We were delighted that the cover story on The Sunday Telegraph focused on moving to the country and included Rogate in West Sussex as a village that ticked all the boxes for a successful transition from city life to country life.
Covid-19 has changed how locations are chosen. Traditionally a desirable village for city relocators was the classic image of pub, village shop, parish church and period properties beautifully positioned around the village green. Over the past six months the tick list has been expanded by a new generation of rural relocators with a more complex set of requirements. Fast broadband is at the top of their list as they settle into working from home and the office. Access to commuting networks is still essential – they still want to be able to access the cities and don’t want to feel too cut off. Being more aware of climate change and air pollution, many relocators want amenities nearby and cycle routes rather than numerous cars. With that in mind they ideally would rather walk or cycle with young children to the village school than drive.
Most relocators are still looking for the classic English village; the pub, church, village shop and community spirit is vital but so too is the knowledge that supermarkets will deliver and zoom calls never falter.
The Sunday Times suggested Rogate, West Sussex as a tick box village with The A3 easily accessible, a main line station at nearby Petersfield and stunning views over the South Downs.
The average house price in Rogate was listed at £694,996 and we have 1 Sandilands Cottage for sale at Guide price £600,000. This stunning four bedroom character cottage has been extensively upgraded by the current owners and has stylish spacious accommodation and a lovely mature garden.
So, you really can move to the countryside and have everything, particularly through The Country House Company!
Marishelle Butler
1 Sandilands Cottage is a stylish 4 bedroom property in Rogate which has been extensively refurbished by the current owners.
This pretty home has benefitted from a complete upgrade including a new roof, re rendering in lime, new fascia’s and guttering, aluminium double glazed windows, a wooden front door, re plastering, new kitchen, underfloor heating in the dining room and cloakroom plus recently replaced boiler.
Further internal and external works have been undertaken by the owners resulting in very stylish and beautifully presented accommodation.
On the ground floor is a superb open plan kitchen/dining room with patio door to the garden and a bright and spacious family/garden room, also with access to the garden. This family room opens to a cosy sitting room with log burning stove. There is a cloakroom with a separate utility which is accessed externally.
On the first floor are three elegant double bedrooms, a single bedroom and bathroom.
To the front of the house is a gravelled area for parking and the main garden is to the rear of the house. There is an attractive decked sun terrace, with patio, leading to lawn bordered by pretty perennial borders and raised beds. There is a further decked area with greenhouse and shed beyond.
In addition, there is a pretty timber clad outbuilding with tiled roof which is the utility.
The cottage is in Rogate, a thriving village between Petersfield and Midhurst in the heart of The South Downs National Park. The village has a store, mobile post office, primary school, and many clubs and societies.
Petersfield and its comprehensive range of facilities including Waitrose and a mainline station with train services to London Waterloo in around an hour, is within 6 miles. There is an excellent range of schools in the region including Bedales/Dunhurst, Churcher’s College, Ditcham Park, Highfield/Brookham, Bohunt and TPS.
The A272 at Rogate connects to the A3 which provides good regional transport links to London and the South Coast or the larger regional centres of Winchester and Guildford. There are a good number of footpaths and bridleways in the surrounding area including The South Downs Way and The Sussex Border Path.
For full details please contact Kate Porter 02392 632275 or see www.countryhousecompany.co.uk
New measures have been put in place for the protection of renters during national restrictions.
In summary these are….
• Evictions will not be enforced whilst national restrictions are in place
• Evictions will not be enforced by bailiffs until 11 January 2021 at the earliest, except for the most egregious cases such as anti-social behaviour
• Six month notice periods still in place until at least the end of March 2021, except for most serious cases
Measures, including the pause on evictions starting in December, mean evictions will not be enforced until the 11 January 2021 at the earliest, supporting individuals and families who have found themselves in financial difficulty through no fault of their own.
The only exceptions to this will be the most egregious cases, including where tenants have demonstrated anti-social behaviour or are the perpetrator of domestic abuse in social housing, and the landlord rightly would like to re-let their property to another tenant.
This builds on protections announced earlier this year, including 6 month notice periods meaning renters now served notice?can stay in their homes until May 2021, with?time?to find alternative support or accommodation.
Courts will remain open through the new national restrictions. Court rules and procedures introduced in September will ensure protections for both tenants and landlords. These include the strict prioritisation of cases, such as those involving anti-social behaviour and other crimes.
Whilst national restrictions apply, the only circumstances where protections do not apply are illegal occupation, fraud, anti-social behaviour, eviction of domestic abuse perpetrators in social housing; where a property is unoccupied following the death of a tenant. There is also the intention to introduce an exemption for extreme pre-Covid rent arrears.
For further details see https://bit.ly/3pMOGZm
As we go into this second lockdown it is very clear that the mindset has changed. For many the knowledge of what staying at home and not having our normal freedom feels like is definitely harder this time around.
So how can we all help each other?
The stats show that out of 22 million gym visits across the country since we reopened only 78 members reported having Covid symptoms (UK Active). This is an important number to note as it indicates that staying physically active and strong is key to fighting this virus.
Our studio has gone back online so we can continue to deliver our classes safely. Our teachers are some of the very best and teach with passion, knowledge and safety.
We offer Pilates, Yoga (Flow and Yin), Barre and Boxing plus a monthly Facebook Live membership where there will be 3 new classes every week which you can follow live or watch at a time to suit you and repeat it as many times as you wish.
If you have to yet to try Rebalance Pilates & Fitness simple drop us an email and get your first online class for free.
