All you need to know about property in Gosport

Last time out we focused our attentions on Havant. This time we focus on another busy Hampshire town where ChimneyPots operates: Gosport.

The area 

A very popular commuter hub, Gosport is located on a peninsula on the western side of Portsmouth Harbour. It is situated directly opposite the City of Portsmouth, a place famous for its historic dockyard, its football team, its old town and its maritime prowess (it is home to the Mary Rose, HMS Warrior and Lord Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory).

The two are linked by the Gosport Ferry, which runs frequent services and takes between 7 and 15 minutes depending on the time of day.

The natural, untouched beauty of the New Forest and the South Downs is on Gosport’s doorstep, offering ample opportunity for walking, running, cycling, days out and summer picnics.

Gosport’s town centre, located close by to the Ferry and the waterfront, is largely pedestrianised and is home to a wide range of shops and a bustling street market every Tuesday and Saturday.

On these days the high street is full to the brim with stalls selling everything from arts and crafts and flowers to clothing and local produce, with the market catering to all kinds of tastes. Throughout the year, specialised markets also pop up.

The shops on the high street range from chain stores and hair & beauty salons, to charity shops, pubs, mini-supermarkets, betting stores and two travel agents.

There are also a number of independent, local stores, selling everything from cakes and sweets to fishing tackles and old vinyl records.

As for property in Gosport, it’s a good mix of terraced, semi-detached, bungalows, maisonettes, new builds and one and two-bed flats.

The area can definitely be considered an affordable location in which to buy, with an average two-bed terraced home costing you around £190,000 and a 3-bed semi setting you back around £230,000.

In other words, considerably cheaper than London and other parts of the South East. Rents are also reasonable, with a nicely furnished two-bed apartment or flat costing tenants between £550 and £800pcm.

Things to do

Portsmouth, with all that city has to offer, is very close by, but Gosport has plenty to keep people entertained as well.

The town is a home to a number of fantastic museums, none more so than HMS Alliance, a Royal Navy Submarine Museum that has recently benefitted from a £7m refit. There is also Explosion! The Museum of Naval Firepower, an award-winning museum housed in 18th-century buildings on the waterfront, while the Diving Museum is also a family-friendly gem.

Fort Brockhurst, a 19th-century fortress with a moated keep, is one of Gosport’s most iconic landmarks – and well worth a visit (entry is free) – while the town also has a wide range of leisure activities available at various venues.

Monkey Bizness Indoor Play Centre is the ideal place for young kids to burn off all that excess energy, whereas those looking for peace, quiet and picturesque walks should head to the Alver Valley country park.

All over, Gosport is best explored by foot. The 3km long Waterfront Trail not only provides stunning views of Portsmouth Harbour, it also takes you past many of the town’s best museums and allows you to experience the hustle and bustle of Gosport’s thriving marina.

Food & Drink

Gosport is a haven for keen foodies, with a wide range of restaurants, bars and pubs. The best of the pubs is the, ahem, interestingly named “The Fighting Cocks”, which is a good old-fashioned local boozer with great home-cooked food, an excellent array of ales, friendly staff and a large beer garden that comes into its own in the summer.

TK snak is arguably the best café in town, although Lakeside Café & Bar might have something to say about that.

Arty’s at the Coach House – offering a mixture of Italian cuisine and pub grub – and The New Bengal are other popular local establishments, while Bobby’s Italian and Sapori are the place to go for pizza.

As expected of a town close to the sea, there are also many great places in which to get some fresh-tasting, deliciously authentic fish & chips. Pebbles Fish & Wine Bar, for something a bit different, and Karen’s Plaice or Smart Fish Bar, for something a bit more traditional, are the best places to go on a Friday evening.  

Transport

Gosport has the dubious honour of being the largest town in Britain without an operational train station. However, Portsmouth Harbour station is a short ferry trip away, while Fratton and Portsmouth & Southsea stations are also close by.

Further to this, Gosport’s numerous road and bus links more than make up for a lack of a train station.  
Southampton Airport is a 42 minute drive away, with flights to destinations all across Europe.

Gosport is primarily a dormitory town and, as well as excellent links to Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester and other major areas on the South Coast, has good connections to London, making the town a viable location for commuters working in the capital.

You can get to London Waterloo from Portsmouth Harbour in 1hr 39m, while Southampton can be reached by train in just over an hour.

