Advice for tennants « Home Insurance News

Archive for the ‘Advice for tennants’ Category

Firm goes bust leaving homes unfinished

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

Concerns about the future of a Rothbury housing estate have been raised after its developer has gone into administration. McInerney Homes has been building properties on the Whitton View estate for the last four years, but last week KPMG announced that they have been appointed joint administrators to seven companies in the United Kingdom arm of McInerney Holdings Plc.

Whitton View looks set to be one of a handful of developments which will be continued and KPMG have just announced that Miller Homes will be taking over the scheme. Residents with an interest in cheap home insurance are now hopeful that the development will be completed, which will leave the site more secure. At the monthly Parish Council meeting, residents had raised fears over the future of the work that still needs to be finished. Drainage problems have been an ongoing problem since work started and the deadline set to create a footpath and children’s play area was not met.

A bond of £250,000 was left with the NHBC (National House-Building Council) in case any work on the project was not finished. Northumberland Council has started legal action against McInerney and are also in the process of drawing on the bond, but the developers have lodged an appeal against it.

County councillor for Rothbury, Steven Bridgett, said “How can you work with a company that is falling to pieces? The county council does not have the bond, the NHBC does. The county council has to make an application for that money, but McInerney are entitled to appeal and they have. Until a decision is issued by NHBC, they will not realise the money. I have absolutely no doubt that it will end up in court, probably with a large legal bill for the taxpayer.”

The council are fully aware of the situation regarding McInerney Homes and have already been in touch with the NHBC. If necessary they will be seeking to draw down funds from the NHBC bond to have outstanding remedial works to be carried out.

Tags: home insurance, household insurance, unfinished homes
Posted in Advice for tennants, home insurance | No Comments »

Cheltenham’s poorest area gets the green light for affordable housing

Monday, April 18th, 2011

Councillors have backed a scheme which will see new affordable housing built in one of Cheltenham’s poorest areas. Social housing association, Bromford, feel that there is a desperate shortage of affordable homes in Whaddon and that their development will help fulfil the need.

According to the Office of National Statistics the area has both the lowest income level and the highest unemployment level among young people in the county. In February this year the local council admitted that there was a shortage of housing in the town, with over 4000 people on the waiting list for a property. When plans for sixteen flats to be built were approved, the planning committee decided to impose a condition that the site should be used for “supported housing” only.

This meant that only local residents who had special needs would be able to live in and take out household insurance on the properties. The developer said this condition left the housing provider Bromford unable to deliver the properties, because despite being committed to providing affordable housing, funding from the HCA (Homes and Communities Agency) may not be available for any supported accommodation scheme. Since the developer announced they could not deliver the properties, almost all of the councillors have voted in favour of withdrawing the condition in the hope that the project can still go ahead in some guise.

Bromford’s project manager, Annette Thompson, said “In terms of tenure we have designed the scheme with supported housing in mind, but with the potential to convert it into affordable rent should the revenue funding for supported use not be initially available or disappear in future years. If this scheme were to proceed, a percentage of the units would be advertised as not having provision for parking.”

Tags: affordable housing, Cheltenham, home insurance
Posted in Advice for tennants, home insurance | No Comments »

First families move into new waterfront scheme in Walsall

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

The first properties on the Walsall Waterfront development have been completed and project developers, The Accord Group, are looking forward to welcoming the first family to move into one of the 22 new affordable homes.

The Walsall Waterfront scheme is a development which will cost over £65 million and will see 322 homes of mixed tenures. The development will also see retail and office space which is expected to create nearly 200 new jobs for the area and plenty of opportunities for insurance agents to sell products such as business and household insurance.

Later this week the Chief Executive of the Accord Group, the Walsall Cabinet Member for Regeneration and a member of the Homes and Communities Agency, will meet Stephanie Horin and her family, the first inhabitants of one of the six, three bedroom homes on the development. All other new houses built will meet The Coalition’s Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3, which means they will give a minimum of 25% improvement in energy use.

Mother-of-two Stephanie Horin, aged 30, said “We’re really excited about moving into our new home as it’s a lovely house and just what we were looking for.”

