Landlords who do not handle their own property viewings could be missing a trick according to new research from leading lettings agency Upad.

Following the long held simple belief that landlords are better than agents at showing tenants around their properties, Upad asked 382 tenants from across the UK if they agreed and discovered that a mere 15% would rather meet an agent for a viewing than deal directly with the landlord.

Over half of tenants asked said they would rather meet the landlord, while just over a third said that they were indifferent, highlighting the obvious advantages for landlords to liaise with tenants directly.

James Davis, CEO of Upad and hands-on landlord of 14 years comments,

“From our research, it appears that honesty and obtaining direct answers is of the utmost importance to potential tenants so it makes perfect sense for landlords to self-manage and hold viewings themselves. Landlords who are not doing this are simply missing out.”

To further demonstrate the sentiment, Upad asked their tenants exactly why they prefer one over the other. While one pro-agent tenant explained: “Agents are probably more objective about the property they are showing”, the majority of tenant comments in the survey revealed a pro-landlord attitude with one tenant stating:

“It is the landlord´s property and therefore he or she is more likely to know the finer details about the house than the agent who is simply there to do a job. Landlords are more honest with you and you don´t feel like you are being constantly pitched or sold to. A landlord is more likely to tell it like it is. I don´t believe agents are always truthful and because agents only care about the money I believe landlords are better – they actually care about keeping good tenants.”

Davis further comments,

“The data speaks for itself and it’s important that UK landlords listen to what tenants want. By cutting out the middle man and dealing directly with tenants, landlords have full control, enabling them to build trust and secure long lasting relationships with their tenants. We’ve used this research to build a better lettings agency model. At Upad, we find and reference great tenants for our landlords but allow them to handle viewings personally. The results have been amazing with properties being filled in days, even hours in some cases and the feedback has been phenomenal.”

Upad is one of the UKs largest and fastest growing letting agencies. Last year alone, 107,000 tenants asked them for help finding a home. Upad specialise in helping professional tenants rent properties from landlords directly by allowing landlords to manage their own viewings. The tenant-finding services start from just £99 + VAT per property with an even cheaper rate for rooms.

For more information please contact lettings experts Upad, on 0333 240 1220 or visit www.upad.co.uk.
 

As London prepares for the biggest sporting event on Earth, the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, thousands of landlords are preparing to rent out their properties in the Capital with the hopes of making a small fortune during the sporting event. 

Recent statistics from FindaProperty.com has discovered that rental prices in numerous Olympic boroughs have grown 35 times higher their usual price during the Games with areas such as Greenwich, host of the 2012 Olympics’ equestrian events affording asking prices many times higher than the current market rate while an increase in advertised rental properties in Windsor, near to the Olympic rowing competitions has also emerged.

James Davis CEO of leading lettings agency, Upad comments,

“The lettings market surrounding the Olympics is quite simply huge. From the 27th July until the 12th August 2012, London will be awash with tourists, athletes and international press all in need of accommodation. Whilst hotels are expecting a boom in occupancy levels, more and more visitors have expressed interest in staying in private accommodation. landlords and indeed homeowners should be able to command a hefty sum, £2,000 a week for a London letting over the 16 day period, maybe even more. Of course, this sum differs depending on the property and location but nevertheless, there is money to be made.”

For those contemplating letting their properties during the 2012 Games, the team at Upad who have recently launched a new dedicated Olympic lettings service for £250 + VAT, have some top tips on letting Olympic property.

Letting Vs Subletting

1. If you don’t own the property you’re thinking of letting, then stop now. Your agreement with your landlord will preclude you sub-letting and invalidate the tenancy agreement.

2. If you’re thinking of sub-letting a council flat then your local council and all tax payers will throw the book at you. You may lose your home and will be prosecuted. Don’t do it.

3. If your parents own the property, ensure that you discuss this with them first and just make sure you clean up afterwards.
 

4. If you own the property and are currently letting it to tenants, then you shouldn’t terminate your existing rental agreement for 2 weeks of higher rent. It’s bad business and very rude, almost Dickensian. Good quality long-term tenants are worth their weight in gold and you may live to regret your decision.

