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Em Morley

Seven in Ten Brits Unhappy With Home

Published On: June 17, 2015 at 12:08 pm

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New research has revealed that as many as 7 in 10 Brits are not happy with their home, with factors such as size and location cited as some main reasons. However, décor was found to be the largest gripe for UK homeowners.

The survey, commissioned by wooden-blinds-direct.co.uk, found that 20% of respondents hate where they live. Many replied that they dislike their home due to its size or its location, with over half saying that their home needs redecorating.

Unhappy

Questioning 2,000 people, the research showed that 72% of homeowners are not happy with their house. 30% simply said that their home was not yet how they want it, with 28% saying their home was too small.[1]

45% of respondents said in general, little tweaks would make them feel happier, with 57% believing new wallpaper would help and 38% feel laying a new carpet or flooring would make a difference.[1]

Almost half of all respondents stated that they feel like they will never be able to reach a point where they are totally satisfied with their home. Lack of time and lack of knowledge were found to be the barriers that prevent people from attempting changes.

Worrying

A spokesperson for wooden-blinds-direct.co.uk said, ‘for most of us, our homes are the biggest purchases we will ever make, so it’s worrying to see so many people are living in homes they aren’t happy with, or that they actually hate! It can be difficult when you feel like your home is too small, or in a location you don’t like, but some smaller improvements could completely change how you feel about your home.’

‘Don’t view your home as something that has to be tackled all at once – break it down into individual projects. Something as simple as a new coat of paint in a room, a new carpet, or some new furniture or fittings can be a small change which you’re happy with. And once a few of those small projects have been completed, the cumulative effect can make a huge difference to how you feel.’

Seven in Ten Brits Unhappy With Home

Seven in Ten Brits Unhappy With Home

‘We conducted this research to see how people really feel about their homes; to find out that so many of us are so unhappy is a shock. We supply thousands of blinds every week and our interior designers often field questions and special requests from people who are looking to get their ideal look.’

‘We all spend too much time at home to be unhappy with where we’re living.’[1]

Improvements

The survey revealed that the top ten reasons why people were unhappy with their home were:

  1. It needs redecorating
  2. I just haven’t got it the way I want it
  3. It’s too small
  4. The location
  5. It’s not decorated to my tastes
  6. The garden is too small
  7. There isn’t a lot/any parking
  8. It’s quite dated
  9. I don’t get on with my neighbours
  10. It’s too old

The top ten things that people would like to do to improve their home were found to be:

  1. Re-paint or wallpaper
  2. Lay new carpets/flooring
  3. Install a new kitchen
  4. Buy new furniture
  5. Clear it of clutter
  6. Install a new bathroom
  7. Replace your windows
  8. Build an extension
  9. Replace curtains for blinds
  10. Convert the loft[1]

[1] http://tle-online.com/property/seven-in-ten-brits-unhappy-with-their-home/15/06

 

 

Police hunt Islington ‘landlord’ con-man

Published On: June 17, 2015 at 10:25 am

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Police are searching for a rogue landlord from Islington, who is alleged to have conned a number of potential tenants out of £20,000.

The con-man, known by a fake name of Mustafa Bhatt, was captured on CCTV when walking one of his victims to a high-street bank, in order to draw out a huge advanced sum of £4,200.

Victims

Police have said that they are aware of twelve victims at present, but they expect that number to rise. The con-man struck by issuing false rental listings online for a property in Popham Street, Islington between 3rd-11th September last year. His bogus behavior was only uncovered when tenants, many with all of their belongings, arrived at the property to find out they had been tricked.

Police hunt Islington 'landlord' con-man

Police hunt Islington ‘landlord’ con-man

Detective Inspector Rita Tierney from Islington CID said, ‘we have spoken to a number of concerned young adults, some from overseas, who have been defrauded of their savings by this unscrupulous man and we are keen to identify him as soon as possible.’[1]

‘If you recognise this man or have any information about the fraud please call 101 quoting 2721069/14 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.’[1]

Authorities have described the con-man as Asian, in his 30’s, with short black hair, a beard and dark framed glasses.

[1] http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/police-hunt-bogus-landlord-who-conned-wouldbe-tenants-out-of-more-than-20000-10323293.html

 

 

 

Boost for affordable housing in Dundee

Published On: June 17, 2015 at 9:30 am

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There is encouragement for affordable-housing seekers in Dundee with the news that a housing provider is to make a £3.1m investment in more than 50 properties across the city.

Carling & Co, which already has a strong portfolio of 180 properties, has purchased 45 city centre properties alongside a conversion project to develop eight more flats. This comes after the company secured a £1.5m finance package from the Bank of Scotland.

Plans

The acquisition of these properties is part of a longer-term five-year plan to develop over 1,000 homes for the affordable housing sector, both for individuals and families in need of quality dwellings.

Based in Dundee but with operations across Scotland, husband and wife partnership of Graeme and Leanne Carling pride themselves on searching for long-term investment for the affordable rental sector. Working together with agencies and charities, the business strives to support people who may find it difficult to find suitable accommodation due to their personal circumstances.

