Fact or fiction: does having a bath impact the value of a property?

The bath versus shower debate is one that has long divided the nation, with the British population either leaning to the fast rinse right or long soak left.

In fact, a 2019 study by Victoria Plumbing found that the majority of people prefer showers (57%) over baths (32%) because they are quicker and leave them feeling cleaner.

If you’re preparing a property for sale or rent, however, you’ll need to put your personal washing preference to the back of your mind. Figuratively speaking, you shouldn’t throw the baby out with the bath [water] or you could risk devaluing your home and putting off prospective residents.

So, unless you are in your forever home, you should think twice – or about two things in particular – before ditching the bath in favour of a shower.  

  1.       The type of property

When deciding whether to keep a bath, you should consider the type of property and what kind of people might want to buy or rent it.

A family home will be marketed as suitable for families – even if there are only two bedrooms – and therefore most likely attract people with children. According to the research by Victoria Plumbing, 37% of parents find it easier to get their children to have a bath, so this could be a priority for them when property hunting.

With a bungalow, future buyers or renters may be looking at such a property because they suffer from limited mobility or are thinking ahead to their elderly years. While long-term, they might be thinking of converting a bathroom into a wet room, the immediate future might require a relaxing bath that they can sit in comfortably rather than a tiny corner shower they can barely stand up in.

A flat, on the other hand, is often best suited to singles or young couples who, even though they might favour a bath, will possibly be more open to not having one. This is particularly the case if it’s their first step onto the property ladder – or they are living by themselves – as they are probably more willing to make a compromise.

  1.       The size of the property

Space certainly comes at a premium these days, with many new builds being much smaller than properties built 50 years ago and bathrooms being the first to be downsized (or en-suites completely removed) in house-to-flat conversions.

If you are lucky enough to own a property with two or more bathrooms, then you could absolutely remove a bath in one. Those with an enviable amount of space could even look at having a free-standing bath as well as a contemporary shower unit in the same bathroom.

Properties with one main bathroom and a large downstairs cloakroom could think about whether the ground floor space could accommodate a stylish corner shower in addition to a WC and basin.

In properties where there is only one bathroom, replacing the bath with a shower is frowned upon for resale or rental purposes. An alternative is to have a shower over the bath and if you want more space in your bathroom, there is a wide range of sizes available.

Where there is such limited space in a bathroom that leaves no choice but to only have a shower, the impact will be negligible. The likelihood is that these properties will be smaller generally, which will be reflected in the overall price and will attract home movers with a specific budget and lower expectations. On the other hand, an expensive Japanese bathtub  would not look out of place in the smallest of properties in a premium location and could easily have a shower head installed above.  

The ultimate question is, will not having a bath devalue your property?

Like most features of a property, the presence or lack of a bath is very subjective. Not having one could be a deal breaker for one potential buyer or tenant, whereas another might not care at all.

The difference with a bathroom compared to colour schemes, for example, is that it’s more costly to rectify. This is why it can sometimes impact the property value.

A property without a bath will potentially limit the types of people it will appeal to, leaving the property on the market for longer and therefore leading to a drop in asking price. Having said that, it all comes down to demand and your urgency to sell or rent.

The best advice – keep a bath if you can, especially if you’re planning to move on in the short to medium term.

Landlords: switch from short- to long-term lets

Is the private rental market about to come full circle, with landlords swapping their short-term and holiday lets, which have recently been in fashion, for traditional long-term tenancies? We are finding the appeal of the long-term let has never been higher, both among tenants and landlords. 

 

Renting out a second property you own, to the holiday-making masses or transient tenants, has been one way to cash in on becoming a landlord, with the term ‘staycation’ and Airbnb working in tandem to fuel the short-term and holiday let market.

 

The Covid-19 pandemic, however, has exposed one of the less appealing aspects of running a holiday home – uncertainty – with both international travellers and home-grown guests virtually vaporising overnight, earlier in 2020. In fact, the decline in holiday-let demand during the Covid-19 crisis has been so sharp that Airbnb has made approximately 25% of its workforce redundant. 

 

Additionally, a poll conducted among members of the UK Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA) found that since 13th March 2020, most short- and holiday-let landlords had seen around 70% of their bookings cancelled, with some reporting as high as 90%, with proportionate losses in income. 

