Recent figures show more than a thousand crimes a day in the Greater Manchester Police area. A study showed that the vast majority occurred during the day. In Manchester the figures showed a total of 28,319 incidents of crime and anti-social behavior were recorded by GMP in February 2011.

In the warm weather, it is easy to think there is no problem letting in a little ventilation by propping open a door, especially as the work force is in the building, but not so.

A report came from a school where a cleaner was leaving the building after her shift when she met with two men coming across the hall. There were security codes on the outside door so apart from asking who they were, and getting the reply, ‘electricians’ she thought nothing about it.

They had entered the building through a side door left open and, while the teaching staff were having a meeting, the ‘electricians’ calmly removed the televisions.

Kevin Millar BSc of Hawthorn Estates said “While we are on site taking care of the cleaning and landscape maintenance of our clients, we are also on the lookout for other things that are not under our usual services, such as open doors and windows that should be closed”.

“We are also keen to ensure that there is nowhere for opportunist thieves to hide near to a vulnerable door or window, such as in overgrown or high shrubs. One of the best security measures is to ensure that a door can be seen by passers-by”.

Even though the overall figure for burglaries is down, let’s not make it easy for them. We appreciate the contribution to this article from Hawthorn Estates

Now could be a good time for investing in the UK commercial property, as new research has revealed prices have recently dipped.

According to the IPD UK Monthly Property Index, the cost of commercial property in Britain fell by 0.5 per cent during May 2012, the most significant decline since November 2011.

It takes costs down to 35.3 per cent lower than they were during the height of the property boom in June 2007.

However, income return stayed steady at 0.5 per cent last month.

Peter Knight, Managing Director of Manchester based Knight Site solutions said: “Despite the uncertainty caused by wider economic factors, it’s not all doom and gloom. This may be the ideal time for investors to step in and buy commercial property, particularly when office building sites are expected to outperform other buildings over the coming years.

Peter continued: “We are continuing to see positive levels of activity for commercial properties although the market remains challenging”.

“Rates are extremely competitive in the North West and there are some excellent deals to be had, which is fantastic news for new or expanding businesses and individuals looking for property as an investment. “In recent months, we’ve helped many businesses to secure new properties and take advantage of the value in the market.”

Manchester council says that it’s efforts over the last 10 years to regenerate Manchester have turned this wonderful city into into a vibrant place to live and work. With many people travelling from other parts of the country to study and work in Manchester the growth in population has been considerably stronger than in many other parts of the UK.

Manchester council leader Sir Richard Leese said: “A growing population reflects a thriving city, so it is excellent news that more people are seeing the attractions of Manchester as a place to work, live and invest. “Manchester had undergone a long period of population decline but the reversal of this trend in the last decade is a testament to the way the city has established itself as a world-class international city”.

This video, whilst showing off one particular Grade II listed city centre property, also highlights some of the city’s commercial property landscape, the social aspects of business life in the city centre and the transport infrastructure that provide a massive benefit for businesses located in the centre of Manchester.

We took a look at Manchester from a commercial property aspect CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO:.

All in all, a very good place to be – for you or your business!

You’ve worked hard all your life and would relish the opportunity of more leisure time to indulge in your favourite hobbies whether this is travelling the globe, playing more golf or dining in nice restaurants. More and more people approaching retirement are understandably reluctant to give up the lifestyle they have become accustomed to during their working life but securing a comfortable financial future requires careful planning and shrewd investment decisions if you are going to reap the full benefits of your savings or pension.

As private pensions continue to weaken and the economy shows little sign of recovering any time soon, many retirees are turning to overseas property as an investment opportunity to secure a brighter financial future.

Overseas investment properties are suitable for and can be purchased using your Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). A SIPP pension is a personal pension invested by the individual or on the behalf of the individual by a fund manager who decides how their pension fund should be invested. This type of pension gives you much more control over how and where your money is invested including overseas property. Similarly, a 100% finance equity release scheme will also allow you to release the money tied up in your home and invest this in an overseas property which will work harder for you in the long-term and allow you to enjoy a comfortable retirement.

