Lettings and Property Management Agent Based in Canterbury Providing Advice for Landlords, Tenants and Students. 01227 765008 Enquiries@iconnltd.co.uk
Posts tagged ARLA
First Aid Training, iConn Property Management, Canterbury
May 7th
Tanya Macleod, Property Manager at iConn Property Management writes;
In April, two members of staff attended their annual First Aid Training Course and I’m pleased to announce that they both passed with flying colours! Congratulations to Iris O’Connell, Managing Director and Sam Douglas, Accounts Coordinator! We are in safe hands for another year!! 
Buy to Let information, Canterbury Letting Agent
May 3rd
Sam Macdonald, Lettings Negotiator at iConn Property Management writes;
Here’s some great advice from The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) regarding buy to let properties:
DO
Think of buying to let as a medium to long term investment.
DO
Seek advice from an ARLA letting agent on local market demands.
DO
Get your sums right. Will the rent cover borrowings and costs, after allowing for void periods?
DO
Decorate, fit out and furnish to high quality standards, especially kitchens and bathrooms, to attract the best tenants and let quickly every time.
DO
Use an ARLA member as your letting agent. They have Client Money Protection, hold Professional Indemnity Insurance to required standards, have staff trained to ARLA’s competency standards and are kept up to date with the latest legal and regulatory requirements.
DON’T
Let personal taste cloud your judgement. Be sure the property you choose meets market requirements
.DON’T
Purchase anything with potential maintenance problems like a lot of woodwork or large gardens. It will add nothing to the rental value and cost a lot to keep up.
DON’T
Think that the running of an investment property to let can be left to friends or relatives in your absence. Tenants require a full management service.
DON’T
Use off-the-shelf tenancy agreements from HMSO or law stationers, or forget to issue the right notices or fail to have a proper inventory and condition report made before a tenant moves in. Leave all documentation to a professional agent.
DON’T
Furnish with second hand furniture or cast-off soft furnishings. These will probably contravene the Furniture and Furnishing Regulations.
If you require any further information regarding renting your property, please feel free to contact us on 01227 765008.
A tip for tenants, iConn Property Management
Apr 23rd
Sam Macdonald, Lettings Negotiator at iConn Property Management writes;
After a long winter, tenants should definitely make the most of the sunshine while its here! There is nothing better than the fresh smell of your clothes that have come straight from your washing line! ‘Sun drying’ can also help you save money and energy!
5 reasons why you should dry your washing outside:
- Your clothes and bedding will smell fresh a daisy.
- Sunlight is a natural sanitizing and bleaching agent, therefore will get rid of insects, bacteria, and other germs.
- You will save money on your electricity bill as you don’t need to use a dryer.
- Drying on the line is kinder to your clothes, they last longer and the elastic in your socks is less likely to disappear!
- Drying your clothes on a radiator in the house can cause damp and mould to your property.
Current student lettings market, iConn Property Management Canterbury
Apr 8th
Sam Macdonald, Lettings Negotiator of iConn Property Management writes;
Information to landlords – iConn have noticed a rapid change to the student market this year which has been an accumulation of increased University accommodation, high University fees and a considerable reduction in UK and International students applying for places; which in turn has produced an unexpected high level of properties left on the market.
Normally at this time of the year most of our student properties have been Let for the next academic year.
We have been in discussions with other local agents whom are experiencing the exact same scenario and are looking at ways to attract those students that are still looking for accommodation.
What we are proposing to do is to reduce our administration fees for the students; making it more affordable for them at the start of the application process. A further option is to adjust the rental figure in order to become more competitive.
There will of course still be students that have not secured a property as of yet and those students that will come through the clearing process later in the year once their course has been confirmed.
We do not want to alarm you at this stage; however the purpose of this letter is to forewarn you of the situation and to agree a plan of action now in order to secure a tenancy going forward.
We would normally advise our Landlords to increase their rental income but with the high level of stock still on the market, an alternative solution must be found in order to secure you revenue for the next academic year.
If you would like any further information regarding this, please feel free to contact our office on 01227 765008.
New Member of the iConn Team
Apr 8th
Iris O’Connell, Managing Director of iConn Property Management writes:
I am pleased to announce that we have a new Property Manager.
Tanya Macleod has worked for over six years in the Lettings and Property Management industry and specialises in Property Management.
She has previously worked for a well known large Agent in Canterbury and brings with her a wealth of knowledge.
