What's New

February 23, 2015

If you do not work within the property industry then the competition over property portals that has led to the establishment of OnTheMarket.com, has probably passed you by. However, if you are a landlord, tenant, buyer or seller – or just daydreaming about the house that the lottery might buy you – you need to know about this significant change in property searching.

February 18, 2015

The lettings industry is waiting with baited breath for the results of the “Right to Rent” trials currently taking place in the Midlands which will form part of the Immigration Act. If the trials are successful, all Landlords and Agents will be required to follow codes of practice to ascertain whether a Tenant has the Right to Rent. 

Landlords will be required to check prospective tenants ID’s and visa status to determine whether they have the Right to Rent and the correct visa for their stay in the UK.   The majority of prospective tenants will be British or EEA or Swiss nationals or have an unlimited Right to Rent, but Landlords must still obtain two copies of Identification such as a Passport with Driving License or a Utility Bill.

February 11, 2015

Research from the National Landlord Association (NLA) shows that nearly £22 billion was paid in buy-to-let mortgages in 2014.

NLA chairman Carolyn Uphill stated : "These figures really hammer home just how much money private landlords put into providing much needed homes for the UK’s estimated nine million renters, especially if we consider that such a large proportion are single-property or smaller portfolio landlords. It's hard to imagine exactly where all this investment would come from if landlords weren’t financing housing to such an extent."

February 02, 2015

Renting can be complicated for a landlord as you are legally responsible for ensuring that you have the relevant safety certificates and tests carried out on your property. You have a duty of care to make sure that your property is safe for the tenant, in line with the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS): http://goo.gl/0BQH0L.

January 28, 2015

December and January have seen a flurry of activity in the Oxford Lettings market, especially for substantial family homes. Previous years have shown that the majority of families will move house during the summer months however this seems to be changing, within the last two months alone, we have seen over 10 properties attaining between £2,000.00 and £4,000.00 per calendar month.

January 19, 2015

The ever expanding rental market in Oxford is diversifying with a growing number of visitors to the city wanting high quality accommodation that is a home away from home, not a hotel. Short Term Serviced Accommodation can be let anywhere from a week to a few months at a time. A perfect example of this, the recently launched Angevins House, a two bed boutique styled apartment right in the heart of the historic city of Oxford.

Property investors Mr and Mrs Ramsell were looking to develop their portfolio in Oxford and keen to secure the right property. Looking for some guidance they contacted John Gebbels (Property Investment Manager) who had been recommended to them by longstanding scottfraser clients.