Chris Jones, Principal Advisor with overseas property investment specialists Positive Plus, said: “In the current climate, pensions are causing a great deal of anxiety and concern, especially for those people who have left them alone assuming they are performing well to discover exactly the opposite is true.

“So many people’s pensions are failing miserably in their current funds and too many people are still unaware of the fact or unwilling to do anything to change it.

“Many of the property opportunities available overseas have limited risk factors as they are completely self-financed with absolutely no creditors. It is encouraging to hear people are becoming more aware of potential financial challenges they could face in the future, particularly as we have a proposition that may be able to help them repay debts and increase their standard of living in retirement.”

Positive Plus is a firm of property investment specialists working in conjunction with Independent Financial Advisers and specialist SIPP providers to offer a meaningful service to private investors.

The overseas property investment experts work with Harlequin Hotels & Resorts Group which specialise in the creation of luxury spa resorts with properties ranging from studio apartments to six-bedroom luxury villas in some of the best locations in the Caribbean. The properties are all sold off-plan at well below market value and are freehold, offering excellent potential for high capital appreciation and incredible rental income opportunities.

We were kindly helped by Chris Jones from www.Positive-plus.co.uk in writing this article

Jobs, businesses and relationships are all widely reported casualties of the economic crisis. But new research has shown employee health has also suffered as a direct consequence of the global downturn.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) Simplyhealth Absence Management survey has shown that stress is the most common cause of long-term sickness absence for the first time.

It’s research found that employers planning to make redundancies in the next six months are significantly more likely to report an increase in mental health problems among their staff (51% compared with 32% who are not planning redundancies).

The survey revealed stress for manual workers is the top cause of long-term absence along with acute medical conditions while for non-manual staff, stress has moved ahead of acute medical conditions.

Public sector organisations have witnessed a particular increase in stress-related absence, with workers blaming organisational change and restructuring as the biggest cause of stress at work as well as job cuts, pension benefits and pay freezes.

Meanwhile, job insecurity was found to be a more common cause of work-related stress. This was experienced in several sectors, including of course, the property and construction sector, where jobs have been under pressure for some time.

“Stress is a particular challenge in the public sector where the sheer amount of major change and restructuring would appear to be the root cause. To a large degree, managing stress is about effective leadership and people management, particularly during periods of major change and uncertainty.

“Line managers need to focus on regaining the trust of their employees and openly communicating throughout the change process to avoid unnecessary stress and potential absences. They also need to be able to spot the early signs of people being under excessive pressure or having difficulty coping at work and to provide appropriate support.”

P3 People Management work with clients in the Property and Construction sector, helping them deal with various issues. Contact them directly at www.p3pm.co.uk

Could there be offices to rent that better suit your needs? And could a change of office make your business more efficient – or save you money?

Manchester-based Paul Willan Property has created the following five-point checklist to help you make sure you’re renting offices that are right for you…

1) IS THE OFFICE YOU RENT COST-EFFECTIVE?

Perhaps the most obvious – and important – factor to consider when looking for offices to rent is cost. Are you paying over the odds? Could you save money by renting offices that are smaller, or in a different location? Even if you’re happy with the office you rent at the moment, it might be worth investigating alternative premises. Anything that can help you save money is well worth considering, especially in the current economic climate.

2) DO YOU RENT AN OFFICE IN THE RIGHT LOCATION?

When renting offices, it’s important to be in the right location. Do you need to be right in the city centre? If most of your staff or visiting clients travel to your office by car, is your office easy to access? It’s important to get that balance between accessibility and cost of rent.

3) HOW BIG – OR SMALL- DOES THE OFFICE YOU RENT NEED TO BE?

When it comes to renting offices, size matters. Take a look around your office. Are your teams crammed in like sardines? Or is there more office space than you could ever need? Renting a smaller office could save you money. Conversely, if your teams can’t move without bumping into each other, maybe it’s time to look for a larger office to rent.

4) DO YOU HAVE A FIXED OR FLEXIBLE LEASE?

If you’re currently tied into a long-term lease, think carefully before you renew. Can you guarantee you’ll need an office for the same size for so long? If you don’t already have a short term lease, consider moving to an office that allows you more flexibility. With a flexible lease you can upsize or downscale as your business demands it.

