1. Use your Tag Passiton Card (Get one if you haven’t already £5)

The Tag PassItOn Card get you discounts in Levenshulme such as PAD4U, the Inspire Cafe, 1001 Antiques, APL Locksmiths, etc, etc.  It also works in Didsbury, Chorlton and City Centre, as well as other areas in Stockport and Manchester.  Simply visit the web site http://www.tagpassiton.com to start saving!

2. Buying could be cheaper than renting

Interest rates are at an historic low and most economist expect them to stay low for a number of years due to the difficulties in the euro zone.  There are also a number of competitive mortgage products appearing on the market.  You are likely to still require a sizable deposit, but if you do have funds, you monthly mortgage costs may be significantly cheaper than renting.  Speak to your local Independent Mortgage Advisor to assess what products are available to you.  Note of course that interest rates can rise.  Keep an eye on local property prices at www.facebook.com/pad4u or follow PAD4U_Agents on Twitter – we often post some of our most competitively priced properties here first, even before they get on Rightmove.

3. Insurance

Insurance costs are soaring, both for property and cars, so ensure you shop around.  Websites such as moneysupermarket.com and comparethemarket.com, will search many insurance companies to find you the best deal.  Comparethemarket.com has a free Meerkat giveaway also!  Make sure to check with directline.com as they do not put their deals on comparison sites.

4. Products

Groupon is already a well known site, but has suffered from bad press of late, you can still bag a bargain, just read the terms and conditions carefully.  HotUKDeals.com is a website for customers to share the best deals they have found on the web or in store.  Whether it be a washing machine or a games console, you can usually save money by following savvy customers who post deals on this site.

5. Ask!

Don’t be too polite to ask for a better price.  You’ll be amazed how often this succeeds!  It obviously isn’t going to work in McDonalds and it’s not appropriate in all circumstances, but you’ll be surprised where it can work.

It wasn’t that long ago in Levenshulme when procuring a decent coffee was a difficult task.  But like the 192 buses, suddenly there are a whole range of options from Inspire, to POD Deli, the ISIS cafe, etc.  And more recently I’ve discovered Trove.  Located opposite the Antiques Market.  The decor is rustic and immediately feels welcoming and warm.  Block wood tables, grey tones and mood lighting give Trove a sophisticated, but friendly look.

Trove, run by husband and wife team Kate and Marcus,  aims to provide fresh, seasonal and organic produce.  On my visit I tried the Aubergine and Red Pepper soup with Chilli.  On a cold day it certainly packed a warming punch and was just to my taste.  My cappuccino was strong and frothy.  Whilst the menu builds I look forward to revisiting Trove and discovering something new each time.

Trove also have a range of home-made jams and pickles – I’ve taken home Apple and Ginger jam which sounds like a winning combination.

It’s great to see new places like Trove popping up in Levenshulme.  Whilst other areas may covet their Starbucks and Costas, Levenshulme is quietly building it’s own vibe – and it’s pretty tasty!

David Boyd, Managing Director, PAD4U Estate and Letting Agents Manchester writes:

Last year I predicted that average house prices were likely to be flat over 2011, and for all the news mania in-between, this is pretty much what happened.  Halifax noted a 1% drop (up to November), Nationwide a 1.6% gain (up to November) and Land Registry (up to October) a 3.2% drop.  This is in stark contrast to some economists’ predictions of a 20% slump in house prices.  Compare to a 6% drop in the FTSE 100 over 2011.

The average figures of course belie a whole host of outcomes as I am always careful to point out.  London, was the only region to see gains in England and Wales for instance.  However, this is on a regional basis which is a very coarse average.  Within every town and village and even street,  each will have a different story to tell, which is why I always advocate focusing on local property prices when making an investment decision, whilst maintaining an overall view of house prices.

But what next for 2012?  Again as in 2011, there are many factors at play which could see property prices falling further, and opposing factors which could see prices recovering.  The main factors likely to drag on property prices are increased unemployment (especially as the Government continues its cuts in the civil service), constrained wage increases,  the eurozone crisis (as this could affect available mortgage funds), banking regulation (ditto).  Factors which will assist property prices include low interest rates, more quantitative easing and banks (perhaps given that property prices have been reasonably stable) offering more reasonable and flexible mortgage products.

The eurozone crisis is perhaps “the big one” and it’s impact is difficult to predict.  However, unlike the property crash, the problem is well known and understood by the majority of people and therefore is less likely to be a  “shock to the system”.   In comparison few economists actually predicted the crash in house prices due to lax credit via derivatives and securitisation of mortgage loans.  The Government and the Bank of England’s position has become reasonably transparent (even whilst they still do not admit such), they wish to have a soft landing for the housing market and have been following an inflationary policy to secure such.  The bank (due to our independence from the euro) still has its hands on some fairly significant levers for the economy and the Government are also carrying out policies of easing credit to medium sized companies.

It is for the these reasons that I predict the Government and Bank of England will be mostly successful in ensuring a soft landing and although house prices are likely to weaken next year, economists predictions of 10-15% drops are likely to be proven wrong again.

