Renting out a property isn’t as easy as most people think. After all, you’ve got to understand the responsibility involved and you are probably holding down a full-time job as well. However, if the correct preparation is done, letting a property can bring you many...
Your budget is in place, you’ve found your dream area and now it’s time to start viewing properties. Yet do you want a south-facing garden? Is an open-plan kitchen important? What is the EPC rating? There are a number of things to consider and it’s...
The process of selling your property can be very stressful and every week it seems like there are new things to do and remember, deadlines to meet and documents to sign. On top of all of this, the last thing you want is an under-performing estate agent. We’ve...
There doesn’t have to be a huge divide between tenant and landlord and having a good relationship not only means you’ll have less stress and hassle but it is also much easier than you think.
Offer a warm welcome
When you...
Making a mistake when it comes to selling your home could cost you a lot – either breaking a sale or resulting in selling at a lower price than you deserve. Don’t fall into any of these mistakes by planning how to prevent them. Neglecting repairs. Failing to...
Buying a property is one of the biggest and most stressful decisions of your life. For some it’s the right decision but would you be better off renting?
Benefits of owning
There are a number of pros and cons when it comes to owning a house...
Home buying comes with a number of different questions that you want answering yet there is no reason why home sellers won’t also have unanswered thoughts running around their head. Whilst the selling and buying of homes are completely unique processes, with a...
It's an exciting time – you've had your mortgage application accepted, you're ready to fly the nest and you've starting looking at your dream first home. Yet many people make common mistakes, which prevent them from finding the perfect home at...
The road to selling can be long and daunting but getting the most out of your property is easier than you think. First impressions count Nothing is more important than a first impression so make it a good one. Consider what potential buyers may think...
We are sorry to see that you have instructed another agent to market your home.
Just so you are aware, we're still here if you are looking to let, sell or buy another property in the area and we are still passionate about letting your property...
Supposedly up there with divorce and losing a loved one, moving home is said to be one of the most stressful things to do in life. However it doesn’t need to be this way and instead of dreading ‘moving day’, look forward to it. It’s exciting...
Selling your home can be one of the most stressful periods of life as well as time-consuming. Everyone is desperate for a quick, hassle-free sale but with the possibility of strangers criticising your beloved property, it’s hard not to take things personally. We...
Estate agents – some people love them, some people hate them! In a world that is Internet led, it is important to remember that not everything you read on the web is true.
Myth 1: All estate agents are the same
This is a common...
The steps to owning a house may seem complicated at first but owning your dream home is easier than you think. Follow this simple 10-step guide to buying a house and you’ll be well on your way.
Step 1: Are you ready to become a homeowner? Buying a...
Questions, Questions, Questions – we all have them but often they don’t get answered. Buying a home is scary, stressful and confusing all at the same time, which in turn means hundreds of questions are probably rushing around the buyer’s head. Here,...
Buying a house is one of the most expensive purchases of your life and it’s essential to budget properly or you’ll find yourself in financial distress very quickly. With these 7 easy tips, you’ll find budgeting for your dream property easier than A,...
Lots of people wrongly assume that selling a house is easy and doesn’t take any preparation – after all that’s what you’re paying the estate agents for, isn’t it? Wrong! The reality is, selling a home can be stressful and inconvenient but if you are thinking of...
As you go through life, you’ll find that people are always there to give their advice and opinion – whether it is asked for or not. Selling your home is no different and you’ll find that suddenly everyone wants to get involved. Here are 6 myths...
When you move home, the decision of what to do with your existing property is a very important one. Most people find that they have to sell their current property, especially if extra money is needed to buy a new one. However, what is the best decision for you –...
Whether you like it or not, the world is evolving and it was only a matter of time before our homes turned technical. The term ‘smart home’ has been penned, describing a place filled with Wi-Fi controlled gadgets and soon you’ll be able to control...
There’s more to property marketing than meets the eye, especially when it comes to the sale of prestigious city homes and fine country residences. Many people are unaware of just how close the agent/vendor relationship needs to be if the property is to be marketed...
The average person spends about 15,000 hours commuting between home and office during their lifetime! As a consequence, over 7% (2 million) of the working population are estimated to work from home at least one day a week, thereby reducing wasted time, stress, and...
An unfair quirk in the law can leave landlords substantially out of pocket, as highlighted by the recent case of Cheryl Roux, the former wife of Michelin star chef Albert Roux. A bogus tenant, introduced by a fake London letting agency, rented Mrs Roux’s £5m...
