Business : BDC Blog News
Schneider Electric Partners with National Home Improvement Month

Schneider Electric Partners with National Home Improvement Month

Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, has partnered with BHETA for National Home Improvement Month (NHIM) to encourage the UK to improve their homes this September.  NHIM is the UK’s largest home improvement Awareness Campaign, aiming to inspire millions of homeowners and renters and encourage them to take up

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How to Stay Healthy While Running a Busy Business

Being your own boss has lots of advantages but running a busy business can leave you feeling tired and worn out from time to time. Self-employed business owners and entrepreneurs typically take a very hands-on role, which often results in them burning the candle at both ends. If running a

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7 Things To Consider When Sourcing A Belt Conveyer System

Conveyor belt systems tend not to get a lot of credit, but choosing the wrong system could damage your productivity, cut your competitive edge and leave you with a large bill to pay to put your mistake right. Here are seven things that you should consider when sourcing a belt

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Is holiday let ownership in the UK on the rise?

The popularity of holiday lets in the UK has boomed in recent years, particularly since the crackdown on financial breaks for buy-to-let landlords. The coronavirus pandemic is pushing even more landlords to consider switching to holiday lets, as an increasing number of Brits decide to holiday closer to home and

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A Guide to Start Real Estate Business

The real estate business is all that we want to start when we have enough investment in our hands. We cannot deny the fact that there are so many things which we have to think about before finalizing the deal. Here are some of the guiding steps which all of

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Are you ready for Commonhold?

We were ready back then, and we’re even more ready now!  Commonhold isn’t new to us, back in June 2019 the Fexco Property Services group was already looking at it. Being part of the larger Australian based Fexco where it is widely adopted as a type of property ownership, meant

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Latest Issue
Issue 334 : Nov 2025

Business : BDC Blog News

Schneider Electric Partners with National Home Improvement Month

Schneider Electric Partners with National Home Improvement Month

Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, has partnered with BHETA for National Home Improvement Month (NHIM) to encourage the UK to improve their homes this September.  NHIM is the UK’s largest home improvement Awareness Campaign, aiming to inspire millions of homeowners and renters and encourage them to take up a home improvement project. In 2019, over 17 million adults across the UK made changes to their homes, with 2020 expected to encourage even more. Today, only 28% of people carry out home improvements more than once a year with one of the main reasons being lack of skills and knowledge. When it comes to tasks, 52% of Brits do not feel comfortable applying wallpaper and almost half (48%) are unsure of how to put a shelf up. As part of the partnership, Schneider Electric will be offering advice and tips to homeowners on getting started, adding value, going green and smart home technology. It will allow homeowners and renters to learn more about how to improve their homes and will connect consumers with skilled tradespeople to ensure installations are properly managed.   Simple changes to homes will create considerable benefits. This can include running a small project, going green or even turning your home into a smart home. To help with projects, Schneider Electric is offering a 10% code this NHIM on their products when purchased through CEF to help facilitate improvements.  Nico van der Merwe, VP of Home & Distribution at Schneider Electric, said, “Home improvers are now striving for more connected homes. Whether they prefer home personalisation with smart heating or embracing modern styles with different switches, we have a wide range of wiring devices and accessories that can inspire creativity and meet the latest safety requirements. By adding new devices and accessories, homeowners will be able to make their homes safer, smarter and more stylish this September.” The British Home Enhancement Trade Association’s (BHETA) Chief Operating Officer, Will Jones, commented: “We are delighted Schneider Electric is helping to drive the National Home Improvement Month and create consumer awareness campaign for next month. They will play a crucial role in supporting the activity of the retailers, such as Homebase and Wilko’s, and other BHETA members collaborating and sponsoring this industry initiative. Their mission is to motivate, encourage and enthuse consumers that home improvement is rewarding emotionally, psychologically and financially with the right advice, information and products.”