Clive Jessup, Managing Director of Jessup Build Develop, said “We have worked for five years to ensure the delivery of Walsall Waterfront, which has only been possible with collaborative working with key partners such as the Accord Group and the Homes and Communities Agency to provide such desirable property in the heart of Walsall town centre with various tenure solutions.”

The second phase of the Walsall Waterfront scheme is currently underway and this will see 164 apartments being developed and these homes are expected to be completed by June next year. The scheme is a development right at the heart of Walsall and it is good to see local families starting to move into the homes and create a new community.

Tags: home insurance, home owners, household insurance
Posted in Advice for tennants, Homeowners, home insurance, property market | No Comments »

Mining heritage acknowledged at housing development

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

Former miners are just some of those who are benefiting from the opening of a new one million pound affordable housing scheme in a village in County Durham which is renowned throughout the county for its mining heritage.

People who previously worked in the mines are just one group that the DAMHA (Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association) offer good quality, affordable properties to.

One of the former miners is Len Hall and both he and his wife June recently moved from a property that they have owned for nearly half a century. They are now living in one of the ten bungalows that the Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association has built in the village. The ten bungalows are just part of a wider housing development which is being built under the Coalition Government’s Kick Start programme, a programme designed to give a boost to the construction industry.

Mr and Mrs Hall are absolutely delighted with their new two bedroom bungalow, Mrs Hall, 68, said “As we have got older we realised a bungalow would be easier for us and although we only moved in at the end of October we haven’t missed our old home at all, especially the stairs.

“The bungalow has a lovely rural aspect and we feel so lucky to have been given such a nice new home and in time for Christmas as well.”

Mr Hall, 71, who worked down the mines for 40 years before retiring was already aware that the DAMHA helped former miners in any way they can. He is proud to be living in a quality home covered by household insurance and one which has been provided by an organisation that has done a lot of work to support the mining community.

The bungalows were built on Robert Moore Close, which is named after Robert Moore, a belt boy at the local Bowdown Colliery who tragically died aged only 14 in 1933 after a mining-related accident.

Tags: home insurance, Mining heritage
Posted in Advice for tennants, Homeowners, home insurance | No Comments »

Children from poor families held back by lack of computer access

Friday, December 31st, 2010

As both adults and children prepare to exchange unwanted Christmas presents, such as games for computers at retail shops all over the UK, one charity is highlighting the fact that over a million schoolchildren still don’t have access to a computer away from school.

A new study by the E-learning Foundation suggests that at least one million children are being held back in their studies by a lack of computer access. The foundation states it is almost always children from poor families who find access to computers most difficult with only 40% of the poorest families in the UK having a home computer.

Valerie Thompson, the chief executive of the E-Learning Foundation, whose aim is to ensure every schoolchild in the UK has access to the internet at home, said “For those at school, this translates into very tangible disadvantages when it comes to completing homework, researching topics, independent learning, and communicating with teachers and classmates on the school learning platform.

“Without a computer with the internet, this attainment gap measured by the E-Learning Foundation that characterises children from low income families will only get worse”

She asked that more fortunate families bear in mind the struggles that some of their children’s classmates experience in trying to keep up with their homework without a computer at home. Of course for those families who do have a computer at home, household insurance is always a good idea, with many insurance providers offering cover away from the home if the computer is a laptop.

There has been no official response from the Government so far who recently supplied figures saying a quarter of a million schoolchildren from the poorest backgrounds had actually been provided with home computers through the scheme.

Tags: Advice, home insurance, home owners, household insurance, Students
Posted in Advice for tennants, Homeowners, Students, home insurance | No Comments »

Council plan crackdown to stop housing fraud

Thursday, December 30th, 2010

Council housing staff in Reading are considering introducing photo identification to help their staff check on tenants. The initiative is part of a move to help crackdown on council house tenancy fraud as well as stopping illegal subletting.

The scheme could also extend to workers carrying out repairs at council owned properties, checking that the person who answers the door is the tenant who is registered as living there.

