Louise is away

Amir and I are away from 7th January and until 19th Janauary.  Please contact Chris for any problems with the properties in Manchester.  If anyone wants to view a property for next year, I suggest you just knock on the door and the current tenants will show you around.  Or you may want to call Chris on 07761 011 183 to make an appointment.

TURN ON YOUR ALARM

We have had a break-in into one of our properties over the Christmas holidays and there is still two weeks to go.  I am afraid this is not unusual and so many have been reported to the police they are taking little interest.  The house that was broken into did not have the intruder alarm on which enabled the burglars to have the time to go through the place thoroughly and break down doors that were locked.  The front door had not been locked and they managed to just jemmy it open.  Tenants - Please, Please lock your front door especially if you out of the house and we definitely recommend it to lock it when you are inside for extra security.  Always set the intruder alarm when you are out.

KEEP THE HEATING ON

In all my properties, please keep the heating going to prevent frozen pipes – even if you are not there.  It is probably worth keeping the heating on 24 hours when the temperatures are subzero to keep the house at a fairly contant temperature.  If the heating breaks down let us know immediately.

Looking for a house or a flat

It is coming to the end of the winter term.  Some student groups have already been to see our properties on the manchesterletting website and have reserved properties.  You should be getting your groups sorted so that you are ready to start looking in earnest next term.  That is when it all happens in Manchester.  Early, I know, but that is the habit of the students to get it sorted quickly.  So go to the website and see what is available.

Renting for next year

I have now updated all the properties on the website.  Anyone wanting to view a property should phone me first – my number is on the website.  The current tenants get first refusal for next year and it will take me until the end of the year to find out definitely which groups are staying.  In the mean time if anyone is really interested I give them first refusal at the beginning of next term.  I do not start the formal transaction until then as I have found in the past that groups tend to change over the Christmas vacation and I end up doing the work twice.  So look forward to hearing from you.

Winter in Manchester

I always think that winter starts on Guy Fawkes night.  The daylight hours are short and the gloves and scarves come out.  Be sure to be careful when walking the streets round the university and the favourite areas for housing in Fallowfield and Withington in the dark.  Ventilate (that is open a window) in your bedroom to clear any damp.  With the heating going condensation forms on the windows and the walls if the rooms are not properly ventilated.  Student rooms tend to be crowded with clothes and often clothes are dried in the bedroom so of course it is not a surprise that damp is a problem.  It is also a time to time to pick your flatmates for next year as you will soon be looking for properties for the next academic year.

Louise is away till Wed 14th Oct

Just to let my tenants know that I am away from now till 14th October.  If you need anything send me an email on louise@eilonassociates.com.  Anything to do with the maintenance of the properties in Manchester please ring 07900315180.

Room to let in one of my houses

One of the tenants at 40 Cawdor Road has decided not to return to university.  This means that the remaining 5 tenants are looking for someone to share with them.  You can see details on the website although these are geared for next years prices (it is a bit less this year as it does not include the internet which has to be paid for separately).  Email me through the website if you have any interest.

Virgin broadband

We have tried to install Virgin broadband in five of our houses.  The engineer was booked for the 1st July to coincide with the tenancy year.  We stood outside the alloted house for an hour and then just as we were giving up the engineer rolled up.  He had been sitting outside another of the properties and had been phoning our home telephone number in London instead of the mobile number.  The other problem we had that day (apart from them not connecting some of the installations properly) is that they had sent one engineer for 4 properties and another for one property.  So the engineer for the one property was given access by the old tenants who happen to be still there and did not phone us.  Of course the box was put in the wrong place and we had to call him back to do it again.  Now the tenants are back for the new term we are having problems still in one property where Virgin say there is a problem with the building!  This is three months on – will we ever be sorted?

New Term Begins

The new student term is about to begin and I believe most of my tenants are returning to Manchester this coming weekend in time to have fun at Freshers Week.  We always get a lot of phone calls at this time of year with new tenants finding things wrong with the property or just not knowing how things work.  Please call or email Chris Scott (all contact details on the notice board in each property).  If you need to speak to me than ring my mobile (not my home number as I don’t always pick up messages there).  Good luck with the new college year.