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How to Stay Healthy While Running a Busy Business

Being your own boss has lots of advantages but running a busy business can leave you feeling tired and worn out from time to time. Self-employed business owners and entrepreneurs typically take a very hands-on role, which often results in them burning the candle at both ends. If running a busy business is top of the agenda, it’s important to consider the impact it’s having on other areas of your life. Working long hours or taking on too much can have a negative impact on your health, particularly if you’re feeling stressed or anxious. Fortunately, there are simple ways to take care of your health without affecting your work. To ensure you stay healthy while running your business empire, take a look at these top tips now: Eat a nutritious diet When you’re working all day, every day, it’s easy to forget to eat at regular times. Entrepreneurs may go for too long without consuming anything, only to binge on fast food when hunger takes hold and you simply cannot resist. If shopping and preparing nutritious meals every day sounds a little over-ambitious, why not try a much simpler established diet plan instead? When you use a nutrition plan as a basis for your healthy diet, you won’t have to think about what to eat or when to eat it – it’ll be almost effortless. Furthermore, a nutritious regime, like John Cena’s diet plan, can help you to get the right mix of macronutrients and vitamins. When you’re fuelling your body correctly, you have more energy and reduce your risk of developing health issues, so it’s a great way for business owners to stay healthy. Get regular exercise If a busy work schedule leaves you with limited time to spend with family and friends, you probably aren’t getting enough time to work out on a regular basis either. However, exercise is a critical part of a healthy lifestyle, so it’s important to find a way to fit it into your usual routine. If you work from home, why not take a brisk walk around the block every lunchtime or even jog around your garden? Alternatively, if you work away from home, why not switch commuting in the car to travelling by bike? When you really can’t spare the time to get outside to exercise, you can use office-friendly equipment to increase your heart rate. Innovative under-desk treadmills and exercise bikes give you the chance to stay fit while you’re working, and wearable weights help you to build muscle strength. You should also complement exercise with frequent visits to medical experts says this dentist in Melbourne. Focus on your mental health Running a business is inevitably stressful at times, which naturally has an impact on your mental health. Many entrepreneurs spend the majority of their time at work, which leaves little room for maintaining relationships. This can exacerbate mental health issues and leave you feeling isolated. If you feel your mental health is negatively affected by your work, or anything else, don’t hesitate to seek help from a medical professional. In addition to treating your symptoms with prescription medication, you could be referred for online therapy or counselling. In addition to this, there are numerous self-care options that can help you to minimize anxiety or stress. Yoga, meditation and mindfulness can be practised daily and in any location. You can even use them in the office to help you stay calm and focused. Maintain relationships No matter how hard you’re working, it’s important to make time for the people you love. Factor in time to spend with your partner and family on a regular basis and be sure to maintain friendships too. If you can’t attend as many social events as you’d like, why not host a virtual meet-up? Even checking in with friends via text or email will help you to maintain contact in busier times. Having fun, relaxing and laughing are all very good for the mind and body and will help you to de-stress naturally. Furthermore, getting out of the office and doing something different will help you to stay creative and motivated. As well as benefitting yourself, you’ll be enriching the lives of the people closest to you when you make them a priority. Cultivate a Health-First Workspace If you’re an employer or you regularly work with freelancers and subcontractors, you can encourage them to manage their health more effectively too. By giving people the time to take exercise breaks or providing access to healthy eating plans, for example, you can ensure that those around you are as focused on staying healthy as you are.

