Landlord Voice Magazine July 2015 - Doncaster

News | Views | Expert OpinionLANDLORDVOICE Issue 4 - July 2015 The potential for equity growth stands out Carl Agar, BigRed- House Managing Director on Doncaster. p18Doncaster Photo: Doncaster RacecourseRacing ahead against the odds - p10Are Right-to-Rent checks National Landlords Survey Doncasters propertyputting landlords at risk? results. market in numbers p6 p4 p16

Conisborough Castle - Doncaster CONLANDLORDVOICE Our mission here at Landlord Voice is to seek out useful and informative content for our readers and each edition is framed around the local 10 4 economy and rental market of a different city or town. 18 And while some places do stand out when their economies are thriving, it’s rare to stumble across a town with so much investment and development in the pipeline that it is on the brink of a full-blown transformation. Once one of the biggest coal-producing areas in the country, with arich rail and logistics heritage thanks to its geographical location, Doncaster has never reallyachieved the popularity as an area it deserves. But the fact is, this vast metropolitan borough with a population of more than 302,000 isone of the most affordable places to live in the country and is quite spoilt when it comes totransport links – whether to Sheffield, Leeds and York via its nearby motorway network orLondon via the East Coast Mainline. Doncaster is set for a rail and logistics revival and such is the scale and ambition of the plansfor its development that we have set aside six pages for their coverage in this edition. Its vast rail infrastructure has secured it a stake in the servicing and development of twoof the industry’s biggest projects – the replacement of the aging InterCity 125 with Hitachi’selectro-diesel Class 800 and the HS2 high-speed rail link between London and the north. And alongside these exciting rail projects a new road linking Doncaster’s airport to themotorway network has made it the location of choice for a £400m inland port providing freightlogistics via sea, air and rail. And as if that was not enough there are plans for a new Enterprise Zone and a tournament-quality golf course which could play host to the PGA Tour. In the opinion section we hear from several local estate agents keen to have their say onDoncaster’s new developments and Derek Coles, CEO of Ryan Direct Group – a Doncaster-based insurance services company - gives his views on the town’s future. Our tips section features an article about renting out properties as holiday homes, while wetake a closer look at Doncaster’s housing market in the In Numbers section and our regularhistorical tour of the town in Through the Years. And if you have time, why not take five minutes to try our Doncaster trivia quiz.Lastly, at Landlord Voice we are always keen to hear from landlords or others interested in buy-to-let for interviews, columns and general opinion, so please get in touch by emailingben.mcvay@ryandirectgroup.co.uk.Ben McVayLandlord Voice Editor2 | LandlordVoice | July 2015

NTENTS Landlord News St Georges Ch Flying Sco tsman - Made in Doncaster• Are right-to-rent checks putting Landlords at urch - Doncaster risk? Page 4 July 2015 | LandlordVoice | 3 oncaster Yorkshire Wildlife Park - D• Buy-to-let boom could damage housing market. Page 5• National Landlords Survey 2015 results. Page 6 Doncaster• Doncaster’s logistics revival - a closer look at the town’s developments. Page 10.• Doncaster’s property market in numbers. Page 16• Carl Agar - where to invest in Doncaster. Page 18• Derek Coles, RDG CEO on investment in Doncaster. Page 20• Doncaster through the years. Page 22• Helen Elworthy on Doncaster - a town with everything going for it. Page 24• Trivia Time - test your Doncaster knowledge. Page 27

