Mother Nature is usually wonderful, beautiful, and stunning, but every once in a while, it can be a cruel and unforgiving parent to us all. We, of course, refer to the natural disasters that can strike anytime, depending on your location and the season. Hurricanes, storms, floods, earthquakes, and fires
Property developer Futureal Group has sold its Advance Tower located on the Váci road office corridor to Erste Real Estate Fund. This is the first transaction in the Hungarian market, which includes a WELL pre-qualified office building having a beneficial impact on employees’ health and comfort. The real estate fund
Bluestone National Park Resort today announces the opening date for its £7 million Dome – a groundbreaking ‘giant umbrella’ William McNamara CEO and Founder of Bluestone said: “This is the first of its kind in the UK which will create an additional 55 jobs and boost the local economy by
Leading independent construction, property and management consultancy, Rider Levett Bucknall UK (RLB UK) has announced today Liverpool based cost management consultants, Todd & Ledson will join RLB as part of its UK growth strategy. Consolidating RLB’s presence in Liverpool and strengthening its expertise in the North where it already has
Tenant Shop, an Inchora company is delighted to announce that it has entered into a new partnership with Reposit in order to provide a security deposit alternative product within its portfolio for agents, landlords and tenants. Tenancy deposits have traditionally comprised six weeks rent and despite the cap in the
Reposit, the company changing the way landlords, agents and tenants handle deposits, has announced its latest partnership with property management company Way of Life, providing all customers with an alternative to the tenancy deposit schemes. The InsurTech firm operating in the PropTech space, has also unveiled an extension of its
Ultra-wealthy tycoons have triggered a boom in sales of U.K. mansions, taking advantage of softening property prices in the wake of uncertainty over Brexit. Figures gathered by property lender Octane Capital show a surge in so-called “super-prime” purchases, defined by some experts as properties costing in excess of £10 million
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced that a campaign for wide-ranging rent control is to be key to his 2020 re-election bid. He asked the government to give the London mayoralty the power to combat soaring rents in the capital. To this news, Alexandra Morris, Managing Director of
When you’ve found the perfect piece of property for your home or real estate investment, the next step is to find the right construction company. It’s essential to select the right company in order to ensure your initial investment is protected and to give you the best possible future outcome
The havoc caused by Mother Nature can sometimes cause havoc on our nation. Thankfully, rural insurance providers, Lycetts, are here to provide us with advice on how we can prepare for, and then recover from, a number of problematic disasters. Drought We use a huge amount of water throughout the
Mother Nature is usually wonderful, beautiful, and stunning, but every once in a while, it can be a cruel and unforgiving parent to us all. We, of course, refer to the natural disasters that can strike anytime, depending on your location and the season. Hurricanes, storms, floods, earthquakes, and fires are all pretty common natural disasters, especially in tropical areas. These things can cause a lot of damage to your home, so if you live in one of these tropical locations, you must always be prepared for all the disasters we mentioned above. Today, we are going to give you some tips on how to prepare your property for different natural disasters. First, make sure you have the right kind of home insurance Before we get into some practical tips on how to protect your home against natural disasters, you should know that in some cases, you simply can’t save your property from nature’s wrath. In these cases, it’s important to have the right kind of building and contents insurance. For example, if you purchase a policy that covers burglary and theft, that won’t help you in case of a natural disaster. Therefore, make sure to get a home insurance policy that will cover the damages caused by disastrous weather. If you live in Australia, which is one of those tropical areas where natural disasters are common, you should know that insurance companies like Youi cover the damage caused by this type of weather. Reinforce your roof, doors, and windows It’s safe to say that these things are natural weak spots of every house, especially during hurricanes and hailstorms. Hail and wind can do a lot of damage to your windows and shattered glass can hurt you and your loved ones. Therefore, make sure to reinforce your roof, doors, and windows by installing hurricane shutters. In most cases, these things will do the job, but if you want to be sure shattered glass won’t hurt you or your family members, you can use duct tape to make an X mark an all of your windows. Also, the curtains can also protect you from debris, so make sure they are drawn during the storm. Put your