Tenants will also be encouraged by the council to blow the whistle on neighbours and will be provided with opportunities to report fraudsters by phone or the internet. It has been estimated that 1% of council tenants could be illegally subletting in the town, this works out at about 70 properties. Other frauds include a person giving false information in order to get a tenancy, and staying on unofficially in a council house after the registered tenant moves out. Already as a result of the Councils crackdown, twenty one cases of illegal sub-letting and other irregularities have been uncovered and out of these, five properties so far have been returned to Reading Council ownership for reallocation to people on their waiting list. These people can move in and take out household insurance for protection.

Councillor for housing, Daisy Benson, said “I raised serious questions in 2009 about the robustness of the council’s procedures in relation to tracking and cracking down on potential housing tenancy fraud after nationally it was revealed that illegal tenancy fraud is rife in many towns and cities.

“I am pleased to see that as a result of the concerns I raised the council is now taking a more robust approach, including raising awareness with staff and council tenants to identify fraud and get action taken.

“People who fraudulently sublet council properties are putting additional unwanted pressure on council housing, which is already in high demand. The cost to the council of every fraud is estimated at £11,000, this is wholly unacceptable and the coalition administration of Reading Borough Council is committed to taking further steps to identify potential fraud and take action against offenders.”

Tags: Council, home insurance, home owners, Police, property market
Posted in Advice for tennants, Government, Homeowners, home insurance, property market | No Comments »

Homeowners advised to safeguard their pipes as the big freeze returns

Thursday, December 16th, 2010

Experts in the household insurance business are warning homeowners of the possibility of flood damage and how to avoid it, as the UK prepares itself for another deluge of snow.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) is urging households to contact their home insurance providers to give them advice on how best to tackle the problem of burst pipes. The association believe that insurance providers are ideally positioned to give their customers advice on a subject that can be crucial if the severe weather warnings prove to be correct.

Nick Starling speaking on behalf of the ABI said, “Damage caused by burst pipes can be widespread, traumatic and expensive, but carrying out simple preventive measures before leaving the property unattended for long periods of time can help stave off any problems.”

He advocated a number of measures that should be considered including; draining the central heating system should it need to be turned off for a significant length of time. Damage to attic water pipes can be prevented by opening the loft door and keeping the central heating system at a low temperature. Radiators and taps which suffer from leaks should also be repaired as soon as the problems are noticed.

He went on to stress that some of these procedures are best carried out by professional tradesman if the homeowner is unsure how to carry them out.

Of course the advice will be particularly relevant for second home owners, holiday home owners and landlords with properties currently without a tenant. If the owner cannot manage to check out the property himself due to geographical issues then it is advisable to have a neighbour or property management agent to get the job done for them.

Tags: Advice, Council house tenants, home insurance, home owners, household insurance, property market
Posted in Advice for tennants, Homeowners, home insurance, property market | No Comments »

Energy bosses predict bills in the UK are likely to increase

Saturday, December 11th, 2010

Bosses at the United Kingdom’s main energy firms have told a committee of MPs that gas and electric bills are likely to continue to increase for years to come. The worry is that many members of the public may not be able to afford other important bills such as household insurance and water rates if they continue to escalate.

Speaking to the Energy Committee they spoke about the “inevitable direction of wholesale prices” which means all domestic bills will get more expensive during the next ten years. Five of the top six energy suppliers had representatives at the meeting with the House of Commons committee. With one of them suggesting that the prices may increase by between 15% and 25% within the next decade. Despite this the energy suppliers argued that the market was still competitive and profit margins were volatile. Bosses of EDF Energy, British Gas, Npower, E.ON and Scottish and Southern Energy all appeared before MPs.

They were called to give evidence after some of the firms raised their prices for domestic customers as soon as the cold weather started this winter.

Phil Bentley from British Gas said, “Higher wholesale prices and distribution charges were likely to push up the cost of domestic bills in the next decade. Private landlords should also be encouraged to make their properties more energy efficient. However, the market in the United Kingdom is delivering the lowest prices for gas in western Europe.”

Mr Bentley also pointed out that none of the seventeen inquiries into the energy market since 2001 had provided any evidence that energy firms were not passing on the reductions in prices to their customers.

