Manchester based property management company The Mistoria Group have been shortlisted as a finalist for Landlord of the Year in the national Landlord & Letting Awards.

The Mistoria Group who manage over 200 properties and 650 rooms under their lettings division Mistoria Lettings, have had a successful three years trading from their Eccles based offices operating mainly in the student accommodation and HMO (houses in multiple occupancy) sector.

‘We’re very pleased to have made the shortlist in our first year of entering the awards’ explains Tracey Jones, Senior marketing & Business Development Manager at the Mistoria Group. ‘We decided to enter the awards to raise the awareness of a number of innovative initiatives we’ve introduced to our landlords & tenants to encourage them to maintain their properties resulting in the reduction of maintenance costs and emergency call outs’.

Tracey continues, ‘Making the shortlist and gaining recognition for our hard work is great news for our employees, landlords and property investors – we’re very happy’.

Since 2009, The Landlord & Letting Awards have recognised and rewarded excellence to property businesses who have contributed to raising the standards within the private rented sector. Over the last three years, the awards have attracted property businesses from all over the UK to enter into its high profile industry accolade which is organised by AEP Media alongside their popular industry publication, Landlord & Buy to Let Magazine.

Winners will be announced at the Landlord & Letting Awards gala dinner on the 28th November 2012 at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry where Sophie Allsopp, celebrity and television property presenter shall be hosting the reception.

Britain is continuing to suffer from an economic downturn which has had a critical impact on property and land developments, especially housing. In a belated attempt to again ‘kick-start’ stalled developments, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles announced on Monday 13th August that there will be a fresh drive to get housing deals up and running and builders back onto mothballed sites by renegotiating financial contributions in Section 106 agreements.

This is good news, but no mention was made of the imminent payments to be made under the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Regulations now being prepared by many Councils.

If you are about to embark on the development or planning process, whether it be a small-scale residential development or a commercial expansion to new large commercial properties it is recommended that you find out or take advice on where the Council are up to with their CIL charging schedule.

(Note: We have produced an informative checklist – see below)

It is imperative that property developers and land owners understand the implications of these changes, which may well affect the bottom line on your development proposals.

Property Developer gets caught out by fees

Linda Wright of PlanitWright, a Town Planning and Development Services Consultancy operating across England and Wales informed Property Aspects Magazine of a recent development that was aborted because of CIL payments.

Linda commented “An Estate Agent property developer client in Wembley got caught out recently by the introduction of the Mayor of London’s Community Infrastructure Levy.

This levy is charged on developments London-wide to help fund strategic infrastructure projects – in this case the Crossrail project. The charge was actually introduced during the processing of the planning application, with the result that an additional CIL payment was due to be paid, as well as a hefty sum under the Section 106 agreement.

This has resulted in the project being “put on hold”.

Linda reiterated “The requirement to pay all contributions, not just the imminent CIL, is often overlooked when preparing plans for a new project but this needs to be factored into the development economics as to ignore it or underestimate the cost could mean the difference between the success or failure of a scheme”.

Linda has the skills needed to provide the solution to this type of planning issue along with more than 30 years’ experience in the planning industry and an extensive network of specialist associates who can provide additional services to support planning applications and appeals.

Property Developers – Get your CIL Checklist

Linda has prepared a checklist specifically for helping Property Developers on the subject of CIL. If you would like a copy of her report, please email us at info@m3publishing.co.uk

Property Aspects Magazine appreciates the contribution to this article from Linda Wright at planitwright.co.uk

A Chartered Building Surveyor is warning that this is the last chance for alterations to listed buildings before zero VAT rate is withdrawn.

It was announced in the budget in March that the zero-rate of VAT will be withdrawn for “approved alterations” to listed buildings from the October 1.

Stuart Thornhill of Jonathan Cornes Associates said: “There are some transitional arrangements in place, but essentially this is now the last opportunity to have the work done at the zero-rate of VAT.

“To comply with the current rules the building must be used for residential or charitable purposes, the work must be an alteration not a repair, and the work must require and receive listed building consent. “With the standard consultation period for listed building consent lasting eight weeks an application made today would, if approved, receive listed building consent in the middle of September which would only leave two weeks for the work to be carried out and invoiced before the October 1 deadline”.

The anti-forestalling measures that have been put in place mean that the work must be completed and invoiced before the relevant date.

Any outstanding work after this date will be charged at the standard rate of VAT. After October 1 all work to listed buildings will be subject to the standard rate of VAT which is currently 20 per cent.

