Belvoir Property Clinic - Looking for Rented Accommodation

Vicky Bowman, Lettings Manager at Belvoir Andover answers today’s property questions.

If you have a question for our monthly Belvoir Property Clinic, please send to info@belvoirandover.com

Q. My partner and I would like to rent our first home together but we are struggling to save the large deposit we need. Are there any options for paying a smaller deposit?

A. Yes, if you find a property through Belvoir you could qualify for Belvoir’s Nil Deposit Scheme. We know how tough it can be to raise that up-front deposit, so our Nil Deposit scheme offers an alternative option which will allow you to move quickly and easily into your chosen new home.

Rather than paying the usual six week’s rent as a deposit, you can now choose to pay a non-refundable fixed fee of just one week’s rent plus VAT.

At the end of the tenancy, the property will be inspected as usual and any claims for damage are invoiced to you for payment. It really is that simple!

There are some qualifying criteria, so pop into the office or give the Lettings Team a call on 01264 366611 to discuss.

Q. I have been looking for rented accommodation in Andover for some time now but even the smallest one bedroom flats are out of my reach. Have you any suggestions on how I can find something suitable?

A. It is difficult for those on limited budgets to find suitable homes to rent. Some of our smaller properties are let very quickly and you may not even get to see them advertised, so please do get in touch as we may be able to help you if we know what you are looking for.

Have you considered a house share? Belvoir always has a number of house or flat share opportunities and it can be the perfect solution for someone who can’t quite stretch to living on their own. Not only is the rent reduced but so are the bills.

Take a look at our website, www.belvoirandover.com to see what is currently available or drop into our office in Bridge Street so we can take your details and help you find the ideal home.

No Deposit? No Problem!

Belvoir is now offering a Nil Deposit Scheme for new tenants

Here at Belvoir, we know that it can be a struggle to raise a large deposit to put down on a rented home, so our new Nil Deposit Scheme offers an alternative option which will allow you to move quickly and easily into your chosen new home. 

Rather than paying the usual six week’s rental as a deposit, you can now choose to pay a non-refundable fixed fee of just one week’s rent plus VAT*

At the end of the tenancy, the property will be inspected in the usual way.

No need to save for months for that large deposit – yet another reason to Be with Belvoir!

How does it work? Pop in and see one of our Lettings team to find out if you qualify for Nil Deposit and to understand the full terms and conditions of the Scheme, or call them on 01264 366611

*Terms and Conditions apply

Introducing Vicky Bowman

We are delighted to announce that Vicky Bowman has joined Belvoir as Lettings Manager. Vicky will head up our very successful lettings team and she brings a wealth of experience to the role; having been a Lettings Manager in Andover for over 14 years.

Vicky said 'I am delighted to join such a busy and well-regarded lettings agent and I am looking forward to meeting and working with the many landlords that rely on Belvoir to manage their properties'

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION…

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION…

Three small words that can transform your property

investment decision, says Belvoir.  

As a new landlord or investor in the buy to let market, what would be your first priority – the type and purchase cost of the property, or the place in which it is situated?

There is no single, definitive answer to this commonly considered question, but in property circles the phrase ‘location, location, location’ is often referred to as the first three rules of property investment.

It’s the same for tenants too. Delia Thing who heads up the lettings team at the Belvoir Andover office on Bridge Street, says:  “When looking for the ideal place to invest in or to rent, it is worth remembering the adage ‘you can change the house, but you cannot change its location’.

“To find a property that will appeal to a tenant and provide a good level of rental income and/or capital growth it is extremely important to firstly define that appeal. There are many considerations to take into account and a good place to start is to look for towns, areas or streets that are currently in demand, and are likely to be increasingly popular in the future.

“Location is always a key driver, with proximity to work, schools, commuter routes, shops and public services amongst the many factors to be taken into account when choosing to market a property as a buy to let.

“In today’s market, there is an ever accelerating need for private rented property, with tenant demand often outstripping supply. To be absolutely sure as to whether a property would make a good rental investment it is worth consulting a lettings specialist such as Belvoir.

“Expert agents can identify local trends and spotlight properties that are the most popular for the type of tenant looking to rent and the best areas in which to find them.

They will know where property ‘hotspots’ are and which parts of a city or town are driving the market.”

