Our latest news

Government announces five-week cap on rental deposits- but Felicity J Lord goes one better

The government has recently confirmed that it will cut the maximum deposit for rentals of less than £50,000 to five weeks, down from six weeks. According to the National Landlords Association and the Residential Landlords Association, the reduction could force landlords out of the market. However, Felicity J Lord partnered with flatfair earlier this year to launch a solution which protects both tenants and landlords in equal measure.

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Spicerhaart scoops top industry award for its charity work

The Spicerhaart estate agency group has won a top industry award for the support it gives to its own in-house charity Magic Moments, which takes children from hospices across the UK to Disneyland Paris every year. At the Agents Giving Fundraising Champions Awards 2018, the firm won the ‘Special Fundraising Award’, which recognises ‘a company which has consistently gone the extra mile and has shown extraordinary determination and motivation to provide on-going support to their cause in whatever way they can’.

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As the New Political term starts – is Housing Policy on the agenda?

The long summer has ended, MP’s have returned to Parliament and we’re in the midst of Conference Season. Naturally Brexit will dominate each party conference, however there are other equally important policies that should also form part of the agenda - particularly Housing.

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House prices up 3.1% over the year; whilst rents in most regions also on the rise

The pace of rental price growth in the private rental sector continues to slow, helping to ensure rents remain affordable. Scotland and Northern Ireland have seen the highest growth in rental values at 5.6% and 4.6% respectively. Meanwhile Wales, the South West and the East of England all saw rental price falls of 1.4% and the cheapest region in the UK – the North East saw falls of 2.2%.

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Rents and house prices values continue to enjoy steady rises

Rents in the UK rose by 0.9% in March compared to the same month a year ago, the average monthly rent now stands at £912 per month

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How Felicity J Lord uses social media to find brand new audiences

The outlook from within the private rental sector is positive. Property values in most regions continue to grow, which is important for landlords who view their portfolio as a long-term investment.

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The latest news from the private rented sector

April marks the start of the new tax year, bringing with it the next phase of reduced interest relief for buy-to-let mortgages. Meanwhile, as the calendar year moves swiftly along, there continues to be a range of changes which will affect our sector either having been recently introduced, or on their way.

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As rents steadily rise, Felicity J Lord helps tenants access rental homes

Figures revealed by the HomeLet Rental Index earlier this month show that average rents across the UK were up 1.2% in February, when compared to the same month last year.

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How our vision has a firm focus on our customers – where everyone wins together

This month we asked Andrew Benn, Managing Director of Spicerhaart Lettings, the company that owns Felicity J Lord, what he believes is the perfect recipe for a win-win business relationship.

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After an eventful start to the year, how should landlords prepare for the rest of 2018

Whilst the exceptional weather we’ve experienced this month has taken some by surprise, as early as mid-February, meteorologists did warn that there could be some short-term challenging conditions ahead.

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What’s the Best Day to Move House?

According to data collected by removals comparison website Compare My Move, the most popular day to move house is Friday – but does this mean you should move on that day?

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Spring’s ‘Green Shoots’ suggest a healthy 2018 for the Private Rented Sector

As the first signs of Spring start to appear in our gardens and parks, we’re getting a sense of the outlook for the private rented sector in 2018.

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Reflecting on in the Lettings property market 2017 and looking forward to 2018

2017 will be remembered by many in the property industry as a ‘year of change’. As the year began, we prepared for tighter mortgage lending restrictions and phasing in tax reforms – and ended it facing a raft of further policy amendments.

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Rising rents and house prices offer a positive picture for the UK property market

HomeLet’s December Rental Index reveals that rents rose in 11 of the 12 UK regions covered in the research.

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Advantages of Renting

The argument of buying vs renting is ongoing and unfortunately, it doesn’t have a clear and cut answer. Despite many believing that buying trumps renting, there are some circumstances and scenarios that suggest otherwise.

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Winter Home Inspiration

Winter is here, which means it’s now time to start thinking about updating some of your home’s accessories and features to match the colder and darker nights.

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Tenants can live rent free over Christmas with the Zero Rent Event

Felicity J Lord is offering a significant opportunity to tenants: to live rent free at the outset of their tenancy to save some extra money over the costly festive period

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Felicity J Lord offers landlords a rent free period over Christmas

FJLord Lettings is offering landlords an opportunity to move tenants into their properties over the Christmas and New Year period in the attempt of avoiding a potentially expensive ‘void’ or unlet period.

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Retaining Good Tenants

Tenancy renewal talks usually happen about three months before a rental contract finishes. These days however, tenants are thinking much further in advance, some even up to an entire year.

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Explaining Shared Ownership

Those having a difficult time breaking onto the property ladder could consider Shared Ownership. We explain what it is and if it might be the right option for you.

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Gas Safety Week: Fighting for a Gas Safe nation

Felicity J. Lord is proud to be supporting Gas Safety Week 2017, taking place 18th – 24th September.

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Kitchen Remodelling Tips

Aside from being a stunning backdrop of drawers and cabinets, a kitchen is also meant to be an area for function and convenience.