Mr Carling, who operates as the managing director of the company, said that, ‘we take a very unique view to property investment and letting. We are looking to cater for a social group which on the whole is overlooked by the private property market.’[1]

Boost for affordable housing in Dundee

Boost for affordable housing in Dundee

Principles

‘We have very strict investment principles where we won’t purchase a property that does not meet our affordable rental criteria, as guided by public sector recommendations,’ Carling continued.[1]

Steve Ayre of the Bank of Scotland, noted, ‘there is an ever-increasing demand for the provision of housing at affordable rates within this geography, particularly on the back of a number of years where the pipeline of new build and social housing development has been limited.’[1]

‘Graeme and his wife Leanne have taken a group of properties that are lying empty and have turned them into a great social enterprise,’ he added.[1]

Concluding, Ayre said that he feels Carling & Co’s work, ‘supports often the most vulnerable in our communities by offering stability and comfort, which in turn can have a really positive impact on other areas of those individuals’ lives.’[1]

[1] http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/dundee/property-firm-secures-backing-for-3-1m-social-housing-venture-in-dundee-1.884234

 

 

Best Buy-to-Let Postcodes for Rental Returns

Published On: June 16, 2015 at 4:47 pm

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Areas in Birmingham have been named the best postcodes for buy-to-let, with landlords in the West Midlands experiencing the best rental yields in the UK.

Research by property peer-to-peer lending platform LendInvest reveals the highest rental returns by postcode for the first quarter (Q1) of 2015. They can be found in Birmingham, Ipswich, Liverpool and Glasgow.

Best Buy-to-Let Postcodes for Rental Returns

Best Buy-to-Let Postcodes for Rental Returns

Despite Birmingham significantly beating London, postcodes around North and central London still offer the best overall return on investment, due to capital gains achieved by increasing house prices.

The rental yield is calculated by taking the annual rental income and working it out as a percentage of the property price.

LendInvest took the average asking rental price per year and divided it by the average asking price on the property, using 1,000,000 sales figures and 500,000 rental listings from Zoopla. The findings were then split into the first part of the postcode, called the outcode.

Four of the top ten highest rental yields were in Birmingham, with 13.6% in B44, 11.9% in B42, 10.5% in B98 and 9.1% in B23.

In Ipswich, landlords can achieve 10.8% returns in IP4 and 9% in L28 in Liverpool. Glasgow areas, G34, G21 and G22 yield 11.9%, 10.1% and 9.2% respectively.

Managing Director of Property Let By Us, Jane Morris, comments: “Many landlords tend to invest near to where they live, but if they look further afield, they could easily increase their yields and capital growth.

“The Midlands provides a great investment opportunity as the property is much more affordable than the South East and the yields are high. For example, in Coventry, a three-bed semi will cost around £125,000 and will provide rental yields of around 6.57%.

“Many of the landlords that we work with are netting between 6.57% and 9.1% from their properties in Birmingham, Coventry and Nuneaton. My advice to any landlord looking to invest outside their area is: Carry out thorough research on property prices, rent prices and yields, to ensure they make the right investment.”1

1 http://www.propertyflock.co.uk/f/E1047DCAE

Property dedicated TV channel to launch

Published On: June 16, 2015 at 4:40 pm

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From Monday, Sky Channel 238 will be the home of property on television and having been two years in the making, big things are promised.

Gap in the market

Founder Michael Hammond and co-director Nicky Davis are utilising a mixture of industry and non-industry programmes and figures. Initially, the channel will transmit mainly entertainment shows, including Sarah Beeny’s Restoration Nightmare, Dream Homes and Mad About The House. There will also be some original programming.

The channel promises to create entertainment shows of its own back, which will be designed to, ‘inform and educate through new programme concepts.’

Property dedicated TV channel to launch

Property dedicated TV channel to launch

Mr Davis, who has been involved in launching many other television channels across Europe, said that Property TV, ‘meets a recognised gap in the market for a channel focussed on what is for most, our most valuable asset-our homes.’[1]

Better book that hairdresser appointment…and just where did I put that anti-wrinkle cream…

[1] http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2015/6/property-tv-channel-set-to-launch

 

 

Ban on letting boards could be extended in Reading

Published On: June 16, 2015 at 3:37 pm

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An interesting scheme regarding the ban of letting agents’ boards in certain parts of a town has been described as a success. The ban, voluntarily imposed in part of East Reading and the University area, was in place between October 2014 and March of this year.

Such was the success of the trial, the ban could yet be made permanent in other parts of the region.

Proliferation

The local councillor for the region, Tony Page, has already met with local agents to discuss the potential move. Discussions covered how the area had apparently been proliferated by scores of ‘To Let’ and Let By’ boards, purposely left outside properties to try and attract students all year round. A survey by Reading council found that before the trial scheme, there were as many as 180 boards displayed in the area.

Proposals for a blanket ban will be discussed further on July 15th. Any further pilot scheme would see agents invited to sign up to another agreement. It must be noted that was ban would not apply to ‘For Sale’ or ‘Sold’ signs.

Ban on letting boards could be extended in Reading

Ban on letting boards could be extended in Reading

Mr Page stated that, ‘the council’s monitoring of the pilot scheme found it was largely successful and the proliferation of lettings boards experienced in recent years did not appear.’ He continued by declaring, ‘I know the temporary ban has made a real difference to residents in the area and I’d like to thank all the agents who co-operated and complied with the voluntary agreement.’[1]

 

[1] http://www.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2015/6/lettings-board-ban-to-be-extended-and-made-permanent