Michael Parkes Surveyors

10/04/2025

Open storage yard available to let!
📍Medway, Rochester
✅Measure approx 2547 square feet
✅24 hour access
✅Fully fenced to height of 6 feet
✅£8250 per annum plus VAT
✅Direct connection with main roads

Do you need an accessible, secure storage space? Click the link in our bio or email [email protected] to contact us

09/10/2024

Compliance: EPC’s

What is an EPC?

An EPC is the Energy Performance Certificate for a property, in short, this shows how energy efficient the property is.
As a residential landlord, since 2018, you are required to ensure that your rental property has a rating of E and above. If it has a G or F rating, then you will need to ensure that you have an official government exemption in place.
How do I know if my property has an EPC?
You can check this quickly and easily on the government website an the link is below:
What is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)? | Rightmove Guides. An EPC lasts for 10 years when completed.
What if my EPC expires during the tenancy period?
You are required to ensure that you have a valid EPC for marketing a property either for rental or sales and if there are any mid tenancy changes. If your tenancy agreement is coming to an end for example and you are looking to resign a new tenancy then you will need to ensure that a valid EPC is in place.
Are the government making changes?
No date has yet been confirmed, but it is expected that by 2030, all rented properties will need to have an EPC rating of C and above.
The fines for landlords who do not comply can be in the region of £5,000 from the local authority.

If you are a landlord, or tenant and need advice on your EPC then give us a call on 01634 294994 and we will be happy to help.

08/10/2024

Compliance: right to rent checks.

Did you know that if you are a private landlord, it is your responsibility to check your tenants right to rent and ensure than an up-to-date check is kept on file at all times?
Many are not aware, but a driving licence cannot be used as ID for the purposes of the right to rent. If the tenant is of British origin, then you will need to see either their passport or birth certificate. The driving licence can then be used as their proof of address.
From June 2021 landlords have been required for tenants of any other nationality to see their passport, proof of address (dated in the last three months) and a right to rent share code. The share code can be obtained by the tenant from the government website and they will need their BRP card number for this.
The right to rent share code starts with a ‘R’ and is not to be confused with the right to work share code which starts with a ‘W’.
Once they give you the share code, you can do a quick check online against the code and their date of birth and it will provide you with a PDF document highlighting the expiry date of their right to rent. It is important to note the expiry date as you will need to re check again before then to ensure you remain compliant.
The fines for landlords who do not comply can be in the region of £10,000 per tenant.

If you are a landlord, or tenant and need advice on right to rent checks then give us a call on 01634 294994 and we will be happy to help.

07/10/2024

Compliance, compliance, compliance!

This week we are going to be looking at compliance for residential landlords and the importance of ensuring that you keep up to date with the ever-changing legislation.

Can you say that your property is 100% compliant and you would be confident for a spot check to be completed? If not, then why not? Not only are you compromising your tenants safety but also risking potential government fines that can run into the thousands and / or imprisonment, depending on the offence!

If you are not confident that you can stay up to date then now may be the time to appoint a residential property manager to do all the hard work for you! Call us on 01634 294994 to see how we could help, no property is too problematic.

Gas Safety Inspections:

Does your property have a gas boiler or any solid fuel burning appliances?

If so, then does your property have an in-date gas safety inspection and adequate CO2 alarms fitted?

Gas safety inspections should be completed every 12 months and a copy of the certificate provided to your tenant. A bit like a car MOT, gas engineers can often complete the check a month in advance retaining the previous date.

The check will also note carbon monoxide alarms which since October 2022 have become mandatory to have in each room with either a boiler, or solid fuel burning appliance.

But my boiler is new, do I still need to complete a certificate?
If your boiler is new then you can use the installation certificate for up to a year to act as the new gas safety certificate. However, if you have any other solid fuel burning appliances or even a gas hob in the property then this certificate will not cover them and a new gas safety certificate would still need to be completed.
This is a fact often missed when we speak to residential landlords, so don’t be caught out!

The fine for non-compliance of gas safety inspections can be up to £6,000 per appliance and/ or 6 months imprisonment.

02/10/2024

Our very own Managing Director, Denise Ford featured on Business Bunker Radio yesterday afternoon.

If you missed it and want to have a listen then go to the link below.
Denise explains everything Michael Parkes does as a company, from residential property management, block management to commercial sales, leases and valuations.

We are always open for a chat to see how we can help you too or to discuss the local market!