Many heritage organisations are lobbying Government against VAT changes to listed buildings. They have been successful in securing an amendment to the transitional amendments which now confirms that as long as the Listed Building Consent was applied for before Budget Day on March 21 the zero-rating will remain available until September 30, 2015.

Property Aspects Magazine appreciate the contribution to this article from the team at Jonathan Cornes Associates, Chartered Building Surveyors. Contact them on 01782 209203

British businesses could save billions of pounds if they claimed full tax relief on the commercial properties they own, according to experts.

Taking advantage of capital allowances, companies can claim tax relief on fittings such as air conditioning, radiators, pipework, cabling, lighting and security systems – anything relating to the intrinsic fabric of the building – even if the property was bought a decade ago, according to Tony Smith, CEO at Conation Capital.

But while accountants routinely claim on everyday purchases such as curtains, carpets, fire extinguishers and radiator covers, they often fail to claim on other, less-easy-to-spot fittings.

Conation Capital advises that without receipts, a detailed analysis is needed to ascertain the correct value of the qualifying assets within the property. Also, companies can only claim for an item once and need to check that a claim has not been made before. Conation Capital conducts forensic surveys to draw up a list of all the fittings in every room, including hidden cabling, and then feed it into a computer model.

Smith said “The sheer scale of legislation” to battle with, was putting many smaller firms off. “In most cases, a business doesn’t claim as much as they could claim, and there are still many businesses who don’t claim at all … it could be billions of pounds”.

There are about 1.4m commercial properties in England and Wales, according to government figures, ranging from fish and chip shops to the Gherkin. On a typical £1m property, a Capital Allowance specialist would typically find £200,000 of unused capital allowances. As for a typical SME with a commercial property, it could save about £25,000.

Capital allowances on commercial property have always been a bit of a “dirty secret” since being introduced in the UK after the Second World War. The government had considered getting rid of them altogether, but agreed to the new rules after industry lobbying, amid fears that companies might relocate to other places with capital allowances, such as the US, France, Germany or eastern Europe.

If you need help to calculate whether you could qualify for a property tax rebate, contact Conation Capital directly on 03000 30 99 00

Property Aspects appreciates the contribution to this article from the team at Conation Capital.

The most important thing to consider when thinking about securing our homes or businesses is deciding what will give the best security solution with the minimum impact on both your budget and the appearance of your property.

Different types of physical security suit different needs, risks and requirements. There is a whole range of window bars, window mesh, domestic roller shutters, commercial roller shutters, and retractable window grilles to choose from.

The traditional theory about security is that it must be installed externally usually in the form of window bars or window mesh. When a property is attacked by a burglar then this usually takes the form of jemmying or breaking a window. If that window is protected by an externally installed window grille then that vulnerable opening has been adequately secured. This is true; however there are sometimes exceptions to the rule.

Claire Butler, Commercial Manager at Windows Security Solutions said: “There are always exceptions to the rule and this all depends on the type of security being used, how well it has been installed and what the substrate (building?) is made from. The domestic roller shutters that are available today invariably are installed on the outside of the building, but what makes them different to the traditional wrought iron window bars is in the level of continuous product development and improvement made to them. Modern roller shutters are manufactured to a very high specification and even carry insurance approval on the higher specification models”.

Claire continued: “If roller shutters are installed correctly either internally or externally then they present the burglar with a formidable physical barrier. They also offer the added advantage that they cannot be seen through so the burglar is always taking a risk attempting to break through them to discover that nothing is worth stealing.

Installing the security on the inside of the opening is often received by our customer with some level of surprise and intrigue, especially if it is a home security issue. This can be fully understood as in most people’s understanding security means heavy duty black iron bars fixed to the window frame. Once we have explained the merits of having the security installed internally and demonstrated the various products that are available, customers are always pleasantly surprised”.

Roller shutters can be installed both externally and internally and in fact they can even be built-in to the cavity of the opening to be totally hidden. But the ideal product for an internal installation is the retractable grille. This product fits in perfectly with both home security and business security alike.

Retractable grilles can be opened and closed effortlessly as they run in a top and bottom track, they have very little visual impact to the property owner but are still very recognizable to a burglar when they see they have been installed. Using roller shutters or retractable grilles over windows is only part of the solution to giving your property a total security solution. It is important to look at property entrance doors, both front and rear, and fire doors or emergency escape doors.