Many buy to let investors choose to stay local in order to ‘keep an eye’ on their investment. It’s a strategy that works for thousands across the country, but there is no reason why a buy to let investment cannot work just as successfully hundreds of miles away - provided you make the right choice of professional lettings agent who can manage, maintain and keep a check on the property on your behalf.

“Within the Belvoir national network of over 160 offices there is a high proportion of landlords who own just one or two buy to let property investments, and many of these are in a different part of the country to where they are based.

“In cases like this an agent will have all the right up to date local knowledge and know properties and locations with the highest tenant demand. They will be able to advise on current, achievable rental levels and help avoid the pitfalls of investing in the wrong areas.”

Belvoir’s Andover’s advice for helping to decide the best location for a property investment include:

·        Only decide on where you want to invest after thorough research.

·      Do not make a decision based on the look of the property alone. Just because it appeals to you, it will not necessarily be a good rental investment.

·   Providing tenants with a quality, well maintained property for them to call home carries responsibilities. Only work with a local agent that you have checked out, trust and who has gained all the relevant professional industry accreditations.

·    Remember that big is not always best. A one or two bedroom unfurnished apartment can often yield a better return than larger, four bedroom furnished houses. It’s all down to location and the type of tenant you are targeting.

·        Overly high ‘yields’ – or returns on an investment - can sometimes indicate hidden issues and may not necessarily lead to a good investment.

·       Beware of “buying cheap and paying dear”.  If a property is located in a low quality area it can increasingly become run down – attracting the wrong type of tenant and achieving poor long term capital growth.

“Whilst there are many other things to consider when entering the buy to let market, ‘location, location, location’ must always be uppermost in the mind of a landlord investor,” adds Dee.

“Sometimes the difference between a good rental property and a not so good one can be down to which side of the street it is on, let alone its geographical location.

“If you want to avoid costly mistakes early on in the process, invest in good local, experienced advice. Initial consultations with our office are both free and carry no obligation to proceed.

“At Belvoir we can help to source suitable properties and steer people away from opportunities that, at first, may appear good on paper but may not prove to be the best decision over the longer term.”

If you are looking to invest in the buy to let market, please contact us to arrange an informal chat about your options, what is available and what to look for. Please call Delia Thing on 01264 366611

Belvoir Andover are the towns leading buy to let & investment specialist who have been the industry leader since 1997.

Energy Performance Certificates - Updated Law

EPC Certificates (England & Wales)

It has become apparent that a change in law is forthcoming with regards to Energy Performance Certificates (EPC’s), we have outlined the following advice and action that Landlords will need to know in order to ensure their properties are compliant by the relevant dates.

EPC ratings indicate how energy efficient a property is, giving it a rating from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient). They also demonstrate the environmental impact of a property in terms of carbon emissions and how costly it will be to heat and light, both in monetary and CO terms.

From April 2018, it will be unlawful under the Energy Act 2011, to let a residential property on a New Tenancy Agreement with an EPC rating of F or G – the lowest two categories. This will include a tenancy renewal as this will constitute a new fixed term Tenancy Agreement. Obviously if it continues as periodic with no new Tenancy Agreement the landlord will not need to look at this during that period. This will not apply to any existing lettings until 2023 if there is no change of tenancy.

From April 2016, tenants living in F and G rated homes will be able to request that their landlord takes measures to improve the energy efficiency, with the landlord duty bound to respond within a month with a view to bringing the property up to the minimum E rating.

If Landlords wish to upgrade their properties, the first step is to instruct an approved EPC assessor to survey the property and establish the current rating. If the rating is less than an E, the assessor will be able to give advice on how to improve it. This could be as simple as installing energy saving light bulbs, draught proofing or making more comprehensive improvements, such as replacing an ageing boiler, putting in secondary glazing or upgrading heating controls, and installing systems which are likely to have an impact on improving overall energy efficiency. If the Landlords take action now it will mean they have time on their side to schedule the works and budget costs accordingly, with the ability to spread the outlay over the forthcoming years.

It is worth noting that if the property is 'Listed', then an EPC is not required.

If you would like to check if you have an EPC on your property or want to check the rating, you can do this online by entering the postcode here: ONLINE EPC REGISTER

If you do not yet have a certificate for your property and would like to arrange to have one, please contact ann.osman@belvoirandover.com who will be able to arrange a certificate if needed or discuss the short falls with you. If the property is a 'F' or 'G' then we can formulate an action plan for your property.

