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Damp is number one turn off for UK house hunters
Damp, poor maintenance and a lack of parking top the list of UK house hunters’ biggest turn-offs, according to new research which is published as the spring house season begins. Damp patches staining walls and ceilings are the biggest problem for potential home buyers according to a new survey commissioned by Gocompare home insurance. It found that 67% of people would be deterred from buying a property which showed signs of damp. Others include poor maintenance, wooden windows, no garden, stone cladding and nasty odours. Some 60% would be put off by windows being rotten or in a poor state of repair, 55% by no parking, 54% by no garden, and 53% by smells caused by pets, damp, food and cigarettes. Some 53% would also be put off by unfinished building work. Poor natural light and dark rooms would be a turn off for 46% while 45% would be put off by small rooms. Some 42% would not like poorly finished DIY, 40% a small kitchen and 36% a dirty house. ‘If you’re looking to sell your home it’s important to make sure it’s well presented, both inside and out, to make it as appealing as possible to would be buyers. Buying a home is a big financial commitment and most house hunters will want to think that the property they’re buying has been well looked after by its current owners,’ said Ben Wilson of Gocompare home insurance. ‘Damp can be expensive to repair and may be an indication of a costly problem with a property such as a leaking roof. Unfinished or badly carried out work can be expensive to remedy and can detract from the value of a property as well as deterring potential buyers,’ he pointed out. ‘Bad housekeeping can also kill a sale. During a viewing many buyers will try to imagine themselves living in the property, so a dirty home, nasty smells and cluttered rooms can be a big put-off. They can also be a sign of other problems with the property. Clutter could suggest a lack of storage space, while a dirty home may suggest to buyers that the house has been unloved and in a poor state of repair,’ he explained. ‘So, a good spring clean is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to create bright, fresh airy rooms and increase the saleability of your home,’ he concluded. Continue reading
Landlords needing to evict a tenant face rising UK court costs
Rising court fees in the UK could tempt law abiding landlords to cut corners when it comes to tenant evictions, it is claimed. For the second year running, the Ministry of Justice is increasing fees for landlords who want to evict tenants who have fallen into rent arrears. The cost for filing a paper application will rise by £75 to £355. Online applications will rise from £250 to £325. This comes on top of increases last year of £100 for online applications and £175 for paper claims. According to Legal 4 Landlords the spiralling court costs could lead to landlords being tempted to evict problem tenants without following official procedures, risking prosecution and a criminal record. ‘The spiralling costs are unfair and are hitting landlords in the pocket yet again. However, the law is complex and too many landlords serve invalid notices delaying the process and waste their money,’ said Sim Sekhon, managing director of Legal 4 Landlords. ‘Landlords must follow the correct procedure and expert guidance is paramount. Evicting a tenant is stressful enough but many landlords are concerned about rising court costs so it’s not surprising some are tempted to take the law into their own hands,’ he added. The firm explained that there are several routes that can be taken to evict a tenant and every case is different. The court expects landlords to follow procedures to the letter so they should always seek expert guidance. Legal 4 Landlords offers a range of services for landlords and letting agents with a network of offices across the UK. This includes advanced tenant referencing and general insurances products. It offers a free eviction case review and recently launched a rent and legal protection insurance product. This safeguards landlords from future hikes in court costs at the legal stage for landlords who may need it for their next tenants. The number of people evicted from rented properties hit record levels in 2014, with 42,000 homes repossessed by landlords, according to the Ministry of Justice. Continue reading
Older second home buyers attracted by mountainside property in Turkey
Mountainside villages within a short drive of the beach but away from the hustle and bustle are emerging as popular spots for second homes in Turkey, it is claimed. Older foreign buyers in particular are opting for areas away from busier coastal resorts and increasingly looking inland, according to Spot Blue International Property. ‘Turkey has built a name for itself as a quality beach resort destination. However, buyers searching for more peaceful, scenic surroundings are heading a few miles inland, where they can choose between a house or plot with permission to build. Once a few foreign people have homes in these spots, more like minded buyers follow,’ said the firm’s director Julian Walker. He pointed out that the village of Beycik near Kemer in Antalya province has attracted a small group of international home owners who are attracted by it its tranquil setting 700 metres up the pine clad foothills of Mount Olympos within a national park. The village is home to Beykent Villas, a small development of predominantly semi-detached villas set around a large pool and boasting sea, mountain and forest views. More than half of the owners at Beykent Villas are Turkish, with the remainder being English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, German and Russian. One couple who have owned a two-bedroom villa there since 2007, after buying through Spot Blue International Property, are Danuta and Jan Stanczyk from Buckinghamshire. ‘We knew the area from family holidays and find the coastline around Kemer where the mountains run down to the sea stunning. We were looking for a place near the coast but not on it, as we prefer calm, natural surroundings, and Beykent Villas offered exactly what we were looking for, as well as great value for money,’ said Danuta. ‘It’s also less humid than down by the sea, which helps you to stay cool in the summer months, and you can smell the pine trees. Eight years later we have befriended other British owners, some of whom are resident there all year,’ added Danuta. The Stanczyks’ semi-detached villa includes balconies facing the sea, a large basement room that could be a third bedroom and a small terraced garden. There are also communal garden areas which, like the pool, are maintained to a high standard by a management firm. The centre of Beycik is within walking distance, where there are two stores, and a handful of restaurants and bars. However, for a better choice of amenities, the small resort of Tekirova is a 15 minute drive and the larger town of Kemer is 30 minutes away. ‘We usually go out to Beycik twice a year, in the spring and autumn, when we spend a lot of time by the pool. We do go to the beach too and one of our favourites is Adrasan, but closer ones include Tekirova, Phaselis and Cirali, from where you can also visit the ruins of Olympos and the amazing eternal fires of Chimaera. And we enjoy… Continue reading
