Watch your profits shoot up with an ethical bamboo investment

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

Alternative investments are on the increase, with clients demanding morally and ethically responsible choices, while still making a healthy financial return. The continuing rise in global demand for timber has led to escalating prices and the emergence of new green investment markets for materials such as bamboo.

 
The fastest growing plant in the world and an ideal source of sustainable timber, bamboo has captured the attention of leading investors, with the world market expected to quadruple over the next four years.
 
Property Frontiers has been one company with the vision to engage with this exciting new development in the timber industry. With their established partner, EcoPlanet Bamboo, the company has been offering bamboo investments in Central America for the past two years, with early investors already seeing excellent returns.
 
The partnership places a high value on the ethical and socially accountable aspects of renewable timber growth. As Property Frontiers´ Chief Executive Ray Withers explains:
 
"Our clients are looking for alternative investments that allow them to generate profits at the same time as doing something socially responsible. Bamboo investment offers just that – our plantations create jobs, produce sustainable products and have programmes for educating and up-skilling the local communities with which we work."
 
Environmental awareness is a key feature of the plantations. Sustainability and respect for the local ecosystem are paramount, with vermiculture, biogreen fertilizer and other techniques used to grow the bamboo in harmony with nature. The commitment to the environment is such that the Nicaraguan plantations offered by Property Frontiers have just received accreditation from both the Forest Stewardship Council and the Verified Carbon Standard. The certification process of the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance is also underway, with this prestigious accreditation expected to follow shortly.
 
Property Frontiers is delighted with the news and is now offering a final phase of investment for those looking to make ethically conscious returns. The plantation lots in Central America are available on 15 year commercial leases from as little as $55,000 with 26% base case annualised returns. Realistic market returns are forecast to be considerably higher, at 293% or more over the 15 year term.
 
Ray Withers continues:
 
"Our bamboo plantations in Nicaragua offer impressive financial returns, at the same time as combatting the global issues of deforestation and climate change. On a local level, we are improving communities and working with native populations to create a lasting programme of positive social change. This means that our investors can make considerable returns on their investments while contributing positively to environmental issues and social change."
 
Property Frontiers remains at the forefront of emerging ethical investment markets, such as bamboo. Their carefully considered and researched approach to international opportunities provides clients with the certainty of knowing that they can enhance their social conscience as well as their finances.
 
For more information about how you can invest in bamboo, contact Property Frontiers today on +44 (0) 1865 202 700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com  

North Vs South – let the rent battle commence

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

Location is one of the key issues facing prospective landlords when deciding to purchase a new buy to let property. Of course, the condition of the building, its price and the number of bedrooms will be major considerations but its location will eventually determine whether prospective tenants will want to rent it and how much they are prepared to pay.

 

 
A recent Association of Residential Lettings Agent (ARLA) report suggests that rental returns in the North East and North West have been rising steadily since the end of 2011. Throughout the last few months they hit 5.7 per cent and 6 per cent respectively, making the North West the region with highest rental return in the UK.
 
 
James Davis, CEO of Upad, leading online lettings agent comments,
 
 
"One of the biggest issues within the UK rental market today is that rising rents in many locations have put significant pressure on tenants. The cost of renting continues to rise month on month, in some places at nearly twice the speed of the average salary increase, with many tenants needing to dedicate a growing portion of their disposable income to cover the cost of accommodation."
 
 
With this in mind, landlords looking to expand their portfolios in 2013 might be interested to learn that it is the North of England rather than the South which is currently providing the highest yields.
 
 
Independent research commissioned by specialist buy-to-let mortgage lender Paragon revealed that the north-west is the region in which landlords will enjoy the greatest yields. Typical yields of 6.6 per cent were recorded in this area in Q1 2012, up from 5.9 per cent in Q4 2011. And it is a similar story amongst many northern regions, with the north-east recording an average yield of 6.5 per cent.
 
 
The North´s undoubted success however does not necessarily mean that there is nothing to be gained from investing in southern buy-to-lets. Eastern England registered healthy 6.3 per cent yields, the south-east 6.1 per cent and London 5.9 per cent.
 
 
Indeed, London was recently picked out by experts as a location in which the rental market is currently performing particularly well. Jon Neale, head of residential research at Jones Lang LaSalle, said the capital is currently the perfect destination for landlords, suggesting the lack of housing in the city making it easier to rent homes to tenants.
 
 
So with tenant demand for privately let properties increasing by 6% over the last decade as revealed in the 2011 England & Wales census figures landlords across the UK should look no further than the UK´s market leading online lettings agency, Upad, on which to list their vacant properties.
 