If you have a property that is not fully managed by us but need advise on this, please email Ann in the first instance.

Please could you email us in all cases in the first instance to avoid a flood of calls into the office, Please bear with us whilst we answer all enquiries.

New Property Tax Law That Affects Non UK Residents

If you buy UK residential property but are a tax-resident outside of the UK, you need to be aware of a new tax that came into effect on 6 April 2015: non-resident CGT (NRCGT).

The NRCGT charge is applied at different rates according to whether the seller is a non-resident closely-held company, fund, individual, personal representative or trustee. It applies to gains made in the period from 6 April 2015 to the disposal date of the property, so a small amount of tax is likely to be payable on property sales made in 2015/16.

However, when such a sale is made a NRCGT return must be submitted to HMRC within 30 days of the conveyance of the property, and this must be done online. The return must be made whether there is any NRCGT to pay or not, where there is a loss on the disposal, and even where the taxpayer is due to report the disposal on their own personal or corporate self-assessment tax return.

Where the vendor is not registered for UK income tax, corporation tax or the annual tax on enveloped dwellings (ATED), the NRCGT charge must be paid within 30 days of the conveyance date. This payment can only be made once the NRCGT return has been submitted and HMRC have replied with a reference number to use when making the payment. There are penalties for failing to file the NRCGT return on time, and failing to pay the tax on time.

If the taxpayer is registered for UK Self-Assessment they can opt to pay the NRCGT due at the same time as the tax due for their normal personal or corporate tax.

Conveyancing solicitors need to be aware of the very tight tax reporting and payment deadlines. Property developers need to warn non-resident customers that they will be liable to tax on any gain made when they sell the residential property and that gain includes any discount in the price achieved by buying "off-plan".

CHOOSE AN AGENT – OR GO IT ALONE?

It’s an important first decision for all new buy to let landlords    

Public interest in buy to let property investment has never been higher.

Tumbling mortgage rates, a shortage of housing stock, increased tenant demand, all boosted by the recent liberation of some people’s pensions savings, are continuing to tempt more and more investors into the sector as a way of protecting their financial future.

According to the Council of Mortgage Lenders, private residential buy to let mortgage funding has increased by 11 per cent year on year with nearly 16,000 loans, representing £2.2 billion, issued at the start of 2015.

However, Belvoir, one of the UK’s largest property letting and management specialists, says that new landlords should take a long look before they leap into this booming market – and fully consider the pro’s and cons of either ‘going it alone’, or employing an agent to advise on what can be a daunting process for novice investors.

Phil Pinkney, Director of Belvoir Andover which is part of a national network of over 160 offices, says: “Deciding to manage a property yourself or paying for an agent to do it on your behalf is a big decision.

“Even after taking all the essential first steps, such as researching the local market, identifying the right kind of property, checking its condition, its likely appeal to a particular tenant group and its potential yield or ‘return’ on investment, there is still a lot to consider.

“Landlords need to carefully assess their available time, skills and abilities, so as to ensure the safeguarding of a property and the people who will live in it, and importantly, make the whole process as stress free as possible.”

“Renting out a property for the first time can feel daunting because of the amount of legislation, health and safety considerations and overall commitment to the on-going maintenance and security of your investment.

“Professional agents, recognised and accredited by the UK’s industry bodies, not only have in place a wide range of client protection mechanisms, but a thorough understanding of your local market, technical knowledge of the sector and up to date information on trends and statistics to help you make informed decisions”.

“Fees charged reflect the depth of knowledge, expertise and up to date training required to keep on top of a constantly changing property landscape. When considering the cost of employing an agent you should always be aware of the cost of NOT employing one should things start to go wrong.”

Belvoir says there are three principal points to consider:

• Being a ‘do-it -yourself’ landlord means having the time and patience needed to care for your property and its tenants. Would you be able to deal with any issue at a moment’s notice, to the satisfaction of all concerned?

• Do you have the manual and organisational skills to maintain the property to the required standard, or would you need to employ someone to do this for you?

• Are you confident about handling all the legalities?  Changes to Landlord and Tenant law are frequent and often complicated. Again, this demands time, research, a thorough understanding and great attention to detail.

• All well-established, reputable agents will offer a range of services to suit the particular circumstances of a landlord client. Landlords may require all of them or just specific ones, following a detailed assessment of the need.

