theRatandMouse

♥ your landlord?

Here's how to show it... lettings agency Corporate Homes has launched a 2010 Best Landlord competition. If your landlord has been more than landlord (and - presumably - less than a lover) you can show your appreciation by going here and nominating him/her. The deadline is May 15, after which CH will pick 20 finalists, and the final poll will be thrown open to the public. (Presumably the reasons for nomination will be published, so if your landlord gave you his/her kidney, best mention it when you fill in the form.)

Technorati Tags: property, real estate

Of normal intelligence? Grab your squatter eviction kit...

It's the work of Norwich-based property lawyer Tessa Shepperson, and it's aimed at "land owners of normal intelligence" who might baulk at paying a solicitor more money than it's costing in arrears to chase up a tenant that's outstayed their welcome and kick them to the curb. Her kit costs £250 plus VAT (but don't forge the £150 court issue fee and other procedural costs) and there's online support to walk clients through the process. More here.

Technorati Tags: property, real estate

Market report - buyer registrations down

That's according to new figures from the National Association of Estate Agents. Offices received just 258 new buyer registrations in February, down from 291 in January, and the lowest number in a year. The average number of properties on an agency's books rose very slightly, from 55 to 56.

Technorati Tags: estate agents, property, real estate, real estate agents

Monday afternoon linkage - the unlucky 1,000

One thousand Brits a day forced to move by nasty neighbours [Telegraph]
Michael Jackson home to be recreated in Ireland [India Times]
And you can buy his furniture in Las Vegas [Telegraph]
Susan Boyle decides against moving to London for her own safety [Mirror]
Can the Olympic facelift save Stratford? [Times]

The Rat and Mouse - London's property blog, since 2005

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

Another London mini-flat, slow news day at the Mirror

They pop up every so often, the converted broom cupboards with asking prices that outstrip Scottish castles. This one... 11ft by 5.5ft, a genuine ex-broom cupboard, and smaller, apparently, than a snooker table... isn't for sale, but it must have been a slow news day at the Mirror, because they've invited themselves in and had it valued, nonetheless. It's in Knightsbridge, across the road from Harrods, and according to a local agent could fetch anything from £150,000 to £200,000. More here.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

Market report - Buyer/seller balance changing?

According to Rightmove figures, asking prices heading into March - traditionally a big month for the market - have risen just 0.1%, and in London they've actually fallen, by 2.5%. Vendors are up by more than a quarter, forcing some "correction" to prices boosted by a shortage of supply at the beginning of the year.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

If these walls could talk... Daniel Craig edition

Thanks to the Rat and Mouse reader for the tip... "apparently" - and we're trusting you on this one - this is Daniel Craig's very lovely 4-bedroom mews house in SW7, complete with gym, cinema and conspicuously placed Tom Ford book. Guide price: £4.25m; particulars here.

If these walls could talk... Max Clifford edition [January 21, 2010]

Technorati Tags: celebrity, London, property, real estate

Spat over new Nationwide lending system

There's an interesting FT article here about a growing disagreement between brokers and Nationwide, regarding the lender's new, more complex method of calculating what it's willing to lend on a mortgage. Replacing the old income multiplier system is a complex equation involving net disposable income, cost-of-living, loan-to-value and the cut of a borrower's jib. Nationwide claims it will become more generous, lending up to 4.5 times income. But not according to the brokers. Ray Boulger of John Charcol claims to already have seen a reduction in offers in most cases.

Technorati Tags: mortgages

A quarter of homeowners £300 away from defaulting

Three hundred pounds a month is the difference, according to YouGov research, between paying the mortgage and not paying the mortgage for 26% of homeowners in the 35 to 44 age group. More here.

Technorati Tags: property, real estate

Market report - transactions down in January

The stats, courtesy of Acadametrics, show transactions in snowy, Stamp Duty-filled January at just 36,000, 52% down on December, and back in what estate agents might think of as the disaster zone, the third lowest figure since 1995. More here.

