June’s ‘FindaProperty.com’ rental index shows more positive news for landlords with a continued increase in both asking rents and rental yield for Q2 2010.

Asking rents have increased by 2.3% in the second quarter of 2010 and in the six months from January to June 2010 they have risen 4.4%.

Rental yields have also increased, up to 4.57% in June.

For further information including regional variations click here for the full report.

If you would like a free valuation comparable report to determine the level of competition and asking rental prices for you property please contact us on 0844 247 2480 or at letting@makeurmove.co.uk

Renters can find the area they are interested in, then select criteria such as price and type to see all the relevant properties in that area.

To use the new service visit  Google Maps, select the properties drop down from the show search options link and then search for the area you are interested in.

Further information on this story can be found on the Guardian website.

makeurmove is now listing all rental properties on Google Maps ensuring maximum exposure to the renter market for our landlords.

April’s ‘FindaProperty.com’ rental index shows that 2010 is beginning to look more positive for Landlords.  Rents are reported to have increased by 2.7% over the first four months of the year along with an increase in the average rental yield to 4.54% from 4.45%.

For further information including regional variations click here for the full report.

If you would like a free valuation comparable report to determine the level of competition and asking rental prices for you property please contact us on 0844 247 2480 or at letting@makeurmove.co.uk

The introduction of the register would require landlords to pay to register their properties’ and their own details.  

Two other key proposals have emerged from the report. First is the call to make all tenancies written agreements. Makeurmove particularly welcomes this suggestion and free tenancy agreement forms can be downloaded for nothing from our website.  

Also proposed is an increase in the threshold on Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) agreements from £25,000 to £100,000, meaning that higher rental value properties will benefit from the protections of AST. 

The full report ‘The private rented sector: professionalism and quality - The Government response to the Rugg Review Consultation’ can be downloaded here. The consultation period continues until August and we’ll keep you posted on developments in our newsletter and on our website.   

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/responseruggreview

Full details can be seen at:

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/advice/renting_a_property/for_landlords.aspx

A new partnership with solicitors Lawson Coppock & Hart is helping take makeurmove up a gear, with new services, improved document templates and access to some fixed-fee legal assistance.

The link between makeurmove and Lawsons means that when you use our services you’ll be getting the benefit of their 50 years experience in landlord and tenancy issues. 

Their team of legal experts will provide professional support on the development of our tenancy and leasing arrangements so you can be sure that they are up to date and legally sound. 

Lawsons, who happen to be one of the longest established solicitors in Manchester, are also working with us to develop our services and extend the range of tenancy agreement forms that we offer. 

As part of the exclusive deal Lawsons have agreed to provide our customers with a fixed-fee possession proceedings service. This offer covers the following stages of the process: 

Stage 1 – Initial warning

Lawson’s will write a seven-day letter before action to tenant(s) 

Stage 2 – Preparation and service of a Possession Notice

Using the information supplied by you they will complete the relevant possession notice and serve it on the tenant(s) 

Stage 3 – Preparing court proceedings to obtain a possession order

Drafting and issuing claim form for possession under the standard procedure which will include representation for a hearing in the County Court 

Stage 4 – Enforcement including forceful eviction by the court bailiffs

Drafting and issuing the application for the warrant for eviction and arranging for the Court Bailiffs to forcibly remove tenant(s) 

We’ll have more information on our website on what Lawsons are offering, but if you’d like to talk to somebody about an immediate issue, please contact Lawson Coppock & Hart directly on 0161 832 5944 and quote makeurmove.

Sian will be dispensing advice in a regular column, and will be on hand to answer your most pressing questions in our ‘Ask the expert’ feature.

Presentation, presentation, presentation

It’s critical, especially in the current rental market, to make your property stand head and shoulders above those of your competitors. Achieving this on a budget is no mean feat, but Sian has advice on how to do this successfully without breaking the bank…

“If you speak to most landlords about just what tenants expect these days, most will roll their eyes at the rise of the ‘Elle Decor generation’. Not happy with charity shop ‘vintage’ chic style loved by many landlords (and not in a good way); they envisage having en-suite wet rooms, feature wallpaper, high-gloss kitchens and funky furniture.

Maybe we can blame the proliferation of new-build apartments with their designer styling, the increasing number of homeowners renting out their beautiful homes, or those endless property shows! Whatever the reason, we landlords now have to up our game to stay ahead of the competition, to gain maximum rents, and to get those fussy tenants signed up fast.

Giving your property a bit of a wow factor doesn’t have to be expensive. You can get great ideas from high street stores, ordering online can bring your prices down, and those same property shows that have driven us mad can also give us some forward thinking ideas.

I’ve just finished redecorating a flat I first rented out in 2001. It had grown a little tatty, wasn‘t getting any interest from would-be renters, and I needed to make some inexpensive changes to attract new tenants.

The laminate was badly damaged, but rather than rip it up and start again I simply hand-sanded and primed it, then painted it with Dulux white diamond eggshell paint (always use water-based white paint to avoid yellowing). It immediately brightened up the flat and gave it a contemporary, airy feel.

Next, I used gorgeous piece of oak from a friendly tree surgeon, and fitted it as a mantelpiece. I changed the very studenty lights for something a bit funkier, with wall lights from the quite reasonable Lightbox in Manchester and a BHS ceiling light. Instead of hanging curtains I used curtain panels from Ikea to give the room a contemporary feel.

Last of all I re-glossed a set of shelves and coffee table, which is a great way to breathe new life into old furniture.

The next day the photos went on the internet and within a couple of hours I had two viewings.  That same night both sets of tenants had seen the flat, fallen in love and wanted it, I had to choose which ones I wanted!  Great news.

I’ll have more projects and inspiration for you in coming newsletters, and get emailing if you have any specific questions or problems you think we may be able to help with.

letting@makeurmove.co.uk

You can hear more from Sian on her blog

Each month we’ll feature answers from the professionals to questions posed by makeurmove customers.

Email your question on anything from the right tenancy agreements to removing woodchip wallpaper to letting@makeurmove.co.uk.