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Could the Rise in Utility Bills be Putting First Time Buyers Off Purchasing Their Dream Home?

rising utility bills

While 2020 introduced us to something we could only believe in a movie and now cannot bear to hear more about; COVID. The year the world stood still!

Then 2021 brought continuous uncertainty, but not for the property market. Everyone feared the worst which is one of the reasons why the Stamp Duty holiday was introduced.

Estate agents at Pick My Pad couldn’t get properties quick enough for the demand. All properties we put on the market were sold over the asking price by some 17%. These prices were drive-by demand from first-time buyers. However, saying that we noticed investors paying higher prices than would be expected of an investor in order to clinch the deal.

As we entered the Christmas period the only thing that slowed down was having the stock. Not even celebrations stopped the avid investor or determined first time buyer as we were still receiving calls and had requests for properties.

We are now in 2022 and the top subject other than COVID is how utilities are increasing to such an extent it is having an effect on whether first-time buyers can afford to purchase their dream home.

We know house prices have risen faster than salaries over the years which is making the housing market increasingly unaffordable for most and interest rates have increased which adds the expense to mortgages. This slows down the demand for property and can affect the overall market.

We believe the house prices will not continue to increase as they have but will remain stable for the duration of 2022, it has been suggested that between 0% to 2% is the considered level of fluctuation in prices according to Russell Galley, Managing Director at Halifax.

According to Rightmove, house prices are 7.6% up when compared to Jan 2021. The shortfall in houses and continues high demand may prove Russell’s theory to be incorrect as the year unfolds.

I think we can safely say the housing market has been a true phenomenon that has performed against all odds. Could the rise in utility bills be the next epidemic deterring first-time buyers? Or will it just delay their buying decisions!? Or alter their budget, affecting buying habits, which could ultimately have an effect on the overall market, over time.

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Should parents invest in buy-to-let to help their children with university?

A recent survey found a massive two thirds of parents are considering investing in student property in Worsley

A recent survey found a massive two thirds of parents are considering investing in student property in Worsley to assist their child through university as fees and costs of living become more and more daunting.

The rising price of rent as well as high fees is making university a harder and harder prospect for many students who can often struggle to make ends meet with just their maintenance loan and a part time job.

The online mortgage broker Trussle found 66% of parents believe helping their child via purchasing a buy-to-let student property was a smart idea.

The idea is to let their child live in the property while they were at university for whatever in-house rent the family agreed, hopefully lowering their living costs.

Once their child had finished their course and were ready to move onto the next stage of their life the parents would then be able to rent out their house to other students and begin making returns on their investment.

The survey of 2,000 homeowners even found 53% of parents would consider downsizing their family home to help support their child through university.

Parents are not wrong that student buy-to-lets are a sound investment at the moment for the past few years they have outpaced the rest of the rental sector, with yields growing by as much as 17.86% larger than the rest of the rental sector.

The value of the private rental sector as a whole has also soared recently.

According to the Shawbrook Bank the total value of the private rental sector rose by 5.8% between August 2020 and August 2021 to a total of £1.4 trillion.

This is lower than the general rise of all properties which increased by almost 10% in the same period.

Shawbrook bank also found demand for rent was soaring with 42% of landlords saying they had more people than ever looking for a property, with a third of landlords adding they are looking to add another property to their portfolio in the next year.

Trussle did note in their survey that tax changes had skewed against landlords in recent years making buy-to-let investments not the super lucrative investments they used to be.

However, Miles Robinson, head of mortgages at Trussle said their data showed “that property is still seen as a safe and reliable way of generating extra income.”

The investments also make sense in the medium term through rental income and in the long term through the rise in property prices.

So, although the cost of entry may be higher than before, and the returns may not be as massive, there is still a huge demand for rental properties plenty of room to grow and huge amounts of confidence the rental market will remain strong.

One way to maximise your returns is to get the best advice on where to invest and how to manage the property.

