Landlord Times July 2026 Edition

LANDLORD TIMES

July 2026 Edition

Monthly news for landlords brought to you by:

At SBK Lettings, we believe that providing an exceptional service to our landlords starts with investing in our people. We thought it would be valuable to share some of the work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure every member of our team is fully

trained, knowledgeable, and up to date with the latest legislation, compliance requirements, and best practice within the lettings industry

Welcoming New Team Members

Every new member of staff begins their journey with a comprehensive induction programme.

On their first day, our Operations Manager, Tara, spends dedicated time introducing them to our CRM system, ensuring they have access to all the tools they require and that they fully understand our company processes, standards, and expectations.

New starters also complete a series of online training courses and assessments, covering workplace legislation, compliance, and essential industry regulations. This provides them with a solid foundation before beginning their in-house training programme alongside experienced colleagues and their branch manager.

Ongoing Development

Training doesn't stop once someone has settled into their role.

Our Area Directors, Jo and Chloe, regularly visit each branch to support their teams, review performance, and identify any areas where additional coaching or development would be beneficial. Following recent branch visits, they identified opportunities to further enhance standards around property visit reports and the increasingly complex process of managing endof-tenancy checkouts. As a result, they organised a full-day training workshop for all Property Managers across every branch.

Raising the Standard of Property Visits

Property visits are far more than a routine visit. During the training, our Property Managers explored the importance of producing detailed, high-quality inspection reports and understanding exactly what to look for.

Comprehensive reports provide

landlords with reassurance that their investment is being carefully looked after, while also allowing us to identify maintenance concerns at an early stage. They also help us ensure properties remain compliant by checking that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are present, operational, and meet current legal requirements.

Managing End-of-Tenancy Checkouts

One of the most technical aspects of property management is handling the end of a tenancy. Many people are unaware of the level of work involved before any deductions can even be proposed. Before completing a checkout, we must assess factors such as the number of occupants, the length of the tenancy, and the expected lifespan of items within

the property. Many fixtures, fittings, floor coverings, and decorative finishes have recognised life expectancies, and these must be considered carefully before any claim can be made.

Our Property Managers then compare the checkout report against the original inventory, identify any tenant damage beyond fair wear and tear, calculate any remaining lifespan where applicable, discuss findings with the landlord, obtain contractor quotations, and prepare evidence to submit any proposed deductions to the tenant.

Should a tenant dispute those deductions, the case may be referred to the Tenancy Deposit Scheme for independent adjudication. This means our team must ensure every proposed

deduction is fair, reasonable, fully evidenced, and complies with current tenancy deposit legislation and industry guidance. It is a detailed process that requires extensive knowledge, accuracy, and attention to detail to achieve the best possible outcome for our landlords.

Preparing for the Renters' Rights Act

Keeping ahead of legislative change is another key part of our commitment to professional development.

Ahead of the introduction of the Renters' Rights Act, SBK Lettings

Regional Director Rebecca Dean, delivered multiple workshops to ensure every member of staff understood the upcoming changes before they came into effect on 1 May 2026.

Preparing for new legislation involved much more than training sessions. A significant amount of work took place behind the scenes to review and update training materials, guidance documents, company procedures, and the paperwork used daily across our branches, ensuring every process remained fully compliant with the new regulations.

Our Commitment to You

Behind every tenancy is a team continuously learning, developing, and adapting to an ever-changing industry.

By investing in regular training and professional development, we ensure our staff have the knowledge and confidence to protect our landlords' interests, remain fully compliant with the latest legislation, and deliver the highest possible standard of service.

It's all part of our commitment to providing expert property management and to giving our landlords complete peace of mind.

Renters’ Rights Act intensifies need for rigorous tenant referencing

The abolition of rent in advance is arguably one of the most challenging aspects of the Renters’ Rights Act for landlords. Against a backdrop of new regulatory pressure, it has never been more crucial for landlords to keep properties occupied and voids to a minimum. A robust referencing process protects income, reduces risk, and gives landlords confidence before a tenancy begins.

At SBK Lettings we work with HomeLet who offer one of the most comprehensive tenant referencing processes on the market. Their new VISTA referencing system is at the forefront of progress in this field, Mike Dawson, Head of Sales at HomeLet explains:

“Our new VISTA system is a bestin-class approach to referencing, combining people, technology

and data. The system offers fraud protection and prevention, identity verification, income and affordability assessment and a purpose-built application score to give landlords a bespoke indicator of an applicant’s credit worthiness. We’re excited to be the first provider to provide a reference using actual affordability, this is a huge step forward providing much needed peace of mind for landlords operating in today’s changing market.”

