For most of our Student Tenants, we are now just a couple of weeks away from your Tenancy coming to an end and it is time to start thinking about getting ready to move.

We hope you’ve enjoyed your time in the property and with HOP, but as your Tenancy starts to draw to a close it’s time to start thinking about moving on. The student changeover period is historically our busiest time of the year, so we really appreciate your patience and co-operation to make this go as smoothly as possible.

To help you get ready for this busy time, we’ve compiled you a handy list of Frequently Asked Questions to help make sure that both you, and your property, will be ready when it’s time to move out.

How do I return my keys?

• To minimise the number of people needing to come to the office, all keys must be returned by one Tenant only from each house no later than 11am on the date your contract ends.
• Please put all keys in a sealed envelope with the address of the property written on the front .
• On Sunday 30th June there will be a member of staff on the front door who will mark your keys down as returned.
• If keys are returned prior to the 30th, and the office is closed, there will be a QR code with steps to follow before the keys can be posted through our letterbox.

Please ensure you leave any internal doors unlocked when you return your keys.

When do I have to vacate the property?

You must be out of the property and have returned ALL SETS of keys to the office before 11am on the date your contract ends.

However, we ask that wherever possible, they are dropped off sooner. If you can move out sooner than the end of your contract date, it will give us more time between tenancies to prepare for the new tenants.

Do I need to cancel my Standing Order?

Yes! It’s really important that you cancel your standing order with your bank straight after your last rental payment.

This does not happen automatically so it’s something you need to add to your to do list ASAP. It is not easy for us to get any overpayment back to you right away and there are also charges for returning overpaid rent, so please make sure that you cancel it.

What should I do with my router?

• If you are on a Bills Inclusive Package please ensure that, along with the keys, you return your Virgin/Sky broadband routers to the office – in a bag that is clearly labelled with the property address.
• If you are returning keys outside of office hours, you will need to leave this package clearly visible in the property and follow the steps given from the QR code on the door, to notify us that this requires collection.

How can I prepare for the move?

Your Student Tenant Handbook contains important guidance for you and advice on the kinds of things we’ll be checking for when we inspect your property on Check Out.

Click here to download a copy of the 2023 Tenant Handbook.

How should I leave the property?

In short: as clean and tidy as possible inside and out! Make sure you give the property a clean, remove ALL of your belongings, put all rubbish in the external bins and move all furniture back to where it was when you moved in.

You will also need to turn off any freezers to allow them to defrost and make sure you leave the boiler on, with the pressure topped up to the correct level.

Don’t forget, there are other things that you are also responsible for too:

• Replace any missing or broken light bulbs. If we have to replace them for you, it will incur a charge because it means we have to send out our handyman to purchase and install them, ready for the next Tenant.
• Outside any lawns need to be cut, edges trimmed and flower beds and borders to be weeded where garden equipment has been provided.
• Take the meter readings and inform your suppliers, the council and anyone else that you are moving out.
• Make a list of any maintenance items, if you haven’t already, and let us know what they are by reporting them on our 24/7 Online Maintenance Portal.

What about cleaning?

The best (and simplest!) thing to do is to get the property professionally cleaned, which is what we would advise you to do if that is possible. We have emailed you directly with some of our chosen contractors especially for End of Tenancy Cleans or get in touch with the HOP Leeds Team to arrange this and save you and your housemates the hassle.

Unless you are super-confident cleaner it’s well worth considering a professional clean, as often Tenants waste time and effort cleaning a property, only to find on the check-out inspection that it doesn’t reach professional standards!

What if I want to clean the property myself?

If you can’t stretch to a professional clean and must do it yourself, here are some tips to help you get things to ‘professional’ cleaning and inspection standards:

