| Articles
on line by Philip Suter You
will be leaving this site for many of these articles, joining another site within
the jml Group Accepting
Payments in Euros can prove Expensive Warning for holiday home owners
about accepting rental cheques in euros from a non French euro bank and the costs
involved in trying to cash them. A
Definition of Bed and Breakfast Accommodation in One Place May Not be the Same
as in Another You are off on holiday and book into Bed and breakfast accommodation.
You expect a bed for the night and breakfast in the morning. It might happen in
most places, but not my experience in Barcelona, Spain A
Skiing Holiday Can Still Be Fun Even If You Don't Actually Ski A skiing
holiday when you don't actually ski. It is possible to have a most enjoyable week's
break even when you don't participate in the sport. An
early experience of hiring a car After having trouble
free car rental experiences for several years, in late 2000, I was fined by the
car rental for damage I never caused and many other renters had similar problems
in Nice France Are
there going to be car hire shortages again this summer ?-
In the summer of 2009 there were major problems for people trying to rent cars
in popular locations in Europe. A major factor was because car hire companies
had not taken on the normal levels of vehicles.
Are
women renting vans much in 2011? In
the same month that the European Court of Justice is to ban the use of gender
in insurance policies from December 2012 in UK and following on from the Davies
Report on inequality in the boardroom in the UK, men are still the main renters
of vans. Barcelona,
Spain in February 2006 Was Fabulous A short visit to Barcelona, Spain
in February - a very warm city in many ways. Great people, great places to visit
and eat and drink in. Berlin
in February is fantastic, but can be very cold - A
weekend break in Berlin is great value, there is so much history about and you
won't have a quiet moment, however if you are going in the winter months, take
plenty of warm clothing, you will need it. Beware
Of Hidden Insurance Charges When You Renew Your Mobile Phone Contract In The UK
If you are changing your mobile, take great care that you don’t sign up for one
of the phone company's insurance policies as they might not actually tell you
that you will be taking out this insurance cover Buy
To Let - Beware Of The Extra Costs That You Have Not Budgeted For -
Buy to let investment properties has become very popular in the UK and other countries
in the past ten years. It always pays to budget the project well and allow additional
money for expenditure you did not initially think that you would have to make
on your new rental property Car
hire charges could increase in Ireland - Changes to
the Vehicle Registration Tax allowance and sales of new cars could mean dearer
car rental in Ireland -June 2009 Car
hire insurance can be bought on line anytime -
We are now in an age where nothing closes, well shops and cafes do, but the Internet
is always alive 24/7 and we can shop at our leisure, if it before we go to bed
or get up. It is a good idea to buy Car hire excess insurance before you collect
the car rental and you can do this online and in your own currency at your convenience.
Car
rental advice on Irish Radio 22nd June 09 -
With school holidays fast approaching in Ireland many people will be renting cars
overseas. The Myles Dungan Today consumer programme offered advice on what to
do and not to do. Could
the High Wycombe Woolworths site become the Red Lion Hotel again? The
High Street High Wycombe stands the former Woolworths store that finally closed
in January 2009. It had been there since 1969 and of course up until the early
1960's the famous Red Lion Hotel was there. Don’t
get caught not paying the toll on the M50 in Ireland The
M50 toll no longer has toll booths and a camera system is now in operation to
speed the traffic flow. Make sure you pay by 8.00 the next day or risk a fine Don't
forget to renew your Travel Insurance before you book a trip - August 2009
- Many
people take out annual travel insurance either individually or for a couple or
family. The great thing about this is that you have peace of mind and if you are
taking holidays throughout the year you don't have to keep on buying new insurance Do
we need a high speed train service between London and Birmingham? The
British Government is determined that the High Speed rail link that comes from
the Channel Tunnel to St Pancras in London continues to Birmingham. When that
is completed they want to build a high speed link further north. First
Visit impressions of Morocco Impressions of a visit to Morocco in November
2005 taking in Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakesh /Marrakech. Staying in the Ville
Nouvelle in Casablanca and the Medina in Marrakesh 5
important points to remember when you hire a car, van or motorhome - Renting
a vehicle is normally very straightforward. You make the arrangements online,
by phone or in person, however sometimes there can be unforeseen problems so the
following will be of help.... Focus
On Car Hire Additional Charges -You want to rent a car
for a few days, see a great deal on line and suddenly the original price you thought
you were going to pay has increased dramatically because of additional car hire
charges. Flat
Living Magazine Review - First issue has been published
in October 2009 and it will appear quarterly . There appears to be a lot of information
in the 32 page publication provided by ARMA (The Association of Residential Managing
Agents). Flying
From Heathrow Is Not Necessarily Quicker – A Personal Viewpoint London
Heathrow airport is becoming so busy now and from two flights in 2006 to Nice,
France the delays unreasonable. What is it going to be like in a few years time?
