A property with wooden wall insurance will still need a beautiful bathroom and no matter how chic or luxurious a bathroom looks, it is useless if it does not have good heating facilities. Simple amenities such as good heating, hot water and a warm towel make the daily trip to the bathroom so much more comfortable. Designing the bathroom or bathrooms in a property is very popular at the moment. Bathroom products, be they large or small, are reported to be top sellers at DIY stores across the country.
One accessory which will make the bathroom complete is a heated towel rail; it really can play a major role in providing the final touch of elegance to the bathroom. On a cold morning a warm towel makes a morning wash or shower much more enjoyable. The traditional heated towel rail seen in many homes throughout the United Kingdom is available in finishes such as chrome, polished brass and antique gold. It is also possible to buy a heated towel rail which is combined with the radiators. This type of rail will help to keep the bathroom both welcoming and warm while at the same time providing fresh and warm towels every time they are needed.
No matter what the décor style of the bathroom, there will be a heated towel rail to match the style. If the bathroom has a lavish look and feel, a towel rail with a golden finish will create magic, while if the décor is basic, a simple chrome towel rail will work wonders for the bathroom. Although the main function of a towel rail is to keep the towels warm, it will also help to decrease the amount of condensation inside the bathroom which in turn helps to cut the growth of any mildew in the room. Because a single heated towel rail will perform many functions it makes it crucial that the right one for the bathroom is purchased.
Along with the heated towel rail, do not forget the accessories such as valves to go with the rail. These will come in various finishes so the one which suits the finish and look of the rail and the bathroom is important. Heated towel rails are available in an array of sizes and some are big enough to carry the largest bath towel, while others are small enough to go into the smallest bathrooms which would not be able to accommodate a traditional radiator. The floor mounted designs are very appealing and will fit into any décor with ease.
A Dorset Council is aiming to borrow the largest sum in its history in order to break free of Central Government control and secure more cash for its own inhabitants.
Bournemouth County Council is planning to borrow £45 million, with the cash going towards a plan to reduce the housing waiting list which is currently around 8 years for a family property. The loan is the largest amount the Council has ever borrowed and they hope the money will allow them to build one thousand new properties during the next 30 years.
Bournemouth Council, who have thousands of properties covered by rented property insurance, are taking out the huge loan because just like every other local authority in the country, it has to buy its way out of the Coalition’s system for distributing council rents, the HRA (Housing Revenue Account). The Housing Revenue Account has been raided for money by the Coalition and has ended up with a massive debt of around £21billon. All local councils now have to pay off some of that debt. Under the HRA’s complicated formula Bournemouth Council was losing £3.8m of the £18m they collected in rent each year, to help subsidise the poorer areas of the country.
When Bournemouth County Council completes their buyout next year, they will keep 100% of the rental collections and also have full control of their budget. By saving £3.8m each year, they will not only cover the repayments for the £45m loan, they will also have enough money to start building new properties. A variety of homes are being planned, with the projected rents aiming to achieve 80% of the market value of the property.
Council leader Peter Charon said: “This loan is relatively low risk. Councils don’t go for massively risky projects because we are dealing with public assets and money. We have done all the sums, and it’s not just going to be about breaking even, this will release money for us.”
Timber framed homes feature among the oldest construction methods in the world. Currently timber framed homes are enjoying something of a renaissance as they are cheaper than a conventional bricks and mortar home and also fit in well with today’s ecological thinking.
Timber frame homes can cut energy consumption through improved thermal performance, better insulation and air tightness. A timber frame will give a greater return on the investment involved, while at the same time increasing the properties appeal to buyers who are environmentally conscious in the future. Many people lucky enough to have the funds available to consider building a home of their own are now opting for a spacious and modern looking timber frame house. They are easy to heat or cool down because their design allows an engineer to install heating and cooling systems economically. They are strong and durable and are able to withstand all weather conditions; they are also very environmentally friendly.
The home can be built quicker which cuts down on costs, and timber frame insurance is now much more readily available for those concerned about protecting their new abode. They shouldn’t worry too much on that score though, as there are many timber framed homes around the world well into their second and even third century of existence.
One of the major benefits of using timber frames is that they are very easy and convenient to build with. Timber has many properties appropriate for modern day buildings. It also has less embodied energy than alternative building materials and is thought to be the only renewable structural building material available. This makes it the leader in an industry that is in desperate need for improved levels of both energy efficiency and sustainability.
It’s very important to hire the best people to get the house built, and acquiring quotes from up to half a dozen builders is advisable. The internet can provide all the information required and it is without a doubt worthwhile to take the time to read and absorb information.
The prospects for private investors with an interest in buy to let insurance seem better than ever according to a report out today from one of the UK’s largest letting agencies.
LSL Property Services reveal that their latest survey of landlords suggests that the average rent paid by tenants in the UK has now risen to almost £700 a calendar month. The figure of £692 equals the highest figure ever recorded by the agent’s survey back in November 2010.
On a year to year comparison the average rent has gone up by £30 and more importantly for the letting business, only one area of the country has not shown an increase in profitability for landlords and that is the east. It does disprove the assumption that only London and the South East property investors are benefiting from an upturn in business.