5. If you own the property and live in it yourself, or you are a landlord specializing in short lets then you may have good cause to let it out over the Games.

Earning potential

1 Unfortunately there is no rate card for property during the games. Like concert tickets, some may be willing to pay well above the odds, but that doesn’t include much of the population.

2 Like standard lettings, centrally located properties, close (waking distance) from public transport will do well. Keep in mind that these guests will be expecting hotel standard accommodation. Properties let to holiday makers year round are typically uncluttered with top-end robust fitting and furnishings. You won’t get top dollar for your dark, musty student digs.
 

3 As a rule of thumb, you should be looking at 2-3x the standard rental value of the house. There will be an additional multiplier depending on how close you are to Olympic events.

4 A typical 3 bedroom property in Shoreditch would let for £600-£800 PW. During the Olympics this would multiply to circa £2,000/week. Shoreditch is a desirable area for tourists and is convenient to the Olympic Park so you could expect to achieve around £3,000/week. If one party takes it for two weeks or more, you might want to discount to roughly £5,500 for the fortnight.

5 There’s still a while until the Olympics, so in the short term you can afford to be bullish on pricing.
 

6 Certain councils insist you must apply for planning permission for lets under 90 days. These councils are Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Camden.

7 It is a legal requirement to have both a Gas Safety Certificate for the property and your electrical appliances tested. If you require a Gas Safety Certificate you can instruct one with Upad.

Potential pitfalls

1 You’ll need to inform your insurance company. All policies are different and some will have clauses allowing you to let the property out for a limited time per year. Others won’t. You may face a revised policy estimate, but that’s better than facing a court case or losing your home should someone fall down your stairs or burn the place down.
 

2 You should inform your mortgage company. You’ll need to take a view on this given many lenders are trying to push rates up at the moment and will use this as a reason to do so. Many homeowners will take a calculated risk on this one.

3 Have you thought about tax? If you already complete a self-assessment then it’s simple to add in the extra income. You can even offset your expenses such as agency costs. If you need to change your tax habits for one lump sum you may want to reconsider. Many owners will be tempted to transact in cash. I can’t say it’s the right thing to do, but it will certainly make it a challenge to secure a deposit on the booking.

4 You won’t be able to reference your guests so you’re taking a risk on their quality. Don’t forget that your possessions are still in the property.

How to do it

1. De-clutter the property. You’ll need to find a lockable space (closet) to store any valuables, and you should clear out some space for clothes etc. You should put a deposit on the property equal to roughly 10-20% of the rental amount, and it’s a good idea to add a cleaning surcharge.
 

2. Find a specialist to help you such as Upad that will ensure your property is advertised on professional sites such as Rightmove, FindaProperty and Zoopla and many more property websites for as long as it takes to secure your guests.

3. Maximise your rental income potential by presenting your property in its best possible lights. Upad can arrange a professional photographer to visit and shoot a property for just £85 + VAT or for £130 + VAT if you would also like a floorplan, which is extremely useful to anyone making a decision on your property offer.

Upad is one of the UKs largest and fastest growing letting agencies. Last year alone, 107,000 tenants asked them for help finding a home. Upad specialise in helping professional tenants rent properties from landlords directly.

Upad’s new dedicated Olympic lettings service is just £250 + VAT. They list Olympic properties on all the UKs largest property websites including Rightmove etc, and then introduce tenants to landlords directly, supporting landlords every step of the way. The service is fully guaranteed.
 

While a recent report from SpareRoom.co.uk discovered that 87% of 1,000 landlords surveyed who accept housing benefit tenants have had problems with rent not being paid on time, with 11% saying they have had tenants who stopped paying their rent altogether, it seems that not all landlords hold negativity towards Local Housing Allowance (LHA) tenants, with James Davis, CEO of innovative lettings agency Upad explaining why he believes housing benefit tenants are more friend than foe.

