Life at Home - Winter Issue by boydensmag

LIFE AT

Winter 2022 Issue 01

HOME

–– A magazine exclusively devoted to property buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords ––

HAPPY NEW MOVE!

Expert tips and inspiration for your next home

HOT S D N E R T he latest D i sc ov e r t es’ ‘must-hav for 2022

PERFECT LOCATION

Why Sudbury is the place to be for work, rest and play

A Fresh START

WE’LL BE WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

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The Leading Independent Regional Land & Property Auctioneers Covering Southern England

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Welcome

Welcome to Boydens’ Life at Home magazine! I am delighted to bring you the first issue of this quarterly publication, giving you useful hints and tips, as well as the latest news on the property market. As a family business stretching back three generations, we know that the personal touch is so important when you’re considering selling or letting your home. With extensive experience, at Boydens we’re renowned for our straighttalking and friendly, open style. We take great pride in helping our clients in their home moves, knowing that this is one of the most significant life stages. The property market in 2021 was exceptionally buoyant and brought us significant challenges and opportunities as we all re-evaluated our lives in the light of the pandemic. We saw a welcome return to the market of first-time buyers and buy-to-let landlords as demand outstripped supply for much of the year. There were also noticeable levels of pent-up demand for more space and some relocation to the country from London as the pattern of commuting changed to add to what was a complex property jigsaw. If 2022 is the year you are starting your own property journey, we are ready and eager to help. Whether you are buying, selling, renting or letting (or you are looking for Block Management services), Boydens is ready to help you.

I hope you enjoy this first edition of Life at Home.

David Boyden

Managing Director, Boydens

boydens.co.uk

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info@dandllandscapes.co.uk

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Life at Home

Contents 16

06 Homes with style

24 Let the sunshine in

Browse our shopping pages for inspiration and ideas for your home.

Check out what’s going on in the property market and pick up essential advice.

16 Riding the mortgage roller-coaster

Winter 2022

HOME

Expert tips and inspiration for your next home

HOT TRENDS latest Discover the ‘must-haves’ for 2022

48 Sublime Sudbury

30 Cooling the cost of living

Find out what makes this market town in Suﬀolk such a great place to live, work and visit.

Discover 12 ways to take the heat out of your energy bills this winter.

We take a look at some of the big ‘must-haves’ for interiors in 2022.

–– A magazine exclusively devoted to property buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords ––

HAPPY NEW MOVE!

‘The Home Genie’ Georgina Burnett gives her top tips for buying or selling a property.

36 Hot home trends

Mortgage consultant Chris Pargin on the white knuckle ride of borrowing during a pandemic.

PERFECT LOCATION

Why Sudbury is the place to be for work, rest and play

A Fresh START

WE’LL BE WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

53 ‘I would not want to work anywhere else!’ We catch up with Angela Jeﬀery, Boydens’ Sudbury Branch Manager.

Our handy guide to prepare your home for sale.

58 Plugging in

We assess the rise of the electric car and how properties need to adapt.

64 Home and dry

Damp and condensation in a rental – who’s liable?

66 The rental safety net

Why a rental guarantee is vital for landlords who want to protect their income.

EDITORIAL

EDITOR

Anna-Marie Casas ADVERTISING

SALES EXECUTIVE

ART DIRECTOR Lee Thomas

CONTACT Life at Home Magazine, DS Media, 7 Faraday Close, Oakwood Industrial Estate, Clacton-On-Sea, Essex CO15 4TR

CREATIVE MARKETING MANAGER

Advertising Enquiries: 01255 221322 Editorial Enquiries: editor@thedsgroup.co.uk

Chantell Keston, Debbie Taylor CREATIVE

MARKETING

Dominic Littler PUBLISHING

PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Clara Deeks

Cover image courtesy of Furl, showing the London Storage Sofa in Aqua Grey Velvet Corduroy, £1,550. www.furl.co.uk

44 Making 54 Make wishes come true your move

Shoe designer and blogger Jacqueline Mercer chats to us about her stunning kitchen makeover.

13 News

LIFE AT

MANAGING DIRECTOR Allistair Hunter OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Tracy Norton-Mead

Life at Home Magazine is published by DS Media on behalf of Boydens estate agency. The contents of this magazine must not be reproduced without permission. Life at Home Magazine is available FREE for property buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords registered with Boydens in North Essex and South Suffolk.

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Shopping

Samara Table Lamp Base, där lighting, £90 The Samara is a tapering, handmade glass table lamp with a heavy glass base. Finished in rich emerald green, with an ivory, twisted braided cable and warm brushed gold work, the tall, elegant shape makes it so easy to place in a bedroom, or living room. darlighting.co.uk

Fargo Desk and Chair in Pure White, Little Folks Furniture, £410 The Fargo study desk is a top-notch work station, with superb storage to boot. There’s an easy-access shelf below the large desk top for those half-finished pieces of homework, as well as lots of extra space for study folders in the footwell. littlefolksfurniture.co.uk

HOMES WITH STYLE

Get inspired with our curated selection of beautiful furniture, furnishings and accessories... Blue 3210, Blueair, £159 This compact air purifier is perfect for smaller rooms such as a nursery and can be easily moved depending on where you need it. Blue removes at least 99.97 per cent of airborne particles as small as 0.1 microns in size, including pet dander, pollen, dust, and VOCs from the air, thanks to Blueair’s HEPASilent™ technology. It’s also great at removing unwanted odours from the air from pets or cooking, so is great to have running before a property viewing. blueair.com

06 Awake the Senses, Wonky Wheel, £195 An inspiring oil canvas by Cambridge artist Sue Rapley, available at Wonky Wheel art gallery in Finchingfield. Awake the Senses captures the essence of spring with the first of the season’s cow parsley and its delicate ‘lacey’ white flowers unfurling and bending in the breeze. Perfect for bringing nature to intimate interior spaces or creating a collaged wall in your home, the image extends over the sides of the signed canvas to create a 3D effect and is surrounded by a white wood frame, ready to hang. H24 x W24 x D3cm. wonky-wheel.co.uk

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Shopping

Model 05 2 Seater, Swyft, £1,095 The Model 05 2 seater, shown here in Blush linen, is fun, bold and comes with bags of personality. Making four new colours exclusive to this collection, it’s guaranteed to add a ton of character to your interior. W170 x H83 x D91cm. swyfthome.com

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Shopping

Mosaic tiles, Ceramique Internationale, from £14.99 / sheet Eight new tiles have been added to Ceramique Internationale’s mosaics range, offering the everpopular mixed-material styles as well as several attentiongrabbing, plain coloured shapes. Shown here are Ibiza White, left, (260mm x 300mm sheet) and Alpha Silver (283mm x 245mm sheet) tilesandmosaics.co.uk

08 Touchstone, Composite Prime, £44.99 / sqm A luxurious flooring system with a 3D textured surface that delivers the authentic appearance of hardwood or stone flooring with increased durability and reduced maintenance needs. Fire, scratch, and indent resistant, Touchstone is perfect for kitchens and bathrooms and comes in 16 wood and stone textures, from the traditional to the ultramodern (shown here, Knightsbridge). composite-prime.com

boydens.co.uk

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Shopping

Drino Velvet Dining Chair in Grey, Dwell, £119 The Drino quilted dining chair, shown here in grey velvet, is a feminine design with a heart-shaped back, slender black splayed legs, and feature metal struts. Equally at home around a dining table or in a bedroom, the chair is also available in teal velvet. www.dwell.co.uk

Minerva Helix 4-in-1 Electronic Instant Boiling Water tap in Copper, Franke, £1,697

Brooklyn Cone Pendant, Industville, £79

A stylish and practical addition to any new home, the Minerva delivers boiling water for your hot drinks or food preparation tasks in an instant. The tap has a simple push-button functionality with pre-set 30 and 60 second programmes for dispensing 100°C boiling or filtered cold water. Available in other colour finishes as well as stainless steel (£1,644). franke.co.uk

This stunning pendant with a matt black finish and copper holder adds effortless refinement and character to your space, elevating any room with a clean, modern look. The eye-catching design is also available in pewter, brass and copper finishes. IP20 rating, 7 inches. industville.co.uk

E-NEO3C Electric Stove, ACR Stoves, from £1,135

Daphne Rug, Laura Ashley, £150-£370 Hand-carved with a 2cm pile height, the Daphne from Laura Ashley is a durable, stain-resistant and easy-to-clean rug that comes in a range of colours and sizes. Shown here in Navy Midnight Seaspray. next.co.uk/laura-ashley

The E-NEO3C Electric is a contemporary styled stove with the distinctive feature of two side window panels allowing the flame effect to be viewed from the sides as well as the front. Standing on an open cupboard base to give additional height and presence, this makes an ideal choice for open plan living and conservatories. Made from lightweight steel and finished in a matt black powder-coat finish for durability, with the option of 1 or 2Kw heat output or flame effect only. H:1067mm x W490mm x D390mm, weight 45kg. acrstoves.com

boydens.co.uk

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New Year, New Home?

