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12.01.2021
New scheme offering up to £5,000 per property opened 30th September and now extended to 31st March 2022. The aim of the scheme is to enable homeowners and landlords to upgrade their homes and properties with energy-saving features, such as insulation or double glazing, in order to reduce energy usage and improve the energy efficiency […]
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26.11.2020
Working from home has gone mainstream in 2020. Research by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), carried out at the height of the first Covid-19 lockdown in April, found that almost half of the population was working remotely. It’s a trend that likely to continue for some time given current government advice is that anyone […]
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12.11.2020
Landlords needing to carry out energy improvements works to meet minimum standards for private rented homes may want to aim for a higher Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating than is currently legally required in anticipation of planned changes to the rules. The government recently published a consultation seeking views on raising the minimum EPC rating […]
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15.09.2020
New regulations which make it mandatory for landlords in England to carry out five-yearly electrical installation tests in private rented housing came into force earlier this summer. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 mean landlords will have to ensure that electrical wiring, sockets, consumer units and other fixed electrical parts in […]
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02.09.2020
The Renters’ Reform Bill 2019-20 was included in the Queen’s Speech on 19 December 2019 with the promise that it would deliver a fairer and more effective rental market. The changes set out in the proposed Bill have significant implications for both landlords and tenants, most notably by reforming the grounds for possession when seeking […]
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27.08.2020
Landlords worried about meeting updated energy efficiency rules if they rent out listed and heritage properties are reminded they may be eligible to apply for a temporary exemption. Despite Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) first being introduced in 2018 there is still confusion over the rules for listed property or buildings within a conservation area. […]
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14.08.2020
The government has confirmed that the installation of insulation and low-carbon heating systems will take priority under the new Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme, which will open for applications in September 2020. The government has announced further details of the scheme, first announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in July, which is designed to cut energy […]
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14.07.2020
Homeowners and landlords will be able to benefit from new financial incentives to make energy efficiency improvements to homes. A £2 billion Green Homes Grant scheme will be introduced in September offering property owners and landlords in England vouchers to pay for green improvements such as loft, wall and floor insulation. It follows a previous announcement […]
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30.04.2020
Our professional and research teams working across the wider Strutt & Parker and BNP Paribas Real Estate businesses have produced a number of ‘notes from the market’ updates on how different real estate markets have been affected by COVID-19 and offering advice to property owners. Topics include: Residential letting impacts Retail impacts Office market impacts Student accommodation Please […]
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21.02.2020
For decades, fossil fuel boilers have been the heating system of choice in British homes. It is estimated that eight out of ten homes currently rely on gas, with most users viewing it as a clean, reliable, safe and cost-effective form of central heating. The remaining users opting for heating oil which is viewed as cleaner than […]
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03.02.2020
Regulations introducing new electrical safety check rules in the private rented sector in England are expected to come into force later this year in a bid to improve safety for tenants. The new rules, likely to become a legal requirement from this summer, mean landlords – including estates and farm businesses with let residential property […]
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18.12.2019
Condensation is a common problem in older houses and it can get worse over the Christmas period when more people in the home, can mean extra showers, washing and cooking. The signs of condensation are obvious – water running down windows and walls, damp patches, peeling wallpaper and mildew – with common problem areas including […]
