How to get the best out of your PR agency

by Eleanor Uncategorized AB Property Marketing

You might be forgiven for thinking that once you’ve read proposals, interviewed the best candidates and settled on your PR agency of choice, your work is done and that you can relax and enjoy the benefits that professional PR will bring to your brand.

Of course, that is an option, but you taking an active approach to engaging with your PR firm can reap big rewards, as Charlotte Ashton, Founder of property PR agency AB Property Marketing, explains,

“In PR, as in life, you get out what you put in. Companies who are proactive in working with their PR agency will definitely benefit from an enhanced service. PRs can only work with what they have, so a company that feeds their agency things like fresh statistics, information on new projects, research findings and exclusive insights will certainly reap the benefits of doing so.”

In the spirit of supporting every company to maximize its PR potential, AB Property Marketing has these 5 top tips to follow:

AB Property Marketing’s 5 top tips for getting the best out of your PR agency

1. Keep in touch

A quick regular call with your PR agency can do wonders. Be it weekly, fortnightly or monthly, all you need to do is pick up the phone and run through the highlights of what the company has been up to. A trained PR professional will focus in on the golden nuggets of information that will be a hit with the media and can then take them away and turn them into fabulous coverage while you’re getting on with the rest of your working week.

2. Be aware

Keep up to date with media coverage about your sector. You probably do so anyway, so simply consider the stories you’re reading from a media point of view: how is the journalist approaching the topic? What is their angle? What kind of comment has made it into the article from business leaders? Being aware of such considerations will help you to identify what to pass on to your PR agency, particularly when they come to you asking for commentary that has to be produced to a very tight deadline!

3. Be flexible

Think flexibly about how you can help the media. Journalists rely on accurate, timely information to write their features. Your PR agency may ask you to comment on a sector-wide issue rather than one specific to your company. Be flexible in your approach and consider how your knowledge is representative of your industry. Apply the lessons your business has learned to the wider sector, against the backdrop of your industry knowledge, and you are on the right path to becoming seen as an expert spokesperson.

4. Understand what PR is!

PR is not the same as advertising. If a journalist is looking for a comment, it’s usually about issues impacting on your sector. They’re not looking for one brief sentence on their chosen topic, followed by two lengthy paragraphs about your products. Give your expert opinion on the matter in question and leave it to your PR to work in a mention of your product or a link to your website!

5. Be responsive

When it comes to PR, the early bird really does get the worm. Journalists work to very tight deadlines and the faster they can be provided with reliable, insightful information, the better. With so many businesses competing in every sector these days, you will need to be fast and responsive in order to get the coverage you deserve. If you delay for a couple of days before providing comment in response to a request from your PR agency, it’s likely that a competitor will have pipped you to the post or that the article will already have been published.

Find out more at http://www.abpropertymarketing.co.uk/who-are-we/ or call 0845 054 7524.

Hold on tight, 2016’s going to be a bumpy ride!

2016 property predictions from James Wyatt, partner of prime Surrey estate agency, Barton Wyatt

As prime Surrey estate agency Barton Wyatt celebrates 50 years in Virginia Water this year, Partner James Wyatt muses the year ahead:

“At the end of 2014, I predicted that the FTSE 100 would end 2015 at 7125. It is clear that my crystal ball needs a serious service.

“The price crash in commodities and oil during 2015 has laid waste to my prediction, and therein lies the rub when it comes to predicting where the property markets may be headed – we just don’t know what might be round the corner.

Despite worldwide woes, the UK property market has been hit over the last year by a staggering array of extra stamp duty taxes by our Government. Receipts are forecast to be down by nearly £1bn this year – mainly as a result of 10-12% lower transactional levels. The top end of the market (over £5m) is in the slaughterhouse with 12% stamp duty killing off the golden goose. So there are several issues to watch in 2016.