Going forward, if you have any maintenance queries, please contact Tanya in the first instance tanyamacleod@iconn.co.uk
Changes to the EPC Rules – Update from January 2013
Jan 28th
Iris O’Connell, Managing Director for iConn Property Management writes:
Within the industry we are used to regulations being changed and updated but none so much as the requirements of the EPC (energy performance certificate).
I have detailed the amendments below for your information and future reference.
Changes to the EPC rules
Changes to the rules from 9th January 2013, include
- Agents must ensure that an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) has been commissioned before they can market a property for rent.
- From 9th January 2013, when a building or building unit is offered for sale or rent, the energy rating must be stated in “commercial media” (includes adverts and the internet) where one is available.
- There is no longer a requirement to attach the front page of the EPC to any written materials.
- The EPC must be ‘made available’ in copy form to prospective tenants at the earliest opportunity and at the latest, before entering into a contract. When the letting is finalised, the EPC must be given free of charge to the tenant.
Wedding Announcement – iConn Property Management’s Vicky Cranthorne ties the knot :)
Nov 23rd
Iris O’Connell, Managing Director of iConn Property Management writes:
iConn Property Management are pleased to announce the marriage of our colleague Vicky Cranthorne to Colin Alun Owen.
Some of our clients and tenants may have noticed the name change already! 
Thank you to the new Mr & Mrs Owen for sharing their magical day with us and we wish you much love and happiness for the future.
Landlord advice regarding The Green Deal – from iConn Property Management, Canterbury Lettings
Nov 15th
Iris O’Connell, Managing Director of iConn Property Management writes:
I am writing to advise you of a Government initiative which takes effect from January 2013.
In order to detail and explain the initiative clearly, I have taken abstracts from literature from The Department of Energy & Climate Change for your information.
The Green Deal is a government initiative to improve energy efficiency in UK households; its aim is to encourage people to make their homes more energy efficient in a cost effective way. The scheme will be available to home owners and tenants (with the consent of their landlords) and has also been extended to businesses.
The scheme lets customers pay for some or all of the improvements over time through their electricity bill. A home assessment will be undertaken by a Green Deal assessor who will create a report recommending the best improvements to minimise the utility bills in your home. If you are interested, you will be able to choose a Green Deal provider who will offer you a quote for a Green Deal Plan and access to the finance. The financial package is not a loan; although interest is added to the final total. The debt is attached to your property rather than you or the tenant, so it will not be means tested, therefore credit checks will not be undertaken.
In order to have any improvements undertaken, the improvements must be eligible under the Green Deal and recommended for your house following your home assessment. These measures will be expected to be able to show real savings over the repayment period. This is the Golden Rule of the Green Deal which states that the expected savings made from the home improvement must be the same or greater than the total cost of implementing the improvement itself. This rule protects the property owner, ensuring that they are not paying back more money as a result of the Green Deal scheme than they are actually saving on their energy bills.
Once the home improvements have been undertaken, the Green Deal will be paid back in installments attached to the electricity bill. The repayments will be affordable to everyone as they will be based on the savings made by the household as a result of the new home improvements.
In order for the home improvements to be beneficial, the Golden Rule states that you should not be paying more money on your repayments than you are saving on your utility bill. For example, if you have had new insulation fitted, and this gives you a saving of £25.00 on your heating bill each month, then you will be expected to pay less than £25.00 on your repayments.
Additionally, the length of time for the repayments should not exceed the expected lifetime of the home improvements itself. For example, if solar panels were to be installed and they have an expected lifespan of 30 years, then the repayments should not last any longer than 30 years.
Your tenant needs your permission before taking out a Green Deal. If your tenant wishes to take out a Green Deal Plan, they will first need your agreement to both the improvements and the financial aspects of the plan, If you do not agree to all, some or any of the assessors recommendations; the tenant is not permitted to proceed.
Click on the link for the official brochure provided by The Department of Energy & Climate Change for a comprehesive guide:
If you require any further information, please feel free to contact me.
Common Questions from Tenants (Canterbury Lettings)
Oct 14th
Sam Macdonald, Lettings Negotiator for iConn Property Management writes:
ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents) supplies lots of answers to common questions which tenants might need to know.
This link takes tenants direct to their website: https://www.arla.co.uk/information/tenants/rights-of-access/
Here is one of the questions I spotted earlier which I thought would be useful to know:
What About Rights Of Access To The Property, What Are The Rules?