 

Many landlords will now be busy refunding deposits or wondering how they will cover the bills in the coming months – all with the thought that travel restrictions may happen again and knowing people are becoming more particular about entering a property with a high turnover of strangers.

 

Landlords are now seeking the certainty of a long-term, traditional tenancy – one where tenants are locked in, by legal agreement, for anything in excess of 6 months. Home movers are also turning to the private rental market in greater numbers, with new tenancy applications in early June 2020 rising above those seen in the same period in 2019*. 

 

This new tenancy surge is, in part, due to a reluctance to commit to a property purchase in uncertain times but also because many home movers are taking the first step towards changing their lifestyle or location – trying out new areas by renting before they buy.

 

Swapping from a short- to a long-term let

Here’s our advice for those who have been running a short-term or holiday let and would like to switch to a traditional long-term tenancy:-

 

  • Start to ‘wind up’ your short-term let – especially if it is a holiday property – by stopping all online, print and social media activity, and removing online booking facilities.
  • Honour all immediate bookings, where safely possible, or start the deposit refund process.
  • Organise for the property to be deep cleaned inside and out.
  • Decide whether the location of your let is ideal for a long-term tenancy. Take the advice of a local letting agent who will confirm if there is demand and what the monthly rent could be. It may be advisable to sell the property and purchase a buy-to-let in a different area.
  • Contact a local letting agent with a property management department. They will advise you on the current legal compliance and tax implications attached to running a long-term private tenancy.
  • Speak with your buy-to-let mortgage lender to ensure their terms and conditions allow a long-term private tenancy.
  • Instruct an agent and ensure any DIY or maintenance is complete before marketing photographs are taken.
  • Decide whether to self manage or hand over the day-to-day tasks, compliance and administration to a property manager so you can enjoy a ‘hands-off’ investment.
  • Be meticulous when it comes to finances and record keeping, so you can fill in your self assessment tax return truthfully, or pass on your records to a trusted accountant. 

 

If you would like more detailed advice and step-by-step support when transitioning from a holiday- or short-term let to a long-term tenancy set-up, please contact us today. Our lettings team will be pleased to advise you.

 

*Goodlord June 2020

14 jobs for the first 24 hours in a new home

Whether you’re buying or renting, moving into your new home can be both daunting and exciting. Many of us get so caught up in organising removal vans, shopping for new furniture and daydreaming about colour schemes that it’s easy to forget the all-important but often mundane administrative, health, safety and hygiene tasks that need doing.
But with a little forward planning and preparation, you’ll be popping the cork on that champagne bottle to celebrate in no time, knowing everything is done.

Simply follow this essential new home checklist to turn a new house into a home that feels your own.
Before completion…

It can be tricky to know the exact date you will be moving into your new home, especially when you’re buying property, but there are plenty of things you can do to get ahead of the game.

1. Set up home insurance
Homeowners will need buildings and contents insurance, and tenants are advised to take out contents insurance. You can easily do this in advance, even if it’s just getting a quote and confirming the start date nearer completion. Any policy must reflect your new address.

2. Notify utilities & service providers
Contact your existing providers (if applicable) and use this opportunity to shop around for the best gas, electric, TV, phone and broadband deals. Also remember to check your council tax band and notify your local authority that you will be the new owner or occupier. The same goes for your local water supplier.

The moment you get the keys…

The removal van has gone and you’re desperate to start unpacking, but before you do, familiarise yourself with the property and carry out a mini inspection.

3. Check keys
Make sure you have all house keys including doors, windows, any outbuildings and garages. Check that there are no cupboards or closets inside that you can’t access without the right keys too.

4. Locate supply points
Make sure you know how to turn off the water, gas and electric supply in an emergency. Locate the stop cock, internal fuse boxes, any gas and electric meters, and the boiler.

5. Find any instruction manuals
Some homes will come with built-in appliances and if you’re lucky, the previous owners may have left behind any free-standing appliances. You need to know how to use them and if there is any warranty left.

6. Inspect the house
Now that the property is empty and free of furniture, take a thorough look around for signs of damage and dampness. Problems will be easier to rectify if spotted early! Also check you have any fixtures and fittings promised by the landlord or previous owner and inspect their condition.