The multitude of taxes and regulations that come with managing a buy-to-let student property can be mind boggling at first and this is where Pick my Pad can help.

The Mistoria Group manages 1000 properties in the private and student rental sector and is a specialist in helping investors interested in getting involved in the market.

On top of this, The Mistoria Group can also give advice on where to invest, the dozens of university towns and cities across the UK present plenty of options but some offer vastly higher returns than others.

Rents may be high in London but property prices are even higher.

Whereas student property in Worsley and places like Bolton, Liverpool and Salford, property prices are low but the ever-increasing student population means yields are only going to increase over time.

Call us on 0161 790 3999 or email info@pickmypad.com

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State of the market: Is now the time to invest in property?

invest in property

State of the market: Is now the time to invest in property?

With lockdowns now firmly behind us and no prospect of them returning in full force any time soon the property market has come roaring back – could now be time to invest in property?

There is certainly plenty of evidence the housing market is booming –although figures have been inflated by the rush to take advantage of the stamp duty holiday which came to an end in October.

According to HM Revenue and Customs, in the UK in last month an estimated 160,950 homes changed hands, which was almost 70% higher than in August and 68% higher than the previous September.

Compared to the 50% drop in sales which occurred in April and May 2020 due to the pandemic, it is clear the market has put Covid behind it.

Zoopla has predicted 2021 will be the strongest year in the housing market since 2007, with around £500bn in sales.

Now that the stamp duty holiday has come to an end it is expected the residential sales market will slow and price growth is set to stall making now a perfect time to invest in property.

Sensing opportunity of a market lull before further growth, investors are out in force cash buying property left right and centre after laying low throughout the pandemic.

Property is on the verge of flipping from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market.

What does this mean for rental?

Research from Zoopla found rents were rising at their fastest pace in over a decade in all places in the UK except London.

They found rent would be on average £500 more per year by the end of 2021 compared to 2020.

Demand for rental properties across the country is expected to rise in the coming months.

As people decided to stay put during lockdowns, and with evictions made temporarily very difficult, tenants very rarely moved.

But now the economy is looking increasingly strong and lockdowns fading into memory more and more tenants will start looking for a place to move.

With a rise in demand, it could be the perfect opportunity for House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) property investment.

With the ability of being able to house multiple separate tenants into a single property, HMOs can easily absorb any rise in demand.

Combined with a rise in rents and the reproductive growth HMOs offer, they could be a wise investment.

If you are thinking of investing in property for rental and would like help and advice on how to manage a successful tenancy, please contact our experienced team.

We manage 1000 properties and 3000 tenancies in the private and student rental sector and can help you with all aspects of rental property management.

Call us on 0161 790 3999 or email info@pickmypad.com

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Main Sponsor of the National Landlord Investment Show

We are delighted to be both the main sponsor and keynote seminar speaker at the National Landlord Investment Show this week.

Tune in on Thursday 8th October at midday to hear our CEO, Mish Liyanage give his 15 Top Tips on Being a Successful Student HMO Landlord.

You can register here> https://www.landlordinvestmentshow.co.uk/midlands-north-online

There is a great line-up of leading industry speakers, so it is well worth attending for some great advice and insights. You will also have the chance to ask your own questions in the Q&A sessions.

#landlords #investment #hmos #studentaccommodation #studenthousing #studentproperty #investmentproperty

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Mistoria Group Celebrates 10 Years of Property Growth in the North West

Mistoria 10 year anniversary party

The Mistoria Group founded in 2009 has just completed 10 years of major growth and expansion into one of the leading providers of student housing in the North West. Over this period the group has also refurbished 250 properties importantly delivering new life into local communities. With over 900 properties in its portfolio alongside over 2000 tenancies under their management Mistoria now employs over 50 staff/contractors across the region.

