At Brownstones Property Services, we aim to provide you with as much help and assistance as you need. We know many people have questions and queries regarding the housing market right now, and we are here to assist you.

If you have stayed in touch with Government guidance for the housing market, you will know that agents have been issued advice on moving home. Agreements can be made between landlords and tenants, and as a company, we are doing everything we can to ensure our clients receive safe and satisfactory support.

Some people are looking to move rental property soon

We appreciate many people have no intention of moving home now or at any point shortly. However, many people are keen to move now or soon. There are always reasons why people want to move to a new rental property, and a lot of people will use the lockdown time to consider their next move in the market.

One of the most critical elements for landlords to consider when placing a rental property on the market is the property valuation. With a realistic appraisal, the landlord can enter the market in confidence, justifying the rental fee they are looking for.

A range of factors influence property valuations, and the value is about much more than the property itself. Yes, the size, shape, the number of rooms and condition of the property matter when placing a value on a property, but so do many external factors.

External factors influence rental fees and property values

Issues like school places, transport options, crime rates, shops, restaurants, bars, community groups and virtually every aspect of modern life influence demand for rental property, and what people are willing to pay in rent each month.

Therefore, landlords should call on a local agent to value their home. A local agent who has experience in assessing homes, and who knows the local area well, will provide a more realistic value and rental fee appraisal.

Making an informed decision makes it easier for landlords to connect with tenants, and this is still the case during the lockdown. Tenants are looking to move home and realistic valuation matters.

Virtual valuation services may not be a perfect way to evaluate a property, but it is a workable solution for the situation we are all dealing with. Virtual valuations allow the rental process to continue as close to expected, and it helps provide landlords and tenants with greater confidence.

Everyone is looking for information these days, and if you are keen to stay up to date with the Slough rental market, we are here for you. At Brownstones Property Services, we are pleased to say we have brought many local landlords and tenants together, and we look forward to assisting you. If we can be of any help to you, please contact us today.

With house price growth significantly outpacing London, unemployment levels

at a third of the national average, and huge investment in its town centre, Slough won’t be best-known as the butt of jokes by Ricky Gervais and John Betjeman for long.

In fact, anyone who dismisses this Berkshire town is likely to be laughing out of the other side of their face as this under-the-radar commuter hotspot’s star continues to rise — for all the right reasons this time.

Already just 18 minutes from Paddington station and on the doorstep of Heathrow airport, the Berkshire town is set to get even better connected to the capital once Crossrail opens, with a full 24 minutes set to be shaved off the journey time to Canary Wharf.

This will open up Slough as a place to live for workers in a range of different sectors and locations, attracted by the comparative affordability of the town.

Property in Slough

Unlike other parts of the South East, Slough’s relatively low house prices, coupled with booming employment and £450 million of investment in regeneration and development projects, offer the promise of a rising property market in a region where most areas are experiencing a slump.

Rightmove figures show that the average flat in London cost £547,000 in 2018, while flats in Slough sold for an average of £243,000.

However, while London house prices remained broadly flat compared to the year before, house prices in Slough rose by four per cent in the same period, suggesting the town’s property market is weathering the current political uncertainty.

In the longer term, property prices for areas within a mile of a Crossrail station are expected to rise by 36 per cent after the line has been operating for a year, compared to 2014 prices, according to research from JLL.

Living and working in Slough

Slough is more than just a dormitory town for London, however, with a thriving local economy — a recent survey even named it the best place to live and work in the UK.

Employment website Glassdoor found that there were over 26,000 job vacancies advertised in Slough and an average salary of £35,000.

The town is also home to the largest number of global corporate headquarters outside of London, including O2, Amazon and Mars.

Multi-million pound investment is also set to transform Slough’s town centre with new and improved shops, office space, leisure offerings and homes.

“Slough is far enough away from the capital to remain an affordable alternative living option but close enough for an effortless commute in and out for work and leisure,” says Andy Foote, director of SevenCapital.

“Slough also has lots of untapped potential, which includes numerous sites that can still be redeveloped for leisure, residential and employment opportunities — all of which appeal to young professionals.”

Where to buy in Slough

Estate agent Countrywide has tipped Slough as the top spot for people moving out of the capital.

And this new wave of Londoners are looking for the right type of home to appeal to their high standards, combining convenience with stylish design and a luxurious finish, whether they are renting or buying.

With most of the apartments at Steel House, only 100m from Crossrail, already sold off-plan, there are diminishing opportunities to buy into Slough at the right level to appeal to the growing number of professionals living in the town.

Steel House is the only private development in Slough offering secure underground parking, balconies on each flat and a landscaped residents’ courtyard. Interiors and fixtures are high-spec and there’s an app for residents and high-speed utilities on site.