The trend away from formal entertaining has accelerated in all but the highest echelons of society. Yet most older homes were built to a style that demands that we eat away from the utilitarian kitchen. So what happens now? Tremendous advances in kitchen design means...
December is off to a great start for our Block Management department, with the addition of three new buildings to manage! In the last week we have taken over the management of Wallington Towers which is a block of 28 flats in Bexhill. They have recently acquired the...
A residential buy-to-let property investment has long been regarded as a tax efficient and lucrative method of wealth creation. Anyone who was credit-worthy and had a reasonable deposit could become a landlord. Simple. But things have changed. While property remains...
The system of property transfer in this country is relatively archaic when compared to those of most other countries. The variety of age and tenure of UK property forms a complex framework on which sit further complications such as easements, rights of way,...
It’s official – what we’ve suspected all along – a “traditional” estate agent gets sellers more in their pocket than the internet-only alternative. They also secure more viewings and offers! According to research by The Advisory – an independent consumer advice...
With a shortage of new homes being built and interest rates remaining at historically low levels, there has perhaps never been a better time to invest in a property with a view to letting it out. The market opportunity is huge. Mortgages are increasingly hard to...
With the clocks having gone back we definitely know that Summer is over, and Winter is on its way. There are a number of property jobs to bear in mind at this time of year, whether you are marketing a vacant property, managing a rental property, or visiting tenants...
In the current market, if you are to maximise your price, it is more important than ever to ensure that your property is a highly saleable proposition, rather than one that makes another house look good by comparison. Of course, there are several basics that should be...
One of the attractions of property as an investment is that it apparently “looks after itself”. In an ideal world, the tenant pays the rent, the rent covers the mortgage, and you the landlord need not be especially involved apart from banking the difference. If only...
Most people move house rarely and often have little idea of the etiquette required if the stress of moving is to be minimised. Our job as progressive estate agents is to help buyers and sellers minimise this stress by seeing the world through their eyes and advising...
Safety requirements Landlords should ensure that the property meets all current safety regulations including Gas, Electrical and Fire and all privately rented properties must have a working smoke alarm on each floor, with carbon monoxide alarms in any rooms that are...
Buyers clearly need to make informed choices when it comes to deciding which property to buy and at what price, although only about one in five people in England and Wales commissions a survey (source: RICS). However, we find that buyers can be unnecessarily...
Over the next 2 weeks we will look at the issues affecting residential Landlords when renting out their property. Tenants can report your property if it is below standard Landlords have a legal duty under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to ensure that...
You only get one chance to make a first impression! When it comes to selling your home, attention to detail could be pivotal in securing an early sale at the best possible price. Most buyers have a good idea of their preferred location, minimum accommodation needs and...
All residential tenancy deposits must by law be protected by being lodged in a government-recognised scheme, such as the Deposit Protection Service (DPS), which is evidence based. This means that the decision to either return or withhold a deposit at the end of a...
Oakfield Estate Agents are thrilled to announce our exciting new partnership with Zero Deposit. Zero Deposit is an innovative new product aimed at improving the rental process for both Landlords and Tenants. They offer a product where Tenants can purchase a guarantee...
Our home satisfies our basic human needs such as sleeping, relaxing, washing, recreation, as well as family time, reading, watching TV, leisure, etc. But it is possibly eating which is the focus of home life. This basic need that punctuates our day provides a social...
When investing in a property, you are not only buying bricks and mortar, but also the immediate surroundings, which are significantly influenced by your neighbours. Good neighbours can help sell a house and boost its value, whilst bad ones can knock as much as 10% off...
Part 2 In this second part of our two-part series on how to keep maximise your rental yield by ensuring that your tenants stay – thereby avoiding any possible void periods or additional expense in seeking a new tenant. One of the main reasons why people move out is...
Whilst some people consider the relative square metreage of every property they see, many people’s perceptions of space are more visual despite the fact that spaciousness is often a priority and invariably comes at a premium. So if you are selling, it’s worth making...
A buy to let investment should ideally deliver impressive returns with minimal stress and these two objectives are most readily maximised when your property is occupied by a reliable long term tenant. Too many letting agents simply sign up the first tenant who comes...
We all know that moving can be stressful. Good estate agents who have moved house themselves should be able to minimise this wherever possible by anticipating many of the needs of buyer and seller alike. However, even though the seller has the same primary objective...
Selling your property is easy. Just advertise it online and wait for the buyers to flock to your door!! If only! Sadly, too many estate agents rely on this approach, which inevitably results in disappointment. Indeed, in some respects, finding the buyer is actually...
