News - Salford Estate Agents

Posted on 20-11-2018 20-11-2018

Mistoria Group continues expansion with purchase of Student Haus

Mistoria Group, owners of Mistoria Estate Agents, North West specialists in residential and student property sales and lettings, have purchased “Student Haus”, the Salford based lettings and estate agency who have approximately 150 properties under management across the whole of Manchester and Salford.

The acquisition of the business is part of Mistoria’s continuing growth strategy and follows on from the launch of their third estate agency office in Bolton and the acquisition of Pick My Pad announced earlier this year. All Student Haus staff will continue in the new business and the brand will continue to trade under its own name. They currently manage properties for more than 100 landlords covering city centre locations based around the main universities in Manchester and Salford.

Mish Liyanage, Managing Director of student property investment specialist The Mistoria Group comments: “We are delighted to take over the management of Student Haus, including properties, landlords and tenants and to consolidate our position in Salford. Dilan and Edouard have done a great job with Student Digz / Haus over the last 5 years in Salford by building Student Haus into a very a successful business.

“I am glad that they both chose Mistoria to sell their business so that they can both pursue their academic interest. I fervently believe there is a market for both Mistoria and Student Haus brands hence we will continue to trade under both brands in Salford with Hannah Goodman heading the Student Haus division. Over the next few next few months we will be implementing best practices in both businesses that will benefit both our tenants and landlords.”

Commenting on the sale Dilan Omari-Clark said: “We started the company when we were 23 years old after graduating from University. The past 5 years have been a great adventure and we are proud of what we have achieved.

It felt like the right time to sell and we are now ready to take on the next challenge. We are pleased that Mistoria have taken on our staff and we wish Mistoria all the best for the future.”

The Mistoria Group are high yielding student buy-to-let investment specialists, offering HMOs and armchair investments in the North of UK, generating combined net cash yield up to 13% (Rental and Capital Growth). For more information on the firm’s current available investments and the services we offer email us at info@mistoriagroup.com or call 0800 500 3015.

Posted on 15-11-2018 19-11-2018

Controversial lettings review website wins backing from students

Controversial lettings review website wins backing from students

A controversial review website which says it can be used to identify “good (and bad) letting agents” has won the backing of a university’s student body.

Marks Out Of Tenancy, which was set up in 2016, says it lists around 20,000 letting agents from across the UK and encourages tenants to review both agents and landlords.

Now it has received support from St Andrews Students’ Association.

A statement from Marks Out Of Tenancy says: “Wanting to better prepare students for living in the private sector, the students’ association has partnered with Marks Out Of Tenancy to provide a platform for sharing experiences and to create transparency about living conditions.”

The website – which also includes information on local areas as well as properties, agents and landlords – claims to allow renters ”to make more informed decisions about who they want to rent from, where they want to live, and what to expect from an area before they sign their tenancy agreement.”

Paloma Paige, the university’s students association president, says: “From the ‘Rent Your Landlord’ survey we ran in 2017, we saw that our students had a real appetite to provide constructive feedback regarding their experiences as tenants. We recognised that by making such information available, students could help their peers navigate the local housing market.”

Meanwhile the website founder, Ben Yarrow, adds: “Balance and fairness is key to the Marks Out Of Tenancy platform, with landlords and letting agents enabled and encouraged to reply to reviews and open a meaningful dialogue with current and potential tenants. We want to improve the experience of all parties involved with the rental process. This is not about naming and shaming, but providing a platform for real engagement.”

This article first appeared in Letting Agent Today in Nov 2018.

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Posted on 04-10-2018 19-11-2018

Further Growth at Mistoria Group with Purchase of “Pick My Pad”

Mistoria Group, owners of Mistoria Estate Agents, North West specialists in residential and student property sales and lettings, have purchased “Pick My Pad”, the Walkden based lettings and estate agency who have approximately 200 properties under management across Greater Manchester.

The acquisition of the business is part of Mistoria’s continuing growth strategy and follows on from the launch of their third estate agency office in Bolton announced earlier this year. All Pick My Pad staff will continue in the new business and will aim to build on their extensive landlord support services. They currently manage properties for more than 150 landlords covering areas from Widnes to Oldham and across the whole of Greater Manchester.