• They can help find, and then screen and reference, suitable tenants. This is an important first step and is often overlooked by ‘DIY’ landlords.

• A thorough knowledge of local property prices, achievable rent levels and investment ‘yields’ will help new landlords to set a realistic, fair and competitive rent for their property.

• An agent’s full inventory check at the start of a tenancy provides a valuable record of the property’s internal ‘assets’ – appliances, furnishings etc. – that can be checked against when the tenant leaves.

• In addition to the legal ‘basics’ of understanding tenancy agreements and deposit legislation, professional agents such as Belvoir are required to have comprehensive, up to date knowledge of rules on gas and electrical safety, energy performance ratings, fire regulations, legal furnishing standards and landlord/tenant insurance matters – to name just a few.

• If property maintenance forms part of your management agreement, an agent will provide round the clock protection in the event of a burst pipe, broken appliance, weather damage or any other problem. They will provide a professional assessment of the cause and or liability for repair and fix the problem on your behalf.

• All landlords have a legal obligation under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to ensure that their property is safe and that repairs are carried out to the correct standard, so quality of workmanship is essential. A professional agent will ensure compliance with these regulations.

• If problems arise during a tenancy – for example slow or non payment of rent – the agent will pursue this on a landlord’s behalf and take any appropriate steps to manage the issue.

                 Established for 20 years and multi-times winner of the UK property industry’s top awards, Belvoir offers the following advice on the advantages of using a letting agent to guide you through the lettings process:  

“When a considerable amount of your own money is put into a buy to let investment, it is critical to understand the advantages, the restrictions and indeed some of the pitfalls involved”.

“It is inevitable that many new landlords’ circumstances and expectations can vary, so we provide an initial free, no obligation meeting to fully explain how we can make the  management of your property work, not just for you, but for anyone who chooses to call it their home.”

“Above all, a successful landlord/agency relationship is built on trust, transparency and recognised high standards of professionalism and respect for landlord and tenant clients alike.”

Belvoir is a founder member of the ‘SAFE AGENT’ Kite mark scheme, supported by the independent National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS). This promotes client money protection and provides consumers with a clear message on those agents with whom they should do business.

The company also follows The Property Ombudsman Code of Practice for Letting Agents. Belvoir Andover, established in 1997

If you are interested in entering the residential buy to let market, why not give Phil a call on 01264 366611 or email phil.pinkney@belvoirandover.com.

Brand New Belvoir Andover Smart Phone App

We are delighted to announce the release of our very own smart phone App.

Suitable for Apple iPhone & iPad as well as all Android devices, this is the essential tool for anyone looking for residential or commercial property in or around Andover.

If you want to be the first to hear of our new instructions, download the app and you will receive notifications before ANYONE ELSE !!

You will also find useful tools in the app like:

• Making voice notes when doing viewings
• Read national property news stories
• Request a valuation
• Upload documents to us like ID & references
• Request a viewing
• A QR scanner
• Links through to our social media sites
• Learn about Belvoir and the owners that run the business
• Get exclusive notifications of promotions and exciting competitions
• And much more..............

To download our app for FREE, please click on the picture opposite.

Commercial, Retail & Industrial Property Update

As we prepare for 2015 completions on let and sold commercial property, we are now reflecting on what has been a very active year for commercial property. With over double the number of successful lets and sales than in 2013, clearly confidence is returning to small and medium size businesses in and around the Andover area.

Greg Greatbatch, who's our Commercial Property Specialist and co owns the Belvoir office on Bridge Street in Andover says “We have been inundated with applicants looking to buy or rent commercial property in the Andover area, even on the run up to Christmas. Now with significantly more applicants than property, we are keen to talk to owners and landlords who require effective marketing of their property and an efficient let or sale. 


The empty retail units that used to line our town centre are slowly but surely being filled and we are seeing some big name businesses coming to the town including Subway, Frangos and even Pizza Hut rumored to be opening in 2015”

He adds: “We have seen a particular boost in small businesses coming to market, taking shops and offices up to the £1500 pcm mark. We have also seen a large influx of investors buying office space above retail shops and converting this to residential. With the recently relaxed permitted building rights, developers are snapping up opportunities to develop empty office space."

Commercial Property Finance now easier than ever with dedicated commercial finance assistance from Andover lenders is making buying a very real option for businesses with longer term strategies. Contact us if you would like a quote.