car in the garage and remove all valuables from your yard When a natural disaster strikes, a lot of people don’t think clearly. All they want to do is get inside, put on their hurricane shutters, and wait out the storm. However, most of them tend to forget their car and their valuables outside in their yard. The safety of you and your loved ones is paramount, of course, but you should also remember to put your car in the garage and remove all the things from your yard. Strong wind, hail, and other debris can cause a lot of damage to your car and your other possessions. These things cost a lot of money and there’s a chance your insurance won’t cover for them if you forget them outside during a storm. Build a safe room We are aware that this might sound like something from a disaster movie, but having a safe room in your home can protect you and your family during all kinds of natural disasters. You have to make sure that the walls and the doors in this room are strong and reinforced. Your safe room should have a few beds and some shelves stacked with canned food and water in case you have to stay there for a while. This room can serve as a utility closet or a storage room at other times when there is no danger from natural disasters. Have emergency supply kits in your home When a natural disaster strikes, it’s not just your home that’s in danger. All of your neighbors and local grocery stores will be damaged too. This means there is a chance that you won’t be able to acquire some food and supplies a few days during and after a disaster. You should always be prepared for a scenario like this. The best thing you can do is to build emergency supply kits and store them in all the rooms in your home. Items you should have in these kits are – canned food, water, first-aid kits, flashlights, a radio, and batteries. Make sure not to use supplies from these emergency kits during a safe period and you will be prepared when the time comes. Admittedly, natural disasters are not that common, but the worst thing about them is that they can strike at any time, usually when you least expect them. They can cause a lot of damage to your home and in some cases, they can even be fatal. This is why it’s always better to be prepared. Just because you’re not in danger today doesn’t mean you won’t be tomorrow. So, make sure to do all the things we talked about in this text and your family will be safe from harm.
Property developer Futureal Group has sold its Advance Tower located on the Váci road office corridor to Erste Real Estate Fund. This is the first transaction in the Hungarian market, which includes a WELL pre-qualified office building having a beneficial impact on employees’ health and comfort. The real estate fund has acquired the first phase of the complex developed by the group, while the second phase could join its portfolio under a forward deal. The first phase of the Advance Tower has already been occupied by tenants with 1,400 employees last year. The 8-storey, category “A” office building has been chosen by prestigious companies such as KPMG Global Services consulting company and Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world’s leader in serving science. The second phase with a GLA of 8,000 sq m will expand the complex to a total GLA of over 20,000 sq m, handover is expected in the second half of 2019. The transaction of the first phase of Advance Tower was completed in April this year, and the parties entered into a pre-agreement to purchase the second phase. Advance Tower has been awarded BREEAM certificates and the office complex has been designed and will be operated according to the WELL Building Standard™. Futureal Group is the first European property developer with three projects receiving WELL Platinum Precertification at the same time. The purpose of the WELL certification is to create office buildings that, in addition to protecting the environment, have a beneficial impact on employees’ health, well-being and comfort. Washington-based International Well Building Institute’s system examines buildings’ impact on the human body, health and wellbeing, rating them based on 7 categories – air, water, opportunities for healthy nourishment, natural light, fitness, comfort and mental freshness. “With the current transaction, we are realizing the second successful deal with Erste Investment Fund. The acquisition of Vision Towers and Advance Tower proves the high standard of quality of Futureal Group’s developments that we will continue to guarantee for our partners in the future. Futureal Group has been committed to developing all of its future office buildings according to WELL Building standards, since the health of the employees working in the building must be a key priority during planning,” said Tibor Tatár, CEO of Futureal. “The recent agreement is a new milestone in a tried and tested professional relationship that will further strengthen our unique real estate portfolio. State of art solutions provided by Advance Tower and its international tenant portfolio provide us with innovation and stability for long-term,” stressed Balázs Pázmány, Chairman of the Managing Board at Erste Asset Management Ltd.
