenth consecutive month.
Barbers take over Paul F Rowley Lettings
2nd June 2010
Managing Director Mike Arthan is delighted to announce that Shropshire Based Estate Agents Barbers have acquired the Lettings and Management portfolio of Whitchurch based Paul F Rowley & Co (PFR). PFR manage 150 properties in and around Whitchurch and Market Drayton, which is an area already covered by two of Barbers five offices.
Home Information Packs suspended with immediate effect
21st May 2010
The new Government announced 20/5/10 that the requirement for homeowners to provide a Home Information Pack (HIP) when selling a home, has been suspended from 21st May 2010.
A Mark of Quality
5th May 2010
Local estate agent, and Home Sale Network member, Barbers have successfully completed their ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Audit. ISO 9000 is an internationally recognised standard for an organisation’s internal quality management. ISO accreditation results in improved product, process and service quality.
Barbers Lettings announces the latest qualifications achieved by its staff
12th February 2010
Barbers is pleased to announce that Julie Armstrong, Lettings Valuer for Barbers Lettings in Market Drayton, joins Market Drayton lettings Manager Jean Morris and Property Management Manager Louise Groves in passing the National Federation of Property Professionals Technical Award in Residential Letting and Property Management.
Latest Base Rate Decision – Mortgage Advice Bureau (October 2009)
14th October 2009
The announcement by the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee on 8th October to maintain the bank base rate at half of one percent for the seventh consecutive month comes as no surprise. Mortgage Advice Bureau comments on this latest decision.
Bank Base Rate comment – Mortgage Advice Bureau (September 2009)
23rd September 2009
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has once again surprised no-one with their decision to maintain the Bank Base rate at half of one percent. This decision means that the rate has now been static for six months following the unprecedented cutting in the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter 2009.
Buy-to-Let Landlords Return to the Market
24th July 2009
The Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA) Quarterly Survey reveals buy-to-let bounce back.
Boomtime for Lettings in Newport
15th May 2009
Barbers Residential Lettings Department is experiencing exceptional growth in the Newport area. "We are currently crying out for properties in Newport” reports Richard Heath, Lettings Manager.
Barbers - Energy Performance Certificates
11th March 2009
Energy Performance Certificates, or EPC’s, are now a legal requirement for properties before they are for Sale or for Let.
Introduced in all European member states, they have been a part of the property sales process for a year and a half now and offer a guide to the energy efficiency of properties for both sellers and buyers. Each EPC report rates a property for its energy efficiency and its environmental impact.
What is involved for the homeowner? An accredited energy assessor will visit the property making an external and internal ‘room by room’ inspection. The noted elements are; the construction type and overall dimensions, levels of insulation in the roof and walls, the type of heating system and its controls, and the type of glazing installed throughout the property. Once complete the data is processed using the energy assessor’s software which produces the Energy Performance Report.
The report provides a list of recommendations outlining where the property can be improved to reduce the energy consumption and its impact on the environment. The benefits of this are reduced fuel bills, more comfortable homes, and less impact on the environment. During these times of uncertain energy costs the relevance of these reports will become more apparent.
What can be done to improve a rating prior to the Energy Assessment? You can contact local insulation companies who will be able to inspect the level of insulation in your loft and cavity walls and advise what grants are available in your area for having these elements installed. Some companies can offer an assessment of the heating system and again advise what measures can be taken to improve it. If improvements are made prior to the Energy Assessment they will improve the properties rating.
If you weren’t required to have a Home Information Pack when your property originally came to market (i.e. over 18months ago) you won’t have had an EPC. Your estate agent should have made you aware that since 1st October 2008 you, as a property owner, have a legal responsibility to provide a valid EPC. The fines for not providing one can be substantial. Once obtained a sales EPC is valid for three years.
Landlords also need to be aware that this legislation also applies to rental properties, making it their legal responsibility to provide potential new tenants with a valid EPC. Remember it is illegal for a property to be let without an EPC. A rental EPC remains valid for a period of ten years.
At Barbers we are able to provide an EPC at a fraction of the cost of any potential fines, and we pride ourselves on our quality of service. So why not call us to arrange your EPC? Contact me directly at our Wellington office or via any of our other branches where we will be happy to help.
K. Austin
Domestic Energy Assessor
Lettings Market Place in 2008
9th March 2009
Reviewing the Shropshire Lettings market place in 2008, Richard Heath head of Barbers expanding Lettings Department comments on the current state of the lettings market; “it is as healthy as ever with an increasing number of new landlords putting properties up for let, and plenty of tenants looking for the perfect home to meet their varying needs.”
Recent results of the Barbers’ Landlord and Tenant Survey 2008 have identified some interesting trends. Nearly one fifth of those currently renting have upgraded in the last year, i.e. moved from one rental property to another, thus enabling them to improve standards of living and rent a property that they would not otherwise be able to afford to buy in any market.
In addition, the survey shows that the second most popular reason for renting is due to the fact that people have been unable to obtain a mortgage in the current climate.
In support of these findings, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the highest percentage of landlords are those who have been unable to sell their property and have decided to rent it out until the housing market improves.
However, property owners who originally bought for investment purposes still make up 34% of all of Barber’s landlords.
Finally, Barbers have seen a 65% increase in the number of properties which landlords are asking us to manage for them. Louise Groves, Senior Property Management Co-ordinator at the Market Drayton office says “The main benefits of a property managed by Barbers are that the tenant has an immediate point of contact should any problems arise, and it allows the landlord to enjoy a hassle free overview of the tenancy, which ideally suits those with busy lifestyle. We have a team of 15 people in our established Lettings and Property Management departments and we manage over 500 residential properties for landlord clients.“
In recent weeks, Barbers have let out a wide variety of properties, proving that the demand for rental accommodation is just as great whether you are looking for a 1-bedroom apartment or a 6-bedroom farmhouse.
In particular, properties on the new development at Wylie Court, Market Drayton, have been hugely popular and all six 2-bedroom properties were let out within 2 weeks of being put on the market.
Another recent signing was for a newly refurbished 3-bedroom house known as 26b Bark Hill Road, Whitchurch, which attracted immense interest due to its proximity to the town centre and the added bonus of off road parking.
At the top end of the market, 5 Manor Barn, a prestigious and luxurious barn conversion situated at Little Bolas complete with superb views of the open countryside, was also successfully let at the full asking price.
Richard’s projection for 2009 is that there will continue to be a high demand, with increased stock and stable rentals allowing tenants to be much more selective. Landlords will also need to take good advice to enable them to present their properties in the best possible light.
