The latest research by landlord insurance provider, Direct Line for Business, has found that on average, British renters spend an average of 18 months in a rented property before moving on. Birmingham has the lowest tenant turnover, with renters staying an average of two years and four months in the
Third Party Cookies We use a number of social media tools to enhance visitor interaction on our site. If you already use these platforms their cookies may be set through our website. Data may then be collected by these companies that enables them to serve up adverts on
The Considerate Constructors Scheme has launched its first National Awards programme for Ultra Sites – Considerate Constructors Scheme to award best-performing Ultra Sites with highest accolade in considerate construction. Ultra Sites are the next level of achieving even greater standards and collaboration across the construction industry, with the ultimate objective
Today, HS2 set out plans to deliver a ‘green corridor’ consisting of new wildlife habitats, native woodlands and community spaces to help integrate the new line into its surrounding landscape and environment. The scale of planned works will be largest ever undertaken by an infrastructure project in the UK, with
Rex Nye, who works at the independent builders’ merchant D.W.Nye, has decided to offer a few tips for creating beautiful borders and eye-catching edging in your garden. A complete garden makeover is essential for the summer months and borders and edging are great ways to add definition and style to
Site tours at the Akaal Primary School in Derby, led by local contractor G F Tomlinson, allowed its pupils to have an exclusive look at their brand new school building. In total, 98 children were welcomed on the site over two days as construction work progresses and were given a
Luxury Welsh housebuilder Waterstone Homes has been inspired by the picturesque coastline of Pembrokeshire to create Wales its very own Sandbanks, the renowned millionaires’ playground in Dorset. The Sandbanks peninsula has some of the most exclusive and expensive postcodes in the UK, taking the prize for Britain’s priciest seaside town.
Improvements concerning the home know no bounds. Since the inception of decors, for walls and ceiling for the house hit the market it has been growing ever since. With the change in the trend of home improvement facilities, people try to keep up with it by renovating and altering certain
The latest research by landlord insurance provider, Direct Line for Business, has found that on average, British renters spend an average of 18 months in a rented property before moving on. Birmingham has the lowest tenant turnover, with renters staying an average of two years and four months in the same property. Cardiff on the other hand, has the highest turnover, with the average property being vacated less than a year after being filled. Leeds (12 months) and Bristol (14 months) also have a high turnover of tenants, which could prove problematic for local landlords. The analysis also looked at the average time it takes to fill a vacated property revealing that on average, it takes a landlord 22 days to find a new tenant. This could result in an average loss of £547 in uncollected rent. When calculating the yield for a property, landlords need to take into account this void period and ensure they have sufficient resources to meet any mortgage, ground rent or other charges. Vacant properties in Birmingham are filled the quickest, with a landlord finding a tenant in just 11 days. However, in Liverpool and Aberdeen landlords struggle the most to fill their properties, taking an average of 33 days, to find a suitable candidate. Direct Line for Business’s analysis estimates that this gap in rent could cost landlords as much as £761 in Liverpool and £913 in Aberdeen. Even with such a competitive rental market in London, letting agents in the capital claim that it takes just under three weeks (20 days) on average to fill a property. With average monthly rents in central London surpassing £2,000 this could amount to a loss of £1,869 in income. The research also found that landlords can’t always rely on occupants remaining in a property for the duration of their tenancy agreement, with one in 11 (9%) moving out early. The highest rate of tenancy turnover is north of the border in Aberdeen where a fifth (19%) of tenants leave a property before the end of the tenancy agreement with Leeds and Sheffield both close behind at 13%. Nick Breton, head of Direct Line for Business, said: “This research highlights the pressure landlords are under to replace outgoing tenants in their properties. Vacant properties are obviously a worry for landlords but it’s vitally important that they take into account void periods when calculating the affordability of owning a rental property. Staying on top of the on-going changes within the industry can be time-consuming and a battle for landlords and we fully appreciate the challenges they face when it comes to managing their rental properties. To help alleviate some of the stress, we have developed the Mobile Landlord app which can manage up to five properties. The