• Leave enough time! You should allow about 7 hours to properly clean your house from top to bottom.
• Vacuum all floors and carpets and clean any marks or stains.
• Thoroughly wash any hard floor surfaces.
• Make sure the oven, hob and extractor fan are clean and free of grease. When it comes to cleaning the oven, it’s best to put the oven cleaner on the night before. Leave it to soak in and do its thing and then get scrubbing in the morning before you go. Oven pride is recommended!
• Move the fridge out and clean the area behind it.
• Defrost freezers and clean dishwashers.
• Clean all cupboards, drawers, shelves – inside and out in all rooms, including the pantry.
• Get your marigolds on and clean shower cubicles, baths and sinks. They need to be free of any soap residue and grime. Plus make sure you clean the toilets inside and out.
• Astonish Anti Mould Spray is really good for grout and silicone to remove the stains and mould. If the mould is really excessive though, it will need to be replaced.
• Washing machines need washing too! Clean it and don’t forget the soap draw.
• If there’s any mildew, this will need to be cleaned off ceilings or other surfaces.
• Wipe down wall surfaces and woodwork – don’t forget to clean the tops of skirting boards, windowsills and internal windows. Light fittings, ledges, tops of doors and windowsills also need to be dust free.
• Watch out for cobwebs! Get rid of any that may cling to ceilings, walls and floors.
• Check and clean under beds, sofas and all other furniture to ensure the rooms are completely clean – you’ll be amazed at what you can find.
• Put all rubbish in the outside bins and leave the outside area tidy.

What about maintenance items?

Please report any items of maintenance, or any breakages at the property, in the usual way us via the 24/7 Online Maintenance Portal. This is so we can organise repairs in time for the new tenants.

Who should I notify when moving home?

It’s such a stressful period, we know, but it really does help if you get organised and notify all the people who generally contact you at your address. We’ve made a bit of a list to help you get to started, click here to read the blog.

How do I get my Deposit back?

If you’ve been living at one of our managed properties, it’s not the Landlord that holds your Deposit, it is a third party called the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS). Just visit tenancydepositscheme.com when you are ready to get your deposit back. You will need your Certificate Code or Deposit Account Number for this, which will have been emailed to the lead tenant . Once we’ve given the property the all-clear and you’ve completed the process, your deposit is usually paid back to you within 5 days.

When will I get my Deposit back?

We understand how keen you will be to get your Deposit, but please be aware that there are a number of steps that need to be completed before it can be released. The whole process can take about 4 weeks. There are a number of things we need to go through for every property, which includes:

• We need to complete a Tenancy Check-Out once everyone has moved out of the property and all keys are returned.
• Checking the property is clean, tidy and left in the same condition it was in at the start of the tenancy
• Agreeing any costs with Landlords and Contractors to put right any damage over and above fair wear and tear
• Checking for any remaining Tenant rental arrears and identifying any outstanding charges such as lock change, key cutting or late payment charges
• Checking for any End of Tenancy cleaning invoices as well as any possible costs for replacement bulbs and smoke detector battery costs etc
• Checking that those on Bills Inclusive have not had any over usage of their gas and electric
• As long as we are in agreement about any possible deductions from your deposit, then the deposit will usually be repaid directly to your bank account within 5 days

Thank you for being one of our tenants, we hope you found this useful and that we see you again soon!

Moving house is a busy time for most, it’s easy to forget the simple things whilst trying to pack up the car and make sure you have the keys ready for your next home.

If there ever was a time for a checklist, it’s moving house! A good tip is to look through your bank statement and look at your direct debits and regular payments, then make a list of all the organisations you need to contact with your new address.

To start you off, here is the HOP Checklist of Who to Notify when you move:

1. Services, Utilities and Healthcare

• Gas Company
• Electricity Provider
• Yorkshire Water
• Mobile Telephone Company
• Landline Telephone Company
• Internet Provider
• TV Licensing
• Doctor
• Optician
• Dentist

2. Financial

• Bank
• Credit Cards
• Store Cards
• Loyalty Cards
• Car Insurance
• Home Insurance
• Your Employer
• Leeds City Council Tax Department

3. Motoring

• DVLA
• Vehicle registration
• Vehicle insurance
• Breakdown Recovery Company

4. Others

• Delivery addresses on Amazon / ASOS  etc
• Sports Clubs and Gyms
• Friends and Relatives
• Schools, Colleges and Universities
• Subscription services

Good luck with your move!

 

Wishing all our customers a very HOPpy Easter!

We’ll be observing both bank holidays for the Easter weekend, and you can find our opening hours below:

Friday 29th March – Good Friday – CLOSED

Saturday 30th March – Open, as usual, from 9am to 1pm

Sunday 31st March – Easter Sunday – Closed, as usual

Monday 1st April – Easter Monday – CLOSED

The offices will re-open on Tuesday morning.