Bluestone National Park Resort today announces the opening date for its £7 million Dome – a groundbreaking ‘giant umbrella’ William McNamara CEO and Founder of Bluestone said: “This is the first of its kind in the UK which will create an additional 55 jobs and boost the local economy by more than £21m over 10 years”. Created with the help of a multitude of Welsh companies in line with Bluestone’s track record of supporting local suppliers and strengthening the Welsh economy. Serendome will open to guests at the family resort in Pembrokeshire, Wales on July 19th, 2019; representing a significant investment in the future of Wales’ tourism. The 7,000sqm area beneath the Dome, which measures 116m high and 77m wide, encompasses a massive playground for Free Range Fun for Bluestone’s guests. It will be a hub for entertainment; and at its heart will boast a 400-seat Amphitheatre, a live music and performance venue in a unique setting. Serendome will include exciting new activities for guests, including the impressive SkyWalk – a vertical adventure course like no other, built over seven towers and featuring 24 climbing stations. The build, which started in March 2018 has involved a number of contractors, overseen by the Bluestone Projects team. The umbrella itself is made from EFTE, a unique material used in some of the world’s most ambitious architectural projects. Liz Weedon, Head of Projects at Bluestone said: “Successful projects are delivered by great teams of people working together effectively and collaborating. “More than 300 people have been involved in the making of the Serendome from the architect to the bricklayers – each playing a vital role in the building of this innovative structure. William McNamara, added: “The biggest challenge has been to create a structure this size that isn’t actually a building. When you are under the Dome, it is an extraordinary place and like nothing else anyone has created before. We hope that Serendome proves to be another exciting draw for the thousands of visitors who stay with us and experience Pembrokeshire every year.” Roger Casey Associates Limited, Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers, said: “It’s been exciting working on such a unique project and great to have had the opportunity to work alongside other local companies.” William McNamara added: ”It has been a great privilege to have worked on this ground-breaking project with many multi-talented individuals. Our Bluestone guests are in for a real treat!”
Leading independent construction, property and management consultancy, Rider Levett Bucknall UK (RLB UK) has announced today Liverpool based cost management consultants, Todd & Ledson will join RLB as part of its UK growth strategy. Consolidating RLB’s presence in Liverpool and strengthening its expertise in the North where it already has offices in Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Cumbria and Warrington, the Liverpool company, led by Partners Phil Waring, Stuart Wands and Chris Balshaw, will join forces with RLB from 1 May 2019. A well established cost consultancy, Todd & Ledson has operated in Liverpool for over 60 years with a long-standing customer base, across a range of sectors aligned with those that RLB operates in, and has a strong track record in both healthcare and education specifically. The existing team of 25 will be joined by RLB Liverpool colleagues and work out of Todd & Ledson’s Princes Dock offices in the heart of the Liverpool business district. Russell Bolton, Managing Partner responsible for the region, “We are delighted to be joined by the fantastic team at Todd & Ledson. This is a company that shares the same business values, culture and professional standards as us at RLB. The RLB | Todd & Ledson venture in Liverpool creates a destination consultancy for those looking for innovative solutions within the built environment by offering them the full portfolio of professional services as well as a wealth of expertise and experience.” Stuart Wands from Todd & Ledson continues, “The integration of our two organisations made perfect sense as it expands the services we offer locally but also broadens the opportunities for us to offer our services to clients on a regional and national basis.” Todd & Ledson will officially join forces with RLB from 1 May 2019 with the Liverpool office trading as RLB |Todd & Ledson until May 2020.
