Rental houses, Molesworth and Alconbury, UK
The following are some examples of properties to rent within easy access of RAF Molesworth and RAF Alconbury, in Cambridgeshire, UK.
For a full availability, please visit the rental property website
This four bedroom detached house is in Perry, which has the beautiful Grafham Water close by. Also has good access to RAF Molesworth & Alconbury. The house has a refitted Kitchen, front & rear gardens, lounge, dining room, refitted bathroom & garage. The Property is offered unfurnished for £995pcm, the property is available at the beginning of September. More information
As of 31st July we have one new property with brilliant access to the bases at Alconbury & Molesworth. The property is a spacious semi detached home wuth 3 bedrooms & is newly refurbished throughout. The property is available now for £795 pcm. More information
6 newly available properties as of 24th July all with good road links to both RAF Alconbury & Molesworth for American personnel.
Beautifully presented detached family home in Godmanchester with 4 bedrooms, lounge & dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, 2 en-suite facilities & family bathroom, double garage. The property can be offered either furnished or unfurnished, has views over open fields to the rear & has a gardener included in the monthly rental of £1400pcm. The property is available end August. More information
Character 2 doubled bedroom property in Godmanchester. Lounge has an open fireplace, refitted kitchen/diner and refitted bathroom. Exposed beams & rear garden. The property is offered unfurnished for £895 pcm. More information LET AGREED NOW.
Chalet style house in the sought after village of Keysoe. The property has 3 bedrooms, lounge with fireplace, kitchen/breakfast room, garage & garden. The property is available now & offered unfurnished for £775 pcm. More information LET AGREED NOW.
2 different Riverside apartments with two double bedrooms, on a small riverside development just outside St Neots. The apartments have en-suite shower rooms, open plan living area & kitchen with appliances. The prices vary from £695 to £725 for a brand new apartment. There is allocated parking. More information
Chalet style bungalow in the village of Great Gransden. Two double bedrooms, the option of a 3rd bedroom in place of the dining room. Bathroom with shower, lounge, front & rear gardens, double garage. The property is unfurnished & is available now. More information LET AGREED NOW.
The following three properties are newly available through Gatehouse Estates as of 10th July 2008 & all have good and easy access for commute to RAF Alconbury & Molesworth.
Modern detached family home in Great Cambourne, approximaltey 10 minutes from the City of Cambridge. The property benefits from 4 bedrooms, en-suite to master bedroom, lounge, kitchen/dining room, garage and garden. The property is offered unfurnished. £1250 per month. More information.
Modern detached family home in the popular location of Eaton Ford in St Neots. The property benefits from 4 bedrooms, en-suite to master bedroom, lounge & dining room, double garage and garden. The property is offered unfurnished. £1250 per month. More information. LET AGREED NOW.
Modern Townhouse in the market town of St Neots, with2 Bedrooms, en-suite to master bedroom, spacious kitchen/diner, lounge and roof garden. The property has allocated parking and is offered unfurnished. £775 per month. More Information. LET AGREED NOW.
The following property is newly available as of 4th July2008. First floor apartment with two double bedrooms, close to St. Neotstowncentre. Bathroom with shower & allocated parking. The property is offered unfurnished. Approximately 15 minutes away from Molesworth& Alconburysois ideal for single occupancy American personnel. £675 per month. More information LET AGREED NOW.
2 bedroom apartment on a lovely riverside development, close to the town of St Neots. Several properties let here to American personnel, so a possibility to lift share. Modern flat with anen-suite shower room, allocated parking. £725 per month. More information
3 bedroom linked house in a modern housing development just outside Huntingdon centre and less than 5 minutes by car to Alconbury base and about 15 minutes to Molesworthbaseonagood road. Gardens and a garage. Ideal for a family home. Just 830 per month. More information. LET AGREED NOW.
2 bedroom ground floor apartment for the playboy’s! Fantasticriverside position with a small garden area. Supermarket up the road and good roads to Molesworth and Alconburybases. £895 per month. (available end of July, 2008) More information
7 different town houses on a small riverside development just outside St Neots. They range from 4 to 5 bedrooms and the prices vary from £1250 to £1595 for a brand new house. Gardens included with most properties, but none too large to maintain. More information
To book a viewing on any property above, just fill in the short form:
Dealing with difficult Tenants
A property with a problem tenant is the biggest risk facing landlords, as often it is a bigger liability to have a bad tenant than no tenant at all.
This is due to the fact that often problem tenants do not pay their rent & usually damage your property. Then follows the long drawn out process of the legal proceedings in order to gain possession of the property back from the problem tenant.
At Gatehouse Estates all of the tenants are fully referenced and in the event that you are unlucky enough to have a problem tenant they offer a rent guarantee & legal expenses policy which gives all landlords total peace of mind knowing a dedicated legal team are working to obtain vacant possession back from the problem tenant and handle the entire process. Plus the rent guarantee payment takes away the pressure of trying to fund the money to cover the mortgage payment supporting the investment.
For more information please visit www.gatehouserental.co.uk or call (01480) 433933/(01234) 345353.
