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SAFEagent Awareness Week is a national campaign running through this week to highlight the importance of Client Money Protection Schemes.

It appeals to landlords and tenants to only use an agent that has a Client Money Protection Scheme in place.

The appeal comes as official statistics show that home ownership is in decline and more people are turning to the private rented sector for their homes.

In support of the campaign, letting specialist Leaders is urging all tenants and landlords to look for the SAFEagent logo, an easily identifiable mark to immediately see that their money is protected.

Leaders’ Technical & Compliance Director, Carole Charge said: "Having set standards of best practice in lettings over the last 29 years, we are well recognised within the industry for our financial probity and are pleased to be members of SAFEagent and to promote SAFEagent Awareness Week.

"However, we would also like the public to be aware that being a trustworthy letting agent is about more than just protecting clients’ money. A letting agent should also be experienced, knowledgeable and competent to let and manage property with a thorough understanding of the complex legislation surrounding letting."

Leaders points out that last year the Government confirmed it had no plans to regulate letting agents and therefore landlords and tenants needed to be wary when choosing their letting agent. The firm argues that the protection of client money is not the only issue.

Charge said: "As well protecting its clients' money, you also need to be sure that your agent will let the property safely, comply with all the legislation and protect your interests as a landlord or tenant during your tenancy. Getting it wrong can have dire consequences for landlords, including huge legal expenses, loss of rent, financial penalties and even custodial sentences for not complying with legislation. For tenants it can literally be a matter of life and death if legislation regarding the safety of the property and its contents is not complied with, for example gas, electrical and fire safety regulations.

"Being a SAFEagent does not in itself guarantee an agent’s competence, which is why our advice to landlords and tenants is to only use an agent with many years experience, a good reputation, client money protection and above all, membership of a professional body such as ARLA, NAEA or RICS. These organisations are self-regulating and ensure that member agents comply with a rigorous code of conduct."

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New research reveals extreme measures some Brits take to squeeze into their homes and highlights what people really want and need from their homes

The vacuum cleaner stored at Mum’s house a 20 minute drive away; BOGOF supermarket food deals kept in the boot of the car; these are just two of the real-life examples of how some British households are constrained by the design of their homes.

Some homeowners are not just in need of storage space for seasonal or nostalgic possessions such as an artificial Christmas tree or their old wedding dress, but their homes lack space to store very basic household items, which means ironing boards, recycling bins and even food are being stored in surprisingly inventive ways.

More storage space is one of eight key features that people need when choosing a home as revealed in a new Ipsos MORI research report published for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

The RIBA Ipsos MORI report ‘The Way we live now: What people need and expect from their homes’ is a ground-breaking piece of research that provides the only national evidence base setting out how people are using their homes now, what they look for when choosing a home and what they think needs to happen to improve the home-buying experience. The report, the first of its kind for over 50 years, will be used as evidence by the Future Homes Commission, a national inquiry that is currently developing recommendations for how houses should be designed and delivered in future. It will provide policy makers, house designers and builders much-needed consumer evidence to ensure that new homes are good quality and fit for modern households.

The eight key features that people need and want from their homes today, as revealed by the RIBA/Ipsos MORI report, are:

1. Long-term and short-term storage for functional items, and for personal possessions people have chosen to keep during their lives

2. Dedicated space for domestic utility tasks, such as vacuum cleaners, washing, drying and ironing clothes as well as storing rubbish and recycling

3. Large windows for natural light, large rooms and high ceilings – these are typically referred to as ‘period features’. A ‘sense of space’ is vital to people’s wellbeing, and expectations of a new home are often shaped by the homes we have lived in previously.

4. Large main living area - for social functions such as eating and entertaining and relaxing. People typically prefer to have an element of open-plan layout to accommodate entertaining friends or family, regardless of age or lifestyle.

5. Layouts which take into account technology used within the home - we want our homes to have enough sockets and storage for technology to enable us to arrange furniture and rooms in different layouts.

6. Space for private time away from other members of the household – across all age groups, and especially where generations live together, private space makes an important contribution to our sense of wellbeing within our homes. Noise reduction within and between households is also essential.

7. Private space outside or access to green public space in urban locations – this is important for wellbeing for all, and particularly crucial for families; parents like a safe place for children to play outside.

8. Options for different home layouts. Despite some universal needs such as flexible space to entertain and socialise, there were different needs and expectations according to the life stage or the size and age of households and families, which meant that there was no single, standard layout that would cater for all people.

The research also reveals how people choose a home and how they think the house buying experience should be improved.

People find it challenging choosing a home and find it difficult to understand and compare space between homes. Emotional considerations – such as the ‘feel’ of a home - and the desperation to get on the housing ladder can overrule practical considerations such as ‘where can I store the vacuum cleaner?’ or ‘where will the rubbish bin go?’

Through this research, it is revealed that consumers would like the following improvements to the home buying experience:

1. An independent, cross-professional body to regulate the quality of, and provide free information about new-build homes

The quality of new homes - the quality of building materials, fixtures and fittings (including noise reduction and energy efficiency) – is the biggest concern. People also feel the bedrooms in many new homes are too small and want to see size regulation for rooms in new homes.

2. Free information to help homebuyers compare issues such as noise, light, safety and environmental performance

Consumers lack trust in estate agents and home builders to provide accurate information, and concluded that this improvement would be most appropriately delivered by an independent third party.

Harry Rich, RIBA Chief Executive said:

'It has been over half a century since a government-tasked committee researched how households live, yet the size and designs of homes being built now are still defined by that great but out-of-date report – from a time when we had sewing boxes in our living rooms and indoor toilets needed regulating.

