Having the right interior design could be the key to getting a tenant and a regular monthly income. Bright colours will always make the property stand out to students and orange, although one of those colours which some people are afraid to use in the home, can be a deal clincher when it comes to attracting the younger end of the market, the softer pastel shades of orange when done right will bring warmth into a room without it being too bold or shocking.

A Mediterranean style bedroom is an ideal place to use soft orange; it will look stunning on the walls in a tamed terracotta hue. When using orange in the décor of a room, it will always improve the look if there is wood flooring in a medium tone. This is because it will have less contrast than a floor in a darker finish. Even a pastel orange will make a statement and can be matched with white or cream ceilings and woodwork. Sometimes it can be hard to work orange into the décor of a room which has a lot of wooden furniture in it, due to the fact that many woods have some orange undertones.

When decorating a room with orange, always pick a shade that best reflects the personality of the household and will also match other items in the room. Orange shades range from a subdued peach and apricot to a bright flashy neon. Decorating with a shade like rust orange will keep the room looking natural. Use additional orange pieces which will give a lively jolt to the décor. Anyone worried that orange will be too bright can use white curtains and a soft white rug to tone down the colour or instead of making the entire room orange, just use a few splashes of colour and the room will be given a fresh look which is not too overwhelming. Finally make it the focal point, since orange pops out; just let it do its job. Orange is a great way to add an inexpensive focal point, especially if the room does not already have an outstanding feature like a fireplace.

The survey carried out by the National Centre of Social Research (NCSR) discovered that two out three people questioned believed they will never own their own home yet three out of four still aspired to be home owners.

The survey by the NCSR collated the thoughts of over 8,000 people and found that 20 to 45 year olds were becoming disillusioned by the thoughts of getting a foot on the property ladder. Over half thought that the UK would become more like the population of mainland Europe countries where renting a property was viewed as normal. The survey revealed that the great majority of those questioned thought that banks were putting home ownership out of their reach by demanding huge deposits. Many said they had tried and failed to save the cash required and were now resigned to renting out a property.

Alison Blackwell, part of the NCSR team that produced the report, said the implications of a generation missing out on home ownership could have a greater impact in years to come; she went on “It would mean fewer homeowners being able to buy and therefore fund the construction of the new homes required in the UK to meet demand, resulting in a slowing-down in the housing market.

“It could open up a widening of the wealth gap that already exists between homeowners and non homeowners. And people in “Generation Rent” risk insufficient finances at retirement.”

The Halifax bank, Britain’s largest mortgage supplier, and the commissioners of the report, said it would review its procedure on dealing with mortgage applications in a bid to help those still wishing to become home owners.

If the answer is yes or perhaps the patio furniture was due a makeover anyway, there are some points to remember to ensure the garden area looks perfect. Furniture made from teak wood is one of the most popular choices for outside. This hardwood is exceptionally weatherproof and durable even if it has been left untreated. Teak has natural oils which mean it is perfect for an exposed location with the only drawback being that it can be expensive. It is worth remembering the saying, “You only get what you pay for” because teak furniture will not need to be replaced in the foreseeable future. However, it is important to factor the cost of an expensive patio set into your insurance cover, no one wants their home insurance cancelled due to under valuing their assets.

Teak is definitely the ideal wood for any outdoor patio furniture but there are some other options out there which may be better suited to restricted budgets. These woods include pine and cherry. This wood is ideal for anyone planning to stain or varnish the outdoor patio furniture, and this will need repeating every two years. If there is space in a shed or garage to store the furniture, a patio set made from this type of wood could be the best choice.

Look at the landscape of the garden, if it is a small space the size will have to be considered. It is not sensible to have a large table for ten with a huge umbrella if the area is small. However, having a large space means there could be a canopy over the table to give some shade. Before buying a table determine how many people will be sitting at the table at any one time. There may be a family of five, but do not forget neighbours or friends who may also be joining the family. Before deciding on the colour theme look at the rest of the garden and ensure the patio furniture works well with the other colours around. Think about adding an outdoor fire-pit for some extra heat around dusk.

Nationwide is the UK’s largest building society and is regarded as having a finger on the pulse of house prices in Britain. Its latest survey showed that the average price of a home in the UK went up by 0.3% in the last month which more or less covers the 0.02% deficit they showed from the month before. The figures show prices have dropped from the same time last year but the figures for the last quarter now show a tentative rise of 0.07%.