Impact 1 – Buy-to-let 3% extra on purchases. Another Government stab in the back for those investing for their retirement. Watch very strong sales up to £300,000 in Q1 then listen to the tumbleweed…

Impact 2 – Interest rates The US have moved. We are likely to see our base rate shift up in Q3 or Q4. Despite its inevitability, the increase will spook just about everyone with mortgages.

Impact 3- Brexit I sit on the wall about this but an exit would end the UK’s position as a grand world influencer. The £ and property would suffer.

The good news is that 10% deposit mortgages are back and so 2016 will see a strong first time buyer market in most areas. Major towns and cities outside London may see prices increase by 10%.

The Home Counties will be hard hit in the £2m+ market. Expect to see modest price increases of 2%. Over £5m prices will remain static as buyers factor in a 5% increase in stamp duty.

London – will – probably be nursing a property hangover for all of 2016.

It’s a rocky road ahead. Make sure your seatbelt is on!”

For more information on these predictions contact James Wyatt on 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk

Homes for entertaining this New Year

by Viv Uncategorized United Kingdom Barton Wyatt

Homes for entertaining this New Year

To bring in the New Year with a bang, you want the perfect pad to entertain your friends and family and celebrate the dawning of another year. Barton Wyatt, the award-winning Surrey estate agent, presents a selection of the best homes for entertaining this New Year:

The Ridge, Wentworth Estate

This Georgianesque style house is a grand and spacious home close to the centre of Virginia Water. If your friends are coming from far afield then being close to the M25, M3 and M4 motorway networks plus Farnborough and Heathrow airports is a bonus.

When your guests arrive, they will no doubt be impressed by the gentle slope of the long private approach to the house, bordered with pristine grass and Georgian style lanterns. This property has a visible ‘no expense spared’ finish. Invite your friends to sleep over in one of the six bedrooms – all with en-suite bathrooms for even the most discerning guest to prepare for the night’s festivities ahead.

You are spoiled for entertaining space in The Ridge. The layout lends itself to contemporary living with an enormous kitchen/breakfast/sitting room and a more formal living and dining room plus a beautifully fitted study. Perhaps you can even watch the chimes of Big Ben on the big screen in the cinema room or if you’re feeling brave, heat up the outside pool and have a midnight swim under the stars whilst the champagne corks pop. You can be the proud owner of this glorious home for £8,750,000.

Wellington House, Wentworth Estate

This virtually brand new residence was completed in 2011 to an exceptional standard in this superb location. The property offers in excess of 11,000 square foot of luxury!

This is THE house in which to have a pool party – you and your guests will be amused for hours in the sports and leisure area, with its large indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi and sauna. The pool area is just off the kitchen so popping back to the fridge for a refill will be no problem at all.

After a night of celebrating in the pool, Wellington House has ample reception rooms to dry out and toast the New Year. As the evening progresses your fellow partygoers can enjoy cocktails in the large drawing room and spread out into the dining and kitchen/breakfast rooms.

Time for bed and the grand staircase leads up to seven en-suite bedrooms, so plenty of room for everyone to stay and let their hair down.

Located on the prestigious Wentworth Estate you will be the envy of your golfing friends with the superb golf and leisure facilities on your doorstep. Wellington House is also situated close to the village of Virginia Water with its excellent array of boutique shops, varied restaurants and the mainline railway station. On the market at £7,450,000.

Windsor House, Wentworth

There is no need to squash your helping hands into the house for your New Year party at Windsor House: the property comes complete with over-garage staff accommodation so your poised party professionals can be on site in their own fully fitted apartment.

This is a very spacious home of 10,932 square feet complete with four large reception rooms, a massive kitchen/breakfast room for casual entertaining and an outside pool. Your guests will not know which room to fill when the clock strikes twelve!

Putting your guests up for the night is not a problem at Windsor House; on the first floor there are five bedroom and bathroom suites, with two further bedrooms and two bathrooms on the second floor.