For Tenants that require emergency maintenance during the bank holiday weekend, please call the main office number on 0113 320 2000 to listen for our out of hours emergency contacts. You can also report any maintenance request online in the usual way, at any time, click for more details on how to report a repair.

We hope you have a wonderful long weekend!

Time’s a-ticking – July will be here before you know it!

Can you believe it’s March already? Time is flying by and all the best properties are going fast. If you’ve not secured your new student property it’s time to get a wriggle on. Don’t know where to start? DON’T PANIC! Call our super friendly lettings team for a chat about your requirements – or follow the tips below for a simple way to see all the cool cribs up for grabs.

Start search for your new home with HOP the easy way:

• Search our Website and you’ll find our listings on Rightmove too
• Follow us on Instagram & Facebook and search as you scroll
• Register your details and join The HOP List for the latest properties right to your inbox

See something you like? You can even take a Virtual Tour without even leaving your sofa! Share the link with your housemates and take a good look round immediately with our clever virtual tours.

 

Fancy an all-inclusive tenancy? We’ve got you covered!

All HOP 3+ bedroom managed properties come with our ESSENTIALS bills package included:

• Gas
• Electric
• Water
• Broadband

For a more hassle-free way to rent, our clever bills package means that you simply pay the same thing every month and it’s all taken care of. It’s a no brainer!

With an all-inclusive tenancy, all your bills included in the rent – that’s one less thing to worry about!

Find your perfect pad

Since 2009, we’ve been letting student properties in Leeds! So there’s not much we don’t know when it comes to the student market and finding the perfect accommodation.

From 1 beds to 8 beds, across the main student areas of Headingley, Hyde Park, Woodhouse, Burley and the City Centre – we’ve got a dizzying array of quality properties, all with bills included.

Whether you are looking for something within walking distance to the uni’s, or perhaps en-suite bathrooms are your top priority, we have some truly amazing places ready for you to call home in July. Plus, with our super simple online application process – securing your new property will be a breeze.

 

So, what are you waiting for? Happy hunting!

If you see something you like just drop our friendly Leeds Team a call on 0113 322 9324 to book in a viewing, or simply complete the ‘book a viewing’ form on the website listing and we’ll be in touch.

Love living at UNION? Tell a friend and you could be celebrating together with our brand new Refer a Friend Scheme.

HOP is excited to announce the launch of our brand new Refer a Friend Scheme for the UNION Student Living development in Leeds City Centre. Exclusively for our UNION residents, this exciting offer means that you – and a friend – could receive a delicious takeaway on us!

Good friends make good neighbours.

Exclusively marketed by HOP, UNION is a purpose-built student development in Leeds city centre, designed around the needs of today’s busy students. Not only is it packed with high spec features and amenities like a cinema room and event kitchen – but it’s also got a real sense of community, with a number of events hosted regularly for the residents to get involved in.

Refer a Friend to UNION and if they reserve an apartment with us for 2024, we’re giving away £50 in Uber Eats Vouchers for every referral – that’s £25 each to spend on a slap up celebration!

How it works

1. Tell your friend all about living at UNION
2. Send them to unionstudentliving.co.uk to choose and reserve their preferred apartment by filling in the Online Reservation Form
3. Under ‘Where did you hear about us?’ they will need to select ‘Refer a Friend Scheme’
4. Once they complete the reservation, we’ll be in touch to arrange to send you both the vouchers
5. Celebrate with friends!

So, what are you waiting for? Spread the word about the UNION today and you could be studying in style with friends before you know it.

Good food. Good friends. Good times.

 

Terms & Conditions apply:

• Two £25 Uber Eats voucher per new tenancy – one for the Referrer and one for the Referee.
• This offer applies to apartments let at UNION Student Living by our HOP Leeds branch only.
• The offer excludes current tenants renewing their contracts with HOP.
• The Referrer must be a current or previous tenant at UNION Student Living.
• Scheme starts 1st January 2024. Those who have reserved a property with HOP prior to this date will not be eligible.
• Voucher to be issued 2 weeks after the Referee’s contracts are signed and deposits received, prior to 31st December 2024.
• Any claim for referral vouchers must be made prior to 31st January 2025.
• HOP reserves the right to remove or clawback vouchers if fraud or abuse is suspected.
• HOP reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time.
  