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Scottish Construction Leadership Forum releases recovery plan in consultation with industry

A draft recovery plan for the construction sector in Scotland has been launched today by the Scottish Construction Leadership Forum (CLF). The plan, which has been created collaboratively with industry, sets out the pathway for joint action between industry and the public sector in response to the impact caused by the global pandemic on the on the construction sector. The construction industry in Scotland has, like many others, been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. The sector in Scotland which provided £7.8 billion GVA to the Scottish economy and employs 143,000 people in over 50,000 enterprises, is estimated to have contracted by 28.6 per cent in June as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic compared to the same month a year ago (June 2019).  The recovery plan has been created through extensive consultation and collaboration with more than 50 organisations across business, Scottish Government, trades unions and other bodies, including the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum, and represents a shared view from across the sector of a plan to get industry back on its feet.  The plan outlines the immediate and short-term response to Covid-19 and sets out a pathway between this and the longer-term transformation required to build a stronger, fairer and greener economic future for Scotland. Peter Reekie, chief executive of the Scottish Futures Trust and chair of the editorial group of the Construction Leadership Forum, said: “The construction industry in Scotland has received a major blow from the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the level of collaboration which has gone in to preparing this Recovery Plan is unprecedented and sets a strong foundation for transformative recovery for the industry. I urge all stakeholders with an interest in the construction and related industries in Scotland to feed in your thoughts to make it even stronger.” Ken Gillespie, chair of the Industry Leadership Group, said: “This plan has only been possible through the depth of collaboration across the sector, and hard work of all involved, and demonstrates the sector’s ability to come together in a time of crisis. This is only the beginning though. The plan will evolve and respond to reflect the feedback and the needs of the sector. We are therefore calling for industry to review and contribute to the plan.” The plan identifies five areas for concerted and collaborative efforts over the coming months and has established Sub-Groups to develop and progress joint action plans: Pipeline & Commercials Skills & Workforce Transformation Supply Chain Resilience & Capability Industry Data & Insight The plan calls for key actions to respond to immediate needs which include:  A clear pipeline of work brought to market quickly and efficiently on fair commercial terms which reflect the reality of the Covid-19 environment. Support of employment, fairness of work and those who may become unemployed through what will be a difficult period. Transformation of working practices to maintain and enhance worker safety whilst enabling productivity in the Covid-19 working environment. Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “The construction sector supports many other areas of our economy so it is important that we maintain the health and vitality of the industry. In order to develop this plan, we have reached new heights of collaboration but we are now keen to hear from the wider industry to ensure that we arrive at a plan that will preserve jobs and help to revive our economy.” The Scottish Construction Leadership Forum (CLF), which has led the development of the plan, is a collaborative initiative of Construction Scotland and the Scottish Government. It was established in March 2019. Chaired by Housing Minister Kevin Stewart for the duration of the crisis, it widened its membership in response to Covid-19 and has already developed and implemented plans to get the industry safely back to work to develop and implement an action plan of improvement initiatives aligned with Government policies and the Construction Scotland Industry Strategy. Several streams of work are ongoing and prior to Covid-19, the Forum was at the early stages of considering a wider agenda for change across the industry. The CLF shared vision is of an industry that promotes a safe, productive, profitable, digitally-enabled, low-carbon, and socially responsible construction industry which offers quality jobs and fair work to a highly skilled and diverse workforce and a quality and life-time value product to its customers. The recovery plan is available to view on https://www.constructionforum.scot/.  Industry is invited to send feedback, comments and questions via the website on enquiries@constructionforum.scot by 15 September. CLF will take all feedback on board to help develop the plan further, with regular updates published on the CLF site.

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7 Things To Consider When Sourcing A Belt Conveyer System