Energy Performance Certificate for Landlords
From 1st October 2008 all rental properties with a new tenancy agreement in England and
Wales will be required by law to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
If you rent out a property that does not have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) you could receive a £200 fine.
We can arrange for you to have a Energy Performance Certificate on your rented property by a fully accredited Domestic Energy Assessors.
Our EPC for rental properties prices remain the same regardless of location, size of the property or number of bedrooms your rented property has.
Please call (01480) 456520 now to find out our fantastic rates in order to get your Energy Performance certificate (EPC) in place before 1st October 2008.
Tax breaks for UK Landlords
Tax Breaks for UK Landlords.
Landlords could be eligible for a maximum tax break of £1,500 per property against the cost of installing draught proofing, loft insulation, or insulation for hot water systems. The Government are keen to encourage all home owners, including landlords, to improve the energy rating of their properties.
Most landlords are unaware that they can make this tax deductable improvement to their rented property. Furthermore, it will improve the property’s energy rating when they have to conform to the new EPC ( Energy Performance Certificate ) scheme that comes into force in October 2008. By improving the energy performance rating, the landlord is simply improving their chances of letting sooner, and for more rent. Savvy tenants will want to see the energy rating of the property to rent, before they agree to let. With the cost of energy rising seemingly weekly, this will become a major decision maker.
This tax break is called LESA, Landlord’s Energy Saving Allowance. Talk to your financial advisor for more information, or if you are local to our offices in Godmanchester, or Bedford, call in. Contact us
More articles on letting property and EPC’s……
New Landlords Love Sales Slump
New Landlords love the sales slump
The latest slump in prices within the UK housing market, has turned out to to a happy hunting ground for Buy to Let landlords.
The RICS has just released news that new instructions to let property has increased significantly in the first quarter of this year. The combination of property owners experiencing difficulty in selling their properties, and the lower purchase prices, has created the perfect Read more
Let to Buy
You may not have heard of ‘Let to Buy’, but it’s been around as a way of letting your existing home, to buy another, since the 1990’s. As the property sales market continues at a slow rate, more and more people are approaching letting agents for valuations, based on continuous lets for a ‘let to buy’ move.
There are many reasons to take up the option of ‘Let to Buy’. You may have to move with your job, you may need to move to a larger home because of a growing family, you may have specific requirements like the need for a garage to house your car. Whatever the reason, ‘Let to Buy’ could be the answer. One big advantage of ‘letting to buy’ is the possibility of getting a bargain on your purchase while riding out the current slow market on your sale until the market strengthens again.
Before we create a rush to our door, there are some factors to consider.
- If your property is leasehold, you will need to ensure you are allowed to rent out your existing property.
- You will need to have permission from your existing lender to rent the property out.
- You will have to inform your insurers for buildings and contents insurance.
The first step should be to have a rental assessment done. If your property rental value doesn’t match the amount required to make the move, it’s not worth going to the next step. Additionally, take advice from the rental agent about the ‘rentability’ of your property. Will it rent out consistently? Will the property rent for more with modest changes like re-decoration?
Having got a rental assessment, your next step is to get some professional advice from a qualified mortgage broker. Eligibility is dependent upon the proposed rental income on your current property being sufficient to cover the cost of your existing mortgage. Lenders offering this type of loan will usually exclude the existing mortgage from their calculations and offer you a mortgage for a new property based on normal income multiples. This means you can have two mortgages at normal residential rates, thereby avoiding ‘buy to let’ deals which often involve slightly higher rates.
Apart from getting you the home that you want, there are ways of reducing your tax bill. Think about using an agent to find and manage tenants. The fee will be between 10 per cent and 15 per cent of your rent, but the cost will be tax-deductible. Also, ask an accountant how to minimise CGT if you let your property for three years or more.
Professional, free, rental assessments are available at Gatehouse Estates Property Management in Godmanchester for ‘Huntingdonshire’ and Cambridgeshire.
01480 433933. www.gatehouserental.co.uk
Finding a Good Letting Agent
Whether you are a professional landlord that owns several properties, or a newcomer to the ‘buy-to-let’ market, it is well worth investigating what makes a good letting agent, before you decide to use one.
Letting a property may seem like an easy way to make money, but being a landlord can be a complicated business. You might feel tempted to cut out the middleman and let the property out privately. Not having to pay letting agents’ fees will maximise profits, but unless you have a lot of experience in letting out properties, are willing to do some leg work, and are aware of the laws and regulations involved, it isn’t advisable to go it alone. Even if you are a landlord that owns a portfolio of properties, it’s often easier to use a professional letting agent
What to look out for, when looking for a letting agent.
A letting agent’s initial job is to find suitable tenants for a property, on behalf of its owner. The agents starts the process by generally providing a free rental valuation. In the case of Gatehouse Estates Property Management, this part of the process is free and includes advice on preparing the property in readiness for letting.
Once you have the advice, it’s up to you whether you accept the suggested rental value. Bear in mind that the letting valuer does this job daily and is probably in the best position to suggest the rent. However, it may be worth requesting that the agent tries your price. If they agree to try a higher rent, set yourself a short deadline before reverting to the agent’s advice otherwise you will likely lose more than you may have gained in the year by having an empty property for too long.
