Avoid new ‘Green Tax’ with energy efficient B2L investments in Manchester’s city centre

Avoid new ‘Green Tax’ with energy efficient B2L investments in Manchester’s city centre

by Sophie Evans United Kingdom
  • Changes to ‘Green Tax’ legislation could cost buy-to-let landlords up to £5,000
  • From April 2018 loans are no longer available to boost a property’s energy efficiency – expected to affect approximately 330,000 investors
  • One Cross Street in Manchester uses low-carbon tech to be one of the city’s most energy-efficient properties (Surrenden Invest)

The UK buy-to-let landscape altered significantly during the first half of 2016, however, the industry has shown few signs of faltering. Advisors surveyed in Paragon Mortgages’ latest Financial Advisor Confidence Tracking (FACT) report revealed that 24% of their business in Q1 2016 consisted of buy-to-let, a modest 1% increase from the previous quarter.

Changes to the rules surrounding the ‘Green Tax’ could disrupt this seemingly endless upward trajectory with landlords liable to spend up to an additional £5,000 on their properties.

Proposed by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the ’Green Tax’ will see landlords having to pay in advance for property improvements such as cavity wall filling, insulation and efficient boilers. Designed to save tenants money on rising fuel expenses, the government are predicting 11% in savings for the average household by 2020.

From April 2018 all properties must meet a Band E energy efficient rating at least, but with loans no longer available to boost a property’s energy efficiency and landlord’s liable for the required works, it is expected to affect approximately 330,000 investors.

There are however opportunities arising that could cause this latest change to become redundant for buy-to-let investors. Property consultancy Surrenden Invest’s most recent development in the heart of Manchester, One Cross Street, uses modern low-carbon technology to ensure the building is one of the city’s most energy-efficient.

Jonathan Stephens, Managing Director of Surrenden Invest, comments,

“This change to legislation for buy-to-let landlords will cause savvy investors to seek out opportunities that already meet the new requirements, a future-proof investment. With a Band A energy efficiency rating, One Cross Street is win-win, allowing investors to be exempt from the new ‘Green Tax’ and its residents to benefit from significantly lower running costs.”

One Cross Street is situated in the city centre just 5 minutes’ walk from Manchester’s prime business and exclusive leisure district, Spinningfields, as well as from the luxury shopping district New Cathedral Street. Redeveloped from the stunning structure of a former cotton mill, the original building of One Cross Street was built circa 1907.

With prices starting at £130,323, the property is formed of 34 luxury apartments featuring elements of the existing structure left such as exposed brick and beams. The project has also included the creation of a modern new-build extension which will include two new penthouse levels featuring floor to ceiling glass walls as well as a beautiful roof terrace available to all residents. Properties also come fully furnished with high end fixtures and fittings.

For more information, visit www.surrendeninvest.com or contact Surrenden Invest on 0203 3726 499.

London baby! The Overseas Property Show comes to the capital this September

London baby! The Overseas Property Show comes to the capital this September

by Sophie Evans United Kingdom ,

It’s just been announced that the hugely popular Overseas Property Show will be arriving in London this September!

The Novotel London West Hotel & Convention Centre will host the free to attend event on Saturday 10th, Sunday 11th and Monday 12th September 2016, from 10 am until 6 pm.

The Overseas Property Show has a strong reputation for connecting those who attend with the reality of owning a home overseas. The show’s focus is not on a romanticised ideal of second home ownership, but on the practical steps and considerations involved in purchasing and maintaining a property abroad.

Chris White, Founding Director of boutique real estate agency Ideal Homes Portugal, which is a regular exhibitor at the Overseas Property Show, comments,

“The Overseas Property Show is about bringing property experts with hands-on experience to people around the UK who are considering buying a home overseas. We’re on hand to talk through living abroad, so whether attendees have questions about how much Portuguese they’ll need to speak to live in the Algarve or the price of eggs in Spain, we can give them the information they need.

“Of course, our experts are also on hand to answer the big questions, like how the purchase process works, where to find a good lawyer, how to obtain a fiscal number and so forth. The beauty of the Overseas Property Show is that it offers all of that information in one place.”

The show is ideal for those looking to buy a holiday home overseas, such as this beautiful Algarve villa with pool and panoramic views, as well as those planning a more permanent move. Property investors can also find what they are looking for at the multi-faceted event.

The 2016 Overseas Property Show will focus largely on properties from Portugal, Spain and Florida, with a handful of opportunities in countries like Italy and Cyprus thrown in for good measure. The nationwide tour follows the success of the 10 events held in 2015, which provided thousands of visitors with the opportunity to begin turning their dreams of second home ownership into reality.

The 2016 tour will build on the previous year’s success, adding new venues like the Novotel London West Hotel & Convention Centre in order to reach out to even more would-be holiday home owners across the UK. At the same time it will remain true to its routes, offering free attendance and plenty of experts on hand to provide advice and guidance.

Whether it’s a second home, a main residence or an investment that you’re after, the Overseas Property Show is the place to be! Tickets are FREE and full details can be found at http://www.theoverseaspropertyshow.com/.