Start 2022 as you mean to go on. If you are hoping to move home in the early spring, now is the best time to put your house onto the market. The property market tends to pick up in the new year, with families moving into bigger homes or changing location in order for their children to attend their preferred school.

Conveyancing Rated Excellent Review Solicitors have rated Attwells Solicitors as being excellent value for money. In addition we’re rated 4.7/5 on Feefo with over 1,450 clients reviewing our service and our Colchester office is rated 5 stars on Google.

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Shopping

Luxe cushions, The Rug Seller, from £32 Add pattern, texture and colour to your sofa, chairs and beds with cushions that scream comfort and style. Whether you’re looking to inject some fun and personality to your interiors or you want to add some snuggly finishing touches, the addition of new cushions will create that welcoming haven after a busy day. Shown here Lapis Pebbles Cushion in Teal Blue, £64; Preen Metallic Feather Cushion in Blue Green, £32; Senna Geometric Cushion in Yellow, £43. therugseller.co.uk

Rose King Size Bed Frame, Button & Sprung, £1,145 Move away from sharp rectangular bed designs, towards headboards with adventurous curves. In bespoke Linwood Omega ‘Pinot Noir’ fabric with a flat base and Walnut traditional turned legs, this shape lends itself particularly well to both pastel and bold coloured velvets, creating a visual contrast when situated in a pared-back bedroom scheme. buttonandsprung.com

11 Bone Inlay Mirror, Indigenous, £295 This stunning, monochrome mirror is handmade and follows an intricate petal and star pattern, combining an artisan design with a glamourous touch. The frame is created by setting sustainably-sourced bone into dark resin and fixing it onto a timber frame, made from local mango wood. 800 x 600 x 30mm. indigenous.co.uk

Arden Rectangular Table in Oak, Sofas & Stuﬀ, £1,388 The Arden is lovingly handcrafted from sustainable premier grade oak to a superior finish for lifelong durability to be enjoyed for generations to come. With its unusual St George Cross pattern across the top, it’s sure to be the centrepiece of the room. There’s ample storage in the two double-sided drawers too. sofasandstuff.com boydens.co.uk

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Conveyancing

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01206 767 112 hello@martinelliott.com martinelliott.com Audley House, Berechurch Hall Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 9NW

We could save you £116* on your home insurance in Colchester If you’re looking for competitive prices, but fed up with trawling through online quotes every year, then let us take care of you. Our expert advisors work with a panel of top insurers to help find you the right cover at the right price – year after year. To find out more, speak to your Colchester branch today we are open and available in branch and on the phone.

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*75% of new home clients saved money, with an average saving of £116 between August 2019 and January 2020. A-Plan Insurance is a trading style of A-Plan Holdings who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office: 2 Des Roches Square, Witney, OX28 4LE. Registration number 750484.

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News

5 Home Hacks to Help a House Sell While some experts expected the housing market to slow once the Government’s stamp duty holiday expired at the end of September, housing indexes and estate agents are indicating that demand for homes that are meeting buyers’ biggest priorities remains high. Research by internet service provider Zen Internet has revealed ﬁve key ways to increase the saleability of a home in a post-pandemic world, based on new insights into what housebuyers are looking for. For those selling, it could help homeowners achieve beyond the current 7.4 per cent increase in average house prices and get the top end of their asking price. Steve Warburton from zen.co.uk observes: “It is clear that the housing market is continuing to boom, with buyer demand rising to more than double pre-pandemic levels, according to Rightmove.” He adds that it had been predicted that more houses would have been sold in 2021 than at any time in the past 14 years. “Yet, despite demand and a shortage of houses on the market in some areas, our research has revealed that buyers are not willing to compromise on ﬁnding a house that meets big trends in certain ‘needs’.”

1. Showcase your homeworking space

Even if this means putting some other furniture in storage for a while – or create a home oﬃce in a spare room. Over a quarter (27 per cent) of homebuyers surveyed cited the need for a property more suited to long-term home working as the reason to buy a new home, with a further nine per cent wanting a home oﬃce due to Covid. Clear out the clutter, create a Zoom-worthy backdrop, dress the windows to get the lighting right and

showcase how you have space for all of the office essentials. If your desk and office furniture was purchased specifically to suit that area, you might want to consider including it in the price of the sale.

2. Spruce up the garden

Gardens are higher on the priority list than ever before. The research shows that homebuyers are searching for more space and gardens, many moving away from urban areas because they no longer need to be near an office or commute route. Don’t rely on your buyer’s imagination to sell them your outdoor space Gardens are as much an entertaining space as kitchens and dining rooms, so think about dressing your patio area with tables, chairs, lights and an outdoor heater to really show off its potential. Even a good tidy up will work wonders and don’t forget your front garden either – poor kerb appeal has been shown to knock up to five per cent off a house price.

3. Highlight hi-tech

Broadband connectivity has quickly become a crucial dealbreaker for homebuyers. A massive 75 per cent of house hunters surveyed would NOT buy a home if they knew that the internet connectivity was poor; and three quarters surveyed are more inclined to buy a house that’s fully ﬁbre-enabled! Do your homework in terms of what broadband speeds your home either gets or can get – and include this in the sales pitch when you are showing viewers around. And get rid of unsightly wires – homes full of ugly daisy-chained extension cables to power tech are a no-no. Even if you need to get in an electrician for a day

to tidy up, investing in smart sockets in key areas of your home could signiﬁcantly increase its appeal. At the very least, unplug any non-essentials and hide them during viewings!

4. Channel your inner interior designer

A high-impact revamp can be achieved with a new rug to instantly make a floor feel new and inviting; if your carpet is looking a bit tired and worn, give it a new lease of life with a rug (that can also be used to hide a multitude of sins). A new doormat is also a great idea for making an all-important first impression. Freshen up walls with on-trend colours that are shown to have a positive mood enhancing effect. Just remember – if you are going to get the paintbrush out then stick with a colour that is relatively neutral and not in any way polarising. Bring in plants – don’t underestimate the power greenery has to bring your home’s décor to life. Adding potted or hanging plants to a room quickly transforms the environment from stale to vibrant. And you can then take these with you after you’ve achieved the sale.

5. Phone a friend!

Ask a friend to come and check out your space to identify anything that you have overlooked that might put a buyer oﬀ. For example, while a buyer will want to feel that a home is loved and lived in, they also need to picture themselves in the space. You could therefore look to remove some family pictures and children’s artwork and replace them with neutral prints, hide away toys and clutter – young professionals might not picture children in their near future, so make sure they aren’t put oﬀ by a playroom or excessive children’s toys.

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News

First-time Buyers’ Top Google Questions New research has revealed first-time buyers’ most pressing questions on Google. The data, uncovered by property developer St Mowden Homes (stmodwenhomes.co.uk), reveals the key concerns that new homebuyers have, including: 2. How much should I spend?

1. How much do I need?

The crucial question: How much you need before you buy your home is the number one topic asked by prospective homebuyers in the UK, with 22,270 monthly searches. While the total upfront cost can vary from home to home and buyer to buyer, the average house price for a first-time buyer in the UK for 2021 is £256,057.

Following up on the question ‘How much do I need?’, Googlers asked ‘How much should I spend?’ 4,970 times per month. Understanding the value of the house you can afford is essential when applying for a mortgage.

3. Is now the time to buy?

If you’re wondering if now is the right time to buy, you’re not alone. Every month there are 3,240 searches for the topic. The answer can depend on individual circumstances; the real question is whether you are ready to buy.

4. Do I need a good credit score?

The higher your credit score, the better. There are 1,290 searches per month asking this question. Buyers should aim to have a good credit score before they apply for their mortgage, as it suggests that they are reliable. It can also help reduce interest rates on the loan.

5. When should I apply for a mortgage?

Preparation is key when applying for a mortgage. You need to get your finances in good order and understand the type of mortgage you need. As with any preparation you do, the sooner you start this, the better. There are 1,090 searches asking when to apply for a mortgage every month.

Remember Water Supplies in the Rush to Move In

Water Regs UK is reminding house buyers to check plumbing systems and water supplies in the rush to move into their new home. Experts are reporting that the process of buying a home is taking as long as 16 weeks to complete in the current property market. With many potential housebuyers hoping to move in early in the new year, Water Regs UK is urging people not to take shortcuts when it comes to checking the water systems in their new home. Water Regs UK helps to protect public health and encourages water efficiency by promoting and facilitating compliance with the Water Fittings Regulations. As well as advising building owners and managers, designers,

installers and manufacturers, its role also includes advising householders on how to make sure the water systems in their own homes are compliant. Julie Spinks, Managing Director of Water Regs UK, comments: “Moving into a new home can be a really exciting event and many of us can’t wait to complete, having found the property of our dreams. “Often we want to speed things up when setting up once moved in, given how long it takes to complete a house purchase, but the water supply in your home isn’t one where you should be looking to cut corners.”