This stunning brand new Wentworth mansion house is ready for immediate occupation and fully furnished if desired. It is set in a wonderful south facing acre plot in a highly desirable location within the Wentworth Estate, just a short walk from the picturesque village shops and mainline station, and approximately one mile from the world-renowned Wentworth Golf and Country Club.

Situated in one of the most exclusive private roads in Virginia Water with beautiful landscaped gardens, you will be the envy of the New Year revelers for £6,950,000.

If you are looking for a house to move into for Christmas that has already been decorated for you then look no further.

Byways, Ascot

Looking for a house to move into for Christmas that has already been decorated for you then look no further.

This gorgeous Georgian style mansion sits in a quiet and tranquil private road in South Ascot. Six large bedrooms all with luxury bathrooms are already furnished and waiting for you and your house guests to party. The second floor boasts a cinema room for the latest Christmas block buster. A wonderfully large kitchen/breakfast/garden room and four further reception rooms will keep you and your guests fully entertained and give lots of space for eating, games and sleeping.

The house also has a studio apartment for staff/au-pair over the triple garage, delightfully landscaped gardens of approximately 0.4 of an acre costs £3,750,000.

If the above houses have got you in the mood for a party contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk. Their team of property professionals will be able to assist you with further information or help you find your perfect property to fit your every requirement.

UK buyers look to the rest of the world with the return of international property investment

by Charly Uncategorized World Property Frontiers

Ray Withers, Chief Executive of Property Frontiers, answers investors’ questions on the highly anticipated rise of the foreign market

After years of UK buyers being thoroughly taken by their own domestic property market, recent figures have shown that the allure of international investment has returned. According to the Knight Frank Global House Price Index, Europe is at the forefront of the market in terms of price growth, with Africa recording a respectable growth rate of 2.6%.

With the potential to become a daunting minefield of opportunities and decisions, Ray Withers, Chief Executive of leading property investment specialists Property Frontiers, offers expert opinion and advice on the current international property market.

What has kept UK investors focussed on domestic property for the last few years?

To begin with there was an element of fear due to the perceived risk in the wake of the financial crisis. It’s not that international property became more risky per se, but that people’s attitudes towards the risk changed. On top of that, people had a booming opportunity on their doorstep within the UK buy-to-let market.

How has the global market changed to start attracting UK buyers back to international property?

Again, the change that reports are suggesting is mainly about investor attitude. Good international opportunities never actually went away; it’s just that people feel confident enough now in their own finances, and the global outlook, to start investing abroad once more.

With interest in international property investment on the rise, what impact could this have on the UK market?

I don’t think there will be any impact on the UK market. It is not an either or case for most investors and even if it were, the numbers are not large enough to have a significant effect on the juggernaut that is the UK property market.

Where in the world is generating the most excitement and where should UK investors be looking at?

This is a heavily weighted question with where to invest depending greatly on the buyer, what they want and where they feel comfortable. There are several ‘safe’ locations, Germany for example, and also more speculative opportunities throughout Southern Europe. For those with the appetite, there are of course excellent opportunities in the emerging markets, especially regions in Africa that are now booming.

Is this positive growth in the global market sustainable or will UK buyers eventually return home?

Property markets move in cycles. What is a great time to invest in one market may not be a good time in another. However if we have learnt anything from history, it is that market movements will present myriad opportunities in the future. At some point the UK market will slow, but will then quicken again; it’s all about the right place at the right time. With global coverage it is our job to spot the markets when opportunity presents itself.

The UK is still part of this exciting new world of property investment and there are some excellent buy-to-let opportunities on home soil right now. It’s just that they are no longer the only ones to pique the global investment community’s interest.

For further details, visit www.propertyfrontiers.com or call the team on +44 1865 202 700.

