How to Return Feeling Like You Never Left

As London opens in tandem with the arrival of spring, we are ready to embrace the steady return of the city we know and love with full force, and are here to remind you of the first and most crucial step in doing so: ensuring that your UK home is ready for your return.  

Having an international client base has made vacant property management an integral part of our services, which are carefully tailored to each client’s requirements – from security checks, to payment of household bills, to emergency repairs, to stocking fridges. From our experienced team delivering our prime property management services across London and its surrounding counties, we’re here to make your trip back to London as smooth as possible with the following services – and more. 

For us, our attention is always in the detail, giving peace of mind to our clients, wherever they are in the world. 

• There’s nothing better than stepping into a hot shower after a long flight or drive, but when bathrooms and kitchens are not regularly used, bacteria can easily build up within water outlets and be harmful if ingested. Our team is here to flush your taps and outlets on a regular basis, which is easily completed during our routine property checks.
• Ensuring that you don’t come home to any unpleasant surprises is of utmost importance, and by providing thorough seasonal upkeep and preventing any damages due to factors such as temperature change allows you to return home stress-free. We make sure the air conditioning is perfectly running and underfloor heating has been tested.
• Security and protection come first and foremost, and while our team will frequently oversee that your security tech is up-to-date and running, our in-person visits leading up to your return hold the purpose of making you feel safe at all times. 
• Sometimes it’s the little things. From making sure your room is heated to your ideal temperature, to running errands, to organising and supervising cleaning, to stocking your fridge with your favourite food and drink, to preparing your home comforts, we’ll make your return as comforting as can be. 

Our team at Somerset Estates is here for you any day and at any time. Above all, we look forward to welcoming you back to London, and to ensure that your return home is as smooth and happy as can be.

Contact Philippa and Rachel on info@somersetestates.com or calling +44 (0) 20 3457 2857 .

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Returning to London after lockdown – Is your home ready?

As measures are starting to become eased and the return to metropolitan areas are looking more likely, is your London residence ready for your return?

Like the rest of the nation, we’re looking forward to the lockdown restrictions easing in line with the Government’s strategy. After announcements over the past week, engineers, builders and construction workers are all being encouraged to actively return to work providing that social distancing measures and other protocols are upheld.

Since lockdown restrictions started in the UK two months ago, our services were limited to a reactive and vacancy management service, which included monitoring the security and vulnerability of properties.

Although our lives may still be very much in lockdown, it is important to look ahead and plan for a return to a more normal way of life, following lockdown. With this in mind, we’ve put together our property management recommendations for individuals and families returning to their prime London property.

Maintenance

It’s normal practice for vacant properties to run heating and cooling systems on a reduced but steady mode (often called ‘holiday mode’), which keeps the property running efficiently throughout the year. We would always advise this, as the effects of making drastic temperature changes to heating and cooling systems can create problems which may not always be easy to resolve. Similarly, some properties may have had heating systems turned off altogether. In both instances, the systems will require maintenance before they are completely reinstated. This also coincides with seasonal upkeep as we enter the warmer months of the year, such as maintenance of outdoor kitchen appliances and swimming pool chlorination.

Flushing taps and water outlets to prevent water bacteria developing is essential, if kitchens and bathrooms are not used on a regular basis. Our advice is, please take this seriously. Ask household staff and cleaners to do this on a weekly basis. It’s not just a threat to health but costly and a pain to eradicate.

Security and Safeguarding Measures

Whilst crime rates have naturally decreased in most areas, this is not the time for complacency. On the contrary, it is now more important than ever to ensure that security and safeguarding measures are put in place.

Use this time to check that all your insurances and affairs are in place and up to date, such as car, contents, building, life, fine art, jewellery and any other policies.

At Somerset Estates, we would always complete a full background check on insurance statuses and insist that all covers are in place for all clients. We leave nothing to chance, the risks are simply far too high for an “i” not to be dotted, or a “t” not to be crossed.

Cleaning Standards

Naturally, there is an emphasis on increased cleaning standards in all settings. Employing the same cleaner on a regular basis who understands the importance of using products that kill bacteria without damaging furnishings and materials is paramount.

In communal areas, building management companies have a responsibility to communicate new behaviours around regular and deep cleaning as they will have an increased duty of care to ensure hygiene standards meet health and safety guidance legislation. Measures already in force will depend upon the type of activity and the level of traffic within the building.
Emphasis will be placed on the frequent cleaning of touch points such as lift buttons and door handles, the provision of adequate hand sanitisers for use in communal areas and for concierge staff when handling postal and parcel deliveries.

