Battle of the capitals – Belfast and London neck and neck on house price rises

Battle of the capitals – Belfast and London neck and neck on house price rises

by Louise United Kingdom
  • Belfast prices rise 21% in 12 months (Nationwide)
  • Average Belfast house price now £188,240 (Nationwide)
  • Leading buy-to-let investment from £108,100 (Property Frontiers)

London is used to sitting above the rest of the UK when it comes to house prices, but new data has revealed that Belfast is now giving the English capital a run for its money, at least so far as house price rises are concerned.

The past year has been a good one for the housing market across Northern Ireland, with Nationwide figures showing price rises of 10.2% during the year. Belfast was the area to perform most strongly, with 21% growth in prices over the past 12 months.

The figure puts Belfast on par with London when it comes to the rate at which property prices are rising. As property sale prices remain significantly lower than in the English capital – the average Belfast house price is now £188,240 according to the Nationwide House Price Index – many property investors have turned away from the more obvious choice of London in order to benefit from Belfast’s buoyant housing market. Ray Withers, Chief Executive of specialist property investment company Property Frontiers, explains,

“Belfast is one of the most dynamic markets in the UK right now for property investors. Buy-to-let apartments are leading the field, attracting investors from across the globe. Belfast’s business prowess continues to impress and young professionals are flocking to the city in search of employment, driving the need for high quality rental accommodation.”

Typical of the new kind of rental accommodation in demand by Belfast’s latest generation of professionals is The Sandford. Comprised of luxury one and two bedroom apartments that have been designed in the spirit of modern elegance, the development offers buy-to-let investors the opportunity to make a purchase from as little as £108,100. Available at 6% below RICS valuation, the apartments represent exceptional value for money, while an 8% expected yield adds to their attractions.

The Sandford is ideally located for access to Belfast’s iconic Titanic Quarter and the city centre, where one of the world’s largest and most exciting urban waterfront regeneration projects is underway. Demand for the apartments will be intense, thanks to the considerable amount of foreign direct investment currently flowing into Belfast, with companies from across the globe choosing the city as the location for their operations.

With tenant demand tipped to be so strong, investors have been snapping up the apartments at an impressive rate. Withers observes,

“The apartments at The Sandford offer that rare combination of the right investment opportunity at the right price, at the right time in the market’s fluctuations. As such, we’ve seen incredible interest in them from the very first day they were launched. We certainly don’t expect to have availability at The Sandford for much longer.”

For further details, contact Property Frontiers or call the team on +44 1865 202 700.

UK nationals outnumber US tenants in North Surrey for first time in 3 years

UK nationals outnumber US tenants in North Surrey for first time in 3 years

by Viv United Kingdom
  • 36% of 2014 rental clients are UK nationals vs 27% of US origin (Barton Wyatt)
  • 61% of Barton Wyatt’s 2014 rental clients are sending children to international schools
  • Over 50% of Barton Wyatt tenants seek detached homes in North Surrey 

The latest data from prime letting agents, Barton Wyatt, has revealed that, for the first time in 3 years, UK nationals are once again dominating the rental market in North Surrey.

Assessing the nationality of the multi award-winning agent’s rental clients, 36% of tenants to date in 2014 have been UK nationals, edging ahead of US nationals at 27%.

In total Barton Wyatt let properties in the North Surrey area (which includes the affluent village of Virginia Water and the auspicious Wentworth Estate) to tenants of 13 different nationalities in 2014 from Australians to Japanese, Russians to Spanish, reflecting the true multi-cultural diversity present.

Commenting on the findings, Barton Wyatt Partner, James Wyatt, says,

“The rental market in North Surrey is dominated by corporate tenants, businessmen and women from all over the world who have relocated to work in the plethora of energy, pharmaceutical and finance companies with offices here but also affluent parents from overseas looking for a first class education for their children.

“We are blessed with not one but two international schools on our doorstep, TASIS (The American School in England) and ACS, not to mention Heathrow International Airport just minutes away, which makes this area perfect for foreign nationals and their families relocating for business or indeed in search of a British education. In fact 61% of our 2014 rental clients are sending their children to international schools.