Transactions levels are likely to remain low as these opposing forces play out the probable stalemate that will ensue, and speculators stay clear (there will also, thankfully, be less property programmes on TV I predict).  However people will still have families and thus require a bigger home,  seniors will still downsize to release equity, people will continue to move around the country to find work, and pretty much life will go on.  Ultimately whilst people can pause in their dealings with property, it can’t be stopped and even the oft cited rental market has proved no great escape as tenants remain subject to rental fluctuations and potential upheaval, therefore, the ladder of life and property are intertwined and it is why it will remain, over the long term, one of the most stable asset classes.

Get to know your home
Make sure you know where the main stopcock for your water supply is located and check that it turns easily. It is usually near where the water pipe enters the house or under the kitchen sink.

Keep your house warm
To avoid burst pipes and damage to your home this winter keep your home reasonably warm day and night. During cold weather keep the heating on. If you have thermostatic radiator valves make sure these are all on. A room used left often should still have the thermostat value on low, to allow warm water to run through the radiators.

Your heating will be more efficient if it is on a lower temperature for longer periods of time. Set your timer to come on twice daily, usually in the morning and at night as these are often the coldest times.

Open or set aside the hatch to the loft space (if you have one). This will provide additional protection if your water tank and pipes are located in the loft. Opening the doors of your kitchen sink unit, and allowing the warmer air to circulate around the pipes, will also help prevent them freezing.

If your water supply becomes frozen, what action should you take?
• Turn off the water supply at the main stopcock
• Turn on all cold taps to drain the system
• Flush the toilet
• Do not turn hot water taps on as the hot water cylinder may
• Collapse if the pipes feeding it are frozen
• Switch off the central heating and immersion heater
• Collect water in the bath for washing and flushing the toilet
• Report the problem by telephoning 0161 257 2441

Remember!
Frozen pipes must be defrosted slowly. Never use a fierce heat or a naked flame to defrost pipes, as this may cause the pipes to burst. Once the pipes have thawed, turn the water back on slowly and check for any cracks or leaks. If these are detected, turn the water off again and reporting it as a burst pipe.

If your pipes burst, what action should you take?
If you have not already done so, take all of the steps mentioned above in relation to frozen pipes (turning off the stopcock, draining the system etc). If water leaks near your electrics or electrical appliances, switch off the mains immediately. If your mains switch is wet, don’t touch it!
Report the burst by telephoning 0161 257 2441.

If you live in a flat and are getting water in from the flat above, please make every effort to contact them direct, you should also contact the building manager or building management company. Our plumbers cannot arrange access to a property that we do not manage. If water is gathering in your ceiling, and it is in danger of collapse, place a bucket or basin under the affected area and carefully puncture the ceiling to let the water drain away.

Home Contents Insurance
We strongly recommend you insure your home for damage to furniture and fittings, personal possessions and redecoration. PAD4U and your landlord do not insure your belongings, and has no responsibility to assist in drying out or replacing items damaged by burst pipes.

Taking a trip?
If you are away from your home for any length of time, ensure that the heating system is left on timer at a low temperature. We advise that you pass your contact details on to neighbours and friends so that in the event of an emergency you can be reached easily. We also advise that you ensure we have your up to date contact details and a next of kin that we can contact in case of emergency.

Other useful telephone numbers
National Grid (for gas leaks)………………………………..0800 111 999
United utilities (for burst water mains)…………… 0845 746 2200

Rt.Hon Sir Gerald Kaufman MP will be switching on the Christmas tree lights at 5.30pm. Local children are invited to meet Father Christmas on the Village Green on the corner of Chapel Street and Stockport Road from 4.30 pm.
The event is the result of a joint partnership between the Local Traders and Manchester City council.

As part of the local traders PAD4U is pleased to contribute towards the event not only financially but also helping out by wrapping the presents and posing as Santa’s little helpers during the event.

No other district shopping centre does this and it is what makes the Levenshulme event unique.
We Love Levenshulme!

David Boyd, Managing Director, PAD4U Estate and Letting Agents Manchester writes:

Whilst some areas of London are seeing dramatic increases in rent, across the country rent rises are long over due.  Rents are normalising – they are not out of control.

Rents have languished for many years and are only now beginning to rise, there are number factors for this discussed below.  Rents are merely playing catch up to the reality on the ground.

Legislation

Tenancy Deposit Scheme:  This scheme has increased Landlord’s costs in-between tenancies as “fair wear and tear” is often misrepresented.  This has also increased Inventory costs due to the level of detail required.

Energy Performance Certificates:  This EU legislation costs landlords for each property they rent.

Selective Licensing: Whilst HMO licensing can be justified, Selective Licensing has been used certain by some Councils to obtain significant funds although the work is already carried out by ARLA agents (for instance checking Gas Certs).  Effectively the landlord pays twice.

HHRSS: New Health and Safety checks that landlords need to be aware of, increasing administration costs.

Whatever your thoughts are about the above legislation, there is no denying that it all has a cost.  This cost, must in the end be met by the customer i.e. those paying rent.

Risk

For too long landlords (who rushed into buy-to-let properties) didn’t adequately caluclate for the risks they were undertaking including:

Void periods (although this risk is now very low)

Changes in interest rates

Housing Market turmoil (negative equity, etc).

