Intercounty

How to prepare your home for winter

In this month's edition, we're on hand to offer you tips on how to prepare your home for winter, as well as a look at the news that property demand has increased across the UK.

We also assess your options if you're a first-time buyer, cast a glance at the news of a rise in the average rent prices across the country and we have some startling statistics on the lengths that British gardeners are willing to go to in order to keep their outside space looking its best.

How to prepare your home for winter

As the temperatures begin to sink and the days begin to shrink one thing is for certain - winter is upon us. Along with the shorter days and colder temperatures come the wintery pleasures of warming up alongside a roaring fire, long walks in the country and crisp, frosty mornings. However, it’s also important to remember that the winter months can have a harsh effect on our homes, causing problems for heating systems and external fixings alike. Follow this list of tips to prepare your home for the chillier months, and to ensure that your main concern this winter is the choice between a cup of tea or a warming hot chocolate.

Pipe dreams
As the temperatures drop, the water in your pipes can freeze causing them to burst and for major damage to be caused to your home. In order to avoid this, keep an eye out for any gaps in external walls as the cold air could reach the pipes and encourage them to freeze over. Sealing over any gaps in external walls, as well as adding insulation around vulnerable pipes in areas such as the loft and garage could mitigate this problem. Further to staying vigilant to external wall gaps, keeping your heating on a low-level (around 4 degrees) - even when you’re away from your home - will maintain a consistent temperature around pipes, thereby avoiding the problem of pipes freezing over.

Boiler spoiler
When was the last time that you had your boiler checked? A poorly maintained boiler wastes energy and costs more to run, as well as running the risk of leaking carbon monoxide into your home. Having your boiler serviced will reap rewards in the long run, as well as giving you peace of mind in terms of safety and efficiency. Naturally, one of the key components of your boiler system are your radiators - a handy hint to maximise their efficiency is to put kitchen foil behind them for the heat to be reflected back into the room they are in.

Fill the gaps
Around a quarter of the heat lost from your home escapes through the loft, and therefore having good loft insulation is key to staying warm this winter. As well as the loft space, cavity wall insulation can make a real difference to keeping your home warm and energy bills low - with a typical saving of £145 per year saved on energy bills simply through having insulation installed. In terms of cost, there are a number of government grants and subsidy schemes available to help you with the initial outlay of insulating your home and staying warm this winter – so do your research and stay warm for less.

The big switch
If you feel that your winter energy bills are high despite your best efforts to prepare your home for the cold months then give your energy supplier a call and have a chat about being allocated a more cost-effective tariff. Remember that you will never experience a disruption in service if you decide to change suppliers, so feel free to shop around and find the best deal that works for you. You can use online comparison tools as well as literature direct from suppliers to find the most competitive energy rates and offers, so turn up that thermostat and get extra cosy!

Down the drain
As the leaves fall from the trees, drains and gutters can easily become blocked with debris, causing build-ups of water which could make its way into your home in the form of damp. As the temperature drops, these leaves are prone to freezing which can weigh down your guttering and damage external structures. Ensure that your drains and gutters are debris free by checking lower-level guttering on your property and clearing these out by hand as safely as possible - if the lower-levels are blocked then higher levels may also require a closer inspection.

Property demand across the UK increases by 39%

Demand for property across the United Kingdom has been the subject of another increase in the third quarter of this year according to the latest data, with a 3% increase from the second quarter leaving the current value at 39%.

According to Emoov’s data, this marks a year-on-year increase of 6%, with England leading the way with a 9% increase in what comes as the country’s first positive growth in 2018 with Wales trailing closely behind with a 7% quarterly and 10% annual increase. Scotland bucks this trend somewhat with a slight 2% dip in its quarterly demand, yet continues to see an uptick based on last year’s figures thanks to a 5% increase.

Despite England’s strong quarter, it’s the Scottish capital that tops the list of most in-demand town or city, with Edinburgh taking the crown thanks to a 5% increase that sees it sit at 59%. Durham has enjoyed the largest annual increase at 60%, whilst Brentwood took the prize for England’s impressive quarterly change with an impressive 33% increase in demand. Elsewhere, Newport in South Wales has rarely been in ruder health thanks to an annual jump of 44% and a quarterly increase of 16%, ending with an impressive 55%.

London cannot say the same and offers something of a mixed bag with its data, however; demand across the capital has dropped 1% this quarter and 4% annually, with the more affordable boroughs such as Bexley (52%) atop the pile. Still, the Prime Central London area has shown signs of a revival with Fulham and Hammersmith enjoying a 24% increase this quarter, which feeds into a whopping 104% annual increase.

“The numbers this month make welcome reading for home sellers in England, as demand is finally on the up again along with the UK’s as a whole,” offered Russell Quirk, Emoov’s chief executive.

