Market Trends Summer 2019

1st July 2019


March 29th came and went, and months of uncertainty led to nothing - we didn’t leave the EU. But how has this affected the property market? We’re looking at the latest market trends and sharing our predictions for the summer.


The market is tired of waiting

Brexit might be delayed, but the property market has moved on regardless. According to the latest Nationwide House Price Index, property prices dropped by 0.2% in May. Essentially, now is a good time to buy. In fact, there has been a 10% reduction in prices over the past 18 months, however prices are predicted to increase nationally.


Source: https://www.reallymoving.com/news/by-date/june-2019



There’s more good news for buyers


Transaction rates are currently so low that lenders are now looking for new ways to encourage borrowing - one way is a change in how they are classifying expenditure. For example, instead of ranking a gym membership or music subscription as an essential item, these can now be seen as luxuries. Consequently, they can be removed from your outgoings; meaning you’re seen as being able to afford to pay more per month in mortgage repayments. And with this new approach, lending terms are now becoming much more favourable. However, things have been slower for homeowners looking to sell. Uncertainty over which Prime Minister candidate would be best for the property market might have played a part.


Speaking of which, one parliamentary decision has completely transformed the lettings market.


Lettings 

On the 1st June, The Tenant Fee ban came into effect which means Tenants will only need to pay their rent and a deposit (of up to 5 weeks rent) to secure a property. Landlords will have to pay any agency fees.


This is great news for anybody looking to rent a property. Especially considering that the average deposit in England and Wales in 2018 was £1,110. However, we have started to see an increase in rent as a result of this.

Source: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/rental-price-tracker/


Landlords are also becoming less willing to take tenants with pets, given the cap on deposit amounts and therefore unable to compensate for potential damages. 


But there are alternatives.


Zero deposit schemes can help tenants avoid other, sizable upfront letting costs. Instead of a deposit, they pay one week’s rent before moving in. This may sound enticing, but there are a few things to be aware of:



This is still, undoubtedly, a huge step forward for tenants. However, it’s important to be mindful of the risks before deciding which avenue to take. 

Testimonials

  • Ben and Paula were calm and reassuring throughout a very difficult process!

    Ms Easterbrook Bear Road

  • An efficient, professional and friendly service. Helpful and a pleasure to do business with.

    Mr Beddington Brading Road

  • Very professional service. Thank you!

    Miss New & Mr Jackson Buller Road

  • A really good experience.

    Mr Tibble Lewes Road

  • Very thorough & very informative.

    Mr Michnowicz Waldegrave Road

  • Fantastic service. By far the best agents we have ever used, I cannot recommend you highly enough.

    Mr Field Mafeking Road

  • Sharon and her team could not have done more in what was a difficult sale. 

    Ms Daly Woodingdean

  • The team worked very hard over a long period to ensure my sale went through - excellent service!

    Mr Patrick Gladstone Terrace

  • You were amazingly helpful throughout - a real pillar of strength with a very difficult sale.

    Mrs Parkin Fiveways

  • Paula was absolutely amazing!

    Mr & Mrs MacKay Lewes Road

  • First class service from a first class team.

    Mr & Mrs English The Ridgway

  • All the staff I dealt with were excellent. Sharon worked really hard to complete the sale.

    Mrs Bent Falmer Gardens

  • Thanks David, all very professional.

    Mrs Flowers Foxdown Road

  • A good team at Woodingdean helped us through a stressful time.

    Mr & Mrs Penton Sycamore Close

  • We cannot recommend Maslen's estate agents enough.

    Many thanks to Paul, Donna, Janette and the...

    Linda & Les Wigmore Close

  • Ben was particularly enthusiastic and helpful. Martin, Paula, Sam and Will are all hard workers.

    Ms Goodey Franklin Road

  • Great service, always polite and friendly. Excellent contact and info all the way.

    Mr Wells Bishops Road

  • Brilliant. Well done to Sharon and the Woodingdean team.

    Ms Curtis The Ridgway

  • All agents at Maslen were extremely helpful and polite from the beginning to the completion of sale. 

    Mr Johnson Fiveways

  • Graham Griffin provided us, and continues to provide us, will all-round excellent advice. We trust his knowledge and expertise.

    Mr Blackmore & Ms O'Sullivan Financial Services

  • Extremely efficient. Nick and Paula are excellent. The weekly phone calls were much appreciated. 