After another incredibly busy year for the Leeds rental sector, we check in with our thoughts on 2023 and what next year might bring – and it doesn’t look like the demand is going to slow down any time soon.

The rental market in Leeds has been very busy in the last 12 months and rents in many areas have increased by between 10% and 12% in 2023. At HOP, we are typically receiving between 25 and 30 enquiries for every single property we list, and will go on to pre-qualify around 10 of those potential tenants for a viewing. Of those that view the property, we usually expect three to apply, so it’s a very competitive market for tenants.

Additionally, we are continuing to see Tenants signing for properties based on online viewings only, a trend that started due to the pandemic, but has continued as technology for virtual tours improves and also as an indication of the competitiveness of the market.

At this time of year, there’s a bit of a spike in stock levels which is due to most people choosing not to move over the festive period in December and January. For Tenants, that means there is slightly less competition for the properties – so, if they act now they might have a slightly better chance of securing the property they want.

Luke Gidney, MD of HOP, says:

Looking ahead to 2024, the shortage of available rental property looks set to be an ongoing theme. Substantial tax increases and higher interest rates combined with some potentially laborious legislation means many Landlords will decide to sell up, putting yet more pressure on the market, with even fewer rental homes to go round.

“As a result, we do expect rents to rise as demand continues – although possibly at a slightly slower pace than in 2023. That said, a growth of between 8% and 10% would come as no surprise.”

All that said, the reality is that many tenants are already over-stretched financially, and lots are already facing a tough time due to sky-high energy bills and food inflation. The cost of living crisis is still very much in effect and there has been an increase in the number of tenants falling into rental arrears in 2023 – and this is likely to remain an issue in 2024.

For Landlords, this uncertainty is also driving the popularity of Rent Guarantee insurance, often known as Tenant Default Insurance. Typically, this kind of insurance protection costs around £250 a year and gives Landlords peace of mind that they are protected from financial losses incurred by Tenants failing to pay their rent.

Ultimately, the market needs more rental property and although many Landlords are selling up, there are others who are recognising the opportunities that the current market offers. This is particularly true for seasoned investors.

Our specialist investment division, HOP Investments, agreed more than £5 million worth of off-market investment sales in 2023.

What does this mean for 2024?

How this pans out in 2024 will depend on what interest rates do. However, there’s no doubt Leeds is still very attractive to investors and especially because it offers an excellent average rental yield of 6.3%, which means you can get even higher yields in certain pockets of the city.

In some areas of Leeds, you can find two-bedroom houses at £130,000 and three-bedroom homes around £180,000, so it still offers great value for money. These would rent for £850 and £975 respectively.

Plus, there’s the potential for capital growth over the medium to long term. Leeds sits comfortably in the top 10 table for the best UK cities to invest in property, and there is an abundance of reasons why. The city brings together several compelling factors – a growing younger population, thriving economy, great value investment and high yields, making it a savvy choice for investors on the hunt for decent returns.

Research by JLL shows that Leeds is consistently one of the top five cities in the UK for capital growth and our own five-year prediction suggests house price growth of 14% for Leeds between 2023 and 2027. With a skilled workforce of 1.4 million people, Leeds is fast becoming a leading business hub in the UK, hosting big companies including newcomers Channel 4, BT, Sky, First Direct and Asda. The city has also been named the “Digital Capital of the North” with one of the fastest-growing tech hubs in the UK.

With continued investment being pumped into the city with the likes of the exciting new South Bank region and TransPennine Routes upgrades being approved, Leeds isn’t putting the brakes on anytime soon.

It’s time to deck the hall, dress the tree and prepare for the festivities ahead! With many of our student tenants already heading back home early for the much-awaited Christmas Break, we’ve pulled together this handy guide of key things to know for the Christmas period.

HOP Opening Hours

We will be closing our doors for the Christmas Break at 4:30pm on Friday 22nd December 2023 and will reopen on Tuesday 2nd January 2024 at 9am.

Emergency Contact Details

During this period, if you have an emergency situation in relation to your property, get a pen and paper ready and call the main HOP number on 0113 320 2000.

