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• An ARLA Propertymark member will have Professional Indemnity Insurance.
• An ARLA Propertymark member will hold membership to an independent redress scheme.
• An ARLA Propertymark member will adhere to the Code of Practice that is in place, ensuring you of the best possible standards.
• You can also be sure that your letting agent is going to be undertaking regular training as part of their ARLA Propertymark membership. They will also make sure that they stay up-to-date with any changes in the industry, especially those of a legislative nature.
• Being an ARLA Propertymark member is a mark of quality. This means that you are going to be working with the best experts in the field, ensuring you of high quality and professional advice at all times.
• If you work with an ARLA Propertymark member, your money is going to be protected. This is because ARLA take Client Money Protection (CMP) very seriously, and this means that their members do too. Your money is going to be held in a designated separate bank account, which means that it would be protected should the company go bust or any unforeseen incident like this were to occur. Any letting agent that is an ARLA Propertymark member will need to submit Client Money accounts on a yearly basis, and these will be audited independently.

With further regulation on the horizon, it is important now, more than ever, that Agents recognise that being part of a professional body will demonstrate their high standards. All members must follow a strict code of practice and be part of our Client Money Protection (CMP) scheme, which ARLA Propertymark campaigned to make mandatory for all letting agents.

Our industry has become a political pawn over the last few years and sometimes I lose focus on what we actually do and how good we are at it!

Labour have made Key Housing Pledges:
To build 1.5million new homes in the first 5 years
To deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation
To provide permanent support to first time buyers through a mortgage guarantee scheme
To increase stamp duty on residential property purchases for non-UK residents
To "immediately" abolish Section 21 no-fault evictions
To extend Awaab's Law to the Private Rented Sector

What we do know is vast changes and the implementation of these changes takes years (as demonstrated in Wales - it was 8 years before Renting Homes Legislation went live!) so if you are a Landlord please don't panic. Yes there will be changes - change isn't always a bad thing - and luckily you we at Black Cat Residential are qualified property professionals who can steer you through those changes as and when they come

Should You Let a Rental Property in Wisbech and Surrounding Villages Furnished or Unfurnished?

Are you in the midst of deciding whether you should let your rental property furnished or unfurnished?

Many factors come into play when making the decision, like the location, target market, and your return-on-investment goals. If you’re on the fence about letting a property furnished or unfurnished, here’s an overview of the pros and cons to help you decide.

What Does Furnished Include?

As a minimum, all properties let in the UK need to include various amenities, like white goods, kitchen and bathroom fixtures, flooring, and curtains or blinds. While there isn’t a legal definition of what a furnished property includes, it needs to be considered ‘fit to be lived in’ from the day the letting begins. This usually means it has:

• Beds: Enough for each bedroom
• Wardrobes: Appropriate for the number of bedrooms and people
• Chest of drawers: One or two sets per bedroom
• Sofas: Ideally to seat the number of people living at the property
• Dining room table and chairs: Preferably with enough chairs to seat the number of people living at the property
• Tableware: Enough to cater to the number of people living at the property

What are the Benefits of Letting a Property Furnished?

Choosing to let a property furnished ultimately depends on the target market, the local area, and your desired rent price. By letting a property furnished, you can:

• Get a better or higher rent price
• Make your property more attractive
• Attract short-term tenants

Are there Downsides to Letting a Property Furnished?

Despite the benefits, there are some downsides to letting your property furnished, including:

• Size of market: A furnished property doesn’t always attract long-term tenants, so you may appeal to a smaller market seeking short-term lets.
• Maintenance: It adds maintenance, like handling repair and replacement work.
• Costs: You’ll need to pay for the furniture, plus repair and disposal costs.

What Does Unfurnished Include?

Unlike furnished properties, there is a legal definition of what an unfurnished property includes. They must have a minimum of:

• Kitchen and bathroom fixtures
• Flooring or carpets

What are the Benefits of Letting a Property in the Fenland area Unfurnished?

Even though furnished properties are usually more desirable, there are some benefits to letting a property unfurnished, including:

• Less maintenance: Furnished properties come with a requirement to maintain the furnishings. With an unfurnished property, you won’t have this responsibility.
• Attract long-term tenants: Long-term tenants often bring their own furniture to a rental, so an unfurnished property could be more desirable to this market.
• Cheaper: Since you won’t have to pay for furniture, your outlay and running costs could be cheaper.

Are there Downsides to Letting a Property Unfurnished?

Naturally, unfurnished properties attract a different clientele. Letting an unfurnished property can mean you need to charge a lower rent price. Plus, you may not be able to compete with other nearby rentals if you’re not providing what people want. The best thing to do is research what works well for your property type in the local area before you decide.

Are you a Landlord in Wisbech needing Advice?

Deciding whether to let your property furnished or unfurnished depends on many things, particularly related to the market in your area. For personalised advice about letting properties across the Fenland area our friendly team at Black Cat Residential are here to help.

Give us a call today on 01945 585148 or email us at info@blackcatresidential.co.uk

Thanks to the hard work of Victoria and Amelia and the support of countless Landlords, Contractors, fellow Agents and local Businesses we were delighted to raise £1,000 for the Alan Hudson Treatment Centre here in Wisbech which offers daily support to anyone with a life limiting illness and their families.

Thanks to: Aspire Homes, Flame Heating, Super Seal, Boo & Harvey, KG Sales, Philips Flooring, Green Living Landscapes, Chris Wiles Damproofing, Wisbech Carpet Warehouse, William H Brown, Asda Wisbech, Tesco Hardwick, Supreme Windows, Kempston Homes, Dibbs Decorating, Optimal Build, Chaos Internet, NGR Carpentry, Kavanagh Hayes, Audacia Capital, Steven Negus Heating, Welbourne & Co, Coversure Insurance, Wheelers Accountants, 3B Design & Print, BNI Marshland, Evisons, Diamond Byte & all the fabulous Landlords & Customers that donated

We are delighted to have won the British Property Award for Wisbech for the third consecutive year!   This is an award based on customer service and mystery shopping carried out by independent judges - well done to the whole Black Cat Team

Our office will be closed on Monday 19th September in respect of the funeral of HM The Queen

We are expanding and now have the availability to take on more properties. Are you a landlord looking for property management? We can help! We have a team full of experience ready and able to assist with your property. We have referenced tenants ready to move into properties.