    Ms Gray Lewes Road

  • A completely painless experience from start to finish. Thank you.

    Mr Woolven & Mrs Bessant-Woolven Lewes Road

  • It was an amazing experience, everyone involved were fantastic. 

    Mr & Mrs Knight Woodingdean

  • Very impressed with the efficient and friendly service, the staff were a pleasure to deal with. 

    Mr & Mrs Gill Lewes Road

  • All very professional, kept updated throughout. Very pleased - Would recommend. 

    Mrs Hammond Hove

  • Best Agents in Brighton.

    Mrs Field Tarner Road

  • Very pleased with the service. Many thanks to Sharon and the boys!

    Mr Flynn Woodingdean

  • The staff were very helpful, an excellent service. I would recommend you to others.

    Miss Hockly Fiveways

  • Best Estate Agents ever experienced - professional, approachable, competent and exemplary. 

    Mr & Mrs Guest Riley Road

  • Thank you Paul and Archie, you gave an excellent service, as well as Kelly. I look forward to working with you again. 

    Mr White Fiveways

  • Already recommended you! Thank you.

    Mr Edwards The Ridgway

  • Very impressive - professional and friendly, both Martin Timms and Paula Carter were excellent at keeping in contact with sensible advice based on...

    Mrs O'Connor Hove

  • Very comprehensive and professional. Nice people to work with and highly recommended. 

    Mr Alderton Ladysmith Road

  • The sale was dealt with swiftly, professionally and successfully. Thank you Maslen!

    Mrs Lincoln Hove

  • First class service. Friendly and professional.

    Mr Thorne The Avenue

  • Paula was fabulous and we felt really informed and supported. 

    Mr & Mrs Walker Lewes Road

  • It was a long, drawn out process that the people at Maslen helped me through, without the impression that it was a chore. So extremely professional...

    Mr McLagan Lewes Road

  • Sold within 2 weeks for asking price "excellent!"

    Mr Grundy Bishops Road

  • Maslens as a whole were really friendly and professional. I have to thank and congratulate Paula Carter for being superb at her job and exceeding m...

    Ms Warren Hove

  • Superb service as usual, I would always recommend you.

    Ms S Hike Blackthorn Close

  • Excellent customer service throughout. I will definitely recommend you, and use you again. Thank you.

    Ms Longley Kingsbury Street

  • Our local office manager, Sharon Wareham was warm and friendly and kept us up to date at all times.

    Mr Hope The Brow

  • Paul was absolutely brilliant. 

    Mrs Tasker Fiveways

  • Excellent service from the Lewes Road branch. Martin Timms secured a quick sale & at a good price & Paula Carter worked really hard to secure...

    Ms Schulte Bear Road

  • Good team. Straightforward. No nonsense.

    Mr Standing Newmarket Road

  • Excellent Service from start to finish.

    Mr T Mole Cromwell Road

  • We were delighted with the service received from all the staff with whom we had contact,

    Dr Crichton The Ridgway

  • Excellent service as always

    Mr Field Ringmer Road

  • Very pleased with the excellent service throughout. Professional, friendly, efficient and no hard sell. Achieved above asking price. Thank you!

    Mr Witten Lewes Road

  • Please thank Paula at Lewes Road - Excellent service. 

    Mr & Mrs Nuthall Lewes Road

  • In February 2016 I was looking to buy and sell very rapidly. Competition among buyers at the time was very high. Sharon @ the Woodingdean branch sh...

    Ms Helen Lyons Woodingdean

  • Exceptional service throughout the process - should we decide to sell in the future we wouldn't hesitate to use your agency. You're a cut above the...

    Ms Windels & Mr Barham Fiveways

  • Very good service and communication. Paula was excellent.

    Mr & Mrs Scarboro 1 Pevensey Road

  • Sharon was amazing! She kept us up to date the whole way through the process. We cannot fault Sharon or the rest of her team. 

    Mr & Mrs Ashley Woodingdean

  • We were very impressed with the Nick from start to finish. 

    Mr & Mrs Smith Lewes Road

  • Service exceeded my expectations overall at all stages of the process - I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you. Thanks. 

    Ms Greene Lewes Road

  • Excellent communication and advice throughout. It felt very reassuring to be in good hands.

