Advice for Tenants « Home Quote Direct

Posts Tagged ‘Advice for Tenants’

Solar heating salesmen spread their sunshine

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

With the Government showing no lack of resolve in pursuing green energy solutions for the problematic issue of how the country keeps itself warm. The next few months does seem to hold promise for householders on the look-out for a bargain. Homeowners who are familiar with looking for ways to keep their home insurance costs down can now do the same with their energy bills.

Sales consultants for companies looking to benefit from the massive interest in solar heating are proliferating at what some would say an alarming rate. Properties across the UK are being flooded with brochures and pamphlets about the benefits of solar heating and all promise cut price energy with the prospect of boosting ones bank balance at the same time. It is indeed reminiscent of the 1970’s and 80’s when double glazing salesmen seemed to be on each and every street corner.

Government Grants?

Of course this time the solar heating salesmen can indeed promise something a little special… Government support! Through the Feed in Tariff (FiT) the Government have decided to promote the use of renewable energy installations by paying the owners of the project 41.3p per Kwh produced. It doesn’t matter if the homeowner uses the energy himself he will still be paid. What’s more, any excess energy that is fed into the National Grid will attract payment as well. The payments for solar energy are index linked and guaranteed for 25 years.

What exactly is the deal?

Currently companies around the country are offering two distinctly different deals. The first deal involves the company installing the panels free of charge and they benefit from the Feed-in Tariff payments from the Government, the householder benefits from free electricity. The second system involves the installers charging for the installation and then leaving the homeowner to benefit wholly from whatever energy he produces.

Will it affect my home insurance?

There are one or two qualifying criteria for a home to be suitable for the installation of solar heating. It should have a roof facing south and not be in shadow. The roof itself should be maintained well and be robust, apart from that there is little else to worry about. Of course you should always notify your household insurance provider if you make any alterations to your property and a big cluster of solar panels on your roof will certainly do that.

Tags: Advice for Tenants, Home Insurance, household insurance, Solar heating
Posted in Home Insurance | No Comments »

Council of Mortgage Lenders report holds no Christmas cheer

Friday, December 17th, 2010

If the latest report from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) is to be believed, then 2011 is not going to be much of a year for homeowners looking to sell their property, or indeed for prospective buyers looking to get on the housing ladder.

The CML’s final gloomy report for 2010 did nothing to cheer up homeowners, home seekers or estate agents. Although their forecast is that nothing will change too much from the stagnation of 2010, they anticipate the Government’s action in pulling the plug on support schemes such as the Support for Mortgage Interest benefit, which was introduced by the last Labour Government when the recession was at its height, will certainly tip some homeowners over the edge and into repossession.

In all they anticipate repossessions to increase by about 4,000 to a yearly figure of 40,000 and they predict mortgage owners in arrears to go from 175,000 to 180,000. This they say will be down to the cut in government support.

With banks and building societies expected to keep their strict borrowing requirements in place, the CML anticipate no more than 860,000 house purchases to go through in 2011. The figure is slightly less than 2010 and down once more to the difficulty first time buyers are having in finding a mortgage that is viable. The great disappointment though for buyers in general, is that they can see bargains in the estate agents shop window but can’t do anything about it. The CML though, have noted that they expect house prices to remain stable in 2011 partly because homeowners with property’s for sale are digging their heels in and refusing to drop their prices any more.

It does seem that unless there is a sea change in the policies of the lenders then the buoyancy of the housing market that many in the UK thought would last forever, may have disappeared for the short term future at least. It would be interesting to see just how many of the house purchases last year resulted in a quote for landlord insurance rather than household insurance as the buy-to-let market does at least seem to be holding its own.

Tags: Advice, Advice for Tenants, Home Insurance, household insurance, Mortgage Lenders, tenants
Posted in Home Insurance | No Comments »

Planning permission should not be ignored

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

When carrying out home improvements it is vital to do your groundwork correctly. Some improvements will require planning permission and it is also a good idea to let the neighbours know about any work that you intend to undertake. Your neighbours are likely to be concerned about any work which may affect them and the enjoyment of their property.

A well-designed building or extension is much more likely to be attractive and it will also add some value to your house. The insurance company should be told of any improvements made so that they can update the all important household insurance policy. Examples where planning permission may be needed include adding or extending a flat or maisonette, dividing off part of a property for use as a separate home, using a building in the garden as a separate residence for someone else, building a separate house in the garden or dividing off part of the property for business use. Lighting itself, and minor light fittings, are not subject to any planning controls. However, if the plan is to install external lighting for security, make sure that the intensity and direction of any lighting will not disturb anyone.