Right to rent checks could put landlords at riskLandlords run the risk of flouting They are due to be Landlords will need to see anti-discrimination laws and rolled out in the rest evidence of a person’s identitybeing sued under the 2010 Equality and citizenship, for example aAct while conducting immigration of the country in passport or biometric residencechecks on tenants, known as ‘right September. permit, when considering a tenantto rent’ checks. application. administrative burdens on The checks could technically landlords and could lead to A landlord’s responsibility forbreach the Act because landlords criminal prosecution if landlords citizens of a European Economicare not permitted to discriminate don’t identify an illegal tenant.” Area country or Swiss nationalsby nationality or race when ends once they have confirmed thechoosing tenants. The checks, which were tenant’s identification. introduced as a trial in the West Anne-Marie Balfour, from law Midlands, mean landlords are now The same applies with foreignfirm Charles Russell Speechlys, legally obligated to check the right nationals who have the right ofquoted in The telegraph, said: of prospective tenants to be in the abode in the UK, or who have been country if they want to avoid a fine granted indefinite leave to remain “Landlords need to tread a of up to £3,000. or have no time limit on their stayfine line between immigration in the UK.compliance and avoiding race They are due to be rolleddiscrimination.” out in the rest of the country in But for those who are not British September. citizens, EEA or Swiss nationals “An award for ‘injury to and have a time-limited right tofeelings’, for example, would be in rent, follow-up checks will often bethe region of £6,600. necessary in order to avoid a fine. “This places yet more4 | LandlordVoice | July 2015

Buy-to-let boom coulddamage housing marketThe Bank of England has warned that an interest rate rise could trigger a rush to offload to sell if their rental income is insufficient to coverproperties among landlords with mini property mortgage repayments.portfolios, causing house prices to fall. Bank of England chiefs say the risk is further It warned that landlords with just two or three aggravated because smaller deposits are moreproperties in their portfolios could be more common as a result of more lax affordability checksvulnerable to an interest rate hike and be forced and buy-to-let borrowers with interest-only loans were more vulnerable to rising interest rates. July 2015 | LandlordVoice | 5

The National Landlords Survey 2015Survey shows private rental sector is buoyantThe General Election campaign of 2015 saw let were the midlands and south central England. political parties across the spectrum vying In the midlands:for their say over the future of the UK’s under- • Thirty-six percent of landlords in the regionsupplied housing market. said they were looking to increase the number And while Labour’s plans for rental caps and of rental properties they owned in the next yearthree-year tenancies may have spooked a few, the compared with 33 per cent nationallyTories’ plans to build 200,000 new homes during • Forty-nine percent of midlands landlordsthe course of this parliament seem to have done said if they had to find a tenant in the next 12little to deter buy-to-let investors. months they could do so within four weeks, compared to 44 percent nationally But this is hardly surprising when you consider In South Central England:the findings of a report published last year by the • Thirty-six percent of landlords in the regionHome Builders Federation. said they were looking to increase the number of rental properties they own in the next year The National Landlords Survey found the UK compared with 33 percent nationallywas a million homes short of what was needed to • Forty-seven percent of south central landlordsplug the UK housing gap. said if they had to find a tenant in the next 12 months they could do so within four weeks, Simple Landlords Insurance surveyed more than compared to 44 percent nationally1,400 landlords about their experience of the buy- To read more about the Home Builders Federationto-let market – and the results paint a picture of a report visit http://www.hbf.co.uk/media-centre/buoyant private-rented sector. news/view/housing-shortage-hits-one-million/ The survey results were matched against Simple The survey found that 48 percent of respondents Landlords Insurances data which showed someowned more than two rental properties while 11 UK cities had seen remarkable changes in terms ofper cent had more than five. popularity as buy-to-let destinations during the last five years. Furthermore, the data showed 56 percent The data showed:of respondents had made a conscious decision • Cardiff was now the fifth most popular UKto invest in a buy-to-let property reflecting the buy-to-let destination – having jumped ninedemand for housing in their areas. places from 14th • Hull had jumped 14 places – from 28th to 14th Seventy-eight percent of landlord respondents • Edinburgh and Scotland had fallen by sevensaid they were confident they could find a new and five places respectively – from 12th to 5thtenant for their property within four weeks if it and from 8th to 13thwere to become unoccupied. The following pages show the key findings from the survey. And with figures released by Homelet showingrents shot up by 12.5 per cent across the countryduring the second quarter of the year, it is tellingthat 69 percent of Simple Landlords Insurancesurvey respondents said they had evicted tenantsdue to rent arrears. Twenty-four percent said they planned to increaserent in the next 12 months and with rents at such apremium it is perhaps also unsurprising that 55 percent of the National Landlords Survey respondentsheld rental yield as their motivation for investing. The survey also threw up some interestingregional variants. It showed the best performing areas for buy-to- www.simplelandlordsinsurance.com6 | LandlordVoice | July 2015

