Posts Tagged ‘property’

Ten steps to becoming the tenant that landlords love

Posted by John King

 

 

 

 

If you are new to renting, there are a few things you need to know about your responsibilities as a tenant ? ten, in fact!

While a difficult landlord is every renter?s worst fear, the relationship works both ways and tenants can be big trouble too. More often than not, problems occur because of a lack of communication, which lets minor issues escalate, creating a difficult situation.

A good landlord/tenant relationship is great for everyone. As a tenant you may find your landlord eager to respond when there?s an issue and happy to keep you in the property for as long as you wish. The landlord will also benefit from a longer-term tenant, who will look after the place.

If you?re new to renting, there are a few responsibilities in your tenancy agreement that you really need to know about, from being on time with your rent to getting on with the neighbour. Read on for our ultimate guide to becoming the tenant that landlords love.

 

1. Always pay your rent on time

Your number one duty as a tenant is to pay your rent on time. If you pay by standing order, make sure you have funds to cover your rent on the due date. If you fail to pay, your landlord can take steps to evict you and reclaim the money that?s owed. You need to make sure you pay any other charges, as agreed with your landlord too ? council tax or utility bills, for example.

 

2. Look after your home

It?s generally a condition of your shorthold tenancy agreement that you keep the property in good order.

While your landlord is responsible for carrying out repairs to the structure, plumbing, electrics and heating, you?ll be expected to complete small tasks to keep your home running smoothly ? checking smoke alarms, changing lightbulbs and keeping the place well-ventilated, to prevent damp.

While not everyone is a Mrs Hinch, you?ll need to keep your home clean and tidy, and take reasonable steps to prevent problems occurring ? not flushing wipes down the loo and turning off the water at the mains if you?re away in cold weather.

Always report repairs to your landlord promptly ? small damp patches could become a big deal if not treated. If further damage is caused because a problem wasn?t fixed, you could be liable.

 

landlord

 

3. Allow your landlord access

Unless living in the property, landlords don?t have the right to come and go as they please. Your landlord must give you at least 24-hours? notice before visiting and should visit at a reasonable time, apart from in an emergency.

You do need to allow them access, however, to carry out repairs and maintenance and to make fire and gas safety checks. It?s in your interest to be as accommodating as possible ? being flexible, by offering a choice of dates and times, will help you to a good relationship and make sure repairs are completed in a timely fashion.

 

4. Don?t make alterations without permission.

Rental properties tend to be decorated in neutral tones, which suit most tastes. Avoid the temptation to personalise your space with something more radical. Unauthorised redecorating, or drilling holes to hang pictures, is likely to result in the landlord withholding your security deposit, so they can make good after you?ve gone.

 

5. Don?t sublet

Subletting happens when an existing tenant lets part or all of a property they rent to another person. There are genuine reasons why it might suit you to sublet. You may be struggling to pay the rent alone or need to be away from home for a short period but want to make sure the rent is covered. If you have a good reason, your landlord is likely to be sympathetic, but will want it all made official so you must get their permission first.

 

neighbours

 

6. Be a good neighbour

Your behaviour in the property reflects on your landlord, so don?t create a nuisance. Keep your music to a reasonable volume and avoid noisy parties. Make sure you put your rubbish and recycling out on time and keep the outside of the property tidy ? check your responsibilities around gardening in your tenancy agreement. Landlords can start eviction proceedings against tenants for antisocial behaviour caused to neighbours. As a tenant you will be held responsible for the actions of anyone visiting you too.

 

7. Communicate with your landlord

Try to respond to texts, calls and emails as soon as possible and be helpful. Keeping the lines of communication open will help your relationship long-term.

 

8. Ask before getting a pet

Some landlords allow cats and dogs, others don?t. While some people are relaxed about animals, others are concerned about damage to furnishings, annoyance to neighbours and smells. If the property is a flat, there may be a clause in the Landlord?s own lease that prevents anyone from keeping animals. If you have a pet, or are thinking of getting one, always check your tenancy agreement and get permission in writing before bringing home a furry friend.