Are people better off timewise from flying from smaller airports like London Luton?
Goodwood
Revival 10 years on -2008
- Back
in 1948 the motor racing circuit a short distance from Chichester and the Sussex
coast was the home to the first post Second World War motor race and then it ended
in 1966.In 1998 it all started again with the first Goodwood Revival and it's
the 10th anniversary on the 19th to 21st September 2008 Hiring
a car can be more expensive than you bargained for - September 2009 - Renting
a car in Dublin can be a lot more expensive than you thought. That car advertised
at £35 per day suddenly becomes nearly £60 per day. It can't help the tourist
market at the moment so look out for the hidden charges Historic
Monaco Grand Prix - Grand Prix de Monaco Historique
In Monaco in May every other year the Historic Grand Prix is held. The event features
cars from the era of the first Monaco Grand Prix in 1929 till 1978. It is a very
inexpensive and enjoyable way to spend a weekend watching some traditional motor
racing. Holiday
Home Insurance outside the UK and Ireland (or inside the UK)
Overseas
holiday home ownership is at an all time high and numerous owners have problems
with foreign languages, so it is vitally important that their insurance policy
is written in English. How
car hire rental companies try to discourage you from buying car hire excess insurance
from other sources than their provider When
I recently rented a car in Nice, France the car hire company Europcar wanted to
see me car hire excess insurance. This is one of the ways that a car hire rental
operator can increase its revenue from the commission paid by an insurance company. How
Irish car hire companies are not improving Irish Tourism Article -
October 2010 - After renting cars in different countries over the years, it appears
that the Irish car hire companies are always trying to find ways of gaining additional
revenue for their customers and this cannot be helpful to the tourist market.
How
to save money when you hire a car - Normally when you
hire a car the vehicle will come with a full tank of fuel. Under the hire agreement
in most cases you will find that you have to return the car with a full tank or
the car hire company will re-fuel the vehicle, but will usually make an administrative
charge for doing this. In
the Property Game? -
One the UK's major rental insurance company's is stating that 53 per cent of all
UK landlords are not insured for the risks they are exposed to. Rental insurance
can be offset against tax and is one essential a landlord can't afford to be without
today. Inventories
in Rental Properties in the UK The process of preparing, checking in and
out an inventory in a rental property in the UK Irish
car hire companies are taking visitors for a ride For
most people visiting a different location can be very exciting, however if you
are going to Ireland renting a car there can give you quite a headache.
Irish
Car Rental Companies make customers buy their car hire insurance by financial
constraints
-
Irish car rental companies are making it very difficult for customers to use independently
purchased car hire excess insurance by insisting they pay a large deposit at the
time of hire. Unless you are carrying a credit card with a high credit amount
that can cover an instant deduction of €1,300 or more you have to buy their very
expensive product. Irish
Tourism in 2011 - Two reports appeared at the end of
2010 regarding the state of Irish Tourism. The country needs revenue from tourists,
however getting to Ireland and moving about in Ireland if you rent a car can be
very expensive. Is
Your Home Fully Protected Against Winter Winter comes every year
- In Europe and other continents there is a large change in temperature. People
go off on holiday, but do they protect their house against the elements? Is
your Holiday Home Insurance Policy Written in a Language that you can Understand?
With more and more English speaking people purchasing second homes that they use
as a holiday home in mainland Europe, it is most important that when they buy
their the insurance for the property, that they actually can understand it. If
it is written in English it can be much more beneficial. It
Certainly Does Rain in Lisbon (Lisboa) Portugal in February - A few days
in Lisbon in February can be wet as you are still very much in the rainy season.