UK landlord hotspots - 5 year changeRank City / Town 2008 / 20091st London 1st -2nd Manchester 3rd3rd Birmingham 2nd4th Nottingham 6th5th Cardiff 14th6th Liverpool 7th7th Leicester 10th8th Leeds 4th9th Sheffield 11th10th Bristol 9th11th Bradford 12th12th Edinburgh 5th13th Glasgow 8th14th Hull 28th15th Reading 15th -16th Coventry 17th17th Newcastle-upon-tyne 13th18th Stoke-on-trent 18th -19th Southampton 16th20th Doncaster 19th www.simplelandlordsinsurance.com July 2015 | LandlordVoice | 7

National Landlords Survey 2015How many rental properties do you have? 52% One 37% Two - five 11% More than fiveHow did you become a landlord?Accidental landlord 21%(unable to sell property or inherited) 56%Conscious decision to invest in buy-to-letPurchased property for a 10%family member to useOther 13%For what reason have you had to evict a tenant?69% Rent arrears Damage to the property 20% 3% 6% Personal harassment by tenant 2% Tenant disturbing others Other www.simplelandlordsinsurance.com8 | LandlordVoice | July 2015

What is your business Likely to increase rentgoal as a landlord? in the next 12 months?55% To maximise 76% rental yield income 24% No33% Yes Short term / waiting for property prices to increase to sell12% Long term capital growthWhat is the longest time your rental property hasremained unoccupied?51% Less than a month27% One to two months12% Two to three months10% More than 3 months www.simplelandlordsinsurance.com July 2015 | LandlordVoice | 9

DONCASTER Doncasters New £22m Performance Theatre - Cast10 | LandlordVoice | July 2015

Back to the future – Doncaster’s logistics revivalMany great towns in the UK 12,500 containers per year by the late who will deliver billions of pounds of have seen their ups and 1990s. rail contracts over the coming decades, downs over the course of including the new high-speed rail linkthe last century and Doncaster is no Since then it has seen the likes of between London and the north (HS2).exception. Next, Tesco and Amazon building distribution centres in and around its Doncaster’s rail and engineering But what set it apart from other borders. industry now employs more thanbig mining towns when the industry 10,000 people and there is strongcollapsed in the 1980s was its location The town’s reputation for rail interest from companies looking to- roughly half way between London engineering and its location on the locate here. and Edinburgh on the Great Northern East Coast Mainline – combined withRailway Line. massive support from business and Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster, public sector partners such as local said: “The College will enable our rail Since the coal industry’s decline, authorities, colleges and chambers of and engineering companies to buildDoncaster’s proximity to other commerce up and down the country on their success, up-skill our existingmajor cities and motorway and rail – has helped it secure the winning bid workforce and help attract newinfrastructure has given it a vital to host the National High Speed Rail companies to the area who will benefitlifeline in the form of distribution and College. from being located amongst theirlogistics - the town became home to supply chain.a rail terminal for Channel Tunnel The college, which will be built on >freight in 1995 and was handling a five-acre site on Carolina Way, will train thousands of young engineers July 2015 | LandlordVoice | 11