Mish Liyanage, Managing Director of The Mistoria Group comments: “The friendly acquisition of Pick My Pad is in line with my vision in the next three to five years for Mistoria to manage over 1000 properties and over 5000 tenancies and to be the preferred employer in the real estate industry in the North of England. With this acquisition the number of branches will also increase to five.

Pick my Pad, under Oliver Press has been a very successful business over the last 9 years especially in the Walkden and Little Hulton areas so it is an excellent fit with Mistoria geographically, operationally and financially. It was an easy decision for Mistoria to make to acquire this business and take it to the next level with my team.”

Commenting on the sale Oliver Press said: “I have stepped away from the business as I felt I had taken it as far as I could, and it was time for it to grow. I feel with the current set up at Mistoria it is perfectly placed to go from strength to strength.”

For further information about Mistoria’s landlord, lettings and estate agency services please contact our HQ team.

Posted on 25-09-2018 15-10-2018

Top Tips for Freshers Vol.3

In the third and final post in our series of Freshers blogs, providers of student housing Liverpool and Salford based Mistoria Estate Agents, advise you on how to make the most of Freshers’ Week and beyond…

Join Clubs

No, we don’t mean as a club promoter. (Seriously, we don’t care that its Voodoo Wednesdays, you told us that last week…) At the Fresher’s Fair, you have the opportunity to join potentially hundreds of clubs and societies. Make the most of this opportunity. They range from sports clubs and dance troupes, to the really wacky, like the Humous Society or the Extreme Ironing Society. Don’t try and join every single one, otherwise you’ll be bombarded by emails for the rest of your life, but choose a broad selection that both caters to your interests but also pushes the boat out. If you’re interested but unsure, many societies offer free taster sessions.

Whilst you’re wandering around the Freshers’ Fair choosing clubs, milk the stalls for all they’re worth. Get all the freebies you can. You can easily get a lifetime supply of pens there, but also vouchers for free pizza and snacks.

Get In On The Discounts

As a student, you can get hold of an incredible number of discounts. Get a UNiDAYS or NUS Extra card to get massive reductions in most high street shops. Even if a shop doesn’t actually advertise that it offers student discounts, it’s worth asking anyway, as many do.

Cooking

Whether you decide to cook with your housemates on a rota, or do it just for yourself, try and bulk-buy and bulk-cook. Try to make enough for three meals when you cook, and freeze the portions you don’t eat for a later date. This will save you lots of money, and will mean you don’t buy things you don’t need. Similarly, don’t shop on an empty stomach; you’ll be more likely to buy rubbish. It’s worth getting your hands on a cookbook before you arrive at your new house. You can get student ones with quick recipes using cheap ingredients. If you’re not a great cook, try and learn some recipes beforehand. As amazing as living off takeaway kebabs sounds, it can really destroy you.

The First Lecture

When you first start university, you may feel a bit too relaxed about going to lectures. Don’t sleep through them though, even if the hangover is awful. Sometimes, later in the year, you might feel too ill to go to a lecture here or there. Don’t make a habit of missing them though. Even if you take notes on a laptop, bring a pen and paper too, in case your computer runs out of battery. Sometimes, actually writing out your notes can help you remember them better.

Don’t be scared to shout out ideas in a lecture. Everyone is just waiting for someone else to answer, and there’s nothing worse than an awkward pause after a lecturer has asked a question. If you have queries after a lecture, don’t hesitate to email the lecturer or go to their office. It’s what they’re there for, and given how much you’re paying for your education, you should make the most of it.

The First Assignment

Your first assignment can be a daunting prospect, but don’t fret, it’s doable. Lecturers are well aware that it’s your first real taste of uni work. The most important thing is that you don’t leave it until the night before it’s due. That just causes unnecessary stress. Plan what you’ve got to do in advance, and begin reading. Try to work on the essay in chunks, rather than all in one go. This way you won’t get bored, and it won’t look rushed.