“Americans in particular have always found this part of Surrey highly appealing as our rental figures over the last few years have shown – even Brangelina and their brood rented a property on the Wentworth Estate last year!”

In line with a recovering UK housing market and growing private rented sector however, the number of domestic tenants renting in North Surrey is on the up. Back in 2011, only 24% of Barton Wyatt tenants were from the UK in comparison to 45% from the US. The number of UK tenants did rise in 2012 to 35% but numbers were still dwarfed by US tenants at 46%. 2013 showed a similar trend with UK tenants accounting for 30% and US 42% however the latest data for 2014 reveals that, for the first time in 3 years, the number of UK tenants has surpassed those of US origin at 36% versus 27%.

Joanne Paris, Lettings Manager at Barton Wyatt, comments,

“We have certainly seen a shift in the prime rental market here in North Surrey. There has been much more movement in 2014 with increasing numbers of UK nationals, from central London especially, looking to rent. The most popular property type by far remains detached homes at over 50% but interestingly townhouses are sought after by a third of clients.

On the Market:

Indeed with demand so high for rental properties in the North Surrey area, budgets too will need to be bigger than the UK average of £757 per month (LSL Property Services, Sept 2014) as some properties command up to £40,000 per month!

Barton Wyatt’s average rental property will set you back some £4,300 per month so what bang will you get for your bucks?

 

Upper Walk, Virginia Park, Virginia Water, GU25 4SN – £4,000 pcm

A charming 3 bedroom, furnished house located in sought-after Virginia Park. An ideal family home, this terraced property boasts a living and dining room, kitchen, conservatory, master bedroom with en-suite, a further two double bedrooms, bathrooms, study and double integral garage.

 

Oakwood Road, Wentworth, GU25 4RZ – £6,500 pcm

A beautifully presented family home superbly situated within the exclusive Wentworth Estate just a short walk from the village shops, restaurants and mainline railway station. The property is well planned with spacious accommodation and is set in an exceptional south facing garden of approximately 3/4 of an acre. Comprising drawing room, dining room, fitted study, family room, conservatory, kitchen / breakfast room and laundry room along with master bedroom  with large dressing area and en-suite bathroom, guest bedroom with en-suite and a further 3 double bedrooms plus double integral garage.

Immigration Issues: New service launched to support rental sector ‘Passport Police’

Immigration Issues: New service launched to support rental sector ‘Passport Police’

by Kate United Kingdom
  • New legislation to dictate that private landlords must check tenants’ immigration status before agreeing rental
  • Pilot scheme to take place in West Midlands from December, rolling out to rest of UK in 2015
  • New Ready Rentals system to support private landlords with legislative changes

A new service, launched today, will address the controversial issue of making private landlords ‘passport police’, as new legislation comes into play in the private rental sector.

Ready Rentals, a new online support system for private landlords, is launching just as those renting out their properties in the West Midlands are preparing to face new rules that mean that they must check the immigration status of prospective tenants before granting a rental agreement.

Coming into play from 1st December this year, new Home Office legislation will dictate that private landlords across Birmingham, Dudley, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Walsall will, by law, have to ask those applying to live in one of their properties for proof of their right to reside in the UK – be it passport, right of abode certificate, or alternative documents that confirm their immigration status – before granting them right to rent.

Although recommended as best practice by the National Landlords Association (NLA) to minimise the risk of tenants reneging on rent, a check on immigration status is not currently a legal requirement, yet the new legislation, which will form part of the Immigration Act, will mean that a landlord failing to comply could receive a fine of up to £3,000.

This pilot scheme, which, if successful, will be rolled out to the rest of the UK next year, has stirred up much feeling amongst the private rented sector, making it a controversial topic, with some questioning whether it is the landlord’s place to act as ‘immigration officer’ in this way. Others fear the additional weight of responsibility on private landlords might negatively affect the industry, putting people off renting out their properties as they struggle to cope with the changing legislative demands.

Neil Woodhead, Founder of Ready Rentals, who established the service from his background of more than 35 years in the property management sector nationally, explains,

“The immigration issue is a hot topic at the moment, with the government and opposition openly debating their approach to the nation’s growing problem, but I don’t see this new legislation merely having been presented as a vote-winner. Checking a tenant’s immigration status is not only beneficial to the country as a whole, it also helps the landlord to feel more assured that they will receive their rent successfully.