All our classes are booked via our online StudioBookings site (download the app if using your mobile)
https://StudioBookingsonline.com/rebalancepilatesfitness/classes.html
Lets get through this together!
We are going to be open, all being well, for the duration of lockdown.
Keeping safe and making the best of it.
Let us make life a little easier for you…
Our ORDER MENU is gently expanding plus we have now have the beginnings of a pudding section! So, if you ever feel like taking the pressure off and treating yourself to any of our Soups, Stews, Salads, Cakes, Puddings or anything from our Deli Counter do have a browse then call The Bakehouse on 01730 895255 to place an order. Recently added items include:
Red Lentil Dal with Tomatoes, Spinach & Caramelised Red Onions.
Persian Salad with Roasted Butternut, Pomegranate, Black Rice, Herbs and an Orange Dressing.
Mediterranean Vegetable Lasagne – ready to bake in our lovely wooden meal pots with our new sleeves!
The government guidelines for the next lockdown are clear where Estate and Letting Agents are concerned….
“You can still move home……Estate and letting agents and removals firms can continue to work and people looking to move home can continue to undertake viewings.”
A tweet from housing secretary Robert Jenrick reiterated that the housing market will remain open throughout lockdown. This means;
• Renters and homeowners will be able to move
• Removal firms and estate agents can operate
• Construction sites can continue
• Tradespeople will be able to enter homes
This all reinforces the original government campaign #keepthecountrymoving, a campaign we have obviously actively supported throughout the year.
As we have stated before, with the procedures we have put in place it is possible to safely and efficiently carry our business of selling, renting and managing properties.
Far from being downcast about the month ahead we are ready, we are busy and we are eager to play our part in boosting one of the most important sectors of our economy. The property industry is central to our economy and our homes are central to our lives. So……..keep looking for the right home or exploring the options for your home, and we remain here; the professional experienced experts who can safely guide you through the process.
Marishelle Butler
Leaves are falling rapidly, and wind and rain are on the increase. Tender plants will need protecting from frost, gales and freezing rains. Move plants into the greenhouse, or into a sheltered spot, but if you can’t, it is worth wrapping plants or pots. Remember winter can be a tough time for birds in terms of water and food, so keep supplies well topped up.
Top 10 jobs this month
1 Clear up fallen leaves – especially from lawns, ponds and beds
2 Raise containers onto pot feet to prevent waterlogging
3 Plant tulip bulbs for a spring display next year
4 Prune roses to prevent wind-rock
5 Plant out winter bedding
6 Cover brassicas with netting if pigeons are a problem
7 Insulate outdoor containers from frost – bubblewrap works well
8 Stop winter moth damage to fruit trees using grease bands around the trunks
9 Put out bird food to encourage winter birds into the garden
10 Use a seasonal bonfire – where this is allowed – to dispose of excess debris unfit for composting
Tips from Royal Horticultural Society
As we go into what is forecast to be a rather wet and windy Halloween weekend why not spend time escaping into The Country House Company website and enjoy looking through the properties we have available for sale and to let.
As the exodus from cities continues our properties often go under offer within days of being launched or at the first few viewings. However, there are still some lovely houses available and more coming to the market daily.
Today has seen the launch of a beautiful 3 bedroom country retreat available to let. Situated in the small hamlet of Colemore close to Petersfield, the cottage is in an ideal location for commuting to London or the South Coast or simply for enjoying country life. The cottage has recently been renovated to a high standard and offers flexible accommodation with the added bonus of a study/third bedroom in the eaves. It sits in a large garden with views, double garage, summerhouse and greenhouse. For full details contact Kate Morton, Head of Lettings on 02392 632275.
If you are looking to buy then keep an eye on our website at the beginning of next week a stylish property in Rogate – full details to follow! Or, if you can’t wait then call Kate Porter, Head of Sales on 02392 632 275.
Marishelle Butler
Orchard Cottage in Newton Valence, is a light and spacious detached home in an idyllic semi rural location within The South Downs National Park. Offered for sale through The Country house Company this attractive home has been in the ownership of the same family for many years. In addition to well appointed accommodation the cottage benefits from superb outlooks, approximately 1.25 acres of grounds, a stable block and garage.
The accommodation Is arranged over two floors and includes a welcoming entrance hall, spacious dual aspect sitting room with open fireplace, and a generous dining room with log burning stove. This room is partially open to the kitchen and if opened fully would make a perfect live in style kitchen/dining/sitting room.
In addition, there is an attractive triple aspect study, a garden room, bathroom, utility and cloakroom. Upstairs on the first floor are three double bedrooms and a single bedroom, a family bathroom and, in our opinion, scope within the existing footprint to create en suite facilities and dressing area to the largest of the double rooms.
The property is approached via a private driveway which leads to an area for parking, a detached timber garage and stable block with hard standing. Steps descend to the property and the grounds surround the house. Formal gardens with lawn and mature shrub borders/beds are enclosed by mature hedging with paddocks bordering open countryside to the westerly boundary.
Orchard Cottage is in Newton Valence, a thriving community centred around the village hall. Neighboring villages include Selborne and East Tisted, both easily accessible and have village stores. There are public houses at Hawkley and Farringdon. Idyllic in its setting, the village is surrounded by protected countryside and there are footpaths and bridleways in abundance, yet it easily accessible to Petersfield, Alton and Liss, all with London train services and access to the A3/A31/A32 and the A272. Well regarded schools within the area include Bedales, Churchers College, Ditcham Park and The Petersfield School.
For full details please call Kate Porter on 02392 632275.