Technorati Tags: property, real estate

Interior information - prime fishtanks

Big fish tanks... trendy, by all accounts, and the leading exponents are Aquarium Architecture, who'll take a room and do this:

It's not everybody's cup of tea (my wife reckons "too corporate") but there's just something about watching fish that slows the heartbeat. Mine, anyway. Our friends at Beeston Media have made a great promotional film for the company here. Interesting.

Technorati Tags: architecture, design, property, real estate

Tales from the front line... "election jitters"

Last week of February: I find myself still be-moaning the lack of stock. Frustratingly little choice and really bullish vendors holding out for 2007 prices. First week of March: Blimey, that's good. A really marked increase in new properties and price reductions hitting the in-box. Agents calling and they all sound a bit relieved-as am I. Second week of March: Client calls: "I'm thinking about sitting back for a little while, watching what happens with the election." Another client: "I'm not sure if I want to continue with the purchase. I think there may be better opportunities after the election." And another: "My buyer has threatened to pull out. He wants to re-negotiate."

If election concerns are causing a trend towards buyer caution, I've a hunch it won't be a trend finishing on May 7th.

Tracy Kellett runs leading buying agents BDI Homefinders. Follow her on Twitter, here.

Tales from the front line... "a buy-to-let dream" [March 5, 2010]
The Rat and Mouse interview - Tracy Kellett, homefinder, on not being a stuffy old duffer called Rupert [February 26, 2010]

Technorati Tags: property, real estate

Thursday morning linkage - aftershock

Work on second Heron Tower residential skyscraper begins [Londonist]
Is it time for the aftershock? [MSN]
Fear Super-Google? [Zoomf blog]
Homeownership, only for the 30+ [AboutProperty]

The Rat and Mouse - London's property blog

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

Bolton masses against Gary Neville Teletubby home

Residents of Bolton are getting het up by Manchester United footballer Gary Neville's plans for a flower shaped eco-home on green belt land. Quotes - here - from a meeting in a Methodist church hall show how the message is in the subtext.

"Why do we have to have this dirty great big house because he has lots of money?"

You don't. You can still keep your little house. He gets to have the great big house. And that's possibly the problem. The use of the word "dirty" is interesting. This, from the architect's website:

Make has submitted a planning application to Bolton Council for a new eco-home which, if approved, will be the first zero-carbon property in the North West of England... The design team has worked closely with Peter Rolton, a key member of the Government’s advisory panel for renewable and sustainable energy, and the proposed scheme has already been identified as an exemplar project within the Government’s ‘Planning Performance Agreements for Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Schemes’ programme.

It just seems a shame to me that while Bovis gets to squat above the country, dropping these at will, innovative, eco-friendly architecture that tests technology for future use is made so difficult.

Technorati Tags: architecture, celebrity, design, development, ecology, environment, property, real estate

Agents told, don't panic about iSold

The new, cut-price estate agenting deal offered by Spicerhaart and Tesco has been creating waves within the industry, but Bushells boss, Eric Walker, quoted in Estate Agent Today, urges his colleagues to stay cool. The good guys, apparently, will win through in the end.

“So, sellers have a choice: iSold value a house at £350,000 and charge less commission than a Tesco value pizza, plus double Clubcard points, or Foxtons promise you £400,000 and enough waiting buyers to fill Wembley, all of whom they will accompany in their annoying little Minis and browbeat into submission. Not a tough call, really."

Hang on... your point is? And what about Bushells? Why use a different agency as an example?

Finally, he doesn't hold back on what he thinks of Spicerhaart.

Let Tesco join the market. And let Spiceraart support them, thus admitting their own business is a sham as they have produced a cheaper alternative which denigrates agents’ fees.

Before you take this too seriously, remember it wasn't too long ago that the Spicerhaart boss wasn't holding back on what he thought of Tesco.

Technorati Tags: estate agents, Foxton's, Foxtons, real estate agents