 
As one of the UKs largest and fastest growing letting agencies, Upad specialise in helping professional tenants rent properties from landlords directly by allowing landlords to manage their own viewings. In the Last year alone, 107,000 tenants asked Upad for help finding a home.
 
 
For more information please contact Upad, on 0333 240 1220 or visit www.upad.co.uk 

2013 – The Year of the Optimum Tenant

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

Publication of the long awaited 2011 England & Wales census figures painted an accurate picture of the UK housing market today and indeed how it has changed over the last decade.

 

The 6% drop in home ownership (with a mortgage or loan) from 8.4 million in 2001 to 7.6 million in 2011 and the simultaneous 6% increase in those renting from a private landlord or letting agency (3.6 million as of 2011) highlighted the ever increasing barriers to home ownership, especially amongst “Generation Rent”, as well as revealing a real shift in the attitudes towards renting in the UK with it no longer seen as just a step on the road to buying but a long term life choice for many.
But what does 2013 and indeed the next decade have in store for the UK rental market? We asked lettings expert and hands-on landlord, James Davis, CEO of Upad, to look into his crystal ball and offer his predictions.
“2012 was another good year for UK landlords in general. The continued lack of access to mortgage financing kept first time buyer levels low and demand for rental accommodation high, especially in the Capital where now almost 1 in 4 people rent. Having said that, new landlords keep to get a slice of the action may too have been negatively affected by the on-going recession, not finding it easy to secure the buy-to-let financing required to start or expand their portfolios.
“We too at Upad had a very busy year with a near 50% increase in the quantity of tenant enquiries during 2012. The average Upad landlord now gets 20+ tenant enquiries per property which might sound wonderful but in reality reveals the extent of competition amongst tenants for rental properties. In fact, I would say that tenant enquiries at this level can also be negative for landlords, almost becoming an irritant for those involved.
“With that in mind I suspect that 2013 will be the year when landlords seek quality rather than quantity when it comes to choosing tenants. Those who will look after their property, pay the rent on time and in full and be responsible renters are sure to be preferred by landlords and I foresee full tenant referencing and rent guarantee agreements becoming the norm in 2013.
“One of the biggest trends we saw in 2012 was a shift in landlord behaviour; the acceleration away from traditional agents to self-managing channels as landlords become more demanding in terms of levels of service and keen to maximise yields. Online classified listing sites, catering for the self-managing landlord have doubled their business in the last 18 months whilst market leading portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla have seen a 10% decrease in stock levels this year as landlords look to ‘go it alone’.
“As more and more landlords do ‘go solo’ however, so the calls for regulation increase. At present neither letting agents nor landlords are required to be regulated putting tenants in often precarious positions and whilst the government has made no official plans for regulation, some such as Boris Johnson and his new “London Rental Standard” scheme, the private renting licence coming into force in Newham as of 1st January 2013 and indeed us here at Upad, are calling for landlords to act more responsibly.
“As a landlord myself, what will I be doing in 2013? Well, as ever I’m keeping a firm eye on interest rates as they are only going to go one way and sooner rather than later I suspect. In terms of expanding my portfolio, I’ll be looking at towns and cities such as Oxford, Brighton, Swansea and Leeds for example but ensuring that I don’t overpay on acquisitions and seek both capital growth and rental income potential.
“Speaking to a number of my tenants, as rents across the UK continue to rise, this is starting to affect the percentage of their salaries spent on rent. There will inevitably come a tipping point where rents will become unaffordable and landlords should be aware of this. Indeed we at Upad have seen landlord confidence fall by 8% since the start of the year and concerns over rent arrears and defaults due to job insecurity and rising rent costs coupled with increasing mortgage payments are very real for today’s landlord.
“If I was a tenant? Well with the level of competition in the marketplace at present, I would do everything within my power to present myself as the optimum tenant. Ensure a clean credit history, be presentable, genuine and responsible. I would build a relationship with the landlord based on trust and transparency and at all times be honest about my situation. It’s not all a one-way street however as due to sheer volume, tenants in the UK have an ever louder voice, just make sure you use it wisely.
“So as we end another hectic year at Upad HQ, having let over 5,000 properties and generated over 120,000 tenant enquiries, we welcome 2013 with our eye wide open to the issues faced by both landlords and tenants.”
For more information or expert comment from James Davis, please contact Upad today on 0333 240 1220 or visit www.upad.co.uk

