Avoiding disputes with neighbours
Sometimes problems with the neighbours go beyond a bit of noise or mess, and the people around you can begin to make your life miserable.
This can often start because of a previous disagreement, even over something relatively trivial which wasn’t resolved and has been allowed to fester and blow up out of all proportion. Don’t let yourself be a victim and unhappy in your own home.
Problem neighbours may even be a contributory factor for some people deciding to move. In this case, as the seller, you’d have to tick the ‘Yes’ box in the buyers’ solicitor’s property form regarding current or likely disputes. Bear in mind that action can be taken by buyers for years after the sale of your property has gone through if something comes out of the woodwork.
According to ProblemNeighbours.co.uk the most common issue that causes tension between neighbours in a block of flats seems to be noise. But you may also find nagging issues about improper or unfair use of common areas for storage, car parking, pets etc. Nipping such disputes in the bud surely has to be the appropriate option – but talking calmly can be easier said than done when emotions may be running high!
However, it’s often only by doing this that you can both start to see things from the other person’s perspective, which can help you come to a mutually acceptable agreement, even if a compromise must be made on one or both sides. It may be they just don’t realise how loud their TV is, or how they always slam doors, or that their visitors have an annoying habit of parking so they make access to your space difficult.
First get your facts right: make sure you know what the rules for the building are and, where applicable, what the lease covenants say about the behaviour in question.
Of course, calm and rational talk is just not possible with some people and you may need to prepare yourself for an aggressive and over-defensive response. The first rule of thumb in the face of a difficult person is to keep your calm.
The less reactive you are to provocation, the more you can use your better judgment to handle the challenge. When you feel upset with or challenged by someone, before you say or do something you might later regret, take a deep breath and count slowly to ten.
In many instances, by the time you reach ten, you would have regained composure and worked out a better response to the issue. If you’re still upset after counting to ten, take time out if possible, and revisit the issue at another time. Use phrases such as “I’ll get back to you…” or “Let me think about it…” to buy yourself time.
Talking didn’t work?
If trying to have a sensible, grown-up conversation doesn’t work, the next stage should be to inform the landlord or managing agents of the property. However, if they cannot or will not act, the situation may continue to brew and cause untold unpleasantness, so you may want to take positive action sooner rather than later.
Before you resort to what can be an expensive legal processes, do try a Mediation Service . Some leaseholders have found useful help from the Leasehold Advisory Service’s lawyers who offers free information, initial advice and guidance.
Once you know where you stand legally, you might be able to make a stronger argument against a recalcitrant neighbour and they may see sense. Of course, it may be that you find that you are the one at fault…
The Government offers sound advice on the various stages of managing a dispute, which are outlined HERE.
The above information and advice is provided via our Insurance brokers Deacon, for more information check out their website at https://deacon.co.uk
The Rising Lettings Market
Rightmove released their quarterly Rental Trends Tracker on Friday and gives a national picture of rental prices over the last few months. They also look at rental trends over the last 10 years.
Here are some of the highlights:
- London asking rents hit a new record average of £2,119 per calendar month as ongoing lack of supply means rents are 4.2% higher year-on-year. The rest of Great Britain is up 2.4%.
- Over the past 10 years London asking rents have risen almost twice as fast as the rest of Great Britain:
- Average asking rents outside London have risen by 24%, compared to 45% in the capital.
- In cash terms London asking rents are up by £658 per month compared to £159 per month outside London over the last decade.
- North East rents have grown the slowest, up 8.4% from £554 to £601 per month in ten years.
When it comes to lettings, we know a thing or two so if you’re considering renting your property for the first time or you’re a seasoned landlord get in touch to find out how Hair & Son can help.
Olivia Dedman
Lettings Manager
oliviadedman@hairandson.co.uk
First Time Sellers
There is a wealth of information out there for first-time buyers, but the same can’t be said for first-time sellers…
Selling a home for the first time can be a complicated, daunting and stressful process, so we don’t think it’s right that the amount of advice for this demographic is so lacking.
Below, using our decades of experience successfully selling property, we give some top tips to making that sale:
Target your home effectively
If you are selling a home for the first time, you are likely to be upsizing from a smaller home to a larger one. Consequently, your target market is almost certain to be first-time buyers. This demographic, likely to be young and IT savvy, will be searching for properties online through their smartphones, laptops and tablets.
With this in mind, your online sales strategy needs to be of the highest quality. – Property portals will be the first port of call for many – and competition on these platforms is fierce – so you need to do all you can to make your property stand out from the crowd. Talk to your estate agent about the ways in which you can do this. High-quality photos and snappy, engagingly written descriptions will definitely help. Uniquely, we are now offering bespoke, professionally made video tours at no extra cost to the seller – Things like this now make a huge difference to capturing the attention of the online buyers you need.
Get the asking price right
A tricky thing to get right – after all, if you set it too low you risk selling yourself short, while if you set it too high you risk deterring would-be buyers.