 

9. Let your landlord know if you?re going away

If you ?re going to be away from your home for a substantial period ? because you?re in hospital, travelling abroad or caring for a relative ? let your landlord know. You?ll still need to pay rent while you?re away unless you come to some arrangement with your landlord or sublet with permission.

When going on holiday, or away from the property for a short time, it?s also good practice to let you landlord know and to give their details to a neighbour in case there?s an emergency while you?re away.

 

10. Saying goodbye

You should end your tenancy properly by giving the correct notice. If you don?t you will still be liable to pay rent. You can?t give notice if you are still in the fixed term of a tenancy, unless your tenancy agreement says otherwise.

 

If you are looking for somewhere to rent in Wimbledon area contact us today to find out more about our selection of rental properties.

Staging a Property to Sell

Posted by John King

 

 

 

 

In an uncertain market, staging your property to attract buyers is crucial to standing out from the crowd, achieving the best price and possibly even clinching the sale.

First impressions really do count so, once you have decided to sell, you need to get to work on making your home buyer-ready. Firstly, put aside sentimental attachment to you home and belongings and look at the property as potential buyers will see it. This will help you set about depersonalising the space.

You?ll probably need to spend money on bringing your property up to scratch ? possibly on work that feels pointless. But, most likely, you?ll reap rewards with higher offers and a quick sale.

Read on for our essential guide to staging your property, room by room:

The bathroom

Bathrooms and kitchens definitely sell houses, and if yours are looking a bit dated, a revamp could pay off. If you can?t stretch to a full bathroom refit, think about replacing taps, mirrors or other fixtures and fittings.

Replace any broken tiles and mouldy sealant and give the place a good clean, scrubbing away all limescale deposits. Tidy away random toiletries and shampoo bottles and give the place a spa-like feel with rolled towels, quality scent diffusers and tropical plants.

The kitchen

A new kitchen can be transformative, so think about a refresh if your units are looking tired. It?s cheaper to replace your cabinet doors, while retaining carcases if you can. Clear away all the clutter, mend anything that?s broken and make sure it?s all spotless for an elegant finish.

The living room

The first step to transforming your living space is to clear it of all the trappings of everyday life. Put away anything that personalises the place too much; family photos, children?s drawings, birthday cards. It?s worth having a big declutter too, throwing away or donating to charity possessions you no longer love or need.

Make sure bookshelves aren?t overstuffed with books ? remove any that are looking tatty. The advice is to leave at least 10% of your bookshelves as free space.

If your home is overloaded with furniture, which you want to keep, think about putting it in storage. Never ram it all into a garage or spare room – your prospective buyers are more than likely to peek inside.

The bedroom

Make sure your bedrooms have a calm, relaxed feel, with clean and neutral colour schemes. Keep the rooms tidy and impersonal and think about upgrading your bed-linen, adding cushions and throws.

Sort through wardrobes to ensure they?re not crammed full of clothes. There are plenty of storage solutions, from Ikea and the like, to help turn your wardrobes into a carefully-ordered space.

If you tend to use a spare bedroom as a study or storage area, show buyers its true purpose. If you don?t have a bed, borrow one from a friend or buy second-hand. Similarly, if you have a double bedroom with just a single bed, make sure it is clear that the room can accommodate a double. This is all part of helping buyers imagine themselves in your space.

Around the home

Sprucing up your home with a lick of paint could make all the difference to securing a sale. This is especially true if your existing colour scheme involves dark or bright shades.

White and pale hues have the advantage of reflecting light to make your rooms appear, not just bright and airy, but bigger too. You can also give the impression of size by adding a mirror or two and glass fixtures and fittings.

