Property
The Government banning lettings fees is not enough to solve the renting crisis
You don’t need me to tell you that last month’s Queen’s Speech was so light on content it’s almost as if the Conservatives are admitting they don’t expect this parliament to last for longer than it takes Theresa May to apply for a new job (wheat farmer, maybe?). One of the few actual specific policies that the Queen was forced to read out by the Commons (what kind of monarchy is this?) was the abolition of lettings fees. Rather than...
Moving to London: What you need to know
A city commuter will inevitably moan about travelling an hour to work. Complaining about navigating the tube routes, London bikers or having to dare the sweaty buses in the summer heat. And the ultimate two words you must never utter to a commuter are, “tube strike.” But no city commuter is entitled to moan more than an out of city commuter, because they’re the ones that have it really bad. Thousands of dedicated employees that live outside the city, will...
Top tips for property letting
By James Davis, CEO of Upad According to the English Housing Survey, there are more people renting now than there have ever been. This number is only set to rise and with so many people in the letting market, it is essential that renters are well equipped to avoid common mistakes. James Davis, the CEO and Founder of Upad.co.uk, the UK’s largest online letting agent, has offered these key top tips to ensure that your rental process is as smooth as...
How Wetherspoon’s rejuvenated the satellite towns of Britain
Garforth Liberal Club was once a proud and prominent building. It stood at the heart of a satellite suburb a stone's throw away from the Yorkshire cities of Bradford, Wakefield and Leeds, but after 128 years in the summer of 2015 staff were instructed to prepare the building for closure with tears been shed as they cleared out the tables, chairs and fridges. Financial constraints had made the running of the club no longer sustainable, and without a fuss a building that was once...
Just how unique are your door locks?
When buying a door lock for your home, you expect that lock to be unique to you. You wouldn’t want to think every Tom, Dick and Harry who came strolling past had a set of keys in their pocket that worked just as well in your door lock as they do in theirs. But despite the whole purpose of door locks being to allow entry to only those people you’ve trusted with your key, not every door lock is unique....
A year of distractions: The things we do as landlords instead of checking our properties
There are many reasons checking your property is essential if you are a landlord, not only for yourself but also for your tenants too. The benefits of inspecting your property regularly includes: - Reassures your tenants that you're reliable and available should they need you. - Saves you money as you're able to spot any pessary maintenance work before it get too costly. - Can avoid disputes with any tenants, especially when it comes to security deposits. - Helps you...
3-D printer builds house for $10,000 – and it will last for 175 years
An fascinating video has been released of a 3-D printer building an entire house for $10,000. The average new build home costs £189,940 to build, compared to a self-build cost of £84,000 if you do the work yourself or £146,000 if you employ tradesmen to do it for you. But this could change all that. The technology has been used to build accommodation in Stupino, Russia. Although the house is a cosy 409 square feet it has all the essential...
In pictures: Residents told to stay put as council removes cladding
Frightened residents living in a 16-floor tower block say they do not feel safe after part of its cladding failed fire safety checks. Tenants have been told it is safe to stay in their flats while the council removes the cladding from Hanover Tower in Sheffield which contains 125 flats. The removal comes as Jane Dunn, Sheffield City Council's Cabinet Member for Housing, admitted today that the cladding at Hanover Tower was not solid aluminium - as previously understood. Independent fire...
Cupa Pizarras Celebrates 125 Years
It has been 125 years since the founders of CUPA PIZARRAS extracted the first slate from the Solana de Forcadas quarry in Northern Spain. This significant milestone is unrivalled by competitors in the slate industry and reinforces the company’s position in the market. Still producing the CUPA 3 tile today, the quarry is the oldest in operation worldwide and has set the way for an evolving and continually successful slate trade. With such a long history behind the brand, the...