Dress for Success (aka Property Staging)

There’s a saying that you should dress for the job that you want. We think the same applies when it comes to finding new tenants or a buyer for your property.

We’re all well-versed in the concept of property dressing within the sales market. You may even have heard stories of people putting the coffee on or leaving out freshly baked bread in the kitchen before viewings to create that ambiance. What is becoming far more common however is dressing lettings properties to attract discerning tenants, particularly in central London.

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Things You Don't Know About Your Estate Agent: Part 1

The agent who lets your rental property will never speak to your tenant again 

At Maplewood, we’re all about transparency so we’ve decided to lift the lid and show you the inside workings at your typical high street estate agent. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be revealing things you probably didn’t know about your agent. Intrigued? Read on…

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Tenants from Hell

Tenants from Hell

We’ve been speaking to a number of landlords recently who are experiencing ‘less than perfect’ tenant scenarios. We’ve heard just about everything over the years from unscrupulous agents pocketing deposits and disappearing without a trace, seemingly perfect tenants installing locks and subletting rooms in unauthorised rent-to-rent accommodation right through to straight-forward squatters – and even a marijuana farm!

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New Courts to Tackle Backlog of Evictions

Lord Chancellor Unveils Plans for Ten 'Nightingale Courts'

On 19 July the Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland, announced that ten ‘Nightingale Courts’ would be set up rapidly to help deal with the backlog of evictions proceedings. With court services having been suspended from March for all ongoing housing possession action in England and Wales due to the coronavirus, the industry has been expressing increasing concern at the significant backlog in the Courts.

On 22 July, it was announced that possession proceedings would recommence from 23 August and MP Christopher Pincher, whilst recognising that the prioritisation of cases is the job of the judiciary, expressed his belief that it is important that serious and antisocial cases be heard as soon as possible.

Two of the new Courts will be located in London and other measures are also being put into place to ease the pressure on the court system, including longer opening hours in order to increase the number of cases that can be heard in a day and continuing to use video technology to hear cases where appropriate.

Through our considerate and professional dealing with our tenants, we have a great track record of keeping our landlords up-to-date with their rent payments.

To work with us - and help avoid the build-up of arrears that can lead to a lengthy eviction proceeding - contact us now.