Replace patterned or dingy carpets with light floor coverings and remove any dark and imposing pieces of furniture. If you?re keeping your carpets, have them professionally cleaned to get rid of any stains or lingering smells and if you have pets, think about sending them on brief holiday while you sell!

Outdoor space

A recent survey estimated that a good garden landscape design could increase the value of a property way above the initial outlay. You may not have time for a big redesign, but getting to work on the garden is essential. Cut back overgrown shrubs, so your viewers can see how big it is and imagine themselves using the space. Cut the grass too and clean the patio and any garden furniture. If it?s looking a bit sparse, a few planted pots can make a difference.

And never underestimate the power of kerb appeal. Your front garden is the first thing buyers will see, so it needs to make a welcoming impression. Give your front door a lick of attractive-coloured paint and polish your door furniture. Clean your windows and, if you can, add a window box or two.

Don?t begrudge doing all this work on a home you will be leaving soon. In most cases it absolutely pays off. Investing a bit of time and money in sprucing up your property can help you to win over potential buyers and it might secure a higher offer too.

New UK-Wide Industrial Rent Set In Battersea, SW11

Posted by Victoria Nicol

Andrew Scott Robertson, South West London?s leading industrial agents, announces that, acting on behalf of a major fund, it has completed the letting of three units totalling 6,755 sq. ft. at Parkfield Industrial Estate, Battersea, SW11
setting a new headline rent of ?30.00 per sq. ft. This rental level is believed to be the highest rent ever achieved for a standard open market industrial unit letting in the United Kingdom.

Parkfield Industrial Estate is located in the heart of South West London, close to Clapham Junction railway station. The estate extends to a total of 69,000 sq. ft. contained within 20 units. Andrew Scott Robertson have acted as letting agent on this estate since August 2016, when rents were in the order of ?11.00-15.00 per sq. ft. 4 units were destroyed by fire in 2016 and practical completion of the rebuild was achieved in May 2018. The previous leases on these units expired within the construction period.?

A leading international auction house, has completed a new 10 year lease at a rent of ?63,090 per annum on 2,100 sq. ft., equating to a ?30 per sq. ft. rent. A provider of flexible commercial kitchen space, has also completed a 25 year lease, with 10 years term certain, at a rent of ?30 per sq. ft. on 4,600 sq. ft. with just three months? rent free.

Stewart Rolfe, Director of Commercial Property at Andrew Scott Robertson commented: ??The strong performance of the South West London Industrial Market is further exemplified by these lettings where high quality units in close proximity to the City and West End remain a priority for occupiers. The current demand for such units together with the reduction in supply due to conversion to residential have led to a substantial increase in rental levels over the last 12-24 months and, specifically a 63% increase in rental values on this estate.

Further information:
Tel.: 020 8971 4999 / Email: commercial@as-r.co.uk

Andrew Scott Robertson Launch a Lifeboat in SW19!

Posted by Victoria Nicol

If you think Wimbledon is just about tennis think again! Wimbledon Estate Agents and Chartered Surveyors Andrew Scott Robertson pushed the boat out to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution on Saturday 30th June.? Director Ian Ailes, who organised the event with the RNLI Clapham Branch said, ?You don?t see many boats in Wimbledon yet our nearest Lifeboat station is on the Thames at Chiswick just 7 miles away; the 2nd busiest lifeboat station in the country. It is manned 24 hours a day and has a response time of just 90 seconds.? So far this year they have attended 107 incidents and rescued 14 people and 3 dogs. Two of our Directors are Lifeboat supporters so we decided to organise a fundraising event on our Wimbledon Village office forecourt by offering to double whatever was donated on the day with a target of ?1,000. We are very pleased to say we raised over ?1,300?.?

Our photo features (L-R) Residential Sales Team: Rob Wells, David Faulkner, Samantha Cross and Professional Services Director Ian Ailes.?

Property of the Week: Welford Place – Could this Wimbledon home mean game, set and match for your property search?

