OUTLOO  September 2008

A monthly e-newsletter covering Industrial, Commercial & Retail Property, in North Oxfordshire,

North Gloucestershire, South Northants and South Warwickshire. 

Published by BANKIER SLOAN CHARTERED SURVEYORS.

Acquisitions: Sales: Lettings: Lease Renewals: Rent Reviews: Planning: Rating: Management

Regional Property Helplines :  01869 338866  and  01608 652888

Please "forward" to any friends or colleagues you think may be interested and hopefully they will reply directly to us saying "YES PLEASE" and we'll add them to our register. Our e-mail address is reception@centre-p.co.uk

I hoped you enjoyed the beach and the sunshine. If it was the latter then you probably didn't holiday in the UK!

 

Whilst you've been away the economy may not have got much better, the telephones may not have rung that frequently, but I remain very positive that the next three months will actually see an improvement in the amount of activity in the industrial and commercial property market.

 

All has not been totally quiet. The week I went on holiday clients completed on the letting of a shop in Deddington, I showed a retained client round a rural site coming very close to reaching a deal to take a new lease at some £45,000 per annum (a mixture of offices and warehouse),  I received an offer at £450,000 for a freehold industrial property, and I agreed new lease terms on behalf of a client on a retail unit in the centre of Banbury. Completion also took place on a new lease for an existing tenant who occupies a substantial rural property at £58,000 per annum. We also completed a letting on a 9,700 sq ft unit on Thorpe Way Industrial Estate.

 

What we found through July and August is that while the quantity of enquiries was down, the quality was good. Those who were bothering to 'phone were making genuine enquiries about a variety of properties and we probably had a busier August than I had in 2007. As schools go back this week I think it is almost inevitable that the phones will once again ring and we will see an upturn in enquiries, and I am sure we will see a further flow of instructions. 2008 may yet prove to be ok!

 

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Rural Property Required: We are continuing to seek on behalf of a client a rural property somewhere between Stratford and Kidlington within easy reach of the M40. The current requirement is approximately 3,500 to 4,000 sq ft of offices, and approximately 3,000 to 3,500 sq ft of warehouse accommdation. For full details please see http://www.centre-p.co.uk/PROPERTY%20REQUIREMENTS.pdf

 

Workshop, Aynho:  Work has now finished on this inexpensive 1,600 sq ft unit.  New lease, rent £6,500 per annum. For full details telephone 01869 338866.

 

The Payment of Rates on Empty Properties: We have been making enquiries from local authorities in respect of the payment of rates on empty properties, and while it is not possible to avoid such payments after a six month period we do believe we have come up with an interesting idea which will greatly reduce future rate liabilities where a property is expected to be left empty for a considerable period of time. If you would like our information sheet on this, which we will provide you with free of charge (even though we think it might save you a fortune!), you promise to give us credit, and/or remember us when you have your next instruction. Interested?...then please email reception@centre-p.co.uk writing the words "empty rates" in the subject box, and within seven days we will forward to you this information sheet. The reason it is not immediately available is I've just come back from holiday and I wish to ensure the wording is absolutely correct before distributing.

 

Solicitors: We are continuing to add to the list of solicitors specialising in commercial conveyencing and we look forward to hearing from other practices who are actively involved within the geographical area covered by Bankier Sloan (Coventry to the North, The Cotswolds to the West, Oxford to the South, and Milton Keynes to the East). See www.centre-p.co.uk/Solicitors.pdf.

 

Section 26 Notice: I am sure some tenants believe that the current Market Rent of their property is less than they are currently paying. I have recently advised a client to serve a Section 26 Notice and we are in the process of negotiations. I tell you this only to remind those who may have forgotten, or may never have known, that a tenant is able to serve a notice at the end of a lease, seeking a new agreement in exactly the same way as a landlord. The tenants notice is a Section 26 as opposed to the much more commonly used Section 25 Notice served by landlords. Having served a Section 26 Notice it is of course up to the tenant to make the running in the legal process but it may well be worth doing. I would be very happy to advise clients in connection with this matter. I would warn tenants who are looking to do this however that in the vast majority of cases 2008 Market Rents will be higher than when they took on the lease, but this will depend greatly on the type and location of the commercial property involved and we do strongly recommend therefore that you seek professional advice, not only from your solicitor but also from a chartered surveying practise such as Bankier Sloan, dependent upon the location of your property.

 

Available Properties We would just like to remind you that our Available Properties list has now been updated, it now says "September", and a full listing is available at http://www.centre-p.co.uk/availablemain.htm

 

Lease Renewals 2009: Now is the time to start thinking about those rent reveiws or lease renewals which are due to take place in March 2009 or beyond. As a landlord you may need to start thinking about serving a Section 25 Notice, but as with a Section 26 Notice we strongly advise you get professional advice before serving such notices.

 

Residential Site, Rugby: We had a sale lined up on this site, the developer went through the planning process and has now obtained a detailed planning consent for a development in Bilton, close to Rugby Town Centre. Unfortunately the finance has not been forthcoming but we do believe there is great opportunity for a developer who wishes to take up this scheme. If you wish details please email reception@centre-p.co.uk writing the words "Bilton Site" in the subject box, providing your full postal address and we will send you an Ordnance Survey plan and drawing to show what permission has been granted, along with a copy of the relevant planning consent.

 

Freehold factory, Rugby:   The existing property (on the above site) is a 2,400 sq ft factory/store with an excellent self contained flat, and outside storage. We continue to seek offers in the region of £380,000.   Please e-mail reception@centre-p.co.uk with the words "Factory, Bilton" in the subject box if this is of interest.

 

Freehold for Sale, Lower Cherwell Street, Banbury: Although earlier we drew your attention to the entire Available Properties list, we would ask you to look particularly at www.centre-p.co.uk/Lower%20Cherwell%20Street,%20Banbury.pdf. Close to this is a residential development and we are sure at some moment in the fairly near future this will be part of a further development scheme. Currently operated as a ground floor mechanics workshop, there is a vacant workshop/office at the front, and a complete first floor of  office accommodation needing attention!   At a price of £215,000 we think this could be an exellent investment, both in the short and long term.

 

Overthorpe Road - Factory: The outgoing tenant is about to start repainting this property in accordance with the terms of the current lease. When finished we will have returned to our client a superb 4,600 sq ft office/warehouse unit, ideal for a company who will appreciate this quality office with adjacent storage, situated within half a mile of Junction 11 of the M40.  See www.centre-p.co.uk/Overthorpe%20Road(Blakedowns).pdf.

 

Edited by Ian B Sloan FRICS – 3rd September 2008

BANKIER SLOAN

The longest established Chartered Surveyors in the region dealing exclusively with

Industrial, Commercial & Retail Property.

North Oxfordshire, North Gloucestershire, South Northants and South Warwickshire.

Deddington 01869 338866   -  Brackley 01280 700756

Moreton-in-Marsh 01608 652888  -   Coventry 02476 545556