app can track income, calculate yields, set handy reminders such as when a tenancy agreement may be coming to an end and also keep landlords up-to-date with any new changes in the market through its Knowledge Centre.” Top tips for landlords wanting to keep their tenants for the duration of their agreement: Be fair: The rental market is always shifting, so it’s worth keeping an eye on how competitive your rent is compared to the local market. The cost of rent is one of the biggest factors when it comes to influencing renters so making sure your tenants feel like they are paying a fair price will go a long way to ensuring they don’t look elsewhere Be flexible: Assuming that you trust your current tenants in the property, it is always worth being flexible on certain elements of the rental contract. It is important for occupants to make their house feel like a home, so if this involves decorating or minor DIY – or even getting a pet – it is worth being open to requests and discussing them with tenants to make sure everyone stays happy Be approachable: As a landlord, it is your responsibility to keep the property in decent condition for your occupants, and it is important for tenants to feel that they can reach you when they need to. By maintaining contact and being approachable, this could easily prevent small problems becoming big problems Be helpful: As well as responding to requests, it can be hugely beneficial in the long run to make the first move – especially when a tenant moves in. Furthermore, if you know that for example a washing machine is getting old, it will only improve your relationship with your tenants if you replace it before it breaks down. This can also make your life a lot easier! Source link
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The Considerate Constructors Scheme has launched its first National Awards programme for Ultra Sites – Considerate Constructors Scheme to award best-performing Ultra Sites with highest accolade in considerate construction. Ultra Sites are the next level of achieving even greater standards and collaboration across the construction industry, with the ultimate objective to achieve integration of a contractor’s supply chain to meet and exceed the Scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice. They are highest level of attainment with the Considerate Constructors Scheme – the organisation established to improve the image of construction. The inaugural National Ultra Site Awards – taking place on 12 July in central London – are a momentous occasion for the entire construction industry; representing significant progress in how construction sites, the supply chain and clients are increasingly working together to raise standards throughout the construction process. Ultra Sites will be eligible to win Awards in nine categories. Each category represents the key attributes of being an exceptional Ultra Site. They are: Client Recognition Award Collaboration Award Community Engagement Award Construction’s First Impressions Award Environmental Best Practice Award Future Constructors Award Innovation of the Year Supply Chain Recognition Award Workforce Wellbeing Award One Award winner from across the nine categories listed above will also be recognised with the highest honours; receiving the prestigious title of ‘Ultra Site of the Year’. Ultra Sites are recognised by industry and government as an important mechanism in helping to improve the image of the construction industry. This year’s awards are being presented by Dr David Hancock, Construction Director at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), Cabinet Office. Ultra Sites were officially launched in February 2018 following a 24-month pilot with a consortium of some the country’s leading contractors and clients. They were introduced in order to achieve even greater standards and collaboration across the industry, with the ultimate objective being integration of a contractor’s supply chain to meet and exceed the Scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice. Considerate Constructors Scheme Chief Executive Edward Hardy said: “The National Ultra Site Awards represent a significant chapter in the progress of the construction industry to reach new unprecedented levels of considerate construction across the entire supply chain. “These Awards recognise and celebrate this unwavering commitment to improving the image and reputation of the industry. We look forward to recognising their success at the upcoming 2018 National Ultra Site Awards.” Dr David Hancock, Construction Director at IPA, Cabinet Office commented: “The industry is facing new challenges around how it operates, and it is crucial for the industry to promote a positive image and continue to strengthen its reputation. “I am pleased to see how the concept of collaboration, through the Ultra Sites model, has rapidly begun to establish itself as a beacon for what can be achieved when the industry works together, to strive for the highest standards. I look forward to presenting at the forthcoming inaugural National Ultra Site Awards ceremony in July.” Click here for more information about Ultra Sites.