There is no denying though that the South East corner of England is faring best and the latest figures also show that landlords in the capital are now getting £998 a month on average, a fantastic return for any investor.
On the flip side of the report the falling house price market means that landlords are losing value on their property capital and also tenant arrears rose considerably last month when looking at the year to year comparison. However, David Newnes, the managing director of LSL estate agency, put that down to problems with the Bank holiday right at the end of the month. Speaking about the survey he said: “Despite the short-term factors, landlords need to remain especially vigilant over the medium-term. We are yet to see the true picture emerge from public sector spending cuts, and changing employment situations will hamper many tenants’ ability to meet their monthly rent cheque on time.”
Properties which are constructed from timber frames come in all shapes and sizes and are not just very old properties; they can also be very modern. These modern timber homes have come a long way and meet all the heating, fire, damp and noise regulations today’s building specifications require. It is vital that the owners of these types of properties take out timber frame insurance which can sometimes be difficult to find.
The wood in the interior decor is just as important to look after as the timber frames. The look of the kitchen cabinets will make a big impact on the overall decor of the room. Kitchen cupboards which look old and worn can be given an inexpensive makeover to brighten up the room. Some very simple changes can quite often have a big impact. Consider the budget as well as your skill level when it comes to a DIY project and make sure you have the time required to ensure the job is a good one.
Use a soft cloth to clean the cabinets and handles with a mixture of washing up liquid and warm water. The liquid will help to clean the grease that collects on the cabinets. Alternatively, a mixture of water and vinegar will clean the cabinets too. Use a screwdriver to remove the doors from the hinges. Remember to mark the doors with pencil so that they go back in the same position when finished. Next remove the door handles.
Look at the current condition of the cupboards. If they are painted, give them a new coat of paint. If they are stained, think about staining them in a different colour or even painting them. If the current finish looks in good shape just sand it very lightly and apply the new coat. However, if it is peeling or damaged, gently remove it with a scraper. Sand the surface of the doors as this will allow the paint to stick much better. Then wipe away the sawdust with a damp cloth.
Apply a thin layer of primer to all of the cabinets and allow it to fully dry before starting to paint them. For the best finish, apply the paint in thin layers. For something different add a design to the centre of each door in the form of a stencilled picture. Polish the existing kitchen cabinet handles or replace them completely with new handles, hinges and knobs which will dramatically change the look of the doors. Finally hang the doors back using the pencil marks to get them in the correct place.
A landlord from Harrogate, North Yorkshire was involved in a disturbance over rental arrears this week that resulted in two women wrestling with each other in a hedge, the local Police Force and Fire Brigade called to the home and a group of people man handling furniture over a blockade of vehicles into an adjoining field.
The owner of the property, Simon Etheringham, claimed his tenants; Dan and Christine Herring, owed money for rent, legal fees and interest and were trying to vacate the property without settling their debts. To stop them leaving before paying their dues the frustrated landlord surrounded the farmhouse with farm vehicles, rubble skips and even an old mattress.
The Herrings retaliated by getting friends to help them carry their belongings over the barricades into a field and then into waiting removal vans. The Herrings who were returning to the USA denied they owed any debt to the landlord and said the first they knew about any problem was when they woke up on Monday morning to find their home surrounded with the makeshift barricade put up by Mr Etheringham.
Mr Etheringham claims persistent late or non payment of rent by the Herrings forced him into debt with his mortgage company which resulted in a county court order against him earlier this month. In 56 days time Mr Etheringham will lose the farmhouse where both he and the Herrings lived and the 5 acres surrounding it. Speaking about the dispute he said: “It is not fair what they are doing to us, they are single-handedly bringing down everything we have worked hard for and I am not going to stand by and let that happen.”
It is not the first time Mr Etheringham has had financial problems, as his beauty product company went into administration in 2005. In a bid to keep hold of the beautiful farmhouse he decided to get second home insurance and let the house out while he and his family stayed in a flat inside the same building. It has proved to be something of a disastrous move.
Whether it is a brand new home, the place which has been home for years or a getaway property covered by weekend home insurance, when redecorating, one thing which is often overlooked are the interior doors. The style of the door chosen can make subtle and definitive differences throughout the home. Old Victorian homes have their gorgeous hardwood doors which come in many different styles. In contrast many new developments will install bland, hollow interior doors with plain handles which look dull and have no character.
When choosing the doors for the interior, many people are now looking to the past for a choice of elegant doors. Imagine the living and dining rooms being divided by a beautiful Victorian style sliding door that will recall bygone years. These types of doors will vanish into a recessed pocket which allows the door to slide into the wall on one or even both sides of the doorway. They were popular in the past and can be a major selling point if and when the time comes to sell.
When choosing interior doors for a more contemporary home, the usual choice is wood which is available in many types such as cherry, oak or walnut to name just three. Many people now though, are opting to use materials other than wood, and glass and metal doors have become a popular choice. The style of the door needs to complement the style of the decor in the room. Interior doors do not have to be the same throughout the home, they can be mixed and matched, just be sure to keep some of the elements the same. Use the same colour or basic style which will provide a consistency and flow in the house.