Conveyor belt systems tend not to get a lot of credit, but choosing the wrong system could damage your productivity, cut your competitive edge and leave you with a large bill to pay to put your mistake right. Here are seven things that you should consider when sourcing a belt conveyor system for your business.  Whether you are shopping for a large or small conveyor belt, you need to take into consideration the length, width, height and weight of the product that your conveyer belt will be handling. In particular, the weight of your product will determine the motor sizing that you need and may also influence the curvature of the belt.  2. The production rate The production rate of most conveyor belts is measured per minute or per hour. Depending on the production rate that you need for your products, you may need to look at conveyor systems with a specific speed capability. Running your conveyer too slow could harm your productivity, but running it too fast could cause damage to your product and endanger your employees.  3. Process impact Part orientation is a significant concern in manufacturing and can dictate which conveyor belt you need or if you are going to require additional equipment to complete your material handling. A precision index converter is a good option to consider if part orientation is a key factor in your transportation process. If you are shifting pallets, then don’t forget to look into pallet conveyors that are outfitted with additional fixtures to help maintain a balanced orientation at all times.  4. The environment  Not all conveyor belt systems are suitable for all manufacturing environments. For example, some belts may malfunction if they encounter metal shavings from metal parts. To avoid costly repairs and downtime, be sure to take the environmental conditions of your operation into consideration when choosing your conveyer belt system.  Choosing the right belt material, can significantly impact performance and longevity. Companies like Wire Belt Company have specialized in engineered conveyor solutions like heavy-Duty metal modular conveyor belt for industries where precision and durability are critical, tailored to specific operational demands. 5. The layout you need The layout of your belt system will also impact the material of the belt used and could rule out certain types of systems. If you are operating your conveyor belt on an incline or a decline, then often you will need to choose a stronger belt material to accommodate the extra force. If your belt system includes a lot of corners, then again, you will need to consider corner sections and additional features to ensure that your products remain on the right course and in the right orientation.  6. Safety  As with all equipment, another very important factor to consider is the safety of your belt system. Some belts come with built-in safety features, whereas others do not. To keep your employees safe, it is essential that you thoroughly research the relevant safety precautions and put safety measures in place to prevent accidents or injury.  7. Durability  Last, but not least, having found the perfect belt system for your product, you need to ensure that it is durable and maintainable in the long term. There may be cheaper belt options out there, but these will ultimately cost you more in the long run to replace, so do not be afraid of spending more at the outset to source a belt that is strong and easy to maintain.  So there you have it – seven things to consider when sourcing a belt conveyor system for your warehouse – do you have anything else to add? 

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4 Things To Consider Before Starting Any Home Improvement Project

Home improvement projects can come in all shapes and sizes – from simple additions here and there to full-on extensions being added to the side of the house. However, while making any kind of change to your home may seem incredibly exciting on the surface, it’s important to bear in mind some of the challenges and potential issues you could encounter along the way. Failure to properly prepare in advance or safeguard yourself against any potential issues could only leave you frustrated and out of pocket as a result, which is simply no good for anyone. So, we thought we should help. Join us as we run through some of the key things to look out for before starting any kind of home improvement project – whether it be something simple like installing the right type of skylight rooftop blind or something a lot more complex like checking for damp or asbestos before a loft conversion. 1. Stick To A Budget It’s all too easy to spend, spend, spend when it comes to improving your home, so try to stick to a budget. Before you head to the shops or start contacting tradesmen to do the work, take a look at your finances to see what you can actually afford. Ask yourself: what am I specifically looking for? And how much do I realistically want to spend? While it would be great to work with a builder with the best reputation in the world or fit an air-conditioning unit in your home office, if you can’t afford it then – unfortunately – you’ll only end shooting yourself in the foot in doing so. 2. You Won’t Always Meet Your Deadline While you may dream of having your home renovation done by a set time, as hard as it may be to come to terms with, this may not happen. Say, for example, you want to build an entirely new kitchen in your home – you’ve found the ideal design, the dream tiles and have even booked it in for a set date in the future. Just because it’s been booked in doesn’t mean there won’t be any hiccups along the way. From labour issues to stock problems, there are a lot of components to installing a kitchen, so it only takes one minor thing to go wrong for the deadline to be pushed back. Therefore, don’t rush getting your home renovations done. Take your time to look for the best price and supplier so that you can ensure whatever work you have done – or products you want to buy – are worth it in the end. 3. Get Everything In Writing Without meaning to cause any offence to contractors, they generally aren’t considered to have the best listening skills. Therefore, it’s important to really think about what you want to have done in advance so that you can get it in writing before the work starts. That way, your workmen will have a much better idea of what they’re doing and you’ll feel a lot more rest assured in the fact that the work they’re doing will match what you both agreed to. The last thing you want, after all, is to build a new swimming pool with the wrong sized tub or fit a new bathroom with a sink that doesn’t match your preferred colour scheme. Be upfront and honest with them about what you expect to achieve. 4. Keep The Number Of People Involved To A Minimum As the old saying goes, too many cooks spoil a broth and the same logic applies when it comes to home improvements. With project managers, builders, family members, friends, tradesmen and public planning officers often involved in home renovations or improvement projects, that is a lot of voices and opinions to listen to and work your own way of thinking around. Therefore, not only is it important to trust your own opinion – it’s your home improvement, after all – but it’s also generally considered a good idea to source one or two trusted people to take ownership of the renovation project. That way, you’ll know for definite that whatever it is you’re planning to do will be in the best hands available. Final Thoughts… Improving your home is one of the most exciting things you can do but, if you rush into it, you could end up feeling regretful. To prevent this from happening to you, plan as much as you can in advance and don’t be afraid to ask hard questions if you need to. You may just be thankful you did once the work has all been completed.