A picture says a thousand words…especially when you´re a tenant

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom
The nemesis of any landlord, be they professional or accidental, is void periods. Causing a loss of income, affecting annual rental yields and often raising blood pressures, void periods should be avoided at all costs and one way to do this is to ensure a seamless transition between tenancies.
As soon as your tenant gives notice, this is the time to start actively seeking out your next occupier. With 32% of tenants having found their current home within 1 to 2 weeks according to the latest Upad research (Nov 2012), making your property as attractive as possible to potential renters is essential and a key part of this is having good photography.
As they say, a picture says a thousand words and the quality of those pixels can often make or break a new tenancy. Indeed leading online lettings agent Upad recommends to all its landlords that they invest in professional photos offering a set of 8 for a very affordable £85 + VAT.
As Upad CEO James Davis explains,
“High quality photographs are a must if you want to showcase your property at its best. You´ll attract a better type of tenant and maximise your rent. Remember that your property is sitting next to hundreds of others on Rightmove et al. You need it to look good!”
Further exemplifying the impact that professional photography can have, Upad conducted a “Spot the Difference” experiment recently listing the same property but with differing imagery. One listing had the same text but with snaps taken by the landlord themselves and the other, the same text but with Upad professional photography.

And the results speak for themselves!
As you can see by the first set of photographs compared to the set below, the viewer is instantly drawn to a professional, aesthetically pleasing shot. The first row depicts the property as a higher spec than in the second row, adding potential value to your property.
So put that iPhone or disposable camera away and invest in a set of professional photographs. They´ll certainly cost you less than a void period!
For more information please contact Upad, on 0333 240 1220 or visit http://www.upad.co.uk/professional-property-photography

INVITATION: Come and meet the revolutionary online lettings agent Upad and see what all the fuss is about

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

 

The London and South East Landlords Day – Friday 7th December 2012

The private rented sector is now bigger than ever, accounting for 17% of households in the UK and making approximately 1.5 million people professional or accidental landlords.

But the way in which we rent properties in the 21st century is rapidly changing and online letting agency Upad is at the very heart of this revolution with their market leading new model. 

Come and meet CEO James Davis, professional landlord for over 14 years, and the Upad team on Friday 7th December at the London and South East Landlords Day to discover a new way of letting properties.

This is a free to attend event held at Senate House, Malet Street, The University of London, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7HUwhichaims to inspire, inform and support the Capital’s landlords and agents.

Pop by stand number 14 to meet Upad or come along to James’ seminars:

12.35 – 1.25pm in Woburn Suite 1: “92% of tenants are looking online for their next rental property, where can I find them?”

And

2.50 – 3.20pm in Woburn Suite 2: “Gaining the competitive edge”

The day officially opens at 10:15am and features:

  • An exhibition
  • Seminars throughout the day
  • A key note speech
  • An expert panel discussion
  • A free mince pie and drinks reception
  • A networking session

The event is being organised by Unipol Student Homes and the Residential Landlords Association with the support of the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme and the London Regional Housing Partnerships.

About Upad

As one of the UKs largest and fastest growing letting agencies, Upad now receives around 20,000 tenant enquiries per month and specialise in helping professional tenants rent properties from landlords directly by allowing landlords to manage their own viewings, an approach which 90% of tenants are in favour of according the latest Upad research.

Offering a complete lettings service for a flat fee of only £299 (+ VAT) which includes professional photography and a floor plan, a ´To Let´ board erected outside the property and advertising across all major UK lettings sites as well as comprehensive tenant referencing, drawing up of the tenancy agreement, deposit registration and crucially, rent collection.

For more information please contact Upad, on 0333 240 1220. You can also visit www.upad.co.uk or the dedicated Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/upadUK.

 

Calling all tenants – have you got the X Factor?

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

By 2016 demand for private rented accommodation could reach one in five households, resulting in a need for an additional 1.1 million rental homes, according to a recent report by Savills. With tenant demand sky high and fierce competition to secure a home, UK tenants need to present themselves in the most favorable light in order to secure a rental property.

James Davis, CEO of online lettings agent Upad and experienced landlord of 14 years comments,

“Demand for rental property just continues to rise; according to Cluttons, in London, rental demand will increase over the next decade but it looks unlikely that supply will match it and as a result, rents will continue to increase. With this in mind, competition among UK tenants is rife, it’s almost become like the X Factor so it is important that tenants realise what they need to do in order to ensure they’re picked.