Posted by Victoria Nicol
With one of the world?s top sporting events just days away, tennis fans could beat the queue and bag a year-round view of the on-court action with their very own Wimbledon home.

Situated just a stone?s throw from the All England Lawn Tennis Club, the new owners could enjoy views of Centre Court and the magnificent London skyline beyond from the tranquil roof terrace. Perfect for enjoying a glass of Pimms on a summer?s evening!

Welford Place is a stylish family home offering 2,400 sq ft of luxurious accommodation situated in a highly regarded private development adjacent to Wimbledon Park Golf Course. The development boasts its own indoor swimming pool complex and secure gated play area. For further information or to arrange a viewing of this stunning property please contact Stephen Parsons MNAEA on 0208 971 6780 or email sales@as-r.co.uk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property of the Week: Downings House – where clever storage solutions combine style with functionality

Posted by Victoria Nicol

Whether you live in a large house or a small apartment, storage is a major topic for any homeowner. Living in a smaller home doesn?t necessarily need to mean living with less. You just need to be smart about how you organise the space you do have. Make every inch of your home work hard with well-thought out and space-saving storage solutions.

Completely transformed by architect Luis Trevino, our property of the week, a spectacular three bedroom loft style apartment in a handsome Grade II listed converted school, is packed with innovative design touches and makes clever use of space storage solutions that will come in handy no matter the size of your home.

The magnificent reception room makes full use of the double height ceilings. Custom built floor to ceiling units add storage and save space, whilst serving a dual purpose as a room divider to separate the open plan living room and kitchen.

In the stunning kitchen, white-on-white storage is the perfect example of the power of going monochromatic. The luxury units blend seamlessly with the surroundings and low level cabinets around the perimeter create extra seating, great for entertaining, and proving that you don?t need to compromise between style and functionality.

Storage can be found in the most unlikely of places and at Downings House the architect has made ingenious use of the space underneath the stairs, transforming it into a hideaway office ? perfect for whether you work from home or need a place for the kids to do their homework. The floating stairs add to the feeling of space and openness.

In the bedroom, mounting ceiling lights either side of the bed frees up space on top of the bedside tables.

And if you are struggling for how to bring light into an internal bathroom, why not consider glass walls to bring in light and add an extra touch of elegance and style?

When it comes to decorating a small house or apartment, the key to keeping a space both functional and tasteful is to decorate minimally. At Downings House, the walls are kept neutral throughout, creating a fresh palette which reflects and optimises the natural light that floods the space.

Downings House is a gem waiting to be discovered?

For further information on this property click here

Property predictions: what next for property in 2018?

Posted by Victoria Nicol

Looking back at 2017, one constant that has been proved yet again is the continued robust nature of the London property market. Despite the political and economic uncertainty of Brexit, the changes introduced to the landlord tax relief and the Bank of England?s rise in interest rates, the property market as a whole has proved to be incredibly resilient.

2017 was a great year for us as a company. Our sales turnover was up on the previous year and the team’s hard work and relentless commitment to delivering exceptional service – and achieving the best possible results for our clients – paid off with a Gold Award at the highly prestigious British Property Awards as the top estate agent in Wimbledon for customer service.

As we look ahead to 2018, we are confident that the market will continue to hold its own. Whilst there is continuing economic and political uncertainty in the run-up to Britain’s departure from the EU in 2019, the continued low rates of lending still make today’s market a good time to buy. As ever, the phrase ?Location, Location, Location? is true when it comes to the demand for property in Wimbledon, and that has encouraged more agents to open offices in SW19, giving potential vendors even more choice than before. However, with 11 sales and 7 lets already agreed in January we are off to a very positive start and, despite increased competition from local and online agents alike, we are even more determined to make 2018 our best year ever!