The poll from SpareRoom.co.uk revealed that almost 6 out of 10 landlords (59%) refuse to accept anyone on benefits, often stating ‘no housing benefit tenants’ in their adverts with nearly 30% highlighting that non-benefit tenants were more reliable. Additionally, 47% explained that they did not want the hassle of dealing with payment problems as the main reason for their reluctance towards renting to LHA tenants.

James Davis, himself a landlord for 14 years, comments,

“I am a big fan of LHA tenants! While I understand the concerns surrounding renting property to those on housing benefit, I make a point of actually selecting LHA tenants to reside in my homes. The reason this sector gets a bad name is due to a real lack of understanding by landlords. Give me a LHA family any day!”

In contrast to the SpareRoom.co.uk report, Davis believes that LHA tenants are the best of the bunch, outlining 3 main reasons he prefers renting to this group:

1. Longevity

“LHA tenancies last twice as long as private tenants, meaning that I have lower void periods and a lot less hassle. The shortest tenancy I’ve had was for 5 years, in fact, most of my properties still hold the same LHA tenants that moved in 8 – 10 years ago when I first entered the sector.”

2. Care

“LHA families in my opinion look after properties far more than young professionals who tend to see the property as a place to crash. LHA tenants tend to view their property as a ‘home’ for their families meaning they will take far better care of the property.”

3. Money spinner

“LHA rents, if you do your due diligence, can earn you more than private rents. In addition, due to the current economic climate, there is an extortionate level of tenant demand in this market, so landlords can very much afford to be choosey in selecting the very best tenants.”

Furthermore, Davis believes that a lot of the issues raised by landlords when it comes to housing benefit tenants can be easily mitigated away as long as they know how to do it, revealing 6 top tips for eliminating landlord concerns.
 
 
1. Get a ‘letter of authorisation’ so you can speak to your Council about their claim.

2. Speak to your Council before signing an agreement. Is the family on full housing benefit? Have there been claims or issues in the past? Confirm they qualify for the number of bedrooms in your property.

3. Get rents paid directly to you (very possible if tenants have defaulted in the past).

4. Only take on families looking for 2 or 3 bed properties to minimise any potential hassle (singletons move far more frequently).

5. Take out rent guarantee insurance – just in case.

6. Educate yourself on this sector; it does come with a health warning! It’s not for the faint hearted.
 

With over 650 properties currently available and over 20,000 tenant enquiries each month Upad are already the equivalent size of 20 average high street lettings agent offices. Upad finds fully-referenced tenants, and allows landlords to show them around themselves all for a one off fee of £99 + VAT.

For more information please contact lettings experts Upad, on 0333 240 1220 or visit www.upad.co.uk.

A Private Rental Sector Health Check for January 2012 from market leading lettings agency Upad, has revealed that almost 70% of landlords are more confident about the UK buy-to-let market in January than they were at the end of 2011.

Asking 592 landlords whether they were more or less confident about the buy-to-let market in January compared to the previous month a total of 411 (70%) respondents highlighted rising tenant demand, high rents and reduced housing stock as the main reasons for boosting their assurance in the buy-to-let market.

James Davis, CEO of online lettings agent Upad comments,

“By conducting this survey we gain great insight into the optimism of landlords in 2012. Indeed, more and more people are choosing to rent as they struggle to get on the property ladder and with and estimated double-digit increase in the number of people who will choose to become “professional tenants” this year, landlord confidence in 2012 is on the up.”

Of course, each landlord questioned had their own reasons for being confident in 2012. One landlord highlighted that they were confident about the buy-to-let market in Winchester because of the good student housing demand and professional lets in the area while another landlord explained that their confidence derived from the lack of rental properties on the market in South East London stating: “My last let was snapped up immediately without any negotiation on the asking rent.”

In addition, landlords have noticed that interest among renters is increasing with one such inspired landlord commenting: “I am more confident due to the amount of response I have had to my recent rental property. Having sold a property last year, the difference in the amount of viewing for my rental property in comparison to my property for sale has been very encouraging.”

