The Guardian view on rights for renters: only the start | Editorial

A consultation on scrapping no-fault evictions and introducing new safeguards for tenants is welcome – but not enough

Home is not an address. It is a feeling. Millions of people have the keys to a property, yet enjoy none of the security we associate with the word “home” because their housing is not decent, safe and affordable, or because they have no idea how long they may remain there. Private renters are particularly vulnerable.

The proportion of private tenants in England doubled in the first decade or so of this century, to around a fifth of the population. The proportion of their incomes consumed by rent also increased sharply. So did the amount that taxpayers hand over to landlords.

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from Property | The Guardian http://bit.ly/2UXyR5v
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Historic lost garden in Kent to be opened to the public

Walmer Castle’s overgrown glen, dating from the 19th century, has been revived

An abandoned chalk pit, which has been an impenetrably dense jungle of bramble, gorse and fallen trees for more than a century will this month be revealed as an extraordinary lost garden created by two former prime ministers.

The lost garden of Walmer Castle in Kent was laid out in the early 19th century by William Pitt the Younger and completed by Lord Liverpool.

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from Home And Garden | The Guardian http://bit.ly/2UZRrtK
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Historic lost garden in Kent to be opened to the public

Walmer Castle’s overgrown glen, dating from the 19th century, has been revived

An abandoned chalk pit, which has been an impenetrably dense jungle of bramble, gorse and fallen trees for more than a century will this month be revealed as an extraordinary lost garden created by two former prime ministers.

The lost garden of Walmer Castle in Kent was laid out in the early 19th century by William Pitt the Younger and completed by Lord Liverpool.

Continue reading...

from Property | The Guardian http://bit.ly/2UZRrtK
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Why was your home rejected? Ask potential buyers

When you have a promising house viewing, it can lead to excitement. You begin to picture an imminent move, the house you want to purchase being yours, and order in some packing boxes. But then you find out later that the potential buyers didn’t take it, and their smiles and gushing at the décor suddenly seem a bit false.

So why was your home rejected? If you’re sensing a continuing trend, you can’t stay on the same train; you need to find out what’s putting people off. There could be a multitude of things, but if they’re not obvious to you, you won’t know what to change. So what can you do? Ask the people around you…

Ask your agent – Your agent can prove very useful after a rejected viewing. A standard response can be “They just weren’t interested”, but this isn’t good enough. The viewer probably said this to the agent, but the agent can request more information. Ask for specifics; was it the price? The décor? Too cluttered? Whatever details you can get from the horse’s mouth, are helpful for you.

Ask a friend or family member – While this option has the potential to be a little biased, you need to ask your nearest and dearest to be brutally honest with you. They may like your home, but can be useful to pick at the nitty gritty that you might just not see. Don’t be offended; at the end of the day, you want to sell up and need as much helpful information as you can. Friends or family who are looking to move can be really handy too.

Ask a neighbour who recently sold – If you’re quite friendly with your neighbours and your homes are pretty comparable, ask them to take a look at your home. Get them to offer any suggestions as to why they think your home might be turning people off, in comparison to their recent sale.

Ask another potential buyer – While they might not be interested in your home specifically, it is worth asking other potential buyers to have a snoop. See if your friends and family have friends who are looking to move, and if it isn’t too much of an inconvenience, ask them to have a look around. This could provide a really remarkable insight into your home from another perspective.

If your home isn’t shifting and the buyers are sending a reject your way, ask the people around you for their assessment of your property.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

The post Why was your home rejected? Ask potential buyers appeared first on Home Truths.

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Sam’s 5 Dos and Don’ts of Moving with Children

Moving with children can be a very stressful time.  Trying to allow for their schedules, needs and energy levels can be a huge drain on your own time and energy while at the same time, trying to move home – something most of us only do a handful of times in a lifetime!

Having moved so many times that I’ve actually lost count, and the last 17 with three children, I thought I’d share with you here my own personal dos and don’ts so you can learn by my mistakes!

Do involve children in the move by getting them to pack and label their own possessions.  Turn it into a game and make it a positive, fun experience.

Don’t rush them into ‘loving’ their new home and life.  The move wasn’t their idea and they may not have known about your decision until it was all cut and dried!  Give them time to get used to it, and before long, their old home will be a distant, if affectionate, memory.

Do create a countdown chart on the wall. Make it colourful and fun, and encourage them to cross off the days as you get closer to moving day.

Don’t forget that young children get tired and whiny easily and when you’re stressed out on moving day, your patience may fray! Consider roping in family and friends to look after them, and give yourself the chance to focus on the move without distraction.

