IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS Housing Benefits (Landlords) 01952 383858 Benefits & Council Tax 01952 383838 Environmental Health 01952 381818 (including noisy neighbours) Domestic violence helpline 0800 783 1359 Environmental Maintenance 01952 384384 (refuse, pest control, abandoned vehicles etc) Environmental Maintenance 01952 384000 (Roads, signs, lighting, footpaths etc) For Electricity suppliers 0845 603 0618 For Gas suppliers 0870 608 1524 Planning Enquiries 01952 380380 Private Landlords/Tenants 01952 381877 Kathy Hawley 01952 381875 Police 0300 333 3000 or (Emergency ) 999 Crimestoppers 0800 555111 Transco 0800111999 (if you smell Gas) Princess Royal Hospital 01952 641222 or (Shropdoc in Emergencies) 08450 202131 Please advise us of any other important numbers you would like listed above. All information and advice in this newsletter is given in good faith. Wrekin Landlords Association and The Borough of Telford & Wrekin, accept no liability for actions or damages Future Meetings at 7.00 p.m. 14th January 2014 at: The Salvation Army Hall, Oakengates. Annual Dinner for 2014 will be on May 16th CONTACT INFORMATION Representatives of The Wrekin Landlords Association can be contacted on : TENANT REFERENCING CHECK 07931311612 (Paul Spiers) 01952 727322 The Chairman, Mr. Bernie Lewis E-mail Chairman@wrekinlandlords.com 07931311612 Treasurer, Mr. Paul Spiers or write to WREKIN LANDLORDS ASSOCIATION, The Cornerhouse, 57, High Street, Madeley TF7 5AT Winter2013/14 Property Matters The Official Newsletter of the Wrekin Landlords Association New Year Meeting 7-10 p.m. Tuesday 14th The Salvation Army Hall, Oakengates. It s our Open Meeting and an opportunity to come along and let your opinions be known. Share your knowledge with your fellow Landlords and pick their brains on local issues. Don t forget membership fees are now due. See Page 7 THE BEST 10 YOU EVER SPENT IN THIS ISSUE... NEXT ANNUAL DINNER. CONFERENCE ROUND UP. WLA REPORT TO PARLIAMENT BAD TENANTS STILL A PROBLEM. CHANGES TO SECTION 21 NOTICES. 20 Website:- www.wrekinlandlords.com My life in Property By Steve & Ruth Evans (page 17)
CONTENTS WLA January14th meeting Cover Chairman s letter 2 Bad Tenant Concerns 3 Parliament report 4/5 LHA Rates for 2013 Website update Membership renewal 7 Condensation 8 Members say/laugh it off 10/11 Conference Round up 12 Annual Dinner 13 Did you know? 15 My Life in Property 17 Properties abroad. 18 Classified Ads 19 Contacts 20 Jag of all trades COMPLETE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE SERVICE. KITCHENS, BATHROOMS, PLUMBING, TILING, ROOFING,CARPENTRY, PAINTING, DECORATING, WINDOWS AND PLASTERING ETC. Telephone: 07970 062970 Landline : 01948 841949 6 Chairman's letter. Dear Members What a fabulous evening we had for the Autumn Conference. You would be hard pushed to get a line up like that at a major event costing a lot of money. To have one on your doorstep, free of charge, is amazing. The information we were given no doubt made or saved money for some of those attending and others who are still to benefit in the future. There has been much activity with the replacement boiler schemes, some more successful than others, please keep us informed of your experiences. Some people are now beginning to feel the consequences of the change in Council tax rulings that we fought so long and hard to avoid. It shows that we must pay attention when these changes arise as the implications can often be long term and extremely disruptive. Often there is nothing that we can do about some of the legislations as they are Governmental and Nationwide, however, we can at least try to put our opinions across like the article I submitted see pages 4/5, if enough people tell the Government that their plans are infeasible then maybe, just maybe, someone will take heed. We can but hope, but always remember that all those thousands of PRS Tenants have to live somewhere and without us the local authorities cannot cope. I wish you all the compliments of the season. Kindest regards Bernie Lewis. ACCOUNTANTS Bates & Co 01743 462604 ARCHITECT Nick Hatton 07843672809 01905 353768 BUILDING Steve Holford 01952 582053 Rob 01952 612995 or 07812 346559 TN Builders 07870 119563 SMJ Carpentry 07730 899753 CARPET SUPPLY & FITTING AST (Dawley) 01952 630143 Mark Atwell fitting 07807 646612 CARPET CLEANING Shropshire Carpet cleaners 01952 884171 Butlers Dry clean carpets 0800 