Parkview Property Sends a Big Well Done to GB’s Brilliant Paralympians

In this two-minute read, we look at the amazing achievements of our Paralympians.

The word ‘inspirational’ gets thrown around a lot these days, but when it comes to our Paralympic heroes, there really is no other way to describe them.

The grit and determination they displayed in Tokyo provided a much-needed reminder that human beings can do incredible things when they set their minds to it.

We could all learn lessons from this remarkable bunch of people about staying positive, working hard and not quitting. (Useful lessons if you’re moving home, but also for life in general.)

Here are three GB athletes who epitomise the Paralympic spirit.

Micky Yule – From Scotland, stepped on an explosive device while serving with the Royal Engineers in Afghanistan and lost his legs. After undergoing 21 operations to stabilise his injuries, Micky felt ‘good for nothing’ – until he threw his energy into powerlifting.

After years of hard graft, Micky qualified for the Paralympics and this year, won bronze in the men’s 72kg category after lifting a whopping 182kg.

Ellie Robinson – Ellie, who won gold in Rio, finished fifth in Tokyo in the S6 50m butterfly final. In a heartfelt post-race interview (check it out on YouTube, it’ll have you welling up), she explained why the result was ‘a story of triumph, not of defeat’.

In the run-up to the games, medical experts told Ellie to quit swimming due to a worsening hip condition called Perthes disease.

But Ellie pushed through the pain and made it to the final because she wanted to finish her sporting career ‘on her own terms’.

Dame Sarah Storey – The Queen of the Track and the Road, Dame Sarah has won 17 gold medals and is Britain’s most successful Paralympian.

Incredibly, she’s competed at eight Paralympic Games over a 29-year period – and hopes to be a contender in Paris in three years’ time.

The 43-year-old mum-of-two started her career as a swimmer; she won two golds in the pool in Barcelona at the age of 14.

When an ear infection forced her to take time away from swimming, Dame Sarah discovered the joys of cycling – and became a champion on the bike, too.

If you enjoyed the Paralympics, let us know your favourite performance from Tokyo.

by Andy

What Rules and Regulations Are Ayrshire Landlords Falling Foul of the Most?

Being a landlord is a tricky business. There are nearly 200 different pieces of legislation covering the how, why, and when of managing a rental property. Here are just four that landlords are often not getting quite right.

Deposit protection

In England, Scotland, and Wales, the deposit must be registered with a deposit protection scheme. The 2021 UK Landlord Survey found that 81% of landlords find registering their deposit difficult.

The deposit must be registered within 30 days of receiving cleared funds. The schemes are government-approved and the tenant must be informed where the money is deposited.

Energy performance certificates

Every rental property in the UK has to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). They are stored on an electronic register that is publicly available. However, they also have to be included in any advertising you do for your property.

Electrical safety regulations

In December 2015, strict rules about electrical testing for new tenancies in rental properties came into force. Inspections must be carried out by a qualified person on all fixed electrical installations.

Gas safety check regulations

If you have gas going in to your rental property, all appliances, pipework, and flues must be checked annually.

As for the electrical safety tests, ensure that you use a qualified engineer and don’t plump for the cheapest. The report must be given to the tenant within 28 days as well.

TOP TIP: As with any time you need to visit, or arrange a visit to the property, make sure you give the tenant at least 24 hours’ notice. Keep a record of having given notice. If the tenant refuses access, you’ve then got the evidence that you tried.

If you’re a landlord in Ayrshire and are not 100% sure on all the rules and regulations you need to abide by, get in touch with us at Parkview Property. A free, no-obligation chat will show you what you might need to tweak or if you’re on the right track.

by Andy

The Euros Are Here!

A two-minute read looking at the price of property across our continent.

The month-long football festival AKA the Euros 2021 kicks off today

And the home nations of Scotland, England and Wales are all competing to win the crown of the best national side in Europe.

A win for Scotland would be priceless, and we thought it might be a bit of fun to look at how property prices compare across the continent.

So, we jumped on Google to see what the average prices for a place to call home are in the following eight countries taking part in the 24-nation tournament.

England – £268,000

Wales – £178,907

Scotland – £164,099

France – £200,241

Across other parts of Europe, the focus is on the average price based on a square metre of the property.