Do have children pack their most special items in a small case that travels with you in the car.  You really don’t want to be opening boxes at midnight when you’re tired to look for their cuddly toy, blanket or other favourite thing.  Having their familiar possessions around them will also help them feel at home more quickly and give you all the peaceful night’s sleep you need.

I’d love to hear any of your own moving tips – with children or otherwise! Leave me a comment.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

What to read next:  Are you Ready to Move On?

What to do next:  Sign up to my Selling Secrets http://www.home-truths.co.uk/selling-secrets

The post Sam’s 5 Dos and Don’ts of Moving with Children appeared first on Home Truths.

from Home Truths http://bit.ly/2UEc4Mz
via IFTTT

Why was your home rejected? Ask potential buyers

When you have a promising house viewing, it can lead to excitement. You begin to picture an imminent move, the house you want to purchase being yours, and order in some packing boxes. But then you find out later that the potential buyers didn’t take it, and their smiles and gushing at the décor suddenly seem a bit false.

So why was your home rejected? If you’re sensing a continuing trend, you can’t stay on the same train; you need to find out what’s putting people off. There could be a multitude of things, but if they’re not obvious to you, you won’t know what to change. So what can you do? Ask the people around you…

Ask your agent – Your agent can prove very useful after a rejected viewing. A standard response can be “They just weren’t interested”, but this isn’t good enough. The viewer probably said this to the agent, but the agent can request more information. Ask for specifics; was it the price? The décor? Too cluttered? Whatever details you can get from the horse’s mouth, are helpful for you.

Ask a friend or family member – While this option has the potential to be a little biased, you need to ask your nearest and dearest to be brutally honest with you. They may like your home, but can be useful to pick at the nitty gritty that you might just not see. Don’t be offended; at the end of the day, you want to sell up and need as much helpful information as you can. Friends or family who are looking to move can be really handy too.

Ask a neighbour who recently sold – If you’re quite friendly with your neighbours and your homes are pretty comparable, ask them to take a look at your home. Get them to offer any suggestions as to why they think your home might be turning people off, in comparison to their recent sale.

Ask another potential buyer – While they might not be interested in your home specifically, it is worth asking other potential buyers to have a snoop. See if your friends and family have friends who are looking to move, and if it isn’t too much of an inconvenience, ask them to have a look around. This could provide a really remarkable insight into your home from another perspective.

If your home isn’t shifting and the buyers are sending a reject your way, ask the people around you for their assessment of your property.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

The post Why was your home rejected? Ask potential buyers appeared first on Home Truths.

from Home Truths http://bit.ly/2Gfn2yb
via IFTTT

Sam’s 5 Dos and Don’ts of Moving with Children

Moving with children can be a very stressful time.  Trying to allow for their schedules, needs and energy levels can be a huge drain on your own time and energy while at the same time, trying to move home – something most of us only do a handful of times in a lifetime!

Having moved so many times that I’ve actually lost count, and the last 17 with three children, I thought I’d share with you here my own personal dos and don’ts so you can learn by my mistakes!

Do involve children in the move by getting them to pack and label their own possessions.  Turn it into a game and make it a positive, fun experience.

Don’t rush them into ‘loving’ their new home and life.  The move wasn’t their idea and they may not have known about your decision until it was all cut and dried!  Give them time to get used to it, and before long, their old home will be a distant, if affectionate, memory.

Do create a countdown chart on the wall. Make it colourful and fun, and encourage them to cross off the days as you get closer to moving day.

Don’t forget that young children get tired and whiny easily and when you’re stressed out on moving day, your patience may fray! Consider roping in family and friends to look after them, and give yourself the chance to focus on the move without distraction.

Do have children pack their most special items in a small case that travels with you in the car.  You really don’t want to be opening boxes at midnight when you’re tired to look for their cuddly toy, blanket or other favourite thing.  Having their familiar possessions around them will also help them feel at home more quickly and give you all the peaceful night’s sleep you need.

I’d love to hear any of your own moving tips – with children or otherwise! Leave me a comment.

If you’d like my help to sell your home more effectively, please answer a few short questions here and if I think I can help you, I’ll be in touch.

What to read next:  Are you Ready to Move On?

What to do next:  Sign up to my Selling Secrets http://www.home-truths.co.uk/selling-secrets

The post Sam’s 5 Dos and Don’ts of Moving with Children appeared first on Home Truths.

from Home Truths http://bit.ly/2UEc4Mz
via IFTTT