There you will hear details of our emergency out of hours response teams, with advise on how best to direct your call – depending on the emergency. These numbers can also be found on our Online Maintenance Portal,where it’s very important to log your issue also. Logging the emergency on the portal will ensure we have a proper record of it and can follow up in the New Year as required.

Emergency situations include, but are not limited to:

• • Floods
  • Fire
  • Burglary
  • Total loss of heating / hot water

Please note:

• A call out charge will be issued to the Tenant where it is deemed the situation is not an emergency.
• If you are locked out of your property or you have lost your house keys, our advice is to call our tradesmen first, but if they cannot help, you will need to call your own locksmith at your own expense.
• As well as speaking to our out-of-hours emergency maintenance team you must also log the issue on Online Maintenance Portal so that we can record the problem with your Property Manager and Landlord.
• In relation to a fire or burglary, ensure you call the relevant emergency services (such as police, fire service or ambulance) first, prior to calling HOP.

Heating

A cold snap can cause serious damage to your property such as burst pipes, condensation and other problems, therefore over the winter months it is vital that you leave your boiler switched on (at 5 to 10 degrees Celsius), particularly if you are headed home for the Christmas break. If you do find a burst pipe, make sure you switch the water off immediately at the stopcock to prevent further damage.

Security

Security is a priority, especially at Christmas time! If you are leaving your property, it is essential that you ensure alarms are set and that all doors and windows are securely locked. Fitting a lighting timer system is always advisable too, to reduce the chance of burglary.

If you have any questions about leaving your home this Christmas, please don’t hesitate to give our friendly team a call on 0113 320 2000.

We wish all of our wonderful customers an extra special Merry Christmas and a HOPPY New Year, from all the team here at HOP!

It was great to meet with so many people at last week’s National Landlord Investment Show in Old Billingsgate, London.

It was a busy event and a chance to speak to some London-based investors about our offering – and how our Property Sourcing service is perfectly placed to help them make the most of an investment in Leeds. Plus, we had some fun with our popular Spin The Wheel competition too!

HOP Investments provides a hassle-free, turnkey solution for investors looking to tap into the buoyant Leeds rental market. Ideal for investors who are not local, our premium Property Sourcing service is designed to make investing in Leeds a breeze, from wherever in the world you are based.

Already entrusted by many existing clients based in London, and even as far away as Hong Kong and Singapore, we offer an end-to-end hands-on service to put your investment hard to work in Buy to Let and HMO property in Leeds.

Leeds is a proven hotspot for investment – year on year. With lower than average house prices, together with a growing population and booming economy, there’s a whole host of reasons that make it an investment location that stands out from the crowd.

Did you know that Leeds has a growing population of 7 million, that has risen 8.1% since 2011? That’s more than other key northern cities like Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle.

Plus, despite rising house prices, Leeds properties are still cheaper than the UK average, giving you more ‘bang for your buck’ when it comes to purchasing in this brilliant city. House prices are set to continue to climb though, with JLL’s five-year prediction suggesting a house price growth of 14.2% for Leeds between 2023 -2027, so there’s a pivotal window of opportunity now to start sowing the seeds for your future.

With property prices holding strong, and predictions to increase over the next 5 years, there is no time like the present for investors to snap up some opportunities for the long term in order to enjoy good capital appreciation.

If you want help finding your next property investment in Leeds, speak to our friendly team about our Property Sourcing service. Just click here to drop us a note with your details and we’ll be in touch.

It’s all popping off at the O2 Academy Fresher’s Fair on 27th September!

Follow your nose and the sound of popping to meet the HOP student team at the O2 Academy Freshers Fair, where we have some of our very own HOPcorn treats to share and the chance to win a whopping £200 in cash.

Wednesday 27th September 2023
12pm – 4pm
O2 Academy Leeds, 55 Cookridge St, Leeds, LS2 3AW

It’s set to be a brilliant event with heaps of competitions and freebies throughout the day. Plus, you can sign up to be an exclusive member of The HOP List, and bag yourself a first look at the hottest student properties for 2024, before the launch.

Our friendly team will be there from midday until 4pm on the day and we hope to see you there!

Our recent Tenant survey results reveal the depth of the crisis facing the private rented sector (PRS), with more than three quarters of respondents effectively trapped in their current home due to the major shortage of alternative rental properties.

