PAD4U have achieved the Investors in People Award again after being reassessed today by an independent assessor. We’re proud to have achieved this award (first awarded in 2010) as it demonstrates our continued commitment to the highest standards in professional development of our team and their dedication to offer the best service to our customers.

The Investors in People award measures numerous aspects of the business including training, communication, morale, and commitment of our team to grow and improve the business. It demonstrates that we are not standing still, but instead investing in our business and services and continually innovating and improving what we do.

I read with interest a recent article by Stephen Wilcot in Investors Chronicle. The article reports that only a third of landlords check their letting agent belongs to a professional body. I find this difficult to grasp as a landlord myself, knowing that only agents who belong to a professional body such as ARLA offer protection of Clients’ monies.

I bet the majority of those landlords would think twice about depositing their cash in a bank that was not part of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme which covers deposits up to £85000. The same care should be afforded to their choice of letting agents as they are working with their money too,

Many landlords have come to PAD4U having lost thousands of pounds by believing that all agents are the same. They have leaned the hard way that this common held belief is not true. I’m hopeful that the Government will eventually regulate letting agents, such that they all must belong to a professional body and insure Clients’ monies; until then, professional bodies such as ARLA need to try harder to make landlords aware of this critical difference so landlords can make informed decisions.

If you don’t know that a Tag card can get you discounts for hundreds of retail outfits across Levenshulme, Didsbury and Chorlton, you’re really missing out!  Don’t worry though, PAD4U are giving away TAG CARDS WORTH £5 each for nothing!  All you need to do is like us on facebook, turn up to our offices on the A6 in Levenshulme, and grab a card!  We have limited stock so be quick as once they are gone, they’re gone!

You can save money at Trove, POD Deli, APL Locksmiths, Post Office Deli, M19 Bar, PAD4U of course, and lots more!  See all the discounts available in Levenshulme here.

The Green Deal has launched and whilst many will be aware of this, few actually understand what is it and whether it is good or just a green one.  There are 3 players in the Green Deal, Assessors who will determine whether the works will cover the loan (the Golden Rule), the Provider who will loan the monies and arrange a Green Deal Installer to carry out the works.

Finding more detailed information isn’t so easy such as the interest payable on the loan, although it’s widely reported that upwards of 7% is likely to be charged, which given current Bank of England rates of 0.5% is quite strong, and will make it difficult for works to pass the Golden Rule.  Relief comes in the fact the loan is very long term anything between 10-25 years (the later consistent with a mortgage term).  The debt is paid back via the electricity bill on the property.

There are many unanswered questions as to what works (if any) will actually meet the Golden Rule, whether the debt attached to the property meter will deter future buyers, or indeed tenants who will be paying for the works whilst living in the property.  Of course, if the Golden Rule holds then future buyers and tenants will enjoy the benefits.

Like most Government schemes this is certainly has merit, especially for landlords who will soon be forced into upgrading their properties to meet energy efficiency requirements anyway.  However, the deal is only as good as its implementation.  So far confusion reins and I’m not sure even the providers really know what is going on or how it will work in practice.