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Are you looking to move to London or elsewhere in London to try to be nearer to some green spaces? Check out some areas of London we’d recommend if you want to be closer to a park. You can have the best of both worlds, with the bustle of Central London and the serenity of a local park both on your doorstep.

 

Camden

Camden is a great area to explore and to live. The thriving town offers a diverse range of street food and odd bits at the market, there are great bars, restaurants and comedy clubs and there’s the well-known ‘Round House’ if you’re a fan of live music. Just ten minutes’ walk, though, and you’ll find yourself taking in incredible London skyline views from the top of Primrose Hill or having a peek into London Zoo from Regent’s Park. This is a gorgeous park to wander around, to feel like you’re in the heart of the countryside.

 

Bethnal Green

Bethnal Green is a great spot, putting you ten minutes on the bus from Shoreditch in one direction and ten minutes in the other direction to the gorgeous Victoria Park. The park offers a large outer track, and Chinese gardens, as well as access onto the Regent’s Canal, giving you plenty of places to explore on a weekend. Victoria Park Village, next to the park, offers plenty of eateries and pubs after you’ve tired yourself out in the park too! In the summer, there are a number of visiting festivals, including Lovebox, All Points East, Citadel and Creamfields. As a cheeky bonus, Bethnal Green sits on the Central Line, getting you to Tottenham Court Road or Westfields Stratford in around 15 minutes too.

Clapham

Clapham has a reputation which precedes it, as a great area for people moving to London. The area offers easy access to Central London on the Northern Line and a lively atmosphere, with plenty of bars and restaurants to keep you entertained. The area also has the lovely Clapham Common, a large expanse offering many exercise classes and a Park Run to local residents. If you fancy more of a wander, you can head down Northcote Road towards Battersea and head over to Battersea Park too. The area is great for those first moving to London – offering a bit of peace away from the city but an environment where you can make friends and socialise easily.

Forest Gate

If you fancy experiencing East London life, Forest Gate is a great option. Sat right outside Stratford, Forest Gate is close to Westfields shopping centre, local bars, restaurants and amenities. Forest Gate is on the train line in to Liverpool Street and close to the tube options at Stratford. As well as this, Forest Gate sits close to the Olympic Park and Wanstead Flats – both lovely green spaces to explore. The Olympic Park is a great space to discover, and you can easily jump onto the canal path here and head up towards Walthamstow.

 

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Photo source: https://bit.ly/2tupISG

When you put your property on the market, it’s important that you do everything you can to make sure it looks as aesthetically pleasing as it can be. Here are some of the ten biggest turn offs for potential buyers or renters when they look at a property.

Damp

A whopping 70% of people stated they’d be turned off at the sight of damp patches or stained walls. This is often due to how expensive it can be to fix and can also indicate further issues within the property, like a leaking gutter or roof.

Property in poor state of repair

Next was a property that’s in a poor state of repair. This isn’t a surprising one since repairs can get very expensive quickly and are often time consuming.

No garden

It appears that 57% of people consider a garden a deal breaker. Despite the inconsistent UK weather, many buyers are always after the opportunity at least to plant some flowers and grow vegetables.

Bad smells

Many homebuyers appear to be turned off by poor smelling homes, which shouldn’t surprise many. Examples could be smells caused by pets, food and cigarettes.

No space for parking

Over half of homebuyers stated that parking was another deal breaker when selecting a new home.

Poorly lit rooms

54% of people were put off by poor lighting; hardly anyone wants to come home in the summer to a house where the lights still need to be turned on, so it’s important to keep your home properly lit so it feels welcoming to viewers.

Unfinished works

About 54% of individuals stated that unfinished building work was off-putting when it came to buying a house. Viewing a house that looks like a building site isn’t very appealing and neither is the thought of buying one.

Small rooms

51% of homebuyers said a home with small rooms was a turn-off. This is probably because of the increasing popularity of open plan areas. Small spaces are often advertised as ‘cosy’ but it appears many homebuyers aren’t looking for this.

Small kitchens

It seems 44% of individuals would be put off by a property with a small kitchen. A kitchen is the hub of many homes and if there isn’t enough space for wining and dining guests it often won’t be considered.

Poor DIY

Good intentions aside, bad DIY is off-putting to 43% of homebuyers. An unfinished curtain rail or skirting board can look tatty and gives off the feeling that the property isn’t care for. When the time comes to conduct viewings, we suggest just putting the tools down.

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Photo source: https://bit.ly/2ljnVM3

Anybody having plans to changing the doors this summer? We found a great idea to make them look brand new by using the old doors and just refinishing them.

The complete DIY project in this step-by-step guide on ThisOldHouse:

  1. Remove the door’s hardware
  2. Sand the flats
  3. Scrape the moldings

  4. Hand-sand profiles and clear away dust

  5. Seal door edges before rehanging

  6. Choose a finish and apply first coat

  7. Apply final coat and reattach hardware

Seems easy enough, but it takes some courage to start! 🙂 Best of luck! Show us the result if you do it! Or maybe you have some other secret way of refreshing the doors…???