7312368 CLEANING Vortex Cleaning 01952 505519 Steam Vac & Go 0845 257618 Shire Cleaning Services 01952 292963 CONDENSATION Enviro Vent 0845 2727807 DECORATING Williams Friendly Services 01952 244197 DTS decorators 07875 65363 DOUBLE GLAZING Safeway 01952 7508080 or 07713152932 ELECTRICIANS Simon Bird 01952 401018 or 07831 431005 PB Electrics 01952 882099 or 07810717652 APS Electrical (Simon) 07882 345098 ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTS. Tim Gough 07778 758568 Phil Bowen 077437 65504 Hugh Sopwith 01952 433944 FENCING D W fencing 0797 1282683 or 01952 505202 FLORIST Blue Florist 01952 462626 and 01743 366200 CLASSIFIED ADS GAS SERVICE Gastec, Dave Emberton 01952 257989 M.C. Services. 01952 248250 Kieth Salter 077647 87501 01952 400169 eplan Energy 01902 374818 INSURANCE Alan Boswell Brokers 01603 216399 ITALIAN PROPERTY Steve and Helen 07966 650599 KITCHEN FITTERS Colin 01952 7508080 or 07713152932 Kitchen facelift Co.(Martin)01694 722414 LAWN CARE Mal 07948 429374 01948 841458 MAINTENANCE Flat Roofs (D. Hems) 07788 952381 Jag of all trades (mobile) 07970 062970 Bailey s 01952 501863 or 07731824464 Keith Williams 0800 677 1972 David Tye 07894281301 PLASTERING GS Plastering.07967496222 01952 503907 PLUMBERS Brian Tarr (reliable) 07971 279249 PLUMBING SUPPLIES M.R Bathrooms & Fires 01952 582007 REMOVALS Man with a Van 0796 7742112 SEWAGE & DRAINS AA DRAINS 01952 511900 or 07971 558665 SPANISH PROPERTY Barry & Linda 01952 677174 STORAGE Bailey s 01952 501863 or 07731824464 TIMBER DECKING Chetton Timber 01746 789340 or 07971 256792 TURKISH PROPERTY Ruth & Stephen 01952 677436 2 For Newsletter info 01952 727322 or bpm.lewis @ btinternet.com If you have any recommended tradesmen please let us know. 19
Italian Farmhouse Home in Le Marche, Italy. It can be viewed with loads of photos on www.holidaylettings.co.uk ref: 301278 This newly renovated, detached, stone farmhouse, with its own gardens with patios and covered terrace, its own pizza oven, in the magic triangle of Le Marche. Just a short walk into Gualdo, with its weekly market, shops, bars and restaurant. This area is famous for its rolling green hills and valleys with beautiful stone houses, hill top towns, fabulous food and restaurants. Between sea (45 mins) and mountains with fresh water lake( 30 mins) there is something for everyone. Swimming pools are available locally nearest is open air public pool 4 miles away in a wooded park. Ryanair do good value flights from Stansted to Ancona airport about 75 mins away Why not try mixing a visit to Rome, Bologna, Pisa or Venice before or after your stay? Special discount for fellow landlords (10% reduction off the online price) if you call us direct Steve and Helen Williams on: 07966 650599 HOLIDAY APARTMENT, LOS ALCAZARES, COSTA CALIDA, SPAIN 2 Bedroom apartment on small complex with communal swimming pool. Walking distance to shops, restaurants and beach. Cheap flights to Murcia airport (10 mins from apartment) flying from Birmingham & East Midlands, Ryanair, BMI Baby, Jet2, Airport pickup available. For more info, pictures, and availability go to www.holiday-rentals.co.uk Ref: number 712535 or contact (WLA members) Barry & Linda Smith 01952 677174 or 07768 TURKEY Euro exchange rate tough on your pocket? Try Turkey! Need a quiet break away from it all? Then try our new 3 bedroomed ground floor, easy access, air conditioned apartment, just 40 minutes from Bodrum, Turkey. Situated on the outskirts of an unspoilt fishing village, only 100 metres from the beautiful turquoise Aegean Sea. With wonderful sunsets over the bay, it is ideal for families or friends just wanting to get away for a relaxing break. With two bathrooms, three double beds and a sofa bed, it can sleep 6-8 comfortably. The well equipped kitchen and lounge complete the package for culture fans or Sun lovers. A first class Golf Club Vita Park is just 15 minutes away. FLIGHTS: Birmingham, Manchester, East Midlands to Bodrum Airport 20 minutes away. Prices from 200 per week. Booking Spring, Summer and Autumn 2013 breaks NOW! This apartment is owned by WLA members Ruth & Stephen Evans. Why not contact them on: 01952 677436 or mobile 07973446474 or E mail on struth8@hotmail.co.uk Or see them at a meeting Bad Tenants still a Concern A number of our members are getting stung by the same bad tenants time and again. There are two reasons for this either the Landlord is NOT checking our register. Or previous