A landlord, or his agent, or someone authorised to act on his behalf has a right to view the property to assess its condition and to carry out necessary repairs or maintenance at reasonable times of the day. The law says that a landlord or agent must give a tenant at least 24 hours prior notice in writing (except in an emergency) of such a visit. Naturally, if the tenant agrees, on specific or odd occasions to allow access without the 24 hours prior written notice, that is acceptable. [A clause in the tenancy agreement which tries to diminish or over-ride a tenant's rights in this respect would be void and unenforceable.]
iConn’s Dream Team – The Herne Bay Harriers :)
Sep 14th
iConn are pleased to announce they are the proud sponsers of the Herne Bay Harriers Under 11s football team!
The team are just starting a new session under the coaching management of Shaun Burgess and Ian O’Sullivan and have gone from the bottom of the league winning no games to finishing 4th last year. Training every Thursday at Herne Bay High School their 1st game for the season is away against Chartham Sports FC on Sunday 16th September at 2pm.
The team is Captained by Aaron Launghton and their goalkeeper Josh Tickner got picked to play for Crystal Palace after his trial.
We wish them all the best for the season!
FAQ – Student Tenancy Question – Utility Bills (iConn Canterbury Lettings)
Sep 6th
What do we do about house bills?
Often students will ask us how much their bills will be, it is very hard to say as obviously your bills are based on your usage….so if you have the lights on a lot, a telly in each room, heating on constant and nice hot baths everyday your bills are going to be higher then the house that are more conscientious of their usage.
Our advice would be to all sit down when you arrive and work out a budget to all put in a pot each month. You will need to consider your gas, electric, water rates and TV license payments then any additional extras you would all like…telephone, internet, Sky TV, regular window cleaner or gardener?! Work out how much this will cost you on a monthly basis and then divide it by the number of housemates. Then as the bills come in you can review and adjust your costings accordingly. It’s a good idea to pay the same amount for your gas and electric each month as although you may not use the heating in the summer months your winter bills will be higher so it will even out over the year instead of being caught with a large bill at the end of winter. If you do want to pay more on a pay as you go basis then remember to always take meter readings as the bills comes in. Companies will often estimate your usage and so if you haven’t been there they may be charging you for more usage, if you call them with your actual meter readings they will adjust the bill and you will only ever pay for what you have actually used.
When your tenancy starts either your landlord or iConn will take meter readings for your gas and electric meters. If we complete your inventory we will notify the utility companies of your details and the bills will begin to arrive at the property in your name. If your landlord completes your inventory, either they will notify the companies or they will provide you with the details of who to call to complete this yourself.
Remember that you are responsible for bills from when your tenancy starts so just because you pay half rent over the summer months does not mean that bills will not accumulate over the summer months. Obviously your gas and electric bills will be minimal if you are not in occupation but other utilities like the water companies have a standard charge for the year and so there bill will still be payable.
If you are all students in your household you will be exempt from Council Tax. We will notify the council of your details but they will write to you separately when you arrive to confirm your details.
The Television Licence Fee is the responsibility of the tenant. You can arrange payment of a new license or transfer an old one by telephoning 0300 555 0281 or online at
www.tv licensing.co.uk.
Some properties have Sky Dishes installed; however they will not be activated. If your property does not have a Sky Dish and you wish to have one installed, you must get permission from the landlord first by contacting us. Once permission is granted, you are responsible for any installation costs, ongoing bills and any contract you have with sky. You can contact Sky on 08705 800 874 or apply online www.sky.com
Most properties have telephone lines / internet connection already installed but they may not be activated when you arrive as the current tenants may take their line with them. Due to data protection we are not allowed to organise the connection of the phone line for you. Telephone lines are installed by BT and you can arrange connection/activation with them by calling 0800 800 150 or online at www.bt.com/Choices . This also applies to internet/Broadband connections. There are many different providers some include, BT Internet, AOL, Tiscalli and Freeserve.
Out of Hours Contact Details for iConn Property Management (Canterbury Letting Agent)
Aug 22nd
Sam Douglas, Accounts Co-Ordinator for iConn Property Management writes:
We have an Emergency out of hours service set up to cover our office when we are closed over a weekend or a bank holiday.
During this period faults should be reported as follows:
Plumbing / Gas Heating / Electrics / Appliance Breakdown
CHP Electrical 07809728721
Locks / Keys to
APT Howfield 01227 458999
Please note that if you have a British Gas CELSIA / Homecare contract in place you should call them in the first instance as usual.
Alternatively if your message is not urgent then please leave a message on our answerphone on 01227 765008 and we will respond to your message our return.