Responding to the dramatic growth and demand for quality student accommodation Mistoria have expanded their property footprint into Liverpool and Bolton alongside growing their presence in Salford, Manchester. With its entrepreneurial CEO Mish Liyanage at its helm, Mistorias’ assets have dramatically risen over the last decade from £3m to £115m. Meanwhile the groups turnover has been transformed from £578,000 to over £20m in the same period delivering an impressive growth in nett profit after taxes from £15,000 to £337,000 across the Group of companies.

Apart from managing student property Mistoria have also carved out a successful niche in offering investment in the ‘buy to let’ market and with their experience alongside local knowledge they have delivered yields for their investor clients of up to 13%. Meanwhile the recent purchases of regional property businesses Pick my Pad and Student Haus confirm the acquisitive nature of Mistoria to deliver future growth for their rapidly growing business.

Following this impressive growth The Mistoria Group recently celebrated their 10 year anniversary at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester with staff and business partners alongside announcing long service awards for Rob Flint and April Calderbank who have worked for the group for 8 years. In addition the staff and management team also helped to raise £6,000 for the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Liverpool Hospital Oncology Team and Centrepoint.

Mish Liyanage, The Mistoria Group’s CEO commented;

‘From humble beginnings I am proud to have grown The Mistoria Group into a reputable and fast growing property business here in my home region – the North West. We are committed to servicing the needs of clients who demand the very best possible results in all aspects of property investment and management. With a young and hard working team supporting me we also look forward to supporting the growing needs of our landlords, students as well as residential tenants by delivering high quality accommodation over the next decade. As we celebrated our 10 year anniversary we were very pleased to support three important charities who undertake vital work across our region and which have been personal to me.”

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Buy to let remains a popular investment despite recent changes to legislation

A recent survey of 5000 investors by a London based agency had reported that the Buy-to-let investment model remains the most popular amongst those surveyed.

Although the market is currently seeing a raft of new legislation, covering all aspects of the rental market, 73% of these investors still see property investment as the most stable, least volatile long-term investment available.

Recent legislation has changed stamp duty, tax-relief and tenants fees, making the sector less profitable but the long term impact of these changes is seen more as a bump in the road by many businesses with the size and scale to make adjustments for the long term.

Smaller rental operators may have lost interest and be leaving the sector and certainly the government is seeking to weed out unscrupulous landlords and improve the quality of the businesses that own and manage rental properties, but those with scale are coping well with the new rules.

With Brexit looming there will no doubt be further changes made as the impact of this significant political development  feeds down into the nuts and bolts of property management. However the fundamentals of the investment are still there for the responsible landlord.

Renting property is popular amongst students and young professionals as well as many families. Having the right partner to help you find and manage your tenants will help you generate a steady, reliable income. Buying and maintaining the right kind of property, in the right area, means that you will have capital appreciation as well as this rental income.

Knowing all of the legislation can be difficult for landlords but that’s where choosing the right lettings agent as a partner can be a great help to you. Your agent will manage hundreds of rental properties so will be fully up-to-date with both local and national legislation.

Mistoria operates a team of local offices, staffed by knowledgeable,  friendly staff who work with dozens of landlords in the property rental sector. We cover all of the paperwork for you, ensuring you and your property are fully compliant. We will also source your tenants and manage their tenancy. And of course we handle payments and the money side of things giving you regular monthly statements of all income and expenses and making sure your payments are promptly made.

If you are currently struggling to manage your portfolio or are looking for a new partner to help you with your properties then please drop us a line or call us and we would be happy to show you our range of lettings services.

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Tenant Fees Act

tenancy fees
One June 1st 2019 the Tenant Fees Act will come into force prohibiting landlords and agents from charging any fees to tenants other than those that have been permitted by the act. Any contract that is signed after June 1 must adhere to the new regulations including those for tenancy fees.

The act applies to all short hold tenancies and student accommodation, but it only applies in England. Letting fees are already banned in Scotland and, while they are currently still legal in Wales and Northern Ireland, a similar policy was put before the Welsh government in June 2018 and is expected to come into force this September.