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Things To Sort Out When You Split From A Long-Term Relationship

When you decide to separate from your partner, there will be things you need to work out. The partner your separating from could be your civil partner, wife, or husband, even if you’re not choosing to end your marriage or civil partnership straightaway. You need to have been married at least a year before you can end it.  It may also be a partner that you live with or have children with, but you live as if you are married. Some of the things you may need to work out include: Where your children will live and how often they will see each parent.  How to divide any money  How to divide any belongings  Whether you can both afford to pay the bills once you have split You shouldn’t feel pressured to make any decisions as they may not be right for you. You will have more chance of making good joint decisions if you wait until you are ready to talk. Agreeing Your Arrangements You don’t really need to go to court to decide what to do if you separate unless you can’t get on with each to make an agreement. It can be much cheaper and often quicker if you can come to an arrangement yourselves. Some other thing you should consider include: Child maintenance – You are both responsible for the cost of looking after your children, therefore the parent who the children aren’t living with may need to pay child maintenance.  Deciding what to do with your home- You need to come to an agreement between yourself a to what is happening with your home, is one of you going to stau in the home? Or are you going to sell? Or both move out and end the tenancy? Managing your money – You may be able to come to an agreement betwween yourself as to what happens to your finances, however, at times some people need legal help to sort out things like a pension sharing order.  Who Should You Inform That You Are Seperated If you pay council tax you need to let your local council know, you will pay less if you are living as a single person.  You will also need to let your local council know if you get a council tax reduction to Housing Benefit.  If you get other benefits your claim may change if one of you leave the couple, so tell the office the details when you have separated. There is normally a 30 day deadline.  If you are splitting from a long-term relationship it helps if you can already decide and agree on areas like :  What is going to happen to your children – whole will they live with, what will contact be, and how much is the other parent going to pay towards them?  What will happen to your finances?  What will happen to your property?  If you can’t come to an agreement, you may need to go to court so a judge can look at the facts and make a decision for you. 

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UK homeowners spend over fifty billion on renovation during lockdown as they prepare to stay home for the long term

