Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 6:00pm, and Saturdays, 9:00am to 4:00pm. You can find us conveniently located in the heart of Loughborough, right across from Bonkers and between McDonald's and Marks & Spencer. If you're driving, the nearest parking is available at NCP The Rushes. Our address is 7 Biggin Street, Loughborough, LE11 1UA.

High inflation has forced interest rates to rise, slowing the housing market and reducing the number of transactions. This will, in turn, affect what prices houses are sold for, as reduced demand means buyers will be in a better position to negotiate. So far, the slowdown has been modest, buffered by continued demand for larger homes, but it could continue if interest rates are to rise again.

We expected a modest asking price decline in 2023 of around 5%. This would mean the cost of the average property returning to April 2022 prices, which is still significantly above pre-pandemic levels. Prices are then likely to remain flat in 2024 before rising again throughout 2025.

Want to know how this affects you? Book a valuation to learn more.

If a property is well advertised and optimally priced, we anticipate securing a tenant within two weeks, although this can often be as quick as a few days. Referencing then usually then takes 2-3 days.

We create stunning digital particulars highlighting the individual attributes of every property we market, with videos, floor plans and brochures as standard. We then use all the major property portals, social media, and conventional print to expose properties to the right audience.

We don’t believe that this is in either of our best interests. We are sometimes approached by tenants who are either high-risk or inappropriate for other reasons. We have found that when turned down, they reapply through the competing agent who may present them in a favourable light so they don’t lose the business.

Huntleys conducts the following checks where possible and will inform you of any concerns arising: Identity checks for proof of identity, such as a passport or driving license, to verify the prospective tenant is who they say they are; Credit checks to ensure that they have a good credit history and can manage their finances responsibly; Employment checks to verify that the tenant can afford the rent; and Reference from previous landlords to verify the tenant's rental history; Right to rent checks are required to ensure that tenants have the legal right to rent property in the UK.

There are no other charges under our Fully managed service, ever. Tenancy agreements, Referencing, Inventories, Inspections, Renewals, Deposit protection and disputes are all included in our standard management fee. Nor do we apply markups to contractors’ fees. However, it is worth checking with any competing agency you are considering, as these are often charged as extras in their small print.

Rental yield is the annual rental income expressed as a percentage of the property's value. It is a key metric in comparing the rental returns of different investment properties and part of calculating return on investment (ROI). Our rental yield calculator lets you input your estimated values and calculates both the gross and net yields. It should not be considered investment advice nor be used to calculate rent.

We check and process rents every business day. If a tenant doesn’t pay, in the first instance, they will receive a simple reminder to check their account and to make payment. Then, should they fail to pay or respond, we follow up with a phone call, email and text messages as appropriate, typically twice a week. Finally, should it become evident that a tenant cannot, or will not, pay, we will present you with your options on how to proceed.

Under our Fully managed service, we visit occupied properties every three months, and a brief condition report will be emailed to you. This will include photos if possible.

Our inventory and condition reports are evidence-based and rely heavily on photos instead of opinions. A typical 3-bed property will usually have over 500 photos. Should any damage occur to the property during the tenancy, we believe that well-documented before and after photos should put you in a better position than subjective comments such as “fair condition”. Our Fully managed service includes the inventory report and deposit disputes with the DPS.

Under our fully managed service, once a tenancy has ended and the tenant vacates, we will check the property’s condition against the inventory and report any discrepancies to you. It is your prerogative as to where deductions should be proposed. Should there be a dispute with your tenant, we will collate the relevant evidence and present your case to the DPS for adjudication.

Under both our Fully managed and Rent collection services, we will contact you about three months before the end of the tenancy for your instructions. In addition, we will advise you on current market conditions and rates. We always recommend balancing fair rent with good tenant retention.

What constitutes a good rental yield percentage depends largely on the property's risk profile. This typically includes location risks, other local development, prevailing market conditions, shifting demand, and your own goals. The higher the risk, the better the return needs to be to compensate. Additionally, consider long-term capital appreciation potential, the wider economic environment, and the amount of work a property will be when considering the rental yield's suitability. It is a more practical tool for comparing options as opposed to trying to calculate real-world returns.

A gross rental yield of around 5% or higher for conventional residential properties is considered good for well-established and stable markets like Loughborough. For higher risk/management-intensive options like student properties, a return closer to 10% is considered good.