7. Clean the house
Give everything a once over with the duster, mop, hoover and cloth before you start unpacking your worldly goods.

8. Check smoke & carbon monoxide alarms
Locate each alarm, test and change the batteries if necessary. If you’re a tenant, your landlord is responsible for installing smoke alarms but you are responsible for checking the batteries.

9. Take meter readings
This will ensure you’re not paying for the previous occupant’s energy and water usage. Find the meters, note down the numbers and send them to the suppliers within 24 hours of moving in.

When you’ve finished unpacking…

If you still have the energy at the end of moving day, order yourself a takeaway and start working through the final list of essential tasks.

10. Check bin day
You may have a pile of rubbish to dispose of after you move in, so it’s good to know when the next collection of general waste and recycling items is due. Also check what you can recycle as it can differ from one local authority to the next.

11. Order replacement bathroom items
New toilet seats and shower curtains are definitely a good idea and fairly inexpensive items to replace.

12. Change your address
Nowadays, you can easily change your address online with many providers, from banks and insurers to the DVLA and mobile phone providers.

13. Register for local services
If you’ve moved to a new area, you’ll need to register your details with the local GP surgery and dentist and of course, register to vote.

14. Organise a locksmith
It’s good practice to change the locks as you never know who had access to the property before you.

When all the boring essentials are done, there’s just one more thing to do before you can really start to enjoy your new home and all of its possibilities – introduce yourself to the neighbours!

Changes for tenants to note

June has already been one of the busiest months in the UK’s lettings market. Aside from Rightmove reporting a 22% rise in rental property demand when compared to last year, and statistics from Goodlord showing tenancy applications had surged above 2019 levels to 111% on 1st June 2020, there have also been two legislative changes and a shift in attitudes to visiting properties that tenants need to be aware of.

New incoming electrical standards
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 may sound long winded and complicated but these new regulations simply pertain to the wiring and electrical installations in a rented property. The Government issued the lettings industry important guidelines on 2nd June 2020, with the intention of making rented homes safer for tenants.

As of 1st July 2020, all new tenancies and tenancy renewals In England will need to meet new electrical standards. In order to form part of a compliant let, all electrical installations in rented properties will need to be inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at least every five years.

The new regulations also state that a copy of all resulting reports following a visit should be supplied to any prospective or incumbent tenant within 28 days of receiving a request for the paperwork, and that any works required to meet the new safety standards should be completed in 28 days or less.

The Government is supporting visits by electricians so that necessary changes can be made and new electrical standards met. As a result, you may hear from your property manager or landlord if they need to access your home to carry out any testing or alterations. To note, as of 1st April 2021, The Electrical Safety Standards will apply to all tenancies, including existing agreements where tenants are in situ.

Temporary ban on evictions extended
There have been many Government announcements over the last few weeks so you’ll be forgiven for missing one made by the Housing Minister. Robert Jenrick has announced that a temporary ban on evictions introduced to protect vulnerable tenants during the pandemic will be extended.

The ban, which was due to come to an end at the end of June, will now run until the 23rd August 2020. This means eviction court hearings will not take place until the end of August and evictions will not take place this summer.

Access to tenanted properties has changed
The lettings industry has been advised that non-emergency visits to tenanted properties can now resume, as long as tradespeople, contractors and property staff follow the Government’s official advice for working in other people’s homes.

Tenants may now receive requests to permit access to carry out non-essential repairs and maintenance, undertake delayed inspections and carry out gas or electrical safety checks. Of course, visits will be rescheduled if any tenant is self-isolating, shielding or unwell with Covid-19 symptoms.

If you would like any further information on the current laws and legislations in the lettings industry that may affect you as a tenant, please contact us today.

3 considerations before picking the perfect paint colour

A fresh lick of paint is all it could take to completely transform the light and aesthetics in your home, and often the least expensive and intrusive investment for the biggest return for homeowners. If you’re a tenant, you may also be allowed to paint your property but you must contact your property manager or landlord before you pick up a paint brush.

With some careful consideration as to which paint colours will have the desired effect and a little DIY treatment, you’ll soon create an inviting space to enjoy or one that will attract potential buyers or tenants in no time.

