Accord Sales & Lettings - Selling and letting homes in Havering

Accord Sales & Lettings - Selling and letting homes in Havering Family run estate agency proudly serving Romford, Hornchurch & Upminster since 2008

Accord is an independent family run estate agency with offices in Romford and Upminster offering property sales, residential lettings and management throughout Havering and surrounding areas. Accord are proud to provide a friendly, helpful service based on sound knowledge and experience. We understand that effective communication is vital and we are here to guide buyers, sellers, landlords and ten

ants alike through the complicated sales and lettings processes. To provide our clients with total peace of mind, Accord is a fully Licensed Member of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) and the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and are regulated by The Property Ombudsman Scheme.

We always aim for 5-star service, and it’s great to hear we’re getting it right. Thanks so much for your feedback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐...
19/06/2026

We always aim for 5-star service, and it’s great to hear we’re getting it right. Thanks so much for your feedback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🏡 How to Choose the Right Conveyancer and Speed Up Your Sale or PurchaseThe conveyancer you choose can have a huge impac...
19/06/2026

🏡 How to Choose the Right Conveyancer and Speed Up Your Sale or Purchase

The conveyancer you choose can have a huge impact on how smoothly your move progresses. Here are our top tips:

⏰ Start Early

Don't wait until you've agreed a sale. Start researching conveyancers as soon as you decide to sell or begin house hunting.

🤝 Ask for Recommendations

Recommendations are often the best place to start. Comparison websites can also help you compare costs and reviews.

📋 Know Your Options

You can choose between:

• A solicitor who handles conveyancing
• A licensed conveyancer

Both can manage your property transaction, but solicitors can also deal with wider legal matters such as probate or divorce.

📍 Local vs Online

A local firm may cost a little more but usually offers:

✔️ A named contact
✔️ A local office
✔️ A more personal service

Online conveyancing services can be cheaper but are often less personal.

🚩 Watch for Red Flags

If a firm is slow to provide a quote or doesn't respond at all, take note. First impressions often reflect the service you'll receive throughout the transaction.

💷 Understand the Costs

Ask for a written quote showing:

• Legal fees
• Disbursements (searches, bank transfer fees, etc.)
• Whether it's a "no sale, no fee" service

🏦 Check Your Lender's Panel

If you're buying with a mortgage, make sure your conveyancer is approved by your lender. If not, delays can follow.

📞 Help Keep Things Moving

Once instructed:

• Give their details to your estate agent
• Return documents promptly
• Complete ID and source-of-funds checks quickly
• Respond to enquiries as soon as possible

🔑 The Bottom Line

Conveyancing can be time-consuming, but choosing the right professional and staying organised can make the process far smoother.

✅ Estate Agency Done Ethically

We're proud members of the Ethical Agent Network (EAN), an independent organisation that assesses agents against strict standards of honesty, service and professionalism.

We're the only local agency to have passed the EAN assessment.

📩Thinking of selling, switching agents, or simply need advice? We'd love to help.

18/06/2026

🏡 What if estate agency wasn't just about selling houses?

I've always believed that businesses should give something back.

So if I have a choice between spending thousands on traditional advertising or supporting a local charity, youth team, or community project, I'll choose the community every time. 💙

Don't get me wrong, marketing is important. But I'd much rather see money helping local people than disappearing into a billboard campaign that nobody remembers a week later.

Over the years, we've supported local sports teams ⚽, charities ❤️, and community initiatives because they're the organisations that make Havering a better place to live.

Yes, it helps people learn who we are. But more importantly, it helps good causes continue doing what they do best.

For me, that's a far better investment.

Because the strongest businesses aren't built on advertising budgets. They're built on trust, relationships, and being part of the community they serve.

💬 What local charity, club, or organisation deserves a shout-out? Tag them below 👇

🏦 What Today’s Interest Rate Decision Means for YouWith the World Cup in full swing ⚽, today’s Bank of England update ma...
18/06/2026

🏦 What Today’s Interest Rate Decision Means for You

With the World Cup in full swing ⚽, today’s Bank of England update may not dominate headlines, but it still matters for the property market.

The Bank of England has held interest rates at 3.75% 📊. No major shift, but it reinforces a period of stability.

