Bluedoor is the Unusual Agent. What makes us unusual? Read on and you will see.............
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Oxford Mail Link for the story....
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/4750043.Estate_agents_raided_over_missing_rent_and_deposits/?ref=mr
Oxford Mail Report
Two letting agents' offices and two homes have been raided in a probe into complaints about missing rent and deposit payments, the Oxford Mail has reported today.
The report says police and trading standards officers carried out raids at Charles Lawson (Lettings) Ltd, in Cowley Road, Oxford, and a house in nearby Bartlemas Road at 7.45 yesterday morning.
It adds that the offices of James C Penny estate and letting agents, in Walton Street, Jericho, and a flat were targeted shortly after 9am.
The Oxford Mail says the operation followed a six-month investigation into about 50 complaints by tenants and landlords concerning missing rents and deposits.
A 40-year-old man was said to be in custody last night, arrested under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulation 2008.
Ian Marriott, group manager of trading standards, said: “We had reasonable grounds to suspect offences had been committed under these regulations. Trading Standards have received a significant number of complaints which varied in nature.
“But mostly we’ve had complaints about the failure to return deposits and failure to pass on rents that have been taken.
“There have also been complaints about a general failure to communicate.
“For us this has been quite a big operation.
“It’s really unusual for us to be dealing with high street premises such as these.”
Bags and boxes filled with papers and files were yesterday removed from the house in Bartlemas Road and loaded into a trading standards van.
Paperwork was also seized from the Charles Lawson (Lettings) Ltd office a short distance away in Cowley Road, which has been closed for a month, and the James C Penny estate agents, in Walton Street.
It was trading when officials carried out their operation.
James C Penny has no connection with Penny & Sinclair estate agents, in Banbury Road, Oxford, which is managed by James Penny.
This item read :: 1446 times
The report says police and trading standards officers carried out raids at Charles Lawson (Lettings) Ltd, in Cowley Road, Oxford, and a house in nearby Bartlemas Road at 7.45 yesterday morning.
It adds that the offices of James C Penny estate and letting agents, in Walton Street, Jericho, and a flat were targeted shortly after 9am.
The Oxford Mail says the operation followed a six-month investigation into about 50 complaints by tenants and landlords concerning missing rents and deposits.
A 40-year-old man was said to be in custody last night, arrested under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulation 2008.
Ian Marriott, group manager of trading standards, said: “We had reasonable grounds to suspect offences had been committed under these regulations. Trading Standards have received a significant number of complaints which varied in nature.
“But mostly we’ve had complaints about the failure to return deposits and failure to pass on rents that have been taken.
“There have also been complaints about a general failure to communicate.
“For us this has been quite a big operation.
“It’s really unusual for us to be dealing with high street premises such as these.”
Bags and boxes filled with papers and files were yesterday removed from the house in Bartlemas Road and loaded into a trading standards van.
Paperwork was also seized from the Charles Lawson (Lettings) Ltd office a short distance away in Cowley Road, which has been closed for a month, and the James C Penny estate agents, in Walton Street.
It was trading when officials carried out their operation.
James C Penny has no connection with Penny & Sinclair estate agents, in Banbury Road, Oxford, which is managed by James Penny.
This item read :: 1446 times
Monday, November 16, 2009
High income tenants falling into arrears
High income tenants falling into arrears
RESIDENTIAL landlords who rent out more expensive flats and homes to tenants with higher incomes are facing growing arrears, according to Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction and rent collection service.
While it is easy to assume that lower income tenants are more likely to fall into arrears, the reality is that individuals with higher incomes are feeling the full force of the recession and as such are falling behind on rent payments, says Landlord Assist.
Its managing director, Graham Kinnear, said: “Many landlords take the view that one property at £1,000 per month requires less management and repair than two at £550 per month.
“However, this is not necessarily the case and the situation appears to be changing, as higher earning tenants are bearing the brunt of the economic slowdown.”
To prevent arrears, Landlord Assist is appealing to landlords to get all their tenants referenced before handing over the keys.
Stephen Parry, of Landlord Assist, said: “In the current economic climate, vetting your tenants will go a long way to ensuring that you are likely to receive rent payments.