Luxury Wentworth home, nominated for top industry award, certainly has the “X factor”

by Viv Uncategorized Barton Wyatt

Barton Wyatt is no stranger to selling homes that have been winners of prestigious industry awards. The latest home on Wentworth to stand out for its excellence has been masterminded by local developer Bridgewater New Homes, who have recently brought Silverwood to the market.

Rupert Wyatt, Partner of Barton Wyatt, the prime Surrey estate agent that is marketing the property, commented,

“For the majority of Wentworth residents, luxury is a key priority and Silverwood certainly embodies the word. The 6,250 sq ft, five bedroom home is tastefully bursting with added extras that sets this property apart including a walk-in wardrobe in the master suite, media room, gymnasium, leisure room and two separate courtyards on the lower ground floor.

“Out of the many new homes built in the Runnymede area in the last year, which include a number of mansions within the exclusive Wentworth Estate, Silverwood is the only new house that has been nominated by Runnymede Borough Council for a prestigious LABC Building Excellence Award 2015. We certainly believe it has the ‘X factor’!”

Chairman of Bridgewater New Homes and Wentworth resident, Guy Charrison, commented:

“We are very proud to have been singled out for a LABC Building Excellence Award 2015. The eye for detail that Paul Seymour our Construction Director has is second to none and to be nominated for this award is a testament to both his and the team’s expertise.

“Silverwood truly is a wonderful family home, fully furnished and key-ready for its new owner. The house is set in delightful grounds of just over an acre with easy access to The Wentworth Club and all its amenities as well as central London via the direct rail link at Virginia Water or the M25 and M3 motorways.

“Other notable items that set this house apart include the most fabulous cinema room with state of the art surround sound and the house boasts a LeGrand home automation system fitted. The property has concrete floors throughout with Nu-Heat Underfloor Heating. The kitchen is by multi award winning ‘Extreme Design” and has a wonderful double aspect which leads into a family room. The master bedroom is sumptuous and includes a very beautifully created walk-in wardrobe. Also worthy of mention is the triple detached garage and a separate annex with its own access and sheltered patio – perfect for staff or a granny annexe.”

The LABC Building Excellence Awards celebrate all that is good in the construction industry. The awards are not really about aesthetics, instead they look for other vital elements in the creation of excellent buildings: technical innovation, sustainability and high performance. They seek to highlight the ‘X’ factor and special working relationships that produce new or creative solutions.

For more details on this splendid house visit Barton Wyatt on 01344 843000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

Europe’s first major monorail tipped to trigger property investment boom in Istanbul

by Viv Uncategorized Universal21

47 km Havaray route will be first major monorail in Europe
Istanbul Ataturk airport saw 11% surge in passengers in 2014
Property investors put Istanbul firmly on their radar, with studios from $50k (Universal21)

Istanbul is a city of contrasts, where East meets West. It is home to a blending of cultures that can be seen in its architecture, its food and the products on offer in its many stores. It is also a city that is much in demand by Turkey’s residents, putting pressure on available housing and driving up traffic flows resulting in congestion reaching levels that are seriously problematic.

The city has tried several measures to alleviate traffic congestion and is already home to more than ten different kinds of public transport, but the latest – a 47km monorail known as the Havaray – is set to carry some 200,000 passengers per day high above the bustling streets.

The Havaray will be Europe’s first major monorail system and should help Istanbul to transport its citizens more easily, avoiding the queues completely by travelling above them. The monorail is also tipped to have bring other benefits to the city, as Director of Universal21, Adil Yaman, explains,

“Istanbul’s new monorail is set to bring a host of benefits to this cosmopolitan city. As well as reducing congestion, we anticipate a property investment boom as investors look to be part of this thriving and dynamic metropolis. Istanbul is already an exciting investment prospect and the Havaray will make it even more so.”

Universal21 has two stunning developments within the city, with one of them close to the new Sefaköy and Atatürk Airport route of the monorail at Beylikdüzü.