“The rail sector in Doncaster nodoubt has an imposing reputation, which has helped secure two massive new developments”> “I want to keep this momentum up an imposing reputation, which has helped Whatand will now be looking to complement secure two massive new developments in is driving allthe college with other new developments. the form of the new HS2 College for the this big investment training of engineers and the Hitachi Rail into the town is the new Having earlier this year secured a new Europe Maintenance depot. link road - known as the Finningley andEnterprise Zone at Doncaster Sheffield Rossington Regeneration Route SchemeRobin Hood Airport, which itself has But infrastructure of a different kind is (FARRRS).the capacity for 2,000 engineering and now stimulating investment projects on an The road, which is being pushedmanufacturing jobs, Doncaster is well on unprecedented scale in the region. forward through a collaboration betweenthe way to regaining its reputation as an Within the next five years Doncaster will Doncaster Council and three major privateimportant centre of industry. be home to an inland port which is sector developers, will open up two key rail-linked to the southern areas to the south and east of the borough “I want to see a new generation of and Humber vital to the town’s development.engineering and manufacturing in seaports.Doncaster, and this major success is asignificant piece of the jigsaw in achieving Robinour plan.” Hood Doncaster Pat Meadows, assistant principal at SheffieldDoncaster College, said demand for Robin Hoodindustry recruits in the rail sector had Airport looks setbeen steadily growing. to be transformed into a major carrier for long-haul flights She added: “A lot of businesses in and air freight thanks to planning consentDoncaster are related either directly or for expansion to improve capacity andindirectly to the rail industry and we Government backing for a 10ha businesshave been preparing our students very park with Enterprsie Zone status.successfully to go on to work for local railinfrastructure and maintenance companies Long awaited-plans for a PGA Tour golfsuch as Wabtech and Volker. course at Rossington Hall are a step closer to fruition and 1,200 new homes are being “It looks like there will be increasing built at the site of the former Rossingtondemand during the next two years in Colliery.preparation for HS2 College – it willstimulate a real growth within the sectorand Doncaster College will help meet thatneed.” As well as HS2 College work has alreadybegun on the transformation of the oldDoncaster Carr railway depot into a £70mHitachi Rail Europe maintenance depotfor its Class 800 series passenger trains,which are set to go into service on the EastCoast Mainline in 2018. Under the plans a minimum of 10five-car trains would be kept there everynight. The Class 800 trains will offer 19 percent more seats on each train, cut journeytimes between London, Doncaster andEdinburgh by up to 15 minutes and bemore reliable. The maintenance depot is expected tocreate 160 jobs.FARRRS – the road to athriving economyThe rail sector in Doncaster no doubt has12 | LandlordVoice | July 2015

Doncaster-iPort DevelopmentPhase 1 – Rossington, Harworth Estates The iPort has planning consent for upHarworth Estates and to 6m sq ft of warehouse space and willthe inland port Improved access to Rossington has also incorporate a 35-acre strategic freight rail helped facilitate the reclamation and terminal which will be linked to the UK’sConnecting Rossington redevelopment of the former Rossington major ports. Colliery, where 1,200 new homes will beThis former mining community to the created. Access to the east coast ports ofsouth of Doncaster was left devastated Immingham and Grimsby will come viaby the closure of its colliery and is now The collaboration between Doncaster the M180 and M18 motorways, while theranked as one of the most deprived wards Council, Peel Airports (the owner of M62 provides a connection to the port ofin Doncaster. Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood Airport), Liverpool. iPort developer Verdion and land owner The village has no access to the nearby Harworth Estates to develop and promote And when Phase 2 of FARRRS isjunction 3 of the M18 which serves it and FARRRS has helped free up enough land completed the iPort will be linked toresidents face a long and circuitous route to make the mixed-use site possible. Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood Airportthrough slow, urban roads to the junction which currently handles approximatelymade worse by a level crossing at the East As well as 1,200 new homes, it will 40,000 tonnes of air freight per year but isCoast Mainline which cuts the village in offer commercial buildings food retail, a looking to increase this.half and is often closed for long periods. school and a health centre. The iPort will offer a range of job This has long been a major barrier to iPort roles when completed – from warehousethe town’s economic growth, as travel to operatives and forklift truck drivers tojob opportunities in the town centre and With building work set to start next year, transport managers.other parts of the borough is frustratingly the iPort logistics site will provide jobs fordifficult. up to 5,500 people upon completion. > July 2015 | LandlordVoice | 13 Access will come via the corridor from junction 3 of the M18 which FARRRS opens up.

