From left to right: Laura Waite, Lorraine Evans, Branch Manager, Felicity Curtis, Angie Bastin, Charlie Williams

Estate agents in bedtime charity appeal

From left to right: Laura Waite, Lorraine Evans, Branch Manager, Felicity Curtis, Angie Bastin, Charlie Williams

CHARITABLE staff at Dawsons Estate Agents in Llanelli have raised more than £150 for Children in Need by coming to work in their pyjamas.

The office staff greeted clients wearing onesies and night wear.

Dawsons had looked to make £150 from the day but exceeded expectations by raising £182.35.

Lorraine Evans, Dawsons Branch Manager said: ‘’Dawsons are proud to support BBC Children in Need.

“The team came up with the idea of holding a pyjama day only two days before and managed to pull everything together.

‘’It was a great day and the whole team made a huge effort for a worthy cause. We’d like to thank everyone who donated and we are delighted to have exceeded our target.’’

David Treharne

How will the new EU regulations affect ‘accidental’ landlords in the UK

With many homeowners being left a property in an inheritance or forced to take out a mortgage to buy a second home because they are unable sell their original property, becoming a landlord accidentally is easily done.

Here the UK’s leading independent mortgage broker, Mortgage Advice Bureau, explores how the new EU regulations will affect ‘accidental landlords’ in the UK.

Accidental landlords have in recent years formed a significant proportion of the Private Rental Sector (PRS). Forced into the market since the 2008 recession, a higher than expected percentage now remain through choice.

Ricky Purdy, Director of Lettings at Swansea’s leading estate agent Dawsons, adds: “Financial restraints and commitments in recent years have in these cases eased, with financial benefits and returns from these properties meaning the continued letting is now the preferred option. Accidental landlords are now in many cases purposeful landlords within the PRS.”

Despite their transition from accidental to purposeful landlords, new EU regulations could reinstate pressures felt some years earlier.

“Those who find themselves inadvertently becoming landlords will have to pass new affordability tests – similar to those faced when applying for a residential mortgage. The changes are to be instigated by March 2016, and, similarly to the Mortgage Market Review (MMR), the new rules will see lenders assess both borrowers’ incomes and expenditure in much greater detail to ensure that they can afford a loan,” said David Treharne from Mortgage Advice Bureau.

As accidental landlords do not make a business decision to let their properties out and do it as a result of circumstance, the Government feels that borrowers should still be seen as consumers and need to be covered by an ‘appropriate framework’.

Out of the 1.6 million buy-to-let mortgages currently in existence, a fifth are accounted for by accidental landlords and last year 151,000 buy-to-let mortgages were taken out.

“Under current rules, buy-to-let mortgages do not follow the same regulations as residential mortgages and most are calculated in relation to the amount of rental income that is to be made from the property,” added David.

The EU laws were not originally going to affect the British mortgage market, however, the plans will now form part of the Mortgage Credit Directive (MCD) – a scheme that will be brought in at the same time as the EU regulations in March to regulate other loans that have homeowners’ properties as security.

“Under the new EU rules, affordability will be assessed and it could also mean that older homeowners may not be able to take out a buy-to-let mortgage as lenders often require borrowers to repay the whole loan back before they retire. It is important for those looking to move into the buy-to-let sector as landlords to seek advice from an independent adviser,” concluded David.

Oliver Adair MAB

How will the new loan-to-income cap affect first time buyers?

Increasing house prices, restrictive lending and rising deposits have all been problems faced by first-time buyers in recent years. So, with the new loan-to-income cap now in place, how are newcomers to the market going to be affected?

Here the UK’s leading independent mortgage broker, Mortgage Advice Bureau, reveals how the cap will impact on the currently thriving first time buyer market.

“Recent figures released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) showed that first-time buyer numbers were at a six-year high, showing that a once impossible market has rebuilt itself to become a competitive arena once again,” said Oliver Adair from Mortgage Advice Bureau.

“Now, thanks to the Mortgage Market Review (MMR), responsible lending is at the forefront of the industry and each lender has been monitoring their affordability limits closely in light of the recovery of the sector.”

Enforced at the beginning of October, the loan-to-income (LTI) cap began when the Bank of England stated that loans over 4.5 times the income of the buyer must account for no more than 15% of a lender’s new lending total.

“Affordability remains the most important factor when assessing a potential borrower and every lender will have its own procedures to carry out to determine how the caps are implemented,” added Oliver.

Despite the added regulatory changes, the number of first time buyers rose by 27% in the first half of this year, and with the Help to Buy scheme, increasing employment levels and growth in higher loan-to-value lending, the confidence in the market may potentially overpower any effects the LTI cap will have in the coming months.

“The effect of the cap on the market and on the first-time buyer arena in particular will continue to be a topic of discussion until the cap has settled and we can see what difference, if any, it will have made,” concluded Oliver.

For further information please contact Oliver on 07917 146 430 or email olivera@mab.org.uk. Alternatively, please visit www.dawsonsproperty.co.uk

Estate agents raises dough for breast cancer charity

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It was an event that The Great British Bake Off’s Mary Berry would have been proud of.

Independent estate agents Dawsons held a pink bake sale and champagne bar to raise funds for the Breast Cancer Care campaign.

The event was held at Dawsons’ Mumbles branch in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

There were plenty of delicious homemade cupcakes and glasses of bubbly on offer in exchange for a suggested donation.

Pastel pink balloons and bras were displayed in the window to mark the occasion. The staff also visited shops in the Mumbles area to spread the word and raise extra funds.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month exists to help women become better aware of the common symptoms and seek help as early as possible, which increases their chance of survival.

Dawsons representative Julie Elliot said: “We enjoy supporting the Breast Cancer Care campaign. It’s such an easy activity to get involved with and one that we all love to do.

“This year, all the staff are wearing pink as well as selling pink cupcakes and champagne.

“The girls here have even hung their pink bras in the window to raise awareness. They’re all brilliant ways to raise money and have fun at the same time. We’re proud to support such a worthy charity.”