Cornwall’s not-for-profit estate agents calls for private landlords to help local people

imove Cornwall, the UK’s first not-for-profit estate agents has called for private sector landlords to assist local people with affordable, good quality private rented accommodation.

The current recession is clearly having an impact on the housing market and is placing increasing numbers of people at risk of homelessness, including people who previously would not have been considered vulnerable, according to Cornwall Council’s Homelessness Strategy.

The low-wage economy in Cornwall, seasonal nature of many dominant employment sectors, and low savings levels among average-low income households, place many people at increased risk of homelessness due to financial difficulty, says the report and in spite of recent improvements, Cornwall still lags behind the South West and the rest of the UK in terms of earnings, with average annual earnings 16.4% lower in Cornwall than the rest of the UK.

The geographical remoteness, increasing and ageing population and low wage economy in Cornwall combined with the current problems facing the national economy have led to an increase in demand for affordable accommodation, particularly in the social rented sector.

The cost of buying or renting property in the private sector has remained consistently high across Cornwall over the last few years, with affordability rates across the county in excess of 10:1.  Social housing forms only 12% of the housing stock in Cornwall, compared to 16% regionally and 23% nationally.

“It’s no surprise that many local people, particularly the young, elderly and vulnerable in our community cannot afford private rented properties in their local towns or villages” says David Gilmore from imove Cornwall.

“We would ask private landlords, who have properties to let in Cornwall and who have relatively low mortgage commitments on these properties to lower their rents to make their properties more affordable to local people.  It is a fact that if landlords have buy-to-let properties and want long-term tenants, the best way to achieve this is renting to local people, who are more likely to remain in the property long term”

“It is difficult to strike a balance between landlords who want maximum return for their properties and local tenants who need more affordable rents” says Gilmore.  “However one solution is to agree a program of home improvements between both parties.  This can be very successful.  Quite simply the tenant agrees to remain in the property for a number of years and furthermore agrees, for instance, to redecorate the property over that time.  In return the landlord agrees to lower the rent”

“This means that a local person can afford the rent and over the term of the tenancy can make some improvements to the property and the landlord quite clearly benefits by having a local person living in the property who is going to maintain and make some improvements.  Having a long-term tenant also reduces the cost of void periods and having to make improvements between tenancies”

“This is just one suggestion to improve the situation, but with some clever, out-of-the-box thinking, there are many ways private landlords and local tenants can agree a rent that serves both parties best interests”.

www.imovecornwall.org

We are looking for a good cause to support in Wadebridge

Following the great news that imove estate agents Cornwall will now be supporting Children's Hospice South West as our main charity to support, we are now seeking a local good cause to support in Wadebridge, Cornwall.  As the launch of our service draws nearer (first week of June 2011) we are now seeking a local good cause to financially support by way of donating funds from our profits.

If anyone knows of a local good cause for us to support, perhaps a new School Bus, or a new play area in the park, almost anything, please let us know by posting a reply to this message or by sending an email to mail@imovecornwall.org

imove is the UK's first not-for-profit online estate agents based in Cornwall.  Our service allows people to sell their property for a low-cost one off fee of £399 (no VAT) with all profits donated to charity and other local good causes.

imove donates funds to Childrens Hospice South West

imove estate agents in Cornwall are very pleased to announce that the funds raised from our Facebook Like campaign will be donated to the Children's Hospice South West.

Simply visit our website, Like us on facebook and we will donate £1 to Children's Hospice South West.  It's quick and easy and won't cost you a penny!

imove Cornwall is a not-for-profit online estate agents based in Cornwall.  Our service enables people living in Cornwall to sell their property for a fixed one-off fee of just £399 (no VAT), compared to traditional estate agency services (costing on average around £5000+VAT) imove Cornwall will save you thousands of pounds and you will be helping your local community.  imove estate agents is a not-for-profit social enterprise.  For more information please visit us at www.imovecornwall.org or our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Truro-United-Kingdom/Imove-cornwall/121184304626633?sk=app_168040793251518

A big big thanks to impress51 in Wadebridge for donating printed t-shirts to imove

We would like to say a huge thanks to impress51 of Wadebridge (http://www.impress51.com/).  Impress51 have agreed to very kindly donate printed work t-shirts to imove Cornwall. 

Impress51 prints clothes and gifts, such as t-shirts, work shirts, polo shirts etc.  They are based on the Trenant Industrial Estate.  imove would be happy to recommend their professional services to anyone.  impress51 of Wadebridge can we contacted on 01208 895370.

Map Maker - Google Map Online Wizard

A great big huge thanks to Rich the man behind Map Maker at http://mapmaker.donkeymagic.co.uk/index.php?map_id=19551
Rich has very kindly allowed imove Estate Agents Cornwall to use his fantastic online Google Map software for the imove cornwall website.

Map Maker from Donkey Magic is an online tool for creating custom Google Maps with your own pointers.  Very easy to use and a trully brilliant tool.

Thanks again Rich.

Do you run a charity in Wadebridge or have a Good Cause we could support?

As the imove service is almost ready to launch we are now speaking to various charities and good causes in the Wadebridge and Newquay area.  Do you run or own a charity in these areas?  Or do you have a good cause we could support.  imove Cornwall is looking to form partnerships with charities and good causes that we can donate funds to.

Please get in touch using this email address: mail@imovecornwall.org

Thanks

Getting the best deal from an estate agent

It's common knowledge that the UK property market is tough at the moment.  Agents are as keen as ever for your business so here's a quick guide on how to negotiate the best deal:

1.  Don't give an agent any signals that tell them you want to use their services.

2. Ask the agent for their fee at the valuation.  Never comit to give them the business at the valuation.

3. Call the agent back at a later stage, the next day for instance.

4. Decide in your own mind how much you are happy to pay.

5. Say to the agent "IF we can agree on a fee of £X or X% I would be happy to place my house on the market with you".

6.  If the agent says No or tries to negotiate you up, be firm and say "well that's all I can afford to pay" and signal that you may go somewhere else.

7. Always be firm - more often than not the agent will give in - remember they want your business.

Alternativly you can always use a low cost fixed price agent like http://www.imovecornwall.org/ :)  imove cornwall gives you a platform to sell any property in Cornwall for just £399