As January is typically very active for business moves, it would be worth making contact with us ASAP so we can get your property on the market and ready.

BELVOIR have been property specialists here in Andover since 1997 and requires more commercial property for waiting applicants.

Please contact Greg Greatbatch 01264 366611 or commercial@belvoirandover.com

Shake up of Stamp Duty Land Tax rates announced today

You have to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) if you buy a property in the UK over a certain price. This is charged on all purchases of houses, flats and other land and buildings.
Different rates apply in Scotland from 1 April 2015 when Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) replaces SDLT.

The SDLT rate depends on:

• the purchase price of the property
• whether the property is residential

SDLT rates from 4 December 2014
SDLT is charged at different rates depending on the portion of the purchase price that falls into each rate band.
Before 4 December 2014, SDLT was charged as a single percentage of the property price.
Where contracts have been exchanged on or before 3 December 2014, and the transaction is completed on 4 December or later, you can choose whether you follow the new or the old rules.

Residential properties - Purchase price of property
Rate of SDLT (percentage of portion of purchase price)

£0 - £125,000 0%
£125,001 - £250,000 2%
£250,001 - £925,000 5%
£925,001 - £1.5 million 10%
Over £1.5 million 12%

Compare this to the old rates that were:

£0 - £125,000 0%
£125,001 - £250,000 1%
£250,001 - £500,000 3%
£500,001 - £1 million 4%
£1 million - £2 million 5%
Over £2 million 7%
Remembering that now the percentage only applies to the amount of the purchase between each category

i.e. If you were purchasing a property at say £300,000 from tomorrow, you would pay as follows:
The first £125,000 would attract 0% = £Zero
The portion between 125001 and 250,000 would attract 2% = £2500
The balance of £50,000 would attract 5% = £2500
Total Stamp Duty to pay £5000
In the old regime you would pay 3% on the whole amount which equates to £9000, so today's news means you save £4000.

However, if you are buying a house worth say £250,000 the stamp duty to pay would be as follows:
The first £125,000 would attract 0% = £Zero
The second 125,000 would attract 2% = £2500
This vs £2500 which is what you would have paid before today's news so no change in this example.
Need to calculate your Stamp Duty ? Use the HM Revenues & Customs calculator here.


Need to understand the value of your property ? Give the sales team here a call to arrange a free (and no obligation) property appraisal 01264 366611 or email the sales team sales@belvoirandover.com


Spot an error ? email us greg.greatbatch@belvoirandover.com

Would you like to join Andover’s leading Estate Agent ?

Exciting new career opportunity for you

Due to our continued success, we're now recruiting further lettings staff for our busy Andover Town Centre office.

 

The successful candidate will be friendly, helpful, confident and self motivated. They should be smartly dressed, comfortable showing people property, negotiating with applicants, doing viewings and completing paperwork.

In return you will receive a competitive salary, bonuses, use of a company car during the day and of course the kudos of working with the best in the industry.

Belvoir is part of a national network of over 160 independently owned property businesses throughout the UK.

Belvoir Andover, the lettings specialist was founded in 1997 and has twice before changed hands before finally being purchased by two property professionals in 2005. Belvoir Andover is now the leading agent in the town and in the top 5 for Belvoir in the country.

In 2013 having acquired local estate agents ‘Redwoods’, and having partnered with a local estate agency professional, we're now able to offer both Residential & Commercial sales & lettings.

We're a forward thinking company investing heavily in staff and technology to provide industry leading and award winning customer service.

If you'd enjoy working in a dynamic and rewarding environment, please don't hesitate in sending us your C.V. to phil.pinkney@belvoirandover.com or pop one down to our Bridge Street office.

NEW EU RULES COULD AFFECT ‘ACCIDENTAL LANDLORDS’

Criteria tightens on buy to let mortgage lending…

National residential property lettings specialist, Belvoir is urging thousands of British property owners classed as ‘accidental landlords’ to seek specialist buy to let advice from industry experts following a new European ruling on mortgage regulations.

Accidental landlords are typically people who, after a change in their circumstances, struggle to sell their home, so end up renting it out.  Divorce, separation, bereavement or job relocation are some of the reasons why owner occupiers hang on to a property to turn it into a ‘buy to let’ investment. 