landlords are NOT notifying Paul and registering the details on the appropriate form. One Landlord complained that he had several thousand pounds worth of damage done by a tenant. Paul checked out the name and found that in fact this tenant had been reported by at least three other landlords but unfortunately the current one did not bother to check out the name before issuing the contract. We are trying to make it easier to log a bad tenants details but at present you can either download a form from our website, fill in the details and either post it or scan it and email to Paul. If you don t have print facilities then we will gladly send you a form in the post. Or if absolutely desperate ring Paul with as much information as possible. We must stop these bad tenants from getting into our properties and trashing them or running up debt. The Housing trusts will not take anyone who has an outstanding debt so why should we. We owe it to one another to protect each others backs. If you are not sure if you have reported someone before then do it anyway. As much information as possible helps to protect the innocent. For all matters relating to bad Tenants please ring. 07931311612 (Paul Spiers) ALAN BOSWELL INSURANCE WLA DISCOUNTED INSURANCE SCHEME PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT AND YOUR INCOME As one of the largest residential insurance brokers to landlords and landlord associations in the UK ALAN BOSWELL understands your needs. Very competitive premium rates for buildings and contents cover. Discounts for WLA members Occupation by students and housing benefit tenants Cover for multiple occupancy and bedsit properties Loss of rent following damage to your property Cost of re-housing tenants following damage to your property Liability cover of up to 5m Employers liability of up to 10m for cleaners/gardeners/etc. Cover for unoccupied properties between lets An option to add legal expenses cover at 15 per property ( 40 if rent guarantee cover included) An option to add home emergency cover at 69.30 per property We also offer generous discounts for members with larger portfolios, 15 properties and over. 01603 216399 www.alanboswell.com/landlords landlords@alanboswell.com Alan Boswell Group, Harbour House, 126 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1UL 18 FINALLY: If you always do what you ve always done, nothing will change". Or click the link on your website www.wrekinlandlords.com 3
REPORT TO PARLIAMENT I am the Chairman of the Wrekin Landlords Association and as such have a great insight into the issues that you are currently reviewing. We have constant feedback from our members and reports of the state of private rental in our area and the experiences that tenants in this sector are creating. Firstly may I say that I am amazed that you are holding a review at this time as there is still much information available on this sector from the previous Rugg Review conducted only a couple of years ago which basically found that there was not a great deal of change required in this sector. Also, at a time when there is a state of flux in this sector with many planned changes hanging like the sword of Damocles over Private Landlords many of your findings will probably be irrelevant by the time your report is published and subsequent recommendations made. Most dramatic of these threats is the proposed Universal Credit which will change the face of payment of rent for benefit tenants beyond all recognition. Even the changes to the public rented sector will have a huge impact on the PRS too. It must be appreciated that there is a finite amount of properties of a specific size and likewise a finite number of families of specific given sizes. There is no given correlation between these two figures so someone somewhere ends up paying too much rent for the size of their family or becomes evicted. As benefit tenants have no choice in this matter it would appear that it will be working tenants who will fall victim to this awful situation. If you add to this the proposal that many Local Authorities are being forced to impose Council Tax penalties on private Landlords if their property becomes empty it is adding up to a recipe to drive the responsible Landlords out of the business altogether and their places to be taken by irresponsible operators who none of us want to see. In our area the quality of the majority of Private Rented properties is excellent. There