Here at ChimneyPots we will do all we can to get your Gosport property sold or let. For more info please get in contact with us on 01489 584298.

Alternatively, to find out how much your property could be worth in Gosport (or how much you could rent it out for), check out our free and instant valuation tools.

All you need to know about Havant

As estate agents working across the South of England, we operate in a number of major towns and cities in the region. One of which is Havant. Here we give the lowdown on one of Hampshire’s busiest commuter hubs…

Havant

Situated roughly midway between Portsmouth and Chichester, Havant is a thriving, well-connected market town with excellent transport links to London and easy access to the coast and sea.

Havant borough also includes the smaller towns of Waterlooville and Langstone Harbour, as well as the popular holiday resort of Hayling Island (think amusement arcades, shingle beaches, fish & chip shops, funfairs, olde worlde pubs, etc.).

The serene beauty of the South Downs – with its rolling hills and chalk downland – is right on the doorstep, while nearby Emsworth is known for its culinary delights and relaxing country or seaside walks.    

Havant’s town centre dates from Roman times and is characterised by fine Georgian architecture and narrow, weaving footpaths known as “Twittens”.

The town has a twice weekly market (every Tuesday and Saturday) and is also home to the Meridian Shopping Centre, where high-street favourites and smaller, independent stores combine to make it the ideal location for keen shoppers.

From a property perspective, you are mainly looking at detached, semi-detached and terraced homes, as well as flats in old council housing and various new-build developments.

Prices fall into the affordable bracket for buyers, with an average property price of around £325,000 and plenty of homes in the £100,000-£250,000 range.

By contrast, the average rent in Havant currently stands at £741 per month, giving the town good appeal to a wide range of renters (of all ages and demographics).


Things to do

Staunton Country Park is a firm family favourite (and perfect for kids of all ages). There is more than enough to keep the little ones busy, with 1,000 acres of parkland to explore, friendly farm animals to feed and George’s play barn, with toddler soft play, climbing walls, bridges, slides, fireman poles and all other sorts of fun.

Keen walkers may enjoy the 13-mile Staunton Way – ending at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park in the South Downs – while nearby Hayling Island offers seaside charm and the chance to enjoy unspoilt beaches, watersports and various walking, cycling and running routes.

The idyllic little fishing village of Emsworth is a great place to spend a day – particularly for those who are into their food and art – while Langstone Harbour is a quiet, tranquil and picturesque delight and the perfect place to get away from the hectic nature of modern life.

For culture vultures, there is The Spring in Havant – an arts and heritage centre offering an eclectic programme of plays, music, films, comedy gigs, events, exhibitions, visual arts and interactive workshops.

Food & drink

You won’t go hungry in Havant, that’s for sure. Whether it’s pub grub, gourmet fare, street food, cakes and coffee from stylish cafés or good old-fashioned fish & chips (eaten straight from the bag, of course!), Havant caters to all tastes.

The town does a fine line in traditional tea rooms – 19 Fourteas Tearoom and Lavender Tearooms are both a delight – while the best British fare can be found at The Wheelwrights Arms.
Laura’s Kitchen is one of the best places for cakes and sandwiches, Aroma Oriental Restaurant offers wonderfully authentic Chinese cuisine and the Red Chilli will please lovers of Bangladeshi food.

Transport

As we said before, Havant is very well-connected and a good place for commuters and young professionals to set up base. Havant station serves both London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour.
It also offers services to London Victoria via Gatwick Airport, Brighton, Littlehampton and Southampton, as well as long-distance routes to the West Country and Wales (although these are much less frequent).

Havant is also well-served by road and buses. Services from Havant bus station go to Fareham, Hayling Island, Brighton, Southsea and Waterlooville. The A3 and A37 are nearby major road links, providing good access to Portsmouth, the South Downs and more.

Southampton Airport can be reached in under 30 minutes, while Gatwick Airport takes just over an hour by train and about 1 hour 15 minutes by car.

At ChimneyPots we will do all we can to get your property sold whether you live in Havant, Portsmouth, Southampton, Chichester or any of the other areas we operate in.
For more information please get in touch with us on: 01489 584298. Or, to find out how much your property could be worth in the current marketplace, check out our free instant online valuation tool.

Could solar panels help to sell my Portsmouth and Southampton home?