Once you have settled the rental figure, discuss how the agent will market your property. Most agents will place the property on their web site. They will probably take a picture for their availability list. They may even prepare some basic details.
What about the marketing? With web sites becoming the most effective marketing tool available today, it’s worth taking some time to investigate how good the agent’s site is and where else they will advertise your property on the internet.
The agent will usually show the property to prospective tenants and inform you of any interest shown or offers made on the property. They can act as a go-between during negotiations before a tenancy agreement is signed. The prospective tenant might offer a lower rent or ask for extra furniture to be provided.
Letting out. Once you have come to an agreement, the agent will provide a tenancy agreement, a legal contract, for both parties to sign. All of this can usually be done through the agent by phone or post, so there is no need to actually visit the property or meet the tenants.
What else can a letting agent provide? Many agents offer extra services, some of which might be included in their basic fees. Some agents offer a tenant vetting service, which could include taking up references or a credit check on prospective tenants, carried out in-house or by a sub-contracted company. Thorough tenant vetting is important – the last thing you want to worry about is whether the complete strangers you have rented to will be able to pay next month’s rent. Often, this service is either included in the basic letting fee or paid for by the prospective tenant. In the case of Gatehouse Estates Property management, the tenant vetting is included as part of the monthly fee.
Some agents also offer an inventory check service. This is a full list of the condition and contents of the property drawn up during an inspection at the beginning and end of the tenancy, in the presence of the tenant. This should help solve any disputes if you find the tenant has made material changes to your property such as simple things like carpet stains or worse, made holes in a door! Some agents will offer this service for free, others ask the tenant and landlord to share the cost. This service is also included at Gatehouse Estates Property Management when you use their normal letting service.
Most agents also offer to collect the rent and deposit on behalf of the landlord and arrange to renew a tenancy when the original period expires. It’s worth noting, however, that Landlords (or their letting agents) MUST now place deposits in a recognised deposit account that is part of a Tenancy Deposit Scheme, by law. You are no longer allowed to simply hold a deposit from a tenant without a legally recognised scheme to cover it.
They can also arrange for the property to be cleaned before the tenant moves in and at the end of the tenancy. Many offer a management service, which involves general maintenance and organising necessary repairs over the period of the tenancy. This is useful if you live away from the property or don’t have the time or inclination to deal with plumbers, electricians and other trades people. All of this also included in the standard service at Gatehouse Estates Property Management.
Gatehouse Estates Property Management rent properties in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire and includes the towns of St Neots, Huntingdon, Godmanchester, St Ives, Bedford and Kempston. Additionally, they offer properties to rent in the countryside in between those towns.
To arrange for a representative of Gatehouse Estates Property Management to assess the rental value of your property, either fill in this form and mail it , or call the following numbers if your property is in the local area.
Bedford and Kempston properties to let: 01234 345353
To let out in St Neots, Eaton Ford & Socon, Eynesbury: 01480 471444
To let in Huntingdon, St Ives and Godmanchester areas: 01480 433933
EPC´s for rental properties soon
Energy Performance Certificates for Rental Properties
From October 1st, 2008 all properties made available for rent will require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The report will be required for new tenancies only and will be valid for up to 10 years.
As you can imagine, the demand for Energy Performance Certificates (EPC´s) will be vast. With only qualified Domestic Energy Assessors being able to complete the EPC´s, there could well be a backlog leading to delays in rental agreements being able to be put into place.
Fortunately, as the reports will be valid for up to 10 years, there is nothing to stop you getting ahead of the game and ordering your EPC now. Additionally, if you alter the property it may even be worth buying a new Energy Performance Certificate. Landlords who regularly let to students will have heard many ask what the bills are. This is an excellent way to keep your property let by demonstrating the heat retention.
Gatehouse Estates Property Management has already arranged for a fast, efficient, professional service and with fees starting from just £70 plus VAT. Discounts are available for large property portfolios.
email us here for a quote, or call 01480 433933.
Gatehouse ‘Rental’ in Bedford
With property prices so high and the cost of buying having been increased with the Home Information Packs (HIP’s), property renting has become very popular. Gatehouse Estates Property Management have seen such an increase in properties let out that we have expanded and now occupy the whole ground floor of the premises at 50 St Loyes st, Bedford. Since our recent move, we have seen a significant increase in lettings as all of the properties are displayed in the shop window. The team of professional lettings negotiators are on hand to advise landlords on everything from the letting value to handling maintenance of the properties.
Gatehouse Move To Godmanchester
Gatehouse ´Rental´ have moved from their office in St Neots high street to a new office in Godmanchester.
The move was inspired by an increased demand from tenants in the Huntingdon and Godmanchester areas. As Gatehouse already had an office in Godmanchester, it seemed sensible to move to where the demand was. The office is located on the corner of The Causeway (by the river) at number 63 Cambridge street. Hours of business remain the same, but the telephone number has changed to 01480 433933.
To view a selection of properties available visit www.gatehouserental.co.uk
