Tips for Maintaining Your Thatched Roof
While properties with thatched roofs are by no means common, there are still a surprising number across the UK. If you’re fortunate enough to have recently purchased a property with a thatched roof, it is important that you maintain the roof as well as you can. Naturally, taking out a good holiday home insurance or standard home insurance policy is highly recommended for all properties, but aside from this safety net there are a number of practical things you can do to ensure that your thatch remains in good condition for as long as possible, and is able to cope with poor weather conditions.
Once you move in, try to establish early what condition the thatch is in. Do not make the assumption that just because the roof looks a little dirty or because the straw is slipping that the roof is in poor condition. Equally, do not assume that if the roof looks trim and tidy, that it is in good condition. By ensuring you repair your thatch in a timely manner, you may be able to significantly extend the life of the roof. It is a good idea not to move around on your thatch unnecessarily, and not to let others do so either.
It is important not to let non-thatchers fix netting, flashing or such additions as TV aerials to the roof without the advice of an experienced thatcher. With this in mind, you should always seek advice from a professional thatcher before making any changes to your roof. The cost will be repaid many times over by extending the life of the roof.
Big rise in tenants behind with rent
The website MyMoney24.co.uk is featuring the news that there are nearly 79,000 tenants in England and Wales at least two months in arrears with their rent. This may be worrying for those landlord insurance clients who depend on rents to meet mortgage repayments.
The position has got a lot worse since this time last year and the number in arrears is now the highest level since the third quarter of 2008.
The report was compiled by Templetons LPA, chartered surveyors. They believe the position will get even worse as we go through 2012 and will mean more people facing eviction.
If you would like information about insuring a let property visit click4quote.com insurance
Changes to Assured Shortholds
Landlord insurance clients at the high end of the market need to be aware of changes to the Assured Shorthold threshold. From 1st December 2011 in Wales the threshold increased from rents of £25,000 to £100,000. This follows the same increase that took place in England in October 2010. This means that virtually all rentals in England and Wales will become subject to the Assured Shorthold regime because very few houses are rented for £100,000 or more.
Landlords will need to make sure that their documentation and procedures are up to date.
One important point is that landlords must protect the tenants’ deposit and must issue written details to the tenant to explain how this has been done.
If you need information about the changes there are plenty of websites to choose from. If you need landlord insurance visit www.click4quote.com
Choosing a Holiday Home in Cumbria
If you’re fortunate enough to be in the market for a holiday home, you’ll soon realise that getting the finance to make the purchase is only the first step. Choosing a location and holiday home that suits your needs and lifestyle is equally important – and in some ways also very challenging. One part of the UK that has long been popular among holiday home owners is Cumbria, largely due to its beautiful countryside – much of which can be found in the world famous Lake District National Park.
A holiday home in Cumbria is best suited to those who love the countryside and are less keen on the city; in fact Cumbria has no cities. Instead, the outdoors provides ample opportunity to enjoy walking, hiking, cycling and even more adventurous pastimes such as rock climbing.
Before you can think about buying a home in this region and going about all the practical arrangements – such as taking out a holiday home insurance policy for example – consider if you are ready to make the transition to Cumbria. For those who have spent a large portion of their lives in cities, the change can be dramatic; a quieter, more laid back approach to life should be expected. But along with more peaceful surroundings, you may well find very friendly locals and a sense of community that may be lacking in more built up areas.
EU threat to buy to let mortgages
If you are a landlord insurance client with a buy to let mortgage you need to be aware of EU plans to curtail this type of lending. The Residential Landlords Association has spoken out against a proposed EU directive that they believe would seriously damage the private rented sector. The draft directive is aimed at curbing irresponsible lending on mortgages following property booms and busts in countries like Spain and Ireland. If it came into force lenders would not be able to take account of rental income when assessing the ability of the applicant to afford the mortgage repayments. The proposal is aimed at “consumers” but it could catch small landlords with just a few properties.
Alan Ward, the chairman of the RLA said “This directive is nothing short of a disaster for housing in the UK. The RLA is working hard to have it aborted. It would effectively kill off buy to let mortgages”.
If you need landlord insurance visit www.click4quote.com insurance
Skiing and Snowboarding for the Cost Conscious
Taking a skiing or snowboarding holiday is seldom an inexpensive affair, and choosing to hit the slopes can, for many families, mean they are putting the vast majority of the annual holiday budget into one getaway. But if you take the time to carry out some research and planning, you’ll find that a fun packed and low cost ski holiday is not so unobtainable. By organising your break independently, you may well find you have not put the summer holiday in jeopardy after all.
Key to a cheap skiing holiday is selecting the right resort at the right time. Generally speaking, ski holidays are most inexpensive at the beginning of the season, although you can find some cheap deals at the end of the season too. The most costly periods to take to the slopes are Christmas and New Year, together with school half terms – therefore it’s best to plan around these times.
In terms of cheap destinations, consider visiting Eastern Europe, particularly Slovenia and Bulgaria, which can both offer great value for money. Nearer to home, Andorra is a top destination to enjoy a ski break for less than you might expect. These destinations offer cheaper accommodation, restaurant food, drink and of course ski passes – all the things that can make a ski break expensive. Last but certainly not least, take out ski insurance with click4quote.com and enjoy further savings, without compromising on quality cover.
Check your security measures to keep your insurance in force
Unoccupied property insurance clients need to give careful attention to the security measures they have put in place to keep the property safe. Checking the insurer’s requirements is also a good idea. Most insurance policies require you to have door locks of a certain standard. It is easy to assume that your property, whether it be your own home or an unoccupied one has suitable locks on all the doors or windows. If you are insuring your own house as an owner occupier it is easy to check but this is not the case with a let or unoccupied property that might be miles away. The worst thing you can do is assume that the security precautions comply with your insurers’ requirement- there is no alternative to checking them yourself or asking someone else to do it for you.
Most insurers will require five lever mortice locks conforming to BS 3621 and there may be special rules about patio doors so check your policy. If you fail to meet the standards set in your policy you may find your claim turned down. It is a good idea to change the locks periodically; especially if you know that several people have been given keys but you can only account for a few of them.
If you would like information about unoccupied property insurance visit www.click4quote.com