Arrears (which can be insured for but at a cost)

Maintenance costs

With a more mature market and landlords taking proper account of risk, there must be adequate reward for the risk of owning the asset, which results in higher rent.

Demand

Due to the banks panicking over their own incompetence, first time buyers who would be willing to buy a property are now being forced to rent.  The banks seem incapable of calculating risk and therefore are closing the door on these purchasers.

All the above factors are going to increase rents to normal levels.  Landlord’s have effectively provided subsidised housing in the UK for many years, due to a buy-to-let boom and a lack of understanding of the risks and costs of being a landlord.  Rents will need to reflect the risk, legislation, and demand in the market as the Private Rental Sector (PRS) matures.  The PRS still provides a more competitive rate than any other form of housing, such as council and Housing Associations, once subsides are accounted for.

The Levenshulme Festival 2011 runs from 21st October to 6th November.  This year its bigger than ever!  If you haven’t  managed to see an event yet, you’ve missed some amazing shows, but don’t worry there are several events listed for November.

The Inspire Awards were held Saturday 22th October at the Inspire Centre.  Awards were given for categories: volunteers, inspiration, courage, achiever, carer and enterprise and an overall award for  those making a real difference in our community. Top left, Alaine Bradbury, Estates Manager PAD4U, proudly presents the overall award to  Lance.   James Nulty, Negotiator at PAD4U also attended the award ceremony.

Lance was recognized as a carer in the local community, overcoming his own personal challenges to help another (Charlotte who nominated Lance).   Congratulations to Lance for winning the overall award this year!

PAD4U were proud to take part in the awards and look forward to next year.

The Levenshulme Festival is one of the biggest community events in Europe, quite an achievement for this small community.  For music fans there were a number of outstanding events, but you still have time to witness the Bob Dylanfest Weekend @ M19 Bar, with acts such as Siobhan Obrien (See left—picture courtesy of www.levenshulmefestivial.co.uk) on Friday 4th of November.  See website for further details.

Our intrepid accountant who regularly bikes with Macclesfield Wheelers has recently taken umbrage with unsightly concrete bollards.  En route to a race, Simon targeted this particularly irksome bollard and steel chain, managing to smash both.  Sadly during this act of heroism he managed to sustain several injuries requiring operations to the wrist/hand as well as several sores and bruises.

Simon is making his way into work, to ensure all accounts continue to run smoothly, but please accept our apologies if there are any delays (as he mashes the keyboard with his working fingers).  We wish Simon a speedy recovery and, perhaps, to put aside his personal vendetta against this roadside nuisance.

The Ceremony will be held on Saturday 22^nd October 2011 at the Inspire Centre. This will be a special evening for up to 100 guests and awards will be given in 6 different categories, as well as an overall award.

Awards will be given for:

Volunteering: A person who has made a special contribution to the community on a voluntary basis over a significant period of time or at some personal cost.

Achiever: A person who has done something remarkable, not necessarily the biggest or the best, but something that many people would have doubted could be possible.

Courage: A person who has shown particular courage in the face of danger or adversity.

Inspiration: A person who has turned their life around or undergone some kind of transformation that will encourage others that they too can make a significant change.

Carer: A person who has gone the extra mile to care for another person and done so with love, humility and respect.

Enterprise: A person who has taken a risk or embarked on a new venture that has led to wider social or economic benefits in the community.

PAD4U make every effort to be involved in our local community, we have  helped with many community projects and charity fund raising events in recent years.  We are proud to be getting involved with the Levenshulme festival and sponsoring  the Inspire Carer Award.

We always endevor to help people making  their move as stress free as possible and our staff are used to going the extra mile.

Paul will remain a major landlord at PAD4U, having built up a significant portfolio during his time with the company.  The company has always encouraged its team to get involved in the property market as we feel being an experienced landlord is the best way to serve other landlords and understand their needs.  It also ensures that we ourselves demand the best service from PAD4U, as landlords.  Paul will certainly continue to expect the best service within the industry as a portfolio landlord from PAD4U and will continue to advise the company as it grows.

On a personal note Paul will be missed. He has helped me build and modernise PAD4U  since I took over the reins of the company and his dedication and his work ethic I have greatly admired and looked to emulate. Without such PAD4U would certainly not have grown and moved so far forward as it has.  Paul, in all but name is family, and I hope this move brings much happiness.  I’m pleased that property has given Paul the security to be able to make such a bold move and underlines our continued belief that property can bring wealth and security over time.

Luke Elston will have the daunting task of filling Paul’s shoes, as he becomes PAD4U’s Business Development Manager.  Luke, who joined PAD4U 3 years ago, from the Halifax Estate Agency, has shown great drive and determination in helping PAD4U deliver the best service to it’s customers.  Luke has successfully completed both his ARLA Technical Award for Lettings and Property Management, and NAEA award for Sales and is keen to become a landlord when the opportunity presents itself.   Luke has earned respect from landlords, tenants and colleagues alike for his tenacity, reliability, and commitment to his work and is looking forward to introducing himself to existing landlords over the next month and listening to their needs and continuing to improve our service.