What's New from Lavery Lettings

Previous news: News 2009

Here is the latest edition of our regular newsletter. At Lavery Sales and Lettings we aim to keep you up to date with the latest news from the Lettings and Sales industries, and within Lavery's.

We hope you had a fantastic Christmas and are looking forward to a prosperous 2010. One of our goals is to extend our support of the Starlight charity. This charity brightens the lives of seriously and terminally ill children by granting their wishes and providing hospital entertainment to help take their minds off their illness. Last year we did a 24-hour sponsored cycle spin – covering 1000 miles and raising £2500. In 2010 we plan to do a sponsored hike on Cross-Trainers, covering 230 miles, the distance from Lavery's office in Ringwood, to the Arc de Triomphe, Paris. We'll tell you more nearer the time.

Lavery Lettings is constantly on the look out for new properties. We have tenants ready to move in, so if you have a property to let in Ringwood, Verwood, Ferndown, West Parley, Southbourne, Christchurch, or anywhere in between, then let us know as we have a queue of tenants waiting for you!

We especially need small properties such as one-bed flats which, as always at this time of the year, are in demand due to the number of men who have decided that they can't spend another Christmas entertaining the mother-in-law.

What do we foresee for 2010 for the Lettings industry? Well ARLA (Association of Residential letting Agents) said in December that there will be a further reduction in the number of properties to let, as 'reluctant' landlords continue to leave the market as the Property Sales market improves. This will result in fewer properties for tenants. So, as we suggested in our last newsletter, our advice to tenants is: Don't hang around, our properties are going fast.

Are you a potential tenant? If so, please make sure you use a NALS Accredited letting agent to ensure that your deposit is safe. Accredited agents must register your deposit with a government approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme to ensure it's independent return at the end of your tenancy. NALS and ARLA also insist that all member agents have their accounts independently audited.

In addition, we are excited to announce that we have appointed Care and Repair (Southern) Ltd as our Property Maintenance team. There is a dedicated in-house support team based at our Ferndown office so that they can respond to your maintenance issues immediately. Using state of the art technology they can keep us (and you) up to date with progress on any maintenance issues you may have.

Lavery Sales is pleased to announce the opening of their new sales office in Ferndown. The new office has a prime location on the corner of Ringwood Road and New Road, opposite the Fire Station. So if you are looking to sell or buy your ideal home in Ferndown, Stapehill, West Parley or West Moors, then call our dedicated sales team on 01202 873484 and ask for Angela or Louise. Quote ref NL02 and we will include you in our introductory offer.

So what is happening to the housing market now? When asked about this, Angela Irving, said 'There is a lack of new instructions coming to market which is causing a supply and demand issue. Despite the increase in house prices potential sellers are still reluctant to take action due to the fragility of the housing market and the initial outlay of a Home Information pack. On a positive note our buyers tend to be very serious and our 'fall through' rate is extremely low with 98% of our sales going through to completion.

And finally, you may be aware that last year the government raised the threshold for Stamp Duty on property sales from £125,000 to £175,000 to stimulate the housing market. As from 1 January 2010, this threshold has returned to £125,000, so the stamp duty on any property that sells for more than £125,000 will be 1% of the sale price. The other thresholds are unchanged.
£125,001 - £250,000 1%
£250,001 - £500,000 3%
£500,001 + 4%