“It’s the first time this year that we’ve seen UK demand driven by the English market while London and, perhaps more surprisingly, the commuter belt both take a back seat.

The commuter belt has been very hot for quite some time now and this consistently high demand has inevitably pushed prices up. However, this static level of demand is nothing more than a natural market adjustment, perhaps exacerbated by current market conditions, but certainly nothing to worry about in the long term.”

How to prepare your home for winter

Over half of Brits admit to succumbing to 'Garden Envy'

It’s not uncommon to cast an envious glance at a neighbour’s fancy new car or improved garden space, but a new study has revealed just how jealous British residents are getting when it comes to keeping tabs on what those living next to them are doing with their gardens.

A survey of 1492 adults conducted by Alfresia.co.uk discovered that 53% of Brits will take a seemingly innocuous look over their garden wall to compare their neighbour’s outdoor space with their own. Surprisingly, many are taking it a step further, with 71% of those surveyed more likely to carry out improvements on their garden in an effort to keep pace with any changes that their neighbours have made.

Dining sets led the way as the most sought-after garden upgrade, with 69% noting it as a key feature of other nearby gardens. Plants and flowers came second, with 55% of those surveyed suggesting that they were green with envy over their neighbour’s foliage.

The top five is rounded out by landscape design at 48%, garden heaters and lighting at 42% and storage solutions, sitting at a relatively reasonable 36%.

If you’re feeling a pang of embarrassment knowing that you would be forced to include yourself as partaking in such activities, the study also revealed a few far more damning statistics! Apparently, 21% of those questioned admitted to becoming embroiled in an argument with their neighbour over some aspect of their garden, and remarkably, in an act that takes the concept of Keeping up with the Joneses to the next level, one in ten admitted to making up a reason to visit their neighbour in order to sneak a better glance of their garden.

Those living in Oxford were deemed most likely to succumb to some kind of garden envy, with Newcastle following closely behind in second.

"As a nation, we are very house-proud and so it seems this is the reason for Brits getting so envious when it comes to their outdoor spaces. For many people, their neighbours’ gardens and terraces can be seen from windows, meaning Britons can have a good nosy without being spotted,” offered Alfresia.co.uk’s marketing manager Craig Corbett.

"However, like all design choices and tastes, these do vary from individual to individual and are very personal choices. Whilst it’s great to take inspiration from other places, Brits should work to create a space that they’re proud of rather than one which they have designed to compete with another."

Over half of Brits admit to succumbing to 'Garden Envy'

The top five is rounded out by landscape design at 48%, garden heaters and lighting at 42% and storage solutions, sitting at a relatively reasonable 36%.

Those living in Oxford were deemed most likely to succumb to some kind of garden envy, with Newcastle following closely behind in second.

Average rent prices up 2.3% across England and Wales

As the popularity of renting properties continues to boom across the country, average rent prices across England and Wales are up by 2.3% year on year, according to Your Move England. The lettings market continues to remain popular amongst younger generations, with student lettings now exerting a considerable influence upon the market. With this demand for letting properties in the ascendancy, there has been a 45% increase in the delivery of Build-to-Rent homes in the past year - with private investors now creating high-quality accommodation with the specific intention of renting.

Regional ups and downs
The strongest rental growth has been registered in the South West of England, where prices have risen by 4.3% to £686 per month. London has seen rents fall, with prices down 1.3% year on year; however, it must be noted that it is still, perhaps unsurprisingly, the most expensive place to rent in the United Kingdom with an average price of £1,277 per month. On a monthly basis, the West Midlands and South West are both up by 0.4% compared to September values - showing that variations are indeed highly regionalised.

Lucrative Rents
The rental yield in Northern regions, as is usually the case, earned higher returns than in the South with the average investor in the North East earning an annual yield of 5% in the year to September. Potentially lucrative yields can be seriously hampered by difficult tenants and with tenant arrears currently standing at 10.1%, a rosy picture is being painted for those in the lettings market - as this figure has been as high as 14.6%. Despite nationally strong levels of rental yield from private lettings, the volume of homes being bought privately by individuals in order to let them has decreased since the buy-to-let tax changes, which has resulted in higher tax bills for many second-home owners.

Growth of Markets
The typical notion of student digs being mildly unappealing and dishevelled properties has been turned on its head in recent years, with the student lettings market now exerting a significant influence upon the rental market. Students are now able to access top-quality accommodation in their place of study, and as such, this has become a particularly lucrative market for investors. The return to study for many students in September and October typically sees an upsurge in activity in the private rental sector, and this year has been no different. In addition to a new relationship with the student market, the family lettings market has also grown recently due to greater availability of family properties on the lettings market.