For further details visit http://www.theoverseaspropertyshow.com/, call (0800) 133 7644 / +351 289 513 434 or email info@theoverseaspropertyshow.com.

AB Property Marketing appointed by revolutionary trading platform Investorist

AB Property Marketing appointed by revolutionary trading platform Investorist

by Sophie Evans United Kingdom World
  • Investorist provide the world’s largest off plan B2B property marketplace, connecting thousands of property professionals  
  • Brexit prompted an almost immediate response from our members (Investorist)  
  • Leading property PR agency ABPM appointed to promote Investorist’s global marketplace in the UK  

As the UK housing market emerges from the cloud of Post Brexit uncertainty, it seems that off plan property is set to benefit from an increase in demand from international buyers. Global interest in UK property and all it has to offer is growing as developers prepare for the September sales surge.

Launched in 2013 in Melbourne, Australia, Investorist specialise in off plan property providing an online, global B2B marketplace. With projects all over the world, and offices in Australia, China, Singapore, United States, Vietnam and the UK, Investorist is the leading property network and management tool connecting thousands of property professionals globally.

The company’s pioneering technology has proven to drive both business efficiency and impressive project sales success, with more than 200,000 property searches undertaken on the platform during 2015.

Sam Fairfax, General Manager UK and UAE for Investorist, comments,

“Investorist is a truly unique platform and service. It provides developers with a sophisticated stock management, distribution and reporting system. Brexit prompted an almost immediate response from our Investorist members outside the UK, and at Investorist we’re really positive about the opportunities that we see emerging in the UK market.

“As a global business, many of our clients are in international markets such as the UAE, China and SE Asia, and they’re actively looking now to take advantage of property deals locally.”

The company has announced the appointment of leading property PR agency, AB Property Marketing to further grow their presence in the UK market.

Charlotte Ashton, MD of AB Property Marketing comments,

“Investorist have a wealth of industry expertise, offering a complete, unbiased view of the property market. They provide a high level ‘matchmaking’ service for sellers and buyers of off plan property, and do not take commissions from any party.

We at AB Property Marketing are thrilled to be working alongside Investorist as they continue to expand their global network, providing efficient, user friendly technology.”

Investorist are available to provide the media with expert industry comment in relation to off the plan property and the UK’s dynamic housing market.

To find out more about Investorist and the services they provide, please visit http://www.investorist.co.uk/

 

 

It’s a family affair – new Tipi build to rent London apartments prove perfect for family living

It’s a family affair – new Tipi build to rent London apartments prove perfect for family living

by Sophie Evans United Kingdom
  • 48% of landlords rent to families with children (NLA)
  • Apartments with hotel-style service and utilities included in the rent, appeals to London’s families (Tipi)

The prevalence of families living in the private rented sector is increasing and for the first time has overtaken couples as tenants. The days of a clear path from getting married to buying your first home to having children are long gone. The latest data from the National Landlords Association (NLA) shows that landlords renting to families with children in the build to rent market have become more common than those renting to young couples for the first time – at 48% compared to 47% respectively. According to the NLA’s data, it is the first time that families have been the most prevalent type of household unit, as the clear benefits of a professional landlord offering leasing with no lettings fees is becoming clearer.

In the decade from 2004/05 to 2014/15, families living in build to rent units have grown from 30% to 37%. Improving standards across the sector mean that many families with children now see renting as a stable, long term prospect, offering a lifestyle as well as a home.

The UK’s lack of housing, particularly in cities, is also contributing to the rise of build to rent as the option of choice for families. The disparity between salaries and house prices, which in London in particular has made getting onto the property ladder harder to do as well as the affordability of the required lifestyle means customers are drawn to the rental sector in general and the all-inclusive professional landlord sector in particular.

Michael Allen, PRS Director at Tipi, comments on the recent findings;

“The NLA data shows the importance of designing new rental accommodation in London for families with children, not just for single tenants, sharers and couples, though those also remain important markets for us. As a build to rent development, we’ve been able to do just that and we have added family-friendly features and services that make the apartments ideal for family life here in London with Sky Sports, a pool table and outdoor terrace in one of the social spaces, super-fast broadband throughout and a play area for younger children in the acre of private landscaped gardens.

“Tipi’s amenities include apartments with a bathroom for each bedroom, ideal for families with older children and sharers alike. In addition, a range of hotel-style services, such as domestic cleaning, laundry and dry cleaning as well as secure underground parking, are available for families with a busy schedule who need to save time on household chores in order to get the kids to sports clubs, music lessons and social activities. We aim to reduce the life admin for our customers; we go beyond offering rents with utility bills included.”

Within the Tipi buildings, there are two shared social spaces with a lovely community atmosphere that are perfect as a retreat for families with children of all ages. A gym and cinema room are to be added to the available facilities later this year.

Wembley Park is a great choice for families. There are excellent local schools and the on-site community space, Yellow Pavilion hosts a vast range of activities for all ages every week, from football and arts & crafts to street dance and a youth groups. Meanwhile, there is plentiful outdoor space as part of the overall Wembley Park development and the nearby Brent Reservoir, provides a host of pursuits for families with children of all ages, from picnics to bug hunting.

