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Dec 14, 2023

WHAT ARE MY ACCESS RIGHTS AS A LANDLORD ?

If you’re a landlord, you may be wondering whether your tenants have the right to refuse you entry to your own property. Here at New Oak Estates, we often meet landlords who are uncertain of their access rights, so here is our expert guide to help you understand your legal position. It’s My Property – Surely I Can Enter It At Any Time? This is a common mistake that many landlords make. While it’s true that you own the property, by entering into a rental agreement with a tenant, you’ve effectively handed over the rights to use and live in the property to your tenant. Thus, while you’re the property’s owner, the tenant has rights too. The “covenant for quiet enjoyment” is a legal term that basically means your tenant can live in your rental accommodation without you (or your letting agent) hassling them. Furthermore, once you’ve granted the tenancy, you can’t expect to legally treat your property as your own. With this in mind, it may appear that you are unable to enter the property if your tenant refuses to admit you. However, there’s a lot more to be considered. The Landlord’s Right Of Entry Your tenants may have an entitlement to “quiet enjoyment” of your rental property, but you do still have the right of entry in certain circumstances. There are three reasons you can enter the accommodation: To inspect it. To carry out repairs or address an emergency such as a fire, flood, criminal activity, or structural damage. To provide a service such as gardening or cleaning (these instances must be covered within your tenancy agreement). Must I Give The Tenants’ Notice? In general, you must let your tenants know that you (or your representative) will be entering the property at least 24 hours before you do so. However, you can enter your property legally with no permission or notice in an emergency. Can The Tenant Refuse Me Entry? A tenant can refuse to let you into the property, but in most cases, if you offer them the opportunity to change the date and time, the problem can be solved quickly and easily. Occasionally, though, landlords may encounter a tenant who refuses access repeatedly. If this occurs, landlords have a few options open to them. Negotiate. The first course of action any landlord should take is to talk to their tenant and try to arrange an alternative day and time. Sending emails is the best way to ensure you have digital evidence should the matter escalate. Tell the tenant they’ll be liable for costs if there is a deterioration of the property’s condition due to the denied access. The tenant should also be told that the landlord will no longer take responsibility for any damage to the tenant’s property or injuries to the tenant themselves if it is caused due to the refused access. Take legal action. If the above efforts fail, the next step is to seek advice from a solicitor. In a worst-case scenario, a court order can be obtained to evict the tenant. Why Can’t I Just Enter My Property Even If The Tenant Refuses? It’s very unwise to enter your rental property if the tenant hasn’t permitted you to do so since it would represent an abuse of your tenant’s trust. You could also be putting yourself at risk of an accusation of property damage or theft which could be very difficult to disprove. At New Oak Estates, we’re highly experienced in rental property management in Chesterfield. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at info@newoakestates.co.uk or on 01246 211646 to find out more about how we can help with renting out your property. If you have any questions about your rental property - feel free to email me paul.flitter@newoakestates.co.uk...