Today, HS2 set out plans to deliver a ‘green corridor’ consisting of new wildlife habitats, native woodlands and community spaces to help integrate the new line into its surrounding landscape and environment. The scale of planned works will be largest ever undertaken by an infrastructure project in the UK, with a network of environmental projects stretching from London to the North of England. Along the Phase One route, which covers 216km from London to the West Midlands, the green corridor will encompass: 7 million new trees and shrubs, including over 40 native species, specific to each location. The new native woodlands will cover over 9 square kilometres of land. Over 33 square kilometres of new and existing wildlife habitat – equating to an area the size of 4,600 football pitches. That’s an increase of around 30% compared to what’s there now. Tailor-made homes for wildlife, ranging from bat houses to 226 new ponds for great crested newts and other amphibians. Earthworks and landscaping which will re-use around 90% of the material excavated during construction. The potential to support community projects and develop amenity spaces such as access routes, public parks, open spaces and nature reserves. Work on the pioneering initiative is expected to set new standards for how Britain and the rest of Europe builds the next generation of major infrastructure projects. As the corridor is being delivered, HS2 is encouraging local people and organisations to get involved in everything from landscape design to tree planting. This includes supporting local environmental projects through its various community funds. In a related announcement today, the Government confirmed a £2 million extension to the HS2 Woodland Fund, so it can cover Phase 2a of the railway, from the West Midlands to Crewe. The fund is designed to help landowners near to the route directly create new native, broadleaf woodlands and restore existing ancient woodland sites. This is in addition to the extensive green corridor plans and community funds that are already in place along the wider route. Mark Thurston, Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd said: “Alongside improving connectivity, boosting the economy and unlocking new jobs and opportunities, I’m determined to ensure that HS2 also works for the environment and local communities. “This starts by doing everything we can to reduce our environmental footprint and minimise the expected impact of our construction work. Longer-term, we’ll be leaving behind a network of new wildlife habitats, woodlands, and community spaces, helping to create a lasting legacy along the route. “We’ve already got to work by supporting a range of community projects and creating a series of new habitats, including planting over 230,000 trees so far. We’ll be calling on local people and organisations to get involved as the green corridor starts to take shape” Nusrat Ghani, HS2 Minister, said: “Our unique and beautiful countryside is one of our nation’s greatest assets. As we deliver the new high speed railway our country needs, for economic growth and better journeys for passengers, it is imperative we set a new standard for preserving, protecting and enhancing our diverse woodlands and wildlife. “HS2’s green corridor is one of the most significant tree-planting and habitat creation projects ever undertaken in this country. To support that vision, the government is providing an additional £2 million for the Woodland Fund, to support native species and help more people enjoy more new green spaces than before.” The appearance of the green corridor will be tailored to the surrounding environment, with native tree species used to ensure that the new woodlands reflect the unique landscape and ecology of the different regions the line passes through. As the corridor is gradually delivered, HS2 is encouraging local people and organisations to get involved. This includes supporting local environmental projects, through its various funds including the £45m Community & Environment Fund and Business & Local Economy Fund. Full details are covered in HS2’s official ‘More Than a Railway’ booklet and animation – both published on its website today.
Rex Nye, who works at the independent builders’ merchant D.W.Nye, has decided to offer a few tips for creating beautiful borders and eye-catching edging in your garden. A complete garden makeover is essential for the summer months and borders and edging are great ways to add definition and style to any outdoor space. The first step towards achieving your dream garden is planning and deciding where to position the new borders. Take into consideration the amount of sun and shade available throughout the day as this factor impacts plant growth. Borders in a seated position should be no more than 70cms high and 50cms deep, while the materials used can vary from bricks, reclaimed stone and concrete slabs to timber posts and railway sleepers. Once decided, mark the chosen area with a line of spray paint to guide you when creating the border edge. Once the border is ready, start digging out the ground in the bedding area, clearing all clumps and stones! If you are using concrete slabs, stones or bricks to build a raised bed, dig a foundation trench along your border line up to 15cms deep – this will help to add strength and stability. If you are creating a non-timber wall, the foundation should sit on concrete (except where there are vertical posts being installed). Wooden walls won’t require a concrete foundation, but you will need to place stakes at regular intervals, with 50% of them buried below the ground. The most durable material is pressure-treated timber, which will ensure your wooden wall stays looking smart for years to come. Before starting to build the borders, make sure that if you’re working with horizontal timber board the stakes are fixed in each corner at 100cm gaps to support the panels. Place your first panel into position against the stakes – one third should sit below the ground. Use non-corrosive nails to fix the timber to the posts and check with a spirit level along the entire length to ensure it’s not sloping. Railway sleepers should be fixed to stakes with long bolts and they also require interlocking dowels to keep them seamlessly sitting on top of each other. Once the sides have been constructed it is advisable to line the inside with a polythene sheet to protect the material from the damp soil. Follow it with a layer of stones or hardcore inside the raised bed, up to 8cms in depth. This will aid drainage and help plants to flourish. Cover with a permeable membrane and replace any topsoil that was previously removed, adding fertiliser and compost to improve soil quality. Lastly, make sure you leave the soil to settle and enrich for up to two weeks before planting. The soil in your beds will lose moisture more quickly which means the ground will dry out if you forget to water it. Start by planting hardy annuals at first and take time to monitor the soil condition so you can select the right foliage.
