Changing the locks: When should you do it, and do you have a legal obligation?
13th Dec 2020Whilst as landlords, we are under no legal obligation to change the locks on a rental property during the period between one tenant leaving and a new tenant arriving, there are a few important reasons why you might wish to....
Wickford Property: Do you know the Facts and Figures?
29th Nov 2020Here at Baillie White Lettings & Management, we can guide you to the right places to identify property values and yields in Wickford, and other useful property related information so you can make sure you get all the...
Why don't I paint my own study? Even though I own a paintbrush!
22nd Nov 2020This week, we decided to get our usual decorator in to give our spare room / home office ("the study" as we rather grandly refer to it) a makeover. It is in need of new skirting boards, something we have not yet done since we...
Winter is Coming: Is your rental property ready?
15th Nov 2020As the dark evenings draw in, so does the realisation that none of us can escape the colder months to come. Whilst the big freeze can be hard on homes, there are some steps you can take to protect and care for your property...
Lettings With Pets: is it worth the risk?
7th Nov 2020In the UK, it's estimated that 12 million, or 44% of all UK households have pets, with around 51 million total pets owned. About one in five UK households – 4.5 million families – live in private rented accommodation, with...
A Second Lockdown: What it means for Essex Landlords
31st Oct 2020Whilst many have not been surprised by Boris Johnson's announcement tonight of a second National lockdown, the news has been met with some anxiety by landlords. For those with tenants in extreme arrears (generally 9 - 12 months...
Self Management: Cost saving, or a false economy?
24th Oct 2020Why do some landlords work with lettings agencies while others prefer to go it alone? A survey carried out this month by insurance provider Hamilton Fraser may help us to understand. It found that 48.3% of more than 2,200...
Pet Bans in Rented Property: Romford MP's Bill to ban pet 'discrimination'
16th Oct 2020David Amess, MP for Southend West, has tweeted his support for a Bill which aims to end “cruel” discrimination against pet owners by much of the private rental sector.
Romford MP Andrew Rosindell has introduced the...
The end of the Furlough Scheme: What next for Essex renters and landlords?
14th Oct 2020The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, better known as the furlough scheme, was introduced by the chancellor Rishi Sunak in March to help employers deal with the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Official estimates...
Right to Rent checks: finally moving to online platform
13th Oct 2020The Home Office is proposing a new online service to make it easier to check that prospective tenants fulfil the much maligned 'Right To Rent' requirements.
Right To Rent was introduced in 2015 after a six month trial in...