You need to be realistic with your asking price, but you’ll also want to achieve as much as possible for your home. This is where a good estate agent is worth their weight in gold, taking into account the local market, national trends and other variables to set an asking price that will help to get your home sold.
Always select the agent who can back up their valuation by showing you similar homes to your own they have sold and be wary of those agents valuing higher without any evidence of sales that prove what they say to be true
This leads onto what is arguably the most important step…
Choosing the right estate agent
A good estate agent will guide you through the sales process with the minimum of fuss, making sure they are on hand at all times to deal with any issues or stumbling blocks.
Inevitably, there will be delays and complications when it comes to house sales – that’s just the nature of the industry– but if you have an agent on your side who can deal with everything in a calm, professional and good-humoured manner the chances of things going smoothly are that much higher.
A good agent will help you to produce a winning marketing strategy – both online and traditional – show your home off to buyers when it comes to viewings and do all they can to get your home sold for the best possible price
If you do have a property you are considering selling then why not get on touch with us for a FREE, no obligation market appraisal on 01702 470066
ARE YOU UP TO DATE WITH THE 2020 LETTINGS LEGISLATION?
There is a lot of work involved in renting out a property and it is not all just finding the tenant. Having an agent employed to manage your property once the tenants move in can significantly reduce the workload and stress involved.
Hair & Son as your managing agent will arrange; rent collection, deposit protection, management of maintenance issues and periodic property inspections. Most importantly we stay up to date with all relevant Legislation and Legal Requirements and ensure our landlords are meeting the expected standards.
There are seven important changes that you will need to be aware of in 2020.
- 10th January 2020- Anti-Money Laundering Regulations come into effect (EU Fifth Money Laundering Directive). With the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2019 laid in parliament, this directive will now be transposed into the UK.
- 20th March 2020 -Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 extends to more tenancies. This Act will now apply to all tenancies of less than 7 years.
- 1st April 2020-Domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) Regulations grace period ends. This means that all rented properties must meet the MEES. A rating of E or above on a valid EPC is required.
- 1st April 2020-Client Money Protection for Letting Agents. All letting agents must join an official Client Money Protection scheme.
- 6th April 2020-Capital Gains Tax Relief. Capital gains tax is payable when you sell a property that is not your main residence. In the 2020/2021 tax year, capital gains tax is likely to increase significantly for landlords.
- 1st June 2020-The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. Whilst it is not confirmed, the Government’s intention for Electrical Safety Standards to come into force is clear.
- 1st June 2020-Tenant Fees Act 2018 Transition Period Ends. The Tenant Fee Ban will become binding on all tenancies. While periodic tenancies do not need to have their deposit amount adjusted, deposits for new fixed term tenancies should be capped as set out by the Act.
Please call 01702 341177 to find out more information on the above legislation or if you would like to enquire about Hair & Son managing your property so you can ensure you comply with all Legal Requirements.
Customers - They Love Us!
This is a brag. A blatant boast about our business – and why not?
When Hair & Son was launched almost 100 years ago, the main focus was all about customer service. Fast forward almost a century and this is one of the few things that has not changed one bit. As companies get busier and grow, quite often it is this element of focus that gets lost, but NOT, I am proud to say with us.
We now live in an age where things like customer satisfaction can be measured. There are in fact many websites dedicated to allowing customers to rate their experience with any given company they have dealt with and estate agency is no exception.
It is then with enormous pride that I can tell you that we are currently the only estate agent in Leigh-on-Sea who enjoy a 5 star rating on google. And I don’t mean just one person has rated us. Actually two dozen have taken the trouble to rate us five stars out of five in the last six months alone. Something we at the Leigh-on- branch are incredibly proud of.
Therefore if you are considering selling a property in the Leigh-on-Sea, Hadleigh or Benfleet area there is nobody better placed to make your move happen.
Please call us on 01702 470066
Post Election Surge For The Housing Market!
Rightmove have issued a press release this morning. The article gives a national picture of house prices and activity over the past few weeks. It looks like the market is taking a positive turn with the biggest ever monthly leap in asking prices at this time of year.
According to property website-operator Rightmove, the increased optimism has also released pent-up demand with over 1.3 million buyer enquiries recorded since the election, up 15% compared to same period a year ago.
- 2.3% (+£6,785) surge in the price of property coming to market, the largest monthly rise we have ever recorded at this time of year
- Increased optimism also releasing pent-up demand as would-be buyers judge the election result gives a window of stability
- Over 1.3 million buyer enquiries since election, up 15% compared to same period a year ago, suggesting an active spring market ahead
- 7.4% growth in number of sales agreed, as early birds act quickly
To read the full House Price Index, click the link below.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/house-price-index/
If your considering a move, now would appear to be a good time to gain an understanding of what your home or investment could be worth. Contact your local Hair & Son office to arrange a free no-obligation market appraisal.