“Upad received double the amount of calls from tenants last month compared to the start of the year and Rightmove’s rental stock is down c. 10% year on year. In September this year we had an average of 19 tenant enquiries for each property listed. This reflects the huge demand for rental properties and the key strength of Upad; generating tenant enquiries. Tenants need to act fast to put themselves in pole position.”

With monthly rents rising to an average £741 in England and Wales, a 3.2% increase on 2011 according to LSL Property Services, house and flat shares are becoming ever more popular as tenants seek out cheaper rooms.

Interestingly, according to SpareRoom.co.uk house shares with six or more bedrooms are the fastest growing property type in terms of supply and demand on their site and it’s easy to see why. According to rental figures from SpareRoom, UK room rents for two and three-bed flat and house shares cost an average £426 per month, while rooms in four to six bed house shares cost an average £397 per month. Meanwhile, a two bed flat share in London will cost around £809 per month but in a six bedroom house share it will cost just £710.

Davis remarks,

It’s interesting to see how tenants are trying to make savings. While living in a house share with five other people isn’t necessarily ideal for many, rents are often lower and bills are split between the household meaning that tenants will have more money in the bank every month. It’s easy to see why this is quickly becoming a favoured option for UK renters.

For UK tenants looking to make an impression, beat off competition and secure the perfect rental property why not take a look at Upad’s top tips.

1.    Get your response in fast

Not only will this give you the best chance of the property still being available, it makes you look organised and serious about the property. Being on time for the viewing is also essential.

2.    Talk to the Landlord

Always ensure you speak to the landlord on the phone before any viewing. This way you can make sure you´re a good match for the property before taking up everyone´s time.

3.    Have your key questions prepared
Showing you know what´s important about the property to you gives you a more professional image. It also ensures you don´t forget anything essential.

4.     Show appreciation of the property

Landlords will have invested time and energy (both emotional and physical) in their property. Telling them you love what they´ve done may go a long way in sealing the deal.

5.     Be open

The more you´re willing to share about your life, your income, your plans etc (within reason!) the more confident the landlord will be in trusting their property to you.

6.    Presentation

Don´t just make sure you´re smartly presented. This might sound strange but if you´re driving to the viewing make sure the car’s also clean and tidy. Many landlords will see how you keep your car as a good indication of how you´ll treat their beloved bricks and mortar.

As one of the UKs largest and fastest growing letting agencies, Upad specialise in helping professional tenants rent properties from landlords directly by allowing landlords to manage their own viewings. As a result, Upad receive around 20,000 tenant enquiries per month.

Upad offers a complete lettings service for a flat fee of only £299 (+ VAT) which includes professional photography and a floor plan, a ‘To Let’ board erected outside the property and advertising across all major UK lettings sites as well as comprehensive tenant referencing, drawing up of the tenancy agreement, deposit registration and crucially, rent collection. For more information please contact Upad, on 0333 240 1220. You can also visit www.upad.co.uk or the dedicated Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/upadUK.

Falling house prices and strong tenant demand – why UK landlord confidence remains positive according to expert online lettings agency

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

A recent report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has identified that UK house prices will continue to fall, not forecasted to rise before the end of the year. With buy to let investors able to snap up cheaper property coupled with strong demand for rented accommodation, it’s hardly surprising landlord confidence in the UK buy-to-let market remains positive.

Highlighting landlord optimism, a Private Rental Sector Health Check for September 2012 from online lettings agency Upad has revealed that landlord confidence in the UK buy-to-let market remains buoyant with 69% of landlords stating that they were more confident in September 2012. This represents a slight increase on figures seen back in August.

Asking 423 landlords whether they were more or less confident in September nearly 69% said that their assurance in the market was attributed to factors such as a steady rental market, low interest rates and very little unoccupied rental accommodation.

James Davis, CEO of online lettings agent Upad comments,

“Falling house prices, attractive mortgage deals, increased demand for rental property in the UK and higher yields has created the perfect environment for UK landlords to thrive. I’m not surprised that over half of landlords surveyed believe now is a good time to invest in property according to a report by Your Move’s parent company, LSL Property Services. Our data further backs up the confident attitude landlords have in the market.”

Of course, each landlord questioned in Upad’s survey had their own reasons for being confident in September 2012. One landlord commented: “The feeling in general is good. The rental market is stable if not growing and interest rates look like they’ll be staying low for quite a while which helps with mortgage repayments.”