It is possible to make certain types of minor changes to a home without the need to apply for planning permission, these include fitting an alarm or putting up a wall or a fence which is below a certain height. Patios and driveways or also exempt. Other projects that can be carried out as long as they meet certain important criteria are conservatories and having a loft conversion. If you build something which needs planning permission but without getting permission first, you may be forced to put things right later, which could prove troublesome and costly. If you are in any doubt, contact the planning department of your council.

The success of any planning application will depend greatly on the quality of the application which has been submitted. If it is the first time planning permission has been applied for, it is highly recommended that an agent is employed to make sure everything is correct. They will complete the planning permission application form and look at any building regulations. A good agent will take away a lot of the hassle involved. The use of an agent will mean paying a fee, but this is often money well spent. An agent will have experience of working in this area and will also have a good knowledge of local regulations and policy and quite often understand the council and what they will expect from any development. More importantly an agent will make the completion of a planning application form straightforward. If the forms have been completed incorrectly it means that valuable time is wasted.

Tags: Advice for Tenants, Contents Insurance, Home Insurance
Posted in Home Insurance | No Comments »

Laptop that does a job home or away

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

These days most homes have a desktop computer, a great majority now have a laptop as well. They are ideal for children when studying as they can be used both at home and in college as they are easy to transport. Commuters also love them as it means they can work during their commute hence giving them the option of working fewer hours in the office.

Computers should always be protected by household insurance policies, but remember if they are taken away from the home then special clauses may come into play.

If you are looking for a small and light notebook, then the Advent 4489 could well be the answer. It is ideal for the traveller as it is super light weighing just 1.2 kg. It is slightly smaller than an A4 sheet of paper but has a 9 inch screen which is plenty big enough to enjoy videos or pictures.

The netbook is really easy to use, the keyboard is light and gentle on the fingers, yet big enough to use comfortably, the touchpad is responsive and accurate. Another big plus is that the Advent 4489 is energy efficient. If left unused for 15 minutes, it automatically shuts down but the information is readily available when switched back on.

One downside to Advent 4489 is that programmes cannot be played from CD or DVD without buying extra equipment, but its primary use is the internet and considering its price then that is acceptable. The battery supplied lasts just over two hours which is okay for short trips and it does recharge quite quickly. To make it the perfect travelling companion for any trip, higher capacity batteries can be purchased for around £30.

The Intel atom processor is 1.6GHz and comes with 512 MB of RAM, which is quite sufficient for the commuter working on office documents. Upgrades are available and are inexpensive if the computer is to be used for games etc.

Overall, I think at just over £200 the advent 4489 is great value and although it will never be a main computer it can certainly be used as a backup. It is a perfect train traveller.

The netbook is available at PC World and can be bought via the collect at store option.

Tags: Advice for Tenants, Contents Insurance, Home Insurance, Possessions Insurance
Posted in Advice for Tenants, Contents Insurance | No Comments »

Married bliss becomes a rarity

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010

As mortgages and properties become harder to acquire seemingly day by day, the number of couples getting married is diminishing at an alarming rate.

It appears that the old tradition of a young couple getting married and buying a house together as soon as possible after their wedding is a thing of the past. Cheap home insurance is not usually taken out to protect wedding gifts these days, which is a pity because a lot of the old traditions may die out if the slump in weddings continues.

For instance it is very rare these days to see a bride carried over the threshold of a new home, in fact it seems to be disappearing completely. Interestingly enough the tradition of carrying the bride into the wedding home goes back to Roman times when it was considered the worst luck of all for a new bride to trip over the entrance to her new home. Hence the groom carried her over; little is said about how many grooms actually fell over with their bride in their arms!

Research done by a mortgage company reveals that over the last five years 37% of first time buyers were single and that only 29% of people bought with their married partner. The figures are important as it is the first time since records began that single first time buyers have outnumbered married couples.

Looking back to the 1970′s, over 85% of first time buyers were married couples and only 1 in 10 sales were to a single party. Fast forward to the 1980′s and the change starts showing, as did social acceptance of couples living together out of wedlock. In 1982 almost 2 in 10 sales were to single people and the trend then started increasing.

The 1990′s saw 46% of first time buyers being married couples, 32% single and now 19% of first time buyers were couples who were not married. The modern day research now shows that the axis has turned completely and married couples are in the minority for the first time.

The social trend has had an impact on building trends also. The turn of the century has seen builders and property developers concentrate on building flats and apartments rather than family homes. As a consequence family homes are now more difficult to find and therefore more expensive to buy. Which could mean the trend away from marriage may well increase.