Germany – £2,922 – per square metre (psm)

Portugal – £964 – psm

Spain – £2,071 – psm (based on new build properties)

Switzerland – £5,078 – psm

To give you a comparison, the average price psm across England and Wales was £2,954 (Jan 2021) and in Scotland £1,579 (2018).

And just like star footballers, the average values depend on how in-demand the areas are.

The cost of properties in many of the above countries is much higher in cities and areas where people buy holiday / second homes.

At Parkview Property, we can’t predict with any guarantee who will win the Euros when it concludes at Wembley Stadium on 11 July, but we can guarantee you a champion level of service if you choose us to help with Selling or Letting your property.

Thanks for reading and C’mon Scotland! 

by Andy

Landlords and Data Protection

For more information to protect both yourself and your tenants, watch the video or read more details below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wfjsi8L77U

The ICO is the Information Commissioner’s Office and covers the whole of the UK. The ICO website explains that they are ‘The UK’s independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.’

It doesn’t matter how many properties you have, how many tenants, nor how many people you work with or have working for you. It is the whole business that must be registered. As a landlord, you are considered to be a business, even if you’re a sole trader.

Some landlords think that their letting agent has to be registered and therefore, they themselves are exempt. This is not the case. Anyone who handles personal data and stores it electronically must register. This could be as little as a name or phone number for the tenant that was texted or emailed to you.

The ICO fee will be between £40 and £2,900 per annum. The fee is paid annually. It is worked out depending on the size of the business and turnover. There is a self-assessment you can carry out on the website. Have a look at it, ico.org.uk  This will show you what amount you will have to pay.

Tenants could raise complaints about you to the ICO if they believe you’re misusing their data. The ICO might then investigate. If you had a complaint about the tenant, like unpaid rent, the tenants could use your non-registration against you. If you don’t register with the ICO and get caught, the fines can range from £400 to £4,350.

It’s a simple 15-minute process to get registered. It’s not something an agent can do on your behalf.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started;

  • The name and address of the business that needs to be registered
  • Turnover and staff numbers
  • Business details
  • Credit/debit card details

The fee will be due again in 12 months’ time. It could be easier to give the ICO direct debit details. If you are a landlord and would like further advice about this or any other lettings issue, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat on 01292 442888

by Andy

The One Thing You Can Do to Help our Lovely Ayrshire Towns Bounce Back

In this two-minute read, we look at why it’s crucial that consumers shop local.

As we emerge out of lockdown, there’s one thing you can do to help Ayrshire, recover from the pandemic – and that’s to shop local.

Independent traders are the lifeblood of communities, generating interest and footfall in our high streets and providing local jobs. But after an incredibly challenging year, small businesses need help to stay afloat.

The good news is that many of us discovered the benefits of shopping locally during the pandemic.

Figures show that 53% of us have shopped locally more in the last year, and 42% say that they will continue to do so in the future (source: Lumina Intelligence).

The momentum is there; we just need to keep it going as the economy opens up. If you’re still not convinced, here are three other reasons to support local independent businesses.

It’s character building

If we give all our business to online multinationals, what will become of our high streets?

Answer: they’ll become ghost towns. Small businesses, and the people who run them, bring character and personality to neighbourhoods. They make an area feel special and unique, rather than sterile and anonymous. 

Social responsibility

Small businesses are rooted in the communities they serve and often support local charities, schools, and sporting clubs. Shopping locally is an easy way you can say thanks to them for lending a hand to the small organisations that make a big difference in our towns.

Good for the environment

Shopping locally can help to reduce the carbon footprint. For example, take the humble veg box. Many people gave them a try at the start of the pandemic – when a trip to do the food shop was like starring in an episode of Supermarket Sweep meets Gladiators – and have remained loyal customers.

Food grown in the UK and picked in season is not only tastier but it also generates far fewer carbon emissions than those transported thousands of miles around the world.

About 500 schemes in the UK provide seasonal, locally sourced fruit and veg (many also supply dairy products and eggs). We are so fortunate in Ayrshire to have as many as we do. Why not try one local to you?

From all of us here at Parkview Property, take care, stay cheerful, and support your high street.

COPYRIGHT Parkview Property Ltd 2021

by Andy