A marketing campaign that effectively increases public awareness of safety issues should be applauded. At this time of the year we are used to seeing warnings about Firework danger so the innovative Halloween themed carbon monoxide awareness campaign, targeted at students, launched this weekend has been brilliantly timed and hopefully will have an impact.
Gas Safe has launched a short video called ‘The Silent Killer’ which is designed to look like a trailer for the latest horror movie. They entice the audience in, going on to reveal who the silent killer is and what the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning are.
It’s an intriguing watch, click here to view the video; it is worth sharing to raise awareness.
Marishelle Gibson
Legislation may be the bane of everyone’s lives but it is vital whatever business you are in that you are informed of the latest relevant legislation. So for all our landlords, please be aware:
With effect from 1st April 2018 properties with an EPC rating of less than ‘E’ will not be able to be let out.
This applies to new tenancies, renewed tenancies and new statutory periodic tenancies. This requirement will be extended to include all existing tenancies with effect from 1st April 2020.
Landlords only have to carry out work that is sufficient to bring it to the minimum rating of ‘E’. Various types of property are exempt – such as bed-sits or individual rooms being let within a larger building. Some listed buildings are exempt but not in all cases. Even if the property is not exempt the landlord could be eligible for an exemption on various grounds, which include where the tenant refuses access and where cost effective work has been carried out but the property is still rated below ‘E’.
All exemptions have to be noted to the Government operated PRS Exemption Register. The exemption lasts for 5 years at which point the landlord will need to re-apply and the situation will be reviewed.
The work should not effectively cost the landlord anything as they can apply under the newly resurrected Green Deal, or funding from the Energy Company Obligation or local authority grants.
We will be posting more information as it comes in and contacting individual landlords who may be affected by this. Please bear in mind you can call any member of the team here at The Country House Company if you wish to discuss any aspect of recent lettings legislation.
It maybe the bane of our lives but it is important.
Marishelle Butler
Looking for a cosy retreat from the autumn weather? Then either this pretty annex in Ramsdean or studio barn conversion in Hambledon, both available now, could be ideal.
The annex has been converted from stables and a hay barn and is situated in the grounds of the neighbouring farmhouse. The accommodation comprises of a ground floor studio with doors opening to a courtyard garden. The two double bedrooms and shower plus WC are also on the ground floor.
On the first floor there is an open plan living area, with kitchen, dining and sitting areas and opens to a south facing balcony overlooking the patio and main house garden and has wonderful views to Butser Hill. The annex has electric heating and double glazing and parking for two cars in the adjacent yard.
Also in the grounds of the main house, the barn has been converted to provide convenient and tasteful studio accommodation. An entrance hall leads to a spacious, galleried reception area with high ceilings and triple aspect double glazed windows. A door from the reception area opens out to the patio and a shared garden beyond. The well fitted kitchen has a breakfast bar, fridge freezer, electric oven and hob and dishwasher. There is also a modern bathroom with shower on the ground floor.
A staircase with low lighters leads to a double bedroom on the mezzanine floor overlooking the reception room, with fitted blinds, ample inbuilt storage and a generous walk in wardrobe.
Externally the studio is surrounded by very attractive gardens, maintained by a gardener and which can be used as directed by the landlord. There is access to walking in the adjacent fields, parking for two cars and use of a laundry room with washing machine and dryer.
Both properties are available to rent now. Please call Kate or Emilie on 023 92 632275 for full details.
The Butterfly Effect; ‘small causes can have larger effects’ is in fairness more often applied to science and weather than the property market yet it is interesting how a simple seemingly unrelated change can have an effect.
West Sussex, as all counties, has its traffic congestion hot points and the Chichester bypass is notorious, particularly in the summer, with all the traffic pouring to the Witterings and neighbouring coastline. With the rise of ‘staycation’ the Witterings have become increasingly popular during the school holidays, often causing traffic to come to a standstill. Now a new bypass is in planning and although at an estimated cost of £250 million, relieving the congestion with a bypass would open up a string of villages. There are many road improvement schemes underway continually opening hard to reach pockets of the rural South, and as car travel is still the key driver of economic growth in many areas, property values rise.
The second homes market would also benefit from the alleviating of the traffic misery on the route from London to the South Coast, as the sailing enthusiasts battle their way down to all the popular coastal villages and marinas.
So the rise in the popularity of staycation along with easing the traffic routes to make these delightful rural and coastal spots more appealing is positive for the property market; for us a positive Butterfly Effect.
Marishelle Gibson
Amidst all the publicity surrounding Theresa May’s speech at the Conservative Party Conference it was heartening to hear good news for the industry. The Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid MP used his speech at the conference to announce plans to introduce mandatory regulation for letting agents in England.
These measures follow 20 years of ARLA Propertymark campaigning for mandatory regulation and will, according to ARLA Propertymark, be the single greatest step forward in a generation for consumer protection within the private rented sector. Regulation offers to do more to clean up the image of the industry than the hundreds of smaller laws and pieces of legislation passed over the last two decades.