It’s become tradition in recent years for letting agents to charge administration fees on top of the usual deposit and first month’s rent when moving in a new tenant, but the act bans them as it is not a permitted fee.

What the act defines as a permitted tenancy fee are:

  • Rent
  • The deposit
  • A holding deposit to secure the property which is maxed at one week’s rent
  • Any changes to the property, e.g. the introduction of a pet or a change in the contract – this is capped at £50
  • Utilities like gas and water
  • Council tax
  • TV license fees
  • ‘Communication fees’, e.g. telephone and broadband

The act also allows for a fee to be charged if a tenant terminates the contract early, but in this case the landlord must be able to show reasonable loss has been suffered.

The new legislation also allows for certain fines to be written into each contract, but defines when and how much they a tenant can be charged. Late payment of rent is the main one, this can only be after 14 days have passed and interest at a maximum of 3% above base rate.

Tenancy Fees that are no longer permitted include:

  • Property viewing
  • Referencing
  • Administration charges
  • Guarantors Inventory checks
  • Pet fees/deposits
  • Renewal/exit fees
  • Professional end of tenancy cleaning
  • Third party fees – unless the tenant chooses to undertake the services themselves
  • Gardening services -unless this is included in the rent

The last major change the act implements is restrictions on how much can be charged for a deposit. If the total annual rent is less than £50,000, the deposit is capped at five weeks rent. If the rent is between £50,000 and £100,000 then the landlord can request up to six weeks.

Deposits must be protected in one of the three government backed tenancy schemes within 30 days of the payment being taken.

Breach of the legislation is a civil offence and can incur a £5,000 fine. If there is another breach within five years of the initial one, then it becomes a criminal offence which could carry jail time.

In addition to this. the landlord or agent who charged the unlawful fee will not be able to evict a tenant until they have repaid all of the illegal charges.

If in doubt the full policy can be found on the government’s website.

We would be more than happy to talk to any prospective tenants about how the new rules will be implemented by Pcik My Pad, so if you have any questions about tenancy fees then please contact our team.

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Tenant Fees Bill

It has been announced that the Tenant Fees Bill is set to come into force on 1st June 2019.

The Bill will ban letting fees paid by tenants in the private rented sector and cap tenancy deposits in England. The ban will apply to all tenancies signed after 1st June.

The aim of the Bill is to deliver a fairer, good quality and more affordable private rented sector by reducing the costs that tenants pay at the beginning and throughout a tenancy and improving the relationship between tenants and landlords.

The ban will allow tenants to see how much a property will cost them with no hidden costs.

For landlords, this means you will only be allowed to take payment for rent and deposits from tenants. There are just three other ‘default fees’ you will be able to charge a tenant for, and they will also be limited;

Damages
If a tenant causes damage to your property beyond reasonable wear and tear, you may charge them for the cost to repair the damage.

Loss of keys
You may charge the tenant for the cost of replacing them and reasonable costs and evident must be provided in writing (receipts etc). You cannot charge for your time or inconvenience.

Late rent payment
You can charge 3% above the Bank of England base rate in interest.

Landlords can still charge for changes to a tenancy requested by the tenant. £50 would be considered the norm and any charge above this would need to be justified. If tenant wants to leave the contract early, they will be liable to pay the rent up to a maximum of the length of the fixed term of the contract.

Deposits will also be restricted to the equivalent of five weeks rent where annual rent is below £50k.

Failure to comply

Failure to comply with the Tenant Fees Ban could land you in a whole heap of trouble. If you charge a fee that is not permitted, tenants will be able to reclaim the money they have paid, plus interest, via the county court. Trading standards will also have the authority to fine you up to £30k.

You will also be unable to serve a Section 21 notice if you have charged a tenant a fee where you shouldn’t have and kept the money.