5) IS GOOD TRANSPORT LINKS AND/OR FREE PARKING?

Can your staff and clients easily access your office via public transport links? A city centre location, has access to train , bus and metro links, that industrial units cannot provide.Do you currently rent an office that offers adequate parking for you, your staff and visitors? Do they have to pay to park, or park a considerable distance from your office? If your office comes up short on any of the above criteria, why not take a look at Carrington Business Park?

Check out this video of one example of a fabulous city centre office location that really could help a business make their mark on the city of Manchester – Greg’s Building. This building is in the heart of Manchester’s traditional prime office core on an island site with frontages to Booth Street, Chancery Place, Pall Mall and Tib Lane.

If you think your business could benefit from renting new premises in Manchester please contact us at Property Aspects Magazine via info@m3publishing.co.uk

Purchasing a property is the biggest expense that most people ever commit to. Yet, on average, only 20% of the purchasing public commission the undertaking of a Condition Survey and Valuation of a property prior to purchase.

Currently in the UK, the average price of a property is circa £165,000 yet 80% of the buying public are not prepared to pay a fraction percentage of that to find out the condition of the property they propose to live in for, on average, 7 years.

Maintenance costs are ever-increasing, with the cost for a day’s work by a skilled man averaging £200 plus VAT per day. The price of a new window frame is circa £300 plus VAT, which is the cost of the average Survey.

Peter Knight , Managing Director of Manchester based Knight Site Solutions said; “What purchasers need to appreciate is that a property survey would help a buyer make a more informed decision on whether to proceed with the purchase before entering into a legal commitment“.

He Continued; “Commissioning a Chartered Surveyor to carry out a Building Survey, depending on the property type and condition, will involve a detailed inspection of the property, ultimately leading to providing an accurate valuation, having regard to the condition of the property market. Unfortunately I have come across many occupiers that have not carried out adequate due diligence and end up seriously out of pocket.

We always advocate that a site inspection and condition survey is obtained prior to committing to a lease. It’s a small upfront cost but it can certainly pay dividends in a property acquisition”.

What purchasers also need to appreciate is that a survey often leads to a better price being achieved for the property, allowing the potential for re-negotiation on the purchase price. In uncertain economic times it makes sense to achieve the best possible value when considering a purchase.

Purchasing a property is an emotional experience. Instructing a Chartered Surveyor to carry out an arms-length survey will ensure the right decision is taken.

We thank Peter Knight at Knight Site Solutions for his expert contribution.

Are you about to skimp on your business insurance? Business owners who do might live to regret it if disaster does strike – and we have seen our share of disasters in the UK. Many business owners are struggling, and start-up operations often have very limited funds, but insurance is a key element in operating a financially sound business, so it’s important not to relegate it to the bottom of the priority list. Insurance works with other important elements to help keep your business out of financial difficulties.

Before you cut back on insurance – or worse, decide not to take out a policy – consider the huge risk that you are taking with your livelihood.

Manchester-based professional loss assessor Cherry and Griffiths says businesses which are looking to reducing their insurance premiums and therefore their cover are literally playing with fire. Without adequate cover in place, your business could lose significantly more capital in the event of a catastrophic incident such as a fire or flood than it would if you were to continue paying your monthly premiums. It could even threaten the survival of your business as many an uninsured business has gone under following water or fire damage.

Geoff Williams, director of Cherry and Griffiths, said: “Dealing with property insurance claims are tricky at the best of times but can bring further misery to business owners if the cover originally agreed doesn’t adequately compensate when disaster strikes. You can almost guarantee that the weeks or months following a decision to reduce your insurance cover will be the time when the unthinkable happens and you’re left to pick up the pieces of a destroyed business.

“Cutting back on insurance protection should never be regarded as a viable option to save money in business – or domestic situations for that matter. Insurance provides you with the security and peace of mind that if the worst happened, you would be reimbursed for your losses. A business which chooses to take away this safety net is a business which is constantly looking over its shoulder”.

The most obvious example will always be that of the business that is affected by a natural disaster. When a business has adequate insurance and a disaster recovery plan in place it has a much better chance of re-opening for trade than a business that is completely unprepared.