Tags: Advice for Tenants, first home, Home Insurance, marriage
Posted in Home Insurance | No Comments »

First time buyers still wary of taking on debt

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

The percentage of the housing market occupied by first-time buyers went down to 34% in July; this represents a drop of 4% from the previous month and is at its lowest for three years, according to the latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

The CML says the reason for the drop is due to the increasing difficulty a first-time buyer has in getting a mortgage. Early this year the problems seemed to have eased but now loan criteria have tightened up meaning first-time buyers will have to find a deposit of 24%, an increase of 3% in April and May. Mortgage activity does generally drop in August because of the summer holidays, however this years decline is much larger than was expected. And the mini-housing boom of the past twelve months has slowly stopped, and is very unlikely to pick up before next year.

With cuts in the public sector, tax hikes and constant talk of a double-dip recession, buyers’ confidence is low. We should know better how the housing market is going to perform once the coalition government has announced their spending review, and it may be that many prospective buyers are waiting until the details are announced before deciding whether to take on more debt. It may mean renting and taking out household insurance for protection until the market picks up.

Howard Archer, of economists Global Insight, said “This mortgage data for July remains very low compared to long-term norms and does little to dilute suspicion that house prices will remain under pressure. It is also notable that mortgage approvals to first time buyers actually weakened in July, which suggests not only that they may be becoming more reluctant to move into the housing market in the current uncertain economic environment. It also suggests that first time buyers are finding it hard to get mortgages.”

Tags: Advice for Tenants, Contents Insurance, Home Insurance, household insurance
Posted in Advice for Tenants, Home Insurance | No Comments »

A stone floor will need care and attention

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

Imagine buying a new home that is protected by household insurance, and while in the process of removing some old carpet or lino, instead of finding a concrete floor underneath. You discover a hard stone tiled floor which is covered in dust and dirt. Restoring it to how it should be is going to take a lot of time, but doing it correctly could add value to the home.

If the lino was stuck down using vast amounts of glue, a scraper should be used carefully or even try using a heat gun to melt the glue. It is vital to take care of the tiles when scraping as it is easy to chip the floor if too much force is used. White spirit can be used to remove the last stubborn bits but this must be washed off straight away. Stone tiles are natural stone which have been taken from a quarry; they could be slate, granite or even marble. Stone tiles can withstand most punishments and will last a lifetime if looked after. Stone floors should be quite easy to keep clean and if they are looked after they are unlikely to stain very much.

The most damage to a stone floor is caused by sand, grit and dirt because of their abrasiveness. A stone floor needs to be dust mopped often using a clean, non-treated dry dust mop or brush. A vacuum cleaner is very helpful if it is in good condition and has nothing on it that will scratch the floor. Place mats/rugs by doors as these will help collect loose dirt before it has a chance to get on the stone floor, just make sure it has a non-slip surface and remember to shake them regularly to remove dirt. Always clean up any spills immediately using a neutral pH detergent or pure soap and warm water.

Do not use anything that contains vinegar, lemon juice, acids or any ammonia-based cleaners on a stone floor. These products will dull the look of the floor. Other good tips are, avoid using scouring powders, bathroom tile cleaners and do not mix bleach with ammonia as this will create a lethal and toxic gas. Take great care when moving any heavy objects across the stone floor to avoid making any scratches or chips. It may even be worth using protectors on any furniture to avoid any accidental damage.

Tags: Advice for Tenants, Home Insurance, Laminate Flooring, stone flooring
Posted in Advice for Tenants, Home Insurance | No Comments »

Give a wall a new look with plaster

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

Before starting this job clear the room of furniture and any expensive electrical equipment. The job is messy and the materials used could easily cause damage which could result in a claim on household insurance.

Spread plenty of plastic sheets all over the floor of the room. Mix your plaster according to the instructions on the bag, remembering to always add the plaster to the water using a clean bucket. It is vital to mix the water and plaster thoroughly so that the ready plaster will have a thickish, creamy consistency with no lumps. During the warmer months, the plaster can set within minutes, so it is a good idea if you are a novice to only mix an amount that can be used straight away. Another good tip is never add any new plaster to an old mix and do not add extra water to the plaster in an effort to make it more workable.

When the mix is ready, get a trowel full of plaster from the mix and onto the hawk, and then transfer about half the plaster to the trowel. Try to keep the wrist as straight as possible and use a flicking action with the hand holding the hawk to move the plaster from the hawk to the trowel.

Starting at the bottom of the wall, try and use smooth strokes to press the plaster onto the wall. Slowly close the gap between the top edge of the trowel and the wall when moving the tool upwards. Keep the trowel at a slight angle to the wall at the end of each stroke. If the trowel is flat against the wall surface it could easily pull the new plaster away from the wall.