Water Regs UK has produced a list of checkpoints when it comes to checking the water supply in a new home: 1. Find out who your water supplier is 2. Check if you have a water meter 3. Know where the stop tap is and check that it’s working 4. Know where the boiler is and when it was last serviced 5. If the seller offers to leave appliances behind, check they are water efficient 6. Use compliant fittings and a qualified installer if you do need to make any improvements – check out WaterSafe.org.uk

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Finances

Riding the mortgage

ROLLERCOASTER

Mortgage consultant Chris Pargin, of Pargin Financial Solutions, talks us through the white knuckle ride of mortgage borrowing brought by the pandemic and how things now appear to be levelling out.

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he last 18 months in the mortgage market has been every bit as turbulent as the rest of the economy as mortgage lenders have navigated their way through the global pandemic, trying to second guess what will happen with lending rates as well as with house prices. Alongside regular restrictions and policy changes owing to Covid-19, lenders have also had the eﬀects of Brexit to contend with, so although the constantly changing goalposts from lenders have provided me with plenty of challenges as a mortgage broker, they do have my sympathy for what they have had to contend with.

About me

To oﬀer a short introduction, I set up Pargin Financial Solutions in 2017 after working as a mortgage broker for around ﬁve years prior within a large corporate estate agency. It was here that I initially formed good relationships with local estate agents and wanted to take the knowledge and experience that I had gained into the independent local agents when the time was right for me to do so.

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Finances

“It was clear that the effects of Covid were unknown, as lenders struggled to forecast what would happen to house prices.”

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Finances

Having been in the corporate world for this long and having worked directly for lenders for another ﬁve years prior to this, there were a lot of working practices that I have taken from these roles into my own business, but the big driver in setting this up was having my own ideas and opinions on ways of working. At the start of 2021, I was joined by a personal friend and former colleague of mine, which has been great and incorporating a second advisor into the business has been made a lot easier for us this year by a busy housing market.

Lockdown woes

Initially, however, as the pandemic struck, like many others we didn’t see this as presenting an opportunity for us ahead! When the ﬁrst lockdown was implemented, the entire economy ground to a halt and that of course meant that I could not trade also. As with anyone that was selfemployed, it became quite a scary time for me personally, and although I have always been set up to work from home if needed, my clients

were not able to leave their homes to view properties, and valuers were unable to go out in order to assess properties. The market was eﬀectively closed, and I found my role change overnight. Instead of looking to help to save clients’ money, overcome certain criteria or just to make lives easier by arranging mortgages for their purchases and remortgages, I had become a point of contact for my clients who were facing harder times and had become genuinely concerned about their ﬁnancial circumstances. Unfortunately, some of my clients did lose jobs, or were unable to go out to work where they were selfemployed, and a lot were placed on furlough meaning that their income was temporarily reduced.

Payment holidays

The great thing that did come in very early was the opportunity for mortgage borrowers to apply for payment holidays from their lenders without this having an impact on their credit score. The process in applying for this was made quite easy with most lenders, who set

up systems quickly to enable their borrowers to log on and request a payment holiday online. Once approved, they could then have a few months without needing to make their mortgage payments, the interest of which would then be spread across their remaining mortgage term once repayments started again. I feel that this halted a lot of panic and was quite refreshing to see in such a time of uncertainty.

Uncertain times

Although support for current borrowers was good to see in the early stages of the pandemic, new purchasers were somewhat neglected as mortgage schemes were removed en masse. It was clear that the eﬀects of Covid were unknown and, in my opinion, as lenders struggled to forecast what would happen to house prices in an environment where there was a potential of future mass unemployment, they really tightened the purse strings, removing any borrowing with a higher element of risk, which meant withdrawals of all schemes across the higher loan to values.

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Finances

“The housing market took off in a big way as people saw the potential to save thousands of pounds in stamp duty.” My big consideration here was for clients who already had a mortgage that was due to come off of its fixed rate over the next few months, where again options were limited, but we did have some available to us as brokers in order to assist in this circumstance.

Restarting the market

After the initial period of lockdown, the first market to reopen was thankfully the housing market. It did seem a bit strange that viewing houses came back quicker than a lot of things, but I must say, in my position, it was nice that some of my clients were able to get out there again and start looking at their options to move. It was a while until the lenders followed suit and enabled borrowing at higher loan to values again, bringing these back very slowly which made it tough for clients who were looking to get on with moving. The Government did reduce the Bank of England base rate to 0.1%, which helped and is the lowest that this has ever been in the bank’s 325-year history. Doing so enabled mortgage rates to remain low and, slowly but surely, lenders

began to gain confidence and release products at higher loan to values once more. Although it already seems a while ago, I remember one big lender coming to market with a restricted number of products at 90% loan to value before other large lenders were willing to do so. The result was an abundance of brokers logging onto the lender’s application system first thing in the morning in order to try to secure products for their clients in a situation not too dissimilar to a scramble for tickets for a gig or festival on the day of release. It was quite bizarre, but something that was hugely important to communicate to my applicants in order to get across the challenges that we both would face if they were looking at purchasing during this time. As brokers, we just couldn’t be assured of products being available for clients, so it was a period that wasn’t without its challenges. As the Government started to lift restrictions, they had also brought in a couple of big policy changes, which contributed to a frantic time

in the housing market for us all. Furlough was of course assisting many of the population who couldn’t go out to work, and on top of this a stamp duty holiday was implemented. This meant that the housing market took off in a big way as people saw the potential to save thousands of pounds in stamp duty liability by moving during this time.

Working from home

Working in East Anglia, I also saw lifestyle changes adding a silent third intensifier to our local market. I had a lot of contact from people looking to move out of London and the surrounding areas as they perhaps saw the requirement of a daily commute as a thing of the past. Our area saw a wave of demand as a result, and I definitely know of buyers who felt it was the right time to look for properties that were a bit larger, perhaps with outside space that were that bit further from their normal workplace. I also feel that during lockdown some people started to despise the four walls that they had been forced to spend so much time in, and just felt that now was the time for a change.

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Finances

Top 5 mortgage tips for the self-employed:

Gain your latest 2 years’ Tax Calculations and Tax Year Overviews from your accountant or online

Also ask your accountant for your accounts if a Ltd company director, as the net profit figure and salary can be looked at by some lenders rather than the salary and dividends figures

Provide your adviser with your recent business bank statements to display your current trading levels

Be sure to advise whether you have been in receipt of any grants during Covid, and find out when and how much was received

Plan early and gain advice as there have been a lot of changes following the pandemic

boydens.co.uk

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Finances

As demand began to soar, house prices began to increase as well. Furlough was well supported initially by the lenders, and I was working ﬂat out at this time trying to assist all of my current clients looking to move as well as new clients looking for properties. Although it was tough going, personally, I was both pleased and very relieved to see the return of the housing market.

First-time buyers

As time went on, first-time buyers who were finding the new market tough also received some support in the way of higher loan to value products returning. Again Government-led, 95% loan to value schemes, which had been withdrawn for the best part of a year before returning, were re-introduced, so a lot of first-time buyers who had this deposit amount accumulated found that they were now in a position to start to look for properties again, which was a welcome relief to many.

Self-employed

Gradually, we did start to see support for furloughed workers fade away from lenders, with

many insisting on clients having returned to work before they would enable them to borrow. The selfemployed and company directors have also seen big changes, with lenders taking opposing views on those who have been in receipt of grants, as well as looking at recent trading in ways that we had not seen prior to Covid. My advice for anyone who has been impacted, or continues to be impacted by the last 18 months, is to speak to an adviser early, as certain aspects are likely to impact the self-employed at least until the start of the tax year in 2022 and possibly beyond as income is accounted for annually in this sector.

Levelling out

After a bit of a roller-coaster ride during the last year and a half, the mortgage market seems to have settled, and although policy changes still exist, I feel that a lot of people now anticipate that things are diﬀerent and understand where additional documentation is requested, or additional questions are being asked.

It will be interesting to see what policy changes are brought in during the next year, and how the demand for housing changes. Although it has been a hugely demanding time to be a small business owner, and to work in a ﬁeld that has seen so many changes like a lot of other industries out there, I’m very grateful for the way that the market has reacted and know that I have been very lucky to have been supported by some fantastic agents, and of course by some fantastic clients both in using my services and also recommending me to their friends and families. I’d like to take the opportunity to thank all of you out there for that and for enabling me to continue doing what I enjoy. Article by Christopher Pargin of Pargin Financial Solutions 01206 580185 chris@parginfs.com Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

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SPARKING CURIOSITY. IGNITING WONDER. From Nursery to GCSE

Open Day Friday 25 February

To book a place please email: admissions@holmwood.house Ads.indd 23

13/01/2022 15:51

Real Homes

Let the

sunshine Jacqueline Mercer is a freelance shoe designer and blogger, whose eye for great style extended to home improvements with the complete renovation of her London property. Triggering a passion that led the mum-of-two to starting her Instagram account @tinyandthehouse, which has over 40,000 followers, the ambitious project includes this stunning, bright kitchen overhaul.