With new properties being built with the express intent to be let out, and the growth of student and family markets, it is evident that the supply and demand for lettings remains strong. This stability is seen through the steadily increasing rental prices nationally, London notwithstanding, as well as the lower levels of tenants behind with their payments. The rental of properties, in lieu of purchasing, is forecast to grow in future years and so the impressive annual yields being reported at the moment should continue to be the case in the coming years.

Average rent prices up 2.3% across England and Wales

As the popularity of renting properties continues to boom across the country, average rent prices across England and Wales are up by 2.3% year on year, according to Your Move England. The lettings market continues to remain popular amongst younger generations, with student lettings now exerting a considerable influence upon the market. With this demand for letting properties in the ascendancy, there has been a 45% increase in the delivery of Build-to-Rent homes in the past year - with private investors now creating high-quality accommodation with the specific intention of renting.

Regional ups and downs
The strongest rental growth has been registered in the South West of England, where prices have risen by 4.3% to £686 per month. London has seen rents fall, with prices down 1.3% year on year; however, it must be noted that it is still, perhaps unsurprisingly, the most expensive place to rent in the United Kingdom with an average price of £1,277 per month. On a monthly basis, the West Midlands and South West are both up by 0.4% compared to September values - showing that variations are indeed highly regionalised.

Lucrative Rents
The rental yield in Northern regions, as is usually the case, earned higher returns than in the South with the average investor in the North East earning an annual yield of 5% in the year to September. Potentially lucrative yields can be seriously hampered by difficult tenants and with tenant arrears currently standing at 10.1%, a rosy picture is being painted for those in the lettings market - as this figure has been as high as 14.6%. Despite nationally strong levels of rental yield from private lettings, the volume of homes being bought privately by individuals in order to let them has decreased since the buy-to-let tax changes, which has resulted in higher tax bills for many second-home owners.

Growth of Markets
The typical notion of student digs being mildly unappealing and disheveled properties has been turned on its head in recent years, with the student lettings market now exerting a significant influence upon the rental market. Students are now able to access top-quality accommodation in their place of study, and as such, this has become a particularly lucrative market for investors. The return to study for many students in September and October typically sees an upsurge in activity in the private rental sector, and this year has been no different. In addition to a new relationship with the student market, the family lettings market has also grown recently due to greater availability of family properties on the lettings market.

With new properties being built with the express intent to be let out, and the growth of student and family markets, it is evident that the supply and demand for lettings remains strong. This stability is seen through the steadily increasing rental prices nationally, London notwithstanding, as well as the lower levels of tenants behind with their payments. The rental of properties, in lieu of purchasing, is forecast to grow in future years and so the impressive annual yields being reported at the moment should continue to be the case in the coming years.

What are the options available to first-time buyers?

The housing market can be an inhospitable place for young first-time buyers. It requires a dedication to an end goal that borders on single-mindedness with many sacrifices along the way, but it is not impossible to buy a home.

To get you started on your climb up the property ladder, we’ve decided to take a look at some of your best options as a first-time buyer.

Where should you start?

Save. It’s a simple first step, but it’s the one that the majority of buyers struggle with the most. Putting a little away here and there simply won’t cut it, you need to be consistently squirrelling away money, sacrificing holidays and big money spends, in an attempt to scrape your deposit together.

Fortunately, there is help out there. Do some research and find a savings account with the best interest rate. The most popular savings account for first-time buyers at the moment is the Help to Buy Isa.

This account allows you to make monthly deposits of up to £200 until you either buy your first home or reach the £12,000 limit. Once you actually purchase a home, you can put the savings from your Help to Buy ISA towards the deposit, and after the sale is complete you will receive a 25% bonus from the government. For example, if you had £12,000 saved, you would receive a £3,000 bonus after completion.

What are your options?

If you already have some money saved up, but you're just short of the mark, it may be worth considering the following options.

Rent to Buy: This allows you to choose a home that you will one day buy, but in the meantime, you’ll only have to pay a reduced amount of rent (80%), meaning you can save the other 20% for a deposit. Once you enter this scheme, it lasts for five years. During that time, you can buy the property outright, or you can pay for a 25% or 75% share of the property.

0% Mortgage: A 0% mortgage is similar to a 5% mortgage, in that a guarantor must put forward 10% of the deposit, whilst you put down nothing. The guarantor will receive the cash back, provided that you keep up with your mortgage repayments.

Bank of Mum and Dad: When all else fails, what better place to go than the good old reliable bank of mum and dad. Many of the options above require your parents to act as a guarantor anyway, so why not just go straight to the primary source?

Whilst it might seem daunting to begin saving for a property, there are many options that can help you take your first tentative steps onto the property ladder. Do some research and find out which options suit you best.

What are your available options if you're a first-time buyer?

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