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North East developer wins a slice of a huge contract

Friday, July 22nd, 2011

A building company from Hartlepool are celebrating after winning a share of £181m for a contract which will bring some much needed affordable housing to the region. Yuill Homes will now start to build properties in which prospective homeowners can purchase home insurance on a house they own.

Yuill homes were successful in a bid for funding from the Coalition’s Affordable Homes programme. They are still waiting to find out how much they have been awarded and so do not yet know how many jobs the project will create. The programme is worth over £1.8bn throughout the United Kingdom and £181m of this will be put into affordable housing in the North-East by 2015. Despite not knowing how much they will receive, company representatives say the details will be confirmed as soon as the contracts have been signed. But the programme should start in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Yuill Homes Managing Director, David Mullins, said: “We are delighted that Yuill Homes is a successful bidder for this funding. This award is a true testament to the excellent quality of our range of homes and our credible experience in partnership working with a range of housing providers. We are looking forward to working on a scheme which would help people who were struggling to get a foot on the property ladder.”

The four-year affordable home programme will be managed by the HCA (Homes and Communities Agency) and nationally it will create as many as 85,000 new affordable homes. This scheme will be welcomed in the North-East where affordable housing has been at a premium. With other housing in the pipeline from earlier funding rounds, this should mean thousands of new affordable homes will now be built in towns, cities and villages throughout the region.

Tags: home insurance, home owners, Homes and Communities Agency
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£29m council house boost

Monday, February 21st, 2011

Houses in a run down Manchester council estate are set for a revamp after town hall chiefs won a £29m government grant.

The money will be used to revamp properties in Collyhurst and the news comes less than three months after Coalition officials withdrew the much bigger fund of £250m to redevelop the area.

The new scheme will mean properties that are most in need of repairs will be refurbished and brought up to the national decent homes standard. A portion of the £29m will also be spent in West Gorton, the main location of the councils remaining housing stock. However, residents of Collyhurst who lobbied the Government after last year’s withdrawal, say the new funding is not enough and is just a fraction of what cash is needed.

Ray Fisher, chairman of the Collyhurst South Tenants’ Association, said “I was delighted when I heard that we had succeeded in getting some money but it is not as much as we had hoped. We had approached them for £39m which is what we would have needed for vital repairs to homes which need new boilers, double glazing, kitchens and bathrooms.”

Greater Manchester council have now confirmed they will put an extra £5m to the pot from the budget they will receive in April. The residents are understandably delighted with the outcome of their efforts in securing the extra funding and say they hope to see even greater improvements in the area. Neighbourhood leaders believe the refurbishments to their run down homes will see homeowners once more take pride in their homes and invest in them. They believe security measures and household insurance policies will proliferate and the area will improve dramatically.

The new money from The Homes and Communities Agency will be spread out over four years. Only £3.6m of the fund will be available during the first two years with another £5m being made available in 2013 and the bulk of the cash (around £20.6m) will not be available until the final year. It is hoped that the money will go a long way in improving homes in the city.

Tags: council house boost, Council house tenants, home insurance, home insurance news, home owners, household insurance
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Local residents get long awaited housing

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

A long campaign by villagers desperate for affordable housing in their village has resulted in twelve new homes being built in Cropwell Bishop. The new affordable homes have been built on a cul-de-sac named Barlows Close and the only people who they will be available to, are those with a strong connection to the village.

Local residents are delighted that at long last the village has the type of housing they have been wanting for many years. The homes were built by the Waterloo Housing Group after villagers complained there was not enough low cost housing for young people who were trying to get onto the property ladder.

The Mayor, Councillor Marie Males, and the chief executive of the NHF (National Housing Federation), David Orr, all paid a visit to the village and heaped praise on the villagers as an example of community involvement. The twelve homes cost £1.5 million to complete, with a £445, 000 social housing grant coming from the Homes and Communities Agency and £120,000 coming from the Borough Council. Each of the homes will have eco friendly features such as heat retaining tiled roofs and they have already been allocated to tenants with a connection to the village who will all, no doubt, be quick to look around for cheap home insurance to protect their possessions.

Mr Wilson, chairman of Cropwell Bishop Parish Council, said “It’s been a long campaign, but we are all so proud that we have something to show at the end of it all. All the homes are only going to people with strong connections to Cropwell Bishop, so they can go some way to fulfilling the need for affordable housing in the village.”

A spokesman for Waterloo Housing said the company was pleased to have made a difference in Cropwell Bishop and they understand that affordable housing is vital to rural communities. The new cul-de-sac has been named after the Barlow family, who have been living in the village for nearly 130 years.