“For some it can feel as though the legislation that private landlords have to follow is constantly changing, and this can be daunting for many. Yet it is important that private landlords face this, and other legal demands placed upon them, in a thorough manner – the result is legal compliance and a professional service for tenants, a win-win for all.”

Just one of the issues that Ready Rentals will address, the new immigration laws will be fully supported by the service, providing landlords in the West Midlands and further afield when it is rolled out, with access to all the advice and referencing systems needed to ensure that they meet the new demands of the immigration legislation.

An online system available for an affordable annual fee, the newly launched Ready Rentals will make the life of a private landlord easy and the service they offer legally compliant and seamless, addressing concerns and providing invaluable answers to problems faced by individual landlords. This is achieved by providing access to all the documentation needed to become a private landlord, a tailored system to suit individual needs; continually updating advice on statutory regulations and letting a property; providing the ability to market online to major portals; giving information on general marketing and advertising; and everything else needed to function as a successful landlord – all at the click of a button!

Regulated by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), as well as a Member of the Ombudsman Services Property which allows landlords to manage their portfolio with confidence, Ready Rentals is accessible from anywhere in the world and currently supports landlords with properties in England, Wales or Scotland.

Combining invaluable experience in the rental sector with a cutting-edge online system that forms the basis of Ready Rentals, the result is an innovative new service which aims to provide much-needed assistance for currently unsupported private landlords, allowing them to deliver a professional and legally compliant servicewith ease and peace of mind.

For more information about Ready Rentals visit www.readyrentals.co.uk or call 0141 212 9120.

Former Liverpool ballroom which hosted Beatle John Lennon’s wedding reception due for residential redevelopment

Former Liverpool ballroom which hosted Beatle John Lennon’s wedding reception due for residential redevelopment

by Louise United Kingdom
  • Kings Dock to undergo £1.5 billion redevelopment (Liverpool City Council)
  • 23.4% of households rent privately (Chief Executive’s Policy Team)
  • Parker Street will see the refurbishment of former ballroom which hosted the wedding reception of Beatle John Lennon

When it comes to buy-to-let property investment in the UK, look no further than Liverpool for some of the most exciting opportunities on the market. That’s the message from Ray Withers, Chief Executive of specialist property investment company Property Frontiers and a leading voice in the UK’s buy-to-let sector.

“Liverpool is known across the world for being the birthplace of the Beatles and for its role in revolutionising the music scene. Beatles attractions still draw tourists to the city today – the 2012 Liverpool Digest of Tourism Statistics listed two Beatles attractions (Beatles Story and Beatles Magical Mystery Tour) in the top ten paid attractions in the city, bringing a combined total of more than ¼ of a million visitors to the city in a single year.

“Of course, Liverpool itself has moved on somewhat since the Beatles first focused the world’s attention on it. A modern, dynamic city, it is packed with young professionals seeking to make their fortune from the plentiful job opportunities available there.”

Most recently, Liverpool’s modernisation has included the announcement of plans for the Kings Dock area, which Liverpool City Council has confirmed is set to create thousands of jobs as the £1.5 billion redevelopment takes place. Just days ago, the first phase of the Anfield stadium redevelopment was also confirmed, with planning permission granted for work on the new £75 million main stand.

With a booming class of young professionals looking for high end, well located housing, Liverpool’s buy-to-let sector is attracting investors in their droves. Alan Bevan, Managing Director of City Residential, comments,

“With Liverpool’s lettings market performing strongly and continuing to expand, sales momentum “exploding” into life and new rental/sales developments springing up across the city and the forthcoming investment in PRS (Private Rented Sector), the future is indeed looking particularly bright!”

Those looking to be a part of Liverpool’s bright future by buying into the private rented sector see now as the perfect time to do so. Data from Liverpool City Council’s Chief Executive’s Policy Team in 2013 showed that some 23.4% of households rented from a private landlord, compared with a national average across England and Wales of 16.7%. The figure had increased from 13.1% in 2001, highlighting how rapid the growth of the Liverpool’s private rented sector has been.

