Quintain Living, the award-winning management company overseeing the rental of more than 3,000 cosy apartments in Wembley Park, is certainly ready for autumn. At Canada Gardens, the heated work-from-home sheds amongst the acre of podium gardens provide remote-working residents with the ideal set-up, while those looking for a spot of company can drop into the warmth and welcome of the clubhouse. The children’s playroom comes with its own fairy-tale-esque lighting that feels perfect for the change of season, while the plush armchairs, individual lamps and mellow shelf lighting in the library couldn’t be more autumnal if they tried. Meanwhile, for those families that have hired the on-site allotment beds, it’s time to start harvesting. The homes themselves at Canada Gardens are also ideal for autumn. Properties range from studios to three-bedroom apartments, all with spacious open plan areas that create the perfect family hub for the cosiest season of the year. Furnished apartments provide a choice of options when it comes to colour schemes, with rich browns, deep blues, soft greys and even warm splashes of dark purple creating homes that feel welcoming and comforting the moment you set foot through the door. The autumnal vibe can also be felt strongly at Ferrum, where New York-inspired warehouse interiors feature exposed brick and concrete in an homage to industrial chic. With outstanding rooftop social spaces and a state-of-the-art gym, the cosy apartments are popular with Londoners looking for Brooklyn loft-style living. The huge residents’ lounge at Ferrum – The Foundry – is packed with comfortable sofas, fireplaces and armchairs you can sink into after a long day, with fabrics and cushions that feel custom-designed for snuggling up. Rich tones of brown, deep yellow and burgundy, alongside a natural feel from the use of brick, wood and exposed concrete, create a haven of warmth and comfort, while floor to ceiling windows flood the space with light. As life outdoors gets colder and less inviting, a host of curated events within Quintain Living’s social spaces, as well as online, will keep residents feeling connected and inspired. Between Wembley Stadium, The SSE Arena, Wembley and the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, there is also a plethora of sporting, musical and theatrical events for Wembley Park residents to enjoy this autumn.

With the average cost of renting a property in the UK now stood at a record high of £1,061 per month, getting onto the property ladder is a more attractive prospect than ever. For Uxbridge renters, Rosewood Housing’s stylish Shared Ownership apartments at the iconic Randalls department store are ideal for those looking to quit renting and snap up their very own home instead. And, with only nine Shared Ownership homes available at the site, prospective purchasers need to act fast to secure an affordable apartment with a unique history. Enjoying a convenient location within the commuter town of Uxbridge, all homes at Eves House are available to view, allowing interested parties to choose their dream home. The collection of one and two-bedroom apartments have all been designed and constructed with the same high-quality finish as those destined for private sale by Rosewood’s parent company, Inland Homes, with some properties even enjoying the added luxury of secure gated parking.  Sally Ingham, Board Director at Rosewood Housing, comments: “At Randalls, we are delighted that our affordable homes are offering buyers the opportunity to get onto the property ladder at such a historically significant development. As all properties are now ready to move into, purchasers will be able to settle into their new home before Christmas. With only nine properties available, we expect demand at Randalls to be high and urge potential purchasers to book an appointment with us as soon as possible.” Providing a more affordable way to get onto the property ladder, Rosewood’s Shared Ownership scheme at Eves House allows purchasers to buy a 25% share of their property, whilst paying a subsidised rent on the remaining value. After moving in, buyers can choose to purchase further shares of their property up to 100% and full ownership – known as staircasing – as and when they can afford to do so. Eves House hosts the stunning collection of one and two-bedroom Shared Ownership apartments at Randalls. Benefiting from spacious open-plan layouts, kitchens are complete with slimline quartz worktops and a selection of high-quality integrated appliances. Contemporary bathrooms feature stylish Porcelanosa tiling, sleek white sanitaryware and fully recessed mirrors. All homes enjoy the added benefit of having underfloor heating as standard. Home offices, en-suites and balconies provide