does exist the undesirable element, as you term rogue landlords, which have been gradually been forced out of the industry as more and more respectable operators have been offering superior quality housing to their tenants. This has been a natural process of service selection and would continue if decent Landlords were encouraged to make further investment rather than threatened and deterred from making their valuable contribution. There also exists a natural level of rent control: At present some Local Authorities will pay Landlords direct if they set their rents below the LHA rate, this is an excellent system where everyone wins and is self perpetuating, no need for oppressive, expensive legislation just good common sense and listening to the needs of both parties. You refer to the interaction of housing benefit and rent, whilst the above is a perfect example of a symbiotic relationship this opportunity will soon be taken away from us when Universal Credits are introduced and there will be no local Housing Benefit Offices. So please do not waste time, money and resources in trying to include departments who will be non-existent in the near future. An increase in regulation of landlords, will make the sector less attractive to the good Landlords and will allow for a proliferation of rogue landlords who openly flout the existing laws as they stand now so they are not likely to change with the introduction of even more legislation, it will just make it more difficult to enforce than at present. If you want to eliminate the undesirable element then enforce current legislation in accordance with My Life in Property: By Steve & Ruth Evans We started building properties in our teens with our local youth club in Wheaton Aston, digging ditches, filling potholes and painting etc. Steve went on to train as a surveyor and I reluctantly started teaching Art/Textiles although I really wanted to do interior design. In 1983, in our mid twenties, we bought a half acre plot of land, covered in Japanese knotweed, overlooking Oakengates, bought for a steal as no-one else put an offer in. It was a steep learning curve for us both although Steve was used to working in civils with a Telford construction company. Tight finances meant that we did most of the work ourselves, as we still do, calling in tradesmen for the electrics, plumbing and plastering. At this time it became apparent that we needed to be self-employed so we had enough spare time to build. Steve continued in local building projects, factories, private housing, TSB training centre and Pride Hill Shopping Centre. Five years later, I had just completed a C & G course in Interior Design, and we thought we should use some of the equity in our house to finance other building projects. The overnight rise in interest rates in 1991 and we embarked on a pair of semis, knocking down an old tin chapel, a business partner dropping out and freezing temperatures on site. We persevered, and sold both houses at realistic prices and went on buying small and awkward building sites for the next decade. Dipping into the rental market we bought a house in Brookside and a dubious commercial property and flat in Stoke. We had some interesting experiences, but survived and made a nice profit when we came to sell off the Stoke property. We continued, buying up plots, designing and building houses for the open market and a small block of flats to rent out. We became regular visitors to the property auctions in Stoke, buying ex TDC properties to refurbish, one of which featured on Homes Under the Hammer. (They were not interested in the woodworm, damp proofing etc., just the superficial decorating) It looks so easy on T.V., but it can be a hard slog. Our offspring took an active role in our property journey, living in and managing our student properties in Leicester and Loughborough. Thankfully we have been helped enormously over the years by our tried and tested tradesmen and suppliers from our building days. It is worthwhile holding on to good workmen or women when you can find them! Always consider the final value when doing up a property, have realistic expectations about the rental yield, voids etc and remember in refurbs a quick turnaround is essential. Our property portfolio is now comfortably split between single rooms in shared housing, flats and 2,3,4 and 5 bedroomed houses and we have a mixture of social and private tenants. This has helped us to ride the stormy sea of tenancy voids, tenants scarpering at midnight and quiet periods because it is not always easy. Changes in Housing Benefit payments, poor rental markets in general and rising utility bills have had to be absorbed. However, it is by no means all doom and gloom. We have some great tenants, of many different Nationalities and backgrounds, our life is always busy and varied and we are still optimistic about the future of property. Thank you Wrekin Landlords for your help and support. 