Ever at the forefront of UK buy-to-let investment opportunities, Property Frontiers has launched a new project in the heart of Liverpool city centre, Parker Street. With an unrivalled city centre location, within minutes of Liverpool One and Lime Street, this brand new buy-to-let opportunity will see a fabulous 1930s Portland Stone building, the former ballroom which hosted the wedding reception of Beatle John Lennon, redeveloped into luxury studio suites and one bedroom apartments. Panoramic views from the upper floors will combine with high end design to provide the very latest in modern city living appeal.

The ambitious plans will see a 12 month build schedule in place, though the investment opportunity (available from just £64,950 with 6% net yield assured for 5 years) will sell out long before the paint has dried and the furniture packs have been delivered. With a buy-to-let market as demand-led as Liverpool’s, an investment opportunity like this won’t be around for long.

For further details, contact Property Frontiers or call the team on +44 1865 202 700.

Prime Estate Agent ‘takes off’ with charity Dreamflight

Prime Estate Agent ‘takes off’ with charity Dreamflight

by Viv United Kingdom

Barton Wyatt’s Joanne Parris, who runs their luxury lettings arm in Virginia Water, Surrey is setting off this Saturday for the second time to Florida’s theme parks with 192 seriously ill or disabled children.

 

The Dreamflight Charity is again being sponsored by Barton Wyatt who has made a generous donation and allows Jo the time off work to go and help with this worthy event.

 

Dreamflight is a registered charity whose purpose is to take deserving children on the holiday of their dreams to America’s capital of fun – Orlando!  The children are chosen from all over the UK and it is not just a holiday, it allows them to realise that they are not alone with their illness and not the odd one out.  With a new independence gained from being away from their family, they see other children who have suffered, they gain perspective and strength and with the help of the team of volunteers experience things that they never thought possible.

 

The children on each trip are accompanied by a group of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and non medical escorts who make the journey possible by giving their time and energy to the charity, and it is not just for the 10 days that they will be away.  There is a great deal of preparatory work and fundraising to be done before the annual trip to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

 

Jo Parris, Lettings Manager for Barton Wyatt Estate Agency in Virginia Water, went on the 2013 Dreamflight to the US and was so enamoured by the experience that she happily accepted to go again as a non medical escort for the 2014 Dreamflight.  She comments:

 

“Last year I returned from the Dreamflight exhausted yet elated.  It was a completely unique experience – like nothing I have ever done or considered doing before.  I felt so privileged to have been included in this experience that changes lives and when I got the chance to go again I was very keen to do so.”

 

James Wyatt, partner of Barton Wyatt has offered his own support by giving Jo the extra time off from the office and sponsors T-shirts for the children to wear on the day they go to Blizzard Beach.  Barton Wyatt has been sponsoring the T-shirts for nearly ten years and James says:

 

“It was a client of ours that first opened our eyes to Dreamflight back in 2004.  It seemed like such a fabulous charity and appealed to our sense of community.  I have 3 healthy children and took them to Disney this summer.  The thought that we have helped to allow others the same experience gives me some small pleasure.

For more information on Dreamflight visit www.dreamflight.org or if you would like to support Jo in her fundraising contact her at the Barton Wyatt office on 01344 843 000 or email her on jp@bartonwyatt.co.uk.

The student becomes the master. As a new batch of Apprentices line up, former star Zeeshaan Shah undertakes £7 million hotel development

The student becomes the master. As a new batch of Apprentices line up, former star Zeeshaan Shah undertakes £7 million hotel development

by Louise United Kingdom
  • Series 10 of The Apprentice launches 9pm Tuesday 14th October 2014 (BBC)
  • Apprentice start Zeeshaan Shah heads up £7 million hotel development (One Capital)
  • New ibis Styles Hotel, Greenwich Peninsula available to investors from £134,995 (One Investments)
  • Millennials to account for 50% of global workforce in next four years (EY)

As the latest series of The Apprentice gets set to air on Tuesday 14th October at 9pm on BBC1, viewers across the UK are eagerly awaiting the new batch of candidates who have lined up ready to carry out Lord Sugar’s business whims as he winkles out his next protégé.

Meanwhile, former Apprentice star Zeeshaan Shah recalls the time he spent on the show.