even more space to enjoy in selected apartments. Randalls is well situated to enjoy the Uxbridge’s thriving community. With two shopping centres on offer, residents can take full advantage of the extensive range of popular high-street stores available, including H&M, River Island and The Body Shop. The town centre hosts a variety of popular restaurants, including Prezzo, Nando’s and Wagamama, while Millers Tap is a craft-pub offering a range of refreshing cocktails. Uxbridge also hosts a multi-screen Odeon cinema with an IMAX-screen, perfect for catching all the latest releases. Residents at Randalls can benefit from the plethora of tranquil green spaces that Uxbridge has to offer. Fassnidge Park hosts of bowling green, tennis courts and a café, and is just a short eight-minute walk away. Also nearby, Dowding Park is just a nine-minute walk from Randalls. This 40-acre space includes a children’s playground, football pitches and a peaceful woodland trail. Blue space is also plentiful, with the opportunity to enjoy stunning views across the River Colne, River Pinn and Fray’s River, or a gentle stroll alongside the Grand Union Canal. Randalls is ideally placed for commuters. Uxbridge Underground Station is just a five-minute walk away, providing easy access to a range of destinations including Wembley Park (25 minutes), Kings Cross (43 minutes) and Leicester Square (62 minutes). The introduction of Crossrail to nearby West Drayton train station from 2022 is expected to dramatically reduce journey times to destinations including London Paddington and Reading. For those hoping to travel further afield, the M25, M4 and M40 motorways are all easily accessible from the development, and residents are also just a 15-minute drive away from Heathrow Airport.

Research by the nationwide buy-to-let specialist, Sequre Property Investment, has revealed that the tide of pandemic rental arrear woes that have impacted one in five landlords could be starting to turn, as the majority are now seeing a reduction in the level of late rental income owed to them. The survey of nearly 4,000 UK landlords commissioned by Sequre Property Investment found that nearly one in five (17%) have experienced rental arrears as a result of the pandemic. For a third (27%), this has been a marginal inconvenience to the tune of one month’s rent. However, a further 23% have been out of pocket between one and two months rent, with half have seen these arrears accumulate to two or more months of rental income. With the government moving to ban tenant evictions while increasing eviction notice periods to six months during the height of the pandemic, landlords have had little choice but to sit tight in hope that this lost rental income can be recouped further down the line. The good news is that this tide of pandemic rental arrears does seem to be turning, with many landlords reporting a reduction. While 36% stated that the level of arrears owed to them has remained the same since the height of the pandemic, 37% have seen a reduction and just 28% have seen a further increase. Sales Director at Sequre Property Investment, Daniel Jackson, commented: “The pandemic has posed problematic for tenant and landlord alike but while the nation’s tenants have been afforded a great deal of government protection, little has been done to aid those landlords facing a backlog of unpaid rent. With the government all but blocking the ability to evict tenants who can’t pay, the only option on the table has been to sit tight and wait for this storm of rental arrears to blow over. The good news is that many now seem to be weathering this storm and having shown faith in their tenants during hard times, the majority of landlords are now starting to have this faith repaid in the form of overdue rent. Of course, there are some tenants who are not yet out of the woods, as well as those who seek to take advantage of the system, but the rental market certainly seems to be rebounding in the right direction. Despite these tough times of late, as well as a string of legislative changes to buy-to-let profitability, the buy-to-let sector remains a lucrative business and continues to attract attention from the amateur landlord, right through to the institutional investor.” Survey of 3,842 UK landlords carried out by Sequre Property Investment via consumer research platform Find Out Now (15th September 2021). As a landlord, have you experienced rental arrears as a result of the pandemic? Answer Respondents No 83% Yes 17%     To what extent? Answer Respondents Two months or more 50% Up to one month 27% Between one and two months 23%     How has your level of rental arrears changed since the height of the pandemic? Answer Respondents Reduced 37% Remained the same 36% Increased 28%