'Until today there has been no evidence base that sets out how we are living now and what we want from our homes. This new research provides important evidence on which we can base some changes to the way our homes are designed, delivered, marketed and sold to us.'

Chief Executive of Ipsos MORI, Ben Page said:

'The research graphically shows just how cramped and poorly planned much of our housing is today, and the extraordinary lengths people go to cope with it. RIBA is absolutely right to draw attention to it'

Steven Lees, Director at SmartNewHomes said:
 
"Housebuilders want to build homes that are attractive and comfortable places to live and welcome feedback from buyers. Research shows that 17% of living space in older properties often goes unused, which translates to £34,000 of a £200,000 house going to waste. New homes are designed to make clever use of space and are intended to serve the needs of homeowners over the long term with rooms and areas that can be adapted depending on need. These include bonus rooms which can be used as quiet study spaces for young professionals or as additional bedrooms for growing families with 70% of buyers saying new homes better reflect their needs.”

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Rental values are rising faster than underlying house prices in many of the world’s leading cities as demand from domestic and international corporate tenants in an increasingly supply-constrained global residential real estate market, with Paris now the most expensive city for tenants. 

The Savills World Class Cities Index recorded an average rental rise of 2.3 per cent in the second half of 2011, compared to a rise of just 1% for capital values, with values in the ‘old world’ markets outperforming the ‘new world’ destinations with a 2.8 per cent increase compared to 1.8 per cent. 

Paris leapfrogged London to become the most expensive capital in which to rent accommodation for a basic ‘executive unit’ of staff, with rents now more than three times the price of Shanghai and Mumbai.  The star performer in the index was New York, with rental values rising 6.5 per cent in the first half of 2011 and a further 6.2 per cent in the second half of the year. 

The majority of new world cities saw reduced rental growth in the second half of the year.  The notable exception was Singapore, where rental values rose by 4.4 per cent in the first half of 2011 and a further 5.0 per cent in the second half of the year.  Here, the introduction of additional stamp duty for overseas buyers in December 2011 is likely to further benefit the rental market.  By contrast, other new world cities – notably Hong Kong, Moscow, Shanghai – saw rental growth slip in the second half of 2011.

“Rental levels are an indication of healthy market fundamentals in terms of occupier demand, and by this measure the markets of Paris, London, Hong Kong and New York look sound,” says Yolande Barnes, head of Savills residential research.  “The strong occupier demand in these cities and the relatively low capital values of Paris, London and New York (particularly when compared to Hong Kong) make them look fairly valued for investors – especially New York which ranks among the cheapest world class cities to buy.” 

Savills research has also analysed the costs of buying property in the world’s 10 leading global cities.  Their analysis reveals that in Shanghai and Mumbai the costs of buying and occupying are so high in relation to relatively low rents that they equate to over four years of rental costs.   In Singapore, the figure is around three years.

“Demand for owner-occupation in these markets is likely to fall at times when little or no capital growth is expected,” says Barnes.  “The result will no doubt be that the oriental new economies will become low-yielding, high volatility markets where the challenge will be to meet tenant demand to investor appetite for bringing forward supply.”

By contrast it takes just over six months renting in Moscow to cover the costs of buying in the city, and just over a year in London.  Along with Sydney these are markets where it may be more cost effective to buy than to rent.

“A key driver of rents in all our world class cities is corporate demand which can have a short term perspective.  Uncertainty surrounding the global economy and job security is leading more corporate employees, who might previously have bought, to rent.  

“We expect rent rises and high occupier demand to spur investor activity, as has already been seen in London, and for yields to move out in most of the locations monitored in our World Class index.”

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When it comes to selling a home, there are few do’s and don’t's that will significantly increase the chances of a quick sale.

Harrison Murray have some easy to follow tips, which have been tried and tested among its customers – not least the recent sellers of a Home Counties property that attracted 18 viewings leading to eight offers in just several days!

The independent estate agents and valuers – and National Association of Estate Agent members – suggest:
 
- In the first instance, choose your agent wisely. Talk to friends, scour the papers, get recommendations and visit agents to get a feel for their style and professionalism.
 
- Don’t necessarily choose the agent that suggests the highest value for your home, or one that offers the cheapest fee. If the fee is so cheap are they really interested in getting you the best price?
 
- Put yourself in a buyer’s position and be realistic about your pricing. The memories that make your home so valuable to you aren’t going to be shared by the new owner – they will be thinking about what they will change about the house.
 
- Get out and view some properties. Unless you know how much your next home will cost, how can you decide what to accept for your own? Think about the figure you are prepared to accept. Knowing this at the outset will help you to price your home competitively and also make negotiations with buyers more straightforward. Don't dismiss low offers without thinking them through; a swift sale may save you money in the long run.
 
- First impressions count. Look at the way your house is presented both inside and out. A fresh coat of paint can make all the difference. Tidy the front of your house and clean your front door. If you have a front garden make sure it is well maintained.
 
- The inside of your house should be as free from clutter as possible, and having a general tidy up will help in preparation for moving. Do all the small jobs you haven't got around to, such as changing that light bulb and fixing that squeaky door. If a potential buyer is undecided about your property it could be these small things that make the difference between a sale or them walking away.
 
Harrison Murray managing director Nick Salmon said: “Getting a property sold is a team effort between the agent and the seller so owners who show they’re sensible and keen to sell will always be at the forefront of the agent’s mind.”

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