Doncaster-Sheffield Robin Hood Airport“Last year we were shortlisted as one of the top ten Europeancities of the future for foreign investment by a top investment industry magazine”FARRRS Phase 2 FARRRS Phase 2 will directly connect become home to the tour.Doncaster Sheffield the airport not only to the M18 but also With backing from Doncaster CouncilAirport to the iPort, providing a vital connection between air and rail freight. and tourism organisation Welcome toDoncaster Sheffield Robin Hood Airport Yorkshire, an outline planning applicationis now a decade old. The Finningley-based Doncaster Metropolitan Borough for the project is set to be submitted thissite already caters for up to 40 destinations Council is currently working with its year.across Europe and boasts a 3,000m, developer partners to fund building work60m-wide runway, which makes it capable on the road, which would continue on Perspectives...of hosting long-haul and freight plane from Rossington to the airport site.services. Tony Corby PGA Tour golf course But it has so far been denied its full Tony Corby is marketing manager forpotential due to access problems caused by Just a mile from the airport sits stately Business Doncaster, an initiative bythe long, circuitous routes from the M18 home Rossington Hall. Speculation about Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Councilthrough Doncaster Town Centre along a plan to site a PGA European Tour golfcongested, single-track roads. course at the beauty spot dates back to the early 1990s but the attraction is now a step Crucially, this adds miles and minutes closer.to journey times – a key metric whichflight operators look at when deciding A partnership between golf coursewhere to base airport routes. FARRRS management business Troon Golf andwould reduce travel time from nearby Rossington Hall Golf Developments - aSheffield from 50 minutes to 25 minutes. company formed specifically to develop the hall– could see the 250-acre site14 | LandlordVoice | July 2015

to support companies looking to relocate from other businesses, and would have a ensure support was in place for businessto the town. big impact on the growth of those which destinations and businesses were service it and all its new employees. engaged in conversations about export And he believes no other town in the opportunities and destinations.north of England is seeing the kind of He added: “Since we were awardeddevelopment which Doncaster is at the HS2 College we have already had He added: “Then there are half-a-dozenmoment. masses of enquiries from restaurant and interventions that have to take place leisure businesses which would not have locally but we do have a detailed economic “We are experiencing a domino effect considered Doncaster in the past – and plan and that is why our local partnershipsnow where everything is going to spin the site contains 11 acres of adjacent land are very good. With any big, new projectforward,” said Tony. which they could locate on. we try and ask, ‘so what? What will it do for local jobs?’” “The town is genuinely on the cusp “Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffieldof being a really good place. In five years’ Airport is now the UK’s newest enterprise Meeting the newtime with the amount of money coming in zone, offering enhanced capital allowances housing needit will be a much better version of itself. to businesses looking to locate there and contains 880 acres of land up for The unprecedented levels of development “Last year we were shortlisted as one of development. Doncaster will see over the next few yearsthe top ten European cities of the future will undoubtedly have a big impact onfor foreign investment by a top investment “And when you consider the potential the local job market – and projects suchindustry magazine.” of the PGA Tour golf course – that is as the HS2 College are sure to bring new a fantastic opportunity for the town in residents to the town. Tony, like many others involved terms of a tourism offer and in terms ofwith attracting inward investment, sees the knock-on effect such an attraction will New housing projects such as that ofDoncaster’s location and connection to rail have on property prices in neighbouring Harworth Estates are underway, whileas its biggest strength. Rossington and Bawtry.” others such as a luxury development bordering Rossington Hall are in the He said: “If you take the example of the Daniel Fell pipeline, but Tony and Daniel see propertyiPort, or the Victoria Plum and Amazon as a real investment in Doncaster at thedistribution centres in the town, these Daniel Fell is chief executive of moment.businesses are interested in geographical Doncaster Chamber of Commerce, havingspread and ways of reaching the maximum worked there for more than ten years in “Within two years there will be apeople in the shortest time. various guises, including head of policy. residential demand in Doncaster,” said Tony. “The fact is HS2 College will be built “The iPort’s developer, Verdion, looked He believes the confidence which by 2017 and that is an opportunity forat the town in terms of its geographical FARRRS and other projects are inspiring residential investors.”connectivity by rail throughout north east is well warranted but should be temperedEngland.” with an awareness of local issues. And with Doncaster’s economy set to grow significantly, Daniel believes house But all the new development, said Tony, “The flipside of all this opportunity,” prices in the area are on the brink of ancould not exist in isolation to support said Daniel, “is being realistic about the upsurge. fact that none of it is a panacea for some of the challenges we have locally, like “We have an economy which is only education and aspiration, but there is a going in one direction,” he said. different narrative of Doncaster which rings just as true as the ‘glass is half empty “You could see potential for a good stuff.’ return in terms of housing stock and house prices - and are we a town which is open “The challenge is to bring that down to investment in any shape or form? Yes, to local people and small-medium we are. enterprises in a way which feels real for them – so for each new project which “We want people who can create FARRRS and rail is creating there are opportunities and who can invest in the three-four interventions which need area.” putting in place. July 2015 | LandlordVoice | 15 “So if we take the example of the airport - it has been established for ten years but has been nowhere near realising its potential.” Daniel said it was important to