Give us call on 01634 294996

https://www.kentbusinessradio.co.uk/show-700/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFqAA1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHV9ca74Ys7UO13CNz15kJJa3g8oPx1QRa1oQkYZKy35gEUjpFpjAoAR92Q_aem_9eMshaCoRH1J5tEJAlxVdw

Part One – News & Events roundup with Paul & Jules https://Radiowebplayer.com/stations/tradingpost/shows/bb700p1.mp3 Part Two – Denise Ford https://radiowebplayer.com/stations/tradingpost/shows/bb700p2.mp3 1st October  Denise Ford Michael Parkes Chartered Surveyors Valuation, Property Managemen...

01/10/2024

How long should you wait for a management pack?

When selling your leasehold or freehold property on a private estate, you will need to obtain a management pack from your block managing agent. Amongst other documents, this will include either an LPE1 or FME1 form.

The cost and length of time the management pack takes to produce varies from company to company. However, you can anticipate it to take between 1 – 6 weeks. Therefore, ensuring that your conveyancer has asked for it early on in the sale is so important.

Here at Michael Parkes, we understand how stressful it is to buy and sell a property and want to ensure that we assist it in being as streamlined as possible. We pride ourselves with being able to produce management packs within a couple of days of payment and therefore well below the block management average.

30/09/2024

Are you ahead of the October utilities price increase?

From the 1st October 2024 (tomorrow!) energy rates in the UK are set to raise by 10%.

Some of the larger providers are still offering fixed rates at the current level which could save the average household in the region of £200 per year.

If you are in the position to, then why not fix in whilst you still can? Keep an eye on the deals that have no early exit fees so if prices do begin to decline you can refix again at a lower price.

Has your block manager checked your plan and fixed in your communal gas or electric plan? May be worth a quick phone call to check!

It is only 13 weeks until Christmas and I’m sure that everyone would agree that the extra money would be helpful given the current economical climate!

27/09/2024

Are you a developer who has just obtained a new site, or close to completion?

From experience, instructing a block managing agent early on is so important to ensure the understanding of the individual elements involved in managing your site.

Involving an agent as part of the build means that they are fully aware of all aspects of the site and accurate figures can be provided to potential purchasers for service charge amounts. The agent is then also able to assist in answering any questions and enquiries raised by the solicitor quickly and without delay and therefore reducing the sale process time.

26/09/2024

Does your block management agent attend your site?

Having your block managing agent attending your site regularly is so important to ensure continuous smooth running. If you haven’t seen your agent on site for a while, pop them a message to check when their last visit was and to see when they are planning to next attend.

If they are not attending, how will they identify any issues before they become big costly problems? This is especially important for sites that have properties primarily tenanted as often issues go unreported.

Our head of property management, Alice Smith is a regular face at all of our sites and is always more than happy for a chat in person.

If you are looking for a local, physically present block managing agent then give us a call on 01634 294994 for an initial chat and to see how we can help.

25/09/2024

Right to manage application recently completed?

Congratulations! You’ve succeed and have full control over your site including your budget and how much is spent on what.

But what’s next? Do you have all of your compliance in order? Have you check the fire alarm, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers, lift, etc to comply with the statutory requirements? These are now your responsibility as effectively the block manager.

This is where an block managing agent can come in, to point you in the right direction and help organise quotes and works for your approval to ensure you are compliant and save your precious time.

Give us a call on 01634 294994 to see how we can help.

24/09/2024

Being a resident management company director can be hard and time consuming work. Especially when having to chase service charge arrears, organising contractors, and having difficult conversations with fellow leaseholders and neighbours.

Do you feel like you no longer have the time for all of the admin alongside your day job? This is where a really good block managing agent can help you.

Here at Michael Parkes, we understand that every site is different and so we can be as involved as you like. Our services are fully flexible and we can tailor these to you.

Give us a call on 01634 294994 for a no obligation chat to see how we can help you.

23/09/2024

As the temperatures begin to drop, it’s crucial to test your heating system to ensure it operates efficiently and effectively when you need it most. Before the cold truly sets in, take the time to turn on your heating system and set it to a comfortable temperature.

Check for any unusual noises, listen for potential issues with the blower or thermostat, and verify that the heat is distributed evenly throughout your space. If you encounter any problems or suspect a malfunction, it’s best to call a professional for maintenance or repairs before the winter chill arrives, ensuring your home stays warm and cozy throughout the season.

If you are a residential landlord, it is worth asking your tenant to test the heating system now. This will save you potential time and money in emergency contractor costs!