“We are always staggered that landlords can hand over keys to their properties after one meeting – it really is a false economy.”
source: The Shuttle
RESIDENTIAL landlords who rent out more expensive flats and homes to tenants with higher incomes are facing growing arrears, according to Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction and rent collection service.
While it is easy to assume that lower income tenants are more likely to fall into arrears, the reality is that individuals with higher incomes are feeling the full force of the recession and as such are falling behind on rent payments, says Landlord Assist.
Its managing director, Graham Kinnear, said: “Many landlords take the view that one property at £1,000 per month requires less management and repair than two at £550 per month.
“However, this is not necessarily the case and the situation appears to be changing, as higher earning tenants are bearing the brunt of the economic slowdown.”
To prevent arrears, Landlord Assist is appealing to landlords to get all their tenants referenced before handing over the keys.
Stephen Parry, of Landlord Assist, said: “In the current economic climate, vetting your tenants will go a long way to ensuring that you are likely to receive rent payments.
“We are always staggered that landlords can hand over keys to their properties after one meeting – it really is a false economy.”
source: The Shuttle
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Number of property millionaires hit hard by downturn
Source: http://www.zoopla.co.uk
The number of million pound properties in the UK has shrunk by 35% over the past two years, despite the recent upturn in property values, according to Zoopla.co.uk, the UK's leading house price resource. The sharp decline in house prices stemming from the credit crunch has hurt the ranks of property millionaires in the UK where, at the height of the market in late 2007, 1 in 97 properties was valued at over £1 million but today that figure stands at just 1 in 1500.
* UK's property millionaires down 35% since market peak in Nov 2007
* 57% of all UK homes worth over £1 million located in London
* North East hardest hit, losing 83% of property millionaires in past 2 years
Despite the decline in house prices, certain parts of the country remain awash with property millionaires, notably London and the South East, where four fifths (81%) of all million pound homes can be found. The capital is home to 57% of all property millionaires, with the largest share residing in Kensington (W8) where 48% of all properties are worth over £1 million. Outside the capital, Virginia Water in Surrey leads the property millionaire stakes, with 28% of homes in the area worth more than a million pounds, compared to a national average of just 0.88%.
Property millionaires in the North East have been hit the hardest over the past two years, with an 83% reduction in the number of those who can now claim to be property millionaires. Wales has also been hard hit, losing 56% of its property millionaires over the same period.
Alex Chesterman, CEO of Zoopla.co.uk, said: "The housing market downturn has taken its toll on the exclusive 'property millionaires club', reducing the number of those who can claim membership from 283,168 in November 2007 to only 183,630 today. London remains the property millionaire capital of Britain, whilst other parts of the country have seen their property millionaire ranks decimated over the past two years, with many of the former million pound pads sitting close to the threshold."
The number of million pound properties in the UK has shrunk by 35% over the past two years, despite the recent upturn in property values, according to Zoopla.co.uk, the UK's leading house price resource. The sharp decline in house prices stemming from the credit crunch has hurt the ranks of property millionaires in the UK where, at the height of the market in late 2007, 1 in 97 properties was valued at over £1 million but today that figure stands at just 1 in 1500.
* UK's property millionaires down 35% since market peak in Nov 2007
* 57% of all UK homes worth over £1 million located in London
* North East hardest hit, losing 83% of property millionaires in past 2 years
Despite the decline in house prices, certain parts of the country remain awash with property millionaires, notably London and the South East, where four fifths (81%) of all million pound homes can be found. The capital is home to 57% of all property millionaires, with the largest share residing in Kensington (W8) where 48% of all properties are worth over £1 million. Outside the capital, Virginia Water in Surrey leads the property millionaire stakes, with 28% of homes in the area worth more than a million pounds, compared to a national average of just 0.88%.
Property millionaires in the North East have been hit the hardest over the past two years, with an 83% reduction in the number of those who can now claim to be property millionaires. Wales has also been hard hit, losing 56% of its property millionaires over the same period.
Alex Chesterman, CEO of Zoopla.co.uk, said: "The housing market downturn has taken its toll on the exclusive 'property millionaires club', reducing the number of those who can claim membership from 283,168 in November 2007 to only 183,630 today. London remains the property millionaire capital of Britain, whilst other parts of the country have seen their property millionaire ranks decimated over the past two years, with many of the former million pound pads sitting close to the threshold."