The Anfa Life Residence consists of spacious, luxury apartments that are perfect for the city’s professionals and their families. The 208 apartments are divided evenly between one bedroom apartments (investment from $102,000) and two bedroom apartments (from $163,000), complemented by a ground floor with a commercial offering of 12 stores.

Meanwhile the Tulip Residence offers elegant city living just a few minutes’ walk from Istanbul’s centre, with three blocks of apartments, underground parking, a health club, children’s play area, outdoor pool and tennis/basketball court. The development is due for completion by September 2015 and investment ranges from $50,000 for a studio to $112,000 for a two bedroom apartment.

In addition to the new monorail easing congestion within the city, Istanbul is also becoming more accessible from elsewhere in the world. Its Ataturk airport has already overtaken Amsterdam Schiphol and Madrid to become the world’s fourth busiest airport, with passenger numbers surging 11% to 57 million in 2014.

The city’s third airport is also anticipating being among the world’s busiest by 2020, with a $5.2 billion loan package being signed by its builders in May for the first phase of the hub. It is planned that the first phase of the airport will handle 90 million passengers from late 2017.

With more planes in the skies as well as more citizens zooming above the streets thanks to the monorail, it is easy to see why Istanbul is on property investors’ radar, with the infrastructure improvements on track to drive up prices and enhance the city’s appeal to those looking to rent.

For more information about Universal21, visit www.universal21.com or call 0203 287 8700.

Worried about pension provision? Life Tenancy Investments can provide the solution for tomorrow’s Superboomer

by Viv Uncategorized Life Tenancy Investments

YOLO. The popular acronym which stands for “You Only Live Once” has finally made it into the Oxford online dictionary but this spontaneous, carefree attitude to life is no longer solely the preserve of today’s youth. Ever increasing numbers of over 50’s, dubbed Superboomers, are living life to the full with adventurous holidays, luxury goods and busy social lives.

Enjoying a ‘boundless existence’, as tech firm Huawei describes it, in later life comes at a cost however and not all Superboomers approaching retirement have made adequate pension provision for their golden years.

In fact the government has warned that almost 12 million people in the UK are failing to save enough for their retirement. And whilst Pensions Minister Steve Webb offered some reassurance in that the state will “always provide a decent safety net so people can get by, anyone wanting to see their standard of living maintained into old age needs to make their own provision too.”

So how can individuals make their own provisions?

The recovery of the housing market has not only been good news for the UK economy but also homeowners with rising prices resulting in over £807 billion worth of property wealth being owned outright by over-65 proprietors according to the latest Pensioner Property Equity Index from Key Retirement Solutions.

With such wealth within easy reach, more and more 60+ homeowners up and down the country are choosing to become a Life Tenant through the Life Tenancy Investment model.

Guy Charrison, Founder and Owner of the Guy Charrison Property Consultancy and hands on Life Tenancy investor explains,

“Life Tenancy Investments have long been the preserve of some of the largest financial institutions and listed property companies but they are now available for both individual investors and homeowners alike to benefit from.

“They offer a simple and straightforward way for retired people to significantly reduce the price of their next home in return for lifetime ownership. They become the Life Tenant of the property whilst the investor is afforded the opportunity to purchase bricks and mortar for a fraction of its current open market value offering superb potential for capital growth”

Guy continues,

“The Life Tenant has a lifetime lease on the property entitling them to live peacefully and quietly in the property rent free until they either pass away or permanently move into long term care. They just have to maintain and insure the building as they would anyway. For me, this is a win-win situation.”

One such case in point is Mr Freeman, a Superboomer who wanted to move out of his small Central London studio flat into a larger freehold property with a garage so that he could purchase his dream car – an American Thunderbird. He sold the ownership of his studio to an investor thus becoming a Life Tenant. In return he used the upfront lump sum to purchase another property complete with garage to house his new pride and joy, the Thunderbird.

So if you want to enjoy a ‘boundless existence’ in your later years but are concerned about funding a YOLO lifestyle then why not consider becoming a Life Tenant?