British homeowners have spent an average of £4,035.70 each on renovations as they expect to stay home for the long term Home pub makes post-pandemic pad wish list alongside garden studio and indoor gym as emerging social areas look set to add value to homes Garden is the most popular lockdown refurb for homeowners and veg patches make a comeback  With most of the nation stuck indoors due to lockdown restrictions, homeowners across the UK are investing in lockdown makeovers, new research reveals. The 2020 Renovation Nation Report, by mortgage comparison site money.co.uk, has found that UK’s homeowners have invested an average of £4,035.70 each on home renovations, since the lockdown began in March. And it seems that Brits are sacrificing more than ever for their perfect pad as the prospect of more time at home becomes the new normal. Garden upgrades (34%) top a list for the most popular lockdown renovation projects, closely followed by the living room (23%), bedroom (22%) and kitchen (22%) as together the nation’s homeowners invested £55bn* in their properties. The findings by the personal finance experts at money.co.uk, also suggest that homeowners have abandoned all hopes of a holiday. Almost a quarter (24%) stated they have used money originally intended for a holiday to finance their new home improvements, which is second only to general savings (26%). Some even admitted to sacrificing their ‘big day’ as 4% of Brits revealed they used savings originally intended for a wedding or engagement ring. When asked why they chose to invest in their home, over a quarter (27%) of homeowners cited adding value to their home as a reason. Zoom has also played its part. Approaching half (40%) of British homeowners admitted to ‘Zoombarrassement’ over the appearance of their homes. Keen to make the most of staying home, green-fingered Brits have also been turning their hand to growing their own vegetables, with just over one in five (21%) homeowners investing in a greenhouse or vegetable patch during the pandemic.  Salman Haqqi, personal finance expert at money.co.uk, said: “While many have struggled with the impact of lockdown restriction on their finances, our research found that having to spend more time at home has inspired almost two-thirds (65%) of homeowners to invest in renovations to their properties. “Almost three quarters (73%) of the property owners we spoke to said they will continue to stay home as much as possible even with lockdown easing, it looks like the trend for investing in homes looks set to continue. “For those looking to renovate or improve their homes, they will need to balance short term wishes with long term gain. The financial impact of investing in your home should always be a concern and ensuring you add value to your home through the work you do to the property is essential.” Pandemic changing Brits renovation dreams – but will they add value?   When asked which home project Brits would consider investing in as a direct result of the pandemic, garden projects again reigned supreme: ●        Over a third (34%) said they wanted a garden summerhouse/studio ●        Over fifth (21%) are craving a greenhouse/vegetable patch ●        14% dream of raising their glass to their own pub. Inside the home, work and leisure are on the wish list: ●        indoor gyms (17%) and bike storage (9%) ●        offices (16%) ●        leisure rooms (17%) ●        and even classrooms (2%) making the list. Property expert, Adam Parson, Area Supervisor (SE) Andrews Property Group commented: “During these unprecedented times what has become immediately noticeable is the lack of attention people had previously given to the most social areas of the home i.e. garden and living room. “As we emerge from lockdown the perception of importance has changed, and the specialist areas will be seen as an asset rather than a novelty. Areas such as a garden studio, leisure area or pub/bar area that add a point of difference, escapism or an improvement to well-being will be seen as a necessity. Going forwards, we believe that the home buyers in today’s market will take more notice of these areas which increases their potential to add value to the overall property.” For more information on what post pandemic renovations will add value to your home and ways to finance them can be found in the 2020 Renovation Nation report at money.co.uk.

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Is holiday let ownership in the UK on the rise?

