As a private tenant you may feel like you don’t want to invest too much time or money into creating an outside space to enjoy and entertain in. This is understandable but with a few clever purchases you can create a magical summer space that you can transfer to future homes.

Picnic rugs, throws and cushions are a quick and easy way to extend seating and there are plenty of portable tables, chairs and bistro sets you can pick up quite cheaply that can be easily stored away when not in use.

Having an IKEA superstore on the doorstep in Bristol is ideal for those short on space and budget, with it’s extensive range of home and garden furnishings at inexpensive prices.

Deck out your small roof garden or balcony as above – all items available from IKEA

Lighting can make a real difference for setting a party scene at night and there are some super solar designs to get your garden twinkling. Try hanging some strings of solar fairy lights for a fun party feel at your BBQ and what’s more you can use them again at Christmas.

A collection of outdoor candles can be very atmospheric on a hot summers night without a breeze. Group together an array of different sizes in lanterns and decorative holders. John Lewis has a good selection here or you can up-cycle empty jars, bottles and glasses for no cost at all.

Add some terracotta pots filled with colourful scented blooms such as fuchsias and petunias or some simple variegated green foliage. A large mixed pot of culinary herbs and a couple of tomato and chili plants look great and can add a punch to your summer cooking.

On the subject of cooking, don’t forget something to sizzle your bangers and griddle your burgers on.

There are some great discounts on charcoal and gas BBQ’s at most garden centres, department stores and online outlets this month, so shop around and get the perfect addition for your summer soirees that you can use year after year.

All we need now is some of the beautiful dry July weather we enjoyed last month to make the most of it!

New property listing prices have remained in line with the typical run-up to the summer holiday season despite Brexit concerns, Rightmove’s July house price index has revealed.

The portal claims the price of new property coming to market fell 0.9%, or £2,647, over the past four weeks to £307,824.

That covers the two weeks pre and post the EU referendum and is in line with usual activity over the summer, suggesting the predictions of a doomed property market are yet to emerge.

House prices are up annually at 4.5%, slightly slower than the 5.5% growth recorded last year.

Asking prices for first-time buyers fell 0.2% in July to £189,183 but second steppers and those on the top of the ladder saw bigger drops at 1.2% and 1.1% respectively

In the last two weeks post-referendum, compared to 2015, enquiries to agents from buyers were down by 16%.

However, Rightmove says last year’s figures were boosted by pent-up demand after the general election result, which saw a 25% uplift in buyer enquiries in June and July compared with the same two-month period in 2014.

The portal says a fairer comparison would be with 2014 when the demand levels were the same as now.

Sellers also seem undeterred by the referendum result.

Compared with the same period last year, the two weeks pre-referendum saw the number of new properties coming to market down by 8%, and the two weeks post-referendum saw them up by 6%.

Miles Shipside, director and housing market analyst for Rightmove, said: “As far as the price of property coming to market is concerned, the fall of 0.9% is within the range that we have seen at this time of year since 2010.

“With the onset of the summer holiday season, new sellers typically price more conservatively and the average drop in the month of July is 0.4% over the last six years.

“Perhaps unsurprisingly this July’s fall is marginally larger, as political turbulence has a track record of unsettling sentiment. Indeed last year saw a seasonally unusual 0.1% fall in the run-up to the May election, and a June and July price surge as a result of the post-election boost. Average new seller asking prices were up by 3.1% over that two-month period.”

Original article at Property Industry Eye

Not long to wait now before the magnificent Bristol Harbour Festival 2016 celebrates its 45th anniversary.

Bristol Harbour Festival brings together every kind of entertainment imaginable at a festival over 3 days on the 15 – 17 July – what’s more the event is FREE!

The Harbourside will be transformed with over four miles of activities, showcasing the talent and skills of the city. Stretching from the Underfall Yard on Cumberland Road into the City Centre and up to Castle Park, there will be an incredible variety of cultural entertainment. There really will be something for everyone.

The anniversary celebrations will start with a special outdoor concert in the Lloyd’s Amphitheatre Friday 15th July. The ticketed event will be headlined by English rock legends and 80’s chart toppers, Echo and The Bunnymen with support from singer-songwriter and former Haircut 100 front man, Nick Heyward.