For more information on the process and Life Tenancy Investment opportunities available through Guy Charrison Property Consultancy, call today on 01344 851 007 or visit www.guycharrison.com.

“I have known my wife take longer choosing a pair of shoes than many people take deciding on a house purchase!” says James Wyatt, Partner of Barton Wyatt estate agency

by Viv Uncategorized Barton Wyatt

Research suggests people spend 33 minutes looking at a property (Aviva)
Barton Wyatt believe that decisions are actually made within the first 10 minutes
As many as a third of buyers spend an average of £3,500 on repairs after moving

Aviva recently commissioned research into 4,000 homeowners surprisingly revealing that the average buyer takes just 33 minutes to decide on a house purchase. Probably one of the most expensive decisions a person makes in their lifetime and yet seemingly one of the most rushed.

James Wyatt, partner of prime property agency, Barton Wyatt is unsurprised,

“I have known my wife take longer choosing a pair of shoes than many people take deciding on a house purchase!”

Aviva is of the opinion that buyers are reacting to a highly competitive market, leading them to make snap decisions. Indeed the insurance company reports that 24% of homeowners only ever make one viewing before taking the plunge on offering.

Wyatt suggests,

“Properties are extremely evocative items and buyers know pretty much instantly if they like or dislike what they see. I would suggest that the gut decision is actually make in the first 10 minutes of being in a home and the other 23 minutes is spent reassuring themselves they are making a good choice.

“The real talent in being a savvy estate agent is knowing your buyer well enough that you don’t spend ages taking them around properties that they won’t like – it wastes everybody’s time.”

Barton Wyatt is red hot at qualifying potential buyers, utilising years of experience and expert insight into a property’s specification so that it will meet the purchaser’s requirements. This is important for every purchaser but even more so as you foray into super prime properties which need to accommodate lavish lifestyles.

James Wyatt mulls,

“There is little point looking at houses that don’t have the right size kitchen, the correct number of bathrooms, wardrobes or dressing rooms required to house your Imelda Marcos-esque collection of Louboutin shoes, enough rack space for haute couture collection or with the right storage facilities for your Chanel handbags.

“The garage needs to be big enough for not just one but multiple luxury cars – Bentley and Rolls Royce models are longer and wider than average. And external storage facilities can be important if you need somewhere to park the racing bikes, golf clubs, vintage cars and the ride-on lawn mower.”

So if you are limited to 33 minutes what should you do with this precious time? Barton Wyatt advises:

Study the kitchen – does it have the room and space you are used too? Accepting a smaller kitchen is a big ask for many.
The bathroom number might seem fine but turn on the shower – a trickle of water will not keep you amused.
Look at the boiler and ask about its maintenance and age.
Get in the loft – it may sound odd but 3 minutes in the loft could answer many questions!
Spend the last 10 minutes doing the school run at peak time. Many people look at houses in the middle of the day when no-one is around.

Further research from Aviva found that a third of home buyers didn’t carry out any specific checks when viewing their future home, spending an average of £3,500 on repairs after moving in – an additional cost some homebuyers may not have budgeted for.

These are often problems that the current owner knows about and doesn’t want to fix before departing – damp and cracks are the worst culprits. Buyers often fall in love with a property and don’t want to hear about the bad bits. Poor heating, a bit of subsidence, a leaky roof can all be swept under the carpet in a hasty viewing.

Further invaluable advice from James who goes on to say:

“Talk to the seller. You don’t need to become best friends but you do need to get a good understanding of why they bought the property in the first place and why they are selling. Ask them who the neighbours are and what they are like.

“Get a good survey done, it will pay off in the end. Agents are very keen to sell and most will give completely honest and open advice. The days of “Caveat Emptor” are long gone, today all and any adverse information must be given to a buyer BEFORE they start incurring costs.