Lisbon is a fascinating city, excellent transport, probably could do with a better
selection of restaurants, but a great place for a city break It
is most important to check out the insurance products sold on line
- Since
2002 I have been running insurance and self catering holiday home advertising
websites as an introducer agent under the terms of the UK's FSA regulations. This
means I cannot offer advice, speak to any clients or accept money on behalf of
an insurance provider. Landlord
Insurance Information on to why a landlord should take out insurance
for their rental property... Legal
Protection Insurance is essential when you are letting out your property In
the UK there are now numerous let properties and although tenants can be properly
referenced, sometimes they stop paying their rent and Legal expenses insurance
is required. Even if you don't think you will need it, you never know when you
tenant might have a rental problem. Lettings
in South Bucks Still Going Strong
- Although
many local estate agents in South Bucks are finding business very slow on the
sales side, those with Residential letting offices or our stand alone lettings
agents are very busy. From my work in a local agent in High Wycombe, I have noticed
that the telephone lines are very busy, people keep on coming in through the door
to look for rentals or to sign up to a letting and this is good news. Employment
levels are still good and those that could be tempted to buy are finding they
are having to wait longer - December 2008. Looks
like the Stena HSS is running again from Wales to Ireland -
Looking at the Stena Line website it appears that the HSS Stena Explorer will
be in operation from Wednesday 26th May. The service was cut at the start of 2010
with the fast ferry resting in Holyhead. At the time Stena announced on their
website it was being refitted, but appears taken out of service till the summer
schedule was effective - May 2010 Make
Sure the Price is Right on Your Residential Letting There are more long
term rentals and holiday rentals on the market within Europe, so it most important
that the property is being offered on the rental market at the right price to
attract renters. It is easy to ask too much and very easy to have no takers. Nice
and the South of France in January Taking
a break in the South of France can be great at any time of the year, however in
January the weather is often much better than in northern Europe and it is a lot
less crowded than in the summer. Own
a property overseas? Is the insurance policy written in English? With
so many English speaking people now having a second home overseas it is vitally
important that the insurance is written in a language you can understand. Personal
safety for Letting Agent and Estate Agents
People within the industry and outside will know the stories of Suzy Lamplugh
and Stephanie Slater two Estate Agents in the UK who showed the "wrong applicant
around" a property. A guide for sales and rental agents. Prague
at the end of October Visitors
to Prague in the Czech Republic speak very warmly of the city, culture and it's
people. It was interesting to spend a few days there in late October to find out
if this was all true.
Problems
with Accepting Housing Benefit in England and Wales For an owner
of a rental property the fact that the local council or corporation will pay the
rent for your tenant, this unfortunately is not always the best. Recession
what recession in Dublin Ireland? - Eating out in the
suburbs of Ireland is very expensive; however restaurants appear to be busy even
on a Monday night in late June. Although jobs are going, some people look like
they have money to burn. Rental
Scams in Self Catering Holiday Home Lettings The growing problem of making
out they want to rent a holiday home by sending a large bogus payment to the property
owner whom they have found via the Internet. Renting
/ Letting in Ireland The PRTB - rent regulations came into force in the
Republic of Ireland in December 2004 Renting
a Car Can Prove More Expensive Than Originally Budgeted For The hidden
extras when you rent a car, fuel surcharges, additional drivers and excess insurance
if the car is damaged and it is not your fault. Renting
a car in the USA is quite cheap until you get all the add-ons -
A friend recently rented a car for six days in the USA and the initial charge
of $150 (GBP£90) looked very attractive, however the final bill came out in the
region of $590 (£370 approx) which is quite a difference. Review
of ARLA Agreement Magazine on Insurance (August 2009) -
Latest
ARLA - "trade" magazine has covered some the landlord and tenant insurance
providers. Sanremo
- Italian Riviera - Italy If you are staying in the South of France and
feeling like taking a day trip into Italy Sanremo is a perfect place to visit. Sending
a cheque from one Euro zone country to another is frustrating and very expensive…don't
bother - The Euro has been in existence for over ten
years now in many member countries and if you try and send a cheque drawn on a
bank from member country and bank it in another be prepared for a long delay and
very high costs St
Petersburg in early December -St Petersburg, Russia
in early December is very cold, however with plenty of snow, warm clothing it
is well worth a short stay break. You are made to feel very welcome and soon get
used to the low temperatures and short days of day light.
