January, 2023
Cuan Ryan of WEST-The Property Consultancy looks at what it takes to make things happen in the property market this New Year, because wishing is no longer enough. This time last...
December, 2022
Our offices will soon be closed for the festive season but if you are a residential landlord or tenant and have an emergency over the festive period please use the Fixflow system...
April, 2022
As we head into spring, Gavin West , Managing Director of WEST-The Property Consultancy in Summertown, Oxford looks at what’s required to win the race to buy a home....
February, 2022
Even seasoned estate agents say that there has rarely been a property market like this. “Property prices rising at pre-banking crisis levels”, “Properties for sale - numbers...
October, 2021
Darker nights and mornings, cooler temperatures and leaves falling from the trees, this can all only mean one thing! We’re heading into autumn. Now is the perfect time to revisit the...
Looking for ways to entertain the family this half term? Here are some local events happening during the half term break to try and keep the little ones entertained. Spooky Science...
March, 2021
MARCH 2021 – EICR Update In 2019 I wrote an article explaining the impending changes to the Electrical Safety in rental properties - what now seems a lifetime, or to be precise three...
December, 2020
As we emerge from the country's second lockdown and pick back up with the tier restrictions, we're seeing yet more reports of possible job cuts and unemployment concerns up and down the country....
Introduced earlier this year, revisions to the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) on rental properties have meant that landlords are unable to let a flat or house with...
As we emerge from a second national lockdown in England and return into the tiered system, housing secretary – Robert Jenrick – has confirmed tenants will remain protected over...
Whilst these would ordinarily have been conducted via face-to-face meetings, right-to-rent checks have temporarily been altered to make it easier and safer for landlords and tenants. ...
November, 2020
Right now, interest from tenants is rapidly growing across the country, with many deciding to delay buying or coming to the realisation that they need to find a rental with more space. ...
Living through lockdown left many people around the UK rethinking their living situations, and now – as we enter the next phase with the country's second national lockdown – we're...
Since the pandemic hit the UK earlier this year, landlords and tenants have felt the financial strain. Here's how the latest developments are expected to impact the...
In their recent study, comparethemarket.com uncovered some interesting research on the property market to help sellers and their agents understand exactly what stands out to UK homebuyers....
September, 2020
Since lockdown, there has been a massive shift in property priorities. Gardens and outside spaces have shot to the top of the list. But did you know that a well-kept garden can add as much as...
Fewer than 8% of Brits had experience working remotely at the start of 2020. Within a matter of weeks, this figure rose considerably as businesses scrambled to meet new demands and...
The UK rental market has shown incredible resilience over the course of lockdown, with the government’s announcement of its stamp duty holiday causing a surge in activity from buy-to-let...
July, 2020
Covid19 has changed the way many buyers search for a property. Gavin West from WEST-The Property Consultancy explains. Before Covid 19 public health crisis, most home...
June, 2020
THE Oxfordshire property market will inevitably experience a lull in activity compared to normal trading conditions due to COVID-19 – but prices should not crash, a local expert has...
May, 2020
We open our doors in Oxford, Wantage and London as of Monday 1 st June 2020 To our landlord clients, seller clients, current purchasers and tenants, thank you for your unflinching support...
Healthier, Happier Homes with startlingly low energy bills delivered with the lowest possible impact on the environment. These homes have been constructed by local Eco build company,...
It is thought that a third of the world’s population is now living in lockdown during this coronavirus pandemic, searching for something to do besides follow the news. Here is a...
As we enter week 7 of lockdown in the UK, Brexit’s effect on the residential property market seems oh but a distant memory. As we turned the corner past the General Election in December...
According to current advice it looks as if the Estate Agency businesses may be permitted to open in early June in line with ‘shop’ / ‘High Street’ opening, so with this in...
March, 2020
As the COVID-19 crisis made its inexorable way across the globe, the world’s stock markets recently, over a period of 15 days, fell from all time highs in to a ‘bear’ market....
When tenancies come to an end, there are sometimes disagreements between the tenant and the landlord regarding the return of the entire deposit. If your deposit was paid after 6th April 2007 then...
If you are reading this article I imagine you are either aware or curious of impending changes to legislation around electrical safety and reporting. If not, I hope to cover everything you need to...
How Green can you be? We live in age where it is important to do all that we can to ‘save the planet’, in addition to the ever present desire to minimise our living costs....
There can be a variety of reasons why a tenant may need a guarantor. Have you been asked to be a guarantor on a tenancy but not entirely sure what it means or your obligations ? Then look...
February, 2020
Deciding to buy a property for the first time is a big decision. There are plenty of things to consider, not least, the financial commitment that buying a property can bring. Bearing this in mind,...
