Sunshine RL

23/02/2022

https://www.sunshinerl.co.uk/knowledge-base/rent-capping-a-wish-too-far/

Rent Capping – a Wish too Far! The recent statement by Bristol City Council that it is looking to bringing in rent controls to try and stabilize the soaring rents in the city, has been welcomed by many as a step to enabling tenants to afford to live where they work. The theory is very…

08/02/2022

https://www.sunshinerl.co.uk/knowledge-base/prs-private-rented-sector-crisis-food-for-thought/

Help is desperately needed for the PRS to avoid a housing crisis and a vast increase in homeless numbers! Read more.....

PRS (Private Rented Sector) Crisis – Food for Thought   Everyone in the property industry must now be acutely aware that there’s a growing crisis in the private rented sector due to the lack of suitable properties available, and this has been highlighted by councils up and down the country. The...

11/01/2022

https://www.sunshinerl.co.uk/knowledge-base/prs-what-for-2022/

This year could be a very good year for those landlords who plan and prepare for the coming regulation! Read more......

PRS – What for 2022?   The last few months of 2021 saw a huge array of articles pretty much predicting the end of the current PRS (Private Rental Sector) boom, due in the main to Government interference and an ever increasing number of increasingly complex regulations for landlords and agents to ...

22/12/2021

A Happy and Healthy Christmas to all Clients Past and Present

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Phil Keddie 07970807703

15/12/2021

Borrowing some excellent quotes from ARLA Propertymark`s Policy Officer, Timothy Douglas; read why the proposed raised EPC ratings could sound the death knell for many landlords who have portfolios of older properties. See more...
https://lnkd.in/diVTTkUs

Energy Efficiency and EPC`s – the Final Straw that Broke the Landlord`s Back   Over half (52%) of landlords are considering selling properties due to the impending Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) changes that will force them to upgrade their homes, according to a recent Mortgage Works (TMW) ...

30/11/2021

The government decide to amend the rules to the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Regulations - making them easier to understand and enforce! Read more......
https://www.sunshinerl.co.uk/knowledge-base/new-smoke-alarm-and-carbon-monoxide-regulations/

New Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Regulations   Following a consultation on the government’s proposals to extend regulations on domestic smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in both social and private rented accommodation, the government has now confirmed its plans to amend the Smoke and Carbon Mon...

26/11/2021

Electric Vehicle Charging Points - One step forward one step back? You decide......See more
https://www.sunshinerl.co.uk/knowledge-base/home-electric-charging-points/

The UK Government announced recently that all new build housing are to have electric vehicle charging points installed from 2022.   Whilst this is only a small percentage of the housing stock, it is a step in the right direction and the PRS should welcome the news, particularly since many parts of ...

16/11/2021

Mediation in property offers so many possibilities for finding a successful resolution that satisfies both parties and enables an acceptable conclusion to a problem! See more....

Recent Examples of Property Mediation   These three examples from the PRS Mediation Service, show how useful and helpful, engaging in mediation can be for both parties. Many landlord and tenant disputes start from a lack of communication, and if these can be nipped in the bud early on before both s...

11/11/2021

5 Simple and Easy Ways to become a Greener Landlord

The PRS is being bombarded by energy saving gadgets and ways of improving efficiency in the property. Here are five ways to improve both aspects, whilst helping your tenant save money as well – small changes add up and can make a significant difference:

1. Replace the bulbs in the house with LED lights
LED bulbs last five times as long as halogen bulbs and are far better for the planet. There has been an EU-wide ban on producing or importing halogen bulbs since 2018.

Tenants can benefit too, as it can help reduce their electricity bills. The Energy Saving Trust reports that replacing every bulb in the house with an LED will save the average household around £40 per year on bills.

2. Installing a smart meter
This can be also help, particularly when in combination with a learning thermostat. Tenants will need to be proactive in adjusting their behaviour based on the visibility that the smart meter data provides.

3. Low-flow shower heads
These aerate the water that comes out, giving the feel of a normal shower with normal pressure, but only using half as much water. They are inexpensive and easy to swap for regular shower heads. Care needs to be exercised when leaving the property empty for over seven days as the heads will need flushing through thoroughly for at least two minutes before use, to minimise the risk of legionella.

4. Dual flush toilet convertors
These are also an inexpensive option and can save a significant amount of water when flushing. They can be awkward to install, but are worth the effort in environmental terms and remove the need to buy a new, dual-flush toilet.

5. Ensure that tenants have sufficient recycling facilities
Provide a number of bins appropriate to the property’s number of occupants. This can promote the proper disposal of waste and help to create an environment free from overflowing bins. Landlords simply need to contact their local authority to ensure that the appropriate recycling bins and containers are provided.

If further advice is required, it would be advisable to call a property professional adviser or energy assessor.

02/11/2021

https://www.sunshinerl.co.uk/knowledge-base/two-of-tenants-biggest-worries/

Tenants have Two Major Worries this Winter - as we come out of Covid and Furlough comes to an end, tenants have a current worry over being able to pay the rent and a future fear of never being able to save to buy their first home. House prices and rents are sky high, making both a growing concern which need urgently addressing. Read more......

20/10/2021

Property Maintenance

During the severe storm recently, our front gutter started overflowing badly with water cascading down onto the path. I was somewhat surprised as it had only been cleaned in early Summer and we don`t get a lot of leaves in it.

On inspection, all of the lichen that had grown over the year had been washed down by the heavy rain and blocked the downpipe (2” deep) so the water just backed up and washed over!

This was a reminder to check your properties before the dark days of Winter really set in, and make sure they are operating properly with everything working as it should and that all of the inspections have been done.

https://www.sunshinerl.co.uk/knowledge-base/autumn-maintenance-checklist-inside/

Find the full Checklist on our Website

  Autumn Maintenance Checklist (Inside) If not already done, now is the time to organise, in these two articles we`ll firstly look inside and then outside the property. Internally you need to make sure:   The heating system has been checked ensuring it works properly; witness there is an in date v...

11/10/2021

Solar panels and New homes

Over the weekend, I was talking to my brother in law about their new house they have just built and how energy efficient it should be, having solar panels, an air source heat pump and numerous other energy saving devices!

The question came up about why all new homes do not have solar panels fitted as standard as this would pave the way for making our new homes a lot more eco-friendlier than they are now. It could only be for electricity generation as also having hot water would tax the design of most homes – there is no strength in the roof for a water tank and precious little storage space for one in the living accommodation. I proposed it would come down to cost and lack of desire, especially as the builders will have achieved an EPC value of C or above.

Surely it would make sense to take a longer term view, if that is the reason. Installing solar panels for an individual can be very costly, but with the bulk buying powers that the larger builders have, it would become a barely noticeable additional cost.

That`s my pebble into the pond, what are all of your thoughts? Can someone set me right or is this an area just being overlooked!