Site tours at the Akaal Primary School in Derby, led by local contractor G F Tomlinson, allowed its pupils to have an exclusive look at their brand new school building. In total, 98 children were welcomed on the site over two days as construction work progresses and were given a ‘behind the scenes’ tour to see the classrooms, library and main hall as they take shape. The new school will have enough space for 420 pupils aged four to 11 to meet the educational needs for children in Normanton and surrounding areas. They will have access to 14 classrooms, SEN provision and a new library area, as well as to more than 7,000 m2 of outdoor playing and learning space and 2,200 m2 of habitat areas. “Moving into our new school is an important milestone in our journey. Children make the best progress when they are inspired to learn and the school that G F Tomlinson has built for us provides that,” said Julie Fellowes, head teacher at Akaal Primary School. “After our first visit in March, the children were able to see the shape of their new school for the first time and I was inundated with ideas from them about the amazing learning opportunities we could provide. Our whole community feels truly blessed to have been given this opportunity and we give thanks to all those who have supported us this far,” she added. Akaal Primary School is Derby’s first Sikh school that opened in September 2015. Currently enrolling pupils from Reception to Year 3, the new facilities will allow the school to almost quadruple its student intake. “Work on site at Akaal Primary is progressing well with both the external and internal works now at an advanced stage,” said Andy Sewards, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson. “Delivering projects that have a lasting and positive impact on the local community is at the heart of our ethos at G F Tomlinson. This new building will allow the school to flourish and provide more school places in the coming years.” The building is located on Grange Avenue and it will be ready later this summer, in order to open its doors to pupils in September 2018.
Luxury Welsh housebuilder Waterstone Homes has been inspired by the picturesque coastline of Pembrokeshire to create Wales its very own Sandbanks, the renowned millionaires’ playground in Dorset. The Sandbanks peninsula has some of the most exclusive and expensive postcodes in the UK, taking the prize for Britain’s priciest seaside town. Broad Haven is now ready to welcome its very own multi-million-pound luxury property development, called ‘Sand Banks’. Sharing similar waterfront views and an abundance of natural beauty as its English namesake, the new Waterstone Homes development, which is just a five-minute walk away from the sea, will offer stunning shore-side homes at a fraction of the cost of its multi-million-pound English counterpart. The Sand Banks developments consists of 17 three-storey, four and five-bedroom family homes, each featuring large open-plan spaces, private garages and driveways, and bright rooms due to a focus on glass within the design. The site is located close to Wales’ famous coastal path, including the stunning beaches of Newgale and Little Haven, and just a 30-minute drive away from the UK’s smallest cathedral city, St Davids. With prices ranging between £460k and £560k, prospective buyers will be able to snap up a luxury home for a tenth of the cost of an average property in Dorset’s Sandbanks. Often cited as one of the most desirable place to live in Wales, Broad Haven shares many similarities with the English gem, from a spotless blue flag beach and clean sea, to spectacular views and rich wildlife. Plus, with a harbour nearby in Little Haven, residents could even sail between the two destinations. “Broad Haven is an absolutely beautiful area and was the perfect spot for our latest seaside location. With its award-winning sandy beach, breathtaking views and tranquil setting, Broad Haven shares many similarities with Sandbanks in Dorset and definitely deserves to receive the same level of recognition and prestige,” said Andrea Gardner, Sales & Marketing Director at Waterstone Homes. Properties at the site are currently on sale with the development due to be completed in March of 2019.