And to top it all off, families at Tipi have easy access to central London for days out at museums and attractions, with Baker Street (and Madame Tussauds) just 12 minutes away on the underground. Wembley Park proudly hosts the SSE Arena, Wembley and London Designer Outlet both on the doorstop.

According to the NLA, renting privately has come to be seen as a stable option for families, with 76% happy with the length of their tenancy, 60% now seeing renting as not being a barrier to family life and 77% seeing their rented property as their home. So as far as families with children are concerned, a home in rented accommodation has become the norm, and thanks to Tipi, ‘normal’ just got a whole lot more exciting.

Apartments at Tipi are available at family-friendly prices, starting at £1,550 per month. Utility bills and 40 Mb/s broadband are included in the rent but ultra-fast speeds of up to 1Gb/s are available as an upgrade, ideal for the many hours teenagers spend watching Netflix or streaming music, and there are no agency fees to pay or end of tenancy cleaning costs.

For more information or to book a viewing with the Tipi team, visit www.tipi.london, take a video tour of a Tipi apartment or call 020 3151 1927.

Notes to Editors 


About Tipi @TipiLondon

Tipi, the all-inclusive professional rental service, is a subsidiary of Quintain, the London focussed property development specialist and the team behind Wembley Park. Tipi is a ‘Build to Rent’ or Private Rental Sector (PRS) management company which builds, professionally manages and leases contemporary apartments to customers without charging agents’ fees. Unique to Tipi is that Quintain owns and operates the wider Wembley Park estate which ensures the environment surrounding the apartments is safe, controlled, clean and well connected.

Tipi’s first PRS buildings, Montana & Dakota offer brand new 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments with rents inclusive of all utility bills and superfast broadband with the option to upgrade to ultra-fast 1Gb/s. Most apartments boast a balcony and all benefit from access to an acre of private gardens. 24-hour concierge and night security meet customers’ everyday needs and additional services can be added to tenancy agreements such as secure underground parking, domestic cleaning, laundry and dry cleaning services.

Two lounges are available for Tipi residents to use and include superfast 100 Mb/s broadband, Sky TV and Sky Sports and later this year a gym and cinema room will open within the building. Apartments are available to rent and move in immediately.

For more information on Tipi or to book a viewing, visit http://www.tipi.london/ or call 020 3151 1927.

Post-Brexit bargains draw property hunters to the Spanish sunshine

Post-Brexit bargains draw property hunters to the Spanish sunshine

by Sophie Evans Spain
  • Reductions of €500,000 and more follow in wake of Brexit vote
  • Bargain hunters enjoying discounts on everything from seaside villas to country homes
  • Kyero.com rounds up some of the biggest post-Brexit bargains

The repercussions of the UK’s decision to leave the EU will be lengthy and far reaching. Nor is it just the country’s own property market that will feel the results of the Brexit vote. According to Spanish property portal Kyero.com, which connects would-be property buyers with their dream homes across Spain, the post-Brexit ripples have already reached Iberia. Director Martin Dell comments,

“We’ve definitely seen movement in the Spanish housing market that has resulted from the UK’s ‘leave’ vote. There are some Brits who own property here who are now looking to sell up fast, rather than face the uncertainty that the Brexit decision has brought about. The result is that we’re seeing some fantastic post-Brexit bargains on the market: bargain hunters will be delighted to see some of the discounts available on everything from cosy apartments to premium villas right now.”

At the upper end of the market is this luxurious, contemporary villa with pool in Estepona. Previously on the market for €3.995 million, the villa has been reduced to €3.45 million, providing one lucky buyer with a jaw-dropping discount of over €500,000. This gorgeous four bedroom villa with pool and terraces overlooking the whole of Barcelona has also been reduced by more than €500,000, down from €2.5 million to €1.95 million.

The middle of the market is also packed with post-Brexit bargains. This four bedroom villa in Javea, split over three levels and complete with pool and sea views, has been reduced by more than €100,000, with the asking price dropping from €695,000 to €590,000. Also on the coast, in Moraira, buyers can enjoy a €100,000 discount on this five bedroom villa with pool and barbecue area, which is now on the market for €549,000.

Even buyers with €250,000 or less can take advantage of the post-Brexit bargains available in Spain right now. This semi-detached house with pool, barbecue area and large, mature garden with fruit trees has been reduced to €250,000 from €279,000. Meanwhile this country villa on the outskirts of the pretty village of Simat de la Valldigna comes complete with private pool, mature gardens, barbecue and carport, with a discount of €15,000 knocking the asking price down to just €121,000.

“It’s definitely the time to shop around when it comes to Spanish property,” continues Kyero.com’s Martin Dell. “There are some fantastic bargains to be picked up and buyers can enjoy impressive discounts on everything from country villas to seaside splendours.”

For further details, visit http://www.kyero.com/. For the latest data on the state of the Spanish property market, visit data.kyero.com.