Meanwhile, other landlords pointed towards the little or no vacant accommodation available for their increased assurance with one landlord explaining: “I´m more confident in the buy-to-let market this month than last month as early in Sept I had one of my flats on the market (via Upad) and had many interested parties wanting to rent. Also, I usually get an idea about rental demand by visiting two of my local letting agent web sites to see what´s on the market and it seems to me there is very little vacant rental accommodation available at the moment.”

With confidence in the UK buy-to-let market growing, landlords looking for an innovative new way to do business should look no further than the UK´s market leading online lettings agency, Upad. As one of the UKs largest and fastest growing letting agencies, Upad specialise in helping professional tenants rent properties from landlords directly by allowing landlords to manage their own viewings. As a result, Upad receive around 20,000 tenant enquiries per month.

Upad offers a complete lettings service for a flat fee of only £299 (+ VAT) which includes professional photography and a floor plan, a ‘To Let’ board erected outside the property and advertising across all major UK lettings sites as well as comprehensive tenant referencing, drawing up of the tenancy agreement, deposit registration and crucially, rent collection. For more information please contact Upad, on 0333 240 1220 or visit www.upad.co.uk.

UK Landlords look to increase portfolios after a 47.9% increase in the Private Rented Sector according to latest figures

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

According the latest market report from Jones Lang LaSalle, the UK private rented sector has grown by 47.9% since 2007. With high prices, unrealistic deposit requirements and mortgage constraints making homeownership unattainable, the expansion of the private rented sector (PRS) looks likely to accelerate with UK landlords looking to benefit from increasing rental demand.

 
James Davis, CEO of online lettings agent, Upad comments,
 
“The latest report from Jones Lang LaSalle suggests that 1.7 million additional privately rented homes will be needed over the next four years to meet demand. And, as a result of growing tenant demand, there is strong motivation for landlords to increase their portfolios and take advantage of the market.”
 
Meanwhile, according to a recent Private Rental Sector Trends survey from specialist buy-to-let lender Paragon Mortgages, 91% of landlords said they thought that demand was fixed or had increased between July and September this year while 68% of landlords said that their rental income had remained the same during Q3 2012 and 27% said that it had actually increased – another reason for landlords to feel positive about the performance of the PRS.
 
With this positive news in mind, it seems UK landlords plan to increase their portfolios with the survey research revealing that the average holding is set to increase from 12.5% to 12.9 properties within a year. Of those surveyed, 16% plan to buy more property to rent out over the next 12 months.
 
Davis explains,
 
“The UK’s private rented sector is not only stable, it is increasing. There is more incentive than ever for UK landlords to invest in rental properties with the likelihood that we will see a significant increase in the number of accidental landlord’s entering the market over the next year. As a result, it is important to highlight exactly what it takes to be successful in this game that’s why have provided our top five tips on how to be a better landlord.” 
 
For UK landlords looking to take advantage of the PRS, why not brush up on your landlord skills with Upad’s top tips.

1. Meet your tenants 
 
It is essential that you get to know your tenants and form a professional relationship with them.  If you make the effort to form a solid relationship this should make for a smoother tenancy with less hassle.

2. Reference your tenants
 
This might sound obvious but always make sure a tenant can afford the rent. It is also worth doing your research and checking that their rental history is free of any problems.
 
3. Professional photography
 
Getting professional photographs for your ads will get you up to 8 times as many tenant enquiries per day. At Upad, we recently had a property advertised with standard landlord photographs for 58 days which only received 10 tenant enquiries. When we advertised the same property with professional pictures for just 18 days tenant enquiries jumped to 27. The results speak for themselves.
 
4. Set up a standing order mandate 
 
Why not set up a standing order mandate which will mean that your tenants will never forget to pay the rent. Alternatively, why not let Upad do it?
 
5. Name drop
 
When advertising a property, mention you are a private landlord in your ads. Only 15% of tenants want to meet an agent for viewings, so this is a big selling point.
 
As one of the UKs largest and fastest growing letting agencies, Upad specialise in helping professional tenants rent properties from landlords directly by allowing landlords to manage their own viewings. As a result, Upad receive around 20,000 tenant enquiries per month. 
 
Upad offers a complete lettings service for a flat fee of only £299 (+ VAT) which includes professional photography and a floor plan, a ‘To Let’ board erected outside the property and advertising across all major UK lettings sites as well as comprehensive tenant referencing, drawing up of the tenancy agreement, deposit registration and crucially, rent collection. For more information please contact Upad, on 0333 240 1220 or visit www.upad.co.uk. 

Spot the difference: Would you rent property A or property B?