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“After the last couple of years, I think we need to have some fun with our houses. We have been home so much, it’s nice to really enjoy the space and the colours. Colour can have such an effect on your mood!”

Tell us a little about your home… Our house is a classic, three-bedroom, Edwardian period property. We have lived in it since 2015 I think…time is flying.

energy. I love the kitchen in winter, in particular, though – it gets the most beautiful light…there’s also a lot of glass, so it feels like a greenhouse.

We repaired the roof, added heating, changed the windows, rewired, replastered – you name it, we did it. It was a lot of work, but we took it in our stride at the time and I’m so glad we did a project.

Tell us about your kitchen project – what did you want to achieve, what have you had done, and did you do it yourself ? The kitchen was the worst room of the house; it had no floor in part of it, all the windows were boarded up and the back wall to the garden was falling down. On top of that, next door’s house was letting water in under the floor that we did have. The garden was so overgrown it was right up to the window. So, with all this in mind, I focused on making it feel airy and spacious. We had builders because it was so much more than a DIY project – we needed real help. The only features we could keep were the bay window and expose some of the brick.

What’s your favourite part of your home and why? It’s so hard to pick a favourite room, I feel like they all have something special about them; they all have calm

You chose a lovely bright yellow for your British Standard by Plain English kitchen cupboards – why did you choose this colour?

You’ve been busy renovating your home – what are the main improvements you’ve carried out so far and did you buy the property as a ‘project’? The house was a complete project – it needed everything doing. It was in such bad condition we were refused mortgages and our builder said it was the worst house he had ever seen.

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“It’s important your house is as you want it, not what anyone else has or likes. And take your time – it’s so easy to rush it, but sometimes it’s better to sit back and let it come together naturally.”

The kitchen units were navy before that with tall larder cupboards in ‘mustard gloss’. I just loved the mustard gloss so much, I felt like changing to the yellow it is now. I felt like a change, and this was so different to the navy which was gorgeous. But I just wanted something a little more fun, but still timeless. And after the last couple of years, I think we need to have some fun with our houses. We have been home so much, it’s nice to really enjoy the space and the colours. Colour can have such an effect on your mood! What’s your favourite part of the kitchen? I love the larder cupboards; they feel quite statuesque. I had always wanted larder cupboards even as a child, I’m not sure why, they just seemed quite special. I wish I had room for more!

What advice would you give anyone who is thinking about moving to a new home which requires a bit of work? Be brave and go for it, you can do it. Do your research as thoroughly as you can; there are so many tools these days like Instagram, Pinterest… which can help so much. Focus on your own personal taste, get ideas from others, sure, but edit the ideas to your style, how you want to live. It’s important your house is as you want it, not what anyone else has or likes. And take your time – it’s so easy to rush it, but sometimes it’s better to sit back and let it come together naturally.

What’s the next home improvement project? We are in the process of starting to plan for a loft conversion, so a great project for spring 2022 – I can’t wait to go again!

British Standard by Plain English cupboards come in a range of standard size cupboards, starting at £535. An average sized kitchen comes in at around £8,000. Available at www.britishstandardcupboards.co.uk Imagery courtesy of British Standard by Plain English

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13/01/2022 15:52

Utilities

COOLING the cost of

LIVING As energy prices become a hot topic, Boydens’ Marketing & PR Manager Paul Howe looks at 12 top ways to reduce your energy bills this winter.

ouseholds are facing a steep increase in their energy bills due to a range of factors within the global wholesale market. This has driven up the price paid by providers to their highest levels in decades. Those increased costs are now being passed onto consumers, placing significant pressure on household incomes.

The rise in energy prices has been caused by a combination of factors. There was a historic plunge in global energy consumption in the early months of the Covid-19 crisis in 2020 that drove the prices of many fuels to their lowest levels in decades. Since then, wholesale prices have rebounded strongly, mainly as a result of a rapid global economic recovery, a cold and long winter in the Northern Hemisphere, and a weaker-thanexpected increase in supply.

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Utilities

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Utilities

HOW TO SAVE ENERGY AND REDUCE YOUR BILLS

While price rises are inevitable, there are some small, regular actions that will help you save gas and electricity at home and have a significant impact when it comes to reducing energy bills. In addition to reducing costs, cutting energy consumption will also be good news for the environment.

01 02 03 04 32

TURN OFF STANDBY APPLIANCES

INSTALL A SMART THERMOSTAT

TURN DOWN YOUR THERMOSTAT

PURCHASE EFFICIENT APPLIANCES

Turning appliances off at the plug saves energy and you can also use plug sockets which can be controlled via your phone, to make sure you switch unused appliances off, giving you ultimate flexibility and control. Alternatively, you could use cheaper timer plugs to schedule turning appliances off for a typical saving of £30 per year.

Smart thermostats make your heating more efficient by only warming those rooms in use. They learn how long it takes to heat your home, so they can have it at the right temperature at the right time and can also be controlled by your phone, which means you won’t have to come back to a cold home. Install room thermostats, programmers and thermostatic radiator valves for maximum savings impact for a typical saving of £75 per year.

Almost half the money spent on energy bills is absorbed by heating and hot water costs. Turning your heating down by just one degree will help to save money, and you will probably hardly notice it. Doing this could save around £80 per year.

Throwing out a perfectly good appliance will not save you money, but when it is time to upgrade, opting for one with a high energy-efficiency rating will be well worth the investment. An A+++ washing machine will typically use £65 less energy than an A+ one over an 11year product lifespan. A modern, efficient dishwasher will typically cost around £7 less a year to run compared to an older model. An A+++ fridge freezer will save around £320 in energy bills over its lifetime compared to an A+ model.

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Utilities

The indicative savings included have been estimated by the Energy Saving Trust.

05 06 07 08

INSTALL A NEW BOILER

When the time comes to replace your boiler, upgrading to a new A-rated condensing version with a programmer, room thermostat and thermostatic radiator controls would be a wise move and could save an impressive £300 per year in the process.

WASH CLOTHES AT A LOWER TEMPERATURE Washing at 30 degrees rather than 40 degrees will help reduce energy usage and is as easy as flicking a switch. If you can cut out one wash cycle per week, you will save even more and typically reduce this bill by around £5 per year.

CHOOSE WHEN YOU WASH

BE SMARTER WITH WATER

Many electricity providers charge reduced rates during different times of the day, according to peak times when there is most demand, and times when there is reduced demand. Waiting until the evening or at night when rates are lower to run loads of laundry or run the dishwasher could save you money, for a simple lifestyle change.

You can save around £25 a year by washing up in a bowl rather than using a running tap. A more efficient shower head can save you as much as £18 per person a year on energy bills, plus an additional sum if you have a water meter. If you fit a shower timer in your bathroom, you could save up to £7 per person each year by cutting just one minute off every shower.

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Utilities

09 10 11 INVEST IN DOUBLE GLAZING

DRAUGHTPROOF YOUR PROPERTY

INSULATE THE ROOF

Double glazing insulates your home from the cold and helps reduce your heating bill, as well as keeping the noise out. If your semi-detached home is entirely single glazed, you could save as much as £110 a year by installing A-rated double glazing.

A cold draught causes your home to lose heat, making it more tempting to turn the heating up. Draught excluders or draught-proofing kits are an effective way to prevent this. Seal cracks in floors and skirting boards, line your letterbox and block an unused chimney to reduce your heating bills by up to £35 a year.

Insulating your roof will stop heat escaping from your home, however, the process can be complicated, so it may be best to employ an expert to do this. While insulating your loft can cost several hundreds of pounds, it can also shave around £135 off your energy bills each year if you live in a typical semidetached house.

34 SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE

MONITOR YOUR USAGE Keeping a watchful eye on your consumption levels can help you decide if and when you have to change the way you use energy. Installing a Smart Meter lets you track your consumption with accurate and real time information, and you may be surprised where the most energy is used in your home.

If you are struggling to pay your bill, you should contact your energy supplier to explain what you can pay and when. They are bound by Ofgem rules to listen, consider your ability to pay and to act to support you fairly. Low income households, especially pensioners, can get a £140 rebate on their energy bill under the Warm Home Discount. Remember also that switching to a one or two-year fixed deal gives you greater peace of mind because it provides some protection from volatile global fossil fuel prices. Equally, if you don’t want to switch supplier or you are unable to, contact your supplier who should be able to put you on a better deal and make sure you have access to all the support you are entitled to.