“Being a candidate on The Apprentice really opened my eyes to the business world,” he states. “As CEO of my own property company I already had extensive experience of the international property and investment sector, but The Apprentice gave me the opportunity to understand the business world from a different perspective.”

Just 12 months after filming The Apprentice, Shah finds himself undertaking a hugely successful new hotel project as part of the £5 billion Greenwich Peninsula redevelopment.

Shah heads up London-based development and private equity firm One Capital, which is undertaking the development of the £7 million ibis Styles Hotel, Greenwich Peninsula through a joint venture with Cherif Investment Properties (the property development arm of the Beaverbrook Family Office).

Shah is delighted to be at the leading edge of such a prestigious new venture. He comments,

“The redevelopment of the Greenwich Peninsula is going to turn an already popular area into a truly world-class site and it’s wonderful to be at the forefront of such a venture. The ibis Styles Hotel, Greenwich Peninsula is expected to become one of Greenwich’s premier hotel venues, offering high end, stylishly designed accommodation at an extremely reasonable price.”

Full of enthusiasm for his new venture, Shah perfectly embodies his generation. Described by the EY Global Hospitality Insights 2014 report as ‘self-assured, optimistic, globally connected and curious,’ the Millennials are a generation that demands efficiency, speed and convenience. Defined as those born between 1980 and 2000 the Millennials account for around 1/3 of all business travel expenses, despite 20% of them only just entering their peak spending age and 40% yet to enter the fulltime workforce.

Millennials work hard and play hard. They expect a lot from the world and their hotel accommodation is no exception. Hotels can no longer opt for a choice between location, design, facilities and price – they must offer all of these and more in order to attract the attention of Millennials, who are projected by the EY report to account for 50% of all employees worldwide in the next four years.

The ibis Styles Hotel, Greenwich Peninsula has been designed with this demographic firmly in mind. Not only does it offer all of these aspects and more, it also provides Millennials (and other generations) with an excellent investment opportunity. Prices begin at just £134,995 for a double room, reaching £179,995 for a family suite, with rooms available through master agent One Investments. Accumulated returns are projected to reach up to 65.63% over five years, making this a highly attractive investment opportunities for those looking to be at the cutting edge of London’s future.

So as the new series of The Apprentice begins to air, does Shah have any regrets that he didn’t make it to the final of series nine?

“Absolutely not,” he says. “The Apprentice was a valuable experience, but since then I have followed my true passion – property investment. Presenting such a prestigious project as the ibis Styles Hotel, Greenwich Peninsula is more exciting than the boardroom could ever be. Sorry Lord Sugar!”

For more information please contact One Investments on +44 845 548 5454, infor@oneinvestments.co.uk or visit www.oneinvestments.co.uk.

Investments Under the Hammer

Investments Under the Hammer

by Viv United Kingdom
  • BBC TV series Homes Under the Hammer now in its 18th series
  • Life Tenancy Investment (LTI) lots rise in popularity at UK auctions (Guy Charrison)
  • Sam Murphy from Hertfordshire purchased a LTI for his 2 year old daughter at auction

The BBC’s hugely popular renovation and auction series, Homes Under the Hammer, has graced British and indeed international airwaves for over a decade now. Anyone who has been to an auction will know what a thrilling affair it can be as Guy Charrison, professional auctioneer, former NAVA (National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers) President and guest on the TV series, can testify:

“I have been in the property profession for over 30 years now and still get the same buzz as I did on my first day when entering the auction room. The heady combination of direct competition and the thrill of the hunt not to mention the almost spell-binding chant of a good auctioneer makes a live auction a very addicted experience.”

Indeed the popularity of Homes Under the Hammer, now in its 18th series, is testament to the public’s love for a good auction but it’s no longer just rundown family homes ripe for renovation available under the gavel.

Increasingly, auction houses are seeing property investment opportunities being put up for sale. These “Investment Homes Under the Hammer” are in fact Life Tenancy Investments, a fully legitimate and lucrative alternative to traditional buy-to-let.

Featuring in the catalogues of a number of eminent property auction houses such as Network Auctions, Life Tenancy Investments operate in the same way a standard property lot with 100% freehold ownership for the highest bidder. The only difference is that the property purchased is occupied by Life Tenants.