Whether as a business you’re economising or not, it’s always wise to seek professional advice when taking out insurance to ensure your business is fully protected against every eventuality.

One reputable firm of Insurance Brokers in the North West are Buckland Harvester in Manchester.

Managing Director David Hudson commented on the issue of cost-cutting for businesses. David said: “We appreciate that many businesses are looking to save money on all sorts of expenditure at the moment. We would stress to them that they must look to have adequate protection for their property and at Buckland Harvester, we’d like to think we can provide them that at maybe a more suitable cost than they are presently paying”.

Please contact Buckland Harvester at www.bucklandharvester.co.uk

and Cherry and Griffiths, Loss Assessors at www.cherryandgriffiths.co.uk

Commercial properties need the utmost safety with minimum impact on aesthetics. As an architect or specifier, this is a difficult challenge to face, but there is hope.

Window Security Solutions offers physical security products for windows and doors that have been designed with architects in mind. One of the products is a high security window that is resistant to attack.

Hammerglass is a further development of traditional polycarbonate sheets, which is stronger and clearer with an extremely tough surface.

Claire Butler, Commercial Manager at Window Safety Solutions in Manchester said; “A Hammerglass window is almost impossible to break, and is 300 times stronger than glass. The glass does not shatter or break after even prolonged attacks, providing the best protection for businesses. The business benefits of installing Hammerglass can be massive – offering potentially substantial savings on insurance costs, repairing damage and recovering or repurchasing stolen equipment”.

Claire added: “With Hammerglass, big savings can be made in places such as petrol stations, shops, restaurants, schools and anywhere windows are often being broken by burglars or vandals.” Another major benefit of choosing an attack proof glazing is that this resilient product is indistinguishable from a standard window pane to the untrained eye”.

This means that your property will have a durable and effective security solution that doesn’t detract from the look and feel of a building. In the past businesses were forced to choose from a range of ugly window bars and other conspicuous security products. While they helped reduce crime levels, they could be detrimental to a brand – creating a feeling of insecurity and danger in customers and giving their staff the sense of being trapped.

But choosing an architectural product such as hammerglass eliminates all of this. Once again managers, staff and customers can relax in a environment that is open and welcoming, yet totally secure.

If you require any further information please contact Window Security Solutions in Manchester, on Freephone: 0800 980 9444 with the approximate measurements for the window openings you would like to protect.

Manchester city centre unveils new plans – Could this be the location for your business?

An ambitious city-wide plan to drive development in the city for the next 15 years has been drawn up by the council and will cement Manchester as one of the world’s leading cities.

The Core Strategy, which will be adopted by the city next month, has outlined an approach that will see a programme of regeneration transform neighbourhoods and encourage economic growth through to 2027.

A focus for visitors, Manchester city centre will expand its commercial strengths through around 75,000sqm of new retail space, incorporating a variety of high-quality accommodation types and sizes, for mixed retail, leisure, entertainment and tourism use.

New public realm areas incorporating much of the city centre, including St Peter’s Square and Victoria Street, will create safe pedestrian areas, boosting footfall and helping to encourage visitors through improved transport options and well supported tourism and cultural facilities.

Paul Willan, an experienced lawyer at Linder Myers in Manchester commented: “Manchester has not been immune from the effects of the recession and this investment in the city is vital to make sure the city continues to grow. It is clear that the city will continue to thrive in the coming years”.

Manchester’s approach will have sustainability at its heart, from green and environmental issues to population and communities.

The strategy aims to make sure every job is accessible by public transport, by bike or by foot. Improving choice by developing alternatives to the car not only helps to meet the challenge of climate change by reducing carbon emissions, but also reduces congestion, air pollution and road accident casualties.

Paul added; “Professional companies may want to consider a move to a city centre location as I envisage that the population in Manchester will grow substantially in the next fifteen years and this will help the city remain an attractive and popular city. The knock on effect for city centre based companies, can only be a positive one”. “It is clear that Manchester is capable of attracting new business and investment and it will maintain its reputation as a world-leading, forward thinking city”.

Could Manchester be your next good move?

Check out this video of a grade II listed building in Manchester city centre