 

Five star customer feedback

Posted by Victoria Nicol

“It is said that selling and moving home is one of the most challenging times in your life. It was made easier by choosing ASR to manage the sale of my property. From the initial meeting to the day of completion the team gave an exceptional level of professionalism, commitment and focus, maintaining regular contact and giving feedback after every viewing. Once my property was under offer, Teresa and William kept in close contact, giving good support and advice when needed and ensured good communication between my buyers and the respective solicitors. Thank you. ”

Presenting Hatton House, 77 – 91 Hartfield Road, Wimbledon

Posted by Victoria Nicol

Andrew Scott Robertson are proud to present Hatton House, 77 ? 91 Hartfield Road, an outstanding development of new commercial units located in central Wimbledon.

Set beneath a highly sought after residential development, Hatton House comprises 6,458 sq. ft. of Grade A specification office space, arranged over ground and lower ground levels, and offers flexible, open-plan layouts with secure parking and much valued outside terrace space.

Rents per sq. ft. vary from ?40 to ?45 according to unit number as follows:

  • Unit 1, Lower Ground Left, 1,722 sq. ft. (160 sq. m.) Rent per sq. ft. ?40.00 (?68,900 pa)
  • Unit 2, Lower Ground Right, 1,905 sq. ft. (176.98 sq. m.) Rent per sq. ft. ?40.00 (?76,200 pa)
  • Unit 3, Ground Left, 1,356 sq. ft. (125.98 sq. m.) Rent per sq. ft. ?45.00 (?61,000 pa)
  • Unit 4, Ground Right, 1,475 sq. ft. (137.03 sq. m.) Rent per sq. ft. ?45.00 (?66,400 pa)

Stewart Rolfe, Director of Commercial Agency at Andrew Scott Robertson, comments ?Well-designed, conveniently located office space remains in high demand in Wimbledon and the flexible open-plan layouts offered by Hatton House are particularly conducive to today?s working environments. We expect high levels of interest for this exceptional new commercial development in the heart of SW19.?

Further information:

Stewart Rolfe, Director of Commercial Agency t. 020 8971 4994 / e. srolfe@as-r.co.uk

Victoria Nicol, Marketing t. 020 8971 6780 / e. vnicol@as-r.co.uk

Another award-winning year for Andrew Scott Robertson with national recognition in the raterAgent Top 50 estate agencies for customer service

Posted by Victoria Nicol

It’s been another award-winning year for Andrew Scott Robertson with national recognition in the raterAgent Top 50 estate agencies in the UK for customer service

The 2016 awards recognising the UK?s top estate agencies for customer service have just been announced by raterAgent, the trustworthy, transparent sales?and letting agent review site.

Independent Wimbledon estate agent Andrew Scott Robertson are delighted to once again achieve the prestigious accolade of being in the Top 50 National Estate Agencies according to their customers, beating off dozens of local competitors.

Since its launch in April 2015, some 10,851 agents dissatisfied with existing review sites have signed up to the raterAgent scheme, which sets itself apart on the genuine nature of its customer reviews. Commenting on the results, raterAgent chairman Bill McClintock said, ?These are the industry awards that matter as they are based entirely on genuine reviews from customers who have experienced the agent?s service first-hand. All reviews have been verified thoroughly under our Triple Lock Transparency Check so our company and individual winners have every reason to feel proud that the exemplary service they give their customers has been recognised. We congratulate all our 2016 winners.?

Andrew Scott Robertson Managing Director John King said, ?It is testament to the hard work and dedication of the whole team that we have picked up such a prestigious award for the second year running. We hope that knowing that Andrew Scott Robertson has not only engaged with such a transparent and?trustworthy site ? but also that we have been placed in the Top 50 National Estate Agencies based upon our customer?s reviews on it ? tells?you all you need to know about our approach to our service. At the very least this should encourage anyone looking to move in the?area in 2017 to consider Andrew Scott Robertson as their agent in the process.?

24 High Street,
Wimbledon Village,
London SW19 5DX

Tel: +44 (0)20 8971 6780
Fax: +44 (0)20 8946 3683