Guy Charrison of the Guy Charrison Property Consultancy, who has both sold Life Tenancy Investment’s at auction and invested personally, explains,

“Long since the preserve of institutional investors and pensions funds, Life Tenancy Investments enable properties to now be bought by individuals at a fraction of their open market value, in some cases up to half price. The opportunity to own a UK property outright, for such a discounted price, complete with the previous owners (the Life Tenants) in place to care for and maintain the house meets in the criteria for many bargain hunting auction attendees today.

“Over the years I have sold numerous Life Tenancy Investments to professional and accidental landlords, property investors and increasingly, everyday folk looking to secure an income for their retirement or their children’s future. Life Tenancy Investments offer a simple and straightforward way to invest in UK property and are a viable alternative to buy-to-lets.”

One such example of an individual who purchased a Life Tenancy Investment at auction is Sam Murphy from Hertfordshire. Sam first heard about the investment opportunity at an auction in Canvey Island, Essex and was so impressed that he contacted Guy Charrison for further information.

Sam comments,

“After hearing about the Life Tenancy Investment model and its benefits, I became very quickly enamoured. I find the existing buy-to-let properties which I own a huge drain on my time and resources whereas this Life Tenancy Investment property is the ideal hands-off way to keep my money safe.

“I purchased for my daughter, she may only be 2 years old at present but I wanted to prepare for her future and this investment is guaranteed to keep up with property inflation which is important to me.”

So with hundreds of property auctions taking place all over the UK each week, keep an eye out for a Life Tenancy Investment lot and bag yourself a bargain. For more details of the auction process and / or Life Tenancy Investments contact the Guy Charrison Property Consultancy on 01344 851 007 or visit www.guycharrison.com.

 

Under the Hammer: Life Tenancy Investment available today

 

Rents Soar as Chronic Shortage Forces Students into Local Hotel

by Kate United Kingdom
  • Aberdeen University forced to house 100 first year students in local hotel.
  • Critical shortage of rooms has led to crisis, with less than 10% of students able to access purpose-built accommodation.
  • The private sector are filling the gap, as councildraws up delayed action plan.
  • Emerging Property’s Aberdeen student development 100% occupied from day one, with rents up to 54% higher than projections.

An unfortunate 100 first year students in Aberdeen have been forced to begin their studies in a local hotel, after the city’s student housing shortage reached critical levels. With a total of 66,000 students and just 6,254 student rooms in total, according to the Aberdeen City and Shire Housing Need and Demand Assessment (March 2011), crisis has been on the horizon for years.

Compounding the issue is the rocketing prices in the private rental market, which, according to lettings site, Citylets, saw average property rents surpass £1,000 per month in 2013 – an increase of 11.5 per cent from the previous year.  This has been catalysed by the influx of workers to a city where, inspired by the energy sector (oil & gas especially), unemployment is less than half the national average.This is in addition to the limited development activity, which has seen an average of just 523 new housing completions annually since 2006.

In response, the city council is to launch a £3 million initiative to create 2,000 rooms within five affordable housing developments. Whether or not this will provide an adequate solution to the issue, however, is questionable – it is not only students who are suffering.

“There are problems with accommodation in Aberdeen in general, whether it’s private, the rented sector or student accommodation,” says Emily Beever, president of Aberdeen University’s Student Association (AUSA).”Aberdeen is the second most expensive place to live in the UK, so it’s obviously a major concern amongst students.”

The concern for the university is that, if students can’t find anywhere to live, then applying elsewhere will be their only option.With the council’s plans still very much at an early stage, it is the private sector that is currently working to fill the gaps, with developments designed specifically for students providing additional rooms.

For one such development, the heightened demand is proving lucrative for investors, with secured rents having leapt up more than 50% on projected levels. This is a huge increase and demonstrates just how undersupplied the Aberdeen housing market is.

“When we first began to research the city as a potential location for a student development, we were astounded by the supply gap,” says James Harrington, Business Development Manager at Emerging Property – a leading property investment consultancy, which has recently sold out a student development in Aberdeen. “We were able to secure a great city centre plot and build 30 high quality student rooms.”

