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Weekly Mortgage Update

19 November 2024

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MORTGAGE RATES CONTINUE TO EDGE LOWER – MARKET STABILISING

With offices in Westminster, Chelsea, Fulham and Nine Elms, Garton Jones brings you this week’s key mortgage market update.

Key Changes This Week

Mortgage Rates Continue to Edge Lower:
Wholesale funding costs have eased, allowing lenders to reduce rates further. Average 2-year fixed rates have fallen to around 5.48%, with buy-to-let rates also easing. However, commentators warn borrowers not to delay in the hope of further cuts.

Lenders Relaxing Affordability Rules:
Major lenders including Barclays, NatWest, Santander and Lloyds have loosened affordability assessments, enabling some borrowers to access larger loans. 100% mortgage products also remain available for eligible first-time buyers.

House Prices Return to Monthly Growth:
The latest Lloyds House Price Index showed UK house prices rose by 0.2% in June — the first monthly increase since February. Annual growth stands at 0.6%, suggesting the market is stabilising.

How Garton Jones Can Help

In a fast-moving market, expert advice is more important than ever. Our team can help you secure the best available rates and navigate the changing lending landscape.

If you have any questions, please reach out to a member of our team who would be happy to provide you with more information.

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Sales Fees

At Garton Jones Estate Agents we have three sales services we can offer as:

Sole Agency

Fee: 2.10% inc VAT (1.75% + VAT)

Our most popular service whereby we are acting solely for a minimum period of 3 months to secure you a buyer. Beyond that time, you must serve 2 weeks’ notice to us to change this instruction.

Joint Agency

Fee: 3% inc VAT (2.5% + VAT)

Garton Jones working alongside another agent of your choice as above, but on a winner takes all basis i.e. whichever of the two agents agrees and then completes your sale gets, the full sales fee. It is usually us so you might want to reconsider taking the sole agency option.

Multiple Agency

Fee: 3.60% inc VAT (3% + VAT)

Garton Jones acting alongside as many agents as you choose to instruct, again on a winner takes all basis as per the joint agency fees above.

Landlord Fees

Letting only service

Fee: 9.60% inc VAT (8% + VAT)

This service applies to landlords who wish for us to find the tenant but choose to manage their own property for the duration of the tenancy. We assist with your rent renewal, but you are the day-to-day point of contact for the tenant once they have taken possession.

For example, if the rent is £100 per month the fee would be £9.60 per month.

Letting Only Service with Rent Collection

Fee: 12% inc VAT (10% + VAT)

This is the same as the letting-only service, but we collect the rent on the landlord’s behalf and will pay it over as it\'s collected. The landlord remains the main point of contact from day to day but again we assist with advising on the renewal.

For example, if the rent is £100 per month the fee would be £12 per month.

Management Service

Fee: 14.40% inc VAT (12% + VAT)

This service is the same as the letting-only and rent collection but Garton Jones becomes the sole point of contact for both the landlord and tenant. Both parties will be assigned a property manager as soon as the tenancy commences who will then take care of handling any problems that may arise on behalf of the landlord. The property manager will visit the property twice a year to inspect it and make sure all is in order and will ensure service charges and ground rent invoices are paid from the rent if requested.

For example, if the rent is £100 per month the fee would be £14.40 per month.

Short Let service

Fee: 30% inc VAT (25% + VAT)

This service applies to landlords who wish to let their property for any period less than 90 days (3 months).

For example, if the rent is £100 per month the fee would be £30 per month.

Additional Admin Fees

Tenancy Agreement Preparation

Cost: £300 inc VAT (£250 + VAT)

For drawing up a tenancy agreement between the landlord and tenant at the start of a new tenancy. The tenancy will not commence until this document has been signed by both parties and cleared funds have been received from the tenant

Tenant Referencing (per tenant)

Cost: £60 inc VAT (£50 + VAT)

Referencing a tenant before the move-in. This cost is now the liability of a landlord should you wish your tenant to be referenced before they move in. We strongly recommend they are.

Change in Sharer / Tenant

Cost: £300 inc VAT (£250 + VAT)

Cost includes one reference check.

Cancelling a Let before a tenant moves in

Agent retains the holding deposit to cover administrative costs

Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) - Annual Registration Fee

Cost: £60 inc VAT (£50 + VAT)

Fee for registering tenant’s deposit.

TDS Deposit Dispute Administration (managed properties)

Cost: £240 inc VAT (£200 + VAT)

Administrative handling fee for managing property deposit disputes.

Check in and Inventory Report

Cost: £240 inc VAT (£200 + VAT) for all properties from 1 to 3 bedrooms

We will arrange this on your behalf with a third-party clerk at the start of a new tenancy. Please note prices are subject to change and determined by the size of the property but you will be notified of the costs before this goes ahead.

