Lettings and Property Management Agent Based in Canterbury Providing Advice for Landlords, Tenants and Students. 01227 765008 Enquiries@iconnltd.co.uk
Posts tagged renting
The North wind doth blow and we shall have snow….
Jan 22nd
Vicky Owen, Office Manager for iConn Property Management writes:
As most of Canterbury was covered with snow this week, which caused some disruption in Canterbury but also some great snowmen! its a good time to think on the winter repairs that may need attending to. Our referencing company LetRisks send us a monthly newsletter in line with trends they recieve on claims, they have really interesting article on inspecting flat roofs which is worth a read: Click on the link below for the full article:
Top Tips for Landlords!
Oct 30th
Vicky Cranthorne M.A.R.L.A, Office Manager for iConn Property Management writes:
To help you get the best out of your property investment, iConn Property Management have come up with a few ideas to get you on the road to success.
Set a bit of money aside each month
in case of any works/repairs that arise. This way, you won’t miss the money so much, and if there are no repairs that need doing during the year, you can buy yourself an extra little something at the end of the year!
Improve neighbourhood relations
and hire a monthly gardener. This will keep the local residents happy and your property will always look nice and tidy.
Look into updating furniture
this will make your property more appealing when it comes to re-marketing.
Save money
By spending a little more time and money on your property now will help reduce maintenance problems in the future.
Get ahead in the student market
Most tenants find it hard to keep on top of bills with all the essays they have to write! Include broadband in the monthly rental and make it more appealing to students.
Be pro-active
arrange for the roofs, gutters, drains to be checked regularly to avoid any major problems.
Get in the know
iConn Property Management are happy to advise you of any recent changes in laws and regulations, just give us a call and we will be happy to help!
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.]
Tenancy Agreement for 2012 Student Tenancies
Mar 26th
Vicky Cranthorne M.A.R.L.A, Office Manager for iConn Property Management writes:
All student tenants for July 2012 to June 2013 can view a copy of the tenancy agreement which will be used for their tenancy by following the link below:
http://www.iconnproperties.co.uk/student_information.php
Access Codes are provided on tenants emails sent 26.03.12 but if you need them again please call our office.
STUDENT LETTINGS LIST FOR 2012-2013 RELEASED by iConn Property Management
Dec 1st
And so it begins….. We have released our available properties for next years academic term. For your ideal student property in Canterbury Don’t Delay and Take a Look Today!!!
Viewings are available and demand is expected to be high this year, so don’t miss out on the ideal property in the best location and book today!!
Full details and more photos are available on our website: http://www.iconnproperties.co.uk/search.php?town_postcode=&searchtype=student&search.x=16&search.y=11
You will also find all the student terms and documents on this page: http://www.iconnproperties.co.uk/student_information.php
Good Luck! 
Advice for Potential Landlords looking to invest in property…
Nov 16th
Vicky Cranthorne, Office Manager for iConn Property Management writes:
ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents) provides this useful article for potential Landlords looking to invest in property…
http://www.arla.co.uk/buy-to-let/dos-and-donts/
- 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 are bonded, 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.
What should a landlord consider when looking for a property to invest in for letting purposes?
Oct 7th
Iris O’Connell M.A.R.L.A, Managing Director for iConn Property Management writes:
♦ Make sure you opt for the best Buy To Let Mortgage rate.
♦ Talk with local letting agents and use their local knowledge to ask for advice. They will advise you what areas are popular with a certain type of tenant. Which type of property will be suitable for the type of tenant you are looking for and what type of property to purchase to ensure you get the best return for your money. They will also advise you what rental levels you would hope to achieve from certain properties in different local areas. iConn is a local letting agent with years of experience and local knowledge. Call us for free helpful advice.
♦ Make sure that there is a demand for the certain type of property you want to invest in. Again ask your local agent for an insight into the local market. A member of staff at iConn will be happy to help you with any advice you may seek.
♦ Research properties on property portals like Right Move or Property Live. You will see what is currently being marketed and for what rental levels. Study the market thoroughly before you buy!!!
♦ Make sure that you are aware of the cost of fully insuring your property. This will include building Insurance, contents insurance and public liability cover. iConn can arrange this for you.
♦ If you are looking to furnish the property, furnish it according to what type of tenant you require. Furnishings for a student property will be different compared to a property a family will rent.
♦ Decorate it and repair it to a high standard; the better its condition, the higher the overall yield.
♦ Consider using an Agent to manage the property. iConn offers four levels of service. Contact us for further details.
♦ Always understand your legal obligations as a Landlord. Be realistic in understanding that your tenant will expect you to repair, replace and maintain as and when necessary.
♦ You will be expected to follow council requirements and housing law. It is also essential that you provide all necessary safety documents; e.g. Gas safety certificate.
♦ Understand your financial limits. Do not purchase an investment property if the rental level achievable just covers your mortgage repayment. What happens if you have an unexpected boiler break down? Will you have enough money in the pot to make repairs as and when required? What happens if there is a rental void period? Do you have a contingency plan for any such an event? Be realistic about what you buy, the level of mortgage compared to the level of rent achievable and the condition of the property.
Show your support to RNIB!
Apr 12th
iConn Property Management show thier support by collecting used stamps for RNIB,
a charity that supports the blind and partially sighted people.
If you would like to make a donation or find out more about how to show your support, click on the link below.
http://www.rnib.org.uk/getinvolved/fundraising/recycle/Pages/used_stamps.aspx
Got a Question…?? Just ask!
Feb 16th
iConn Property Management are proud to be a regulated member of
The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA).
We believe that it is extremely important for all landlords and tenants to have the facility to be able to ask questions and gain free advice.
This is why iConn Property Management are offering free advice for anyone who needs it, whether you are a current tenant or landlords of ours, or even if you aren’t!
Please share your questions by replying to this blog, and we will endeavour to answer you as soon as possible, alternatively email us on enquiries@iconnltd.co.uk
Take advantage of our free advisory service and get all your questions answered today.
Should you rent for life…???
Feb 3rd
Sam Macdonald, Lettings Negotiator for iConn Property Management writes:
As the difficulty of getting yourself onto the property ladder is increasing these days, we thought we would introduce you to this interesting article…
SHOULD YOU RENT FOR LIFE??
Click below for more info.
http://money.uk.msn.com/msn-local/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=156007292
Advice on Gas Safety for Landlords – Useful Link
Sep 22nd
Sam Douglas, Accounts Co-ordinator for iConn Property Management writes:
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) deals with health and safety in the workplace and their work also includes guidance on gas safety. HSE offers advice for Landlords and letting Agents on how to comply with the law, information about gas safety checks, maintenance etc; including useful links to other information and websites.
www.hse.gov.uk/gas/landlords/index.htm