Southampton and Portsmouth are both areas where property is selling fast and for increasingly higher prices, as demand continues to grow in these areas.

Even in this already buoyant market, sellers should always be open to new ways of improving their home’s value and the chances of selling quickly.

One way of increasing the buzz around your home is to install solar panels.

With spring and summer on the horizon, it’s not only already a popular time of year to sell your home, but these seasons can be the most profitable for homeowners with solar panels.

By 2020, it has been predicted that solar power will produce around 6% of the UK’s annual electricity, stretching to as much of 40% on sunny days in coastal locations such as Portsmouth and Southampton.

If you’re considering selling your property and want to make your home more attractive to buyers, then investing in solar panels could be beneficial as they use sunlight to generate clean, renewable energy for the homeowner.

Installing the panels isn’t too much hard work either. The average solar panel installation will cost around the £6,000 mark – half of what it would have cost four years ago and still falling.

Although this isn’t the cheapest way of improving your property’s value, it has been estimated that solar panels could add around £16,000 to the sale price of the average home.

Not only are solar panels now cheaper to install, they are also slowly overcoming the perception that they are an eyesore as designs get sleeker and these days they require minimal maintenance once installed.

Solar panels can be quite the money-maker for buyers in the long-term, too, with many monetary benefits attached to having them – perks which sellers with panels must highlight when marketing their home.

Home owners with solar panels will also benefit from access to a Feed-In Tariff. This is an ongoing payment whereby the government offers owners monetary rewards for creating green energy, providing the buyer with a small but regular income.

That said, buyers and sellers should be aware that the amount of money gained from the tariff has recently been capped at 4.4%, but this venture could still be profitable over the long-term, especially now the installation costs for panels have dropped.

Not only do solar panels provide home owners with a Feed-In Tariff, they also contribute towards reducing energy bills.

If you’ve got panels, we’d advise that when a prospective buyer does come to visit, you show them a selection of energy bills, both from before and after the solar panel installation, to demonstrate the savings which can be achieved.

Additionally, having a property which generates its own renewable energy will also lower your property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) grade – something which will have increased importance if you’re thinking of letting it in the next few years.

Here at ChimneyPots, we have helped to sell properties with solar panels before and are able to succinctly convey the advantages to the prospective buyers during viewings.

If you would like tips or advice on how to best market a home with solar panels, or any other Portsmouth or Southampton property guidance, then don’t hesitate to get in touch today.

If you would like to find out how much your property is worth, you can also use our free online property valuation tool.

Let property in Southampton – one of the UK’s ‘coolest’ cities

Not only is Southampton a great buy-to-let investment location, but research from home furnishing company Web-Blinds has named the city as one of the coolest in the country; an indication of its appeal for potential buyers and renters alike. 

This comes as no surprise to us here at ChimneyPots, as we've been successfully letting property in this fantastic location for many years.

Southampton has steadily become an investor hotspot and a place where landlords can flourish and grow their rental portfolio, thanks to an overspill of demand from those who are struggling to get on the housing ladder.

The south coast hotspot is also a superb place to invest in property as average prices here aren’t too steep either. Meanwhile, the average rental return for landlords in the area stands at £1,323pcm; higher than the typical figure across the UK.

In the recent study, Southampton was named as one of the UK’s ‘coolest’ cities alongside Manchester and Brighton. The study was based on how metropolitan an area's lifestyle is as well as its attractiveness to renters.

A high proportion of the city’s population falls into the 18-35 demographic. Many of these residents are young professionals – a group who are extremely likely to be living in the Private Rented Sector (PRS). This really is encouraging news for landlords who are considering letting their property in Southampton.

Southampton is also home to the headquarters of several blue chip companies and its own airport – again great for professional tenants in the area.

Having two top quality universities means Southampton is now also home to a high student population – another indicator of its 'cool' status.

If there is a high proportion of students living in a city – it is likely to mean that it has an attractive social scene – and it's been reported that Southampton is one of the top five cities in the UK with the most bars and art galleries per 10,000 people.

Therefore, if you’re a landlord who is unsure of where to invest in the UK, starting a buy-to-let portfolio in Southampton, or any of the southern lettings hotspots which we operate in here at ChimneyPots, is guaranteed to provide you with great returns and minimal void periods.