Although the figures are far from being spectacular they will at least comfort those who had braced themselves for a big drop after the British Bankers Association (BBA) announced earlier this week that the take up of mortgages in April had been the lowest for 2 years.

Chief Economist at Nationwide, Robert Gardner, commented on the report, “Overall, the modest pace of house price growth in May suggests that the property market is continuing to mirror the lacklustre trends evident in the wider economy.”

Howard Archer, an economist at Global Insight, observed “We suspect that house prices will soften modestly overall through the rest of 2011 and the first half of 2012 has squeezed purchasing power, tightening fiscal policy and the prospect of gradually rising interest rates before the end of 2011 weigh down on potential buyers.”

With experts predicting a stagnant market for the rest of the year those landlords looking to expand their portfolios can still look forward to snapping up bargain buys to satisfy the demands from tenants almost everywhere.

To work in a space that is airy and full of light can prove to be an inspiration for many people operating a business from home, although they must be careful with the furniture they choose.

Rattan, wicker and cane are familiar words we mostly associate with garden or conservatory furniture. However, they have slightly different meanings and we need to be aware of these when buying furniture.

Rattan is the name of the palm plant used to make the furniture. Wicker is not a plant but is the weaving method. Cane refers to the part of the plant used to make furniture, most often the strong and flexible stem of tall grasses such as bamboos, reeds or rattans. So cane furniture can be made of bamboos, reeds or rattans.

Rattan really is an ideal plant for casual and summery furniture. It first became popular in the Victorian era. It is considered to be one of the strongest woods yet is also very flexible. It is normally steamed and bent into the desired shape, and once it has dried it will retain its shape forever. It is lightweight so the furniture can be easily moved around the garden or conservatory as the sun shines. Woven into wicker it collects much less dust than upholstered furniture, requiring minimum maintenance. Poles of rattan are very sturdy so the furniture is extremely durable and long lasting, it makes excellent office furniture. Being a tropical plant it even likes humidity.

The rattan furniture’s biggest appeal is probably the beauty, uniqueness and individuality of natural plant. It also has a variety of characteristic weave styles. Round, open and seamless are most common while embroidery, chest, core and rain look truly unique and intricate. It is extremely comfortable compared with other outdoor furniture made of metal or stone – although, unlike metal or stone furniture, it is not advisable to leave it outside permanently.

John Alker, Director of Policy at the CUKGBC, believes that once landlords with buy to let insurance get accustomed to the thinking behind the Government backed initiative, they will realise that they will be able to upgrade their properties without having to find up front funding. Their property will not only become more energy efficient, it will become more valuable and in turn will become more appealing to tenants looking for a comfortable home.

Mr Alker said the improvements needed to bring properties in line with the minimum standards were not difficult or complicated, and usually involved the fitting of double glazing, insulation and new boilers for heating systems. He went on to say: “The landlord will obviously have to initiate the Green Deal, but it will reduce the electricity bill for tenants in the long run and should make the property better. To be honest, there should be no losers here, whether it’s about reduced energy bills, having a higher quality and more valuable home, or the environment – there needs to be a range of different drivers and incentives to do this.”

Critics of the “Green Deal” are still sceptical of just how the funding will be found and some also question the interest rates that may be charged, they say the win win situation that supporters of the policy envision will not be the case if landlords are forced into upgrading properties and then saddled with loans based on high interest rates. The next few years will see more detail added to the policy and how it aims to bring about the changes needed.

An asphalt roof is one of the easiest types of roof to repair and is certainly one of the most economical. Just two of the reasons why asphalt roof insuranceis becoming a more sought after product.

All asphalt roof repairs should ideally be carried out during warm weather. The reason why asphalt repair should be done during warm temperatures is because the material becomes more malleable which enables the homeowner to repair the roof much quicker and also more efficiently Any plans to fix an area of the roof which is leaking, will require the homeowner to be very careful not to walk on the affected area unless they are 100% sure the supporting rafters have not gone rotten. If this has happened the worse case scenario would be falling through the roof. To check whether the asphalt roof needs to be repaired, there is an easy way to test its condition. Take one or two of the shingles on the sunniest side of the roof as an example, bend over a corner of them and if the shingles appear fine or if they flex, the roof is fine and will not require any repair work. However, if the shingles break while testing them, they will need some attention.

Excessive heat is one of the primary causes for blistering of asphalt roof shingles. As the part of the home which is most exposed to the sun, the roof is certain to get hot, but that is not the only problem. Heat produced inside the property, such as in a poorly ventilated attic, could cause the shingles to puff up in places. Blisters which extend to the felt layer of the shingle are called tent blisters and these could lead to more serious roof damage.