Rebecca Dean, SBK Lettings Regional Director, says: “Thorough referencing is so important for landlords, and it can make all the difference when it comes to identifying the right tenant. Ensuring our landlords have the best level of

protection is a key part of our service and HomeLet continues to lead the way with its leadingedge rent guarantee and tenant referencing offerings which is why they are our partner of choice.”

If you would like to understand more about HomeLet’s services, please click here to view our video, or ask your local SBK Lettings team for more information.

Supporting the Next Generation

This week, two of our Market Harborough Lettings team had the pleasure of volunteering at a Year 10 Careers Day at a local secondary school, where they helped students prepare for the world of work by conducting a series of mock interviews.

Throughout the day, students were supported by volunteers from local businesses, who offered advice on matters relating to

job seeking, such as; how to successfully complete application forms, how to develop interview skills, and provided constructive feedback on interview technique, communication skills, and overall presentation. The aim was to help build students’ confidence while giving practical advice on areas they could improve before applying for future jobs, apprenticeships, or further education.

It was a rewarding experience for Dimple and Louise from our Market Harborough branch who shared their knowledge to help equip young people with the skills they’ll need as they take their first steps into employment. At SBK Lettings we’re proud to support initiatives like this that invest in the future workforce and strengthen links with our local communities.

MEET THE LEADERSHIP TEAM...

As you may know, we recently refreshed our brand and have a fresh new look. In addition, some of our job titles have also changed slightly so we thought it might be useful to share our current Leadership structure, so you can see the friendly faces in charge at your local branch. As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to them with any queries.

Rebecca Dean MARLA

Regional Director - SBK Lettings

Chloe Warner Area Director - Midlands

Leicestershire, Coventry & Nuneaton

Josh Jones Managing Director

Evesham & Pershore

Lauren Harvey Managing Director

Oadby & Loughborough

Gavin Stokes Managing Director

Nuneaton

Jo Egan MARLA Area Director - Midlands Warwickshire, Worcestshire & Solihull

Lauren Chandler Managing Director Coventry

Claire Paginton Managing Director

Leamington Spa

Sophie Biddle Managing Director

Market Harborough

Sarah Scaysbrook Managing Director

Shipston-on-Stour & Stratford-upon-Avon

Prize draw winner!

We would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to all the readers who took the time to respond to our Landlord Times survey last month. The responses were overwhelmingly positive with 50% of respondents saying they find the publication

very useful and a further 21% saying they find it extremely useful. Over two thirds said they find the articles interesting and 92% are happy with the current format. With people viewing Landlord Times on various devices, we will work to ensure that

it is as user-friendly as possible across all platforms moving forwards.

Congratulations to our prize draw winner Velia Buckley who wins £50 of John Lewis vouchers!

AND THE WINNER IS... VELIA BUCKLEY

At SBK Lettings, we pride ourselves in delivering an exceptional, professional and personal service to both our landlords and their tenants. Our fully trained property managers have a wealth of experience with property maintenance and will aim to care for our clients’ properties at the highest level whilst endeavouring to achieve the best possible return from their investment. For more information please call us and one of our team will be more than happy to help.

Rebecca Dean MARLA Regional Director - SBK Lettings

01789 867110

Rebecca.dean@sbklettings.co.uk

• First floor studio apartment

• Modern shower room

• EPC - C Greenhill Street, Stratford-upon-Avon

• No on-ward chain

• Town centre location

• The property previously generated £7,800 per annum

For auction properties click logo

• A company sale offering excellent returns on investment

• 15 double and one single self-contained high quality studios within walking distance of Coventry city centre

Gross yield of 12% £65,000

• Fully occupied with existing tenancies in place at good market rents

Price on Application

• Modern self-contained living spaces

• EPC - C London Road, Coventry

Road,

• End-terraced family home

• Ground floor WC and upstairs bathroom

• Prime Earlsdon location

• Finham Park and Earlsdon Primary catchment

• Current rent value of £1,200 pcm

• EPC - E

1 High Street, Cubbington, CV32 7LY

• Freehold Grade II Listed building

• Three self-contained one-bedroom flats

• Fully let producing immediate income

• Strong rental history

• Current rent value of £27,120 PA.

