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London s Benham And Reeves Residential Lettings Respond To Government Decision No To License UK Lettings Agents
Jun 22nd
Housing minister Grant Shapps has announced that he will not introduce further regulations for lettings agents or private landlords, stating that this would create too much red tape. This is a blow for the industry as Marc von Grundherr, director of London’s largest, independent lettings-only specialist Benham and Reeves Residential Lettings explains: “This is a disappointing decision. We believe the market must have mandatory regulation to protect landlords and tenants – many professional agents such as ourselves hoped the new legislation would raise industry standards but this move will only reduce consumer protection.”
Marc continues: “Shapps says the private rented sector is already governed by a well-established legal framework but he fails to mention that you must register to be a member and that isn’t cheap. ARLA membership is not mandatory and even the Ombudsman for Lettings scheme isn’t foolproof – many smaller agents slip through the net as there is no reliable system to check membership.”
“The recession has prompted many amateurs, often estate agents, to set themselves up as lettings agents, often with no experience of drawing up tenancy agreements or knowledge of legislation and this can cause serious problems for landlords.”
“A client recently let her house through an unqualified estate agent. When she wanted to end the tenancy she found the tenancy agreement had been worded so that the tenant had the indefinite right to live at the property until he terminated it. The estate agent advised her to seek legal assistance but she came to us and we sorted out everything within days – but letting a property can be a legal minefield and this illustrates the importance of using a professional agent.”
“As a founder member of ARLA, we work within a strict Code of Practice and recommend anyone letting a property use an ARLA agent to ensure full legal protection.”
Press enquiries:
Tracie Lack
020 7433 6670
brmarketing@brlets.co.uk
Editor’s notes:
With 10 offices in the prime residential areas of London (and overseas offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and India), Benham and Reeves Residential Lettings is recognised as London’s largest, independent lettings-only agency. They are also one of the only London lettings agents to offer an interior design, refurbishment and furnishing service for investment properties through their sister company In:Style Direct.
The company is part of established property group, The Complete Property Investment Solution, which offers a complete range of services to help clients maximise their return on investment. With a leading sales and acquisition agent, interior designer and furnishing company within the group, The Complete Property Investment Solution can manage all aspects of property investment.
Media Contact Information
Name: Benham and Reeves Residential Lettings
Website: http://www.brlets.co.uk
Phone: 0800 092 9656
Address: 2/F Marlborough House
179-189 Finchley Road,
London NW3 6LB
Country: United Kingdom
UK Economic Recession Creates Summer House Boom?
Jun 2nd
London, England – June 02, 2010 Despite the current economic recession, it appears sales of expensive sheds and summer houses are booming in 2010. Indeed one of the UK’s most respected broadsheets, the Daily Telegraph, recently reported that sales of high end summer houses and garden sheds, are flying off shelves at home and garden retailers.
“Summer houses have traditionally been used for relaxing in the garden in warm and wet weather, providing a cool shady place of tranquility from the pouring rain, or a place to recline and bask in the summer heat,” said Jasmine Bright, Spokesperson for Summer Houses For Sale
“However, not every summer house purchased by shoppers this year will be used in such typical manner. As the UK recession continues to bite and more adult children, discouraged by the high cost of rented property, return home to live with their parents, a number of these constructions will be utilised as guest rooms.”
“Don’t be surprised by this as many wooden cabins and sheds today are not the creaky/damp places Grandad used to keep his rusty rake and hide his home brew kit from Grandma. In 2010 high end sheds and summer houses are often equipped with double glazed windows, brass fittings and boast mortice locks for additional security.”
“When you factor in effortless electricity hook ups and wireless Internet access, no wonder these garden structures are becoming attractive prospects for twenty somethings seeking respite from spiralling rental costs and exorbitant property prices in the UK.”
It seems with UK unemployment figures at their highest level for 15 years, and many of Great Britain’s youth “economically inactive” this trend of summer house purchase could be set to continue long into the future.
About: – http://www.summerhousesforsale.com is a site offering an introduction to garden summer houses. It includes a price comparison feature and the latest UK deals.
Jasmine Bright
Summer Houses For Sale
UK
Telephone: +44 – 07929 12371
Email: info@summerhousesforsale.com
Website: http://www.summerhousesforsale.com
Victoria Plumb, leading online bathroom retailer, receives ‘Trusted Seller’ status with NexTag
May 19th
Victoria Plumb aim to bring their customers the highest quality bathroom products at unbeatable prices as well as the best service and support. As a testament to their commitment, Victoria Plumb have received ‘Trusted Seller’ status from NexTag after receiving tremendous positive responses from NexTag customers.
In a bid to continually improve their service levels, Victoria Plumb has always encouraged their customers to provide helpful reviews, feedback and suggestions. To make it more assessable, Victoria Plumb incorporated the NexTag feedback forms to allow customers from the shopping comparison website to comment on their experience and service with Victoria Plumb. Victoria Plumb have received tremendous positive feedback at NexTag and have achieved the 4-star rating at present along with the ‘Trusted Seller’ status.