Don’t leave referencing until the end either. Trying to find out where you got a quotation about 1st century BC Roman cheese production can be incredibly frustrating, and isn’t something you want to be doing at 2am. The other thing you don’t want to be doing in the early hours is crying when your computer crashes and you lose your work. Back-up all your work.

Mistoria Estate Agents

If you’re still looking for student housing Liverpool and Salford based Mistoria Estate Agents are here to help. We still have a range of properties available in both cities. To find out more about what we can offer you, call 0800 500 3015, email info@mistoria.co.uk, or fill in the contact form here.

Posted on 30-08-2018 15-10-2018

Top Tips For Freshers Vol.2

In the second article in our series of Freshers blog posts, experts in Salford and Liverpool student homes, Mistoria Estate Agents, give you top tips for a successful start to your university life…

Get Creative

When you move into your student accommodation (Mistoria Estate Agents have many Salford and Liverpool student homes available), start decorating your room. Put up photographs of friends from home, your family, your dog, your pet snail, whatever makes you feel happy. Put up posters and some plants, too. Having a room that isn’t entirely bare will help you feel less homesick. And don’t worry, feeling homesick is normal. Try and meet up with your new-found friends and go somewhere together to keep your mind off it. Don’t forget about university health and support centres for more formal help. You can also explore student mental health websites such as Student Minds if you’re really struggling to settle in.

Get a calendar and put it up in a prominent position in your room. The number of events you plan to go to can be difficult to keep track of, so record everything. You might also want to fill it with your lecture times too.

Work with your housemates to try and make the rest of the house more homely. Take this as an opportunity to organise how bills are going to be split, and how you’re going to share out cooking and cleaning rotas as well. If you decide to get a TV, remember to get a TV licence. If you don’t have one, but watch TV, you can be fined up to £1000. It’s not worth the risk.

Make Friends

Easier said than done, but it IS possible, even for the shyest person. Really try and make an effort to socialise. It can be exhausting, but it’s well worth it. Go to as many events as you can to meet more people. Don’t try and pretend to be someone you’re not; people will see right through that. But one idea might be to fake-it-til-you-make-it. Sometimes if you force yourself to be sociable and confident, that’s exactly what you’ll become. Consider joining Facebook groups with your future coursemates before you arrive. It can be a great way to start to make friends without the initial pressure of meeting people face-to-face.

Keeping Up The Friendships

Not all the friendships you make in Fresher’s will last; don’t expect them to. Don’t feel obliged to stick with the first person you meet. Yes, initially, linking up with one person to help you make more friends is a good approach, but you’ll quickly find other friends. Similarly, don’t get into a Fresher’s relationship with the first person who shows an interest in you. You’ve got three or more years for that; think of the huge number of other people you’re going to meet in that time.

Take Part in Fresher’s Events

Don’t lock yourself up in your room for long periods. You don’t want to be known as the hermit housemate. Make the most of all of the Fresher’s events the university puts on for you. However, don’t be that person, and drink to excess. You’ll just end up embarrassing yourself. Eat something before you go out drinking to avoid unfortunate occurrences. If drinking isn’t your thing, remember that alcohol isn’t the be all and end all of university life, and that there are many other options for you. Even if you do drink, don’t think you can’t join the non-drinking events. Sometimes a night off from the partying can do you a world of good. Don’t let FOMO dictate your life!

Fresher’s events aren’t just limited to partying. The university might organise tours and trips to cultural spots in the city. Go to these not only to make friends, but also to orientate yourself. You might also want to find out where your lectures are and go and find the buildings before term starts properly. That way, you’ll know how to get to your lectures on the first day, and won’t end up panicking when you can’t find a room.

Mistoria Estate Agents – Providing Excellent Salford and Liverpool Student Homes

If you’re still looking for Salford and Liverpool student homes for next year, Mistoria are here to help. We have a range of properties available in both cities. To find out more about what we can offer you, call 0800 500 3015, email info@mistoria.co.uk, or fill in the contact form here.

