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HBF: Government's housing move is sensible

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Flash flooding a' problem'

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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.

'Endless benefits' of shutters

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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

Structural advantages to London's property market

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Posted by Fiona Mayers

Looking for storage in London? Contact us free on 0800 444 800 now.

Banks 'making excuses' not to lend

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Scottish property needs to be competitive

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Northern Europe offers 'some decent' rent prospects

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Northern European countries have been described as having sound rental growth prospects.

Cutting VAT could make 'homes greener'

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Accent pieces a 'big trend' in 2012

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Twist pile in beige a very popular carpet

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Posted by Graeme Pieterson

Looking for storage in Central South? Contact us free on 0800 444 800 now.