When deciding on the interior doors, try to keep in mind the overall dimensions of the room. A big sliding glass door may look impressive, but may well overwhelm a small sitting or dining room. Painted interior doors are popular, white will work well with almost any decor, and even black is starting to become a popular choice as many believe the deep colour gives the door more presence in the room. The doors are an important factor in the design of a room, so shop around and find a look and a style that suits you and the surroundings it is bound for.
A landlord with second home insurance who left her 90 year old tenant without ample heating has been ordered by Stoke Council to carry out a number of improvements to the property to make life much happier for the tenant.
The council are delighted to have won a landmark tribunal, forcing Mrs Barbara Mountford to have heating installed. The local council had no choice but to go to a tribunal after a landlord failed to comply with the improvement notice issued to her.
Tenant Lessie Willott is now enjoying a much warmer home after improvements were made to the heating system which was installed over seventy years ago. She has lived in the property for fourteen years and has never had any central heating, having to rely on a gas fire in her living room and an electric heater in her bedroom. The problem has been worse over the last eighteen months which has seen some of the coldest weather on record.
Mrs Willott said: “I’ve been a tenant at the house for 14 years and while there’s never been any central heating, I didn’t really notice it at first, I suppose because I was younger. But last winter it was very bad as it was the most severe winter we’ve had for years. It was very cold and damp inside the house and when it got very cold it froze. The windows weren’t much use at all. I had to have free standing heaters in the kitchen and bedroom and wrap up warm.”
Mrs Willott sent a letter to the landlord but when she received no reply she then made a complaint to the council who sent out environmental officers out to inspect the property. They issued the improvement notice after they found inadequate heating and also inadequate insulation, citing single glazed windows which were rotten as totally insufficient for Mrs Willotts needs. The landlord appealed against the notice, claiming it was excessive but the tribunal ruled that that the council had acted correctly.
A pilot scheme in a rundown area of a northern town could see private landlords, council officers and the local police force all working together to renovate a street that is beset with problems.
Baden Street in Hartlepool, Northumberland is in almost total decline, half the houses, mainly owned by private landlords, are empty and there are serious problems with vandalism, drug abuse and thieves. A concerted effort by local people to renovate the area and restore the perfectly good houses back into liveable shape is being backed by the police force and local councillors, however, the proposed half a million pound spend will not please everyone.
The scheme proposes to approach landlords who are currently shelling out on unoccupied home insurance and offer them a £5,000 grant to renovate their properties and attract new tenants. In a bid to end criminal activity in the area one of the houses may be given over to the police force to use as a base. Tenants already living in the streets will also be offered grants to improve their homes and £200,000 will be set aside to improve the road layout of the area.
Senior regeneration officer for the town, Andrew Golightly, said that landlords who did not cooperate with the scheme would be encouraged to take part and went on to say: “Resources are going to be required to fund whatever solutions are suggested to address the problems in Baden Street.
“Clearly resources available for dealing with these types of issues in the current economic climate and against the backdrop of council budget reductions are limited. If successful, the pilot scheme could be extended to other areas of Hartlepool.”
A number of local people object to the scheme wondering why public money is being directed towards private landlords, but all will get the chance to have their say at a meeting this Friday at the local civic Centre.
A trip to the sea can be a relaxing and pleasant way to spend a holiday. The same effect can be achieved by turning the bathroom into a seaside getaway with an ocean-themed makeover. By looking for some natural objects which are typically found at the beach and then incorporating them into the bathroom’s existing décor, the beach can be brought into the home. Of course flood risk insurance usually applies to a property that is situated near to the sea, but don’t wander off when you are running a bath, floods can and do occur for those who are forgetful.
A bathroom’s small size makes it perfect to try out theme specific decorating. An ocean themed bathroom provides the chance to work with calming blue and to make use of those shells which have been collected on various holidays. By using craft glue, sand and seashells will easily dress up different items in the bathroom. Buy a plain glass soap dispenser and several plain glass jars to hold bathroom items. With a little patience and skill turn them into bathroom accessories with a beach theme by lightly sanding the bottom third of each item and then using a generous amount of craft glue over the sanded area. Next dip each item into a bowl of sand which will coat each container. Once the glue has fully dried, try adding seashells on top of the sand by using a little more glue.
Incorporate images of sea life by using bathroom items such as the shower curtain and towels. Use a shower curtain which has an underwater scene or beach scene, these are widely available at department stores. To save money, a plain shower curtain can be given an ocean makeover with just a foam stamp and a small amount of fabric paint. Paint the walls a beautiful ocean blue to go with the sea life look. Paint or stencil fish on the walls, the fish can form a border at the top of the wall or be swimming just above your skirting boards.
Soap can also have a beach theme by placing it in a shell container, a fishing net embedded with starfish and hanging near the top of the walls will really bring home the beach theme. There are also some decorative shell baskets which can be placed on shelves. A final touch to the bathroom is a shell light to add some evening illumination to the bathroom.