“Above all, after you’ve agreed to buy a property, step back, breathe deeply, go and visit again. You can change your mind. We agents hate this, but it is a big decision for the purchaser, and if I have a happy buyer at the end of the day, I’d like to think they might sell that home through me in 7, 10, 20 years time.”

For more details contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

Love investing in property but bored of buy-to-let? Choose a Life Tenancy Investment, now available to UK individuals

by Viv Uncategorized Life Tenancy Investments

With the UK economy back on its feet and the housing market booming, there’s never been a better time to invest in bricks and mortar, especially for pension provision.

For many individuals purchasing a traditional buy-to-let property has been the investment of choice but for years some of the largest financial institutions and listed property companies have been choosing a different yet equally simple, straightforward and high yielding investment path – Life Tenancy Investments.

Life Tenancy Investments have long been the preserve of institutions such as Grainger PLC (the largest owner of residential property in the UK), William Pears, Mountview Estates and Santander but now, well respected property expert Guy Charrison, in partnership with Wakeley Residential Investments Limited, is delighted to be able to bring this attractive opportunity to the everyday property investor.

So in a nutshell, what is a Life Tenancy Investment?

Life Tenancy Investments offer a simple and straightforward way to invest for your and your family’s future and are a viable alternative to buy-to-lets.

In return for the freehold or leasehold interest in their property being sold to an investor the occupier receive a lease for their lifetime with no rent payable. The occupier maintains and insures the building. The property then fully reverts to the investor on death or moving to long term care.

What makes a Life Tenancy Investment an attractive property investment?

The investor has the opportunity to purchase a property for a fraction of its current open market value offering superb potential for capital growth, especially in a rising market such as today. The investment will have a Life Tenant in residence at completion who will remain in the property until they either pass away or move into full time residential care.

The Life Tenant will receive an agreed sum of money up front in return for ownership for them to do with as they please.

How does it work in practice?

A property open to a Life Tenancy Investment is made available to buyers at a substantial discount to the open market value. Investors are able to purchase the property and will be the named owners on the title deeds. The ownership will be subject to the lifetime lease granted to the Life Tenant.

The property continues to be occupied by the Life Tenant who is aged 60 years or over. The Life Tenant has a lifetime lease on the property entitling them to live in the property rent free until they either pass away or permanently move into long term care.

At the point that the Life Tenant vacates the property permanently, the Life Tenancy ends and the investor has vacant possession of the property making them free to sell the property and realise their investment.

The investor is entitled to all the sale proceeds unless the Life Tenant has retained a percentage of the property value in which case the investor will send the Life Tenant’s proportion of the proceeds to them once the sale completes. If the Life Tenant has retained a percentage this is reflected in the investor’s purchase price of the investment.

What are the Investor’s main legal obligations?

To allow the life tenants to live peacefully and quietly in the property for the rest of their lifetime rent free.

What are the Life Tenant’s main legal obligations?

During the Life Tenant’s residence, they will repair and maintain the property as well as covering all associated expenditure including maintenance and repairs, utility bills, council tax and any service charges or ground rent (if applicable).

What happens when the Life Tenant vacates the property?

At the point the Life Tenant vacates the property permanently the property is the investors’ to do with as they wish. They can choose one of the following options:

ü Sell the property and realise their investment with potential substantial capital growth

ü Rent out the property and enjoy the monthly income obtaining a high return on capital as the property was purchased at a Life Tenant price

ü Move into the property and live there

ü Early exit opportunity – Investment can be resold to an alternative investor at an earlier stage if required

Why has Guy Charrison personally invested in Life Tenancy Investments for over 20 years?

“They are easy to manage as the occupier maintains and insures the building and are an ideal investment for you, your children or grandchildren. Historically these Life Tenancy Investments have offered a fantastic return on initial investment – they certainly have for me! The investment is growing in value due to the increasing age of the Life Tenant in addition to any capital growth – the ‘double line’ growth opportunity.

