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Local firm
responds to rental arrears figures
ON 4 July 2012, figures have been released
showing that an increasing number of tenants are in severe arrears
on their payments. This is a worry for both tenants and landlords
alike. Tim Johnson, CEO of Southport based Paymentshield, has
commented though that:- "These figures will no doubt send
worrying signals to landlords up and down the country. If a tenant
doesn't pay rent, the landlord might end up in a situation where
they can't pay the mortgage. I'd urge all landlords to seek
financial advice as soon as possible to look at how they can protect
their investments. There are specialist products available like
Rental Guarantee Insurance that protect a landlord from financial
loss if a tenant is unable to pay rent for 6 to 12 months, along
with offering the relevant legal advice. In addition, our own
research has shown that just one per cent of tenants have income
protection insurance, yet ten per cent have pet insurance and 14 per
cent have protected their mobile phones. In a tough economy with
high unemployment, there may well be more tenants struggling to pay
their rent over the coming months, so I'd also encourage them to
seek financial advice to avoid finding themselves out of work and
out of a home."
Used Cooking Oil is Liquid Gold
for Kids
A 3 month charity drive was launched today
which aims to donate money to the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
Imagine Appeal, whilst at the same time increasing Merseyside’s
green credentials. Veolia environmental Services and the Merseyside
Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) have teamed up with eco-firm
Living fuels to raise money for the Appeal, based on the volume of
oil recycled by Merseyside and Halton residents.
Residents are encouraged to take their used cooking oil to
collection tanks at any of Veolia’s 16 household waste recycling
centres in a bid to divert used waste oil from drains. Once
collected, the oil is taken to Living Fuels’ state-of-the-art
recycling facility and recovered naturally into an environmentally
friendly bioliquid, LF100. This bioliquid is then used in Living
Fuels’ renewable power stations to generate carbon neutral
electricity for the National Grid at times of unexpected power
demand, helping to lower the UK’s reliance on fossil fuel derived
energy generation.
Just 1 litre of used cooking oil can provide enough
renewable electricity to make 240 cups of tea, and one full tank can
power the average home for an entire year.
Paul Smyth, Contracts Manager of Veolia Environmental Services in
Merseyside and Halton said:- “We are proud to be turning a
national habit causing the UK an estimated £15 million per year in
removing pipe blockages into a fantastic way of raising money for a
worthy cause. It couldn’t be easier to recycle your used cooking
oil, just visit your local recycling centre where our on site
attendants will direct you to the container.”
Living Fuels’ Operations Director Rob Murphy said of the drive:-
“Living Fuels are delighted to be able to provide a way to raise
money for Alder Hey, whilst at the same time helping to reduce the
country’s dependency on fossil fuels. Personally, I was stitched up
more times than I can remember by the staff at Alder Hey, so I’m
glad to be able to finally show my gratitude!”
Chris Done, Head of Fundraising at the Imagine Appeal commented:-
“We are delighted to be the beneficiaries of this scheme. Not
only can residents support the Alder Hey’s young patients, they will
also be working toward providing all our children with a sustainable
environment for their futures.”
Opened in 1914, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, which houses the
biggest pediatric A&E ward in the country, cares for over 200,000
children each year and its 40 community outreach sites span a
catchment area of 7.6 million people. The Imagine Appeal aims to
make hospital stays for the children, and their families, as
pleasant and comfortable as possible.
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New lease to
inject fresh life into the North West high street!
ON 4 July 2012, RICS
launched a free small business retail lease to attract new and
independent retailers into vacant North West high street space.
The lease, developed in collaboration with the British Retail
Consortium (BRC) and authored by Nick Darby, SNR Denton UK LLP, has
been devised to simplify the often complex and time-consuming
process associated with commercial property leases.
The new, freely available contract will enable quicker occupation of
retail premises by SMEs, helping to support the independent retail
sector and stimulate the high street in the region, at a time when
latest figures from the BRC show town centre vacancy rates of 11.1
%.