Tenant Shop, an Inchora company is delighted to announce that it has entered into a new partnership with Reposit in order to provide a security deposit alternative product within its portfolio for agents, landlords and tenants. Tenancy deposits have traditionally comprised six weeks rent and despite the cap in the Tenant Fee Bill bringing this to five weeks, a lump sum of this amount can be difficult for some renters to find. Reposit’s security deposit alternative provides a new way to rent property, with tenants only required to pay a single week’s rent as a service fee to add their landlord to a group insurance policy. The policy covers a landlord for everything that the traditional lump sum would have covered at less cost to the tenant. This innovative product helps landlords fill their properties quickly and securely and gives tenants a deposit alternative. The product crucially includes eight weeks rent as cover (three weeks more cover than cash deposits can legally offer due to capping at five weeks rent) as well as Reposit dealing with all collections of owed money from the tenant via their platform. Tenant Shop prides itself in offering the highest industry standard of products and services to its customers and this is where Reposit’s product excels. Unlike other security deposit alternatives, this product sees a tenant paying a service fee and Reposit then adding their landlord to a group insurance policy as a named beneficiary. As a result only the tenant’s landlord can cancel the policy. This means that the policy is not in the name of someone who cannot claim or be a beneficiary. This ensures maximum regulatory compliance and a far better customer outcome for both landlord and tenant. Reposit’s scheme has significant check-out / claims data to prove that the product works end to end with independent arbitration in the case of a dispute. Underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyd’s, regulated by the FCA and covered by the FSCS, Reposit proves itself as the strongest product on the market. Tenant Shop has been partnering agents for over ten years providing its dedicated technology platform SULU to help them manage tenancies and reduce workload. It provides agent, landlord and tenant services through notifications, dedicated account management, a unique void solution and utility, media and insurance services (including rent protection). Reposit will be added to the portfolio in April and will be provided in two ways. Letting agents and their landlords will be able to use Reposit via direct introduction from Tenant Shop or coupled with referencing via their preferred referencing partner, UKtenantdata.
Reposit, the company changing the way landlords, agents and tenants handle deposits, has announced its latest partnership with property management company Way of Life, providing all customers with an alternative to the tenancy deposit schemes. The InsurTech firm operating in the PropTech space, has also unveiled an extension of its cover from six to eight weeks, covering all bases from rent arrears to cleaning and damages costs. Founded in 2015, Reposit is the creator of the growing deposit replacement sector in residential lettings, providing customers with an alternative to the standard tenancy deposit. Reposit eases cash flow problems for renters by enabling them to secure a property with just one week’s rent. Way of Life is a property management company currently managing over 550 homes in the UK, with another 300 launching this summer. Its customers enjoy a tailored service from point of enquiry, throughout their stay and until they move on to the next stage of their life. Way of Life customers are given the choice of purchasing a Reposit with just one week’s rent, plus an annual fee of £30 should they stay for more than one year in their home. Way of Life becomes a named beneficiary on the Reposit insurance policy and is protected for up to eight weeks’ rent, for anything a traditional tenancy deposit would have covered. “We want to offer an excellent level of service to our customers. Finding an alternative deposit option was always high on our agenda. After looking at the various deposit replacement offerings, we have chosen to partner up with Reposit to offer a viable option to our customers. It’s ease of integration into our services and the dedication towards compliance under FCA regulation and FSCS protection made the choice easy in the end,” said Way of Life’s Managing Director, Sowgol Zarinchang. Way of Life’s partnership with Reposit comes just before the opening of its new £37 million development in Birmingham, The Lansdowne, which comprises 206 apartments and more than 10,000 sq. ft of shared social spaces including a lounge with big-screen entertainment facilities, a quiet room, a broadband-equipped workspace, a fitness studio and a rentable private party room and kitchen. All customers are invited to choose a Reposit or traditional deposit when signing up. Reposit is also today announcing that it has increased its length of cover to eight weeks, the longest complete cover in the industry. A number unmatched by traditional deposits as government legislation for rent under £50,000 per year is capped at five weeks and six weeks for rent over £50,000. According to recent figures published by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, the average rental deposit in England and Wales is £1,041, whilst in London, it is typically £1,750. Reposit’s market research data of 1,000 tenants, found that 91 percent of tenants have paid a deposit, with 49 percent claiming they borrowed from family, loans or even payday loans. For people moving between properties, they are expected to provide the deposit for the new contract before an old deposit has been released, causing further cash flow problems and added stress.