These rooms were offered to investors with 10 per cent guaranteed net yields for 10 years – the best returns in UK student property – on the premise of achieving £130 in weekly rent. This is inclusive of professional property management and the presence of an adequate buffer to provide security.

In August, however, almost a month before the development’s scheduled completion, all rooms were taken by the University of Aberdeen itself, with rents of up to £200 per week – 54 per cent higher than initial estimates.

“We are always conservative with our rental projections, as security is a key aspect of the investments we offer,” explains Mr Harrington. “But to secure rents more than 50 per cent higher than our estimate highlights the critical situation of student housing in the city and puts our investors in an incredibly secure and lucrative position.”

With a second Scottish oil boom predicted by Professor John Howell, a leading offshore expert at Aberdeen University, it appears that the housing crisis may only get worse before it gets better.

To find out more about Emerging Property’s student investment opportunities, you can visit www.emergingproperty.co.uk or contact matthew@emergingproperty.co.uk 

‘Byte Night’ event to tackle homelessness in the UK with a helping hand from Brookes & Co

by Kate United Kingdom

It was 2009 when Prince William famously ‘slept rough’ overnight in central London, bringing the cause of homelessness in the UK sharply into focus and raising vital awareness for the case of those who spend night after night on Britain’s streets.

And sadly, the situation is still as desperate five years on. Today there are 2,414 people sleeping rough on the streets of the UK, according to government statistics from autumn 2013, up a shocking 37% on the 2010 figure of 1,768.

As a response to this growing problem, on Friday 3rd October, thousands of people will show their support for the cause and take to the streets themselves, sleeping rough for the night and raising money as part of Action for Children’s national event, ‘Byte Night’.

Having launched 16 years ago when 30 individuals from the IT industry slept out, raising £35,000, this year’s event, taking place all around the UK, is expected to see over 1,500 sleepers from the technology and business sectors take part across eight locations, making it the biggest event of its kind, raising over £1 million.

Helping Action for Children’s Byte Night tackle the root causes of homelessness, keeping vulnerable young people off the streets and assisting them to build better lives, are this year’s participants Mike Bell and Chris Pardoe, taking part in the St Paul’s Square, Birmingham event.

Mike Bell, a SVP Strategic Engagement SAP working in the IT industry, was inspired to take part in Byte Night after learning of the growing numbers of people having to take the last resort of sleeping on the streets. He explains,

“I have been involved in supporting this cause as a sponsor for around five years now, but this is the first year I have decided to actively take part. Giving up my own bed for one night is nothing in comparison to the day in, day out, all too real experiences of life on the street, faced by many people. No one individual should be forced to live without safety or shelter, yet since the recession the number of those doing so has risen sharply. I hope that by playing my small part in this year’s Byte Night, I can raise awareness of this growing, desperate situation as well as vital money to support those vulnerable young people at risk of becoming homeless themselves.”

Managing Director of specialist IT company The Know List, Chris Pardoe, places social responsibility high on the list of his company’s objectives. He is proud to be supporting young people through a number of company initiatives, from the creation of a free school in Milton Keynes to provide meaningful work experience for young people, to the upcoming launch of a talent and acquisition division for the company, a recruitment service that will give 20% of its fees to Action for Children, the charity behind Byte Night, as well as an outsourced service that aims to find roles for underprivileged young people.

Sleeping rough himself on 3rd October, Chris explains why he felt compelled to get so personally involved,

“It may sound clichéd, but young people really are our future and I believe that far more needs to be done to support their growth and development, both practically and emotionally, within the vast reaches of our society. The Byte Night event is a tremendous one. Not only is it excellent for raising awareness, all the monies raised will go towards preventative measures to help stop young people having to take to the streets as a way of dealing with their troubled lives. I am very much looking forward to doing my bit.”

Both men are being supported in their Byte Night participation by Essex-based property investment company, Brookes & Co, with Mike having previously purchased property through the company. Providing clients with opportunities to invest wisely in property developments, both in the UK and overseas, Brookes & Co are keen to uphold their ethos of giving back to local communities and have supported both Mike and Chris with sponsorship for this year’s charity sleep-out.