During the boom years, if you were minded to move house you simply got on and did so! Any delay in moving up in a rising market could prove expensive as the property you were buying would inevitably have appreciated more in cash terms that the one you were selling....
One of the most important aspects to consider when choosing a letting agency is whether or not they subscribe to a Client Money Protection Scheme. There have been several examples of unscrupulous letting agents who have mysteriously closed holding many thousands of...
Letting agents love the challenge of helping you find your ideal home. Sometimes however, it can be more of a challenge than need be. So if you are looking to rent a property, here are a few guidelines that will really help us to help you: Turn up for viewings at the...
There has been much speculation suggesting a potential decline in property prices and many buyers have been waiting to snap up a bargain. However our experience suggests that they will either have to make a move now, or just have to keep waiting! Bargains usually only...
Let us get to know you! We put you at the centre of our service, and the more we know about your needs, the better the service we can offer you. Please get in touch today for a no obligation chat about what we can do to help you and your building. A dedicated member of our Team will be happy to contact you today!
Book a valuation
Whatever your next move, you’ll need to know the likely selling price of where you live now. We can help. Our property valuation service is professional, realistic, straightforward – and free.
Just curious? If you just want a rough value of your home, get an instant valuation online here. Ping over a few details and we’ll do the rest.
Thinking more seriously about selling? Book a face-to-face property valuation. An in-person visit gives us a much better feel for the property and its setting, so we can make a really accurate valuation. Drop us a few details and we’ll get an appointment sorted.
Book a Viewing
Has this property caught your eye? Thinking about buying or renting it? Book your viewing now.
Just pop in a few simple details and a member of our helpful team will be in touch as soon as possible to discuss and arrange your appointment.
We know you’re busy, and we’ll do everything we can to accommodate you and work around your schedule. So let us know your availability when you send over your details – we offer evening and weekend slots, too.
Booking your viewing couldn’t be easier. Do it and take a step towards your dream home.
How it works
You review your Zero Deposit Guarantee quote online, having been introduced to Zero Deposit by [us/your letting agent/Oakfield].
You make a payment equivalent to one week’s rent, provide your Direct Debit details and then the paperwork is generated, and copies sent to all parties.
Your landlord gets a guarantee for the same amount as a 6-week tenancy deposit and you remain liable for any damage or financial loss due to them.
At the end of the tenancy, the inventory and check-out are completed and if you leave the property in a satisfactory condition with no outstanding rent or bills, there is no further action required.
If there is any damage to the property or any unpaid rent, you will need to reimburse the landlord yourself. If you dispute the landlord’s claim, you and the landlord will be asked for evidence which will then be sent for expert evaluation.
If the expert finds in the landlord’s favour, Zero Deposit settle the claim with your landlord and seek reimbursement from you directly. If you fail to reimburse Zero Deposit at this point, you may be liable for recovery costs and it could impact on your credit history.
Important Information
This Guarantee provides your landlord with protection if you do not pay them directly for the cost of any financial loss or damage due
You remain completely responsible for any financial loss or damage due to the landlord, as you would with a traditional tenancy deposit
The cost of the Zero Deposit Guarantee is not returned to you at the end of your tenancy or offset against any claim by the landlord
If you dispute your landlord’s claim, and our expert evaluation partner finds in your landlord’s favour, Zero Deposit will settle with them and then seek reimbursement from you. Failure to pay Zero Deposit at this stage will result in Zero Deposit passing your debt to a debt collection agency which may incur further costs for you and could affect your credit rating
A Zero Deposit Guarantee is offered to you as a choice, so if you prefer to pay a security deposit, you can. With a traditional deposit your money will be returned to you if there is no financial loss or damage due to the landlord at the end of the tenancy
There is a setup fee of £49 at the point you move in, then an annual admin fee of £17.50 per tenancy collected every year by Direct Debit from the first anniversary of you moving into your new property.
For more information visit zerodeposit.com or call 0333 200 2541
Zero Deposit is a trading name of Global Property Ventures Limited (10328435), which is registered at Business and Technology Centre, Bessemer Drive, Stevenage, SG1 2DX. Global Property Ventures is an insurance intermediary and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can find details of this at register.fca.org.uk, by searching for the company name or reference number, which is 797026.
The Zero Deposit Guarantee is underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance SE. Great Lakes Insurance SE is a German insurance company with its headquarters at Königinstraße 107, 80802 Munich. Registered with the commercial register of the local court of Munich under number: HRB 230378 UK Branch office: Plantation Place, 30 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 3AJ. Great Lakes Insurance SE UK Branch is authorised by the Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht and subject to limited regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. Details about the extent of our regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority are available from us on request.
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