Following the Friday night concert, the Lloyd’s Amphitheatre will be the venue for the Festival’s music stage, making the most of the natural acoustics of Bristol’s harbour.

The dance performance and participation stages move into the city’s iconic Queen Square, surrounded by a continental food and craft market.

This year the beautiful aerial acts, daredevil stunts and family entertainment will return to Castle Park and a new route featuring music and markets will run along Redcliffe Quay and Merchants Quay to connect the festival areas.

The Festival showcases Bristol’s incredible maritime heritage, encompassing M Shed and Wapping Wharf at the east end of the harbour, ss Great Britain – the venue for a music stage and market over the weekend – and the newly-opened visitor centre at Underfall Yard.

Festival goers can either jump onto the Cross Harbour Ferry at the ss Great Britain across to the New Harbour Inlet or continue to enjoy the walk along the harbour from Underfall Yard, over to the Grain Barge where festival entertainment will take them along Harbourside Walk and back into the heart of the event.

For full details go to Bristol Harbour Festival

You can buy the Harbour Festival programme which will give you the full itinerary of events at any of the official programme outlets dotted around the festival during the weekend.

Information taken from the Visit Bristol website

What you need to know if you’re a landlord

New restrictions on allowable expenses from rental income came into effect on 1st April 2016. The wear and tear allowance has been replaced by a new expenses system.

The past wear and tear allowance allows landlords to deduct (broadly) 10% of their rental income in calculating taxable profit to allow for wear and tear. However this allowance has been replaced by a system allowing landlords of residential property to deduct only the actual costs incurred on replacing furnishings in the tax year.

Capital allowances for furnished holiday lets will not be affected. A technical consultation will be published later in the year to consider this further.

All landlords of residential property in or outside the UK, are permitted to claim relief for finance costs (e.g. mortgage interest) incurred on their let property, giving tax relief at 40% and 45% for landlords paying tax at the higher and additional tax rates. This tax relief will be restricted to the basic rate of income tax only (20%).

Implementation will be phased from April 2017 as follows:

Who will be affected?

For further guidance go to GOV.UK

Deloitte UK give their view of the changes

The abolition of the wear and tear allowance and replacement with a new set of rules will be more aligned to the actual expenses incurred in the year, and we look forward to hearing more when the technical consultation is issued.

The restriction of allowable finance costs will align the allowable expenses for all landlords irrespective of their tax paying status which will clearly be an unwelcome change for higher and additional rate taxpayers, but the phased implementation will go some way to soften the blow.

Details from original article Rental property allowable expenses by Deloitte UK

Accurate meter readings are incredibly important for both tenants and landlords; they ensure that tenants are provided with accurate billing and landlords are not chased for payment of energy that was used by their tenants.

There’s currently a Government backed incentive for all homes and small businesses to have smart meters by 2020, which will eliminate manual readings read more. In the meantime, taking readings manually is essential.

At the start of your tenancy

Taking accurate meter readings at the start of a tenancy are necessary as they ensure that the right person is paying for the energy consumed during occupancy.

For example, if you begin a tenancy without informing the energy company and you don’t provide an accurate meter reading, you can quickly become in debt, as the energy provider estimates your usage based on previous tenants. They may also send the bills directly to your landlord which isn’t a great start to you tenant/landlord relationship.

As a result, it’s recommended that you take accurate meter readings at the check-in stage of your tenancy, if possible with your lettings agent present.

It’s also worth making a note of the readings on your signed inventory or take pictures of your meter readings with timestamps, so there’s no room for dispute.

During the tenancy

During your tenancy, ensure that you take meter readings regularly and update your energy provider with the new readings; otherwise you could be hit with an unexpected bill. If suppliers don’t have accurate readings then they’ll calculate estimates based on past consumption.

If you feel like you’re overpaying, take your own meter reading and compare this to the estimated reading on your next bill. If there’s a substantial difference in these figures, contact the energy company immediately.