At HOP, we manage a vast rentals portfolio worth more than £245 million across Leeds and beyond and, earlier this year, we asked more than 600 of ours tenants about their current circumstances, property aspirations and to find out more about the reasons behind their decision to rent. The findings are an interesting indicator of the current state of the Private Rental Sector (PRS).

More than 70% of respondents said that they ideally want to own their own home, but for three quarters of these not having a sufficient deposit is holding them back. However, 64% are currently saving for a deposit and 43% hope to buy in the next five years.

Most expect to buy in their 30s, with 41% saying they will be aged between 32 and 39 when they take their first step onto the property ladder, followed by 27% who believe they will be in their 40s.

However, 71% said they will stay in their current home for the foreseeable future and 12% have already lived there longer than they planned to. This is mainly because there aren’t enough alternative rental properties available, moving home could mean changing jobs and rising rents make moving a financial risk.

The survey also showed that for tenants choosing rental homes, location and price are much more important than the size or the interior of the property.

Luke Gidney, managing director from HOP, said:

“Although it’s no secret that the majority of tenants currently renting properties would like to buy their own homes, our survey also revealed that a quarter are happy renting and have no desire to buy. Most said it was down to the fact they could move quickly if their circumstances changed, as well as not having to worry about repairs and maintenance, that made renting preferable to buying.

However, many tenants are facing difficult choices and are resigned to the fact that moving to a new rental property can be a challenge due to the shortage of available homes in the PRS, which has driven rents up by approximately 10% in West Yorkshire in the past 12 months alone.

“Government figures show England’s PRS accounts for 4.6 million or 19% of households and that it has doubled in size since the early 2000s. This compares to 15.6 million, or 64% and 4 million, or 17%, for owner occupation and social housing respectively.

“At the moment though, huge numbers of landlords are selling investment properties, due to legislation, red tape and tax changes. We’re now in a position where demand for rental property is higher than it’s ever been and tenants are bearing the brunt of this, competing for available properties and having to pay record rents. It’s a horrible situation that’s only going to get worse unless action is taken to stem the landlord exodus.”

In recent weeks, our specialist HOP Investments division, has agreed more than £1.5million worth of investment sales. Our investment arm offers both new and experienced residential property investors a complete turnkey service, as well as an exclusive investor club providing off-market investment opportunities. Following its recent success, HOP is now preparing to sell a further £5million worth of off-market investment properties this summer. Although some of this is accidental and single unit landlords wanting to exit the market, it’s largely being purchased by professional landlords and overseas investors.

As demand for rental properties continues, we are looking to work with more Landlords with quality properties across Leeds. Contact our friendly team to arrange a free rental consultation and appraisal with one of our property experts.

Despite rising interest rates causing uncertainty in the UK’s housing market, many seasoned investors remain undeterred and see the current conditions as an opportunity to grow their portfolios in Leeds.

In recent weeks, HOP Investments has agreed more than £1.5million worth of investment sales. Following its recent success, HOP is now preparing to sell a further £5million worth of off-market investment properties this summer. Two and three bedroom properties in the likes of Armley, Bramley, Beeston, Holbeck and other suburbs surrounding Leeds city centre are proving particularly popular.

Although some of this is accidental and single unit landlords wanting to exit the market, it’s largely being purchased by professional landlords and overseas investors.

The main difference in the current market is there are fewer first-time investors now, who are more circumspect due to the cost of borrowing, regulatory changes and tax implications, which makes it a bigger leap for them.

Neil Dawkin, Director of HOP Investments says:

We’re typically seeing older landlords deciding that now is the time to cash out and sell up. Many don’t want to adapt to the potential new legislation proposed in the Renters (Reform) Bill and instead are taking advantage of the price rises the market has seen in recent years. In their place, a newer generation of investors are buying and modernising the properties for today’s market, with our typical clients now in their late 30s and 40s.

Even though The Bank of England increasing interest rates to 5% certainly isn’t helping the market, many experienced and professional investors, who think long term and block out the noise, see this as a good time to add to their portfolios, because they are competing with fewer buyers. They’re focussed on the medium to longer term returns and will often have larger deposits or be full cash buyers, so they are less impacted by interest rates.

Rising rents, which have grown by approximately 10% in the past 12 months, still make buy to let a very attractive investment, especially because there’s a shortage of available rental stock. Most of our current buyers are based in London and the South of England and are attracted to Leeds because prices are much lower, meaning they can achieve yields in excess of 6%.