Check out

Cost: £180 inc VAT (£150 + VAT) for all properties from 1 to 3 bedrooms

We will arrange this on your behalf with a third-party clerk at the end of the tenancy. Typically, we aim to use the same clerk that did the check-in. Please note prices are subject to change and determined by the size of the property but you will be notified of the costs before this goes ahead.

Vacant Management Service (per month)

Cost: £240 inc VAT (£200 + VAT)

We will deal with the management of the property whilst the property is vacant and being remarketed.

Fire Safety Home Advice

Cost: £75 inc VAT (£62.50 + VAT)

Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm - Callout & Installation Fee

Cost: £90 inc VAT (£75 + VAT)

Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm - Per Alarm

Cost: £45 inc VAT (£37.50 + VAT)

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

Cost: £150 inc VAT (£125 + VAT)

Energy performance certificates are a rating scheme to summarise the energy efficiency of buildings and are a legal requirement. The reports are valid for 10 years.

EICR - 0 to 3 bedrooms (up to 10 circuits)

Cost: £240 inc VAT (£200 + VAT)

An electrical certificate is now required by law on all new and existing tenancies and is valid for 5 years. 4+ bedrooms or properties with more than 10 circuits quoted additionally. Please note this cost does not include any remedial work to bring the property up to current regulations, should the test fail, and will be quoted separately.

Gas Safety Certificate (Required Annually)

Cost: £150 Inc VAT (£125 + VAT)

A Gas safety check will involve inspecting all gas appliances in the property. This includes gas fires, cookers, and boilers and has to be in place before a tenancy can go ahead.

Annual PAT Test (Portable Appliance Testing)

Cost: £234 inc VAT (£195+ VAT)

Test up to 8 appliances. These are not legal requirements.

Copy of your Head Lease (if Required) from the HM Land Registry

Cost: £4.80 inc VAT (£4 + VAT)

Copy of a legal document from HM Land Registry.

Copy documents

Cost: £30 inc VAT (£25 + VAT)

For the supply of a document that has previously been provided.

Renewal Agreement / Tenancy Variation

Cost: £120 inc VAT (£100 + VAT)

For drawing up the renewal Tenancy Agreement.

Consolidated Statement

Cost: £30 inc VAT (£25 + VAT)

Summary statement for transactions between a specific period.

Waiting at a property

Cost: £70 inc vat (£58.33 + VAT) per hour

Awaiting deliveries or attending with contractors.

Section 13 Notice Service (Rent Increase)

Cost: £350 inc VAT (£291.67 + VAT)

Service of Statutory or Contractual Notice (inc. Section 8)

Cost: Priced on Quotation

HMO or Selective Licence Application (on behalf of Owner)

Cost: £500 inc VAT (£416.67 + VAT)

Insurance Claims Administration (all works)

Cost: Minimum £500 inc VAT or 12% inc VAT of net invoice, whichever is greater

Refurbishment Administration Fee (works over £10,000)

Cost: 12% inc VAT of net invoice

Additional Property Inspection

Cost: £120 inc VAT (£100 + VAT) per inspection

Transferring AST deposit to landlord (or other agent) during the tenancy

Cost: £120 inc VAT (£100 + VAT)

Sending CHAPS (same-day payments) in the UK

Cost: £30 inc VAT (£25 + VAT)

Making a payment outside the UK

Cost: £30 inc VAT (£25 + VAT)

Change in ownership set up

Cost: £60 inc VAT (£50 + VAT) Per Person

If the Landlord sells or transfers the property during the tenancy.

Attendance at Court or First-tier Tribunal

Cost: £120 inc VAT (£100 + VAT) Per Hour

If a member of the Garton Jones staff must attend court or tribunal on your behalf.

Non-Resident Landlord (NRL) Tax Administration (per Owner per quarter)

Cost: £108 inc VAT (£90 + VAT)

Tenants Fees

Before you move in, we will take a holding deposit which is equivalent to 1 week\'s rent, this will ensure that we cease marketing, and that the property is placed under offer.

Change to Original Tenancy Agreement

Cost: £50 inc VAT (£41.67 + VAT)

If the tenant requests a change to the Tenancy Agreement e.g., a change of sharer or permission to keep pets in the property.

Company Let Fees

Referencing Fee

Cost: £120 inc VAT (£100 + VAT)

Referencing of company.

Tenancy Agreement

Cost: £180 inc VAT per tenancy (£150 + VAT)

To draw up the Tenancy Agreement.

Inventory - Make & Check-In (1-3 bedrooms)

Cost: £240 inc VAT (£200 + VAT)

Inventory - Check-Out (1-3 bedrooms)

Cost: £180 inc VAT (£150 + VAT)

Unless agreed otherwise this will be arranged at the end of a tenancy by a third-party clerk, typically the same clerk that carried out the landlords check-in.

Please note prices are subject to change and determined by the size of the property but you will be notified of the costs before this goes ahead.