ONE of the area’s leading lettings agents has supported MPs concern at the lack of regulation for the lettings market.

More than 60 MPs have now signed an Early Day Motion (EDM) which highlights their concern at the Government’s decision to abandon the plans for a national register for landlords and further regulation of the private rented sector (PRS).

The EDM outlines the role that the PRS plays in supporting the UK housing market but that rogue landlords and lettings agents pose a threat to consumers. The Property Ombudsman has already noted that the number of complaints against such landlords and lettings agents has risen. By signing the EDM, the MPs support a call to create a national register of landlords and further regulation of landlords and letting agents.

David Boyden Managing Partner of Boydens, the longest established lettings agent in north Essex and active member of ARLA (the Association of Residential Letting Agents), said: “ARLA has long campaigned for the introduction of compulsory regulation of lettings agents, along the same lines as its own member-led licensing scheme launched last year.

“Currently, any person or organisation can become a letting agent. The Housing Minister, Grant Shapps, has pledged to work with ARLA to develop an industry-led solution to remove unprofessional letting agents from the market.  I also welcome the Government’s support for ARLA’s licensing scheme. “I greatly appreciate the support MPs have offered with this EDM.  Until the current status quo is changed via national regulation, unprofessional, unqualified and unethical operators will continue to prey at the expense of the general public.” 

Boydens, which has six offices in Colchester, Frinton, Braintree, Kelvedon, Ipswich and Sudbury, was one of the first local lettings agents to acquire the ARLA license. The company also provides a full residential sales service.

WHATEVER you do, don’t mention the missing piece of the jigsaw to Cheryl Cox – she’s quite likely to go to pieces at the very thought of it.

Cheryl, you see, has taken on a very special voluntary role for the NSPCC – jigsaw checker. During the coming months, Cheryl will be making up every jigsaw donated to the NSPCC by the Colchester public to make sure no pieces are missing.

Jigsaws have become a popular part of the NSPCC’s annual book-fair in Colchester, but nobody wants the frustration of buying a jigsaw only to find a piece is missing – which is where Cheryl steps in.

Cheryl is Office Manager at Boydens estate agency. The company is a long-time supporter and sponsor of the book-fair and the company’s consultant, Elisabeth Borg, was recently appointed Chairman of the local NSPCC book fair committee as it prepares for its 21^st fair in October.

Cheryl is currently balancing her busy day job with dedicating her spare time to putting together as many jigsaws as she can, trying not to become frayed around the edges in the process.

“I used to love jigsaws when I was little and I still enjoy doing one on a cold winter’s night, but this is a real challenge. I’m mostly doing them in the evening but I must admit I find it hard to resist the temptation to spot a piece when I pass a jigsaw in the morning,” said Cheryl.

 So far, she’s not come upon a missing piece, though there was one near-miss. “I was putting the finishing touches to a 2,000-piece jigsaw and thought there was one piece missing – then I found it on the floor. I’ve never felt so pleased at finding once little piece of jigsaw!”

By the time the book-fair comes around, Cheryl anticipates having done some 100 jigsaws. “It does become addictive but I have quite a good system in place. I’ve got one set up in the office at the back so anyone passing by the table can do a piece. Any help is very much appreciated,” she said.

The book-fair organisers have had another great response this year but they are still on the look-out for more non-fiction books. Anyone who has books they would like to donate can contact Anne Crisell on 01206 271616.

During its 20 years, the annual book fair has raised more than £150,000 for the charity. It is now the largest non-corporate NSPCC fundraising event in the eastern region. 70 people help during the weekend itself, in October, and around 25 people work throughout the year, collecting, sorting and pricing books.

ONE of the area’s longest established estate agencies has this week launched a service aimed at marketing more bespoke property.

Boydens, which has offices in Colchester, Frinton, Braintree, Kelvedon, Ipswich and Sudbury, has launched Boydens Superior Homes – a unique marketing package designed to maximise the sales of homes which are a little bit special

David Boyden, Managing Partner at Boydens, said: “Boydens is one of East Anglia’s most experienced, independent, family-run estate agencies. We have great experience and knowledge of the local property scene which serves our clients very well.

“We believe a superior home warrants a superior service which is why we have launched Boydens Superior Homes and this is what you will experience:

• Six offices covering North Essex and the Suffolk border with prominent Superior Homes window displays
•  A dedicated Superior Homes specialist working in each branch
• Finest quality brochure with professional photography, floor plans and site map
• Accompanied viewings
• Specialist Superior Homes advertising in the property press 
• Our own glossy property magazine with Superior Homes section
• Dedicated direct dial phone number, 0845 504 5944, to speak directly to a member of our Superior Homes team.

“Boydens Superior Homes aims to offer people with a special home, a special service backed by the experience and knowledge which have been hallmarks of Boydens’ way of operating for four generations,” added David.

THE buoyant local rental market has prompted the area’s longest established letting agent to urge tenants and landlords to choose their letting agent with care.

Boydens, a member of ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents), has been acting as a lettings agent since the late 1960s.

Boydens Braintree office manager, Simon Fookes, said: “There’s a lot more to being a good lettings agent than meets the eye. You need expertise and experience which, at Boydens, we have in abundance. My message to people looking to rent or let a property is to choose an agency which has a track record and one which has a proven after-sales care structure in place, which includes a full property management team covering everything from accounts to maintenance issues. Part of the service we offer landlords is a rigorous checking of would-be tenants.