If you have any questions about letting property in Southampton, or any of the other southern locations, then get in touch with our team of trained property experts today.

Alternatively, we also offer landlords the opportunity to discover how much rent they could potentially obtain from a property with our free online rental valuation.

http://chimneypotsestateagent.co.uk/let-property-in-southampton-one-of-the-uks-coolest-cities/

What makes buyers fall in love with your home?

Love really is in the air when it comes to buying property, as it's been revealed that 56% of Brits made an offer on a home simply because they fell in love with it.

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, a survey by My Home Move has revealed that women fall in love with a property more easily than men. Some 59% claiming that it was the reason for choosing a property, with men slightly less at 51%.

There are several factors which can encourage potential buyers to fall in love with a home, and if Southampton and Portsmouth property sellers are savvy, then they will ensure that theirs is marketed towards enticing those buyers.

Unsurprisingly, according to the study, the number one factor which can encourage a buyer to fall in love is a property’s location, which, like love, is outside of a seller’s control.

However, there are things you can do to tap into a buyers' requirements and expectations.

When a buyer arrives for a viewing, explain the location and its surroundings, including transport links and access to local amenities.

For those purchasing Southampton and Portsmouth property, it's worth letting them know of the great transport links we have to the capital, as well as both cities' close proximity to the New Forest National Park and South Downs National Park.

Property price is the second most popular factor causing buyers to fall in love with a home. This should remind you how crucial it is that your property is priced correctly and current market conditions are taken into account – something an estate agent like ChimneyPots is useful for.

Our professional property experts can provide you with an accurate valuation, but in the meantime if you’d like to discover how much your property could be worth in an instant, then obtain a free online property valuation today.

When buyers come to view your property, it’s also worth informing them not only of the price that it is on the market for, but its potential for growth in the coming years.

No buyer will want to purchase a property which isn’t expected to see a price rise and this shouldn’t be a problem for Southampton or Portsmouth buyers as in the last year alone, prices have risen by over 4% in both locations, according to Zoopla.

It seems us Brits also have an established love affair with a fantastic garden, after it came third in the list of things which make buyers fall in love with a property.

Therefore, if you’re marketing a property for sale with a garden, then you’re on to a winner, but only if it’s in great condition.

Tidying up the garden may not be your number one priority throughout the winter months, but it has the potential not only to increase the price of your property, but to attract more buyers to view your home.

Mow the lawn, plant some winter-friendly plants and you’ll ensure your garden is a sure-fire hit with visitors.

Having a superbly designed interior can also cause buyers to fall in love with your Southampton or Portsmouth home.

Giving your home a fresh lick of paint, putting down new flooring and updating the fixtures and fittings are all things which show buyers that you care, while also helping them to envisage living there in the future.

Ultimately, it is an estate agent’s job to ensure that plenty of buyers fall in love with your home, and if this sounds like something you require help with then don’t hesitate to get in touch with the property experts at ChimneyPots Estate Agents today. 

http://chimneypotsestateagent.co.uk/what-makes-buyers-fall-in-love-with-your-home/

New Year’s resolutions for Southampton and Portsmouth landlords

So we’re a few weeks into January, and for many of us, those New Year’s resolution promises seem a world away.

Whether you’ve managed to stick to your personal resolutions or have already cracked, we have a few New Year’s resolutions for landlords to ensure a successful 2016.

Be on the look-out for high-quality tenants

Whether you’re a first-time landlord entering the industry, or a seasoned landlord looking for your next batch of tenants, finding high quality tenants is of paramount importance. When letting your property you're allowing someone access to one of your most valuable assets, so it’s crucial that the right people are chosen.

Now this can be done on your own, or you could instead employ the services of an experienced Southampton and Portsmouth letting agent. Here at ChimneyPots we have an extensive tenant-screening process, ensuring we obtain a collection of references for each and every tenant, as well as ensuring that their deposit is protected.

Furthermore, in Southampton and Portsmouth tenant demand is extremely high, with young professionals, families and retirees just some of the demographics choosing to rent in these areas, giving you the opportunity to choose the cream of the crop.

Don’t be kept in the dark when it comes to legislative changes

In 2015, several key changes to the lettings industry were announced, shaking up proceedings for landlords. It can be difficult to keep up, but it’s crucial that you are compliant. February 1^st is when Right to Rent checks come in to play for Southampton and Portsmouth landlords; this means you must check whether new tenants have the legal right to rent property in the UK.