How Mistoria Estate Agents can help

At Mistoria Estate Agents, we can manage your buy to let property, including tenant finding and management, on your behalf. This means we can take the burden out of staying compliant with new areas of legislation, including the Tenant Fees Ban. Let us do the hard work of managing your investment whilst you get on with the other areas of your life. Call us on 0800 500 3015 or email info@mistoria.co.uk to see how we can help you.

A full guide to the Tenant Fees Ban can be found on the RLA website www.rla.org.uk/feeban.

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Street-wise: knowing the exact street you want to live on…

Last week, new research by Zoopla revealed a third of buyers already know the street they want to live on. In some cases, even the exact house has been identified before a buyer starts their purchasing journey.

As a local estate and letting agent, we are very aware of this trend. We often have potential buyers, and even tenants, looking to purchase or rent property in very specific areas. Often enquiries can be property type specific; a semi-detached, or a certain number of bedrooms or other specific criteria, however we are experiencing more and more of the type of query the Zoopla survey suggests. We are contacted most days via telephone, email and social media asking if we have property available on a particular street or post code.

Online portals like Zoopla, Rightmove and OnTheMarket allow anyone to browse the market, regardless of whether they are actually thinking of moving or not. Window shopping online and creating a wishlist or shortlist of ‘future property purchases’ isn’t uncommon. People are able to glimpse into nearby homes and properties and get a flavour of the interior and exterior of the property that previously would have only been accessible via a physical property viewing.

Fuelled further by the likes of Pinterest and Instagram and other social media platforms, where property or home enthusiasts can save photographs of beautiful homes, interiors, gardens, bedrooms, kitchens etc means people are choosing their ideal home, or future property purchase, long before they actually intend on moving.

As property professionals, with experience and knowledge of the local area, we know the sought after streets and post codes. This means working harder to secure the listings of favourable properties within Bolton, Little Lever and the surrounding areas.

Do you already know the exact house or street you wish to live in? Contact us and see if we can’t find you something that meets the same or similar specification to help get you into your new, dream home faster!

Car photo created by rawpixel.com – www.freepik.com

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What local amenities are important to you when choosing where to live?

When it comes to choosing somewhere to live, it’s all about location, location, location, right? But just what does this mean to you? What local amenities make a place more desirable?

Is it the shops in the area? The schools, the views, the local pub?

A new study by Good Move suggests a shift in traditional preferences. Living in the catchment area of a good school is slipping in popularity, making way for a new priority; budget supermarkets!

39% of respondents said they would like to live near a budget food retailer like Aldi or Lidl. Just 29% sited a good school as a priority, which had previously been a top preference for many years.

The trend appears to be driven by younger generations, with 54% of Gen Z (those aged 18-24) saying living near a budget supermarket was a top priority. This number steadily dropped with age, with 34% of over 45s placing importance on cheaper stores.

This makes for interesting reading as both Gen Z and Millennials (22-37 year olds) continue to struggle to get on the housing ladder. Despite this, the amenity they place most significance on now ranks second in the overall desirable amenities’ charts.

Across all age demographics, the 10 most desirable amenities are:

1. Scenic views – 44%
2. Budget supermarkets, such as Aldi, Lidl and Iceland – 39%
3. Local restaurants/bars – 37%
4. Traditional pubs – 36%
5. Independent shops – 34%
6. Walking trails – 33%
7. High-end supermarkets, such as Waitrose and Marks and Spencer – 32%
8. A certain school catchment area – 29%
9. Coffee shops – 28%
10. Local library – 25%

Ross Counsell, Director at Good Move, said: “Everyone has their own priorities when moving house, but it’s interesting to see how the overall patterns are changing.”

“Budget supermarkets are definitely growing in popularity, especially among the younger generations, and their presence in a region is now making a place more desirable to live.”

Let the team at Mistoria Estate Agents Bolton help you with your next property move. Be it a purchase or a rental, we can help find you the perfect place based on your requirements and needs. Our team know the local area and property market well so you can trust us to find a home that is just right for you.