4 This article appeared on the government website opposite Thank you for sharing your story. If anyone else has a story that they feel they would like to share with our members please ring Bernie on 01952 727322 17
Advertising is free to members M.C. Services (uk) Ltd. Central Heating Repairs Installation of new boilers, Landlords Certification and servicing of gas and oil fired boilers etc. Tel/Fax Telford (01952) 248250 Mobile 07860477358 Plumbing work carried out. Fellow member of the WLA. Refer to our website:- mcsb.co.uk GPS Property Shropshire Act on behalf of clients as a Letting Agency and Buying Agency. Clients benefit from their own personal Buying Agent We actively source, research, purchase and manage residential property on behalf of investors and manage the whole process from start to finish, if required. 01952 426255 m: 07545804423 gary@gpstelford.co.uk GASTEC BOILER REPAIR CALL Dave Emberton (Member of Wrekin Landlords Assoc) FOR ALL YOUR GAS REPAIRS, SERVICES, BREAKDOWNS, SAFETY CHECKS, ANNUAL LANDLORDS CERTIFICATES,INSTALLATIONS ETC. Corgi registered Tel: (01952) 257989 or (mobile on) 07771 644463 Vortex Cleaning - End of tenancy cleans - Carpet cleaning - Graffiti removal - Sanitizing/deodorizing - Wheelie bin cleaning Phone Ashley on 01952 506519 or 07805202578 www.vortexcleaning.co.uk HHSRS and assist local authorities who have the power but not the man power to find the guilty parties. Also, as outlined above, if you made it more favourable for GOOD landlords to flourish then this would eliminate the bad landlords by natural process. Again with regard to the regulation of letting agents, there does already exist a proliferation of authoritative bodies who try to control these agents, however my experience has been that they will ultimately be self controlling by the service they offer and subsequently poor standard agents will become less successful whilst those offering good service will flourish. The regulation of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), is already quite sufficient as laid out the Housing Act of 2004 however, I feel that the local authorities are currently having difficulties in keeping abreast of this legislation as can be reflected in the low number of prosecutions in this sector. I would suggest there are very few areas where special licensing should be required and would probably not achieve much other than to drive out responsible Landlords leaving areas of total dereliction. The key to all these problems is to make an environment that encourages responsible landlords and makes it more difficult for the rogue operators to survive. In this way you have thousands of people working toward your goal for their own ends and none of them are being paid by the Government or the Taxpayer. All the concerns about security of tenure etc will become self policing as most decent Landlords want a long uncomplicated tenancy, they don t want to be changing tenants every few months, they don t want voids and the necessity of redecorating after every Tenant, they want tenants to settle in to a community (much as the Government claims to want but are creating an environment that necessitates the breakup of communities). You ask about local authorities and their duty to the homelessness. It is quite obvious that most local authorities are incapable of coping with the current number of homeless people however what concerns me more is the predicted number of homeless over the next three years due to all the above legislation it will be a catastrophe of unparalleled proportions unless something is done about it in time. When I say something must be done about it, that DOES NOT mean the introduction of yet more legislation it means less red tape and greater understanding of the only sector that offers any realistic solution to a growing problem. If you think about it logically, a Landlord invests his money into a property in order to