Posted on 16-08-2018 15-10-2018

Top Tips for Freshers Vol.1

For the first in a series of blog posts, Mistoria Estate Agents, specialists in Salford and Liverpool student houses, asked a current student to tell us, and you, their advice for Freshers’ Week and beyond. Here’s what they said…

Don’t Worry

The most important advice for Freshers is not to worry. We know, it’s hard not to. But it’s normal to feel anxious or nervous about leaving home, especially as moving-in day looms. Remember though, that everyone else is in the same boat. Even if the first people you meet don’t seem to be worried, they definitely are. They’re just trying to put on a brave face. Don’t worry if you don’t settle in immediately when other people seem to be doing so. People settle at different times.

Plan Ahead

Before you leave for university, make sure you have everything you need. Many student websites have itineraries you can use, but we thought we’d make some suggestions too. Remember, you don’t have to pack absolutely everything you own. If you do forget something important, you can still buy it in Liverpool or Salford. Set up a student bank account straight away. They often offer better interest rates than regular accounts, and have large free overdrafts (which you shouldn’t need to use, but give you some peace of mind.) Don’t be sucked in by freebies either – some offers are better than others. Make sure you have all the documents you need for your arrival, such as your letter of acceptance and ID. Check any information the university might have sent you via email, and check their social media pages for useful updates.

Remember to pack flu medicine as well. You WILL get Freshers’ Flu. THERE IS NO ESCAPING IT. Bringing paracetamol and Lemsip* will make your days of suffering just that bit more bearable. Register with a doctor’s office near to your new house too. You can find your nearest GP here.
*other branded remedies are available!

Finally, pack lots of fancy dress. Freshers’ Week in particular, but pretty much every night out after, revolves around some kind of outfit, and there’s often a competition for the best one.

Make A Budget

University might be the first time you’ve had to budget, but budget you must, if you want to avoid spending half the term eating Pot Noodles. Plan how much money will leave your account each month in bills, rent, and food costs, and allow for extra emergency costs too. Remember, you’ll need money for textbooks, but you can get these secondhand for a much better price than new. You’ll invariably spend a lot more in Fresher’s Week than at any other time, so you might want to make a mini budget just for that. Saving up some extra money over summer before uni just for Freshers’ is a good idea. Don’t feel pressured to spend money you don’t have, and try not to go into your overdraft unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Mistoria Estate Agents – Provider of Salford and Liverpool Student Houses

If you’re still looking for Salford and Liverpool student houses for next year, our last bit of advice is not to worry. Mistoria Estate Agents are here to help; we still have a range of properties available in both cities. To find out more about what we can offer you, call 0800 500 3015, email info@mistoria.co.uk, or fill in the contact form here.

Posted on 02-08-2018 15-10-2018

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of Student Houses

When we check properties during a tenancy, or when students have moved out, we see varying examples of how properties are left. Some are pristine and some are…. well, take a look for yourself…

Maintaining Your House

During your tenancy we know maintaining your house might not be top of your list of priorities. However, our house inspectors will be happy if they visit your property and see that you make at least some effort. They know that your house won’t be spotless, but simply doing a bit of hoovering up and taking the rubbish out makes a world of difference. Try, at least once a week, to tidy the whole house, especially the communal areas. If all the members of your house work together, it shouldn’t take too long. In the kitchen, wipe down surfaces with cleaning spray, and wash up any dirty plates you find lying around. In the bathroom, swish some bleach down the toilet and wipe the shower with anti-bacterial spray. Hoover carpets throughout the house and put away any possessions that might be littering the floor.

At The End Of Your Tenancy

If you keep up this level of cleanliness throughout your tenancy, moving out will be easier and less stressful. There’ll be so much less work to do. Cleaning your house thoroughly at the end of your tenancy is in your interest. If we have to send in cleaners, or take away piles of rubbish, we have to pass the cost on to you (via deductions from your deposit), which we don’t want to do.

When you leave your house for the last time, make sure you’ve got all your belongings. We find all sorts of things when we go for the final house inspection, and returning them to their rightful owners is often impossible. In the kitchen, defrost the fridge-freezer, and make sure there’s no food left inside, or in any cupboards. As much as we love cake and biscuits, we REALLY don’t want to find your mouldy Mr. Kipling down the back of a cupboard. Remember to clean the oven and hob too. We know it’s not a pleasant job; we hate doing it just as much as you do, but we don’t want to have to charge you to get someone in to clean it.