Ultra-wealthy tycoons have triggered a boom in sales of U.K. mansions, taking advantage of softening property prices in the wake of uncertainty over Brexit. Figures gathered by property lender Octane Capital show a surge in so-called “super-prime” purchases, defined by some experts as properties costing in excess of £10 million ($12.6 million), as the seriously rich, many from overseas, snap up bargains and take advantage of the weak pound. Octane Capital had requested previously unpublished data from HM Revenue & Customs, the U.K. tax authority, under the Freedom of Information Act. The data shows the number of homes selling for more than £10 million rose by a half in 2017, as uncertainty over the U.K. leaving the EU made property price tags at the highest end of the market significantly more attractive. The figures reveal sales of the country’s most substantial dwellings spiked to 300 in 2017, up from 200 in 2016. In the first three months of 2018, the latest period for which data is available, 100 homes costing more than £10 million were sold. The lack of clarity over Brexit has touched almost every part of the UK economy. The latest purchasing managers’ index, released on January 3, showed manufacturing growing at its quickest rate in six months. Factories have been boosting stock in anticipation of a no-deal Brexit in March. Activity in the property sector was not only seen in the market for mansions. Octane’s HMRC data shows the number of second-home owners buying properties costing over £2 million ($2.5 million) more than doubled in 2017 to 1,900 from 800 in 2016. Jonathan Samuels, chief executive of Octane Capital, said: “While many home owners sit on their hands during times of political and economic volatility, the ultra-wealthy often use these periods to acquire assets at a significant discount. “Brexit had a particular impact on super-prime properties in the capital, so for many very high-net-worth individuals the fallout from the EU referendum vote was an investment opportunity. For investors based overseas, sterling weakness made the price falls even more attractive.” The Brexit-fuelled boom in super-prime property has seen sales of some of the UK’s most stunning piles, according to Octane. It cites a raft of examples including Lambourne Hall in Ascot, Berkshire, close to the racecourse frequented by the royal family. Lambourne Hall, which is over two floors with a lift and two independent staff suites, sold for £21 million ($26.5 million). It includes an indoor swimming pool, gym, spa/Jacuzzi, sauna, steam and treatment room. The property has five reception rooms on the ground floor as well as a separate bar and library/cigar lounge. The five bedroom suites on the first floor all have dressing rooms and en-suite bathrooms. Meanwhile, a four-story, seven-bed Victorian property in Oxford, once home to social reformer and novelist, Mary Arnold Ward, went for a more modest £10.5 million ($13.3 million). Samuels added: “Some of Britain’s wealthiest cities became a goldmine for foreign investors seeking a bargain.” The data also showed the number of homes costing £1 million ($1.3 million) and above exceeded 20,000 for the first time.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced that a campaign for wide-ranging rent control is to be key to his 2020 re-election bid. He asked the government to give the London mayoralty the power to combat soaring rents in the capital. To this news, Alexandra Morris, Managing Director of online letting agent, MakeUrMove, said the following: “The main problem for tenants is a lack of supply in the housing market, meaning it does not meet demand, particularly when it comes to social housing. Rent controls do not deal with this problem, they merely seek to address a symptom of the problem. “Most good landlords don’t regularly increase rents, because they want to provide a service their tenants can afford. This means most landlords experience a real terms reduction in their rental income year on year. “Rent controls would represent another burden for landlords who are already facing interest rate rises, tax relief changes and increasing regulation. This could become a further barrier to landlords covering their costs or making a small profit. “As smaller landlords often have one eye on getting out of the market, rent controls could prove to be the final straw. This would further reduce capacity in the private rental sector. “In addition, there will also be some landlords who wouldn’t have increased rents but who now feel they have permission to put rents up in line with the rent control measures. “All of these factors will lead to more rapidly increasing average rents because the fundamental issue – that we aren’t building anywhere near enough homes in the UK – has yet to be adequately addressed.”