Improvements concerning the home know no bounds. Since the inception of decors, for walls and ceiling for the house hit the market it has been growing ever since. With the change in the trend of home improvement facilities, people try to keep up with it by renovating and altering certain parts of their homes. Year after years a new décor replaces the old ones, and people have the opportunity to exploit it to their advantage. However, all such changes also impose quite a lot of charges that most people cannot afford. For any home, its interiors or the walls must represent their style or the current trend, but it is not always possible to keep up with the altering fashion especially when the cost is unreasonable and to install it takes quite a lot of time. Everybody is on the lookout for something fashionable or in-style, but it should meet the budget, does not take long to finish, and most importantly have a strong factor without having to replace or remodel every time. In all the improvements introduced for adorning the interiors of a home, wall panels have proven to be the best in the pool as an architectural element in both residential and commercial buildings. The trend of wall paneling has been taking over the market from other wall finishes, which failed to deliver the kind of quality material and use that wall consoles provide. There are many reasons for the success of the wall panels instead of the other wall finishes available in the market ranging from hygiene to cost and durability. Wall panels are a single piece of flat material like wood, cut into rectangular shape to install as the visible and exposed covering for a wall. Wall panels can be cheaper than high-quality tiles, intricately decorated wallpapers or expensive paints. The advantages of using wall panels are many, and people that are using it have not had any problems with repairing, soiling or wasting money on reinstallation or maintenance. Getting the interiors of your home panelled with some of the most classy or vintage designs will make it look beautiful as well as exquisite while staying within the budget. Unlike the tiles that need particular kind of driller to make fixtures on the wall, when using panels, some specific features and provisions fit accurately or easily makes a hole for fixing nails. It is also superb for concealing flaws and unsightly elements such as cables and exposed wiring, while it is not possible when using wallpapers, paint or tiles. Wall panels can easily stick to various surfaces like ceramic tiles, wood, brick, concrete, etc. Today every traditional store, manufacturing companies, or online stores display a massive amount of various designs of wall panels. It allows buyers to have their pick from the pool of options and not limit the design. Other than its aesthetic, appeal the functions of the material play an essential role in guaranteeing durability, hygienic use, economic, etc. Another fact about using wallboards is that it does not need special or expensive chemicals to keep it clean as a simple sponge and some water suffices to do the work, unlike cleaning tiles which is tedious, time-consuming, and its upkeep is expensive. When using other wall materials like paint, there is the danger of flake starting to come off after some years, using tiles poses risks of cracks and chipping, while wallpapers are intrinsically made of paper so any liquid or sharp object can soak it or tear it resulting in damage of the walls. Such untimely damages lead to more repairs and remodeling of the walls, which is bound to cost quite a lot for homeowners. Therefore, if you are planning to get your home remodelled choose wall panels, as it is sure not just to make the house look beautiful but also withstand the natural wear and tear that occurs with time. Wall panels are available in several types in the market according to the intended purpose, which includes- 1) Structural Panelling The method of structural paneling employs easy and quick framing of homes and business premises using pre-cast concrete on the exterior. Thus, it succeeds in eliminating time-consumption and hassle-free work. 2) Utility Panelling The material used for utility paneling commonly finds its uses in garages and kitchens as well as commercial buildings. Here the boards have tiny holes, which will mainly be operative to hang objects using nails or pegs. Utility paneling uses perforated hardboard for functionality as well as for looks. 3) Decorative Panelling A lot of process and methods go into making the material of decorative paneling. The primary material used for decorative paneling is wainscot usually made from either wood or synthetic material and decorated with patterns, carvings, and designs. Using a variety of attractive looking materials like the wainscot helps in improving the appearance of the wall. Conventionally the lower half of the wall has the decorative paneling installation, however; the exact height can vary depending on the structure of the room. People can opt to design their desired material of decorative paneling or else use the pre-fabricated one. Other materials commonly available in the market are stainless steel, plastic, laminate, etc. 4) Tile board Panelling It has a ceramic finish like appearance, which gives it the looks of real tiles. Tile board paneling make use of resin or melamine, carefully textured and colored to resemble ceramic tiles, and attached to a moisture-proof board. The easiness to clean or wipe off dirt and non-appearance of grout lines makes it a popular among many people. Another plus point to this kind of paneling is the affordable price ranges it comes in. It is clear now that instead of wasting all your precious time, energy, and money on materials that are sure to cost you so much, it is better to choose wall paneling. The array of wall panel materials and its functionality should be enough proof to opt for wall paneling instead of using other weak