Phil Pinkney, who co owns the Belvoir office on Bridge Street in Andover, says: “Currently, in cases such as these, banks will usually allow homeowners to switch a mainstream mortgage over to a landlord loan or alternatively ask them to pay charges to be allowed to retain a residential mortgage and then rent the property.”

“However, the UK Treasury has announced that new EU legislation, the ‘European Mortgage Credit Directive’ which comes into force in March 2016, will introduce partial regulation of Britain’s buy to let market  - which could, potentially, make it more difficult for homeowners to make this simple switch.

 “Unlike mainstream owner occupier mortgages, buy to let lending for professional investment landlords is usually viewed as ‘business’, not ‘consumer’, borrowing.

“But under this new Directive, the Treasury says that landlords who are letting a property  “as a result of circumstances rather than through their own active business decisions” will now be classed as consumer not business borrowers, and will need to be covered by a tighter, regulated framework.”

He goes on to say “As with the introduction of  any new legislation, it is important for landlords to get professional and realistic rental assessments from experts who understand the buy to let market as this will help to ensure that rental returns add up and landlords are able to meet the new lending criteria.

“Whilst the changes will not affect mortgages taken out by regular investment landlords, they could impact on both existing and prospective ‘accidental landlords’ so we would recommend seeking out professional advice in advance of the new rules in 2016 .” 

Commenting on the EU announcement, The Council of Mortgage Lenders has said that many lenders could struggle to distinguish between ‘consumer’ landlords and buy to let professionals.

Last year over 151,000 buy to let mortgages were taken out – representing 12 per cent of total UK lending. Industry experts predict a continuing buoyant market in buy to let, with a projected rise of up to 3 per cent in mortgage activity.

 “If you are already an ‘accidental landlord’ in our area, or could be about to inherit a property that you intend to rent out, it would be beneficial for you to contact us for a free, initial consultation to discuss your aims and objectives, so that we can help you take a long term view of your property investment needs,” adds Phil.

“As one of the UK’s largest and well established property lettings specialists we are able to offer a wide range of advice and services on a regional as well as national level and, importantly, use our local knowledge to help guide you through the opportunities available in our area.”

For more information on letting a property, contact Andover's leading letting agent BELVOIR!

Tel. 01264 366611
Email andover@belvoirandover.com 
Google+ +Belvoir Andover Estate & Lettings Agent . 
www.BelvoirAndover.com

Rent & Legal Protection Insurance

Many of you take advantage of this fantastic product already, if you do not know the features and benefits, please read on 

The Belvoir residential property owners’ legal expenses and tenant default insurances has been tailor-made for Belvoir, giving our landlords peace of mind.

Full details can be provided on request, but can provide cover in respect of:

• Non payment of rent
• Legal costs associated with evicting a tenant
• Property Protection 
• Repossession cover
• Contract disputes
• Legal defence
• Debt recovery
• Tax protection
• Employment disputes and compensation awards
• Bodily injury
• Covers the property not the tenancy

All this for just £139.50 per year. Really in our opinion, a no brainer. We have these policies on our own portfolio.

To see a copy of our Rent and Legal policy booklet please click here

If you would like more information on specialist landlords Buildings and Contents insurance, please click here to learn more

I don't need to declare every penny of my rent to the HMRC, do I ? You do and now, you have no choice

HMRC recently declared their let property campaign (LPC) which aims to nudge landlords into confessing undeclared rental income. They have declared how they will get the information they need. They are fundamentally looking for errant landlords. We now know how those landlords will be found.

HMRC is writing to letting agents in the UK, asking them to provide details of the properties they have let in 2012/13, including the amount collected per property and the addresses of the let property and the landlord. The letting agent is given just 60 days to provide the information, or face a penalty of £300, and further penalties of £60 per day for additional delays. This will include landlords that use agents for tenant find services as well as managed services.

The agent also can't refuse to provide its customers' details on the grounds that such personal information is protected by Data Protection Act 1998, as the tax law overrules the Data Protection Act in these circumstances.

What does this mean to you?

Now is the time to ensure all your rental income is declared. Ensure every penny is on your annual tax return regardless of whether you have made a profit or not.

Don't forget, we can provide you with an annual statement to make doing your return quicker and easier. This will have all your income and all your expenses listed but don't forget to claim back the interest on any mortgage you have on the property as this of course will NOT be listed and is a legitimate expense (you cannot claim the capital repayment portion of your monthly mortgage payment).