make return on that investment. He may make a small profit over and above his expenses when all is going well and he has no long voids, so he sets his rent at a level that is competitive in the local market place. To set it higher would mean that he will take much longer to find a tenant and therefore lose money. However, if he is forced to pay out more for licences and legislation, the process becomes more expensive he will find that he is not making a return from his investment. He has TWO choices; either he puts up the rent that he charges the tenant without increasing the service he offers or he is forced to sell the property and cease his involvement in the rental market. The ultimate scenario to this situation would be that the property could be bought by an unscrupulous landlord who would make a profit from the rent as he would offer next to no service and would avoid the expenses that the previous owner takes as a given responsibility. 16 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/mcomloc/50/50iii08.htm 5
LHA RATES for (Telford & Wrekin Area) April 2013 Category Max. Weekly Max. Monthly Shared Accommodation 69.23 300.00 1 Bedroom 86.54 375.01 2 Bedrooms 109.62 475.02 3 Bedrooms 126.92 549.99 4 Bedrooms 167.31 725.01 The above are the maximum Local Housing Allowance rates used for calculating Local Housing Allowance. The number of bedrooms is based on the tenant s family make-up and age and not on the number of actual bedrooms in a property. For more information please visit the LHA pages at: www.telford.gov.uk/benefits or contact Telford and Wrekin Council s Customer Services on 01952 383838. Website Facelift Have you been given your password for the new website? We are still on the same web address www.wrekinlandlords.com but we are hoping with the new developments that greater use can be made of it by logging in with your own personal password which will enable us to help more people with specific concerns and hopefully we will be able to introduce a forum where we might exchange thoughts and views, as has always been at the very core of what our Association is about. If you have not received a notification then it may well be that we do not have your email address or the one we have is not current. It would be of assistance if you could let us have it as soon as possible. Probably the easiest way to notify us is to just send a short message, identifying yourself to: chairman@wrekinlandlords.com This will also enable us to send out messages en bloc when there are important issues which might require your attention, it may be that a property is required or a bad tenant is on the loose or even a change in legislation that might not wait until the next news letter. As always please keep us informed of anything that you would like to find on your website or any links that you feel would be of assistance to your fellow landlords. Meanwhile keep visiting just to see what changes are ongoing. Thank you. Did you know? Loan Sharks: The person to contact in relation to loan shark concerns for the Telford area is: LIAISE Officer Christopher Connor Tel 07500809341 E mail - Christopher.Connor@Birmingham.Gov.uk Changes in Section 21 Notices In case anyone has not seen the Court of Appeal decision in Spencer v Taylor [2013] EWCA Civ 1600 it concerns the nature of Notices under section 21 of the HA 1988 and radically changed what most practitioners thought that the law was in relation to dates and validity of specific notices.. In brief summary it means that a landlord:- may issue a Section 21 (1)(b) notice after the expiry of any fixed term that has become periodic rather than what was believed to be the case, during or on the last day of the fixed term In effect the need to provide a date, being a date of the end of a tenancy period, will no longer be necessary A savings clause will of course be useful, although not necessary as long as the duration of the notice is two months. This will apply to tenancies that were fixed term but have become periodic. A copy of the judgement is here:- http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/ewca/civ/2013/1600.rtf A discussion of the case may be found at the NearlyLegal blog http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2013/12/the-permissive-notice/ Need an EPC? Speedy delivery of your EPC...Professional and personal service Liaise with agent/tenant, if required...wla trusted supplier since 2008 Contact: Hugh Sopwith Tel: 01952 433944 or Mob: 07890 088 760 hughsopwith@gmail.com It s that simple! 6 Home energy efficiency (Wales) 0800 3162815... Home Heat Helpline 0800 336699 TENANT REFERENCING CHECK 07931311612 Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes Visit-www.eeph.org.uk/privaterented 15