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Whether buying or selling We can make it happen

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13/01/2022 14:44

Home

Eco paint Graphenstone's Spring Summer 2022 palette, curated by Betsy Smith. Shown here, Damask (wall) and Persimmon (square) with furniture from The Conran Shop graphenstone-ecopaints.store

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Home

HOT

HOME Trends

We take a look at some of the interior features forecast to be big in 2022, from hope-inducing hues to banish the pandemic blues to multi-functional, family-friendly rooms for work, rest and play. The home that does it all

Since the start of the pandemic, our homes have become our workplaces, our sanctuaries and our entertainment venues – and the need for multi-functional space that keeps the whole family happy has never been greater. “The past two years have caused the public to demand more of their homes – as a result, the trends in kitchen design have evolved in a similar fashion,” observes Richard Davonport, Managing Director of kitchen specialist Davonport (davonport.com). “One of the biggest trends we have seen in kitchen design is the inclusion of a home bar or dedicated drinks area/cabinet,” adds Richard. “With social events having to be hosted at home, whether that be a romantic date night, or an evening to host and entertain guests, there has been a surge in the popularity of home bars.”

Play hide and sleek

Homes are moving away from open-plan living to a broken-plan style, creating smaller areas of intimacy within larger open rooms to allow the whole family to use a connected space for a full range of activities while still enjoying a degree of privacy when required.

A calm and bright outlook

After all the doom and gloom of 2021, the predicted colour trends signal hope for the future, with a desire for rebirth and fresh beginnings. According to Kayleigh Jordan, interior design specialist at e-commerce photo frame and print seller, Photo Frames and Art (photoframesandart.com), colour choices are reflecting the mood post-pandemic with some moving towards calming neutrals while others have chosen to immerse themselves in positive, vivid colours, reaching for optimism sky-high.

The trend for ‘innovative and beautiful’ storage solutions will continue to dominate kitchen spaces throughout 2022, according to kitchen company, LochAnna (lochannakitchens.co.uk).

Dulux’s ‘Colour of the Year’ for 2022 is Bright Skies, an airy, uplifting and fresh but soothing shade that breathes new life into any space and is a gamechanger when used on the ceiling, giving the effect of it melting away.

As work-from-home continues to be a reality, homeowners are reclaiming their space from clutter and tidying it away into practical, designated spaces, while tenants are seeking the same level of space calm. From bespoke lifestyle larders to pull-out storage, there has been a huge increase in demand for integrated solutions.

Meanwhile, global colour authority Pantone has unveiled Very Peri – a dynamic periwinkle blue hue with a vivifying violet red undertone – as its new Colour of the Year.

“Very Peri possesses the calming qualities of blues with a hint of excitement from its red violet undertone –

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Home

resulting in a colour that’s soothing yet not flat or boring which makes it great for a wall update,” says Rebecca Snowden, Interior Style Advisor at Furniture And Choice (FurnitureChoice.co.uk).

Escape to the country

The pandemic prompted a rush to the countryside as people reconnected with nature, and the country look in the home “experienced a revival, perhaps in part due to the emergence of cottagecore and the stylish rural properties that continue to feature on our Instagram feeds,” observes Alex Main, Director of The Main Company (maincompany.com). “As we enter 2022, this desire for a country-inspired interior has evolved slightly, with a softer colour palette and more modern approach to this timeless trend. “We’re seeing many more homeowners experimenting with materials, creating a contrast between the classic and contemporary to create truly innovative and unique kitchen designs. Exposed beams and distressed brickwork continue to remain popular, but these are cleverly off-set by metallic accents, high-specification appliances and eye-catching lighting.”

Paint with personality

Last year saw the revival of hand-painted kitchens – and this kitchen trend will continue into 2022, according to interiors specialist Brandt Design (brandtdesign.co.uk). “Personality and flair is very much at the heart of the modern kitchen, with rich, painted finishes proving the ideal way to create an individual kitchen living space, which enhances both your lifestyle and your family’s needs as we look ahead to 2022,” observes Commercial Director Julia Steadman.

“A painted kitchen provides the opportunity to explore a limitless variety of colour, which can bridge home and garden, reflect and enhance your new home’s architecture, or quite simply bring a shade you love into the kitchen. It’s wise to consider which direction your kitchen is facing and the impact of natural daylight on your intended colour scheme.”

Eco-friendly homes

Homeowners are increasingly asking for eco-friendly alternatives to traditional products and materials, such as water-saving and energy-saving features, and materials manufactured with the environment in mind. Bathtubs made from naturally occurring metals, reclaimed or recycled timber for kitchen cabinetry, and VOC-free paints are set to be more popular than ever before. Ditto heating throughout a new home, with environmental impact an increasingly important consideration for buyers. “We are finding new appetite for heating solutions that provide homeowners with all the advantages of warmth and style without the environmental impact, and so this needs to be factored into the overall ‘design picture’ from the outset,” says Steve Birch, Sales Director at premium radiator specialist Vogue (UK) (vogueuk.co.uk).

Luxury and hygiene

Over the last two years, bathrooms have received an extra dose of love as an inner sanctuary away from the craziness of the outside world.

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Home Main image, kitchen by The Main Company (photo by Chris Snook); top left, Dulux’s Bright Skies (source: Dulux, Instagram courtesy of Photo Frames and Art)

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Clockwise, from left, a bespoke home bar designed by Davonport; high-performance taps like the Abode Agilis in Matt Black and Brushed Brass are in demand; bespoke painted kitchen furniture from the Heritage collection, designed and fitted by Brandt Design.

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This has led to an explosion of new trends for 2022, as people continue to find ways to make bathrooms as cosy as living rooms, as stylish as kitchens and with all the panache of a five-star hotel, according to bathroom design house, BC Designs (bcdesigns.co.uk). Think huge bathtubs, double shower heads, and large, walk-in wet room style showers, along with double vanity units featuring luxury marble, granite or quartz countertops and sunken undermount sinks. Design Director Barrie Cutchie says the marble look – without the costly price tag and onerous maintenance of the real thing – will be high on wish lists in the New Year. “Advancements in tile manufacturing has meant that large format tiles lend themselves to printing techniques that replicate the look of marble and other natural materials but at a fraction of the price.” Ceramic and porcelain are hardwearing options that lend themselves to high humidity and high traffic – ideal for the family bathroom. Coupled with the desire for luxury will be hygiene, from sensor-controlled taps, to bidet-operated toilet seats, to materials that keep viruses at bay. “One way to do this is through the use of copper. Research came to light during the pandemic which revealed that copper is somewhat of a super metal and kills common viruses (everyday colds etc) within minutes, and Covid-19 within a couple of hours. Hygiene and the trend for warm metallics go hand-in-hand into 2022.”

Nature indoors

The lines between interiors and exteriors will increasingly blur, as more nature than ever before comes inside through organic textures, colour palettes and plants on every available surface. If Covid has taught just one thing, it’s the importance of nature to humans’ health and wellbeing. Wood, stone, marble and textures from hemp, rattan and wicker will feature extensively in spaces like the bathroom, not only as a way of bringing the outside in, but also to soften the space, creating a warm and inviting room that has undertones of a cosy living room.

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“Colour will also be important,” adds Barry. “First seen in kitchens a couple of years ago, the colour green has made its way into bathroom design. Green is a calming, centring colour – the colour of rejuvenation – so it’s a great choice for bathrooms. From the rich jewels of emerald green to earthy grey-green of sage, there is growing demand for green in all variations.” And watch out for Japandi, blending Scandinavian design and Japanese interiors in a flourishing East-meetsWest trend that combines relaxing, minimalist décor with a neutral palette and natural materials. “With a huge shift in lifestyles, many of us have been looking for ways to lead a more balanced life,” says Rebecca Snowden, of Furniture And Choice. “One of the aspects of Japandi interiors is to reconnect with nature to boost our overall wellbeing. Channel this in the dining room with an oak dining table, linen tablecloth, earthen tableware and wooden cutlery. Touches of greenery complete the look.”

Convenience and wellness on tap The need for 24/7 convenience that empowers both home and lifestyle is inspiring new levels of

design in the kitchen, utility room and hybrid wash zones like the home bar and boot room, according to Leanne Adamson, Marketing Manager at tap specialist Abode (abodedesigns.co.uk). “End users, young and old, have become part of the ‘now’ generation where time is of the essence and well-considered functionality that improves health and wellbeing is top priority. This has led to a rise in highperformance kitchen taps, which add value and maintain their design integrity without compromising on style.” Smart home solutions will come to the fore as an increasing number of those looking to move to a new property want to tick off intelligent, slick and stylish features and appliances. “Alongside the traditional fixtures and fittings, in kitchens, bathrooms and living and working spaces, we are noticing growth in designer accessories such as sockets and switches to complement today’s deluxe interiors as smart solutions become ever more luxurious and practical,” observes Managing Director Jacob Muijnck, of intelligent system solutions supplier Gira UK (gira.com).

