Latest Self Storage news
Below is the latest self storage news please view our self storage news archive.
The government's NewBuy Guarantee scheme, which is open to all people, has been described as being "very sensible".
Steve Turner, head of communications at the House Builders Federation (HBF), explained that a lot of people at present are unable to "scale up their homes", making this scheme an attractive option.
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Flash flooding is a major problem for inner city properties, according to UK Flood Barriers.
Frank Kelly, chief executive of UK Flood Barriers, explained that flash flooding is a serious issue because it can "overwhelm" drainage systems.
However, homeowners can make their property secure relatively easily and without much cost, he expanded.
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The benefits to homeowners and landlords of investing in shutters are "simply endless", according to the California Company.
Sam Tamlyn, head of operations at the online shutter and blinds specialist, explained that shutters are extremely versatile.
"They are a super-stylish and contemporary alternative to curtains, offering light and privacy control," he said. "They make a fantastic feature out of any window, be it round, triangular or rectangular."
He added that they are also child friendly, more durable than blinds and particularly suitable for those who suffer from allergies as they are easy to clean.
"They can also help to save on energy bills and can be as efficient as double glazing, which can only be good news in the colder winter months," Mr Tamlyn stated.
According to Mr Tamlyn, the shutter market has grown steadily in recent years, with architects and interior designers recognising the value of having them in the home.
People who are fitting shutters in their home are advised to store precious belongings in a self storage unit during the installation process.
Posted by Paul Governor
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London's commercial property market has a lot of structural advantages that are lacking in other cities, according to Jones Lang LaSalle.
Andrew Burrell, head of forecasting at Jones Lang LeSalle, explained that although it has its own weaknesses, London is much more resilient.
This is linked to what goes on globally, Mr Burrell explained, which means it is the first to feel the pinch when there's a slowdown, but equally, it is the first market people return to in an upturn.
"In terms of its investment, when times are tough around the world you can buy a building there [and] you know you will get a decent return over the long term," he added.
"So, it has got a different type of characteristic to other markets. London gets a lot of private wealth and people who are investing - not so much looking for rates of return - [but] for a safety of income and maybe [for the] long term."
Mr Burell said London property attracted a wide range of investors, making it a deep market.
A self storage unit in the city can help investors store excess furniture and belongings without cluttering up homes.
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Banks are looking for every reason going not to lend to landlords, according to Letting Focus.com.
David Lawrenson, private rented sector expert at the independent property investment consultancy, said landlords are finding it tough to get hold of mortgage finance.
"The banks and building societies are extremely intransigent and looking for any excuses not to lend– it is what we keep hearing," he said.
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Scottish homeowners need to make sure their properties are competitively priced in today's market, according to Russell + Aitken.
Dianne Paterson, property partner of Russell + Aitken, explained that those who are looking to bag a quick sale should be pitching the value of their home at a "realistic price".
However, that didn't mean that price was static as Ms Paterson advised would-be sellers to negotiate on that price with prospective buyers.
This new way of approaching things is a result of the property market's status quo from last year.
"Looking ahead, 2012 is likely to see a continuation of the trends seen last year. In addition, the overall house price is likely to remain relatively unchanged over the course of the year at the higher end," she said.
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Northern European countries have been described as having sound rental growth prospects.
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Cutting VAT on home improvements would save homeowners money, which they could redirect into making their properties more energy efficient, according to the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC).
Andrew Leech, director at the NHIC, explained that at present, because of high VAT, homeowners have to "pay through the nose" to make their homes greener.
"It will also reflect on the fact that they will go for cheaper solutions to the problem of providing efficient improvements, which might not last as long as more expensive alternatives," he added.
"If you pay more for a job, then you get a better job done and it lasts longer – it will maybe last for the lifetime of a house."
Mr Leech went on to say that the saying "you get what you pay for" is relevant here. With high VAT, people tend to go for cheaper and less durable products.
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Accent pieces will be a major interior design trend this year, according to a specialist company.
Egerton Designs, a long established interior design practice, explained that accent pieces help homeowners update their properties without the need to spend lots of money on making expensive changes.
"Style conscious people will be adding just one wall of large print wallpaper to their rooms to change the atmosphere and update them, and then removing beige and other old cushions, adding icing sugar pink cushions instead," said a spokeswoman.
