Whilst not startling in their positivity, there are nonetheless some good messages about the stable property market in spite of some economic headwinds. The widely used property portal Rightmove, have shown in their House Price Index that the average house price reached a record high in April, driven by strong buyer demand with the highest number of sales agreed since 2007, before the credit crunch. These statistics will have been helped by headlines in the last few days about the lowest mortgage rates for a generation. This should give confidence to those looking to sell or buy (or both) over the coming months. Let us know if you are inclined…we can offer some excellent tips and formulate the most appropriate strategy to suit you and your objectives.
Patrick Glynn-Jones
The Country House Company has been appointed to sell this appealing ‘edge of village’ 4 bedroom, 2
bathroom, house with a garage, additional off street parking and charming garden that amounts to
nearly an acre. The house is in Old Clanfield, an historic village about 6 miles south of Petersfield in
The South Downs National Park. The guide price is £850,000.
Chapel Farm House retains some of its historical character with brick and flint elevations set in a
peaceful environment. Of note is the significant natural light, interaction with the delightful gardens
from the sitting room and kitchen, the master suite with generous bathroom and the lovely outlook
towards the gardens and surrounding countryside or across farmland. The garden and grounds
amount to approximately 0.87 of an acre.
A terrace, just outside the sitting room, is accessible through bi?folding doors thereby giving good
interplay between house and garden. Steps from here and from the back of the kitchen, lead up to
an extensive lawn with flower beds, shrubs and bushes. An orchard to the northern end of the house
has various fruit trees which include plum, pear and apple. A garage, which can be reached from
within the house, provides secure parking and beside it further off street parking for a couple of cars
where there are also steps up to the principal garden.
For a viewing please call Patrick on 02392 632275.
Who could have imagined that one of the most significant documents in American history would be unearthed in Chichester! The Declaration of Independence parchment was discovered in a strong room in Chichester by an historian. Many believed that the only one is existence was across the pond in its rightful place in The National Archives in Washington DC. It is believed that ‘The Radical’ 3rd Duke of Richmond who lived at Goodwood House, might have been responsible for its existence in the county. He had many dealings with one of the founding fathers of the US, Thomas Paine who had lived in Lewes! Great to read about exciting discoveries in our area!
Patrick Glynn-Jones
We may talk about many different subjects in our blogs but houses has to be our favourite subject and best still when we are launching a house on the market! We have been appointed to sell a delightful barn conversion which is in the centre of East Meon. Arranged over two floors and offering 3 bedrooms and 2 bath/shower
room, this detached house has wonderful views up towards Park Hill. The striking vaulted sitting
room has bi?folding doors that open into a charming garden. The guide price is £595,000. Barn House is full of character with period detailing and some skilfully incorporated contemporary
touches and enjoys a lovely view towards the church spire and Park Hill .
Barn House is approached across a walled, west facing front garden which, whilst mainly lawn, also
features pathways and terraces. Accessible from the kitchen is the rear garden which is also mainly
lawned and has a green house and shed. On three sides of the house, there are views towards the
dramatic backdrop of Park Hill. For a viewing please call me on 02392 632275.
Patrick Glynn-Jones
The Country House Company has been appointed to sell this delightful barn conversion in the centre
of the village of East Meon. Arranged over two floors and offering 3 bedrooms and 2 bath/shower
room, this detached house has wonderful views up towards Park Hill. The striking vaulted sitting
room has bi-folding doors that open into the charming garden. The guide price is £595,000.
Barn House is full of character with period detailing and some skilfully incorporated contemporary
touches. The enjoys a lovely view towards the church spire and Park Hill. The family/dining room
provides versatile space and features a real effect gas log burner within a pretty tiled back opening.
The country kitchen is fully fitted with stable doors to the garden. The principal bedroom has
generous storage space and the shower/wet room is very well designed with slate tiled floor.
Upstairs both the two further bedrooms have plenty of storage and views across the village and
countryside. The family bathroom has an equally lovely view.
Barn House is approached across a walled, west facing front garden which, whilst mainly lawn, also
features pathways and terraces. Mature beds stocked with colourful plants and shrubs border much
of both front and rear gardens. Accessible from the kitchen is the rear garden which is also mainly
lawned and has a green house and shed. On three sides of the house, there are views towards the
dramatic backdrop of Park Hill.
For a viewing please call Patrick on 02392 632275.
PainSmith Solicitors, a specialist property law firm, have released the latest information on electrical safety.