DONCASTERProperty market in numbersDoncaster Housing Tenure 126,487 65.4%All households 82,760 0.3%Owner-occupied 17.8%Part-owned, part-rented 418 14.8%Social rented 22,403 1.7%Private rented 18,774Living rent free 2,132Average Property Prices by Property TypeFlat £102,384Terraced £87,807Semi-detached £126,948Detached £284,500Average Property Prices by Number of BedroomsOne bedroom £82,512Two bedrooms £93,371Three bedrooms £127,257Four bedrooms £240,636Five bedrooms £321,53516 | LandlordVoice | July 2015

Average Monthly Rents by Number of Bedrooms£761 pcm£548 pcm£491 pcm£386 pcm Sources: O ce for National Statistics & Home.co.uk July 2015 | LandlordVoice | 17

Carl Agar Carl Agar, managing director of online estate agency Big Red House, believes Doncaster is on the cusp of real change. Here is what he has to say.Doncaster - A Changing TownThe current ‘Slowly but surely in Rossington for around £50,000- and upcoming investors are £60,000 - which will generate around developments in £475 per calendar month.Doncaster make the town beginning to realise There are also plenty of semi-detachedlook like a good place to the strength of properties available for betweeninvest, but the big question £60,000-£90,000 which could generateis where? opportunity in the £500-£550 worth of rent per calendar town’ month. On a basic level I have alwaysencouraged the investors I work with A major consideration has to be And when you factor in theto develop an investment strategy Doncaster’s potential for job growth in added attraction which jobs growthand then carry out plenty of research the next few years. The development stimulated by the new airport roadto determine where to deploy that of the new rail freight terminal in and its ancillary developments willstrategy. If we take a look at Doncaster Rossington, the airport road, the PGA bring to the area, the potential forspecifically it has a private rented golf course and other initiatives mean equity growth stands out.sector of about 18,000 properties we could expect the creation up toand just over 22,000 social housing 10,000 jobs. And when HS2 College opens theproperties with a population of Doncaster housing market will bearound 120,000 residents. Whether this manifests itself as local bolstered by an influx of students. people moving from unemployed to If you do the maths based on that employed or an influx of new residents, House prices in Doncaster haveinformation I am sure you would it will mean an even greater demand in been fairly low for the last decadeagree the numbers demonstrate a the local private-rented sector. and pretty stagnant since the creditreasonably strong rental market. crunch, but this is about to change With new employers entering the and the signs are already visible in The case for this is strengthened if town and existing employers expanding certain areas of the borough.you consider that, like many areas in their businesses, we are seeing anthe country, the provision of social emergence of professional grade multi- Slowly but surely investors arehousing is decreasing and population lets which can generate anywhere beginning to realise the strengthis increasing. between £75-£100 per week depending of opportunity in the town and the upon location and quality. demand this creates is bound to push Aside from the general consensus prices up.that low property values coupled with At present you can pick up aa strong rental demand and good three-bedroomed terraced property If you are a landlord and wouldyields make Doncaster an attractive like to know more then get in toucharea, let us consider other influential by emailing carlagar@mybigredhouse.factors. co.uk . To find out more about Carl and Big Red House visit www.mybigredhouse.co.uk18 | LandlordVoice | July 2015