When you’ve found the perfect piece of property for your home or real estate investment, the next step is to find the right construction company. It’s essential to select the right company in order to ensure your initial investment is protected and to give you the best possible future outcome for the project. There are lots of different construction companies out there, but they definitely are not all equal. Look For a Construction Company With Relevant Experience First, you should choose a construction company that specializes in the kind of work you need to be done. Construction styles vary greatly between commercial and residential. They also vary greatly between materials used. If you’re looking for a construction company for a commercial steel beam building, you wouldn’t hire a company that’s only done wood residential projects. Similarly, if you have a pole building to construct, you’ll want to hire a construction company with that exact kind of construction experience. Read more here. You can easily narrow down your choices by reviewing the project portfolios of construction companies in your area. Once you find some that do similar work, move on to the following list of seven key features you need to look for when choosing the right construction company for your building project. 1. Longevity In Business In the construction world, companies come and go. The good ones survive and the other ones go out of business due to poor quality. When choosing a construction company for your building project, look for one that has been in business for as many years as you see fit. It bears repeating that the longer a construction company has been around, the more likely it is that they know what they’re doing and they do good work. Chapman’s Construction has a proven track record of excellence, ensuring top-quality results for all your building needs. 2. Financial Stability Another key feature to look for in a construction company is financial stability. Construction companies have quite a few expenses to take care of in order to complete a job. They have to payroll, tax payments, equipment lease payments, travel expenses, and all sorts of miscellaneous costs. This all comes out of the company account – or it should. Some nefarious construction companies that aren’t financially stable may rely on the latest client payment to fund older projects. Companies like these don’t manage their finances well and end up using your money to finish off another customer’s job. Meanwhile, when it comes time to start on your project they come up short until they can find yet another customer. 3. Sound Management The construction company should have a sound management system in place that includes a general contractor, site security personnel, assistant managers, crew supervisors at a bare minimum. Construction companies that try to operate with a skeleton management system often end up disappointing customers because there isn’t sufficient supervision on the job site. 4. Sustainable And Eco-Friendly Work Practices If eco-construction is important to you, then you should seek out a construction company that is LEED-certified or at least tries to use sustainable materials and eco-friendly construction practices. If you’re going for a building that you ultimately want to be LEED-certified, you will be forced to choose a construction team that is also LEED-accredited. If eco-friendly construction isn’t important to you, it’s safe to not worry about this feature. If you don’t, however, you should realize that there may end up being a lot of material and hazardous waste from the project. Disposal of these materials will most likely come out of your pocket. 5. Insured Your building permit from the town may be contingent upon you hiring a construction company with a certain minimum insurance coverage. Liability insurance is an important consideration when hiring anyone to work on your property. Typically, a two million dollar liability policy is standard. Be sure to ask for and retain a copy of the certificate, which should name you or your building project company as the covered party. 6. References Most construction companies will have a website and an online portfolio of completed projects for you to review. However, you should also ask for some references along with contact emails or phone numbers. Contact a handful of past clients to find out how the construction company was to work with. Specific questions to ask include, was the project completed on time, was the budget adhered to, and if there were any issues, did the company satisfactorily take care of them. If the company rep can’t supply at least three references for you to contact, this is a sign that you might want to continue looking elsewhere for a construction company. 7. Good Rapport Most importantly, you should be able to have a good rapport with any construction company you plan to hire for your project. Communication is the foundation of a successful construction project. Without it, there can be misunderstandings, intimidation, and mistakes that cannot be rectified. Be very certain that there is trust and respect between you and the construction company representative. It’s important that you feel that your opinions are being listened to and that you have input as to how you’d like the final project to come out. Finally, pay attention to how the subordinates at the company respond to the company rep. Do they appear confident in their job? Or do they seem intimidated or frightened of the boss? Frightened workers can be afraid to speak up if they see something wrong on the job site, which is not conducive to a safe work environment. Once you’ve found the perfect property, the best construction company for the job will be one that meets all or most of the above features. Don’t be afraid to take your time choosing which one. Before going ahead with any home renovation work, we always recommend getting multiple quotes so you can compare the service and price. You’ll be working with whomever you choose for the duration of the project, which could take many months. You’ll be glad you chose a