• EPC - C & D

of 12.3%

• Open-plan kitchen and living room

• Two double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes

• Walking distance to mainline train station to London

• Current rent value of £1,025 pcm

• Second floor apartment which can be access via lift or stairs

• Open-plan kitchen and living room

• Two double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes

• Covered parking

• Walking distance to mainline train station to London

• Current rent value of £975 pcm

• EPC - D

£230,000

Sheldon Bosley Knight is delighted to offer an off-market, exclusive opportunity of either individual plots or multiple unit discounted packages from developer David Wilson Homes. With various property styles there is plenty to suit your investment needs.

> Luxury three- and four-bedroom homes at Heritage Grange located just a short drive from Leamington Spa and Warwick.

> Built within 14.3 acres of green space, enjoy scenic walks and a family-friendly play area.

> Energy efficient homes with solar panels and EV car charging points.

> 20-minute drive to Leamington Spa and Warwick town centres with a regular bus service available.

> Close to the M40 motorway with easy links to Birmingham and Oxford.

> Discover countryside living with city convenience.

*Discounts and exclusive multiple unit packages are only available

For more information please contact Jack Richardson and the New Homes Team on 01789 333 466

the village of Stretton on Fosse, approximately 2.5 miles southwest of Shipston on Stour, and 3.5 miles north of Moreton in Marsh.

Access The land is accessed directly from Tankards Hill, Stretton on Fosse.

Buildings

fronted brick equestrian shelter with an attached stable used for feed and hay storage, all enclosed within ring gate. In addition, there is a separately

across

Designations

A water connection is present to a trough on the land. The Agent has not tested the services and Buyers must rely on their own due diligence.

Tankards Hill, Stretton on Fosse, Warwickshire, GL56

• 5.23 acres of Grade 3 pastureland

• Open-fronted brick shelter with separate brick stable

• Self-enclosed hard standing area for parking and Shipston-on-Stour

Soil Type The land is classified as Grade 3 agricultural land, and the soils are For further information please call 01608 661666 (option 3) or email rural@sheldonbosleyknight.co.uk

• A water connection is present via a trough

• Perfect as a pony paddock or alternative uses (STPP)

• Redundant agricultural buildings extending to approximately 1,800 square feet

• 8.26 acres of Grade 3 pastureland with excellent road frontage

• Suitable for amenity or other alternative uses STPP Land off Tankards Hill, Stretton on Fosse

• Excellent connections to surrounding towns such as Moreton-in-Marsh and Shipston-on-Stour

£120,000 £200,000

Cleeve Prior, Evesham Road, Evesham,WR11 8JZ

• 21.82 acres (8.83 ha) of Grade 3 pastureland

• Located within the village of Cleeve Prior

• Direct road access form Evesham Road

• Potential for development; subject to planning

• Development potential STPP

• Investment opportunity

• Current rent £20,000 per annum

• 255m2 (2,739.81 Sq Ft)

• EPC - D Forest Road, Loughborough Gross yield of 2.9% £600,000

• Centrally located close to the town centre

• Large car park

• Former Garden Nurseries with potential for redevelopment; subject to planning

• Extending to approximately 8.7 acres (3.52 ha)

• Accessed off of Station Road via a track Blackminster Nurseries, Evesham

£650,000

Development land south of Banbury Road, Ettington

• Residential development opportunity

• Outline planning permission for up to 21 dwellings

• Eight open market dwellings and 13 self-build and custom-build • For sale by Private Treaty

*All rental values and subsequent yields are only estimates unless tenanted and subject to

£2,500,000

• Prominent high street location

• Investment opportunity

• Gross internal area: 434m (46,802 sq ft)

• Passing rental value: £47,000 per annum

• Leased to a national covenant

Court Lane, Evesham

• Modern, two-storey office extending to approx. 1,575 sq ft

• Let to Raycom Ltd on a five-year FRI lease from June 2022, providing secure income

• Current rental £14,500 per annum

• Bright office space with suspended ceilings, LED lighting, partitioned meeting rooms, kitchen and WC

• Situated in Abbey Lane Court, an established business park with on-site parking and easy access to A46 and Evesham town centre 9 Abbey

• Part exchange considered 9

• Planning permission granted to split flat into two, one-bedroom flats

• Highly desirable location

• Residential accommodation to be vacant upon sale

• Current rental £20,000 per annum

Gross yield of 2.4% £825,000

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