Here at The Country House Company we are active members of ARLA Propertymark and very supportive of the campaign for mandatory regulation. We consider it essential for the protection of landlords, tenants and those professional letting agents who take pride in providing a regulated service.
David Cox, Chief Executive, ARLA Propertymark commented that “We have seen regulation take different forms in different parts of the UK. It is essential that regulation reflects the commitment to higher standards embodied by the thousands of letting agents who have chosen voluntary regulation through membership of a professional body and in doing so have demonstrated the value of higher standards.”
A positive to focus on from the Conservative Party Conference!
Marishelle Butler
The Country House Company has been appointed to sell this detached 4 bedroom house with delightful southerly views over fields towards rolling countryside. Almost all of the accommodation is orientated due south and comprises 2 reception rooms, master bedroom suite with bathroom, 3 further bedrooms, bathroom and a substantial detached double garage. The gardens are beautifully maintained and landscaped. The guide price is £795,000.
Whilst now requiring updating for modern day living, this is certainly an opportunity to open a new chapter as a comfortable, functional and peacefully positioned family house with lots of direct daylight streaming into the house. The well proportioned, light sitting room has access directly into the garden and beside it is the dining room which could cater for numerous guests should entertaining be important. A kitchen/breakfast room is exactly this and again faces south.
On the first floor, a generous master bedroom and bathroom suite is complemented by 3 further bedrooms and a family bathroom… all accessible from a large landing. The views from the master bedroom, in particular, are lovely towards Winchester Hill and the South Downs.
The delightful gardens are primarily lawn and include well stocked beds, shrubs and on the boundaries, mature hedgerow. There is an arbour over a paved terrace and there is also a pond. A detached, double garage provides substantial covered parking or storage and in front of this is gravel parking for at least 3 vehicles, all behind iron gates.
For a viewing please call Patrick on 02392 632275 or email patrick@countryhousecompany.co.uk
Newly renovated this impressive and immaculately presented, three double bedroom, townhouse is situated in an elevated position in the heart of historic Winchester and provides well designed and spacious accommodation arranged over two floors.
The property is reached through an archway and communal courtyard beyond, with a fountain centre piece, and is one of five exclusive properties each built to a high specification.
An elegant entrance hall opens to a stylish, Searle & Taylor handmade, open plan kitchen with lower level eating area and patio doors into the garden. The generous living room with wood burning stove and stunning stone surround has two windows facing the communal courtyard as well as two sets of French doors opening to the rear garden. There is also a utility room with WC on the ground floor.
The first floor landing leads to three good size double bedrooms, each with double glazed sash windows, character, oiled, engineered oak flooring, underfloor heating with individual room thermostats and attic storage. Each has en suite bathrooms by Porcelanosa.
Externally, the property has an L shaped, low maintenance garden which is mainly laid to lawn and has a patio and shed. The two off road parking spaces are laid in Chinese granite setts and have the facility to charge electric cars and wash your car.
With the cinema on the doorstep and mainline station just a 0.4 mile walk plus easy access to a wealth of shops, restaurants and recreational facilities the property is in an ideal location.
Call Kate Morton, Head of Lettings at The Country House Company on 02392 632275 to arrange a viewing or discuss the property further.
The Country House Company has been appointed to sell this versatile family house in a lovely verdant and private setting within easy reach of commuting links to London at Liss or the A3. The main house comprises of 3 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms and 4 bath/shower rooms and the attached annex a sitting room, conservatory, kitchen, 2 bedrooms and a bathroom. A substantial detached double garage building provides secure, covered parking, games room, workshop, home office, laundry and store. There are 2 acres of lovely gardens and grounds that surround the house.
The guide price is £1,495,000.
Situated on a well wooded country lane, the house is approached from a long, meandering gravel drive flanked by mature trees and shrubs affording privacy. A reception hall, with a sight line through to the garden, leads to the principle rooms most of which have oak floors. The well proportioned, light sitting room features a wood burner and has direct access into the garden. A family/dining room is across the hall and then further on, the kitchen/breakfast room enjoys aspects over the gardens too. A study/studio leads on to the annex which has a sitting room through which one reaches the conservatory, kitchen and bathroom and then upstairs, 2 bedrooms.
On the first floor, a generous master bedroom and bathroom suite is complemented by 4 further large bedrooms and 3 further bath/shower rooms. The annex first floor is not currently accessible from the main house at first floor level but could easily become so.
The delightful gardens are primarily lawn and include well stocked beds, shrubs and on the boundaries, substantial, mature trees. No other buildings are visible from the gardens. There is a further kitchen garden area beyond a hedge towards the northern boundary.
For a viewing please call Patrick on 02392 632275 or email patrick@countryhousecompany.co.uk
The publicity surrounding the proposed ban on tenant fees has generally put letting agents and landlords in a negative light and unfairly so. As is often the case the actions of a few rogue, unlawful agents and landlords speak louder than years of professional service provided by the lettings industry. A blanket ban on tenant fees is not a viable option and various details need to be clarified. Meanwhile if the government really wants to be seen to support tenants, landlords and the letting industry they should reinforce the importance of using a qualified, professional experienced letting agent who is long established and a member of a recognised governing body.