Win a bottle of luxury Champagne

Is a new dream kitchen on your Christmas Wish List ?

BELVOIR have teamed up with Rebecca Speculo Kitchen Design to offer you an exclusive discount as well as an opportunity to win a bottle of luxury Champagne just by booking a design consultation and visual.

Rebecca Speculo says 'As you prepare your Christmas Roast this year, in full flow of the Christmas spirit, glass in hand; does your kitchen makes you feel happy?

Imagine having work space galore in your new luxury kitchen. Imagine bespoke designs at off-the-peg prices. Imagine the ease of access to a pull-out corner cabinet - removing the stress of searching for those hidden items? 

How would it feel to have a kitchen that’s so well designed you create a delicious dinner, effortlessly gliding from conversation to carving? 

360 degree Panoramic Visual

To see an example of this stunning visual experience, please click here

Let Rebecca Speculo Kitchen Design help you create a new design for a new year with a gift you’ll enjoy experiencing year after year. Your dream kitchen could be yours by next Christmas.

Request a bespoke kitchen design before 31st January 2015 and receive a special exclusive festive discount on the standard price (normally £295) to just £207 where you will receive specialist advice, design and full CAD panoramic rotating imagery. AND if that wasn't good enough you will also be entered into a draw to win a bottle of luxury champagne!'

If you would like to take advantage of this exciting and exclusive offer, please drop Rebecca a line at info@rebeccaspeculo.co.uk or buy now your design consultation by clicking here.

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

Specialist Landlord Buildings & Contents Insurance

BELVOIR Andover are able to offer you specialist landlords Buildings & Contents Insurance for your property.

Whether it is one buy to let flat in the centre of town, large country house out in one of the villages or you have a large property portfolio of residential and commercial, BELVOIR Andover has an insurance policy for you.

We have teamed up with insurance underwriter Zurich through Endsleigh to provide you with the most comprehensive buildings & contents cover available.

Endsleigh insurance say:

• We provide cover for unoccupied buildings for up to 120 days
• Malicious damage and theft by tenants or guests is automatically covered at no extra charge
• We are experts in both professional and student lets, and will also cover housing benefit tenants
• Accidental damage included as standard
• Landlords contents covered (£5000 limit per property - higher limits available)
• Property Owners Legal Liability included as standard
• Employers Liability can be included
• Legal Expenses up to £100,000 included as standard
• Alternative accommodation, loss of rent and cost of re-letting included as standard
• Pet Damage included as standard
• If your mortgage provider wishes to be named on the policy, we offer this facility free of charge

Landlords Contents Cover

• We can provide stand alone cover for contents where buildings insurance is not required (for example, if buildings insurance is included in your apartment service charge etc).
• Cover automatically includes accidental damage and malicious damage by tenants
• As part of landlords contents, we automatically include property owners legal liability and legal expenses

Landlords Portfolio

• We can insure your entire let property portfolio on one landlords policy - simplifying your administration and saving you money (it may suit you to have separate policies and this is fine too)
• We can provide cover for commercial, and part commercial properties as well as residential lets & blocks of flats

Call Endsleigh FREE on 0800 389 1830 or email us your permission and we will have them contact you at a convenient time.

Do you have Rent and Legal protection insurance ? Click Here for more information on this invaluable policy. 

STOP PRESS: BELVOIR ANDOVER Strikes GOLD for the third year running !

Staff at local property lettings specialist, Belvoir Andover, are celebrating a record breaking  award win after striking Gold for the third year running in the national 2014 ‘Lettings Agency of the Year’ awards.

Belvoir, which has an office on Bridge Street in Andover, was named ‘Best Lettings Franchise 2014’ at a ceremony staged at the Lancaster London Hotel. Widely regarded as the most prestigious awards scheme of its kind in the property industry, this annual event is run in association with the Sunday Times and The Times, and sponsored by Zoopla.

It is now the fourth time in total that Belvoir has scooped Gold in these industry ‘Oscars’ – and to add to its awards tally this year, the company was also named Bronze winner for ‘Best Customer Service’ in the Large Lettings Agency category.   

Phil Pinkney, who is a partner in Belvoir Andover, said:  'Our team, along with all of our colleagues in the Belvoir network, are delighted after winning what is undoubtedly one of the most hardest fought competitions in our industry.

Our continued success in the lettings market is based on providing local landlord and tenant clients with the highest possible levels of customer service and care, so it is a real privilege to be recognised in this way and a major boost for our business.'

Greg Greatbatch, who is a partner in Belvoir Andover, commented 'It shouldn't surprise us to win such award as we all work hard to give the very best service to all the people we come in contact with, but for some reason we are always surprised. Delighted too of course. We are now focusing on what further improvements can be made to our business to ensure we get the award next year too!'

Daniel Tarrant, another partner in Belvoir Andover, went on to say 'We are taking everything we have learnt about how to look after our lettings clients and applying the same techniques and procedures to our sales clients. This will ensure they will receive award winning service in this area of our services too. It is great to be involved in a business that is so well loved by the public and recognised by the industry'

Judging of the awards scheme is chaired by The Property Ombudsman and the distinguished panel comprises highly experienced property professionals from across the industry.

In presenting Belvoir with the top honour, the panel’s citation said: 'We found Belvoir to be one of the most responsible, ethical and well-positioned franchise businesses in the industry with a 19-year track record to prove it.'

For more information, please click here to visit the Zoopla sponsored Lettings Agency of the Year website

If you are looking for award winning property services, whether that be renting or letting a property, buying or selling a property or renting, selling or buying commercial property, please contact the team who are here to help - 01264 366611 andover@belvoirandover.com

We offer our services in the Andover, Ludgershall, Whitchurch, Tidworth, Weyhill, Fyfield, Perham, Clatford areas of north Hants