Once you’ve cleaned the shower/bath, basin, and toilet in the bathroom thoroughly, take away any bathroom products, and make sure the plugholes aren’t blocked. In your bedroom, take away ALL your possessions. Don’t forget to check under your bed. We might not find monsters under there, but we certainly find a lot of stuff that tenants don’t even realise they’ve lost. Try giving away anything you don’t want to a charity shop rather than binning it.

Speaking of rubbish, please don’t leave piles of bin bags packed to capacity outside your door. Not only are they unsightly, they also encourage rats. Put your rubbish in the correct bins. Again, if we have to remove rubbish from your property, we may have to charge you.

Moving Out of Your Salford and Liverpool Student Accommodation

For further advice on how to keep your house tidy, avoid problems during your tenancy, and ensure you get your whole deposit back, read the information on our website here. If you need to contact us, call on 0800 500 3015. Don’t forget, if your property is left in the same condition as when you were given the keys, we will endeavour to return your deposit within 14 days of the final utility bills being received by Mistoria

Posted on 21-06-2018 02-07-2018

Mistoria Estate Agents expands with launch of new Bolton office

Mistoria Estate Agents, part of the Mistoria Group, specialists in residential and student property sales and lettings, is opening their third office in the heart of Bolton to cater for the growing demand they see in the area. This will be Mistoria’s third estate agency office in the North West following on from their first two locations in Salford and Liverpool.

The new office located at 21a Market Street, Little Lever, Bolton, BL3 1HH will serve the residential property market as well as offering lettings for students and professionals. Mistoria have operated from their Headquarters in Salford since 2009 and expanded initially into Liverpool three years ago.

Mish Liyanage, Managing Director of The Mistoria Group comments: “We have had a great 12 months and are now expanding our business into Bolton as we see great opportunities there for a quality supplier. Our new team has been carefully selected for their local knowledge and they are raring to go.”

“Since we began operations in 2009 we have seen continuous growth and this expansion into Bolton will not be our last. With our expertise in the North West property market, we’ve been able to concentrate on providing the key services that landlords, tenants and those looking to buy and sell their property really want. We’re excited about the future of the region and the great opportunities there are for us.”

With an opening offer to sell your home for just £750 the Mistoria team are competing against both traditional “bricks and mortar” agents as well as the newer online companies. Mish commented further “We have invested heavily over the last few months in our technology platforms and will market our customer’s properties through the market leading property portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla as well as through our own websites and traditional channels.”

The Bolton branch will be holding an open day to celebrate their launch where homeowners looking to sell their property, those wishing to buy or rent a home, as well as landlords searching for a local agent can come along and meet the team. Full details will be announced soon.

The Mistoria Group are high yielding student buy-to-let investment specialists, offering HMOs and armchair investments in the North of UK, generating combined net cash yield up to 13% (Rental and Capital Growth). For more information on the firm’s current available investments and the services it offers, visit us at www.mistoriagroup.com or email at info@mistoriagroup.com or call 0800 500 3015.

Posted on 01-06-2018 03-07-2018

Landlord’s Guide

Being a landlord in 2018 isn’t the same as it was ten years ago, or even two years ago! With ever- changing buy-to-let legislation, whether you are an existing or first-time landlord, there are many recent changes that you need to be aware of.

2016 – Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)

The raise in stamp duty implemented in April 2016 on buy-to-let properties and second homes is by far the biggest change to landlord regulation in recent years, and one you are no doubt already aware of. The rules on this are straightforward; if you are already a property owner (i.e. are currently paying or have finished paying a mortgage of a residential property in the UK), and you purchase an additional property, whether it be a second home or a buy-to-let investment, you are subject to a higher rate of stamp duty.

Property Value	Property Value Standard rate SDLT	New additional property rate SDLT
£0* – £125k	0%	3%
£125k – £250k	2%	5%
£250k – £925k	5%	8%
£925k – £1.5m	10%	13%
£1.5m+	12%	15%

2017 – Tax changes

In addition to higher stamp duty, landlords should also be aware of changes to tax relief. The change only affects those paying a higher rate of tax, who will see a substantial drop in income from their investment property.