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“THE PLACE TO INVEST IN BUSINESS” Derek Coles (pictured) is CEO of Ryan Direct Group, a Doncaster based insurance company, havingjoined in 2006. A conscientious and approachable employer, Derek headed up the management buyout of Ryan Direct Group from Barclays Private Equity in 2007.Doncaster has seen a lot of designated space shuttle emergency the coming years now that a new and changes since Ryan Direct landing site. exciting era of development is on theGroup settled at Lakeside in 1998. horizon for Doncaster. And Ryan Direct Group has In the space of the last 17 years changed a lot with it. With government funding worththe town centre has been revamped £350m having been set aside forwith the state-of-the-art £22m CAST The company has expanded from infrastructure and regenerationtheatre and the multi-million pound one which employed just 50 people projects across the region, schemesrefurbishment of the Frenchgate to one which employs more than 500 such as the FARRRS and iPort andShopping Centre, complete with across four different sites. are set to create thousands of newtransport interchange. jobs, which will send out a clear RDG has expanded its offering message to investors and developers Doncaster Rovers FC moved from primarily providing insurance that Doncaster is the place to be.to the brand new, 15,000-capacity, and financial services to the motorall-seated Keepmoat Stadium from industry to providing end-to-end We plan to make the most of thisBelle Vue Stadium, the racecourse insurance claims handling and great new logistical era and growwas upgraded with an impressive insurance distribution services alongside it, proving employmentgrandstand and the town became for some of the UK’s best-known and supporting the local economyhome to a 260-acre wildlife park – insurance and retail brands, for many years to come and helpingthe only UK zoo which boasts polar including Aviva, Lloyds, RBS and to make Doncaster one of the bestbears among its exhibits. Tesco. places in the country not only to invest in and do business from but The town even opened an We are proud that we have been also to live in, work in and visit.international airport with a runway able to offer employment to so manylong enough to have made it a at our Doncaster headquarters and cannot wait to see what happens over20 | LandlordVoice | July 2015

Photo: Derek ColesCEO of Doncaster basedRyan Direct Group.

1st Century First Millennium 13th-14th Centuries Doncaster starts out as a In the latter part of the Despite a disastrous fire insettlement at the site of a first millennium Doncaster 1204 which halts progress, becomes an Anglo-Saxon Doncaster begins to grow Roman fort built at a burh, or fortified settlement, and is the wealthiest town crossing of the River Don and it is during this time it and later becomes an receives its present name in South Yorkshire by theimportant staging post for – a blend of the river Don middle of the 14th century.Romans using an alternateroute between Lincoln and and the Old English An important milestone in adaption of caster from its development is the York in order to avoid the Latin ‘castra’ which granting of a charter crossing the Humber in means military camp. allowing Doncaster Market boats. to be held around the Church of St Mary Magdalene – a thriving event which still operates three full days per week to this day. Doncaster Mansion House St Georges Minster Doncaster Doncaster Train Station22 | LandlordVoice | July 2015

Doncaster THROUGH THE YEARS The track to a thriving town15th-16th Centuries 18th-19th Centuries 20th-21st Centuries The town continues to Doncaster becomes a By the early 20th centuryexpand but its population busy industrial centre it is one of the largest thanks to its waterways coalmining areas in the is diminished by several outbreaks of plague. and geographical country and this becomes location between London the main source ofIn 1664 it is awarded the employment for its title of Free Borough by and Edinburgh on the residents. Great North Road or A1. King Charles 1 after Despite the collapse oftownsmen rally to meet him During the Industrial coalmining, several of its Revolution the Doncaster tertiary industries, such as when he marches from Locomotive and Carriage Bridgnorth during the glass and wire rope Building Works is manufacture, still survive to English Civil War. established by the Great this day. Northern Railway. Much of Doncaster’s This will go on to become industry is now based the birthplace of the around logistics and is world-famous Flying indebted to the town’s Scotsman and continues great rail past. building rolling stock of various types until late into the 20th century, assisting with the war effort and later producing diesel-electric locomotives.Cusworth Hall Doncaster July 2015 | LandlordVoice | 23