Monday, November 09, 2009
What shall we do today Brain?
The same thing we do everyday, Pinky. Try to take over the world.
Ever since the embryonic BlueDoor was first put into the cupboard next to the photocopier, Pinky and the Brain's plan for the day ahead has been our plan too.
Why not?
Is there something that you want to do but the more you think about it, the more reasons you come up with *not* to do it?
Try saying 'Why not?' a bit more often and see where it leads you.
Ever since the embryonic BlueDoor was first put into the cupboard next to the photocopier, Pinky and the Brain's plan for the day ahead has been our plan too.
Why not?
Is there something that you want to do but the more you think about it, the more reasons you come up with *not* to do it?
Try saying 'Why not?' a bit more often and see where it leads you.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
And a bit more on arrears
The best excuse yet for late rent payments was uttered over the phone to me last week.
Coutts don't do internet banking so I haven't been able to pay you.
Really!?! I know quite a bit about Coutts and they not only have internet banking but they also provide account holders with a personal banker who is available 24 hours a day to do your personal banking bidding. Perhaps this tenant's private banker was asleep for 2 weeks?
Oh well, perhaps the standards at Coutts are slipping....
Coutts don't do internet banking so I haven't been able to pay you.
Really!?! I know quite a bit about Coutts and they not only have internet banking but they also provide account holders with a personal banker who is available 24 hours a day to do your personal banking bidding. Perhaps this tenant's private banker was asleep for 2 weeks?
Oh well, perhaps the standards at Coutts are slipping....
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Green shoots aren't stopping rental arrears
Green shoots aren't stopping rental arrears
Source: http://www.landlords.org.uk
For landlords, life may seem as if it's finally getting easier; interest rates are down, and according to a recent RICS survey rents are on the up. But it's not all green shoots; some tenants are still facing financial pressures, which are leading to increased rental arrears.
Research conducted by the National Landlords Association (NLA), the UK's leading representative body for private-residential landlords, reveals nearly three quarters of landlords have experienced rental arrears. Worryingly, 43% of these occurred in the last 12 months.
NLA Rent Guarantee Insurance offers a way for landlords to minimise the risk from loss of rent. Should problems arise during the tenancy, the cover also provides legal expenses and a dedicated 24-hour advisory service. Available to all residential property landlords, NLA Rent Guarantee Insurance offers much needed piece of mind.
David Salusbury, Chairman, NLA, commenting on the launch of NLA Rent Guarantee Insurance said: "Landlords may not realise they can protect themselves against rental arrears, but our research clearly shows there is a need to safeguard your rental income. Unfortunately we aren't out the woods with the economy just yet, and thanks to redundancy and unemployment some tenants are struggling to pay their rent."
"While it is wise to take out insurance, landlords should not forget the importance of also taking full references and making checks at the outset of a tenancy. Keep in touch with your tenants too. If they feel they can come to you if they are facing difficulties, you may be able to come to an arrangement before rental arrears become more serious."
Source: http://www.landlords.org.uk
For landlords, life may seem as if it's finally getting easier; interest rates are down, and according to a recent RICS survey rents are on the up. But it's not all green shoots; some tenants are still facing financial pressures, which are leading to increased rental arrears.
Research conducted by the National Landlords Association (NLA), the UK's leading representative body for private-residential landlords, reveals nearly three quarters of landlords have experienced rental arrears. Worryingly, 43% of these occurred in the last 12 months.
NLA Rent Guarantee Insurance offers a way for landlords to minimise the risk from loss of rent. Should problems arise during the tenancy, the cover also provides legal expenses and a dedicated 24-hour advisory service. Available to all residential property landlords, NLA Rent Guarantee Insurance offers much needed piece of mind.
David Salusbury, Chairman, NLA, commenting on the launch of NLA Rent Guarantee Insurance said: "Landlords may not realise they can protect themselves against rental arrears, but our research clearly shows there is a need to safeguard your rental income. Unfortunately we aren't out the woods with the economy just yet, and thanks to redundancy and unemployment some tenants are struggling to pay their rent."
"While it is wise to take out insurance, landlords should not forget the importance of also taking full references and making checks at the outset of a tenancy. Keep in touch with your tenants too. If they feel they can come to you if they are facing difficulties, you may be able to come to an arrangement before rental arrears become more serious."
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