Landlords must also be aware that they are now required to have at least one smoke alarm on each storey of let properties and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room containing a fuel-burning appliance. Alongside this, landlords need also to be aware that they will be unable to claim the traditional 10% wear-and-tear tax allowance on furnished lettings from April this year.

Don’t get complacent with repairs

It can be easy to neglect a rental property once tenants have been found, but it’s crucial that your tenant’s don’t feel forgotten about.

Make sure you or your letting agent pay your rental property a visit regularly. If you see little niggly issues with the property, do not leave it to escalate, but get the problem sorted quickly and efficiently. A quick response to issues will work in your favour when tenants are weighing up whether they will renew their tenancy.

Get organised

If ever there’s a time to get your admin in order, it’s at the start of a fresh year. Start the year off by completing the dreaded and arduous task of completing your year’s tax return before the January 31^st deadline, if you haven’t already done so.

Also, an organised landlord is often a successful landlord, so now is the time to locate your important documents such as completion statements, invoices of work carried out, mortgage statements, copies of an inventory; and ensure they are in order and kept together.

If this all sounds like too much hassle, and something which you don’t have time for, then letting agent ChimneyPots have experience in handling all things letting-related, and can manage as little or as much of the letting process as you require.

If you would like to have a chat with us about how we can help you kick-start the lettings process, then why not get in touch with us today?

Alternatively, we offer free online rental valuations, enabling you to discover how much rent your property could generate in rents each month at the click of a button. 

http://chimneypotsestateagent.co.uk/new-years-resolutions-for-southampton-and-portsmouth-landlords/

Why landlords must get themselves in gear for Right to Rent

Your minds may be awash with all things Christmas, but post-festivities, one of the biggest things that will be on landlords' minds will be ensuring that they are ready for the Right to Rent scheme.

Part of the Immigration Act 2014, the Right to Rent scheme – which requires landlords or their agents to check the immigration status of prospective tenants – was originally implemented across the West Midlands.

After this initial pilot project, the government announced in October that the scheme will be rolled out nationwide, meaning landlords in southern UK locations such as Portsmouth and Southampton, which estate and letting agent Chimneypots Estate Agents operate in, will have to comply.

Right to Rent requires landlords or their letting agents to check the immigration status of any adult who is about to or is currently living in one of the landlord’s rental properties.

The purpose of the scheme is to ensure that all tenants are authorised to rent in the UK. Ways of checking the tenants vary, but a passport, birth certificate or an identity card are likely to be the most common identification documents used.

This new law is set to come into force on February 1^st, and applies to all residential tenancies. It’s important for landlords to be aware not only of the adults living in the property, but to be wary of any children who could be about to turn 18 and therefore become classed as an adult living in the property. 

At the moment, February 1st may seem way off. However, landlords are being advised that checks begin to be completed 28 days before the February deadline to allow for any hiccups.

Therefore, ensuring you implement the checks into your routine within good time should be your number one New Year's resolution. Getting the right documents and making sure that they are verified and that you have copies takes time, so get cracking!

Failure to complete these crucial checks won’t just lead to a slap on the wrist, either. There will be serious consequences for landlords that don’t comply. Any offending landlords could receive a fine of up to £3,000 per illegal tenant living in their property. For repeat offenders, criminal action may also be taken.

When letting a property is done well, it’s a highly profitable venture; so ensure you don’t lose out by failing to complete these checks accurately.

A lot of responsibility now lies with landlords, and if this sounds like a lot of extra work then don’t fear. Landlords are able to hand the responsibility of the Right to Rent checks over to their local letting agent such as Chimneypots.

If this is something that interests you, it’s crucial that a written agreement is constructed between the two parties so that the area of responsibility is crystal clear.

At Chimneypots, we’re a team of property experts who are skilled in obtaining this kind of data quickly and accurately. If you would like us to take charge of this part of the rental process, then get in touch with us today.

If you have any questions regarding any part of the letting process, then we’re also on-hand to help.

We also offer landlords the chance to find out just how much rent they could earn from their property with our free instant online valuation, try it today! 

http://chimneypotsestateagent.co.uk/why-landlords-must-get-themselves-in-gear-for-right-to-rent/