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Real Home Homes

43 00

Far left, Farrow & Ball’s Breakfast Room Green promotes a sense of wellbeing within the home (source: Pinterest, courtesy of Photo Frames and Art); left, Very Peri & Eggshell Blue Tall Ampersand typography art print by Claude & Leighton (claudeandleighton.com); main image, Brighton Bathroom Company project featuring BC Designs.

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Interview

Making

wishes come

TRUE

We chat with ‘The Home Genie’ Georgina Burnett, TV presenter and property author, about her love of a renovation project and top tips for buying or selling a home.

What triggered your interest in property and home renovation? My parents always renovated to enable them to move up the ladder as we weren’t wealthy, so I grew up thinking that’s what people do. I’ve always loved interior design, and painstakingly styled my rooms when I was growing up. When I was renting, I moved 12 times in eight years and yet, each and every room I lived in, I put weeks of effort into making special with whatever budget I had. My now husband then bought a flat in Folkestone, which I decorated and styled with upcycled furniture and, when he sold it, the buyer wanted everything in it as well, which gave me the confidence to continue! Tell us about your first experience of buying a property… It was about 12 years ago and was a terraced Victorian house. It was incredibly dated and nicotine-stained. I had to remove many layers of wallpaper whilst nicotine

dripped on me from the ceiling! The whole house needed decorating, new carpet, and I renovated the original Victorian floorboards myself on the ground floor. We also extended the kitchen where there was a lean-to originally. I will always have a soft spot for this place. The bathroom was my favourite. When we removed the dolphin tiles, it exposed some beautiful brickwork, which we decided not to tile over and created the most beautiful bathroom on a very low budget! When did you start working your magic for other people seeking advice on their own home projects and what made you want to do this? I’ve been life coaching clients since 2007 with great success, but about 10 years ago I think it was, there was a client who just wasn’t progressing. So, I asked if I could see his flat. It became clear he was a 30-year-old man stuck in a time warp of his 20-something student self. So, together we created his power room, which became his space for strategic thinking and planning. It was like a

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Interview

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Interview

things worth improving that will increase the value of your property – rather than blowing the budget on improvements that won’t see the return. So, I give tips on these kinds of ideas, including styling to sell and on a budget. It also has all the details of mortgages and conveyancing you need to know so you can go in like you’ve done this all before! Tell us about your passion for upcycling – how did it start and what tips can you share? Oh, this dates back to when I was a child as I was always upcycling – it just didn’t have a name! What I love though is that it isn’t just a really fun and satisfying hobby, it’s actually incredibly important we move away from the throwaway habit we have accepted as the norm as a society if we are to have any chance of true sustainability.

I just can’t believe how lucky I am that I get to combine it with my TV career on This Morning now! If you’re new to this, and you’re just about to throw out furniture, search the internet and social media to see what other people are doing with similar items, and you will be inspired. When you need new furniture, try out second-hand stores, Freecycle, FaceBook Marketplace and Gumtree first. You will save yourself and the environment, plus when you upcycle them, they become unique. You will also get the best sense of satisfaction every time you look at them, which is good for the soul.

light being switched on; it was so successful, so I started offering the service to other clients. You wrote The Street-wise Guide to Buying, Improving and Selling your Home – what are some of the biggest lessons to be learnt from this book? I am often told by people trying to get on the property ladder that they are scared and just don’t know where to start. There is so much you don’t even know you need to know, and the stakes are high! So, I decided to write a guide that covers every small detail of the journey with a handy ‘to do’ list at the end of each chapter. I think the biggest lessons are about having a plan beyond your first home. If you can’t afford your ideal home in your ideal place, you need to start elsewhere and gradually inch closer, property by property. The only way you can do this is by buying in a savvy way and spending the right amount of money on the

Which simple home improvements do you think can add most value to a property? If you’re looking to sell, just having freshly painted walls in a neutral colour can work wonders. I would also always make sure there is nothing wrong with the flooring. Be classy, but not extravagant with fixtures and fittings. Always make sure the front of the house looks clean, tidy, without anything broken. What are your top dos and don’ts for buying/selling a new home? Go with your gut feeling. I think you always know if there’s something right or wrong about a property. Unless it’s your forever home (and even then), go for something that has room for improvement, not one that has been refurbished in the past few years. When selling, make sure it’s immaculate. Strip it back, so it doesn’t feel too cluttered and don’t have too many family photos about as you want potential buyers to be able to visualise themselves living there. It needs to be clean and tidy for the photos and every single viewing.

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Location focus

SUBLIME SUDBURY With the help of our friends at Sudbury Town Council, we take a look at what makes this market town in Suffolk such a great place to live, work and visit!

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Location focus

Imagery by Andy Longhurst and Bill Hiskett

History & Tourism

Sudbury is an ancient market town in the heart of the Stour Valley on the Essex/Suffolk border. A stone’s throw from the town centre is Sudbury’s unique riverside, with the ancient Common Lands and the beautifully biodiverse water meadows on the River Stour that are a haven for wildlife. This forms part of the outstanding landscape that inspired the 18th century artist Thomas Gainsborough, who was born, lived and worked in Sudbury. This breathtaking scenery continues to inspire to this day. Sudbury as a settlement dates back to the 8th century during the Anglo-Saxon era, and its market, which is still thriving today, was established in the early 11th century. The town’s textile industries prospered during the late Middle Ages, the wealth of

which funded many of Sudbury’s characterful buildings and churches that typify the Suffolk ‘Wool Towns’ townscape. Sudbury has long been an industrious town and, with five working silk mills and 95 per cent of all silk produced in the UK being made here, the town retains its status as the country’s capital of silk. The picturesque and characterful townscape features 242 listed buildings, most dating from the 15th century through to the early 19th century. The unlisted heritage of the town is equally as fascinating, and you can explore Sudbury’s intriguing past on one of several self-guided town trails or guided tours. Today, Sudbury is an excellent destination for walking, history and culture, and wildlife enthusiasts, and of course anyone just

looking for a break in a truly unique town surrounded by unspoilt natural beauty. The historic town centre offers a vibrant mix of speciality shops, cafes, restaurants, galleries, community, heritage and event spaces, pubs and bars, health and beauty salons, as well as the traditional twice-weekly market. The high street comprises more than 70 per cent independent businesses, selling everything from vintage fashion and retro toys, unique and handmade items for the home and garden, and much more. There really is something for everybody. Sudbury hosts a series of weekly, monthly and annual events bringing the town to life. Monthly guided walks, special festivals, performances and events, exhibitions and markets are available for both residents and locals to enjoy.

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Location focus

51 A GREAT PLACE FOR BUSINESS According to Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, many great companies have made the town their base, offering local work opportunities, due to the: • Quality of life • Good value property prices • First-class work force • Access to London and Cambridge • Vibrant business community • Supportive business and local government environment

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Home to some national brands and large companies, Sudbury punches well above its weight in the corporate stakes with major businesses including Siemens, Ciba Corning, Nestle Purina, Copella and Mel Aviation.

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Location focus

Imagery by Andy Longhurst, Sue Longhurst and Bill Hiskett

Transport Links

Just over 60 miles from London, 20 miles from Ipswich, and with its own train station on the Gainsborough branch line, you can even visit car free. Sudbury is easily accessible by road, rail – or even river! By road, Sudbury is the gateway to Suffolk from the south, with easy access to the M11, A14, A12 and Stansted Airport. Many of the nearby B&Bs, hotels, camping and caravan sites have private parking and there is plentiful parking in close reach of the town centre. By rail, from London, Ipswich or Colchester, take the train to Marks Tey and change for the branch line to Sudbury. The journey is breathtaking, traversing the picturesque Stour Valley landscape. On route, look out for leafy railway cuttings, grazing cattle, canoeists on the River Stour, the dramatic 32-arch Chappel viaduct and the

fascinating East Anglian Railway Museum at Chappel station. Bus services run regularly to and from nearby historic towns and villages, including the other ‘Wool Towns’: Lavenham, Hadleigh, Clare and Long Melford. Services also run from Bury St. Edmunds, Colchester and Ipswich. Once in Sudbury, there are many ways to explore the town’s history and beautiful riverside, on foot, by bike, and by boat. You can call into Sudbury’s Visitor Information Centre at The Town Hall, open Monday – Saturday to pick up maps, guides, cycle routes, boat ride information and public transport timetables.

Walks, Trails & Cycling

From riverside walks along the Stour and circular town trails taking in Sudbury’s unique history to fascinating strolls along lost railway lines, there is something for avid ramblers, wildlife spotters and curious culture buffs alike.