Taking into consideration the various vulnerable areas of your property you should be able to create a risk assessment of what is needed and where. Using a combination of the wide range of physical security products that are on offer along with advice from a window security company, you will be able to create a high degree of protection whether the security is installed internally or externally.

Richard Branson was able to do it. So too were Anita Roddick and Alan Sugar. Henry Ford managed to do it even after his bank balance was whittled down to $223.65. So, what do you need to do to give your business the boost it needs to grow?

Many of us have aspirations of becoming the next big success in the world of business – or, at the very least, living the lavish lifestyles of the rich and famous we read about so regularly. The big question though is how do you get there? How do you give your business the nudge it needs to allow you to blossom into the next Branson or Roddick?

A great step in the right direction is owning your commercial business premises.

A recent survey found that whilst 40% of UK firms between six and 10 years old still lease their premises, 70% believe ownership would further spur their business growth. Buying a property gives you the freedom to use and alter it as you wish – subject to planning regulations or any conditions imposed by the bank. There are many advantages to buying a property. As you are in control, you can:

• Have more flexibility over the management or repair of the building

• Profit from the building when you sell it, if it gains in value

• Let the property in the future and receive another income stream

• Move when you wish – you won’t be tied to a fixed-term contract

• Forecast your costs with more certainty – particularly if you have a fixed-rate mortgage

Peter Knight, managing director of Manchester-based property and construction consultancy Knight Site Solutions Ltd, said: “Owning your own premises means you’re guaranteed no more rent increases, no worries about whether your landlord is going to extend your lease and it can also be a major financial benefit.

The key is to pay a fair price for the property and to purchase it with the long-term in mind. Holding on to the premises for the long-term gives you a greater chance of seeing it appreciate in value, which will provide you with a financial gain when the property is sold. You may also be able to borrow against the value of your premises in the future to help fund future development.

Knight Site Solutions offers a friendly, all-encompassing property management service, taking the headache out of your property and facility related issue, leaving businesses free to conduct business as usual.

Every Business minded person knows that to succeed in business you need to have the confidence to let go occasionally, and allow somebody more suitably experienced and qualified to deal with an issue at hand.

Many successful businesses realise the value of outsourcing non-key resources to an outside company, particularly when there’s a level of expertise involved that cannot be found internally within the business. When a company is affected by water or fire damage, the same should apply so that instead of you grappling with complex policy wording and legal jargon, at a time when your focus should be on the clean-up operation, you hire an expert to protect your rights and maximise your chance of success.

The value of appointing a professional loss assessor has never been so high. Insurance companies will notoriously draw upon legal loop holes and policy short print to try and wriggle out of claims and unless you have experience within the insurance industry, you’ll find it incredibly difficult to negotiate. The value of fire damage to businesses every year far exceeds the settlements paid out by insurance companies, which means hiring a loss assessor to oversee your property insurance claim is the only sensible option.

As a business, you can appoint a loss assessor to take on your insurance claim at any time. However, the way a claim is prepared and presented is just as critical to the outcome as the way it is negotiated and eventually settled which means it’s far better to appoint a loss assessor as soon as you discover the damage.

Geoff Williams, director of Manchester-based loss assessor Cherry and Griffiths, said: “We would always encourage businesses to get in touch with us right away so we can move things along quickly but it’s never too late. At Cherry and Griffiths, we willingly take on difficult and contentious claims and actively market our ability to deal with such matters.

“Whether it’s the preparation of a complicated accountancy-based claim or disputing legal issues which arise out of policy wording, our professional loss assessors are in the best possible position to represent your business and recover the settlement required”.

For help with your insurance claim check out www.cherryandgriffiths.co.uk

For help with an adequate insurance policy go to www.bucklandharvester.co.uk

Landlord and Letting Show organisers are expecting a boom in visitors attending their forthcoming London event. The show organisers, AEP Media Ltd, report a 45 per cent increase in visitors booking free tickets to attend their September show based in the Barbican in the City of London.

The show has undergone a major revamp including new speakers and revised seminar schedule boasting a wider range of topics. Improvements also include a new website and extended 16 page show guide. The show guide will also be distributed to readers of Landlord and Buy to Let Magazine as a supplement, promoting the event to an extra 17,000 subscribers.

Oliver Romain, Managing Director of AEP Media, commented; “Visitors and exhibitors already love the Landlord and Letting Show, however, we wanted to make it even better and have been working with the main landlord associations and other industry experts, such as LandlordZone, to ensure to the show offers an unrivalled experience.