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The most popular style of carpet being sold in the UK at the moment is a twist pile, according to the CarpetFoundation.com.
A spokesman for the company explained that the twist pile carpet, which is usually made from yarn that has been "twisted" very tightly – is particularly popular in a beige colour.
"That is what demand seems to require", he said.
"But like everything else, the manufacturers offer a very wide range and there are no real restrictions."
To choose a quality carpet, the spokesman advised people to consult two schemes.
First of all there is the British standard classification scheme for carpets, known as BS EN 1307.
However, it is difficult to follow, stated the spokesman.
The other system is a Quality Mark scheme, which sees carpets undergo tests to ensure they meet certain criteria.
The spokesman said: "Carpet is often sold as suitable for heavy domestic use or extra-heavy domestic use and if it has gone through all the tests and has achieved a sufficient number of points on our scheme, then we would award the Quality Mark."
Installing a new carpet is a cumbersome job – plan ahead by emptying rooms of furniture and relocating them to a self storage unit. That way you can lay a new carpet without constantly moving things.
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Looking for storage in Central South? Contact us free on 0800 444 800 now.
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Short-term fixed-rate mortgages are becoming less popular with homeowners, according to What Mortgage.
Ben Wilkie, editor at What Mortgage, explained that long-term deals were more attractive than short-term deals because there is a bit of a "gamble" with the latter.
People speculate that when taking out a short-term fixed-rate mortgage, interest rates will rise, meaning they will be better off.
"Because everyone thinks that the Bank of England base rate is going to be so low for such a long time, it is not really worth taking a short-term fix, so the longer-term ones are more attractive," Mr Wilkie expanded.
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City workers in London may be considering "fringe" properties because they are unable to afford living in the heart of the capital, according to Savills.
Lucian Cook explained that city workers who have yet to put down money for a mortgage will be looking to delay getting one and instead opt to stay in high quality private rented accommodation longer than usual.
"I don't think the result is that they are going to move in any significant numbers to slightly less prime locations but, if they do, then the furthest I think they will move is to fringe prime as opposed to core prime areas," he said.
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The end of the stamp duty holiday tax – which comes in force in the spring – is likely to have a small impact, according to Hometrack.
Gary Styles, strategy, risk and economic director at Hometrack, explained that the overall impact – within the context of the current levels of transactions taking place in the market at present – was going to be minute.
"It is first-time buyers who are particularly having problems being able to get a deposit at the moment in terms of the market," he said.
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New landlords need all the help they can get in 2012 because letting out a property is a "huge learning curve", an expert has advised.
Tom Entwistle, editor and founder of LandlordZONE.co.uk, explained that the letting market is growing in size meaning that there is a steady stream of novice landlords setting up properties.
However, they need to be aware that it isn't an easy vocation and can be very demanding.
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Homeowners looking to get a new carpet need to consider a number of things before buying one, according to CarpetFoundation.com.
A spokesman for the company explained that with carpets you "get what you pay for".
Luckily, CarpetFoundation.com has introduced a consumer's code of practice with some carpet retailers, to ensure that quality is preserved.
"That code of practice is approved by the Office of Fair Trading," the spokesman added.
For those looking to invest in a carpet, it is important to understand that, for the most part, they come in three basic fibres: wool, nylon and polypropylene.
"Wool comes from a totally sustainable resource, has been made for hundreds of years and is relatively easy to maintain," the spokesman explained.
"Generally speaking, most hall carpets [are about] 20 per cent nylon and the reason is to improve the abrasion resistance of the pile. Nylon is occasionally used 100 per cent in carpet. It really is an excellent carpet fibre."
He added that polypropylene is a very low-cost fibre, making it low in price and low in weight.
Installing a carpet involves a lot of work so it is recommended that major furnishings and items are relocated to a self storage unit while it is being put down.
Posted by Paul Governor
Looking for storage in Stockport? Contact us free on 0800 444 800 now.
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There are not enough houses being built in the UK to match demand, according to the National House-Building Council (NHBC).
Richard Tamayo, commercial director at NHBC, said that the number of homes built in 2011 was roughly the same as 2010's figures.
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Track and fix hybrid mortgages are something that homeowners should consider, according to MyMortgageDirect.
Catherine Hearnden, director at MyMortgageDirect explained that they were a good option because they offer people some degree of flexibility.
