Issuu

ad v e rtisi n g f e atur e p r o p e r t y

Brian Phillips

Sarah Dedakis

Marcus Arundell

Sharon Hunter

What do you specialise in? Here at Martin & Co. Bath we specialise in residential letting and sales in Bath and the surrounding areas.

How has the rental market changed in the last five years? The market in general is extremely unpredictable and is not following the general predictable trends it would have some five years ago, but the obvious changes to residential lettings are the amendments to legislation in the last five years which exceed 163 amendments. The most obvious amendments are those relating to HMO (Houses of Multiple Occupation) and discretionary licensing, The Immigration Act 2016 and Right to Rent along with The Deregulation Act 2015. So things have changed considerably for landlords who now have quite a substantial ‘checklist’ to comply with not only prior to the tenancy, but also during the tenancy itself. This additional legislation will seem daunting to most unprofessional landlords and why we ensure, as regulated and qualified agents, that we are fully up to date on all new and amended legislation so the landlord doesn’t have to worry themselves with the red tape.

How has the rental market changed in the last year? HomeLets has continued to see a healthy supply of private rented accommodation in Bath over the past year, with continually improving levels of specification. Demand wise, applicants seeking to live in and around the city are in buoyant numbers, with student demand being particularly strong.

What do you specialise in? We specialise in all types of lettings from finding the tenant only, to fully managed, in Bath and the surrounding villages, from city apartments through to country houses. We deal with a wide diversity of property and landlords.

Martin & Co. Bath 01225 429999 www.martinco.com

How would you best describe the services you provide? We have a great wealth of local knowledge and experience in the property market, which enables us to advise on property trends, opportunities and how best to maximise the potential of a property. What makes you different from other letting agents? We go the extra mile to find the right tenant for the property, and we always aim to exceed customer expectations. What advice would you give to prospective landlords looking in Bath? My advice would be to do some research, to think about the type of tenants you want and then to consider the desirable locations for your target audience. The aim of the game is to show the property in its best light to maximise applicant demand. Here at Martin & Co. we have lots experience and are always happy to advise. What is your favourite part of the job? Customer satisfaction. Whether it be sales or letting, we pride ourselves on maximising the return and making the process as seamless as possible.

Dovetail Properties 01225 446399 www.dovetailproperties.co.uk

What professional accomplishment has made you proudest? I attained an advanced lettings qualification last year, which has led to my Fellow membership of ARLA, making me one of the most qualified agents in Bath.

HomeLets 01225 484811 homeletsbath.co.uk

Carter Jonas 01225 747256 www.carterjonas.co.uk

What makes you different from other letting agents? We are wholly independent and always striving to deliver a first class service to our clients. Based in Bath since 1992 with a highly experienced team. Specialists therefore able to work to industry best practice standards. Building a professional network far and wide from maintenance contractors to solicitors and everyone in between. What one piece of advice would you give to prospective landlords? Be sure to do your homework, most notably around the buy to let mortgage market, taxation and property compliance. What one piece of advice would you give to prospective tenants? Understand exactly what it is that you are looking for before you start your property search, then set a budget and stick to it (and give us a call).

How has the rental market changed in the last years? In recent years there has been more and more legislation introduced for the protection and safety of the tenants and landlords alike. Tenancy agreements and the accompanying paperwork continually need to be updated to ensure that it is all in line with current legislation. There are also more and more people renting, either due to moving into the area and it becoming more popular to rent in a “try before you buy” scenario, or just because it is increasingly more difficult for first time buyers to get on the property ladder, the average age of the first time buyer now in Bath is 40 – this means that tenants are likely to be renting for far longer than they ever used to be. What was your very first job? Working for the residential sales department of Cluttons Residential who were lovely traditional land agents, who had diversified into the residential sales market, I was an audio secretary and used to have to type up sales brochures on an electric typewriter and stick photos onto the front. Those were the days!