Saturday June 1, 2019

Half way through 2019 and it seems every month I rail against tenant protection legislation that turns out badly when put into practice. Cynics in the lettings sector suggest this is a cunning plot to free up rental properties for the hard-pressed first-time buyer. But a three-storey mid terrace in Heaton is beyond the means […]

Tuesday May 7, 2019

In 1959, American academic William Foster-Harris postulated that there are three plots for a novel or movie. ‘Happy Ending’, ‘Unhappy Ending’ and ‘Tragedy’. In 1977 Meatloaf reached number 32 in the UK charts with ‘Two out of three ain’t bad’. Which, in the private rental sector is what Governments have achieved so far. I look […]

Monday April 1, 2019

Now that it is officially Spring I would love to write a column full of fluffy bunnies and dancing daffodils but sadly, the outlook for the private rental sector currently looks like the bleak mid winter for both landlords and tenants. This is largely the result of well-meaning legislation plotting a torturous and ill advised […]

Friday December 7, 2018

I love everything about the festive season leading up to our family highlight, Christmas Dinner. With twenty guests expected and parents who have spent a lifetime in the restaurant business, no pressure? Around the 23rd my wife and I go into military mode as we plan the hundred and one finer details. Last year we […]

Thursday May 3, 2018

Organising a photo shoot for our newest staff member Kayley McKnight was not rocket science but it meant I had to ensure everybody knew where they had to be and when. This done, I sent out an email headed “we are ready to shoot Kayley. To be informed that I had probably blipped the radar […]