It’s not, however, as simple as trying to copy a concept from a lifestyle magazine or assuming white is bright and therefore right. Before choosing your paint colour and applying the first brush stroke, there are three things to consider…

 

Purpose of the room

It’s easy to get carried away with painting and decorating without actually thinking about what we use the space for and at what time of the day. Aside from opting for wipeable, mould-resistant and durable paint products for kitchens, bathrooms and poorly ventilated rooms, we never give much consideration to more than the colours we like.

However, different colours can impact your mood in distinct ways and also react differently to light. So, if all you do is sleep in your bedroom, you want to choose a paint colour that you’re happy with from dusk until dawn. Does it bounce beautifully off your bedside lamp while making you feel calm and content?

In a hallway with little natural light, you want visitors to feel welcomed so you may assume dark colours won’t work, but some designers disagree. Also remember that you don’t usually spend much time in your hallway – unlike your home office. When thinking about colours for your workspace, it would be wise to select a colour that suits your profession and enhances your productivity. Do you need to feel energised and creative (yellow) or focused and free of distraction (mid-brown and soft pink)? 

  

Size of the room

Size certainly matters when it comes to paint colours. If you have a large cavernous living room with high ceilings which feels cold and impersonal, you could opt for a darker colour on the ceiling to draw the room down. Deep and warm colours like rust, teal and golden brown are particularly intimate.

Accent walls also work well to break up open plan living spaces and depending on the type of room or feeling you want to create, you could choose contrasting colours or similar tones.

The opposite is true when you want to make small spaces appear bigger and less claustrophobic. Lighter ceilings and cooler colours like light greys and blues or pastel pinks work really well. And, if you opt for white reflective glossy or satin paint on edgings such as skirting boards, you don’t have to compromise as much on your wall colour.

Stripes and vertical lines are a good choice too as they can make rooms appear taller and longer.

 

Natural and artificial light sources

You’ll likely be aware of the benefits of natural light in a room but have you ever thought about whether it faces north, east, south or west?

The aspect of a room can have a considerable impact on how we perceive colour and this changes throughout the day. East-facing rooms are warmer in the morning and bluer in the afternoon for example, making tones of yellow, orange and red perfect. In south-facing rooms, dark colours will look brighter and lighter colours will literally reflect the sunlight back into the room.

Artificial lighting can also alter the colour of the walls, with the yellow-amber of an incandescent bulb muting blues and greens, while white halogens resemble natural light. Bold coloured furniture can also reflect off lighter walls, so avoid that ocean blue rug if you don’t want a blue tinge in your white walls!

Finally, remember your motivation for opening a tin and breaking out the roller. If you’re putting your house up for sale or rent, select neutral shades to avoid alienating the less adventurous but don’t be afraid to inject a little creativity if this is your ‘right now’ or forever home.

Moving for a secondary school place? Start your search now

The current academic year will go down as one of the most unusual in history but despite lockdown and the fact many students are still completing their school work from home, parents need to be thinking ahead – especially those with children currently in year five.

Looming on the horizon is the deadline for secondary school applications, which is generally around 31st October every year for those whose children are moving up to year 6 in September 2020 (although it is worth checking with your local authority’s education department in terms of the exact application deadline). This may sound like a way off in terms of timings but for parents who have their hearts set on a specific secondary school, preparations should start now.

The closest wins

Schools vary widely in terms of Ofsted ratings and reputation, therefore some schools are more in demand than others. To deal with oversubscription, many secondary schools operate a preference system based on location – favouring those who live closest to the school or in a prescribed area. Even in the case of selective facilities – such as grammars and faith schools – a child’s distance from the school can have a bearing on the application outcome. In some instances, even 0.1 of a mile matters.

It’s all about the address

Every parent applying for a secondary school place by 31st October will need a valid address – where they live on a permanent basis, with their child, and not that of a property they rent out or of a relative. Local authorities are very wise to the fact that some parents will manipulate the truth in order to provide a favourable address and council’s have investigators actively cross-checking documents against databases, so honesty is the best policy. If you are found to be acting fraudulently, an offer of a school place can be withdrawn.