    Mrs Brooker Buller Road

  • A very positive experience - I had most contact with the Fiveways office and they were so friendly and helpful.

    Ms A King Balfour Road

  • The Woodingdean team were very friendly and approachable.

    Mrs Palmer Pitt Gardens

  • Sharon was excellent, she kept us informed at all stages and was a really calming objective influence in the process.

    Ms Frederick Channel View Road

  • Very, very happy we chose you, felt right from the start! Thank you!

    Miss Blackadder Coniston Court, Holland Road

  • Very impressed with the service. Sharon Wareham works tirelessly, very professionally and is always there for advice. 

    Miss Matthews Kipling Avenue

  • Thank you for everything!

    Ms Tucker Willow Close

  • Compared to your rivals, your service was excellent

    Ms McGrigor Milner Road

  • Paula is amazing!

    Ms Aspnall Gladstone Place

  • Thanks for an excellent service. 

    Mr King Hove

  • Very pleased with the experience. I would definitely recommend you and use you again.

    Ms D Edmonds Horton Road

  • I have bought and sold 7 properties, and this was the best experience of an estate agents services I have found.

    Mrs Shepherd Hertford Road

  • The whole team were very committed from start to finish.

    Mr Pilgrim Lewes Road

  • A very committed team who made the sale process very easy.

    Ms Rees Ticehurst Road

  • We were very pleased with services provided by the Fiveways office.

    Mr & Mrs Sawyer Shaftesbury Road

  • As always, an excellent service. 

    Mr & Mrs Field Lewes Road

  • Sharon was excellent - kept us well informed, thank you so much!

    Ms Waters Cowley Drive

  • Very happy with the service we got from you guys, everyone we dealt with was extremely friendly, professional and helpful. Thanks!

    Mr Brown Titian Road

  • Sharon, Harvey and James were all excellent - very professional. Totally opposite to what I have experienced with other agents. Maslen have restore...

    Ms Lyons Woodingdean

  • I found the service to be courteous, friendly and efficient.

    Mr Upton Buller Road

  • Paula's role was brilliant. Having someone office based and available was so appreciated and her promptness an impressive service - every Estate Agent...

    Ms Wynn-Jones Baxter Street

  • I wish we had used you to sell our property! Nice to meet honest people, who are genuinely interested in helping. Very pleased.

    Mrs Porter Taunton Road

  • Thank you Maslens, you were all excellent!

    Miss Jasper Taunton Road

  • From start to finish the sale was dealt with in a thoroughly professional manner.  

    Mr Gibbs Lewes Road

  • Very helpful and patient team.

    Mrs Shea Selborne Place

  • The whole team were excellent, each one of them felt like family. Sharon had a lot of sorting to do at times but coped very well, a true profession...

    Mr Vernon Woodingdean

  • Outstanding service from Sharon. James is an asset to Maslens & Harvey was so helpful and polite.

    Ms Cianchetta Selhurst Road

  • Hugely impressed with Ben & his team.

    Mrs Mead Upper Lewes Road

  • Paul Wilkinson was extremely helpful and efficient. The only problem was the vendors solicitor and Paul warned me of this. A good transaction all r...

    Mr Lavender Fiveways

  • Quality advice about when and how to sell, which was spot on. Thank you.

    Miss Coleman Buller Road

  • Cannot express our appreciation enough of all the efforts made by the Woodingdean team - they were fantastic.

    Mr John Mogridge Woodingdean

  • I would recommend Maslen to anyone. 

    Mrs Tripp Woodingdean

  • Harvey was helpful and easily reachable at the beginning of the process and Sharon kept us informed and was always happy to help.

    Ms Murch & Ms Mapa Ticehurst Road

  • I was new to the area and viewed a lot of properties with a lot of different agents. Maslens were by far the best I came in contact with, so when i...

    Mr & Mrs Heer Lewes Road

  • Very impressed with all dealings with Maslen. Paula Carter was in particular very knowledgeable and helpful. 

    Mr McBlane Hove

  • Nick and Paula are total stars! They were incredibly supportive and present throughout. Thank you!

    Miss O'Haire Hove

  • Many thanks to Nick. It was an easy process thanks to you! I'm extremely satisfied with how the sale went, great job.

    Ms Mayanobe Aymer Road

  • Thank you. We found all the staff knowledgeable and really pleasant to deal with. 

    Ms Ansloos Lewes Road

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