SIMON BIRD ELECTRICAL SIMON BIRD ELECTRICAL SIMON BIRD ELECTRICAL SIMON BIRD ELECTRICAL 24 HOUR EMERGENCY CALL OUT SERVICE Simon Bird Telford s Live Wire Domestic * Commercial Industrial Electrical Installations and Maintenance Part P building Regulations Approved Periodic Inspections and Testing MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS ARE DUE (If you joined before 30th September 2013) PLEASE SEND IN YOUR TEN POUNDS NOW! TO: WREKIN LANDLORDS ASSOCIATION, CORNERHOUSE, 57, High Street, MADELEY, TELFORD, TF7 5AT Just fill in the enclosed form and keep the top part as a receipt. We are relying on your co-operation to cut down on our costs and thus avoid increasing membership fees. Many thanks! OR by direct banking into the: Wrekin Landlords Association RBS Bank account No 10021496 sort code 16-33-17 Please use your membership number and name as a reference 14 Portable Appliance testing E-Mail: telfordlivewire@hotmail.co.uk Proud to work with Wrekin Landlords Telford 01952 401018 Fax 01952 594496 mobile 07831 431005 Telford Energy Savers:- 0800 0730252 The Kitchen Facelift Company Kitchens upgraded or completely refurbished. Re-vitalize a tired-looking kitchen with new doors and worktops at a fraction of the cost of a complete new kitchen. Full range of appliances and accessories also available. Free survey and quotation. Call: Jobs large or small. Martin Robinson on: 01694 722414 (W.L.A. Member). email: kitchenfacelift@hotmail.com 7
11th WLA ANNUAL DINNER DON T MISS IT. FRIDAY MAY 16th THE PARK INN (Radisson), FORGEGATE, TELFORD www.parkinn.co.uk/hotel-telford One person goes FREE in each paid up membership, additional Guest/Partner pays only 20.00 Dinner includes:- Choice of menus, three course meal, coffee, wine, and FREE prize Draw. Free drinks reception 7.15 to 7.50 Demand is high, BOOK EARLY. Ring Pat now on 01952 727322 8 13
Conference report The Wrekin Landlords Conference held on October 8th was a breath of fresh air. The information was varied and had relevant appeal right across the board. The opening forum of landlords brought a wide band of experience to the table and stimulated quite a lot of interesting questions which were all fielded very professionally. Questions ranged from compulsory Landlord Registers to exit strategies for retirement. The next panel were representatives from the Local Authority and the news and views that they brought to conference was most refreshing and suggested a new era of co-operation between the Private Rented Sector and the local Council and Benefits offices. There certainly seems to be much opportunity to work with the Council on guaranteed rental schemes with paper bonds and so on. Community Recycling Centres in Telford During the break we auctioned off some items, including some beautiful flowers and a hand cut Crystal Vase and raised 135 for the Salvation Army Homeless. The 50 attendance prize was won by new member John Elcock who only joined in June so he was delighted with a quick turnaround on a 10 investment. Talking about return on investment, the presentation entitled The simplest way to 51k p.a. in Property was a real eye opener and certainly opened up some possibilities for some of those attending to immediately increase their annual income. The speaker presenting the loan shark information was also quite enlightening There are three CRC s : Granville, off the A5 at Redhill TF2 9BP Ketley, on the A5223 Whitchurch Drive, TF1 5AB Halesfield 1, Halesfiled Industrial Estate, TF7 4LN The and gave hours many of graphic opening examples are: of 8.00 what a.m. can happen 4.30 once p.m. these Weekdays unlicensed money lenders get their claws into someone. Weekends and Bank Holidays 10 a.m. 3.30 from October If you have any suggestions to make for next years Conference we would be pleased to hear your ideas, it is always good to have input from members and if you know of any interesting speakers, for the conference or the quarterly meet- There are closed days on two days each week at each centre ings then please advise us. The event was sponsored by Terry Jones Solicitors. Granville, Additional support was provided