London Marathon has postponed the 2020 event, which was scheduled to take place on Sunday 26 April until Sunday 4 October 2020. Helens training continues.... I’m Helen Townsend,...
Gavin West from WEST-The Property Consultancy responds to the positive start to the new property year and looks at the green shoots of improvement. Like early snowdrops,...
January, 2020
If you are new to the area and have decided to rent in Oxford, you are likely to have plenty of questions about the area, rental prices, amenities, and what to expect. Based in thriving...
Oxfordshire remains a fantastic county for buy-to-let landlords in which to invest and to enjoy above national average returns. In the lettings market, demand continues to outstrip supply and...
If you read or listen to the property press, or the national media commenting on the property market, you will know they are currently awash with speculation and projections on the way the market...
December, 2019
Finally the UK has a majority Government after a torrid near 4 years since the EU Referendum. No matter what your politics, the sheer instability created by the years since the EU Referendum has...
November, 2019
“What is the Help to Buy scheme?” Help to Buy is the name given to a government initiative in the United Kingdom which aims to help first time buyers and those...
Ahead of the general election Gavin West , Managing Director of WEST-The Property Consultancy in Oxford asks the political parties to finally spare a thought for the property...
September, 2019
In the noble sport of rowing, those over the age of 27 years are all classed as ‘Masters’ and these and banded together with a letter denoting each age category, ‘A’ being...
Have you ever been buying or selling a house, had a conversation with your estate agent, mortgage broker, solicitor, and suddenly had to frantically turn to Google to understand some of the terms...
August, 2019
Buying your first property is a big decision. It’s not something that should be done lightly and there’s plenty to think about, too. They’ll likely be some big questions to...
Cuan Ryan of WEST-The Property Consultancy assesses the property market as we ease towards autumn. Before we know where we are it will be autumn - ‘Season of mists and mellow...
June, 2019
I have been operating in the Estate Agency sector since 1983, and for as long as I can remember there have been people / businesses that have had the bright idea of ‘doing’...
April, 2019
Last month saw Florrie’s Cottage in Marcham featured in the iconic Country Life Magazine, in an article all about Dream Cottages across the UK for under £500,000. So looking at this on...
If you’re trying to move to a new house but you haven’t managed to sell your current home yet, have you considered becoming a Landlord and letting it out? You could do that short-term...
March, 2019
You may have seen, followed, or even engaged in, the recent social media trend of the #10yearchallenge. Reflecting on a memory or snapshot from a decade ago versus today. So what does the property...
noun noun: annex ; plural noun: annexes ; noun: annexe / ?an?ks / 1 . a building joined to or associated...
February, 2019
Government meddling in England’s housing market without any forethought is not without precedent. It is extremely difficult to cast your mind back 20 years and think of the name of any...
January, 2019
It’s a common question we often get asked during the winter months, “surely this isn’t the best time to list our property for sale?”. Summer and spring, when the leaves are...
As we enter into the new year it is easy to think spring is right around the corner, but we know from experience and “the beast from the east” last year that there could still be...
BREXIT & ITS EFFECT ON: The Oxfordshire Market during 2018 and in to 2019 by Gavin West : MD of WEST-The Property Consultancy Whilst like the majority of Oxford residents, I am not the...
December, 2018
To date, property auctions have accounted for just 2% of UK property transactions but you have to ask the question, why? At a traditional property auction a legal pack is prepared...
In a bid to improve the energy efficiency of privately rented homes across England and Wales the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 came into...
There are several different types of tenancies in England and Wales with several different types of statutory regimes. Rent Act Historically tenancies were covered by the...
The decision to buy an investment property can be an easy one to take and it may prove just as easy to find the property and finance it, but is worth thinking through the finances carefully on...
What is happening? Recommended new safety measures to better protect private tenants by reducing the risk of electric shocks or fires caused by electrical faults were published for...
As a thriving local independent business our self, we thought as the Christmas gift season descends upon us we would share with you some of our favourite local shops, where you can source some...
YES – Yes, of course they are! Cleaning costs are the most common reason for deduction from a tenancy deposit, and while cleaning standards can be subjective, it is also the most...
It can be a wonderful natural insulator To the uninitiated, thatch can be daunting and off putting. As estate agents it is common to hear buyers say: “We want a period house, but...
One of the most important decisions you will make when investing in a buy to let property is whether you want to manage the property yourself. As a hands on landlord you will need to handle the...
Inactivity is bad for people's health, with experts describing it as a 'silent killer'. Many adults spend more than seven hours a day sitting down and for people aged 65 and over this can rise to...
The National Masters Rowing Championships Is, just as it says on the tin, the annual gathering of 'Masters' rowers from all over the country to compete on the 6 lane 2km rowing lake at Holme...
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