Key Collection Procedure for Students 2012 – iConn (Canterbury Lettings)
Aug 15th
Vicky Cranthorne, Office Manager for iConn Property Management writes:
For new students for 2012:
Hope you are all enjoying your summer; Just so you are all aware what is required from you in order to collect keys for your student property in September, I have included a tick list for you to use to check, below.
Obviously, if you have already collected your keys you can just ignore this message.
Key collection is available from the 1st September 2011 from our office 26a Castle Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2PU.
Our office hours on a Saturday are 9am – 1pm. If you are going to arrive later please contact me, in advance, and we will see if we can arrange something for you.
- If your property keys are issued by your landlord you will be emailed separately to confirm this but you must still attend the office before going to the property to collect your welcome packs
- If your tenancy is starting after the 1st September your keys will be available from the date on your tenancy agreement.
If any of you have any questions or queries please contact me.
Kind regards,
Vicky
|
TERMS |
ACTION |
TICK BOX |
CONSEQUENCE |
|
GUARANTOR AGREEMENT |
Each tenant must have a signed guarantor agreement in place. |
|
NO KEYS RELEASED TO ANY TENANT |
|
RENT AND ADMIN FEES |
There must be no arrears on ANY tenants account. This includes Summer rent, Admin fees and September rent. |
|
NO KEYS RELEASED TO ANY TENANT |
|
TENANCY AGREEMENT |
Can be signed in the office on key collection |
NO KEY RELEASED FOR INDIVIDUAL TENANT |
|
|
STANDING ORDER FORM |
Complete in office on key collection. Those without one already in place will be asked to pay their September rent or prove payment. (see above note for Rent and Admin) |
NO KEY RELEASED FOR INDIVIDUAL TENANT |
|
|
PHOTO ID |
Photocopy will be taken on key collection. |
NO KEY RELEASED FOR INDIVIDUAL TENANT |
Top Tips for Landlords from www.Propertyads.co.uk
May 3rd
Vicky Cranthorne, Office Manager from iConn Property Management writes:
Our friends from Propertyads have provided us with their top tips for Landlords – Hope you find them useful.
Top tips for landlords considering buy-to-let properties
Buy-to-let properties can be an excellent way to supplement your income or your pension, and a little research and a bit of clever property market know-how can help you make the most out of your buy-to-let property. So if you’re considering adding a little extra to your pocket each month, here are our top tips for potential landlords looking at getting into buy-to-let properties.
1. Investigate the best area for good investment Before you buy a property, you have to think about what kind of tenant you want, and where you want to buy. Your rental property doesn’t even need to be in the same city! For example, buy-to-let properties in Sheffield and Canterbury, student cities, are a great investment. Each year new students arrive to study, and each year they need additional accommodation. Investing in a student area is an excellent idea when you’re looking for almost-guaranteed income. Much like student rental properties, investing in a business-oriented city near a financial district such as Canary Wharf in London will be a costly venture, but will also help you to secure a tenant relatively easily.
2. Decorate for demand to cater to your tenants Decorate and furnish your home according to your ideal tenant’s requirements. If you’ve bought a buy-to-let property in Canterbury, for example, make sure that each bedroom is furnished with a bed and a desk to allow multiple students to rent out the rooms. A large living room and plenty of storage space in the kitchen are also preferential, so make sure you don’t clutter it up with unnecessary décor.
3. Plan for empty flats As a landlord with a buy-to-let property, it’s important that you make financial provision for empty flats. If you’re unable to find a tenant you will still need to make mortgage repayments. Make sure you have access to funds if you need to do this. Another option would be to sign with a rental agency that guarantees rentals for your flats so that you’re always covered, or take out an insurance policy that insures you against non-payment of rent during a rental agreement.
4. Write in increases to your tenancy agreements and set up a direct debit Make sure that you write in annual increase agreements in your tenancy contracts to make the most out of your rental property. Setting up a direct debit agreement will guarantee the rental income on a particular day (instead of collecting funds on different days each month when the tenant remembers to pay)
5. Protect your property with insurance Landlord’s insurance can help you protect yourself against unpaid rental, theft by tenants, or damage to a property due to tenant negligence or weather damage. A good insurance policy is a good investment when you’re in the landlord market to make money out of your buy-to-let property – especially if it is situated in a different city to your own residence
If you are looking to grow your portfolio or first time invest into the property market in the Canterbury area please contact us for free independent advice.