“The past year has cemented the trend towards people, particularly young professionals, making a conscious decision, based primarily on lifestyle, to rent rather than buy.

“One of the knock-on effects of this is that the calibre of rented property is going up. These young professionals, even though they are renting, are still seeking a high quality homes. What’s more, they are looking to rent long-term which is good news for landlords,” added Simon.

As well as a residential lettings service, Boydens offers a full residential sales service, block management, commercial sales/lettings, surveys and valuations and financial services.

PEOPLE looking for a modern home which offers more than the usual cube will love this Bocking home which was designed and built by the current owners – and comes with a pictorial history of the property’s creation.

Built in 1992, the superbly presented accommodation includes a second floor loft room and there are countryside views.

The accommodation comprises an entrance hall, sitting room, kitchen/diner with fitted units, built-in oven and integrated fridge/freezer, sun lounge, utility room, cloakroom, three bedrooms and a bathroom. In addition, there’s a loft room which has been divided into two sections and has lovely countryside views.

The property has a neat front garden, garage, and a 100ft established rear garden which includes a vegetable plot.

The property is priced at £299,995. Further details can be obtained from the Braintree office of Boydens on 01376 342355.

AT the half-way stage of the year, the Braintree property market is showing growing confidence with more properties coming onto the market and serious purchasers looking to buy according to one of the town’s leading estate agents.

 Boydens Braintree office manager, Simon Fookes, said: “There is no doubt the Braintree property scene is looking in better health. The number of properties taken on during June was double that of May which is galvanising the market.

“We’ve long had a good number of very serious buyers out there but a relative shortage of properties has somewhat held back the market. With more properties coming onto the market, activity is increasing.

“It’s still important that people listen to the advice of their estate agent when pricing their property because we have certainly not reached the stage where we can expect to see prices shooting ahead.

“So far, 2010 has seen a slow but steady recovery in the local property market. Whilst confidence is increasing, we’re talking about modest steps forward. This, in fact, is no bad thing. A boom and bust property market is of no use to anyone in the long term so a steady recovery is to be welcomed. Let’s hope the second half of 2010 continues the trend,” added Simon.

A COLCHESTER woman who is celebrating 21 years working for Boydens estate agency has just been appointed Chairman of the local NSPCC book fair committee as it prepares for its 21^st fair.

Elisabeth Borg is senior consultant at Boydens, which has been a long-term sponsor of the NSPCC book fair, and says she is delighted to accept her new role with the charity.

“In a year when I’m celebrating 21 years with Boydens, it’s somewhat symbolic that I will be helping the NSPCC prepare for its ‘coming of age’ book fair. It’s a challenge I’m really looking forward to. It’s been a very successful event during the past 20 years so the task is to make sure we continue to build on this success,” she said.

Elisabeth, who is part of the presidential team at ARLA’s (Association of Residential Letting Agents) divisional council as Members Advisory Forum representative, will be looking to work with local businesses to generate more support for the book fair.

During its 20 years, the annual book fair has sold more than 350,000 books, raising £150,000 for the charity. It is now the largest non-corporate NSPCC fundraising event in the eastern region. 70 people help during the weekend itself, in October, and around 25 people work throughout the year, collecting, sorting and pricing books.

Elisabeth added: “Boydens will be sponsoring the event again this year but my aim is to get as many other local businesses involved as possible. We also need more non-fiction books to be donated. Anyone who has books they would like to donate can contact Anne Crisell on 01206 271616.”

SHOCK news – Frank Lampard’s World Cup ‘goal’ against Germany has been allowed after all!

But before England fans start re-booking their seats to South Africa, the only people who will be celebrating the news are staff at St Helena Hospice.

Local estate agency Boydens had nailed its colours firmly to the England mast – and aimed to boost St Helena Hospice in the process – by pledging £50 to the hospice for every goal England scored in the competition.

Sadly, England managed just three goals before being beaten by Germany when Frank Lampard had a perfectly good goal disallowed.

However, David Boyden, Managing Partner of Boydens, which has branches in Colchester, Frinton, Braintree, Kelvedon, Sudbury and Ipswich, said: “We’ve decided Frank’s effort was a goal so we’ll be paying £50. On top of that, we’re donating a further £100 so St Helena will receive £300 from us. We feel it’s the least we can do after England’s rather inept efforts!”

Heather Buxton, Community Fundraiser at St Helena Hospice, said: “We’re all disappointed that England didn’t do better but we are so grateful for Boydens’ support – and what a wonderful gesture to double their donation in light of England’s rather poor performance.”

A LEADING independent estate agency has welcomed the Government’s suspension of the controversial Home Information Packs (HIP).

The convoluted introduction of the HIP, which began in 2007, was supposed to speed up the house-buying process but has met with widespread opposition among most property professionals and indifference among the public

David Boyden, Managing Partner at Boydens estate agency, which has offices in Colchester, Frinton, Braintree, Kelvedon, Ipswich and Sudbury, said the whole exercise had been ill-judged and he welcomed the suspension of the initiative.

 “We were always sceptical that HIPs would achieve their aim of speeding up the house-buying process and that scepticism has been born out. Apart from adding an unwanted additional cost to the house-moving process, doing little to help ignite the market, the HIP has achieved little.

“The requirement to have an energy performance certificate remains and I have no issue with that because the cost is minimal and the sentiment behind it worthy enough. The removal of the rest of the HIP and the associated cost should act as a fillip to the market at just the right time.”