“Ideally, to maximise profit, Life Tenancy Investments should be purchased as medium/longer term investments but I also am aware from first-hand experience that investor’s needs may change over the years and there can be a requirement to realise the investment before the Life Tenant permanently vacates hence investments can be resold to an alternative investor at an earlier stage if required.”

On the market: Life Tenancy Investment opportunity in Canterbury, Kent

Property type: 2 bedroom terraced house

Independent Valuation: £120,000

Investment / Purchase Price: £54,000

Value of Investment: £120,000

Discount: £66,000

Percentage Offered: 100%

Investment Terms: Life Tenancy

Tenancy Details: Male 68 & Female 69

Tenure: Freehold

For more details contact Guy Charrison Property Consultancy on 01344 851 007 or visit www.guycharrison.com.

Ashtead – The perfect commuter village proposition

by Viv Uncategorized Millgate

What makes the perfect commuter village?

An easy commute
Great outdoor space
Good selection of shops and restaurants
And most importantly – a real community spirit

No one is ever looking for a dull, lackluster out-of-town experience offering little to keep the family amused. Instead, crafty commuters are looking for locations with good transport connections, a wide variety of eateries, great outdoor spaces and first class recreation and leisure facilities.

People looking for a place to settle in a new area, perhaps coming from London or overseas, are likely to consider the Home Counties as their base. However with eight Home Counties to choose from they may find it a daunting prospect to select the perfect place for them and their family.

Luckily buyers who have decided to head south of the capital need look no further than the Surrey village of Ashtead, close to the market towns of Epsom and Leatherhead.

Ashtead exhibits the epitome of perfect village life, boasting a plethora of clubs, societies and activities of which many other villages would be extremely jealous. The village is home to a vibrant cricket club where keen mothers have been known to put their child’s name down way before they are old enough to hold a bat – as competition is so high for places, an equally happening football and squash club and a selection of terrific pubs and eateries. Many Ashtead residents vie for a membership to the much loved RAC club, situated between Ashtead and Epsom. Facilities here for members include the use of two 18 hole golf courses, a modern, well-equipped gymanasium, weekly classes, squash and tennis, swimming pool and treatment rooms. The RAC is also renowned in the local area for fine dining in both the traditional restaurant and the more informal 19^th whole or Fountain restaurant.

Ashtead also boasts a much-needed array of superb schools in the area and a strong community spirit.

For property buyers in search of a commuter town, Ashtead offers direct connections to London Waterloo and Victoria in just over 40 minutes in addition to daily trains direct to London Bridge making life easier for those travelling to the Square Mile. An annual season ticket will currently set commuters back just over £2,000, which is considered reasonable by Surrey standards.

Ashtead is brilliantly situated about halfway between London and the south coast, making it wonderful for family days out in Brighton or on the beaches at the Witterings. Equally accessible is a visit to the Natural History Museum or a night at the theatre. The M25 is on the doorstep for easy access to other areas of the country and Gatwick and Heathrow airports are almost equidistant. Close to home is also the Epsom Derby and the beautiful hills of the North Downs for relaxing strolls.

Families are spoilt for choice where schooling is concerned in Ashtead. State and private primary schools are in abundance and countless private senior schools are on offer with many boasting top UK results. The local girls only state school is coveted and there are a number of Grammar schools in the area also.

Excitingly for those drawn to the countless charms of Ashtead, groundbreaking has just started on five fabulous new homes being built by luxury developer Millgate. This cluster of beautiful houses is being built on The Warren, considered to be one of Ashtead’s very finest addresses.

The wonderful large detached homes will afford five bedrooms spread over two and three floors ranging from 6,226 to 7,704 sq ft with one of the homes featuring an outdoor swimming pool. Guide prices for these new stunning luxury homes range from £3,800,000 to £4,000,000.

For more details on this exciting project contact Millgate on 0118 934 3344 or visit www.millgatehomes.co.uk

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