Speakers including BIS Minister Baroness Wilcox, Alan Collett, RICS
President-Elect, and BRC Director of Business Tom Ironside welcomed
the introduction of this lease to the retail sector at the event,
which coincidded with America's national ‘Independents’ Day’,
a celebration of the UK’s independent retailers.
Paul Bagust, Associate Director, Professional Groups and Forums at
RICS said:- “In simplifying the leasing process for landlords
and small business tenants, we hope to support SMEs and provide a
boost to the high street in a time of decline. Moreover, by offering
mutually beneficial terms to landlords and tenants in a flexible
lease, we are directly addressing the principles of the Code for
Leasing Business Premises; identified in the Portas Review as a key
tool in tackling the high street’s decline.”
RICS North spokesperson, Jeff Pearey of Jones Lang LaSalle says:-
“The high street can be a tough place to trade, with property costs
a significant challenge for all but especially for independent
traders. Negotiating the complicated and sometimes costly process of
acquiring your first property is one hurdle that this proposed lease
effectively removes. National statistics show that more than 11% of
town centre retail properties are currently standing vacant. As well
as assisting individual retailers, this new lease will make it
quicker and easier to get those empty units back into use.”
The lease takes the form of an easy-to-use eight page proforma,
providing the tenant with fixed property costs and a clear picture
of the responsibilities they are signing up to. Intended for leases
of up to 5 years, it is a standalone short-term contract with no
rent review or break clause and includes flexible terms for
occupiers. Landlords will benefit from rental income on a previously
unoccupied space that can then re-establish its viability in the
market place. For both parties the costs of a long lease negotiation
process are significantly reduced.
In response to industry feedback, two versions of the lease have
been developed, one with security of tenure under the Landlord and
Tenant Act 1954 and one without. Under the Act tenants have the
right to renewal of the lease. In circumstances where this may not
be appropriate landlords should state at the start of negotiations
that the protection of the 1954 Act is to be excluded and encourage
tenants to seek early advice as to the implications.
To ensure the lease is understood and used correctly explanatory
notes for occupiers, surveyors, lawyers and landlords will be
published alongside the lease.
To freely download the lease and explanatory notes please visit:-
rics.org/smallbusinesslease.
It’s all back to
ours for Preston Guild homecoming!
THE Guild Mayor is going to
be hosting an International Reception for proud Prestonians
returning home to celebrate Preston Guild and enjoy a nostalgic
evening of Lancashire fayre, music and friendship. If
you are one of the many people making the trip home to Preston from
far flung places around the world, or even from other parts of the
UK, you are invited to join the Guild Mayor in this civic tradition,
dating back to 1952. Host families and friends are also welcome; the
more the merrier! The reception at the Guild Hall on Tuesday,
4 September 2012, is your opportunity to not only meet the Guild
Mayor, but to catch up with friends you may not have seen since the
last Guild – why not use this once every 20 years event to renew
those friendships or even make new ones? You will be offered
drinks on arrival, nibbles and entertainment by the Houghton
Weavers, Lancashire’s famous folk trio. Guild Mayor,
Councillor Carl Crompton, said:- “The International Reception
is one of the main highlights in the Guild calendar and a fantastic
way for those Prestonians no longer living in the area to reconnect
with Preston and their friends and families. I want 2012 to be the
people’s guild and this event focuses on all Prestonians; young and
old, those from around the corner or those from around the globe.”
Letters to
Editor:- "Calling all CSV volunteers"!
"IN 1962 Community Service
Volunteers (CSV) came to life placing its first full time volunteer
in a hostel for the homeless. We now help over 140,000 people
volunteer every year. Over the past 50 years we have supported
almost 3 million people make a difference by volunteering in their
local community. To celebrate our 50th Anniversary, we’re reaching
out to everyone who’s ever volunteered with CSV. We’re asking your
readers to get in touch so that we can update them on how we are
making a difference today and you can have the opportunity to tell
us your volunteer story so that it might inspire more people to
volunteer. We know that many people’s lives have been changed
through volunteering and we’d like them to help us do more. We ask
that your readers write to us at the address below or contact us by
email,
or have a look at ‘Volunteer Voices’ on our
website which you can find more
about us and how they can help." |
