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].