Previously, interest on your mortgage and other costs associated with buy-to-let property have been deducted from rental income before any tax is due. However, effective April 2017, landlords are only able to claim tax relief at the basic tax rate of 20%, meaning basic rate tax payers will be unaffected.

This is the one to look out for as the impact won’t be felt until you receive your 2019 tax bill, however it’s vital you evaluate your portfolio now to ensure your investment(s) remains profitable.

It’s also worth noting that this a reduction in tax liability as opposed to a reduction to taxable income. The new rates will be introduced gradually at 25% per year from April 2017, meaning it will be the 2020/21 tax year before they come into full effect.

Tax Year	Percentage of finance costs deductible from rental income	Percentage of basic rate tax reduction
2017/18	75%	25%
2018/19	50%	50%
2019/20	25%	75%
2020/21	0%	100%

2018 – Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES)

As of 1st April 2018 the MEES makes it unlawful to let out a property in the private rented sector with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of F or G (unless exemptions apply). From this date landlords cannot renew or grant new tenancies on a residential property if it does not meet the MEES regulations.

Beyond April 2020, the continued private rental of all buildings failing to meet the minimum standard will be outlawed entirely.

Local councils will have the power to enforce compliance of the MEES, with penalties of up to £5,000, so it’s important landlords carry out the necessary remedial and maintenance work on their buy-to-let properties now to avoid prosecution.

For clarity, this information should be treated as a guide, and is in no way financial or legal advice. Should you require financial or tax assistance in relation to your buy-to-let property or position as a landlord, please speak to our partner company MMC Accountants Ltd.

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Posted on 02-05-2018 15-05-2018

Leaving your Mistoria property

To ensure a smooth exit from your Mistoria Salford or Liverpool student lettings there are a few things we need you, the tenant, to do. Most of it is common sense and involves cleaning up after yourself to ensure the property is left in the same state you found it in when you moved in.

The less cleaning up and maintenance work the Mistoria team have to do at the end of a tenancy, the quicker your deposit can be returned to you, in full.

So we all know where we stand and to ensure a happy outcome, we’ve put together the following check-list so you know what is expected of you before you leave.

Kitchen
Please ensure the fridge freezer is defrosted and that there is no food left inside it, or in the kitchen cupboards.

Do not leave any cutlery, cups, glasses, pots and pans or any other kitchenware behind.

Please clean oven and hob. We recommend ‘Oven Pride’. This is a fairly cheap product that can be purchased from any leading supermarket. (Please ensure you read and follow the instructions on the packaging when using this product).

Bathroom
Please ensure the seal around bath/shower is cleaned and that no bathroom products are left behind. Please ensure bath/shower plugholes are draining and that there are no blockages (from hair for example).

Bedrooms
Please ensure no personal items are left behind. When cleaning your bedroom, please pull-out and clean behind the bed and wardrobe. For safety, ask another housemate to help you with this as these can be heavy items.

Floors and Surfaces
Please ensure that all surfaces all cleaned (desks, wardrobes, windowsills, etc). Ensure all carpets have been hoovered and floors mopped, where applicable. Please empty the hoover when finished.

Rubbish
Remove all rubbish from the property and ensure it is placed into the correct bins. (Failure to place the rubbish in the correct bins may result in the council refusing to empty the bins. Should this happen, tenants will incur a charge for this removal).

Please note, if any rubbish is left behind, you will be charged. This is classed as Tenants Damage and can be deducted from your deposit.

If you have had any pictures or posters etc. hanging on the walls of your bedrooms, please ensure no marks are left from blue tac, Sellotape, etc.

If you would like any further advice regarding what could be classed as Tenant Damage in your property please do not hesitate to call Ian, the Mistoria Maintenance Manager, on 07794 913 390. He will be more than happy to help.

If your property is left in the same condition as when you were given the keys, we will endeavour to return your deposit within 14 days of the final utility bills being received by Mistoria.