The havoc caused by Mother Nature can sometimes cause havoc on our nation. Thankfully, rural insurance providers, Lycetts, are here to provide us with advice on how we can prepare for, and then recover from, a number of problematic disasters. Drought We use a huge amount of water throughout the UK. In fact, Water UK states that over 17 billion litres of water is delivered to the nation’s mains water supply per day. This water will cater for more than 60 million consumers, with 150 litres used by each of us on a daily basis on average. Of course, this water will go into the UK’s mains water supply whether there is rain or not. Therefore, a drought will officially be declared in the country if we experience 15 days of minimal wet weather — under 0.2mm of rain. In the UK, we tend to witness a drought once every five to ten years. How to prepare A top tip to help us prepare for a drought is to regularly make water conservation practices a part of your everyday life. That way, you will be familiar with using less water in the scenario that water limitation measures are brought in across the country. This means that you should look to use any spare water you have on your indoor plants, or on a suitable outdoor area of your workplace instead of just putting it down the drain once you’ve used it. An instant hot water heater should be installed onto your sink too, while dripping faucets should be repaired by replacing the water — for this last point, bear in mind that a single drip per second will result in 2,700 gallons of water being wasted per year! You should also consider planting native and drought-tolerant shrubs, trees, grass and ground covers in different locations on your land. This is because they will adapt to the local climate and not need too much water once established; not to mention often surviving a sustained dry period without watering. Mulch should also be used to retain moisture in the soil, with the added benefit being that mulch controls weeds which compete with other plants for water. How to recover In most cases, your daily routine will sharply adjust back to normal following a drought. Any hosepipe bans which were enforced will be swiftly lifted, for instance, so that you can go back to cleaning the exterior of your business and watering plants as normal. Any restrictions on water use will be eased too, though it’s still best to keep up the water conservation practices advised above as a way of life moving forwards. However, it may take your lawn a longer period of time to recover. If it’s being subjected to a drought for a long period, turf grasses may have turned brown and stopped growing completely. While most of the lawn will often recover in time with renewed rainfall, you should look to carry out renovation and repair work in the autumn for particularly problematic areas. Over-seed areas which are sparsely-grassed — this guide by the RHS will help — and refrain from using lawn weed killers on turf that has been affected by drought throughout the autumn. The post-drought recovery in the UK is also monitored by the Environment Agency. In its Drought response: our framework for England report, the organisation states: “Once a drought recedes, it’s important to continue environmental monitoring to assess recovery of sites and identify any long-term environmental damage. Our area analysis and reporting teams are responsible for establishing and carrying out a drought recovery monitoring programme. Drought monitoring will normally continue until the ecology has recovered to normal conditions.” Flooding Flooding has been a major concern in recent years in the UK. Between November 2015 and January 2016, for instance, the UK experienced the most ever rainfall for that date period. Not too earlier than that, the wettest winter on record for the UK was recorded during the winter of 2013/14. How to prepare Thankfully, we should generally have a lot of time to prepare for floods due to the regular media updates. This page of GOV.UK should also be monitored, as it informs you if your area is either at an immediate risk of flooding, at risk anytime in the next five days or is seen to be a long-term risk area. If there’s a high risk that your area will be flooded, then you should make up an emergency kit. There are different ones for when you’re at a facility, on the move, or in your car, which Red Cross details here. You should also purchase some sand and sandbags in good time — these are likely to be in high demand once a flood strikes. If you have been advised to leave your property, be sure to turn off all mains power so there’s no risk of electrocution from floodwater. Also, shut and lock every window and door to protect your property and also to give an extra barrier from floodwater getting inside. Take up-to-date photographs around the interior of your workplace too, as they may prove very useful in the event you need to make an insurance claim. How to recover Dispose of any food products if you property has been flooded as floodwater is at risk of being contaminated with sewage. Until your water supplies company gives your tap water the all clear, you should only boil tap water or use bottled water. Your water supplies company should be contacted if your tap water’s colour, smell or taste has changed as well. Gas or electrical items should also not be switched on until they have been checked by a qualified technician, as they may have got wet during a flood. You should also contact your insurance company as soon as possible. Make sure to take photographs ahead of starting any cleaning up too — which can be coupled with the photos taken when preparing for a flood as a