It was not just the recent increase in all energy bills that was troubling MPs. Some of them are worried about “impenetrable” tariffs that confuse customers. The Managing Director of British Gas, Phil Bentley, says he would welcome clearer bills, adding that sometimes he struggles to understand some of the calculations.

Tags: home insurance, household insurance
Posted in Advice for tennants, Homeowners | No Comments »

Save money and the environment by using basic ingredients

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

With the shape of the economy looking bleaker by the week, everyone is trying to save money where they can to pay the important bills such as household insurance. Keeping the home clean using home remedies is a great way to save money. It is possible to keep the home clean and fresh without having to spend too much or using the harsh toxins that are in cleaning products. There are some easy cleaning remedies using ingredients that may already be in the home!

People will normally have vinegar in the home for a number of reasons. This common kitchen staple is capable of much more than just putting it on chips. White vinegar will dissolve dirt, soap scum and even hard water stains. It is also mild enough to be mixed in a solution and then used on hardwood floors. It absorbs odours and will not stain. White vinegar is also a great fabric softener and is ideal for anyone with sensitive skin as it is gentle. Add no more than a half cup of undiluted white vinegar to the rinse cycle. For surface cleaning mix in a spray bottle and use one cup of water per one cup of vinegar. This mixture will not only work as a surface cleaner, but is also excellent for cleaning the toilet.

Most homes will have baking soda somewhere in the kitchen, but what some people may not know is it is also an excellent cleaning agent as well. Instead of using scouring cleansers why not use baking soda instead as it works just as well. If it is placed on a wet sponge it will not only scour, but it will also work as a natural odour absorber. Use it on bath tub grime or a stained sink in the kitchen. For any tougher stains, mix it into a paste and then let the mixture sit on the stain for twenty minutes. Sprinkle baking soda on a carpet then let it sit for about twenty minutes before vacuuming it up. The carpet will smell fresher than ever.

Lemons make another natural home-made cleaner. Like baking soda, lemon juice is excellent for removing soap scum and any hard water stains. It is also good for shining brass and copper. Mixing half a cup of lemon juice with one cup of olive oil makes an excellent hardwood furniture polish. The lemons will smell so fresh it will be really pleasant to clean the floor.

Tea tree oil is really worth having in a home, it is one of the strongest natural antiseptics which make it ideal to use for cleaning. Two teaspoons of tea tree oil mixed in a spray bottle with two cups water makes a great way to kill mould and mildew stains. This same mixture is ideal to use as a disinfectant.

With a little experimentation it is possible to have an array of cleaning products using items in a cupboard. These home made products are safer for your family and the environment. They will leave the home looking great and smelling fresh as well as saving on the normal cleaning cost.

Tags: Advice, Discoveries, home insurance, household chores
Posted in Advice for tennants, home insurance | No Comments »

Gloomy news on the house front

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

The latest figures from the Bank of England suggest a greater decline than ever before in first time buyers moving into new properties and looking around for cheap home insurance.

According to figures released from Threadneedle Street, mortgage spending fell dramatically in July to £86 million. It is one of the lowest mortgage lending totals since records began in 1993 and is massively down on the June figure of £518 million.

The Bank of England also confirmed that annual growth on net lending, based on the last three months, had fallen 33% in the last quarter down to 0.4 from 0.6. The gloomy figures have once more brought attacks on the banks from politicians accusing them of stifling growth in the housing market by refusing to lend to first time buyers.

Lord Newby, a treasury spokesman summed up the situation thus; “Mortgage lending has gone from feast to famine, down by two-thirds in four years. The banks went wild in the boom, but while no one is saying we should go back to 125% mortgages, this mortgage starvation punishes first time buyers with good jobs.”

The banks defend their situation by saying they are quite prepared to lend money but consumers are taking advantage of the low interest rates at the moment to repay debt rather than going out and borrowing more. Adrian Coles, the Director General of the Building Societies Association, said “There remain significant challenges such as heightened uncertainty about job prospects and household incomes, potentially limiting future demand. This could make it difficult to sustain the growth in activity.”

Whatever the reasons behind the figures few experts in the sector anticipate any significant upturn in house sales for the next quarter.

Tags: home insurance news, house insurance
Posted in Advice for tennants, home insurance | No Comments »