Helen ElworthyHelen Elworthy is director at Northwood Estate Agents.Having started out as an employee at the Doncaster branch in2010, Helen now owns the franchise.Doncaster - A town with everything going for it at an affordable priceDoncaster has always ‘The area has a is providing good quality been a great place to real buzz about it accommodation and doing all the buy a property to rent and the amount necessary checks to ensure youout and the lettings market of new interest have a good tenant.remains buoyant regardless of in living here is athe economic climate. reflection of that.’ I would always advise using an agent to make sure the legal The area has a real buzz Doncaster is ideally situated requirements of lettings is coveredabout it and the amount of within a triangle of major and you have peace of mindnew interest in living here is a motorways including the M18, knowing that your property isreflection of that. M62 and A1, which makes it being looked after. appealing for commuters who The number of major cannot afford the city prices of For those landlords who aredevelopers building new homes Leeds, Sheffield and York. new to buy-to-let or who arein and around the Doncaster looking for a low risk way ofarea is also boosting the The average rent in Doncaster letting then Northwood and itseconomy. town centre is £456pcm compared Guaranteed Rent Scheme can to £640pcm in Sheffield and a provide just that. And though the return whopping £987pcm in Leeds.on investment for new-build Northwood’s Guaranteed Rentdevelopment properties will not Rentals are still affordable and Scheme is NOT an insurancebe quite so high as with more as long as landlords provide good policy and provides a fixed incometraditional ones, investing in quality properties in popular areas plan of monthly rent regardlessthem can make good business and act in a conscientious way of what is happening with thesense – as they are usually very there will always be a ready supply property, even when the propertydesirable, in excellent locations of tenants. is empty or the tenant is in arrears.and very low maintenance. In my opinion the key to Legal costs are paid for and If you opt for the traditional successfully letting a property the homeowner has completeprivate-rented property costing anonymity.£50,000-£60,000, you couldstill expect a healthy yield of To find out more aboutmore than 10 per cent if you did Northwood and the Guaranteedthings right - even with an initial Rent Scheme, go to http://www.outlay in terms of renovation. northwooduk.com/estate-agents/ doncaster24 | LandlordVoice | July 2015

OVER 70 OFFICES - LOCALLY AND NATIONALLYLANDLORDS...Guaranteed rent 52 weeksa year even when theproperty is vacant! NO SET-UP FEE NO COMMISSION GUARANTEED CONTRACT START DATE FOR A FREE VALUATION, PLEASE CALL US TODAYT: 01302 767000E : doncaster@northwooduk.comA : 25 Hallgate, Doncaster, DN1 3NH lettings estate agency mortgages

us save you £££s on your landlords insurance. Simple.Plus a further 10% o for Landlord Voice readers*Use promo Call FREE on 0808 172 5608 orcode: VOICE4 0330 100 7178 from mobiles. simplelandlordsinsurance.com Get a quote > *New customer quotes only - excludes renewal quotes. Calls may be recorded and monitored for training and quality purposes. Simple Landlords Insurance is a business name of MillenniumInsurance Brokers Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales Company No. 2103848. Registered O ce: Quay Point, Lakeside Boulevard, Doncaster, DN4 5PL. Calls to 0808 are normally free of charge from landlines but charges may apply from mobile phones. Calls to 0330 numbers will cost no more than national rate calls to geographic 01 or 02 numbers and are included in any inclusive minutes or free call packages.

Trivia TimeDoncaster is rich with interesting facts, so test your knowledge by taking afew moments to answer these trivia questions... Answers are shown below.Q1 - Which outspoken motoring journalist wasborn and raised in Doncaster?Q2 - Name the world-famous steamlocomotive built in Doncaster which wasthe first on record to reach 100mph.Q3 - In what year did Doncaster Rovers FCmove to their current home at the KeepmoatStadium?Q4 - Which memberof boyband OneDirection attendedDoncaster’sHall CrossComprehensive?Q5 - Which Doncasterattraction has recentlyentered the TripAdvisorsHall of Fame? July 2015 | LandlordVoice | 27Answers - 1. Jeremy Clarkson 2. Flying Scotsman 3.2007 4. Louis Tomlinson 5. Yorkshire Wildlife Park

St Georges Church DoncasterAbout Landlord VoiceLandlord Voice is brought to you by Simple Landlords Insurance. Simple Landlords Insurance is a business name ofMillennium Insurance Brokers Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registeredin England and Wales. Company No. 2103848. Registered office: Quay Point, Lakeside Boulevard, Doncaster, SouthYorkshire, DN4 5PL.Contact the EditorEmail: ben.mcvay@ryandirectgroup.co.uk or telephone 0844 8549914DisclaimerThe views and opinions expressed in this publication are solely those of the original authors and other contributors. Theinformation provided is for information purposes only and is not intended as legal or financial advice