Meanwhile, confidence among one of London’s best private student and graduate landlords is strong according to the feedback given to Upad, declaring:  “We had around 170 groups of students register with us for housing for summer 2012, that’s basically 850 – 1200 separate students based on 5/ 6 per group in just 8 weeks who registered and then all viewed our houses with the last 7 days. This is just for summer 2012! And, they are looking now and willing and able to pay top rents for the right sites. That’s why we are more confident and that’s why we are investing.”

With confidence in the UK buy-to-let market growing, landlords looking for an innovative new way to do business should look no further than the UK’s market leading online lettings agency, Upad. Last year they let over 3,500 properties nationally following one simple belief, that ‘landlords are better than agents at showing tenants around properties. 

Upad enables both professional, self-managing and the rapidly growing group of accidental landlords to find tenants in a professional agency environment, whilst retaining the ability to meet tenants and show them around their property personally. The cost savings are remarkable, driving down agents’ fees across the sector. Tenant-find services start from just £99+vat per property and an even cheaper price for rooms.

For more information on the Private Rental Sector Health Check from Upad or to find out more about the services available please contact lettings experts Upad, on 0333 240 1220 or visit www.upad.co.uk.
 

Its official, the race is now on as London homeowners seek to cash in on the estimated 500,000 visitors flooding into London this summer to witness the 2012 Olympic Games.

Taking a leaf out of the former Spurs and Arsenal defender, Sol Campbell’s book, who will be renting out his Chelsea townhouse for £75,000 a week, around four times its value throughout the Olympic Games; Londoners have begun advertising their Olympic properties to take advantage of the expected fivefold increase in London rental prices according to industry experts, Knight Frank.

James Davis CEO of leading lettings agency, Upad comments,

“The lettings market surrounding the Olympics is quite simply huge. From the 27th July until the 12th August 2012, London will be awash with tourists all in need of accommodation. Whilst hotels are expecting a boom in occupancy levels, more and more visitors have expressed interest in staying in private accommodation.

“Homeowners with centrally located London homes suitable for Olympic VIPs as well those seeking accommodation close to the Olympic Park will see demand for short-term rentals sky rocket allowing homeowners the perfect opportunity to reel in excellent financial rewards.”

For homeowners contemplating letting their properties during the 2012 Games, the team at Upad have launched a new dedicated Olympic lettings service for £250 + VAT.

For this flat fee Upad will advertise your property on Rightmove, FindaProperty, Zoopla, Gumtree and many more property websites for as long as it takes to secure your guests. You will receive applicant’s details and speak to them directly to arrange terms. Upad will help you to write a great description and even visit the property to take professional photos if you really want to achieve top dollar on your Olympic let.

With less than six months until all eyes will be on London and the opening ceremony, contact the experts at Upad today on 0333 240 1220 or visit www.upad.co.uk for more information on the new dedicated Olympic lettings service for £250+ VAT.

What is your role?

Founder & CEO of www.upad.co.uk

What is Upad in a nutshell?

Upad is the UKs largest online lettings agency. We help landlords nationally to let and manage their properties, and because we’ve grown so large, we can pass on massive savings to landlords.

How is it different to other lettings agencies?

Our landlords are generally experienced buy-to-let professionals who like to stay involved in their property. They will for instance, meet and show tenants around their property themselves, so they can make an informed decision on the best tenant.

Upad allows landlords to purchase only the services they need. For example if they already have photos, we don’t charge them for more. Successfully letting a property doesn’t require a high street office or a fleet of cars, so we cut out all the fat making the process efficient and affordable.

What do you see happening to UK rents in 2012?

We believe there will be a modest 2-5% increase in rents outside of London, while in London rents will hike up to around 5-10%, propelled by events such as the London Olympic Games. Indeed, there will almost certainly be a ‘renter swell’ and we will soon forget what the meaning of a ‘first time buyer’.

What will be the greatest challenge for landlords this year?

The capping of housing benefits will cause a massive upheaval in many areas. Even if landlords let privately, local markets will change. It´s hard to measure knock on effects and unintended consequences of regulatory changes. Availability of funds proves to be an ongoing problem and with the economic forecast looking grey, I would definitely suggest that landlords do whatever they can to stay cash positive.