All of this is boosted further by Leeds’ four universities, with more than 60,000 students, which also drives demand for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), from both investors and tenants. At HOP, we are currently progressing several HMO acquisitions and sales for our clients, as well as undertaking refurbishment projects on properties we secured for our clients to further increase the rental and capital returns the HMOs have to offer.

HOP has recently handled acquisitions for buyers from the likes of the US, Europe, Hong Kong and Singapore, who want a foothold in a stable and growing housing market. Often clients won’t even visit the property in person and we’ll provide a turnkey service that involves sourcing it, progressing the purchase, overseeing work from light refreshes through to full renovations and developments, as well as furnishing the property, before handing it over to our lettings and management team.

The majority of HOP’s Property Sourcing clients go on to buy further properties as a result and repeat the process. In fact, we’ve had one client who bought two properties last year and is seeking six more this year.

This is all helped by the profile that Leeds has earned itself in recent years and the fact that it’s widely recognised for being a vibrant and contemporary destination. Its growing economy is also extremely strong across many sectors including legal, financial, technology, retail, medicine, manufacturing and creative, as well as TV and film as part of Channel 4’s continued investment in Leeds.

It’s therefore no surprise Leeds is one of the UK’s fastest growing cities, as well as consistently ranking as one of the best when it comes to investment returns from property and there is a lot more to come as well!

HOP Investments offers both new and experienced residential property investors a complete turnkey property sourcing service, as well as an exclusive investor club providing off-market investment opportunities.

For more information about our investment services, give us a call on 0113 467 1584

For most of our Student Tenants, we are now just a few weeks away from your Tenancy coming to an end and it is time to start thinking about getting ready to move.

We hope you’ve enjoyed your time in the property and with HOP, but as your Tenancy starts to draw to a close it’s time to start thinking about moving on. The student changeover period is historically our busiest time of the year, so we really appreciate your patience and co-operation to make this go as smoothly as possible.

To help you get ready for this busy time, we’ve compiled you a handy list of Frequently Asked Questions to help make sure that both you, and your property, will be ready when it’s time to move out.

How do I return my keys?

To minimise the number of people needing to come to the office, all keys must be returned by one Tenant only from each house no later than 11am on the date your contract ends.

Please put all keys in a sealed envelope with the address of the property written on the front and post it through our letter box of our Leeds Office on Burley Road (opposite the Co-Op). The address for HOP Leeds is: Coburg House, St Andrews Court, Leeds, LS3 1JY.

It’s really important to get all your keys back to us. If you don’t return them, we will have to replace the locks for security reasons, the cost of which is then charged back to you.

When do I have to vacate the property?

You must be out of the property and have returned ALL SETS of keys to the office  before 11am on the date your contract ends.

However, we ask that wherever possible, they are dropped off sooner. If you can move out sooner than the end of your contract date, it will give us more time between tenancies to prepare for the new tenants.

Do I need to cancel my Standing Order?

Yes! It’s really important that you cancel your standing order with your bank straight after your last rental payment.

This does not happen automatically so it’s something you need to add to your to do list ASAP. It is not easy for us to get any overpayment back to you right away and there are also charges for returning overpaid rent, so please make sure that you cancel it.

What should I do with my router?

If you are on Bills Inclusive Package, please bring your router back to the office with you in a bag that is clearly labelled with the property address.

How can I prepare for the move?

Your Student Tenant Handbook contains important guidance for you and advice on the kinds of things we’ll be checking for when we inspect your property on Check Out.

Click here to download a copy of the 2022 Tenant Handbook.

How should I leave the property?

In short: as clean and tidy as possible inside and out! Make sure you give the property a clean, remove ALL of your belongings, put all rubbish in the external bins and move all furniture back to where it was when you moved in.

You will also need to turn off any freezers to allow them to defrost and make sure you leave the boiler on, with the pressure topped up to the correct level.

Don’t forget, there are other things that you are also responsible for too:

• Replace any missing or broken light bulbs. If we have to replace them for you, it will incur a charge because it means we have to send out our handyman to purchase and install them, ready for the next Tenant.
• Outside any lawns need to be cut, edges trimmed and flower beds and borders to be weeded where garden equipment has been provided.
• Take the meter readings and inform your suppliers, the council and anyone else that you are moving out.
• Make a list of any maintenance items, if you haven’t already, and let us know what they are by reporting them on our 24/7 Online Maintenance Portal.