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If you’re one of those green-lovers that would easily grow an entire garden inside, you will probably love the concept of this New York apartment…

Photo source: HomeBNC https://bit.ly/2ymOlpw

If you still like gardening, but not to that extent, we recommend a very relaxing way to add some living green plants to your apartment.

8 Apartment Balcony Garden Decorating Ideas you Must Look at

50 Ways to Redeem Your Balcony Space

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Photo source: Wikimedia https://bit.ly/2y61mna

Anybody who ever experienced moving houses under a deadline or searching in a critical moment for a roof over their head know the feeling. The feeling of solitude and desolation to be unable to know exactly if and where you’ll rest your head at night.

Right now, there are over 120 000 children in this situation. These are the figures of children living with their families in emergency housing. The real problem is: the number of families living in temporary, emergency, accommodation rose by 500% in the last 9 years.

Temporary or emergency housing is paid by the government. And the yearly sum allocated to solve this problem was of more than £105m/ year in the last 8 years. It sums up to almost £845m of public money.

But the solution to this problem doesn’t stand only in the hands of the government. Landlords might have a win – win solution to the problem of these families if only they would consider reducing or eliminating deposits.

The following article on Property Reporter mentions the problems, but also suggests some very good solving to the housing problem of those in difficulty:

Landlords losing out due to sky high deposits

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Photo source: https://bit.ly/2JzFD8n

Are you looking for ideas that will spruce up your kitchen but won’t break your budget? If your kitchen is looking out of date, you don’t have to shell out a fortune to give it a new, fresh look. Whether you’ve lived there for many years or have just moved in, here are some simple ideas on how to refresh your kitchen.

 

New lighting

Chandeliers are wonderful for brightening up your kitchen and improving its overall mood and appearance. The lights that come with most properties are quite standard, but by mixing it up with other kinds of lighting you can give your home more personality and character.

 

Fresh colours       

Lighter colours are great for walls and cabinets, because apart from making a space look larger, they also make it look and feel more upmarket. They also reflect light which means they are better able to hide bumps and scratches that might have accrued on your walls and cabinets over the years.

 

Artwork

Pieces of art can instantly improve any kitchen. If possible, opt for larger pieces as these can create the illusion of a larger space. This is also a nice option for renters that don’t have the chance to change much in their space.

 

Discover the value of stainless steel

Can’t afford stainless steel products? There’s a way around it; stainless steel paint can be used on those appliances that are making your kitchen feel dated. Just ensure you buy the right kind of paint, as companies make different types of it depending on the appliance.

De-clutter

Kitchen clutter can really bring down a space, so (if possible) try hiding them away and only take them out when you need to use them. Examples include objects like kettles and toasters.

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This summer will use your patio fully so why not give it the best look it can have.

Step 1 should be to clean in roughly. Some extra care for the space where you’re going to spend warm and (apparently) endless summer nights with friends is in order.

Here are our suggestions for a fresh and modern patio (with DIY tricks included, of course):

  1. Fake an expensive patio with some spray paint!

How To Fake A Stone Patio

Fake an expensive patio with this spray paint idea.

Posted by DIY with Hometalk on Wednesday, 23 May 2018

2. Change the garden chairs – top ideas from Elle Decor!

We loved Casper and it’s hollow looks, but doesn’t Marrocco seem comfortable for a summer afternoon?

Photo souce: Ella Decor https://bit.ly/2y1bwW4

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Photo source: Wikimedia https://bit.ly/2JmFN7c

Buyers on the property market have incomes ranging from small to… pretty big. No matter the amout of money the earn each month, they shouldn’t be deprived of their desire to have a home.

However, low earners must look for the most affordable options when it comes to city home. Or, the most affordable city…?

Latest research names Glasgow as the best option for low earners. It is the most affordable city in the UK, according to reallymoving.com, and it is followed by Manchester.

More details about who enters the low earns category and the UK cities’ ranking in this article on Property Reporter:

Where is the most affordable city in the UK for low earners to buy a home?

London and Birmingham are together named the most un-affordable in the UK.

The research is based on a comparison between average house prices and the typical earnings.

But don’t be put of by this ranking. There are still great sales or lettings on the property market in London. Just keep your eyes open!

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Photo source: Public Domain Photos https://bit.ly/2J9fYHs

What happened to Neil* when a cannabis farm was found in his rental property?

If your tenant pays their rent on time, every month, you’ve found yourself a good one, right?  Unfortunately this is not always the case and landlord Neil* learned this the hard way.

Neil contacted us to share his story after reading the Property Checklist article warning landlords of the dangers of cannabis factories.