If you had £100k to invest in B2L, what you buy, where and why?

I would purchase a 3 / 4 bed property in Swansea, ideally SA1 or SA5 postcodes, as the yields no longer stack up for me in most parts of London.

There is a huge quantity of stock available there, many of which are ripe for total redevelopment work. There are healthy grants available if the property has been empty for 2 years and reduced vat rates on works. Housing Benefit tenants still ´work´ there too – I´m looking to sell some of mine in London soon due to the recent capping.
 

2012 looks set to be a particularly fruitful year with buy-to-let lender Paragon Group revealing that landlords are expecting tenant demand in the UK to remain high, predicting a double-digit increase in the number of people who will choose to become “professional tenants”, opting to rent rather than buy.

With renting becoming ever more popular, a number of lettings agents have explained that as many as 10 applicants can chase every home. James Davies, residential landlord for over 12 years and CEO of self-service lettings agency, Upad comments,

“2011 was certainly a good year for the buy-to-let market with demand steadily rising and with this set to continue into 2012, landlords can very much afford to be choosey about who rents their properties.”

With so many potential tenants to choose from, it can be very difficult to select the very best. Therefore James Davis has utilised his years of landlord experience to provided landlords with his top tips on finding and keeping great tenants in 2012.

1. Better properties attract better tenants

“First and foremost, better properties attract better tenants. The better your property, the more you can be choosy about the quality of your tenants. Some characteristics of high-demand properties that really guarantee a great tenant are properties that are close to transport links (ideally walking distance in cities) and properties that are near hospitals, universities and major office parks which will provide a constant flow of professional tenants. Other characteristics include a clean, tidy property with reasonable fittings and neutral décor combined with great services including Wifi, cable TV and a Cleaner.”

2. Good presentation

“How you present your property is integral to finding a great tenant. If you want to secure a quality tenant you must ensure that you have great photos.  Get professional ones done so you can use them constantly. With poor or absent photos, expect a 75% drop in tenant enquiries.

“Meanwhile, when showcasing your property why not add a floorplan? Nowadays, floorplans are becoming standard among professional landlord properties and show tenants that you know what you’re doing. You can expect a 52% increase in tenant enquiries with a floorplan.”

3. Manage your own viewings

“One of the best ways to guarantee a great tenant is to manage your own viewings and we at Upad allow you to do just that. You know your property better than everyone else and with your knowledge you can extol the property’s virtues and emphasise the positives. You are also likely to be more flexible than a lettings agent when it comes to evening and weekend viewings, increasing your chances of finding the perfect tenant.

“Indeed, showing tenants around your rental property is your chance to get a glimpse of the people who may (or may not) be renting your property. It´s no substitute for all the proper screening and referencing but it´s a good opportunity to engage your landlord instincts. If you meet the tenants up-front, it’s often simpler to build a robust long-term relationship.”

4. Lets with pets

“Consider letting to tenants with pets. The Dogs Trust praises the virtues of lets with pets. They claim that not only will permitting pets increase the demand for your property but you’ll also attract a better class of tenant. They further suggest that tenants with pets stay longer because they know how difficult it is to find an understanding landlord. A shocking 54% of pet owners have never been able to find a suitable rental property that’s pet-friendly.”

5. Consider LHA tenants
 

“I am a big fan of LHA (Local Housing Authority) tenants regardless of what others might think. Generally LHA tenants last twice as long as private tenants; those with families often stick around longer and in my opinion look after properties better than young professionals because they see the property as a ‘home’ rather than a place to crash.”

6. Don’t be a paper chaser

“The best way to ensure that you won’t be chasing after your rent is to avoid listing where the quality of the tenant is unknown. If your property is advertised on professional sites such as Rightmove, FindaProperty and Zoopla then the quality of tenant tends to be higher – a professional channel for a professional tenant so to speak. Of course, free sites mean you don’t have to pay for advertising but you may pay at a later stage in extended void periods, property repairs or lose out because of rental arrears if you don’t tread carefully.”