To qualify as a NexTag Trusted Seller, a store must have received positive customer reviews and rating as well as address customer service complaints quickly and fairly. Furthermore, to qualify, a store has to provide accurate and correct product information such as price, shipping, availability, along with identifying product conditions correctly. The store must also allow NexTag to place an independent feedback store link on their website that is monitored and conducted by NexTag.
The achievement of this status is a testament to Victoria Plumb’s commitment to providing their customers with the best level of service. Victoria Plumb also feature their products on other shopping comparison websites such as Shopping.com, Shopzilla, Kelkoo and CIAO to name a few.
Last year, Victoria Plumb’s customer services team leader , Lianne Todd, won the ‘Fair Trading Award’ assuring that Victoria Plumb customers get the best qualified support and service from the Victoria Plumb customer service team.
To add to the glory, same time last year, Victoria Plumb’s call centre was awarded a City & Guilds Award for Customer Service , thus further strengthening Victoria Plumb’s resolve to provide excellent customer service.
“Victoria Plumb are committed to providing the best level of service to their clients and for that we strive very hard. After our achievements last year, receiving further accolades is a proof of our commitment,” Ged Lees, Commercial Director of Victoria Plumb, said. “Our customer service team continually works to improve customer experience and ensure that everyone gets their ideal bathroom!”
NexTag is one of the largest online shopping comparison sites with perhaps the most widespread selection of products on the web. They operate their network throughout UK, USA, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. NexTag has been the top choice for millions of shoppers monthly to find the best deal for products.
Victoria Plumb is UK’s leading online bathroom retailer supplying a large range of luxury bathroom products ranging from Bathroom Suites, Shower Enclosures, Showers, Bathroom Furniture and Accessories. The comprehensive range of bathroom products have been designed to offer both quality and versatility to any bathroom. www.victoriaplumb.com
Villa Plus unveils fresh new rebrand
Nov 19th
Villa Plus, the independent, direct-sell villa specialist, has rebranded itself with a fresh, modern look, demonstrated by a vibrant and uplifting new colourful logo.
As part of the re-brand, Villa Plus will also be adopting a new tag line; ‘Villa holidays with a difference’, which reinforces the fact that the company’s villas come with many extras as standard and are among the best equipped rental villas in Europe. An impressive 98% of villas are air conditioned and all have their own private swimming pool, many of which are heated. Other additional benefits include sun beds, BBQ’s, table tennis tables, pool tables, Playstation 2s, satellite TV (many with BBC and ITV), as well as the added security of an alarm system. All villas include maid and linen service and, space permitting, each villa is equipped with a washing machine and dishwasher.
Simon Linford, Sales and Marketing Manager at Villa Plus said: “Having been about for a while, we’ve decided it’s time to better reflect the fabulous product and service we sell. Our new brand is characterised by a modern logo of a friendly persona. Also, to illustrate the extra value we give the customer, we’ve come up with the tag line ‘villa holidays with a difference’.
“Yet this doesn’t mean we’ve been taken over by the big boys,” Linford continued. “On the contrary, Villa Plus remains an independent direct sell tour operator owned and managed by its founders. We have over 700 exclusively contracted villas across nine destinations in Europe and we select the very best villas in the very best locations. All our villas have their very own private pools and are amongst the best equipped in the market.”
Villa Plus has been providing quality villa holidays for 23 years and was the pioneer in improving the standard of European villa holidays. Started from the bedroom of founder Nick Cooper, the company has to date booked over 300,000 customers and become the UK’s second largest villa tour operator. With a culture of providing strong customer service, Villa Plus has built up an enviable reputation in the business and a well deserved customer loyalty which is unrivalled.
As the company rolls out its fresh, new image, Villa Plus looks forward to the future and continuing to raise the standards of villa holidays for customers old and new.
About Villa Plus:
VillaPlus.com is an independent tour operator that has been providing villa holidays for 23 years to the best locations in Europe, providing holiday villas to rent in Cyprus, the Algarve, Costa del Sol, Mallorca, Menorca, Corfu, Costa Blanca, Kefalonia and Villas in Lanzarote.
VillaPlus.com has extensive experience and the independent operation means that they can offer ATOL protected air inclusive holiday packages that are genuinely tailored to individual client requirements.
In the late 80s and early 90s VillaPlus.com were the first villa company to try to install into every villa, basic items such as washing machines, dishwashers, satellite TV, microwaves, safes and alarms. These items were later followed by further upgrades such as PlayStation 2, stair gates, pool tables, table tennis, brick barbecues and sun bed mattresses.
VillaPlus.com have a highly experienced and dedicated team based in the UK and overseas who work hard to provide clients with the high levels of professional service required to ensure that the VillaPlus.com holiday experience is enjoyable and hassle free.
Media Contact
Karen Robertson
Villa Plus Ltd.
16 Adelaide Street
St. Albans
Hertfordshire
AL3 5BH
01727 738 516
www.villaplus.com