We are the longest established independent landlord exhibition, this is our 23rd event, and we want this show to be the best yet. We can now boast the largest landlord exhibition since 2008 and the largest expected attendance of landlords and letting professionals for some years”.

Visitors attend the show to gain advice on all aspects of letting through a comprehensive seminar programme and wide variety of expertise and product knowledge available in the event’s exhibition. This year’s event will include over 60 exhibitors and 35 free to attend seminars located in four seminar theatres at one of London’s iconic venues.

The Barbican is one of London’s most famous entertainment and event settings. Located in the heart of the City of London, it offers unrivalled access via public transport and road.

The Landlord and Letting Show is open from 4th-5th September 2012, tickets are free when booked in advance or £10 on the door.

To find out more or book free tickets visit www.landlordshow.info Limited exhibition space is available contact 01625 511151.

Recent changes to employment law have been condemned by trade unions as creating a ‘hire and fire’ culture.

In April this year the qualifying period for unfair dismissal increased from one to two years’ continuous employment. It is part of a package of measures being introduced by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, to encourage the early resolution of disputes, speed up the tribunal process and tackle weak and vexatious claims.

The changes are expected to cut the number of unfair dismissal claims each year. But the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has raised fears that the move will increase job insecurity, discriminate younger workers and part-time women workers.

The TUC also argued that the change was not a top priority for business, quoting the Small Business Barometer commissioned by BIS and published last October. Asked what the biggest obstacles to success were, 45 per cent of small and medium-sized businesses cited the state of the economy, 12 per cent problems with obtaining finance from the banks, followed by taxation, cash flow and competition. Just six per cent of small businesses listed regulation, or “red tape”, as their main barrier to growth.

Consultants at P3 People Management, Manchester’s leading HR consultancy, can advise on all aspects of employment law, which by its very nature is always changing. Charlotte Gallagher, managing director of P3 People Management, Manchester’s leading HR consultancy, deal with businesses in the property and construction sector in particular, said: “Understanding and implementing these new changes can be incredibly difficult and time consuming for bosses – and businesses are actuely aware of the ever present threat of employment tribunals. Employment law can be a minefield for employees, but it is essential that it is understood and implemented”.

P3 People Management offer an Employer Advice Line where clients can get guidance and advice on every aspect of HR, including the complexity of employment law, and ensure that whatever the problem it is resolved in a positive, timely and legally compliant way. Consultants at P3 People Management can translate the complications of employment law into practical, commercial and simple to follow actions.

For help with employment law and other HR queries contact P3 People Management on 0161 941 2426 or visit www.p3pm.co.uk.

There is a global trend forming in the property industry and investors are scrambling to get a slice of the action. A trend of old buildings in central locations being refurbished instead of demolished, and investors are snapping up what they can as they are considered to have great rental returns.

One of the reasons for this trend is globalisation, which has brought a large amount of international travel with business and leisure visitors travelling to cities. This has resulted in many areas seeing a rise in foreign arrivals who want to see old buildings with character.

Paul Willan, of Greg’s Properties in Manchester commented: “Many people prefer older buildings. That’s why there is huge demand for both commercial and residential properties, to retain their older character. After refurbishment their value can shoot up”.

Investors are recognising a central location is what travellers want as city centres have a central position in the arts and cultural scene. Many cities such as London, Liverpool and Manchester are all easy to reach by low cost airlines, making them a transportation hub for tourists.

Old buildings are usually situated in prime locations and investors are aware that old properties with history have more value attached to them. It is human nature that people want to preserve historical buildings and the trend has hugely benefitted the property industry in the UK. Willan commented: “People just love to protect heritage or culture. Urbanisation and modernisation have picked up too fast in the 21st century.

Old buildings are considered by investors as recession proof during downturns as buildings with heritage or historical character will maintain their value through the times. Old buildings tend to be cheaper than new buildings and refurbished properties always sell well, particularly if they are in the city centre.

The UK refurbishment market has grown steadily since the 1970s and is continuing to rise. The findings have certainly emphasised that the trend of old buildings being refurbished is a popular option for investors, mainly as they hold their value and offer great rental returns whether it is to a tenant or a tourist visiting a city.

A fantastic Example of a Refurbished Building is Manchester’s Gregs Buildings.

CHECK OUT VIDEO OF MANCHESTER AND GREG’S BUILDING

This is an excellent example of mid-19th century architecture offering exciting development opportunities. This impressive building in the heart of Manchester City Centre really is attracting huge amounts of interest from a wide selection of professional companies.