Service Charges

Whilst residential apartment buildings may have reduced staff and maintenance over the past few weeks, service charge costs, by and large, are likely to remain the same.
In some cases, however, this should not be the case. Prime residential properties located within a commercial setting, such as part of a hotel which has been closed, should not be liable for full service charge costs, due to the building operating in a limited capacity. We would always advise clients to have a conversation early on with the other party, to try and agree a fair and reasonable charge for the affected period.

Be aware of contractual obligations

As builders and other trades are encouraged to return to work, renovations to homes and properties can re-start, providing new safety guidelines are strictly followed.
Whilst there is a collaborative effort for construction companies to get back to work, we recommend reviewing all contracts with respective contractors in detail before works re-commence. This will help to ensure that each party is aware of their contractual obligations, particularly in light of Covid-19 social distancing measures and other restrictions that could cause delays to projects. For larger development projects, new clauses may have to be written into contracts to protect and support both parties.

Your home, your space

Whilst Covid-19 is a new global health phenomenon, we should not assume that this won’t happen again or that we are suddenly going to return to normal life, as we knew it before.

Whether lockdown has meant spending the period oversees, or in a London penthouse, or at a countryside retreat – being at home has become more important than ever. Many of us will have had time to address our main priorities and desired changes to home living environments – whether it’s increased privacy, more outside space, less city living, more features to aid relaxation or adaptations to make working life at home more comfortable.

If you would like to discuss how we can help with any of the above, please get in touch with us by emailing info@somersetestates.com or calling +44 (0) 20 3457 2857 .

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How is London’s Prime Property Market Adapting in the Midst of the Coronavirus?

Across the globe, we are all experiencing the rapid acceleration of the coronavirus outbreak.

Whether your UK home is your main residency, second home or a pied-à-terre, we’re taking a look at how the luxury property market is adapting in the wake of covid-19 and the predicted situation in the aftermath of the crisis.

In the past few months, the property world has experienced a mixed wave of trends, from the broadly flat 2019, post-election increased certainty, to a worldwide ‘hiatus’.

The country’s predicted quarantine measures a few weeks ago saw a rush in tenants securing high end residential rentals as the lockdown became more stringent, and spending time at home became more important than ever before. Whilst property sales have naturally slumped (70% according to some experts), other firms are advising that the prime London ‘market is not dead’. This mirrors a small portfolio of luxury prime London homes, all carrying an asking price of circa £25m, which are now available and ready to view, but from afar of course.

Virtual viewings though are not a new idea and have been available for years. Sophisticated prop tech has seen innovative advancements with 360 viewing, previously and mainly used for overseas clients. We’re now in the cusp of seeing virtual viewings available on many platforms as the industry adapts to the new world of quarantining. Of absolute necessity is the relationship developed with the agent, viewers and potential buyers will trust their judgement when remote viewing is the only option. Many buyers will find this concept unfamiliar but it’s an opportunity to keep interest alive and the cogs turning, albeit slowly.

Notably due to travel restrictions globally, most international buyers will naturally defer purchases until the covid-19 freeze has signs of thawing. Most experts are advising that we are likely to see a surplus in properties becoming available, which will drive sales prices down and could pose opportunities for foreign buyers into the market.

As to be expected in a global pandemic there will be consequences of the virus across the landscape. Evidence from the East suggests that changing family situations, such as a forecast in increased divorce proceedings and separation rates, will naturally provide more residential properties emerging on the market.

However industry leaders are expecting there to be an influx of demand at the end of the year and early 2021 as the economies across the continents recover and recoup in the wake of the effects of the coronavirus. Part of this extrapolation lies in the hike of stamp duty tax in April 2021 for international clients as announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak. We are expecting to see supply and demand increase across prime London, with foreign buyers helping kickstart ‘post corona’.

These are exceptional circumstances and buyers or sellers looking to enter the property market are advised to do their homework at this time, making necessary contact with agents whilst still remaining cautious.  The landscape will have naturally changed but adaptation in all forms will be key to progress.

Whilst many buyers and sellers will feel ‘on hold’ at this time until post lockdown, vendors in a position to defer until later in the year are advised to do so, or letting on a short hold tenancy agreement, which is still expected to see a competitive environment once lockdown measures are eased.

In the current environment, it’s not yet clear how we are going to bounce back but we will, inevitably, it will just take time to revive and restore.

To make an enquiry please call one of the team on +44 (0) 20 3457 2857 or email info@somersetestates.com

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