The popularity of holiday lets in the UK has boomed in recent years, particularly since the crackdown on financial breaks for buy-to-let landlords. The coronavirus pandemic is pushing even more landlords to consider switching to holiday lets, as an increasing number of Brits decide to holiday closer to home and stay in the UK. Holiday lets can be a great investment for landlords who understand the market, but it’s important to know what you’re taking on before investing in a holiday let. Holiday lets require a different management style than traditional residential properties, as well as different financing options and tax regulations. Do people still vacation in the UK? Absolutely. According to research conducted by Sykes Cottages, two thirds (66%) of Brits enjoyed holidays in the UK in 2018 compared to 56% in 2017. In 2019, respondents said they planned to take an average of three UK trips in 2019. With most UK breaks being shorter but more frequent than overseas trips, this means there’s still a healthy market for domestic tourism. And, of course, this doesn’t even take into consideration the millions of tourists travelling to Britain every year from outside the UK. Tourism is, in fact, the fastest growing industry in the UK, with experts predicting the industry will expand by 3.8% a year between now and 2025. Visitors to the UK from overseas reached a record-breaking 7 million in 2018, a 4.4% increase on 2017. The UK tourism industry is not just strong, but it’s also growing every year. Are holiday lets a good investment? Holiday lets can be a great investment. Rental income from short-term holiday lets is usually significantly higher than rental income from long-term residential lets, although the difference between the two isn’t as high as it first seems. Mortgage rates for holiday lets are usually charged at a higher rate, meaning more interest is paid every month, and running costs are higher because holidays lets need to be cleaned and tidied between guests. Lovemoney have crunched the numbers, comparing profits between holiday lets and residential lets in both Whitby and Liverpool. These figures show that holiday lets in both the tourist hotspot and the city centre location fare better than residential lets despite higher maintenance costs and fees. How to finance a holiday let One complicating factor for investors considering holiday lets is that financing a holiday let can be a little harder than financing a residential property. Holiday lets aren’t covered by standard buy-to-let mortgages, which usually stipulate that a property is to be let on an assured shorthold tenancy agreement with a minimum fixed term of six months. Instead, some lenders now offer holiday let mortgages designed specifically for these properties, although there are not as many products available as there are in the buy-to-let market and holiday lets are seen as a riskier venture due to their seasonal nature, which means interest rates tend to be higher, too. There are various types of holiday let mortgages available depending on the lender, including fixed-rate mortgages, discounted rate mortgages, and flexible rate mortgages. Holiday let mortgages are usually offered on an interest-only basis. Because holiday let mortgages are deemed more risky by lenders, most lenders will request a 25% deposit minimum, with better interest rates available for those borrowers with bigger deposits. Most lenders will also want to see your projected letting income, and this should be at least 125% of the annual mortgage interest payments you will need to cover. Other options for financing a holiday let are available, including remortgaging your existing home to release equity or even taking out a personal loan. However, it’s important to be very careful before making decisions like this: run through the numbers to make sure your decision is financially profitable, and be conservative when projecting annual profit margins on any rental property or holiday let. Top 5 holiday let locations in the UK If you’re thinking of purchasing a furnished holiday let in the UK, it’s important to do your research and buy a property somewhere which offers great yields. You may want to choose a let nearby, particularly if you’re planning to manage and maintain the property yourself, or you might choose a let in another part of the UK because it offers higher ROI and a place to get away to yourself. Here are five sound bets for holiday lets in the UK. 1. London If you’re considering a city centre holiday let, you can’t go wrong with London – assuming you can afford the high price tag. 53% of overseas tourism spend occurs in London, and the city’s international fame guarantees a stable supply of tourists for years to come. 2. Dundee It might not be the obvious choice, but Dundee has topped the list of the most profitable places in the UK in terms of holiday let rental yields, offering 15.1% average short term rental yields in 2019. This is likely due to the city’s recent rebirth as the cultural capital of Scotland, with the opening of the V&A Dundee. 3. The Lake District For a more traditional location where a holiday let can double as a holiday home for landlords, buying in the Lake District will never be a bad move. The Lake District welcomes over 19 million visitors every year making it a solid choice for canny investors. 4. North Wales Wales is another strong contender. Property prices are still relatively affordable in most of the country, and yet with scenic spots such as Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons welcoming millions of visitors every year, there’s plenty of demand for holiday lets in North Wales. 10.2 million people visited Wales in 2018, and buying a holiday let in a tourist hot spot such as one of many scenic villages around Snowdonia is a sure-fire way to get great yields on bargain properties. 5. Cornwall Cornwall has long been considered the UK’s very own Costa Del Sol, and the numbers show that this is still the case.

