Reduce Voids by Improving Energy Efficiency

It will be unlawful to rent a property wiht an EPC rating of F or below from 2018 as a result of The Energy Act 2011. We know that Its ages away, and tenants never ask to see the EPC anyway, but but we thought we'd have a look at our data and the results were surprising. If you're property has already been tested and failed, your property manager will be in touch soon.

PACE is top of the tables!

The latest figures released by Rightmove have made for fabulous reading in the PACE head office. So we thought we’d share them with you. Out of 101 letting agents in the greater Southend area, we were listed top for the number of properties available for rent*.

Selective Licensing Update

The council met an angry crowd at the latest “Landlord’s Forum”. They claimed to have received only 200 response from landlords versus 400 from tenants.

No regulation of landlords, promises government

The government’s Housing Strategy document released this week makes 3 points about the private rental sector:

Housing Benefit Upheaval

The government is reducing housing benefit for the under-35s. It is being rolled out in stages from January 2012. People who are single and under-35 will only be entitled to the lower shared accommodation rate rather than the current 1-bed flat rate. Based on November figures, this is a reduction to £280 from £475 per calendar month.

Selective Licensing

Southend council are holding a public consultation on Selective Licensing on three areas of Southend - parts of Kursaal and Milton wards and the area around Station Road in Westcliff. As a landlord, an agent and a resident, we are strongly against the implementation of Selective Licensing in any areas of Southend. There are adequate powers to deal with the root causes of the problems in these areas. If the real objective is to improve the poor quality housing, then the council should be clear about that, and use the powers they have already to target those landlords at fault, rather than burdening the sector as a whole.

Guessing Games at the Summer Fete

Pace were delighted to sponsor and help out at two local summer fetes this year at Barling Primary and Sacred Heart in Southchurch.  Our "guess the number of balloons in the mini" and "guess the name of the teddy" proved popular and raised some funds for each school.  A special thanks to Martin's wife Tracy for helping out too.

A change of PACE

PACE property professionals in Southchurch Road, Southend are delighted as Key Sponsor, to fully support and promote the 2011 Leigh Art Trail which launches on Saturday 11th and runs until Saturday 18th June. Leigh on Sea has a rich history and impressive density of talented artists and draws visitors and art enthusiasts from around the county. PACE jumped at the opportunity to lend their support and encourage art for the home and the community.