The
accelerating cost of taking a car on holiday to Ireland -
The cost of taking your car to Ireland has become very expensive. Ireland needs
tourists, but they are going to go to other countries instead of these costs continue
to rise. Taking a car to Ireland can cost £340 more than taking it to France. The
Cannes Film Festival - le Festival International du Film de Cannes The
festival is held every May, it is an opportunity for directors from all over the
world to show their work. If you are in the area at that time you can really have
a great day and night watching the rich and famous or those seeking fame.You can
even see movies on the beach. The
Cheapest Letting Rental Agent May Not Be The Best For Value In
the UK and other European countries there is now a great choice of rental agents
to let your property. Going to a cheap one or one who cuts fees may not be the
a good idea. They might not be qualified or belong to a Professional trade Association
and might even go off with your rent. The
Midas Touch Lloyds Banking Group sale of Heal - jml
Property insurance blog Nov 7th 09 - The 23rd October 09 edition of the estate
agents magazine "The Negotiator" has an introduction editorial "The Midas touch"
regarding the Lloyds Banking Group's proposed sale of the Halifax Estate Agents
(HEAL) to the LSL Group There
is a lot of competition about in the car hire insurance market - May 2010 -
In
2002 there was only one player in the car hire excess insurance market, today
in 2010 there are at least 31 and numbers still increasing. Does this mean that
the customer is benefiting or just becoming more confused? Touring
Tipperary, Ireland (or part of it) - A four day tour
of Tipperary, Ireland in June, based at a superb country house B & B makes a perfect
early summer break. Visiting
the 50th Juan Les Pins Jazz Festival 2010 - The 50th
International Jazz Festival at Antibes Juan-les-Pins (Jazz à Juan) was on between
14th and 25th July. The weather was superb with some of the hottest July days
for 30 years and a great cast of performers Water
Restrictions in the South of England – Water a Very Precious Resource The
summer of 2006 has seen a lot of water shortages in the South of England, the
situation is not going to get better so new properties should be made whenever
possible to have storage facilities installed to collect rain water and use it
for flusing the WC and even for shower or bath Whatever
has happened to Mike Blackburn's Halifax? - In
the UK most of the former building societies that converted to banks, have been
taken over. One such bank is HSBOS that was formed partly from the growth of the
Halifax under the era of it's Chief Executive Mike Blackburn. Who's
Been Sleeping in My Bed – The Problems of Sharing Your Holiday Home with Paying
Guests Owning a holiday home might be ideal until you let in the paying
guests. Once you agree to let it becomes a business and so if you let you have
to put up with inconveniences We
Have a Damp Problem, No it is Just a Condensation Problem Tenants frequently
complain that they have damp problems, however they are mostly condensation problems
because they are not opening windows in the kitchen or bathroom. What
will London Luton Airport charge for next ? In late
June the taxi took us to London Luton Airport that was once a great place to travel
from. Now you have the feeling that they will shortly be influenced by one of
their major customers Ryanair and even charge for the toilets. (jmlvillas.com
Blog July 09) Where
have all the car hire rentals gone?
We
are now in mid August 2009 at the height of the summer season and for the second
week in the row The Independent has featured this story, not only as a news report
but also in the editorial. It appear that holidaymakers are finding a severe shortage
of rental cars in countries like Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and other destinations. Why
Do I Need Travel Insurance? Personal Experiences Personal Travel experiences
with and without travel insurance over the past fifteen years. Why
use a letting agent to let your property in the UK and when you do, make sure
that the agent is qualified With
a large Buy-to-Let market in the UK, it is vitally important that Landlords use
qualified letting agents to let out their properties.
Philip
Suter is a Director of jml Property Services; http://www.jmlproperty.co.uk a UK
based company offering Insurance products on line at http://www.jml-property-insurance.co.uk
and a holiday home advertising service http://www.jmlvillas.com and management
training within the uk. He a travel writer and is a very experienced property
consultant with over 30 years work in the Residential letting business in the
UK and served on the National Council of ARLA. He is a Fellow of the National
Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and a Member of The association of Residential
Letting Agents (ARLA) 
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