Last June, Neil returned from a holiday with his wife to the nightmare news that one of his rental properties in Hertfordshire had been raided by police who had uncovered a cannabis factory, and he was required to give a statement.

What damage was done to the property?
By the time of the raid, the property – a three-bed terrace with a basement kitchen – had been abandoned but what the police discovered should send shivers down the spine of any landlord.

Neil said: “Every part of the property was used, apart from one little bedroom which was kept free for accommodation. Other than that, from the basement to the loft, every surface was covered in plant pots, with just the stalks remaining – most of the leaves had been taken.

“They’d bypassed the electric meter to connect to the main supply to the street, there were banks of electrical plugs, lamps and loads of silver ducting, which they use to take the smell away. They had smashed through the ceiling to the roof with these huge silver tubes which went into the chimney breast via the loft.

“Even then it could have been so much worse; thankfully there wasn’t a fire.”

The aftermath
Neil doesn’t yet know the exact cost of the damage but says he is looking at “a six-figure sum”. Fortunately, his insurance company considers this malicious damage so will cover most of his costs, which include:

  • Repairs to the property
  • Digging up the road to cut off the illegal electrical supply and restore it
  • Loss of rent

He said: “I would be in a very, very serious situation without good insurance. Get the best insurance you can afford.”

Unfortunately, repairs could not be started until April this year – 10 months after the discovery – due to the lengthy insurance claims process. Even reconnecting the electricity supply took several months. It will be well over a year from discovering the cannabis factory to getting the property back to a lettable condition.

Where did Neil go wrong?
Neil owns eight properties and has been a full-time landlord for the past five years, but readily admits he has made mistakes and was too trusting, both of his tenants and his letting agent.

  1. Referencing

The first mistake was not carrying out adequate referencing.

“The tenants were introduced to me by the letting agent. I’d used this agent before and they said they knew the tenant very well and had let to him before, so official referencing wasn’t needed. The agent assured me he could afford to pay and, in fact, he was very good at paying the rent on time.

“The tenant said he needed the property for workers in his construction company but it turned out he was subletting… whether he knew about the cannabis farm or not, I don’t know.”

  1. Periodic inspections

Neil’s second mistake was not carrying out periodic inspections.

He said: “I’m more of a reactive landlord,” he said. “I’ve always tried to avoid being a busybody landlord because I didn’t want to get accused of harassing a tenant. I’ve always been very responsive if they’ve reported a problem but some tenants just want to be left in peace and I never hear from them at all until it’s time for renewal.”

The unfortunate consequence of this ‘hands-off’ landlording was that it was not until 15 months into the tenancy that the cannabis farm was discovered, even though Neil says the neighbours had reported suspicious activity to the police on at least one occasion.

Neil now realises that periodic checks are a must, even if it means paying somebody to carry them out on his long-distance properties.

Tips for landlords
Neil has the following tips for landlords:

  1. Use a qualified and trained letting agent (who is a member of ARLA or RICS)
  2. Be more vigilant about referencing
  3. Carry out periodic inspections
  4. Be wary of applicants who sound too good to be true – they often are
  5. Make sure you have adequate insurance cover.

*Not his real name.

Full article and tips on the PropertyChecklist website.

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Unless you’re an experienced renter, moving can actually get you in a spot of bother unless you follow the correct protocol. A wrong move can result in unexpected fees, fines and even a driving penalty. Here’s our checklist to help you avoid the worst when moving out of a rental flat.

Photo source: https://bit.ly/2HBT7iT

Inform the right people

There is a long list of institutions to tell that you’re moving, including your employer, your bank, your credit card providers, utility providers and the council.

And then there’s the DVLA, which can often be the forgetful one. Whilst you’re not changing cars, you are changing address, so if you get an unfortunate driving offence, the DVLA will write to your old address and if they don’t get receive a timely response, it can get bad quickly.

Change your postal address

It may be worth investing in the mail redirection service from Royal Mail – charges begin from £33.99 for three months and it takes just 5 days to organise. You can apply online or at your local post office from 3 months before to 6 months after you move.

Don’t forget to clean

According to the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS), poor cleaning makes up over half the deductions from tenants’ deposits.

The best way to avoid this from happening is to pay for a good end-of-tenancy clean. This may even be a requirement in your contract so be sure to double check.

And when they’ve finished, take plenty of clear photos of their work so if issues do arise, it’ll be easier to dispute it with the cleaning company instead of letting it affect your deposit. If you can, send the same photos to your landlord. Remember that your aim is to return the flat how you found it.

Worried about being charged for pre-existing issues? Resend your check-in photos to your landlord to remind them of the properties condition when you first moved in.

Know about wear and tear

Landlords aren’t allowed to subtract money for ‘reasonable wear and tear’. Examples include worn carpeting, loose wallpaper and faded curtains or drapes.

Also, if you’ve lived in a property for several years, the landlord should expect the property to be more worn than one that’s been occupied for a short period of time (six months and under).

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