At Heywoods, we've seen a big surge in demand in recent months for rental properties across the North Staffordshire area. And understandably so, given the difficulty that many people are still experiencing in getting a mortgage.

Homeowners in the South may feel they have cause to boast about new house price statistics, released by Rightmove, which reveal the biggest recorded gap in average asking prices between the north and south of the country. 

Say hello to Andrew Clayton. He's just joined Heywoods to head up our Lettings division.

Heywoods already sells more than half the houses in Newcastle and the surrounding areas and Andrew has big plans to make us number one in the area for renting a property as well.

Heywoods has given a cautious thumbs up to a new law that will affect estate agents, in which non-lawyers will be permitted to own and run their own legal business for the first time.

Heywoods can today reveal one of its biggest secrets to successful house selling, which may well come as a surprise to those with commonly held misconceptions about estate agents.