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A Guide to Start Real Estate Business

The real estate business is all that we want to start when we have enough investment in our hands. We cannot deny the fact that there are so many things which we have to think about before finalizing the deal. Here are some of the guiding steps which all of us can follow in this regard. Keep them in mind, and we are sure that they will bring the best out of your business.  Develop and refine your idea You must develop your idea, and refine it to make sure that everything comes with it in a sequence. There has to be an organization in all that you do, and if it is missing, then you cannot expect your business to thrive or progress in the future. Write a business plan You can also look for a real estate agent at Inner West, and get the ideal guideline about how you can also start the best real estate business like them. The process is simple, but all you have to do is to keep in mind that how great of a deal it would be for you to get the results in your business as you want. The business plan which they use is simple, but the execution is what you will learn from them. So, keep that information in your mind, and be sure that you work on it to get the results that you expect from them in the long run.  Decide your legal business structure There should be a legal business structure that you have to follow in every way possible. This will help you stay on the right track for the business which you want to do. Try to keep that in your mind, and be sure that there is nothing wrong that can go in your way. This is how it works, and this is how you can start a good business in this field. Get a license The licensing of your real estate business is also very important. Try to keep this in your mind that there is nothing better than having the option of dealing with the authorities that are working in your state or country. Try to keep them in your mind, and be sure that you work out through them to get the actual results that are expected from you.  Conclusion For a business-like real estate, there is no short cut. Just like all other business units, you have to do all of the things in your capacity to make sure that they al work in the best way possible for you. Try to keep this in your mind, and be sure that they are working for the business you are selecting to start. It could be from any field of real estate, so keep this in your mind, and make sure that it works very well for you in the long run as well. We are sure that the information which we have shared with you is of great value for you. 

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Are you ready for Commonhold?

We were ready back then, and we’re even more ready now!  Commonhold isn’t new to us, back in June 2019 the Fexco Property Services group was already looking at it. Being part of the larger Australian based Fexco where it is widely adopted as a type of property ownership, meant we were ahead of the game over a year ago. Back then we wrote about Fexco having built the largest strata management group in Australia (https://picagroup.com.au/) managing in excess of 200,000 apartments as well as a further 60,000 via a franchise operation. The vast majority are homes in strata title schemes, so commonhold management is something we are very familiar with as an organisation. Read the full article HERE. However, Commonhold is something that the UK property industry has typically shied away from – the feeling is that it’s just not necessary. The concerns within the industry appear to be around the additional work that may be involved to bring about this change, and that the current Leasehold set up could just as easily be tweaked to provide a similar offering. Whilst this is a valid point, as an organisation, we feel that the advantages outweigh any changes that are necessary to bring it about. It’s not new – Part I of the Commonhold & Leasehold Reform Act 2002 (the Act) was finally enacted in September 2004 introducing commonhold as a new form of freehold ownership, an alternative to the Leasehold system. It can be used for commercial, residential and mixed-use premises, and it addresses two of the problems currently encountered by tenants of residential leasehold buildings; firstly the enforcement of covenants between tenants and secondly the diminishing value of leasehold property as an asset. Via a Commonhold Community statement tenants (or Unit Holders) will benefit from greater transparency, and because the unit-holder will own the freehold interest to its unit, rather than a diminishing leasehold interest, Commonhold properties may attract a premium as a result. And there are other benefits additional to these two. Units are likely to be sold more quickly due to lower associated costs, no 7-year period restriction on resale, and because the Commonhold Community statement and associated documents will be set as non-negotiable. Of course, as with most things, there will always be a few downsides to consider, such as the potential lack of control the Commonhold Association may have on non-paying Units. It is most definitely not a system that will suit everyone, nor is set up to be a unifiable ‘fit’ for everyone’s requirements, and having tenants living and effectively ‘working’ together may cause some discomfort along the way. But we are ready to embrace all of these changes and can easily cope with what Commonhold may bring. We are in the best place to guide clients towards a Commonhold system and help them with this transition. We’re confident that providing the best advice will not mean losing a client. The ‘legal personality’ of the client might change but the work required remains the same. Unlike some in the industry – we are not shy of change. Being equipped to provide the best advice when it comes to it means if it’s going to happen, we’re ready! Jennifer Holmes Fexco Property Services

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