by GP.Lettings and Peter Richardson Estates. The flowers were provided by Blue Florists of Shifnal. Obviously if you can support their businesses the way they supported ours it would be appreciated. Thanks to all our sponsors. Granville, off the A5 at Redhill TF2 9BP Keith Williams and Garry Price (City and Guilds Advance Craft Carpenters and Joiners) CAPENTRY AND JOINERY Property Maintenance & Repair Landlords properties a speciality: Damaged Properties, Voids, quick makeovers etc. Replacing doors, decorating, glazing, locks, handles, tiling Repair or replace kitchens, sinks, taps etc to your budget. If it s not listed just ask Prices start from 10 per hour Please call for a free, no obligation quote: Tel: 01902 590000 keithwilliams34@msn.com STUBLEYS WAREHOUSE Large selection of Beds/Mattresses and household furniture Ideal for buy to let and group homes Bespoke service available if required i.e. Build any flat packed items/ unpack, remove rubbish and set up beds on site. All orders gratefully received - big or small. Please call in and see us at our shop :- CHURCH STREET, WELLINGTON, TF1 1DD VISIT www.stubleys.co.uk Tel: 01952 257610 12 Please let us have your own views on the Conference. 9
Members Say The following are excerpts from comments I had after the Autumn Conference: The annual conference was excellent with first class speakers. I think we were all delighted by the quality of the new team representing the Council, well done to them. Please continue, feel the quality not the width. I thought it was very worthwhile and your input, as always, was first rate. David Dixon I thought the content was excellent but of course the atmosphere would have been more charged with an even greater attendance. Steve Williams We missed last years but we thought this years was excellent, please continue. Emma Gledhill We found the experience invaluable. Jacqui Davies It was a pleasure, as always, to talk to your group. Lee Higgins Thank you for inviting me. I found it really interesting and very useful and the conversations I had with a few of the landlords afterwards were great. Toni Keever Dear All Many thanks for your kind words. I cannot argue that the content of the evening was first class Regards Bernie Dear Bernie Just had a look at the new website, it s taking shape. Well done. Brian B. Yes, it s definitely an improvement, but if we don t have your email addresses please send them to us immediately to enhance the interaction features of the new format. It s vital. Thanks Bernie. 10 BAILEY S PROPERTY SERVICE *Tenant ready service, *Kitchens and Bathroom fitting. *Wall and floor tiling *Painting & decorating * Laminate flooring Plumbing and Carpentry Call Kevin on: 01952 601863 or 0781460809 Bates & Co Chartered Accountants Numerous rental and property investor clients. TEL: 01743 462604 10, Park Plaza, Battlefield Enterprise Park, SHREWSBURY, SY1 3AF E Mail: enquiries@bates4business.co.uk LAUGH IT OFF Do you take this man. Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days. Harsh but true Safety experts say passengers should be belted. Up in the Morning and ugly I m complaining about the man over the road who has a large cock which wakes me up at six every morning and I can t take it any more.. He also has a large erection, which is unsightly and dangerous Tenants Say Can you send someone to look at my water, it s a funny colour and not fit to drink Pardon. I couldn t believe my neighbour banging on the wall at 2.30 in the morning, it s a good job I was still up doing my bagpipe practise or I d have been really annoyed.. Hard to see that. I wouldn t buy a Labrador if I were you. Have you seen how many of their owners go blind.. Remember when? Eating raw fish was called poverty, not Sushi. Shire Cleaning Services Ltd Your complete cleaning solution We specialise in all applications of cleaning -End of tenancy cleans -Property clean outs -Carpet cleaning -Oven and Appliance cleaning Please get in touch for a no obligation quotation and see how competitive our rates are. Tel: 01952 292963 Mobile: 0781350 4821 www.shirecleaningservices.co.uk M.R. Bathrooms & Fires 10B Park Street, Madeley, TELFORD, TF7 5LA FULL Range of plumbing & heating products: Boilers, radiators & Bathroom Suites Copper tube, fittings (inc TDC plastic adaptors) tools, showers, surrounds, taps, wastes etc. We also have a range of fires and fire surrounds available in our showroom. Tel: 01952 582007 11