Tags: home owners, household insurance, Local residents, long awaited housing, property market
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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
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Planners to recommend controversial housing scheme

Monday, January 17th, 2011

Fierce objections from local residents have failed to sway planners who have still recommended the approval of a controversial 89 home development in Ryedale.

The proposal is to build the houses and flats on a patch of land at Cheese Cake Farm. It is a plan drawn up by Shepherd Homes who aim to address the huge lack of housing in the area. The council are expected to make their final decision before Friday next week.

Local residents who are backed by letters of objection have called for the proposals to be rejected after concerns about the impact the development will have on both nearby roads and businesses. They also believe a local development framework needs to be set up, which would set out a blueprint for the future of planning in the area before anything is finalised. The housing plan includes 24 two bedroom, 39 three bedroom, 14 four bedroom and 6 five bedroom homes, as well as parking spaces and access routes. Insurance agents in the village will anticipate household insurance take up from the new homeowners will boost their trade.

Ross Tierney, the town council’s clerk, said “Our reasons for wanting refusal are that we believe the development is premature because of the lack of a local development framework. We also have grave concerns about the state of the sewerage system in Norton and believe a full assessment of this needs to be carried out throughout the whole town before any major development happens. We are also worried about the impact on local amenities such as doctors, dentists, banks, schools and shops.”

The design, scale and layout is considered to meet all the requirements of planning which include open space, some highway improvements and a contribution to education The approval is subject to the developers investing in roads, education and an inclusion of affordable housing.

Tags: home insurance, home owners, household insurance, housing scheme
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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
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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
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Party goers advised to purchase cover

Monday, December 20th, 2010

As the Christmas party season gets into full swing, holders of household insurance policies are reminded to give plenty of thought to personal item cover.

As the traditional season of goodwill spills out to sharing festive food and drink with fellow workers, what started out as a happy, enjoyable occasion often ends up with revellers discovering some of their possessions are missing. Figures revealed by police authorities show that December is the month when crime figures hit their peak, and party goers who have probably consumed several alcoholic drinks are easy targets for thieves.

Personal possessions such as purses, wallets, mobile phones and MP3 players are all expensive items taken out on a regular basis by many of those engaged in the seasonal celebrations, the expense and inconvenience experienced when they go missing can to some extent be alleviated by being insured.

Insurance companies point out that personal possessions cover is often offered as an optional extra to most policies and is a relatively cheap extra when statistics are considered. According to insurance experts the likelihood of losing your possessions one way or another are greatly enhanced when you are away from the home. Emma Banks, a spokeswoman for a well known insurance provider, said “Only four out of five people take personal possessions cover as part of their home insurance, yet consumers are much more likely to be a victim of theft outside the home than have a burglary at home.”

On average the price of a home insurance policy should increase by around 15-20% if good away from home cover is purchased, and many Christmas revellers will be wishing they had included the risk in their own policies by the time the New Year dawns.

Tags: home insurance, home owners, household insurance
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Single mum has a home for Christmas

Monday, December 20th, 2010

Single mum Kirsty Lipscombe, received the Christmas present of her dreams when she got the keys to a new home for herself and her three-year-old daughter.

Kirsty and Rhyley-May’s situation was featured in a national newspaper last month after they were given a notice to leave their home because their landlord had decided he no longer wanted to rent.

Kirsty said, “I’m so excited that we can have Christmas in our own home and I can now sleep after weeks of worrying where we might end up. It’s the best Christmas present I could have wished for. And the new house has central heating so we can be warm as well as secure. We have been freezing during the cold weather in our old place.” She is also going to be taking out household insurance to protect all her processions.

The story touched the hearts of the nation, including local letting agents. Brothers Robin and Daniel Pilley were so touched by the sad story that they pulled out all the stops to find a home. The brothers even got Santa to deliver the keys and a Christmas present to make it a bit more special.

It is thought that a lot more landlords will be withdrawing their properties from the rental market, especially for anyone who is on housing benefit. Rent is paid four weeks in arrears and because it is now paid to the tenant, rather than the landlord, a lot more tenants are getting into some serious debt problems.

Citizens Advice and Shelter are worried that the benefit cuts will create a housing crisis as soon as they come into force in five months time. They fear hundreds of thousands of vulnerable families will be priced out of the market and will be unable to find an affordable home. They have estimated over 134,000 households will be forced to move.

Tags: home insurance, home owners, household insurance
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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
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