Oliver Haley – Lettings Branch Manager – Barnard Marcus Chiswick

How long have you worked in lettings?

I have worked in lettings for ten years and have been with Barnard Marcus for six of those.

What is your day-to-day role?

My role involves many different elements, which is why my job so interesting. I am responsible for maximising the lettings income and profitability of my branch which involves recruiting, inducting, training and managing my team to their strongest potential. Market appraisals, property listings, feedback, performance reviews and negotiations are also things I deal with too.

How do you assist landlords?

I assist landlords from an investment point of view to ensure they are maximising their returns whilst keeping them up to date with any latest legislation. My team match the best tenants to the best landlords so we can create seamless relationships. The majority of our tenancies renew due to the hard ground work we put in.

Are there any upcoming legislation changes that landlords should be aware of?

Legislation is ever changing in our industry. The latest legislation in place as of this month (October 2022) is surrounding carbon monoxide regulations, making sure there is an alarm in any room used as living accommodation with a fixed combustion appliance - excluding gas cookers - rather than solid fuel-burning combustion appliance as previously stated.

Another important bit of legislation to take into account is the discussion on MEES (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards) regulations which are new EPC rules to be discussed and will likely require C ratings and above in the future.

What can we offer that others can’t?

We have an extensive network of offices across the country and other services that tie into our Group. We have proven successes in Chiswick as seen in our success rate on RightMove through 2022. Our other local branches will also assist with landlord needs meaning a larger pool of prospective tenants.

We are bonded members of many professional bodies including: The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), The Property Ombudsman (TPO) and SAFE Agent (Client Money Protection).?We also expose our properties on our own property portals, but RightMove and Zoopla too.

What is happening in the Chiswick lettings market at the moment?

The lettings market is still very strong, however there is a low supply of lettings properties and a steady level of demand. This has resultantly pushed rents up in-line with greater London at circa 13% year on year. Chiswick is very attractive for working professionals that want a short journey into Central London and the West End combined with a village-esque feel. It continues to be a very popular location for tenants.??