Heavy moisture is another potential cause of blistering on an asphalt roof. The roofs are built to withstand rain and snow, but any moisture which does not run off quickly could potentially cause a problem. Snow that sits on the asphalt surface, or even water dripping from a tree could soften the asphalt, leading to blistering.

Developer Persimmon claim the new properties would be of high quality and affordable, with some going to private landlords who would protect the home with buy to let insurance, and also some social housing. They are getting ready to hold a public meeting where residents can have their say. The proposal has led to major concerns that any new development will add to problems on the estate, as the nearby Canvey central ward has been named in the top 10% of the East of England’s most socially-deprived wards every year for the past decade. Currently the police have a dispersal order for nearby Avenues estate, which forbids any youths gathering in numbers. This was taken out after numerous complaints about youths constantly damaging property and threatening the local residents.

Canvey councillor Neville Watson said: “It’s madness to put 300 homes in there. They would be building next to wards with known problems with antisocial behaviour. We’ve already got problems with gangs of youngsters. If the scheme goes ahead, we are going to have one big gang.”

The developers also have plans to improve the access road to the new estate, improve footpaths and provide children’s play areas. They also plan to use some land to build a new sports centre and community doctors’ surgery. However, both residents and councillors feel the new community facilities are unlikely to be built in the current economic situation. This view is backed up by the fact NHS South East Essex had to abandon their plan to build a health centre in West Canvey due to funding problems. There was planning permission to build new houses on this land in the 1970s as part of the Charfleet housing area. But the property boom at the time meant the people the housing was aimed at would not be able to afford them, and so they were never built.

You spend approximately a third of your life in bed and a good night’s sleep is essential for your health, so it is worth investing your money in your mattress. It may not be the most eye catching piece of home décor but it certainly is one of the most important. There are roughly 4 types of mattresses currently available which are; open spring, pocket spring, memory foam and latex.

Open spring mattress is the most common, popular and cost effective mattress type. It is made from one long piece of wire that is coiled into hundreds of springs and would be suitable for people who like a firm mattress to sleep on. A pocket spring mattress is more luxurious and contains thousands of individual springs which work independently to respond to individual body weight. It is ideal if you and your partner have different weights as the mechanism will prevent you and your partner from rolling together. The individual springs are encased in soft fabric pockets for extra comfort and durability hence the name. The springs allow air to move throughout the mattress so it will stay fresh and clean. Spring mattresses should last up to 15 years. They should be turned over and rotated every month for the first six month then every few months thereafter.

Memory foam mattress responds to your body temperature, moulds and re-moulds to your contours. It is said to reduce night time movements by 90% and improve circulation. It can be expensive, but is recommended by doctors for people with back problems. It only requires occasional rotation and should last up to 20 years.

Latex mattress is the most luxurious of all types. It is costly, but is naturally hypo-allergenic, anti-bacterial and anti-dust mite. Like memory foam it moulds to your body contours but has a distinctive resilient feel. It is made with pincore holes and is breathable so it keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It only requires occasional rotation and can last up to 30 years.

The Bank of England (BoE) yesterday reported that the UK’s five major banks had lent just under £17 billion to small businesses in the first quarter of the year, including residential landlords, almost £2 billion less than the banks agreed to supply in a government led initiative.

The much vaunted Project Merlin signed up to by Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, the RBS and Santander, was designed to ensure that the signatories provided much needed lending for small and medium sized businesses. The economic downturn has impacted hard on small businesses, who have found acquiring loans at competitive rates extremely difficult. The sector is responsible for approximately half of the wealth creation generated by the UK and for this reason the commitment of the banks to agree to lend just under £19 billion was seen as the most important factor of Project Merlin.

The failure to reach the target will certainly be questioned by the Independent Commission on Banking when they see the bank chiefs later today. John Walker, the chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) certainly hopes so, he said many good businesses were being turned down every day by banks and went on to say: “Lending targets by their very nature miss the big picture and unless there is a fundamental shift in the make-up of the banking sector in the UK, small firms will continue to struggle to access affordable finance.

“The Independent Commission on Banking must go further and push for far greater competition in banking. There is a disincentive for new market entrants and small businesses need to see it made easier for new banks to start up and open branches that are accessible to, and targeted at, small business customers.”

Vince Cable, the Business Secretary has made his views clear on the matter saying although Project Merlin was in its infancy the Government would be looking for improvement over the coming months.