Aug 18, 2023

WHAT MUST I LEAVE WHEN I SELL MY HOME IN CHESTERFIELD

What Must I Leave When I Sell My Home In Chesterfield Which Fittings And Fixtures Will Be Needed After Moving Out? If you’re ready to sell your home in Chesterfield, you may be wondering what you must leave behind when you sell your property. It’s often hard to decide what to leave behind and what to take with you when you move out. In fact, there aren’t any laws to dictate what you must leave within the property, but it goes without saying that your buyer may be upset or angry if they don’t know what you’ll be taking with you. It’s helpful to think about what you expect the property’s former owners to leave behind when you’re buying their home. Which fittings and fixtures will be needed after moving out? Once you’ve decided, put it all down in writing then confirm the buyer’s agreement, and remember the house has to be empty on completion day. As expert estate agents in Chesterfield, our team at have some great advice about what you may want to leave when selling your home. An Inventory Of Fittings And Fixtures To avoid disputes and confusion, an inventory that explains specifically what will be included within the sale and what you’ll be taking with you is very helpful. You should complete this and agree on it early in the process as, without there being an inventory in place, many buyers assume all fixtures and fittings are going to be included in the sale. Fixtures are any items permanently fixed to the structure of the property such as bathroom and kitchen suites, inbuilt wardrobes and cupboards, plugs, light fittings, radiators, and boilers. Fittings are any freestanding items, or items hung on a nail or hook such as lampshades, mirrors, carpets, ovens, washing machines, freestanding fridges, curtains, beds, curtain rails, sofas, and freestanding furniture. If you want to take or leave any specific fixtures or fittings, try negotiating with your buyer. What About Lightbulbs? There’s no legal obligation to leave the lightbulbs behind when you move out unless it’s stated specifically in the contract. However, many sellers choose to leave them since it’s a little petty to remove them and most home movers would like to think that the ‘leaving the lightbulbs in’ option will continue down the chain! You must, however, replace or leave light fixtures when you move out since exposed wires represent a hazard. Do I Take The Wheelie Bin With Me When I Move? When moving out, you should never take the wheelie bin! You’ll have a bin at your new home, and it’s very unlikely that the people who will be moving to your property will bring one with them. It’s also generally acceptable to have some rubbish left behind in the bin when you move out. If you do this, though, make sure that there’s enough space remaining inside the bin so that the property’s new occupants can add their own rubbish to it until bin collection day. If there is excess rubbish, it should go to the tip. If you’re ready to sell your home in Chesterfield and are looking for an experienced estate agent to list your property, call us on 01246 211646 today....

Aug 11, 2023

COMMON MISTAKES THAT CAN REDUCE THE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY

Common Mistakes That Can Reduce the Value of Your Property in Chesterfield Selling your home in Chesterfield is a huge undertaking, so of course, you want to make the right decisions to achieve the proper resale value for it. Some of the decisions surrounding resale value are more involved than the basic preparation you do when placing your home on the market and of course, these specific decisions can be made months or years before you actually consider selling your home, so you may not even think about it until it’s too late and the value of your home has plummeted. So, if you’re considering selling your home in Chesterfield anytime soon, it’s time to start thinking about your property through the eyes of potential buyers. As property experts, here at New Oak Estates we know all too well the common mistakes you may make that can reduce the value of your home. But we also know how to remedy them. Setting the price unrealistically high Everyone would like to think their home is worth more than their neighbours’ home, especially after finishing a renovation or upgrade of some kind. However, the truth is that your home is really only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. You have to be realistic about the value of your home when setting your price. If you set your price at an unrealistically high number, it could sit on the market for months without selling. The longer a property is on the market unsold, the more unattractive it becomes to potential buyers. You may inevitably end up slashing the price to meet expectations, which may make potential buyers question why the price has been reduced so much. It’s a position you don’t really want to put yourself in, so getting a realistic valuation from the start is important. At New Oak Estates, our experienced valuers will always provide you with an honest market appraisal to ensure your property attracts interest. Not deep cleaning your home before viewings Nobody wants to view a home that is dirty for two main reasons: one, it’s definitely not appealing, and two, it invariably means that the new homeowner will eventually need to spend time, money and effort cleaning it themselves. Major issues like carpet stains and grubby or mouldy tile grout can leave a poor impression on potential buyers when they view your home. In terms of carpet stains, you may be used to ignoring them every day but an interested buyer will notice them immediately. If an offer is forthcoming, your buyer may then look to negotiate on the asking price to cover the cost of replacing the carpet or having it professionally cleaned before moving in. In terms of tile grout, ignoring it is detrimental to the sale of your home. It’s one of the most tedious chores, yes, but leaving dirt along your tile grout can create permanent discolouration, ruining the look of your tiles forever. Even worse, if the area is humid, mould and mildew can build up and can become a major problem. When it comes to cleaning, being proactive is the best course of action. Make sure you regularly clean your home and deal with any spills before they set, which makes them much more difficult to remove later on. Not properly maintaining your home Taking care of the mechanics of your home is important, especially when it comes to your plumbing and heating. These are directly related to your monthly utilities and can be costly to repair when a big problem arises. Sometimes these issues are unavoidable, but with the right maintenance and care in the long term, smaller problems can be taken care of with plenty of time before they get worse. Potential buyers are likely to ask questions about the state of the plumbing and heating and will be less likely to want to offer on a home that has a history of high utility bills or will need major repairs in the near future. Not updating decor Old, outdated design trends will make your home look dated, which can lower the value of your home simply because potential buyers know they will need to spend money to update the decor once they move in. Wood panelling is a major culprit in this regard, even if it’s restricted to small areas. Viewers will be a little more inclined to offer on your property if the decor is modern and fresh. Letting personal taste get involved When showing your home to potential buyers, you’re trying to get them to imagine their new life in their new home, so having your personal taste right in front of their noses can make this difficult for them. Brightly painted walls in colours that are unusual, having too much wallpaper, or having unique or over the top design elements throughout your home is a major turn off. It just means more work once the new owners move in as they try and get the property back to a neutral state. Before putting your home on the market try and make it look as neutral as possible so it can appeal to a wider number of people. Painting the walls and stripping wallpaper is a good start! For no-obligation advice on buying or selling a home in Chesterfield please contact our expert property team at New Oak Estates on 01246 211646 or call in and see us. We look forward to seeing you....