Go over the entire area with the aim of applying a base coat, uneven areas or holes are not important at this point. The coat should be around 2mm thick. Next job is to level and smooth the surface, but only do this when the plaster has hardened slightly. Waiting for the plaster to go off can vary from a couple of minutes during the summer to twenty minutes or more in cold conditions.

Use the trowel at a shallow angle to the wall and go over the entire surface smoothing it out. Leave the plaster to dry for around forty minutes. When it is dry it can be polished. Do this by wetting the face of the trowel and flick water onto the wall. The idea of this is to provide just enough lubrication for the trowel to glide over the surface and fill out any small holes and imperfections. Use sweeping strokes to start and finish with long continuous strokes across the wall. When happy with the finished effect, wash all the tools immediately ready for future use.

Tags: Advice for Tenants, DIY, Home Insurance, household insurance, tenants
Posted in DIY, Home Insurance | No Comments »

A cast iron certainty to improve a bathroom

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

Early plumbing systems for a bath have been documented as far back as far as 3300 BC with the finding of copper water pipes underneath a palace in the Indus Valley Civilization of ancient India. The Roman Empire of over 2000 years ago was famous for its love of bathing. Around 500BC all Roman citizens were encouraged to visit the many public baths on a daily basis. The Romans used marble for the bath tubs with bronze and lead for the pipes, they also created a very complex sewage system for sanitation. In fact the Romans set the bar high for personal hygiene. Bathing was still very popular until shortly after the Renaissance, when it was replaced by the heavy use of sweat bathing and perfume, because it was thought at the time that water may carry disease and infections into the body through the skin.

Cast iron has been used in the manufacture of baths for hundreds of years. A cast iron bath was once very common in the bathroom of a home before being replaced over time by man-made materials. Having a cast iron bath is now very much sought after in bathrooms of home-owners trying to create a contemporary home. Cast iron baths are the original roll top bath, named because of the way the top of the bath curves over. They are similar to a steel bath because they are both immensely strong and very rigid, both are coated with porcelain enamel, and both are very easy to clean and have a long life. The bath is cast from iron in a mould, then after forming the bath shape it is chemically cleaned, this ensures the surface is spotless before applying the enamel coat. A porcelain enamel coating will then be sprayed onto the bath and the entire bath is then fired in a large kiln to give a very strong chemical bond between the enamel and the cast iron.

The bath will not need a cradle or a frame as its strength will allow feet to be cast or bolted onto the body of the iron bath. The feet of the cast iron bath are not normally adjustable because the bath itself is extremely heavy. Because of this, it is important that a cast iron bath is only put on a very solid and level floor. It is very important that checks are made to make sure the floor is strong enough, or the bath may end up in the living room and a claim on the cheap home insurance policy ensues. The clawed foot is one of the most popular types of foot for a cast iron bath. A cast iron bath that has clawed feet is not normally enclosed and is often featured in the middle of the room. This allows the householder to apply some decoration on the underside of the bath and it is possible to get some very attractive designs to highlight the clawed foot bath.

Tags: Advice, Advice for Tenants, Home Insurance, household insurance, Saving Money, tenants
Posted in Advice for Tenants, DIY, Home Insurance, Saving Money | No Comments »

10 Things To Remember To Avoid Home Thefts.

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

Below are 10 practices to use to avoid becoming a victim of home theft.

1. Lock the windows.
Make sure all of your windows are locked as you are leaving your home.

2. Lock the doors.
Make sure all of your doors are locked as you are leaving your home.

3. Turn on the home security alarm.
Ensure that your alarm is turned on as you leave your home (if you have an alarm).

4. Use a visual or audio deterrent.
At night, leave on a light, radio or TV for background noise to deter prying thieves from entering your home.

5. Park your car visibly.
Have a parked car in your driveway to deter prying thieves by giving the impression that someone is home.

6. Have your keys
Ensure that when you are leaving the house, that there are no keys left in the door.

7. Hide your spare key well.
Be security savvy. Don’t leave your spare key in an obvious place where people may find it.

8. Be aware of your living environment.
Ask neighbours to look out for any unusual neighbourhood activity. Participating in a neighbourhood watch scheme is ideal for the local community to look out for each other.

9. Secure your belongings.
You can improve your home contents security by storing your items in a shed, by having a security fence or having a secure chain.

10. Don’t tempt thieves.
Don’t place valuable items such as laptops, TV’s, camera’s and money in plain view plain sight for the public to see.

Image credit: Country_boy_shane

Tags: Advice, Advice for Tenants, Garden, Home Security, Theft, Tips
Posted in Advice for Tenants, Home Security | No Comments »