Two national trails, the 62-mile Stour Valley Path and the 79-mile St Edmund Way, also pass through Sudbury. Sudbury is accessible by bike on National Cycle Network Route 13, which joins with the beautiful and traffic-free Valley Trail connecting Sudbury to Long Melford. The scenic Painters’ Trail is a must for cyclists – a longdistance circular route that takes you through the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Stour Valley. Stop off at major artistic landmarks on the way and cycle through the scenery that inspired some of the world’s greatest landscape painters, including Gainsborough, Alfred Munnings, and John Constable. For further information about Sudbury, go to www.sudburytowncouncil.co.uk

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Team spotlight

‘I would not want to work anywhere else’ Angela Jeﬀery, Boydens’ Sudbury Branch Manager, chats about her job, what motivates her, and how 2022 is shaping up for the local property market. About me I currently live in Long Melford with my partner, Alastair, and have been living there for six years now. I have to say, I do enjoy living in Melford. I have two grownup children, Aaron, 26, and Sophie, 23 – both live away from home, so we have a nice tidy home! Starting out Before working for Boydens, I used to be a medical buyer for a company that was then called Ciba Corning (now known as Siemens). It was a very good position; I worked hard there and really enjoyed the job. I worked there 18 years, returning after I had Aaron, but left when I had Sophie. I then tried my hand at many things – even running my own window cleaning business, which was very successful at the time. Joining Boydens In 2004, I applied for a part-time job at Boydens as an oﬃce administrator, which was a job sharing role at that time. After six months, I was made a Lettings Negotiator – I really

enjoyed the position, and we built the business up with a large number of managed properties. At this time, there were very few agents oﬀering property lettings, so we had the main share. I then progressed to Senior Lettings Negotiator followed by Branch Manager. Why I love my job Over the 17 years that I have been at Boydens, I have seen a lot of changes in the industry, but I have to say I would not want to work anywhere else. There is an awful lot of satisfaction when you ﬁnd a buyer their perfect home to purchase and you have a very happy vendor, and equally when you have applicants looking for a home to rent but do not understand the process and you are able to take the time to explain everything to them. The same goes for landlords when they are trusting you to rent out their property, which is probably the biggest commodity they will ever have, and they put their faith and trust in you. You get so much pleasure when these landlords come back to you,

time and time again, for their repeat business and you build a lifelong relationship with them. What more can you ask for? Of course, in every business there are the day-to-day challenges that the job brings, but you deal with them with a lot of patience and understanding – and with a good team behind you. Sudbury’s delights Sudbury is a growing marketplace with lots of wonderful places to visit and surrounding villages of historic of interest. In the town, there is the railway station where, with one change at Mark’s Tey, you can go through to London. Sudbury has expanded with various new developments popping up and drawing in a lot of interest from people living out of the area.

The year ahead I think 2022 will be a very interesting and busy year ahead with lots of new developments on the horizon. We are still lucky enough to have some very good investors with us looking to grow their portfolios in 2022, so I believe the year ahead will be very good for the industry and equally a good time if you are looking to move.

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Moving home

move MAKE YOUR

If 2022 is the year you’re off to pastures new, read our handy guide to prepare your home for sale.

e spend so much time inside our homes that sometimes we become unaware of aspects within them which might discourage ‘would-be’ buyers.

That wall you’ve been meaning to get re-painted for a while might become something which buyers struggle to overlook in the context of the property as a whole. Good presentation maximises the desirability and therefore the ultimate value of your property. The old adage that the smell of freshly baked bread really sells a home still has its merits and can help make a home feel, well ‘homely’. However, here are some general tips you may wish to consider prior to listing your home for sale.

Indoors

Clear the clutter – make sure all washing up, kitchen towels, oven mittens, toothbrushes, shampoos, laundry etc are

placed out of sight. All kitchen and bathroom surfaces should ideally be clear. Toys are a part of many family homes. Mountains of toys can be unsightly, however, toys can also help to demonstrate to prospective buyers that the house is a home suitable for growing families – strike the right balance, but try not to leave too many trip hazards on stairs! If possible, try to complete any unfinished DIY tasks. Hide cable tangles and, if necessary, disconnect appliances, removing them from worktops. Make sure all light bulbs work, particularly in ceiling spot lights, chandeliers and above the cooker. At Boydens, we occasionally host an Open House viewing. This has the advantage of creating an element of competition among potential buyers, but also means that bulk viewings can be carried out over a relatively short period of time and so, if you have gone to great lengths to keep tidy, you might only need to do that once!

Outdoors

If you have an outdoor space, remember that, even in winter, this is a major consideration for many buyers (even more so since the Covid-19 pandemic hit). If you have an outdoor seating area, prepare it as this helps to demonstrate how your home has been used, and could continue to be used in the future. Remember to remove washing on lines (removing the line altogether if possible) as this helps to open the space up by not restricting outdoor views. If you have a lawn and it’s possible, mow it or remove leaves and remember to place outdoor rubbish and recycling bins out of sight.

On the move

Once you have agreed the sale of your property, it will soon become time to pack and get ready to move. Here are some handy hints to help reduce the stress of this part of your move as much as possible…

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Moving home

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Moving Real Homes home

TOP TIPS FOR PACKING

Declutter your belongings

Decluttering is an essential (if uninspiring) task to undertake every now and then, but it’s even more important before moving house. Before even attempting to pack, you should decide what to sell, donate or throw out, remembering that, according to eBay, the average home in the UK has approximately £3,000 worth of unused items laying around which could be sold. By decluttering, you’ll also keep your house removal costs down as there’ll be fewer boxes to move and possibly earn extra money towards your move in the process.

Book a removal company

Once you’ve decluttered your personal belongings and have a rough idea of what you’ll be taking, you should book your removals company. You could attempt to do it yourself, but it would be a lot of added stress and time. The removal company will have many years’ experience of carefully packing, handling and loading delicate and heavy items, so they arrive safely at your new house.

Pack the least used rooms first

A good starting point will be rooms

and items you use the least. A spare bedroom, garage or attic are usually easy places to start. Leave everyday items until the day before the move and keep any essentials items such as medication separately.

Prepare a survival box

Pack the things you use every day and night in a separate bag and keep this with you at all times. Items such as medicine, face cream, toothbrush, toilet roll, change of clothes, phone chargers etc will all come in handy (and don’t forget to pack the tea making items in an easy to identify box) – you’ll appreciate that on the day of the move!

Arrange utilities early

It’s important to set up your utilities such as council tax, gas and home insurance early when moving house. Not only will this save you a lot of stress once you’re moved in, but you will have more time to settle in and relax in your new home.

Take photos

Photograph the wires at the back of your television or any other electronic set-ups. This is a great way to keep track of what goes where when you’re putting everything back together in your new house, and you’ll certainly appreciate that later.

Mirrors and Glass Frames • Tape an ‘x’ onto the glass using packing tape to prevent shattering • Use corner protectors to guard edges from damage • Cover the surface with a layer of cardboard • Keep mirrors and glass upright with no items stacked during transit Electronics • Back up your important files and documents • Use bubble wrap, blankets and towels for added protection • Remove any temperature- sensitive items from inside your possessions Rugs & Carpets • Clean the rug before you start to pack it up • Roll and tie each end with twine or string to secure it • Don’t wrap your area rug in plastic as this will cause mould and mildew • Wrap the rug in sheets of thick paper and tape it closed Furniture • Dismantle furniture if it can be easily put back together • Cover furniture with protective covers or blankets for the move • Wrap tape or plastic wrap around the covers to further secure the item • Take off chair/sofa covers and pillows and pack them separately in plastic covers

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Sustainability

Plugging in Paul Howe, Boydens’ Marketing & PR Manager, assesses the rise of the electric car and the challenge in ensuring property infrastructure is switched on to the new age revolution.

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Sustainability

pproximately eight years from now, it will not be possible to purchase a car with an internal combustion engine. The growth in popularity of the motor vehicle went hand in hand with the development and expansion of the suburbs of the 20th century. As car ownership became an essential part of modern-day life, it opened up the opportunity of living further from town and city centres. If the 20th century was the era of the motor car, the 21st century is likely to be deﬁned by the emergence of the electric vehicle.

A company created to build electric vehicles less than 20 years ago (Tesla) now has a greater market capitalisation than that of the Ford Motor Company, established exactly 100 years previously, which demonstrates how the balance of power has shifted from petrol and diesel to electric vehicles.

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Sustainability

“By 2025, it is estimated that one in six of all new cars worldwide will be electric.” Electrifying the nation’s car fleet represents a significant aspect of Government plans to achieve a target for net zero carbon emissions by 2050. In support of this target, a significant (and, arguably, unprecedented) rollout of supporting infrastructure will be needed.