May 25, 2023

WHAT HOUSE MOVING COSTS ARE THERE?

If you’ve been thinking about buying a house in Chesterfield, you’ll be daydreaming about how many bedrooms you need, what the garden is like or if it’s in the right school catchment area and has a garage. These are all important factors when deciding on a new home, and it’s probably the case that the emotional heart will rule. But, sit back and work out the financial implications of moving house – it may be the head rather than the heart in this case, but it’s important as you plan the next chapter in your life. Here at New Oak Estates we have the expertise to take you through some of the critical factors when thinking about the money side of moving house in Chesterfield. The Legal Fees Aside from the actual cost of the house and the mortgage repayments, one of the first things to do is think about the legal fees. Conveyancing companies and solicitors are the ones who focus on property. Many have almost instant conveyancing quotes on their website. You will need to key in basic financial figures, and they’ll tell you roughly how much it will cost in legal fees. They will also look at searches that will be needed, such as local authority searches, existing planning permissions and specific things such as mining reports and building regulations. Your legal people should also highlight other costs such as the Land Registry fee which comes in when the property is registered in your name. Estate Agent Costs If you’re selling your house, then your estate agents’ costs will need to be factored in. The fee varies, depending on the level of service that will be delivered to you or whether you choose an internet-based agent, but you can expect to pay between one per cent and three per cent of the sale price plus VAT which is 20 per cent. Call us on 01246 211646 for our competitive fees. Removal Companies The chances are that you will need a removal company to help you, particularly with the big items. The cost of this will vary because companies will calculate such things as how many bedrooms, the distance between houses, and whether specialist services are required. It could be as little as £400 to well over £1,000. Our advice is that you decide precisely what you need and then shop around to get quotes and see what the customer service is like. Have a look at online review sites too as these could give you a good indication of how good a company is. Stamp Duty If you buy a property or land in England that’s over a certain price, you have to pay Stamp Duty. How much you pay depends on several factors, but you should expect to pay a certain percentage of the value of the property. For example, a £255,000 property would mean a Stamp Duty payable of £2,750. There are a number of websites that offer a Stamp Duty Calculator, and the Government website (www.gov.uk) will tell you what it’s all about. If you need help, we’ll help you work out how much to “set aside”. Mortgage Fees Most people will have to obtain a mortgage to buy a house. Rates and payments will vary depending on the lender, but there are a number of typical costs associated with a mortgage. There will be booking fees and arrangement fees, and because the lender will need to know the value of a property, you’ll need to arrange for an independent valuation too. Booking fees can be between £150 and £300, arrangement fees might be around £2,000, and a mortgage valuation fee could be anywhere between £150 and £1,500 depending on the lender and the property. It’s worth noting that low rates might not mean low fees, so be careful to look at the details. Insurance When you’ve completed, chances are you’ll quickly get the keys. It’s an exciting time, and you’ll have packed everything, the removal van will be ready, and you probably can’t wait to get in. Something you need to do straight away though is the insurance. Once the property is yours, it needs to be insured. You’ll need buildings insurance to cover the bricks and mortar, and contents insurance too as this will cover your belongings and possessions. The cost of this will vary because no two properties are the same, and you will have different possessions. The key is to do your research and get everything in place before the day, and then it should be a case of pressing the button. For no-obligation advice on buying or selling a home in Chesterfield please contact our expert property team at New Oak Estates on 01246 211646. We look forward to assisting you....

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