Tees Business Tees Business Issue 21 | Page 30

G O OD N E WS We’re expanding T naturally ees-based Naturally Wild Consultants is celebrating after winning substantial contracts in the south of England. The Stockton-headquartered company, which was launched by husband-and-wife team Graeme and Julie Skinner in 1996, has already started essential ecological work prior to a major refurbishment at London’s Waterloo Station, working on behalf of the developer, Osborne, and they have also won major road and rail projects across the south. Naturally Wild’s team of experts, split over two locations, advise a range of clients on the protection of birds, bats, protected species, invasive plants and habitats, undertaking preliminary ecological assessments, wildlife and protected species surveys required to be carried out before planning applications. “Many surveys are seasonal, so if you engage us too late it can have massive time and financial impacts,” explains managing director Graeme Skinner. Happily for Naturally Wild, their success has increased year on year, so much so that they are opening at least one new office in the south of England. They’re also thrilled to have had a recruiting programme Spreading their wings - The Naturally Wild team. accepted which will create at least five new positions “We’ve always been strong in the within the company – two in the North- south,” says Graeme. “But hopefully East, one in the south and two roving local companies can now see how we ecologist positions. are winning substantial contracts and will To comply with the high level of quality consider us. management requirements within their “Though we do continue to work with particular field, the company is in the specialist organisations in the north and process of appointing a full time manager North-East, providing vitally important for health, safety and quality. pre-planning services, we encourage more Naturally Wild has previously won large- interest in our bespoke, tailored services scale contracts with significant Teesside which are based on quality and integrity projects including the Wynyard Park and suit every project.” development and Stokesley Manor House. By the close of 2020, Graeme says the Naturally Wild’s new website has just aim is to be the biggest ecology company launched at naturallywild.co.uk. in the region. Advice for residential landlords April legal changes and Covid-19 – are you prepared? L ife for many residential landlords isn’t easy. Reforms designed to raise property standards and increase tenant’s rights, along with mortgage tax relief cuts and dealing with the benefits system to get rent payments, requires money and effort. This will continue, as the UK’s housing market is being restructured, with big corporate landlords entering the rental market. Covid-19 will pose additional challenges as tenants face financial problems due to job losses, compounding landlord’s own potential financial difficulties. The housing market will also be affected, with depreciating capital values and stalling property sales. In these challenging times, landlords must be prepared if they decide to remain in the market. Here’s a quick snapshot that may help: EPCs (Energy Performance Certificates) From April 1, privately rented properties with tenants must have an EPC in place with a minimum E rating. This has been the case for new lettings over the past year. Now it applies to properties with sitting tenants (Different rules for HMOs). Electrical safety certificates The government put draft regulations before parliament in January to make it law for all privately rented properties to have a five-year electrical safety certificate in place. For properties with tenants, this must be done by July and for empty properties by April 1 2021. Older properties usually fail upon first inspection and 30 | Tees Business with Carla Keegans, director, The Ethical Housing Company remedial works cost on average £400 per property. We recommend that landlords get testing ASAP to ensure work can be done before the deadline. There are also legal requirements for issuing information to tenants. Covid-19 We are contacting all our tenants to discuss their financial circumstances, prevent rent arrears and support them in navigating the benefits system. Our advice to landlords is to budget and speak to your tenants, as there will be hard times ahead. Thinking of selling? For landlords considering selling, The Ethical Housing Company is always buying, and we don’t charge fees. Using a reputable letting agent like The Ethical Lettings Agency can help landlords effectively let and manage their properties. Call 01642 484845 or contact [email protected].