Managing Director Phillip Button expresses how keen the company were to be involved,

“I think what Mike and Chris are doing to support the Byte Night cause is fantastic and we at Brookes & Co are proud to be able to support them in turn. It is truly shocking that in the modern age there are so many people living rough on Britain’s streets, whether it is through job loss, family breakdown, abuse, violence, neglect, or a whole host of other factors, it is something that needs to be addressed and vital support given to change what, all too often, becomes a downward spiral for many.

“Byte Night, and the work being done by Action for Children, is making a real difference to the lives of vulnerable young people, at risk of ending up resorting to a life on the street; providing accommodation, education, training and care to those most at risk individuals and helping to give them the strength to work towards positive futures. What an amazing cause, and one we are honoured to support.”

To learn more about Byte Night and to support the cause, visit www.bytenight.org.uk

For more information about property investment specialists Brookes & Co, contact 01621 875 925 or info@brookesandco.co.uk or visit www.brookesandco.co.uk

AB Property Marketing appointed by innovative new private landlords’ support system, Ready Rentals

AB Property Marketing appointed by innovative new private landlords’ support system, Ready Rentals

by Kate United Kingdom

It is no surprise that the number of private landlords in the UK is on the increase. A second income for many, a useful revenue stream for those in retirement or simply the result of property ownership brought about by inheritance, scores more people are becoming landlords within the private rental market and feeling the benefits.

Yet this is also a sector that is strewn with minefields. The uninitiated very quickly come up against a myriad of legal stipulations that they have to abide by, seemingly ever-changing legislation that governs every aspect of how they conduct themselves and how they maintain both the property itself and the relationship with their tenant successfully, not to mention the worries of how best to market their property and make the very most of their bricks and mortar.

Coming from a background of 10 years as a well-respected letting agent at the helm of Castle Estates (Glasgow) Ltd, and with more than 35 years in the project and property management sector nationally, Neil Woodhead is launching Ready Rentals, an innovative new service which aims to provide much-needed assistance for currently unsupported private landlords.

Ready Rentals is a resource that provides self-managing landlords with the support to be able to deliver a professional and legally compliant service. The online system is accessible from anywhere in the world and currently supports landlords with properties in England, Wales or Scotland. The service is regulated by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), as well as being a Member of the Ombudsman Services Property which allows landlords to manage their portfolio with confidence.

Neil Woodhead, Founder of Ready Rentals explains what prompted him to establish the new service,

“Over the years I have been approached countless times by people who had become private landlords, either through choice or circumstance, and found themselves in deep waters, overwhelmed by legislative constraints liable to change and floundering to stay on the right side of the law.

“I wanted to provide a service that would support these hardworking people meaning they no longer needed to do it alone. The result is Ready Rentals, an easy-to-access service that provides all the tools needed to be a successful private landlord for an affordable price. Making use of my years of experience as a letting agent, I have prepared a service which allows people to tick every box, from a legal and marketing perspective, to make their job as a private landlord as easy, pain-free and rewarding as possible.”

Ready Rentals will:

  • Offer access to all of the documents needed to become a private landlord
  • Be automated to suit individual needs
  • Offer continually updated advice on statutory regulations and letting a property
  • Offer online marketing to major portals
  • Provide information on marketing and advertising, and everything else needed to function as a successful landlord – all at the click of a button!

Today, announcing their upcoming launch on 20th October, Ready Rentals have appointed leading property PR agency, AB Property Marketing, to share the news of their exciting new service.

Charlotte Ashton, MD of AB Property Marketing, comments,

“At ABPM we’re really excited to be helping launch Ready Rentals to the UK market. Being a private, stand-alone landlord can be tough, with so much legislation and paperwork to navigate, yet with Ready Rentals this no longer need be the case.

“With Neil’s industry background and the backing of RICS, as well as what can only be described as a fantastically intuitive system, Ready Rentals certainly fills a gap in the market and will prove invaluable to those managing a rental property themselves.”

As an expert in the UK rental market, the difficulties facing landlords and the changing legislation, Neil Woodhead and Ready Rentals are available to provide industry comment.

To find out more about Ready Rentals and the service they offer, visit www.readyrentals.co.uk