"People are not keen on fixing now because rates are low and everyone has got it in their head that rates will increase," she said.
"You have got the benefit now of a tracker, but you know that your rate will not increase between years three to five. They are a very good option."
Most borrowers will not be that aware of hybrid mortgages, Ms Hearnden added, especially if they "go direct". Furthermore there are not that many lenders offering them.
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Investment in student accommodation is currently very strong, according to a property expert.
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Homeowners who are delaying essential improvements on their respective properties risk paying out more cash in the long run, according to Build It.
Anna-Maria DeSouza, editor of the magazine, explained that many people are putting off necessary improvements to save cash, which although understandable, wasn't perhaps the best way forward.
"Be warned – you must assess if this is a viable option," she said.
"Will something that may cost you £100 to repair today end up costing you thousands in the future?"
Ms DeSouza recommended that homeowners conduct a six-month check of their property to identity any problems that need resolving before it "gets too far".
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All households should have a carbon monoxide alarm fixed next to a boiler, according to an expert.
Richard Clarke, chairman at 1st action, explained that any boiler has the capacity to generate carbon monoxide – with an alarm, people can ensure it isn't leaking accidently and be warned if it is.
The flue – which is effectively a pipe- is the most important thing, he explained.
"It has got to be properly installed and that means not only having the gas going to the boiler okay; it has got to be flued," Mr Clarke said.
"Every boiler has to have a flue to get rid of the poisonous gases. If the flue is low level in a garden, then it can be blocked by some plants or trees that are stopping the gases getting away."
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Steps are being made to help first-time buyers get their foot on the property ladder, according to the Building Societies Association.
Paul Broadhead, head of mortgage policy at the trade association, explained that the government had been actively looking at ways of creating an environment in which first-time buyers could access the property market.
"There have been steps announced by the government in their housing strategy - and it was followed up in the chancellor's autumn statement - that [they] will be providing guarantees for higher loan-to-value lending, particularly on new-build properties," he said.
"If we get that in the spring then that means that people may well be able to get mortgages on new-build properties with smaller deposits of five per cent as opposed to ten or 15 per cent which has been causing a barrier. That will certainly help."
However, Mr Broadhead added that there are still barriers for consumers, the biggest being the ability to raise enough cash for a deposit.
The Building Societies Association is a trade association, representing mutual lenders and deposit takers in the UK.
A self storage unit is ideal for first-time buyers who may want to take their time in decorating their home – it helps keep all your stuff safe and out of the way.
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Looking for storage in Bedford? Contact us free on 0800 444 800 now.
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Brits can get good value for money in the US when looking for property investments, according to an expert.
Liz Rowlinson, editor of A Place in the Sun Magazine, explained that although the US dollar was quite strong – making it a "deterrent for sterling buyers" – there were bargains to be found.
She suggested that Florida was particularly fruitful for would-be property investors as an extensive number of repossessions had taken place.
"Some people are saying in the US that the bottom of the market hasn't quite been reached yet because there are all these repossessions in the pipeline that haven't surfaced, which might actually drag the market down a little further," Ms Rowlinson added.
"Other people are saying that the bottom of the market is where we are at now and prices aren't going to fall further."
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The normal course of events in the rental market is changing, according to SpareRoom.
Matt Hutchinson, director at the company, explained that nowadays there is a huge demand for rented accommodation because people are unable to afford saving up for a deposit to get their foot on the property ladder.
"The natural cycle of things that we had five or six years ago is currently falling apart [as a result of this]," he said.
"The people who went into rental accommodation a few years ago and would expect to be buying by now aren't."
He added: "They are stuck in rentals which means that the inventory is tied up and not coming back onto the market."
His comments come on the back of a statement made by James Davis, chief executive officer at Upad, who shared the same sentiments.
Mr Davis believes that 2012 could be the year for buy-to-let.
SpareRoom was launched in 2004 as a national version of intoLondon.com, the first flat share site in London.
A self storage unit is a great way to declutter your home.
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Looking for storage in the North West? Contact us free on 0800 444 800 now.
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There are not that many cases of bad letting, according to an expert.
Malcolm Harrison, spokesman for the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, explained that although cases of bad letting do exist, proportionally speaking, it was not so rife in the industry.