🏡 Sellers
Little immediate change. Buyers are now used to higher borrowing costs and are still moving for real-life reasons: more space, downsizing, relocation, or lifestyle changes. Pricing and presentation still matter most.

👩‍💼 Buyers
A rate hold brings stability
It helps with budgeting and mortgage planning, even if rates are not falling yet. Many buyers are choosing to move forward rather than wait for uncertain cuts.

🏘️ Landlords
Some reassurance. While costs and regulations remain, a steady rate environment reduces uncertainty and helps longer-term planning.

🏠 Tenants
Indirect impact, but important. Stable conditions for landlords help support rental supply, though demand is still high in many areas.

📊 Life Goes On
Markets move, but life doesn’t stop. People still buy, sell, rent and invest regardless of rate decisions. Timing the “perfect moment” often means missing good opportunities.

✅ Ethical Estate Agency
We’re proud members of the Ethical Agent Network, focused on honest, straightforward advice.

📞If you’re thinking about moving or investing, we’re here to help.

🏡 Survey Results Scared Your Buyer Off? Here's What to Do NextThe survey came back. Your buyer has gone quiet, or worse,...
17/06/2026

🏡 Survey Results Scared Your Buyer Off? Here's What to Do Next

The survey came back. Your buyer has gone quiet, or worse, they're talking about pulling out.

Take a breath. This happens more often than you'd think, and it doesn't have to mean the end of your sale.

🔍 Don't Assume the Worst

Surveyors are paid to be thorough. Their job is to flag everything, from a cracked roof tile to a slightly damp corner in the garage.

A long report doesn't automatically mean serious problems.

Read it carefully and separate:
✔️ Urgent issues
✔️ Items to monitor

They're not the same thing.

💷 Get Your Own Quotes

Don't let survey wording determine the cost.

Get two or three independent quotes for any flagged work. You may find repairs cost far less than the survey suggests.

Real figures are far more useful than vague references to "significant remedial work."

⚖️ Know Your Options

Once you have the quotes, you generally have three choices:

• Fix the issue before completion
• Reduce the price to reflect the cost of the works
• Hold firm if the issue is minor and your price remains fair

The right option depends on the size of the issue, your buyer's position, and your timescales.

💬 Keep Talking

A quiet buyer isn't always a lost buyer.

They may simply be waiting to see how you respond.

A calm, constructive reply can often bring them back to the table and keep the sale moving.

🤝 Lean on Your Agent

This is where a good local agent earns their fee.

They can help manage buyer concerns, negotiate fairly, and prevent a sale from falling apart unnecessarily.

✅ Estate Agency Done Ethically

We're proud members of the Ethical Agent Network (EAN), a national group of independently assessed agents committed to honesty, professionalism, service, and community care.

📞Want advice on navigating survey negotiations? Get in touch, we're here to help.

16/06/2026

🚨 A broken property chain nearly stopped five families from moving… but that’s where the real work began. 🏡

A lot of people think estate agency is about putting a property on Rightmove and waiting for the phone to ring.

Honestly? That’s the easy bit.

Recently, we were dealing with a chain where the buyer lost their buyer halfway through the transaction. Suddenly, five separate moves were hanging in the balance.

🇸🇪 One family was relocating to Sweden.
🎒 Another had children due to start at a new school.
📅 And for tax reasons, contracts absolutely had to exchange within six weeks.

At that point, the whole chain could have collapsed.

Instead, we acted fast. 💪

We remarketed the property immediately, secured a new buyer in under a week, and coordinated every moving part of the transaction. Solicitors, mortgage brokers, searches, updates, phone calls, emails, it was all hands on deck. 📞📄

The result?

✅ New buyer found in under a week
✅ Chain saved
✅ Contracts exchanged in under five weeks

That’s what good estate agency looks like. Not just selling homes, but solving problems, communicating relentlessly, and keeping calm when everyone else is stressed.

💬 If you're planning a move and want an agent who’ll genuinely fight your corner when things get complicated, send us a message.

🏠 What's the Single Biggest Worry Landlords Have?Ask most landlords what worries them most, and many will give the same ...
15/06/2026

🏠 What's the Single Biggest Worry Landlords Have?

Ask most landlords what worries them most, and many will give the same answer: rent arrears.

Not difficult tenants. Not maintenance bills. Not even changing regulations.