How to keep great tenants?

“If you treat your tenants well, they are more likely to respect you, treat the property with care and stick around longer. By treating well I mean taking care of repairs quickly and include fittings and items which make the property desirable to live in. A good relationship between landlord and tenant is essential to a happy tenancy. You don’t have to be best buddies (although you can be if you want) but a respectful and amicable connection will go a long way. Why not try these simple tips to help build the perfect relationship?

 Leave a bottle of wine in the property as a welcome gift on moving-in day.

 Don’t buy cheap furniture that you know will only last for a year. It will soon look decrepit.
 

 Update the property throughout the tenancy. Why wait until they leave before springing for a new rug?

 Leave your tenants alone. They have the right to quiet enjoyment and don’t need you knocking on the door every other week.
 

 Respect their time. We often hear of landlords who expect their tenants to wait in during the day for trades-people. It isn’t their job, it’s yours.
 

 Be creative at renewal time. Rather than just putting up the rent again, try giving something back. It might be as simple as a thank-you note for being a great tenant.”

Upad are the UK’s market leading online lettings agency. Last year they let over 3,500 properties nationally following one simple belief, that ‘landlords are better than agents at showing tenants around properties.  Their Standard Tenant-Find Service is just £299 + VAT and includes everything from photography, to a drafted tenancy agreement. Upad will introduce tenants and landlords get to do their own viewings.

Alternatively, if the landlord has their own photos and is confident enough to sign tenants and collect rent themselves, for just £99 + VAT Upad will list the property across all major UK lettings websites including Rightmove and introduce tenants, until let.

With over 650 properties currently available and over 20,000 tenant enquiries each month Upad are already the equivalent size of 20 average high street lettings agent offices. They will not only help you find great tenants but help you keep them as well.

For more information on finding and keeping great tenants please contact lettings experts Upad, on 0333 240 1220 or visit www.upad.co.uk.

2012 offers a wealth of opportunity for the UK Buy-to-Let market according to James Davis, residential landlord for over 12 years and CEO of self-service lettings agency, UPAD. With rents rising across England and Wales by 3.5% (Jan – Nov 2011) according to the LSL Buy-to-Let Index, James explains why savvy landlords are gearing up to take advantage of this year’s lucrative opportunities.

Rents will continue to rise

“We believe there will be a modest 2 – 5% increase in rents outside of London, while in London rents will hike up by around 5 – 10%, propelled by events such as the London Olympic Games. Indeed, there will almost certainly be a ‘renter swell’ and we will soon forget the meaning of a ‘first time buyer’.

Farewell to the First Time Buyer

“There are a number of things we predict to arise in the UK Buy-to-Let market in 2012 namely that we will see first time buyers struggling to get on the ladder even with a deposit as banks will require an ‘uber’ credit rating, despite lending at 6%+.

“In addition, we also estimate that interest rates will stay at around 0.5% then fall lower by Q3 while the not unlikely collapse of the EU in Q2 will force banks to shut up shop as they won’t have cash reserves to lend.

“However on the flip side, most landlords do have cash reserves, pensions, savings and equity in the homes they have access to and falling house prices next year will mean that those with cash will be able to snap up good deals from distressed sellers.”

It won’t all be plain sailing for landlords

“We forecast a number of issues that are likely to affect landlords this year including tenants potentially defaulting on their rents as costs of living rise. Rents are likely to be paid in arrears particularly from Housing Benefit Tenants.
 

“There will also be rising finance from banks that will create a tougher operating environment for landlords as well as tougher choices when choosing tenants.”

How will tenants fare in 2012?

“One off the biggest issues here will of course be rising rents and lack of housing stock. With no salary rises on the table for 2012 and higher living costs, tenants will have to start to downgrade. We may see a large number of people in London having to move out of zone 2 to more affordable areas.