This process should be done regularly because, if the estimated reading’s lower than your actual reading, you could face a bill for the difference when you leave the property.

Dealing with disputes

Any problems that you have with your billing, should first be directed to your energy provider. If you need further help or advice you may find the below links of interest:

Electricity meter accuracy at GOV.UK

Citizens advice consumer service

Energy ombudsman as a last resort if your supplier is unable to resolve your complaint.

At the end of the tenancy

It’s very important to take meter readings at the end of your tenancy and notify your provider that you will be moving out. If you fail to do this, you may keep getting charged for energy that someone else is using. Don’t forget to leave the provider with a forwarding address, so they can send you a final bill.

As with the start of your tenancy, make a note of or take a photograph of, the final readings and include them with your signed inventory when you hand the keys back to your landlord or lettings agent.

By following this advice you are likely to maintain a good relationship with your lettings agency and landlord and not have any unwanted ‘surprise’ bills to pay.

With the January sales in full swing, it’s the perfect time to add a little extra comfort or style to your home for a fraction of the cost.

Bristol is blessed with some of the best shopping malls and retail parks in the South West. Notably The Mall and Retail Park at Cribbs Causeway has a shop or outlet store for whatever your needs might be.

With so much choice on offer, it’s difficult to recommend anyone place for the best sale discounts, especially as Bristol has many specialist shops and suppliers throughout the city.

Bristol Letting Agency brings you some tips to survive the sales and make sure you get the best deals

  1. Firstly, think about what you really need. It’s easy to get carried away when there are so many items for sale at a great price. Before you know it you can spend a fortune, so write a list of what you want to replace or buy. Take measurements if you need an item of furniture for a specific spot or purpose.
  2. Do some research online before hitting the stores. It’s good to know the recommended retail price (RRP) and the cheapest deals on offer at the ecommerce sites, so you know in advance what sort of price is a good deal.
  3. Go alone. January sales shopping can be challenging, especially if you hate crowds and queues. You may even have to compete for a car parking space before you even reach the shops, so stay focused and step out with sense of purpose.
  4. Be well equipped by wearing comfortable shoes and light layers. Take a bottle of water and a re-usable shopping bag. It’s not just the supermarkets that charge 5p for a bag now!
  5. Plan your route and head to the most popular stores first. Crowds increase as the day goes on, so try to avoid the most congested places at those times. Big department stores are great if you want to get everything you need under one roof.
  6. If you really can’t face the crush of the sales, you can always shop online. Many stores offer the same, if not better, sale discounts on their websites, so you can shop from the comfort of your home.
  7. One last point to remember is that your consumer rights for sale items are exactly the same as when you buy normal goods, so don’t be afraid to return purchases if they have defects.

Happy bargain hunting!

Not long to go now until we welcome in 2016.

While trying to decide how to spend our New Years Eve in Bristol this year, it seems that many places this year are already sold out.

Lucky for us we live in Bristol, a lively city with plenty happening to suit everyone… even those of us who like to keep our options open and leave things to the last minute.

If you haven’t decided how to spend your New Years Eve, here are some suggestions that still have availability. 

New Years Eve House Party at Goldbrick House

Dance your socks off to The Funk Soul Brother in The Cocktail Bar mixing an eclectic blend of Motown, Funk, Disco and 80’s Boogie. 

Sup on some Prosecco in The Pantry Bar and dare to drink our Cocktail Shots at The Library and Study Bar.

Ticket price of £11.49 includes a complimentary signature cocktail ‘The Goldbrick’ on arrival and canapes served until 9pm.

The Party at Goldbrick House starts from 7pm until 2am and tickets are available at Eventbrite

New Years Eve at the Bavarian Beerhouse

The party at the Bavarian Beerhouse features plenty of food, drinks, music and fun. Guests will be served a welcome cocktail upon arrival before proceeding to a full hot and cold Bavarian buffet with a glass of Champagne served at midnight.

The fun starts at 7.30pm until 3.00 am and tickets are £29.50 per person booking details here

Global Beat New Years Eve Party at the Colston Hall

This year marks the third New Year celebration at the Colston Hall and this time it’s going to be a riot of sound and colour as revellers are transported into 2016 in style.