Simply the fear of the rent suddenly stopping while mortgage payments, insurance and repairs continue regardless.

💡 Most Tenants Want to Pay

Most tenants are good people who genuinely want to pay their rent on time. But life can change quickly. Illness, redundancy, relationship breakdowns and rising living costs can place households under real financial pressure.

That's why professional letting agents focus on prevention, not confrontation.

📊 The Numbers Are Sobering

The National Residential Landlords Association reports that average rent arrears now exceed £12,000 per property nationally.

For many landlords, that level of arrears can seriously impact their investment.

📝 Prevention Starts Before Move-In

Good tenancy management begins long before arrears appear.

✔️ Thorough referencing
✔️ Affordability checks
✔️ Clear communication from day one

Getting the foundations right protects everyone involved.

📞 Keep the Lines Open

When tenants face difficulties, silence is often the biggest problem.

Early conversations can prevent small issues from becoming major ones. Payment plans and practical solutions are often far more effective than conflict.

🤝 It Takes Calm Heads

The best outcomes usually come from a calm, professional and fair approach.

Treating arrears as a problem to solve together, not a battle to win, benefits both landlords and tenants.

✅ Letting Agency Done Ethically

We're proud members of the Ethical Agent Network (EAN), a national group of independently assessed agents committed to honesty, professionalism and community care.

📩If you'd like to learn more about how we reference tenants, manage tenancies and handle issues professionally, we'd love to chat.

We don’t take your feedback for granted. Every review helps us grow and keeps our standards sky-high. Thanks again for t...
12/06/2026

We don’t take your feedback for granted. Every review helps us grow and keeps our standards sky-high. Thanks again for this one! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🐾 The New Pet Rules: What Landlords Need to KnowThe Renters' Rights Act is changing the way landlords deal with pets. He...
12/06/2026

🐾 The New Pet Rules: What Landlords Need to Know

The Renters' Rights Act is changing the way landlords deal with pets. Here's what you need to know.

📋 The Basics

Tenants now have the right to request a pet.

Landlords can only refuse if they have a fair reason and must respond in writing within 28 days.

The request should include details about:
• The type of pet
• Its size
• Its space requirements

If permission is granted, it remains in place for the duration of the tenancy.

⚖️ When Can You Refuse?

You may be able to refuse if:

✔️ The property is unsuitable for the pet's size or needs
✔️ Another tenant has a relevant allergy
✔️ A leasehold restriction prohibits pets

However, you cannot refuse simply because:

❌ You don't like pets
❌ You're concerned about future damage
❌ You think the property may be harder to re-let

If a tenant believes a refusal is unreasonable, they may be able to challenge it.

🏠 What This Means for Landlords

Many landlords already accept pets, and responsible pet owners often make excellent long-term tenants.

While you cannot:
❌ Charge higher rent for pets
❌ Charge a pet fee
❌ Request a larger deposit

You can:
✔️ Claim for pet-related damage where appropriate
✔️ Encourage tenants to take pet insurance
✔️ Arrange your own insurance cover

💡 Our Advice

The biggest challenge is that some of the rules remain open to interpretation.

To protect yourself:

📝 Keep detailed written records
📧 Respond to requests within the required timescales
🤝 Seek professional advice if you're unsure

The practical impact of the new rules will become clearer as cases are considered over time.

✅ Lettings Done Ethically

We're proud members of the Ethical Agent Network, promoting honesty, professionalism and exceptional service.

📞If you'd like advice on letting or managing your property, get in touch today.

10/06/2026

This is where landlords can get caught out ⚠️🏠

Rent increases are changing and a lot of landlords haven’t clocked it yet.
You can’t just adjust the rent whenever your costs go up anymore.

Under the new rules:
📄 Increases are more structured
📅 Usually limited to once a year
⚖️ And tenants can challenge them if they’re not in line with the market

So what works now?

A realistic, evidence-based approach 👇
📊 Look at comparable rentals nearby
📍 Understand what’s happening locally
🏡 Be honest about your property

Because overpricing doesn’t just risk losing tenants, it can lead to longer voids and unnecessary stress.

💬 Not sure where your rent sits right now?
Send us a message and we’ll help you get it right, no guesswork.

Address

Romford

Telephone

+441708748956

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