Property
London house prices are falling down, falling down…
House prices in London might have been flying high a few months ago, but the optimism of spring paled over summer -- and the news is even worse for autumn. The news that house prices in the capital are falling by an average of 2.9% is particularly unwelcome at this time of year, as the property market tends to traditionally rebound in September. As yet, there’s no sign of that happening. An average reduction in asking prices of 2.9% is...
Stunning castle with 42 Acres to be auctioned off with NO reserve
An enormous chateau with grand gardens and several other properties is to be auctioned - with no reserve. Chateau de Blancafort dates back to 1453 but boasts Romanesque style turrets and a French Baroque façade which were added in the 17th century. The French castle has 22,000 sq/ft of accommodation - around 25 times the size of a typical English home - and features a library, extensive wine cellars, a convenient feature for a home just 30 minutes from the...
Is Your Home Suffering From Damp – Wet Rot vs Dry Rot, What’s the Difference?
Ask any damp proof specialists in London and around the country and they will tell you that two of the most serious problems that can come from a damp property is wet and dry rot. Both come from fungal growths but have different requirements and cause different problems. So how do you know if you have one of these problems? Be it an period home or a self build home, both will have the potential of being affected. What is...
Sash window repair could save you thousands on replacement
London sash window repair has become ever more popular and the options and number of companies continues to grow, with Londoners benefitting significantly from the competition driving down prices. With more and more London sash window repair companies favouring salvaging traditional joinery over brutally ripping out over a hundred years of history there’s never been a better time to keep your existing windows even if they are in various states of disrepair. The average London sash window company can now...
MOVING WITH THE TIMES: London house seller willing to accept Bitcoin as payment
A posh townhouse has been put on the market with the owner willing to accept BITCOIN - in what is thought to be a UK first. The three bedroom, three bathroom home in Peckham, London, has been valued by estate agents at £1.65 million. And while owner Daniel Roy will be accept Sterling, he is also open to offers "in excess of 500 Bitcoin". The controversial cryptocurrency was launched in 2009 and is free from government control. It allows users,...
Marriage and family on the backburner so Brits can afford to get on property ladder
Millions of UK adults are delaying starting a family or getting hitched in order to buy a home, new research has revealed. As house prices remain high and the ability to get on the property ladder seems a distant goal for a lot of people, many are delaying life commitments in order to get on the first rung of the property ladder. A fifth of people have moved in with parents, taken a second job or delayed starting a family...
Britain’s longest running planning row ends after 60 YEARS…but claimants have died
One of Britain’s longest legal disputes - a row over a tiny rural footpath which has rumbled on so long that the original claimants died - has finally been resolved. Nearly 60 years after a footpath was wrongly included on a local authority map and the family who were besieged with walkers traipsing past their front door objected to it being listed as a public right of way, the saga has finally been wrapped up in their favour. After long-drawn...
Incredible real-life hobbit house in Yorkshire up for sale
A real-life 'hobbit house' is set to go under the hammer. The straw bale shepherds' hut, which is built into a hillside, is located in just over an acre of land and resembles a glamping pod. The home, which offers picturesque views of Holme Valley, West Yorks., was originally built by hobby farmers as somewhere for them and their sheep to shelter. The design is based on a medieval round house and the owners had help from one of the...
Couple spend just £1,200 a year living in off-grid hilltop coastal fort
A free-spirited couple have told how they live totally off-grid in a hilltop coastal fort - spending just £1,200 a YEAR. Trained teacher Sarah Simpson, 27, and estate manager Nigel Mepham, 44, decided to leave behind conventional life two years ago in a bid to live a more simple and sustainable existence. They get to live rent-free in their 18th Century Cornish coastal fort in exchange for tending the land, and second-hand solar panels give them all their electricity. Mini...