Most obviously among those aspects is an increase in the number of places to charge electric vehicles in homes and public spaces – and the race is on to build that infrastructure. Almost 26,000 publicly available electric vehicle charging devices have been installed – including 4,900 rapid versions. A total of 250,000 points in homes and workplaces have already been put in place in the UK. So, how is the design of homes changing to accommodate electric vehicles and what will be the impact on homeowners of this ‘new electric revolution’? By 2025, it is estimated that one in six of all new cars worldwide will be electric. Developers have acknowledged that the electric car will have a significant impact upon design considerations for new homes. From 2022, new build sites such as supermarkets and office blocks will be required to provide electric

vehicle charging points as standard, as part of the phasing out of petrol and diesel cars before sales come to an end in 2030. The UK Government expects the move to lead to 145,000 new charging points being added each year. While new homes may have the infrastructure for this transition built in, what will this change mean for our existing housing stock?

The home of the future

As electric vehicles are becoming more mainstream, the cost of dedicated charging points (much faster than using a standard threepin plug socket) and installed on the outside of homes is falling. This is ideal if you live in a home where your car is parked on a driveway. If you don’t have off-road parking, however, electric car ownership poses more of a challenge. Many modern apartment blocks have electric charging spaces, but there is likely to be a surge of ‘retrofitting’ required in order to bring other blocks up to standard, with leaseholders left to decide who will pay for installation and running of the charging systems utilised. Homes, too, are seeing a boom in the expansion of the number of

dedicated charging points fitted. This is relatively simple if you live in a property with a dedicated driveway where you can park your electric car. If you rely on street or communal parking, however, there are new challenges and a whole new set of infrastructure to consider. Clearly, running an electric cable from a property and over a footpath isn’t a practical solution (assuming you are always able to park directly in front of your home), and many Local Authorities forbid the trailing of cables across pathways for safety reasons. In such instances, new innovative solutions, such as cable gulleys concealing wires or overhead cable-carrying structures, may need to be used, which will transform the appearance of residential streets in the future. Ubitricity is a company which utilises existing street light lamppost infrastructure for homes without driveways and is expanding in the UK. Countries such as Norway, the Netherlands and Denmark are leading the way with innovative new solutions to local charging, making use of existing lamppost infrastructure wherever possible and also incorporating ‘pay as you go’ street-side charging capacity and reserved parking bays.

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Sustainability

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Sustainability

Our everyday lives and routines will almost certainly change as a result of our relationship with the electric car. We may adopt new routines such as charging our vehicles while we shop, at our place of work, or even using one of the new charging forecourts (a successor of the petrol station) such as the Gridserve site in Braintree.

Your electric car may one day help power your home

For electricity grid operators, the opportunities presented by the electric car revolution is tempered by

considerations of how they will be powered and its impact on the grid itself. Government goals to meet the net zero carbon targets mean that as much of the power generated as possible should be from renewable sources, and so a key challenge will be balancing the grid and managing the peaks and troughs of demand.

hand over battery management to the energy supplier. By charging the battery when electricity is cheap and selling electricity back to the grid to help balance high demand (when electricity is expensive), there exists the potential for car users to save money to cover the cost of charging their car.

Part of the solution to this problem could lie in electric vehicles themselves and the batteries within them storing the energy. Trials have been undertaken between vehicle manufacturers and energy suppliers in schemes where car owners can

Looking ahead to the future, we may see more homes built with a balanced system of energy use whereby electricity is generated by solar energy during the day and stored in batteries, which is then used to power the house at night.

Boydens goes all electric

At Boydens, we have been undertaking our own quiet ‘electric revolution’ with the purchase of a fully electric Mini, with another due to arrive later this year in addition to six further hybrid vehicles. Watch this space!

Pictured are Colchester Sales Manager, Natalie Abrahams, alongside Philip and David Boyden. More electric and hybrid vehicles will join the Boydens fleet in 2022.

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Life hacks

Home and dry Rising damp, penetrating damp and condensation – who is liable for what? Boydens Head of Sales & Lettings Paul Buck discusses how to break the mould. There are three diﬀerent types of damp that aﬀect many households; these are rising damp, penetrating damp and condensation but, in a rented property, who is responsible for what?

Rising damp occurs when water below a building rises up through the bricks and mortar and may be caused by a damaged or failing damp course. If the reason for the damp isn’t properly identified and rectified, this can lead to the growth of mould. Mould is a fungus that can have a detrimental effect on people’s health as well as possibly reducing the value of a property. Penetrating damp can be caused by structural issues, such as leaking guttering, allowing water to seep through and into a property. However, the most common cause of damp and mould is condensation. This occurs when the internal temperature hits a level known as the ‘dew point’, where excess moisture in the air

causes water droplets, resulting in condensation and surface mould. It is not always clear in the case of a rented property as to who is liable, as the root cause of the damp must be identiﬁed ﬁrst. A damp specialist will usually survey the property and report on both the cause and remedy required. Legally, if the diagnosis suggests the cause is rising or penetrating damp, it is the liability of the landlord as these are both considered structural defects covered under the landlord’s mandatory repairing requirements, as stipulated in Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. It is common for tenants to be confused when damp is caused by condensation, which is often a result of the tenants’ lifestyle. For example, every time we cook, dry clothes inside or have a shower, we create lots of moisture. In the event that the tenant is not ventilating adequately, this moisture then becomes trapped and condensation forms which can quickly lead to damp and the growth of mould. Condensation can be greatly reduced by changes made to the tenants’ lifestyle.

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 reinforces the need for properties to be ‘fit for human habitation’ at the start of and during the tenancy. It is important to make sure you deal with any damp quickly and effectively, once you have accurately identified the cause. The tenant has a responsibility to highlight issues as soon as they notice them so that the landlord can take the required action. Sometimes, it is incredibly simple to get rid of mould and damp. For example, if it’s penetrating damp, it could be as simple as fixing the guttering and then making good any damage to walls or ceilings. If the problem is condensation, it is more often than not a ventilation issue and could be resolved by simply opening windows. As a landlord, it’s both your legal responsibility and a duty of care to your tenants to make sure your property is free from damp and mould. The best remedy as a responsible landlord is always to take action as soon as possible.

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Life hacks

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Advice

The rental safety net Paul Buck, Boydens Head of Sales and Lettings, shines a light on the importance of a rental guarantee for landlords who want to protect their income. The most common reason for letting a property is to receive a rental income; this could be used for a pension, investment or to fund daily living costs.

Over the many years Boydens has been letting and managing properties, we have offered a rent and legal warranty to our clients. You could argue that if the tenant has been professionally referenced, then why do I need a rent and legal warranty? The simple answer to this is that people’s circumstances change. None of us know what is around the corner and the pandemic is probably the best example of this. No-one could foresee Covid, yet this had a major impact on tenants and landlords’ finances. Those landlords who had the rent and legal warranty in place had security that regardless of their tenant’s financial position, their own finances would not be affected as they would be protected by the warranty provided by Boydens. To give you some idea of the extent of that protection, Boydens clients have benefited from £290,000 worth of rental payments in the last couple years. These payments were not made as a result of tenants not wanting to pay their rent, but as a result of not being able to pay their rent whether it be through loss of employment or sickness.

Whilst ensuring the landlord is not without their rent, Boydens also works very closely with tenants and solicitors to try and reach a solution where the tenant is not removed from their home and 54 per cent of all claims were closed without the need for recovering possession of the property. Tenancy possession proceedings have never been famed for being the most swift and efficient process for landlords trying to secure possession under a Section 8 notice, and the change to notice periods and ban on evictions throughout the pandemic only added to the length of time it took to secure possession. This could, and has been, very detrimental to many landlords who did not have the protection of a rent and legal warranty, some seeing no rent for over a year and then faced with court fees in the region of £2,500 – and still waiting for possession hearings to be listed at some point in 2022. There is a lot of talk from the Government to reform the possession process, ‘beef up’ possessions under Section 8 and remove the ability to issue a Section 21 possession notice, so we have uncertain times ahead of us. However, with a rent and legal warranty, you can rest assured that your financial position is protected, which is the main reason you were letting your property in the first instance.

WHAT DOES THE BOYDENS RENT GUARANTEE SCHEME COVER? • Full rent protection for the total monthly rent, for up to 4 tenants, as named on the tenancy agreement. • Legal costs to obtain possession of the property if the tenant fails to pay the rent. • Total claims limit of £100,000. • Breaches of the tenancy agreement by the tenant including non-payment of rent and expired Section 21 notices. • Court attendance included as part of the service. • Fully transferrable to ensure continuous cover even when the tenants change (subject to satisfactory references). • Nil excess. • Missed rental payments until vacant possession of the property or for up to 15 months, whichever comes first – this is unique in the market. • Cover should a tenant defend the action taken, which means that we’ll continue to pay the claim until the challenge has been resolved.

So, the question I ask all landlords is, “Can you afford not to have a rent guarantee in place in these rather troubling times?” And the answer is always, “No”. To find out more about Boydens’ Rent and Legal Warranty, email paul.buck@boydens.co.uk

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