"There is still the worry that - particularly for tenants – if you hand over a deposit, who is going to safeguard that?" he added.
"In law a deposit has to be safeguarded through one of the tenancy deposit protection schemes.
Mr Harrison went on to explain that all letting agents have a responsibility to register deposits with one of the three tenancy deposit schemes.
"It is a legal requirement," he stated. "Landlords can get muddled, don't know what to do or forget to do it."
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One of the things people are looking to add to their homes in 2012 is LED lighting, according to Light IQ.
Natalie Timmerman, spokeswoman for the independent lighting consultancy, explained that LED lights were, in comparison to halogen and incandescent light sources, more efficient and longer lasting.
"The life expectancy of good quality LEDs is quoted as 50,000 hours and beyond, equivalent to 15-20 years in a residential environment," she said.
"This is good during the darker months as lighting can be left on continuously without fear of using too much power. LED Technology is advancing every day, it has come a long way in the last two to three years and it is becoming more and more affordable."
Ms Timmerman added that consumers should keep their "eyes peeled" on emerging technologies in LED lighting.
This includes, for example, organic LEDs, which she said could revolutionise the way lighting is experienced.
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People looking to invest in property in London should understand that it is a long-term strategy, London Central Portfolio (LCP) has advised.
Naomi Heaton, chief executive at LCP, said: "It is about 'time in' rather than 'timing' and [we] would anticipate that over the next five years prices could rise on average between 8.2 per cent to 10.8 per cent per annum, based on long-term trends."
This was based, she explained, on the rationale that since 1995, the average growth up to the credit crunch of 2008 was nine per cent per annum, which was the equivalent of a doubling of value every eight years.
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There are some exceptional property bargains available to investors in Europe, according to BuyAssocation.
Paul Collins, editor at the property website, explained that for those who were willing to commit to the market, even in the face of economic stagnation, they would snap up outstanding deals.
"But this has to be tempered with the realisation of additional potential changes that can come along," he added.
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It will take some time before the house building industry can improve, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
Brian Berry, director of external affairs at the FMB, explained that it would be highly likely that any sign of improvement would be more visible in the second half of the year.
"We are not very optimistic – and that depends on the government sticking to the original proposals," he said.
"With planning proposals, it is not going to be until March when the government is going to respond initially [to the National Planning Policy Framework] and even if it responds positively it will still take months to actually feed through into the economy.
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People with capital who are looking for a new home can benefit from some "good deals" on mortgages, according to MyMortgageDirect.
Catherine Hearnden, director of the company, explained that those who had money saved up could find attractive offers on mortgages.
However, she added that those who lacked the necessary savings or finances to get a mortgage should not risk taking out a mortgage.
"It is all down to perception and confidence," Ms Hearnden added, shedding light on some of the challenges facing homeowners.
"There are people out there who want to move, but they are nervous about whether they are moving at the right time and whether they are going to experience a problem with house prices and that is why they are not moving", she said.
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The growing strength of the British pound against the Euro is to make the Spanish property market an interesting prospect, according to an expert.
Mark Stucklin, head of Spanish Property Insight, explained that 2012 will be a "key year", meaning Brits will benefit from attractive offers "after some real years in the dumps".
"Within Spanish property, you have to define what you are talking about. Is it the middle of nowhere property that was badly built in the boom or the nicest property of which there is scarce supply?" he said.
"It is a completely different market. With the best property, I think we are now in [a period of] price stability and, with the euro getting cheaper compared to the pound, that will mean that it gets more interesting for British buyers."
Mr Stucklin went on to say that if potential buyers looked at the Spanish market in terms of euros, they would be able to find "50 per cent or more price reductions and you can find property on sale at the replacement cost".
This, he explained was cheaper than building property.
Brits looking to move to Spain should consider housing excess belongings and furniture in a self storage unit.
Posted by Paul Governor
Looking for storage in Stockport? Contact us free on 0800 444 800 now.
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Homeowners who are experiencing difficulties in repaying their mortgages should be active and seek advice from their lenders, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).
Bernard Clarke, communications manager at the CML, explained that borrowers who were facing payment problems would get expert advice from lenders who would attempt to come up with a solution.
"If they are in difficulties and considering those options, what may be more helpful for them is to seek advice either from agencies like Shelter that may be able to help them and also to talk to the lender directly," he added.
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