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Making Your Home Feel Bigger

No matter what size property you live in, as a homeowner the chances are that you’ve had to compromise on the amount of living space you were hoping to have.

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Getting the most out of retirement living

Moving house is always stressful, no matter how many times you’ve been through it before. Leaving your long-time home and moving to a retirement property can seem like an intimidating prospect – both emotionally and practically – but with the right plans in place it can be successful.

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Felicity J. Lord winners at the 2017 Spicerhaart Annual Conference Awards

Felicity J. Lord came away big winners at the 2017 Spicerhaart Annual Conference, held at Five Lakes Golf Club in Colchester. Both Bow Felicity J. Lord’s Lettings and Estate Agency operations came away with awards, but the Top FJL Office on Profit award went to Greenwich.

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Felicity J. Lord displaying their support for SAFEagent Awareness Week 2017

Felicity J. Lord Lettings agents are making their support known for National SAFEagent Awareness Week 2017, which takes place from 15th – 19th May 2017.

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Identifying Period Features in homes

Within many Victorian and Georgian properties, trims and mouldings were implemented for both form and function. Several came to exist purely due to the construction limits of the era, whilst others were inspirations of classic architecture.

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Top tips for downsizing

Whether you’re a renter going from a 2 bedroom flat to a studio apartment, or empty nesters moving from a detached house into a flat, you’ll likely have to part with a lot of your things to make moving day much easier to deal with.

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Felicity J Lord Lettings celebrate new protection for landlords and tenants

The Government has recently announced its intention to make Client Money Protection (CMP) mandatory for all lettings agents.

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Designing your dream bedroom

A bedroom is an area for resting both our mind and body .It’s where we go when we desire relaxation and rest, but it’s also where we head when we’re in need of an escape.

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Making your rental property feel like a home

Although there are restrictions on decorating that come with renting, there are still ways of making your rental property feel like home.

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Signs that you’ve found your next home

Whilst on the property hunt, whether it’s your first or fifth time, the market can always seems fairly intimidating. You may come across many properties that don’t come anywhere near your original desires, which means you might be inclined to compromise on your list of demands to secure a property in your desired area.

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Tips for selling over Christmas

There’s no reason your decorations should work against you when selling your property over the Christmas period. As a seller you should look to make them into a positive.

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Winter 2016 Interior Trends

Winter is approaching fast, so now is the best time to consider sprucing up your home for the new season. Here are our top interior design trends for this winter!

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Don’t panic over Help to Buy by Paul Smith, Felicity J Lord Chief Executive

If you’re a first-time buyer looking to get on the housing ladder, you may be worrying about what will happen when the Government’s Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee Scheme comes to an end in December 2016

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Common mistakes every Landlord should avoid

It’s important as a landlord to follow the right advice to be successful with your buy-to-let, but it’s also important to be aware of the common mistakes that landlords make to ensure you don’t make them as well, or your investment may go up in smoke.

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The moving home checklist

As you’re frantically packing to move into your new home, it’s important to think about what else you need to know about the property before completing your move.

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Property: still a sound investment post Brexit

The nation is still coming to terms with the effects of last week’s decision to leave the EU. We have seen a lot of sensationalist claims in the media about what might happen to property prices in the event of a Brexit.

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Dragon Boat Racing 2016

The Felicity J Lord 'One Team' compete against other departments of the Spicerhaart Group, fighting it out to become Spicerhaart Dragon Boat Champion 2016 - raising important funds for our Magic Moments Children's Charity.

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Retaining Good Tenants

Tenancy renewal talks usually happen about three months before a rental contract finishes. These days however, tenants are thinking much further in advance, some even up to an entire year.

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More change at the top for housing policy, but concerns about right to rent follow the new home secretary

et again we’ve seen a change at the top of Housing Policy.The most recent cabinet reshuffle saw the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government being promoted to Home Secretary after just 111 days since the role was created earlier this year. The cabinet minister ultimately responsible for our sector is now James Brokenshire.

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How current market conditions can benefit landlords wishing to expand their portfolio

Across the private rented sector, the average tenancy length stands at just 20 months. This is very different to the experience of an average homeowner who typically stays in their property for far longer. Many attribute this to high transaction costs and a lack of the right sort of properties for sale.

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Helping our tenants live cheaper and greener – plus no fuel bills for landlords during void periods

Felicity J Lord is delighted to introduce another innovative service which will benefit landlords, tenants and the environment.‘Sulu Energy Bridge’, from Tenant Shop, which we’re launching on 2nd July, offers a seamless and cost-effective energy provision service through Green Star. In 2017, 100% of their electricity came from sustainable sources, an achievement of which they are very proud.

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Property Ombudsman-Sales

Property Ombudsman-Lettings

Felicity J Lord is a trading style of Spicerhaart Estate Agents Limited, registered in England and Wales No. 4430726 and Spicerhaart Lettings Limited, registered in England and Wales No. 05304360. Registered Office: Colwyn House, Sheepen Place, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3LD, a Spicerhaart Group Business. Vat Certificate 791 7755 78.

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE. Felicity J Lord introduce to Just Mortgages a trading name of Just Mortgages Direct Limited who are appointed representatives of Openwork Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.