Entries by Joanna Plane

Sim Sekhon: The best lettings agents don’t let reasons become excuses

The business of operating a lettings agency is already regulated in Wales and Scotland. No doubt it won’t be long before England follows suit – the fees ban, and a raft of conditions are on the way. Although many won’t welcome the changes, they will, at least, level the playing field. They’ll give every agency […]

Christmas Opening Hours

It’s that time of year again… Here’s a quick guide to when we’re here and when we’re not. From 1st – 21st December the team will be here: Mon – Thurs 8.00am – 5.30pm Fridays 8.00am – 5.00pm Christmas Eve – 9-12pm We’ll be closed completely on: Christmas Day Bank holiday (25 December 2018) Boxing Day Bank […]

Everything your lettings agency needs – without the supermarket tactics

Supermarkets know a thing or two about getting you to buy their products, including the things you don’t really need. They fill their shelves based on studied patterns of eye movements. They slow you down with relaxing music. They hide their bread and milk – the essentials – deep inside the store. They even have […]

If you don’t want extra income, stop reading now

We’re assuming you’re still reading The fees ban means that you’ll need to be very aware of your business income. You’ll probably want to explore ways in which you can increase it. We’ve got one, and it’s very effective. It could earn you 60 % of what you lose when the fees ban comes in. […]

We’d like you to give us a rating

Straight up, we’re asking for a little help. We’ve entered an award scheme which recognises the best property professionals in the UK. Unlike some awards which have a judging panel which reviews each entrant submissions, The ESTAS are decided by those who are the best possible judge of service standards – the customers. The ESTAS […]

Sim Sekhon: The shifting costs of meeting energy performance standards

Since April, landlords have been required to ensure properties they let reach a minimum of Band E for energy performance. Those whose properties fail to make the grade can’t agree a new tenancy unless the cost of improving the EPC exceeds £2,500. That cap has just been increased to £3,500. The numbers of properties affected […]

Halloween 2018

Our team had a great day on the 31st of October for Halloween. We weren’t voted Employer of the year at the Warrington Business Awards for nothing! Just look at this team spirit here this Halloween. Lots of smiles, laughter and great teamwork! Verity from our insurance department won our Halloween 2018 Quiz and Andy […]

Employee of the month – October 2018

We’ve built an environment where every individual can do their bit to build a brighter, better business. We would like to give a big shout out to Nathan from our insurance department for all his hard work throughout October. We’d also like to thank those who have left reviews on Trustpilot. Joanne from our insurance department […]

“An economy that works for everyone”

Sim Sekhon looks at the Chancellor’s latest budget statement The Government denies that the decision to shift the Budget from its normal Wednesday slot to a Monday afternoon was anything to do with Halloween, but this Budget was never going to be a howler. Following closely on from the Prime Minister’s Party Conference message, which […]

Warrington foodbank donations

Every day people in the UK go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income. A simple box of food makes a big difference, with foodbanks helping prevent crime, housing loss, family breakdown and mental health problems. Food donations are absolutely vital to Warrington foodbank’s ability to give everyone referred […]

Practical help that makes buying, renting and letting property simple

We’ve just launched a range of brand-new services. Each service is independent, but for simplicity, we’ve grouped them under one name: Rental Essentials. These services are designed to fill all the gaps you find whether you’re a landlord, a letting agent or indeed a tenant. They vary from practical hands-on support to specialist advice, and […]

A quick look at Build to Rent in Scotland

Last week the Build to Rent Forum hosted a one-day conference in Edinburgh. Both the event and the range of speakers, including Kevin Stewart MSP – the Scottish Government’s Minister for Local Government and Housing, who delivered the keynote address – highlight the enthusiasm and interest there is in the country for Build to Rent […]

Housing: Plans from the Party Conference Season

There’s a lot of backbiting and hot air in political circles at this time of year. It’s easy to become disillusioned and switch off, ignoring the discussions about things that affect our lives and our businesses. That’s why we’ve pulled together a quick summary of the housing-related issues from the three main party conferences. With […]

Make Moving Simpler. Make relationships last

The secret is Homeshift It’s a smart bit of technology that takes away a lot of the hassle that comes with moving home. Homeshift is the simple way for tenants to sort their gas, electricity, internet, water and council tax. One platform does everything. Tenants love Homeshift. It’s free, easy to use, offers straightforward, competitive […]

Is Your Letting Agency Ready for the Tenant Fees Ban?

We’ve heard the protests, the lobbying and the arguments why a ban is unfair, but this is a battle that letting agents won’t win. If you’re burying your head in the sand or hoping for a change of heart from Whitehall, we’d like to suggest you take a bit of constructive action instead. If you’re […]

A reminder for all landlords and letting agents: S21 has changed

1st October was the date that changes to the procedures for Section 21 Notices came into force. There are clear steps you must have followed and a change to the forms that must be used. ARLA Propertymark has prepared a summary of the changes and notice periods which you can find here. Whatever circumstances have […]

Sim Sekhon on Brexit: Let’s not let uncertainty get us down

These are challenging times to be in business. Six months until Brexit and any clarity we hoped to have at this stage remains elusive. There are some people predicting calamity and others brimming with optimism about our bold new independent future. But what’s become increasingly clear is that the uncertainty has started to have effects […]