We are planning another of our successful buy to let evenings within the next couple of months and we will be inviting a tax specialist to speak. Contact us to register your interest for this high profile upcoming event.

tel. 01264 366611     email.  andover@belvoirandover.com

Google. +Belvoir Andover Estate & Lettings Agent . 

Job Vacancies (Andover) - Negotiator, Senior Negotiator & Maintenance Co-Ordinator

BELVOIR Andover has been a high performing Lettings Specialist since 1997. Andover is a bustling market town and a property hot spot for Buy-to-Let investors. BELVOIR is part of a national network of over 160 independently owned offices, of which Andover proudly sits at number 5, with only cities such as Sheffield, Lincoln & Peterborough etc ranked above us.

We are focused on not only providing award winning customer service for our clients, but also to our staff. We are constantly investing in the business and we have seen significant growth (particularly over the last 12-18 months). We like to keep our business at the forefront of modern technology, presentation and lead the town for innovation.

With a significant market share and an increasing portfolio, we have the requirement for a Lettings Negotiator, Senior Lettings Negotiator & a Lettings Maintenance Co-ordinator. Each of the roles are crucial to the continued success and customer satisfaction that has been the foundation of our business. We are looking for people who are keen to develop their career and join our enthusiastic team of property professionals.

We are offering attractive packages to suit the successful individuals including; competitive salary, bonuses, possible car, pension & private healthcare.

Would you be open to a confidential discussion?

 If any of the above is of interest, please forward a CV to greg.greatbatch@belvoirandover.com or contact us on 01264 366611 to arrange an informal chat.

We understand that it could be a scary prospect moving jobs but we are confident that you would be joining a dynamic and forward thinking agent that values their staff and are always looking to develop their careers.

CHARITY AWARD FOR ANDOVER LETTINGS OFFICE

A property lettings agency in Andover has run away with a national award in recognition of its charity fund raising efforts for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Greg Greatbatch, who owns the Belvoir office (along with brother-in-law Phil Pinkney) on Winchester Street in Andover was declared a Charity Champion at the Belvoir annual ‘High Achievers’ award ceremony, staged at the Belton Woods Hotel, near Grantham, Lincolnshire.

The Belvoir Bronze Award recognises the contribution made by Greg and his colleague Emma Bevan who both completed a gruelling sponsored race in support of Belvoir’s company-wide campaign to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Greg explains: “We ran the 2012 BUPA London 10.6k in May last year, which was on the same course the Olympic athletes used.  Over ten thousand people took part in the race with a number of famous runners including Mo Farrah.

“Emma started training to get fit for her wedding, which was in early June and I was recovering from physio on my knees following an old cycling injury.

“The day of the race was absolutely beautiful, but it was also the hottest day of the year and running in a temperature of 26 degrees meant the heat was more of a challenge for us than the actual course. We had to keep swerving across the road to try and find some shade as relief from the heat.

“Our donations were from a variety of people, including our landlords.  We raised £687.20 for Macmillan, which was a great result but unfortunately, we couldn’t beat Mo Farah who won in record time!”

At the company’s annual awards evening, co-presented by comedienne Ruby Wax, Belvoir’s Chairman, Mike Goddard, said: ”Greg and his partner Phil Pinkney run their business with a real commitment and passion for community involvement and this is a tremendous achievement. The money raised through Greg and Emma’s gruelling run has given a considerable boost to Belvoir’s commitment to Macmillan.

“In February 2011, we aligned ourselves with Macmillan to raise £10,000, and in that first year I was pleased to announce we had smashed our target and raised £16,000. This year I am delighted that we increased our total raised to £25,013.67.   What a fantastic achievement!”

On receiving the award Greg said: ”We are absolutely delighted with this recognition.   We knew we had been shortlisted for an award and we were thrilled and excited just to be nominated as finalists.

“We owe a lot to the many people who sponsored us to help us smash the £500 target we had set ourselves!”

Tanya Taylor, a fundraising manager for Macmillan, said: “Greg and his team have made a major contribution to the overall sum raised by Belvoir over the past year.

“Thank you so much – this money will make a real difference. One in three people will get a cancer diagnosis at some point in their lives and there are currently two million people living with cancer in the UK.

“We currently support half of these people and every penny that you help to raise is greatly appreciated by everyone at the charity.”  

For more information about this and other awards, please visit our website www.belvoirandover.com/award.html