Bell Ingram announces latest round of Senior Associate and Associate promotions

Bell Ingram LLP, one of the UK’s leading independent land and property experts, is delighted to announce the promotion of several key members of staff. Effective from 1st June 2024, the following professionals have been elevated in recognition of their exceptional contributions and dedication to the firm.

Promoted to Senior Associate:

Borzo Taheri MRICS (Northwich): A RICS chartered surveyor, Borzo has been instrumental in managing rural land for clients in the utilities and renewables sector. Since joining Bell Ingram in 2017, he has leveraged his MSc in Rural Estate and Land Management from Harper Adams University to drive success across Northern England.

Gregor Dalziell (Ayr): With a BSc (Hons) in Sustainable Environmental Management, Gregor has significantly impacted the utilities sector. He brought his expertise from the Registers of Scotland to Bell Ingram in 2019.

Johan McKenzie (Perth): As head of the client accounting department, Johan manages the financial affairs of diverse private and commercial clients. Her qualification as an accountant and her extensive experience ensure meticulous financial management.

Waldo Serfontein (Morpeth): Waldo’s background in farming, geology, and the Armed Forces enriches his role in land agency services. Since joining in 2022, he has specialised in land acquisition, access rights, and compensation within the utilities sector.

Martin Watson (Ayr): Currently managing a major refurbishment project for a utility client, Martin’s 15+ years of experience in the electricity and water industries have been invaluable to Bell Ingram since his secondment.

Promoted to Associate:

Bill Crank MRICS (Northwich): Bill’s extensive work in estate and property management, focusing on utilities and agriculture, underscores his value to the Northern England region.

Dermot Meehan (Northwich): Dermot manages complex utility projects, ensuring smooth operations and compliance with various statutory consents.

Douglas Ogilvie (Perth): With decades of experience in strategic farm management consultancy, Douglas joined Bell Ingram in 2023 and has made substantial contributions to farming consultancy across Scotland.

Joe Greene MRICS (Kendal): A local to Cumbria and qualified chartered surveyor, Joe has excelled in rural land management for utilities and renewables clients since 2019.

John Kennedy MRICS (Forfar): Specialising in rural estate and farm management, John’s expertise is rooted in his academic background and professional experience since joining in 2021.

Lauren Livingston (Forfar): An accomplished Architectural Technologist, Lauren has been a vital part of Bell Ingram Design since 2017, providing exceptional support on projects nationwide.

Mark Mitchell, Managing Partner at Bell Ingram LLP, stated: “These promotions reflect our commitment to recognizing and nurturing talent within our firm. Each individual has demonstrated outstanding professional expertise and dedication to their clients. We are excited to see how they will continue to drive Bell Ingram’s success in the future.”

Changes in Scotland’s Private Rented Sector

Since September 2022, there have been regulations in place to control rent increases and safeguard against evictions for privately let residential properties, established under the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022. However, effective April 1st, 2024, these restrictions, including the 3% rent increase cap, will be lifted.

To mitigate the risk of significant rent hikes, pending parliamentary approval, the process for rent adjudication will be temporarily adjusted for one year, starting April 1st, 2024. This adjustment aims to provide a fair approach to resolving rent disputes during this transitional period.

Here’s what landlords need to know about rent reviews in April:

Private residential tenants can dispute a rent increase, with disputes reviewed by Rent Service Scotland or the First-tier Tribunal.

Rent will be determined based on the lowest of three figures: the open market rate, the rent requested by the landlord, and a comparator based on the difference between the market rate and the current rate.

Proposed regulations necessitate the use of a rent taper formula if a tenant applies for rent adjudication:

• If the rent increase is 6% or less than the market rent, the landlord can increase the rent by the proposed amount.

• If the gap between the market rent and the current rent exceeds 6%, the landlord can increase it by 6% plus 0.33% for each percent that the gap exceeds 6%. The total rent increase cannot exceed 12%.

Read the Rent Adjudication (Temporary Modifications)(Scotland) Regulations 2024 here..

As demand for rented property rises, many privately let properties with existing tenants now have below-market rent due to the 3% cap in place since 2022. This is likely to lead to widespread rent increases across the country, although the full impact on the market remains to be seen.

Before these restrictions are lifted, further changes are set to take effect on March 1st, 2024, with new measures being added to the Repairing Standard, which applies to all privately let residential properties and Short Term Lets. These include:

• Safe Kitchens

• Fixed Heating System

• Safe Access to Common Parts

• Consent to Work on Common Parts

• Safe and Secure Common Doors

• Residual Current Devices

• Properties must be free of lead pipes, or a water quality test must be carried out.

• Other fuels, such as oil installations, must meet the same repair standards as gas and electricity installations.

For full information regarding the changes to the Repairing Standard, click here. While many properties will already meet these additional requirements, there is a risk, primarily to older tenancies, that may not meet the new requirements, necessitating additional works.

For further discussions on how these changes affect your property, please contact our professional letting agents at Bell Ingram.

Bell Ingram Announces Promotion of Rhona Booth

Bell Ingram, leading land and property management specialist, is pleased to announce a significant milestone within the organisation with the promotion of Senior Associate Rhona Booth to the position of Forfar Office Manager, effective April 1, 2024.

Rhona’s elevation to this pivotal role reflects her unwavering dedication, extensive expertise, and profound understanding of the Angus and Perthshire farming communities, positioning her as the ideal choice to lead the Forfar office into a new era of success.

With 20 years of experience as a highly accomplished RICS Chartered Surveyor and Registered Valuer, Rhona has been an invaluable asset since joining Bell Ingram in 2020. Her exemplary skills in estate and farm management, coupled with her strategic acumen, have consistently driven business growth and forged enduring relationships with clients and partners alike.

Rhona’s unparalleled knowledge and extensive network within the Angus farming community are standout qualities that will undoubtedly contribute to the continued expansion and prosperity of the Forfar office. Her deep understanding of the local landscape, combined with her established relationships, will be instrumental in solidifying Bell Ingram’s presence in the region and enhancing service delivery to clients.

Bell Ingram’s Forfar office is situated in the heart of the Angus’ agricultural community and provides a full spectrum of advice to clients on farm valuation, land management, farm sales and opportunities surrounding renewables.

While assuming the day-to-day responsibilities of managing the Forfar office, Rhona will collaborate closely with Senior Partner Malcolm Taylor, who will retain overall control. Malcolm’s strategic guidance will complement Rhona’s local expertise, ensuring an approach that maximises Bell Ingram’s impact in the region.

Mark Mitchell, Managing Partner at Bell Ingram, said: “Rhona’s commitment to our company’s goals, coupled with her proven track record, makes her the ideal choice for this role. I have full confidence that under Rhona’s leadership, the Forfar office will achieve new heights of success.”