“Additionally, having to supplement their housing benefit contributions as of January 2012, we are likely to see the real effects of the Government capping coming into play for these tenants. While this will create real problems for those who will no longer be able to afford to rent in London, there will be options to move to cheaper areas in the UK. Several London Boroughs have done deals with cheaper areas across the UK such as Swansea, to house their social tenants.

“While there will be increases in credit checking given issues in the economy, a general ‘nervousness’ will be felt by landlords who will require additional comfort while tenants will also need to pay higher deposits with rent payable up front becoming common place.”

2012: The year of online lettings

“This sector has grown five fold in last 18 months and we estimate that online lettings will double by the end of 2012. Indeed, UPAD has experienced a boom in online lettings thanks to resurgence in the UK rental market. Over the last 18 months alone we have seen a huge increase in the number of rental properties listed through online agents from around 500 in April 2010 to 2,600 in October 2011.

“Meanwhile, awareness for online lettings will continue to grow among landlords as they realise that there is a better way to self-manage, replace classifieds and save money on agent commissions and ongoing management costs.

“As recognised suppliers of the National Landlords Association and licensed member of the Association of Residential Lettings Agents, UPAD in 2012, will continue to revolutionize the world of lettings, extolling the virtues of self-service online letting from as little as £99 + VAT.”

For more 2012 predictions from the online lettings experts UPAD, please contact the team on 0333 240 1220 or visit www.upad.co.uk.
 

With their success in letting thousands of properties across the UK by following one simple belief that landlords are better than agents at showing properties, Upad, the market leading self-service lettings agency will be changing the face of lettings in 2012.   

Working alongside leading property PR agency, AB Property Marketing (ABPM), as of 1st January, Upad will continue to revolutionize the world of lettings, moving away from traditional high street agencies and extolling the virtues of self-service online letting from as little as £99 + VAT.

With over 500 properties across the UK currently available to let, the equivalent of 15 to 20 traditional high street agencies’ stock and approximately 20,000 tenant enquiries per month, Upad enables both professional, self-managing and the rapidly growing group of accidental landlords the ability to list their properties on all the major lettings sites (Rightmove, FindaProperty, Zoopla, Gumtree and many more), receive tenant enquiries and show them around personally as well as have tenant referencing and administration taken care of by Upad, all for a one off fee of £99 + VAT.

Commenting on the Upad model, CEO and residential landlord for over 12 years, James Davis says:

“The rental market in the UK is enjoying a resurgence with online lettings in particular booming. Over the last 18 months alone we have seen a fivefold increase in the number of rental properties listed online from around 500 in April 2010 to 2,600 in October 2011.

“With this extraordinary growth in mind, Upad offers the leading alternative to high street letting agencies; the properties available are highly visible online with landlords being put in direct contact with potential tenants enabling them to conduct viewings themselves which is often preferable and save a considerable amount on agent commissions and ongoing management costs.”

Recognised suppliers of the National Landlords Association and licensed member of the Association of Residential Lettings Agents, Upad also offer a full range of lettings services for the more hands-off landlord. These include room or property listing, professional photographs, floor plans, to-let board, handling of tenant enquiries, tenant referencing and administration including gas safety and energy performance certification and even rent collection.

Commenting on the appointment, Charlotte Ashton, Director of ABPM says,

“We are delighted to be representing Upad; with over 90% of people now starting their search for property online, the world of lettings is rapidly changing and there is a clear gap in the market for an alternative to high street letting agencies. The team behind Upad, headed up by James Davis, combine their vast experience in lettings and technology to produce the leading online lettings service, Upad.”

What can Upad offer the media?

• Expert comment on the UK lettings market from CEO, James Davis

• Predictions for the UK lettings market in 2012

• Monthly Landlord Confidence Index

• Case studies of happy landlords and tenants

• Timely data on lettings market and trends

• Top tips on finding good tenants

• B2B / trade commentary on landlord issues

• Seminar speaking by James Davis

For more information on Upad contact Charlotte Ashton at ABPM on +44 (0) 207 952 7227, c.ashton@abpropertymarketing.co.uk or watch the video at www.upad.co.uk.