Tickets cost £25 per person – full line-up and booking details at Colston Hall

If you know of any exciting events happening in Bristol on New Years Eve please share with us on facebook

Back in March, The Letting Game notified its landlords about some new safety legislation due for approval this autumn.

The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 were approved by parliament in September and came in to effect on the 1st October, 2015.

All landlords are required by law to install smoke alarms on every floor of their property and they should be tested at the start of each new tenancy. They will also need to install carbon monoxide alarms in high risk rooms, such as rooms with a solid fuel heating system or gas appliances.

The government says the move will help prevent up to 36 deaths and 1,375 injuries per year and bring private rental properties into line with existing building regulations that require all newly built homes to have hard wired smoke alarms installed.

Failure to adhere to the new regulations could cost landlords up to £5,000 in civil penalties!

The Letting Game urges its landlords to comply with the new regulations a.s.a.p.

Further guidance on the new regulations can be found here GOV.UK

If you are renting your home and you have a garden, you may be responsible for its upkeep under the terms of your tenancy. If you are not a keen gardener, you should still be able to look after your landlords garden without too much hard work and ensure your deposit is returned at the end of your tenancy.

Here are some simple steps to take to prepare your garden for winter and have it looking its best by spring.

Give it a good tidy-up

Lawn care

Look out for wildlife

Last but not least, don’t forget about wildlife. Although not a requirement as a tenant, winter can be tough on garden wildlife, so it’s always good to give them a helping hand where possible.

Put some bird feeders out, the RSPB have lots of useful ideas and information to help you care for our feathered friends and other garden visitors to help them make it through the winter.

What’s more they are lovely to watch while you are wrapped up warm inside and they will return you’re kindness by feasting on any winter pests that take a liking to your landlords plants!

Getting to know your neighbours can really help you to feel a part of the community you live in.

Not only can you make new friends but there are other benefits of knowing those who live around you.

Neighbourhood watch

Many communities have a neighbourhood watch scheme operating in their area. Think safety in numbers. Stay alert to any suspicious activity and have the peace of mind that your neighbours are doing the same.

If you’re friendly with your neighbours you can let them know if you’re going away, so they can keep an eye on the house for you. Perhaps you could leave a spare key with a trusted neighbour, in case of emergency or to water your plants, collect the mail and vice versa.

Deliveries

If you are expecting a parcel to be delivered but you know you will be out, ask your neighbour if they’d be willing to take it in for you. If there are certain days you know you’ll be home, you can offer to do the same for them.

This can be especially useful around Christmas time, when home deliveries peak and it could save you numerous trips to the post depot.

Minor emergencies

Things that can really spoil your day like a flat battery or locking yourself out of the house can be easier to handle with a little neighbourly help.

If you’ve locked yourself out or lost your keys and have a spare with a neighbour, they’ll be able to let you into your house. If you haven’t left a spare with them but you’re on good terms, then at least you might get a cup of tea while you wait for a locksmith to arrive.

The same applies if your car won’t start. Your neighbour may be able to help you by jump-starting the battery or offer you somewhere to wait until the recovery service arrives.

Lending and borrowing

It can be very useful to know your neighbours if ever you need to borrow something at short notice. Maybe it’s just an egg for a recipe you’re making or a ladder to clear the guttering.

Most people are happy to lend out their tools and appliances to a good neighbour, providing you always return the item promptly and in the same condition as you received it.

Obviously you should be willing to return the favour at some point, if your neighbour needs to borrow anything from you.

Parties & events

If you’re having a party or BBQ, it’s always polite to notify your neighbours in advance, especially if there is going to be music or fireworks.

By pre-warning your neighbours of your event, they are less likely to complain if things get a little noisy. If you get on particularly well with your neighbours and you can invite them along, even better!

If it’s your neighbours having the party and they notify you, then you have the option to make other plans if necessary.

Here at The Letting Game we pride ourselves on our in depth knowledge of the Bristol area. If you are new to Bristol or you are moving to a new area within Bristol, come and have a chat. We can help you indentify the best location for your lifestle.