What about cleaning?

The best (and simplest!) thing to do is to get the property professionally cleaned, which is what we would advise you to do if that is possible. We have emailed you directly with some of our chosen contractors especially for End of Tenancy Cleans or get in touch with the HOP Leeds Team to arrange this and save you and your housemates the hassle.

Unless you are super-confident cleaner it’s well worth considering a professional clean, as often Tenants waste time and effort cleaning a property, only to find on the check-out inspection that it doesn’t reach professional standards!

What if I want to clean the property myself?

If you can’t stretch to a professional clean and must do it yourself, here are some tips to help you get things to ‘professional’ cleaning and inspection standards:

• Leave enough time! You should allow about 7 hours to properly clean your house from top to bottom.
• Vacuum all floors and carpets and clean any marks or stains.
• Thoroughly wash any hard floor surfaces.
• Make sure the oven, hob and extractor fan are clean and free of grease. When it comes to cleaning the oven, it’s best to put the oven cleaner on the night before. Leave it to soak in and do its thing and then get scrubbing in the morning before you go. Oven pride is recommended!
• Move the fridge out and clean the area behind it.
• Defrost freezers and clean dishwashers.
• Clean all cupboards, drawers, shelves – inside and out in all rooms, including the pantry.
• Get your marigolds on and clean shower cubicles, baths and sinks. They need to be free of any soap residue and grime. Plus make sure you clean the toilets inside and out.
• Astonish Anti Mould Spray is really good for grout and silicone to remove the stains and mould. If the mould is really excessive though, it will need to be replaced.
• Washing machines need washing too! Clean it and don’t forget the soap draw.
• If there’s any mildew, this will need to be cleaned off ceilings or other surfaces.
• Wipe down wall surfaces and woodwork – don’t forget to clean the tops of skirting boards, windowsills and internal windows. Light fittings, ledges, tops of doors and windowsills also need to be dust free.
• Watch out for cobwebs! Get rid of any that may cling to ceilings, walls and floors.
• Check and clean under beds, sofas and all other furniture to ensure the rooms are completely clean – you’ll be amazed at what you can find.
• Put all rubbish in the outside bins and leave the outside area tidy.

What about maintenance items?

Please report any items of maintenance, or any breakages at the property, in the usual way us via the 24/7 Online Maintenance Portal. This is so we can organise repairs in time for the new tenants.

Who should I notify when moving home?

It’s such a stressful period, we know, but it really does help if you get organised and notify all the people who generally contact you at your address. We’ve made a bit of a list to help you get to started, click here to read the blog.

How do I get my Deposit back?

The DPS is the Deposit Protection Service and they have been managing your deposit in a third party account if you’ve been living at one of our Managed Properties. Just visit depositprotection.com when you are ready to get your deposit back. You will need your Deposit ID and your Repayment ID for this, which will have been emailed to the lead tenant at the start of the tenancy by the DPS. Once we’ve given the property the all-clear and you’ve completed the process, your deposit is usually paid back to you within 5 days.

When will I get my Deposit back?

We understand how keen you will be to get your Deposit, but please be aware that there are a number of steps that need to be completed before it can be released. The whole process can take about 4 weeks. There are a number of things we need to go through for every property, which includes:

• We need to complete a Tenancy Check-Out once everyone has moved out of the property and all keys are returned.
• Checking the property is clean, tidy and left in the same condition it was in at the start of the tenancy
• Agreeing any costs with Landlords and Contractors to put right any damage over and above fair wear and tear
• Checking for any remaining Tenant rental arrears and identifying any outstanding charges such as lock change, key cutting or late payment charges
• Checking for any End of Tenancy cleaning invoices as well as any possible costs for replacement bulbs and smoke detector battery costs etc
• Checking that those on Bills Inclusive have not had any over usage of their gas and electric
• As long as we are in agreement about any possible deductions from your deposit, then the deposit will usually be repaid directly to your bank account within 5 days

Thank you for being one of our tenants, we hope you found this useful and that we see you again soon!