Moving to be within catchment

Many parents realise that to stand the best chance of getting their child into a specific secondary school, they need to move closer to the facility. Any move needs to have at least exchanged by the application deadline to be considered valid, and your local authority may require a letter from your solicitor confirming a completion date and evidence you are cutting ties with your current property for reassurance. If you are intending to rent a new property closer to a secondary school, you should expect to provide a signed tenancy agreement for at least 12 months showing your new address.

 

All about the timings

Moving home can take months – from the day you decide to relocate to the day you collect the keys to a new property. If your aim is to have a new permanent address before 31st October 2020, we suggest you start the process now, so there’s adequate time for searching, viewings, negotiations and for the legal/administration process to conclude before the deadline passes. We can get your home on the market within a matter of hours of you getting in touch with us, as well as help you find a new home in the right location for your chosen school.

 

Do note, you should check any school’s catchment area before you start your property search. Don’t get caught out by assuming the school itself will be in the centre of a distance circle – sometimes the catchment will be an irregular shape and the school to one side. In other situations, a school will have a list of favoured postcodes or parishes. We can draw on our local knowledge to help you choose a new home in the right location, so please ask for our advice.

Start your move today

If you’d like to know more about moving for a secondary school place and would like to be settled in a new home well before the application deadline, contact us today.

Garden trend: outdoor rooms

Gone are the days when a plastic patio set and a basic parasol were all you needed for outdoor living. To get your garden Instagram-ready or Pinterest perfect, you need to create an outdoor room.

 

A design movement to create more sophisticated outside spaces started gathering pace long before lockdown and in a time before our overseas jollies looked in jeopardy. Social media grids were filling up with highly styled garden areas that were going all-out to become an extension of a property.

 

Even the good old British weather needn’t be a barrier to enjoying time outside, as long as you plan for all forecasts. Here are our hints and tips for those looking to add an outdoor room.

 

Give your room a ‘frame’

Just like an inside room would have walls; an outdoor room will feel more defined if it has sides. The quickest way to do this is to use a corner of your garden but if this isn’t possible, it is possible to use a pergoda with slats or trellising to give you a starting point.

 

Define your room’s use

 

Living room

If you’re hoping to create an extra living room, opt for furniture that lends itself to lounging. There are plenty of all-weather sofas and armchairs on the market – many are sold with matching coffee tables. For a convincing look, include an outdoor rug and hang a securely-fixed mirror. If you really want to up the living ante, you can purchase outdoor projectors, screens and speakers for film nights – just add comfy cushions and throws.

 

Kitchen

If you’re thinking of creating an outdoor kitchen, you’ll need to plan where your BBQ, pizza oven, sink and storage units will go. Ensure there’s somewhere for smoke to escape and an outdoor tap is a sensible option. For a really authentic room, include a dining table and chairs, dressed for al fresco entertainment.

 

Bathroom

You may even like to create an outdoor bathroom. Although probably best to skip the loo part, examples of themed areas housing hot tubs and changing rooms are circulating around social media, with wall mounted hooks for towels and even outdoor showers.

 

Light, power & warmth

These elements go hand-in-hand and shouldn’t be afterthoughts. If you’re expecting to plug in gadgets and lights, your best bet is asking a qualified electrician to install an outdoor power socket – especially if a hot tub features in your plan – or lay appropriate cables. Lights can take many forms – solar, candles, fairy lights, oil-fuelled torches or hard wired examples but always be mindful of fire safety. The same goes for heat – gas powered patio heaters have fallen slightly out of fashion in favour of fire pits and chimineas but take precautions whatever heat source you opt for.

 

Protection from the elements

British weather has a predilection for extremes – heatwaves, hurricanes and torrential rain. Think about how you’ll protect your garden room and guests from the elements so you can use your outdoor room all year round. Options available include wall-mounted awnings, heavy duty parasols, sail shades, gazebos or a solid roof. Retractable options are the most versatile, although costly, but whatever you choose, be sure to anchor anything securely. 

 

Flooring

It goes without saying, starting with a flat, level base works best, then you can choose from a myriad of floor coverings. Traditional stone and shingle are great for achieving a cottage style, while decking (real wood or composite), porcelain tiles and artificial grass lend a more modern vibe.

 

If you’d like to move to a property with outdoor room potential – or would prefer to find a place with a garden that’s already been improved – contact us today.