The provisions in Part 5 of the Housing and Planning Act allowing for regulations to be made requiring Electrical Safety testing by landlords are now expected to come into force in October 2017. Under the provisions the Secretary of State may by secondary legislation impose an obligation on a residential landlord in England to ensure that Electrical Safety Standards are met during any rental period.
At present under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 landlords only need to keep in repair and proper working order the installations in the dwelling-house for the supply of water, gas and electricity. Under the new provisions in Part 5 of the Act this will change.
The Electrical Safety Standards that the Secretary of State may impose are in relation to:
• the installation in the premises or the supply of electricity; or
• electrical fixtures, fittings or appliances provided by the landlord.
The landlord’s obligations are expected to include duties to ensure that a suitably qualified electrician has checked that the standards have been met, that they obtain a certificate confirming this with a copy provided to the tenant or any other relevant person. It will be for the Secretary of State to decide how often these checks should be carried out and who will be suitably qualified to do so.
The enforcement of the pending secondary legislation is likely to be carried out by the local authority. Landlords in breach will be subject to a financial penalty and the local authority will have the power to enter the premises with the tenant’s consent and remedy any failure to comply with electrical safety standards. It may also be possible for the obligation to be implied into a tenancy agreement which may allow tenants to seek damages for breach of contract where it is not fulfilled.
Comment by PainSmith
Most landlords will be familiar with fixed wiring and portable appliance testing and it is expected that any electrical safety standards will be based around these existing standards. However, we do not know at present whether any secondary legislation will be applied retrospectively therefore, Landlords should consider carrying out such tests prior to a rise in demand and the associated rise in costs.
Issued by PainSmith 27th March 2017
Where legislation is concerned it is important that we provide the correct information to our landlords and tenants. We are members of ARLA PropertyMark, a governing body, who keep members informed of the latest relevant legislation, we are members of GKJ Consultants who also provide a clear interpretation of legislation and we take advice from specialists’ property solicitors.
PainSmith Solicitors, a specialist property law firm, have released the latest information on electrical safety.
The provisions in Part 5 of the Housing and Planning Act allowing for regulations to be made requiring Electrical Safety testing by landlords are now expected to come into force in October 2017. Under the provisions the Secretary of State may by secondary legislation impose an obligation on a residential landlord in England to ensure that Electrical Safety Standards are met during any rental period.
At present under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 landlords only need to keep in repair and proper working order the installations in the dwelling-house for the supply of water, gas and electricity. Under the new provisions in Part 5 of the Act this will change.
The Electrical Safety Standards that the Secretary of State may impose are in relation to:
• the installation in the premises or the supply of electricity; or
• electrical fixtures, fittings or appliances provided by the landlord.
The landlord’s obligations are expected to include duties to ensure that a suitably qualified electrician has checked that the standards have been met, that they obtain a certificate confirming this with a copy provided to the tenant or any other relevant person. It will be for the Secretary of State to decide how often these checks should be carried out and who will be suitably qualified to do so.
Further detail on this and other relevant legislation can be seen on the Latest News section of this website.
Marishelle Gibson
It is very uplifting on a lovely spring day to see local communities coming together for fundraising events. The Great Hampshire Cake Sale has been organised by The Hampshire Hunt and The Hursley Hambledon Hunt in aid of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance. Their aim was to sell over 1,000 cakes and when I took along the cakes donated by The Country House Company I was overwhelmed by the huge amount of cakes, well over 1,000 by 11 am, and more were coming in all the time. The stand was laden with cakes of every description and behind were hundreds more ready to sell.
Red Nose day is a terrific national campaign encouraging the entire country to pull together to raise money for a wide range of charities. At The Country House Company we support as many local charities and fundraising events as possible providing financial support, signs, publicity, usually participation and always enthusiasm! It is one of the joys of being fully established and part of a community and just to make our Friday even better I have just had this email from a local fundraiser
“Marishelle, thank you for bringing a huge smile to my face on this somewhat grey Friday morning!! And will you please thank everyone at The Country House Company for their support which is really, really appreciated.”
Marishelle Gibson
Lots of column inches about villages in Hampshire with Hambledon featuring in a piece titled ‘Best Places To Live’ in the South East in HOME, the Sunday Times supplement, this last Sunday. Yesterday in Times 2, Preston Candover is featured 13th in an article entitled ‘Best Villages in Britain’. We love our county and these two villages are wonderful examples of the very best characteristics that the countryside can offer…community, facility, accessibility and glorious scenery over which one can walk, ride, run or cycle.
Patrick Glynn-Jones