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

Photography that effectively portrays the features and appeal of a property is a vital marketing tool for landlords wanting to attract tenants. The picture of the property is the first thing a prospective tenant sees when searching for a new home, yet many agents and private sellers still continue to use poor images. To highlight just how important professional photographs are to finding the right tenants fast, online lettings agent, Upad conducted their own little experiment.

Upad’s statistics show that professional photos considerably increase response rates and to prove this, they advertised the same property under separate adverts and compared them. One had the original photos taken by the landlord; the other had professional photos taken by one of Upad’s professional photographers.
Advert A

This advert was live for 58 days and had a total of 10 tenant enquiries

Advert B

This advert was live for just 18 days and had a total of 27 tenant enquiries.

 

James Davis, CEO of Upad and professional landlord of 14 years comments,

“I would hope that from looking at the photos, it’s pretty obvious which ones were professionally taken. Our experiment proves that professional photographs instantly improve response rates.  For instance, if a property’s target rent is £1,000 PCM and it goes vacant for 15 days, the lost income equates to around £500 for the landlord – that’s £33.33 per day.  The landlord in our case study had a 58 day vacancy, which meant a loss of nearly £2,000 in rental income!

“The most important part of the advertising process is the first 48 hours so having your property looking its best is vital if you want to ensure maximum interest and fast turnaround. Our professional photography service costs just £85 (+VAT) and when you get results like this, it’s obvious that the service is worth every penny.”

As one of the UKs largest and fastest growing letting agencies, Upad specialise in helping professional tenants rent properties from landlords directly by allowing landlords to manage their own viewings. As a result, Upad receive around 20,000 tenant enquiries per month.

Upad offers a complete lettings service for a flat fee of only £299 (+ VAT) which includes professional photography and a floor plan, a ‘To Let’ board erected outside the property and advertising across all major UK lettings sites as well as comprehensive tenant referencing, drawing up of the tenancy agreement, deposit registration and crucially, rent collection. For more information please contact Upad, on 0333 240 1220 or visit www.upad.co.uk.

96% of landlords recommend using an online lettings agent vs traditional high street agencies

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

According to recent data, 96% of UK landlords would recommend using an online lettings agent over traditional high street agencies.

Surveying their database, revolutionary online lettings agent, Upad discovered that nearly all landlords preferred the online model once they had tried it with satisfaction levels sky high and the vast majority of respondents stating that they would recommend Upad to a friend.

James Davis, CEO of Upad and professional landlord of 14 years comments,

“Our focus is on making the lettings process as quick and painless for both landlords and tenants as it should be. We believe a successful tenancy requires landlords to know their tenants personally and our innovative business model which is based on bringing these people together whilst dealing with everything else professionally at a fair price is something that our landlords are clearly satisfied with.”

Davis continues,

“Whilst a large number of tenants still use traditional high street letting agents to find a home, around 92% of property searches initially begin online so we are confident that more and more prospective tenants and indeed landlords with properties to rent will move to the online agency world – we’ve already let over 4,000 properties in the last 12 months using our model!”

Further reinforcing just how satisfied landlords are with Upad’s service, one happy landlord explained:

“Upad is the best way to let a property. Their service enables private landlords to advertise on the major portals while handling the initial inbound enquiries and filtering out salesmen and timewasters. I was able to complete the referencing and contract drafting quickly and effectively while their customer service was great – always easy to get through to on the phone – complete with friendly staff. I´ll be using Upad again for my other properties.”

Meanwhile, it’s no wonder Upad’s retention rate is so high with another contented landlord explaining that their house was let the day after their advert went live.

“I have recently purchased a few properties to rent out. The first one I paid a high street agent to do the job and even though they found tenants after 3 weeks they charged me a considerable amount of money for the service. The second property I decided to try Upad. I paid my money (considerably less than for my first) and posted my advert. The advert went live Monday evening and by Tuesday morning I had three messages from Upad with three prospective tenants. The very first viewing resulted in a successful let with a deposit taken. Will I use them again? You bet!”

As one of the UKs largest and fastest growing letting agencies, Upad specialise in helping professional tenants rent properties from landlords directly by allowing landlords to manage their own viewings. As a result, Upad receive around 20,000 tenant enquiries per month.

Upad offers a complete lettings service for a flat fee of only £299 (+ VAT) which includes professional photography and a floor plan, a ‘To Let’ board erected outside the property and advertising across all major UK lettings sites as well as comprehensive tenant referencing, drawing up of the tenancy agreement, deposit registration and crucially, rent collection.

For more information please contact Upad, on 0333 240 1220 or visit www.upad.co.uk.