Details

Published: 30 January 2023

Hits: 360

Selling Your Home. Here’s how to get your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

Since 2007, anyone who sells their home in England and Wales needs to get an Energy Performance Certificate, or EPC. An EPC is a rating of energy efficiency, which runs from A at the most efficient, to G, the least efficient. This helps homebuyers work out the rough cost of energy if they move into your property, and with many people now concerned about environmental matters, an efficient home can be a selling point.

Here’s how you can get your EPC and ensure the best possible rating.

What does the EPC tell you?

Not only does the EPC include the current energy efficiency rating from A to G as well as 1-100, it shows the potential rating the property could achieve if certain improvements were carried out. This is useful for those selling homes as fixer-uppers, as it allows you to show the home’s potential. Included in the EPC is the environmental CO2 impact rating, which gives you an idea of the amount of CO2 that will be produced when heating and using hot water in the home.

Do I need to get an EPC?

Most residential properties up for sale since 2007 have needed an EPC, and if you’re renting out a property, you’ll need to get one produced every 10 years.

There are a few exceptions that might apply, although most exemptions are for commercial or religious buildings. If it’s a mixed use building, such as a house that is part of a shop, if it’s less than 50m2 or if it’s used less than four months a year, for example, a holiday home, then you may be exempt.

How is an EPC generated?

EPCs are produced by expert assessors who’ll arrange to visit your property once you’ve decided to sell. The assessor carries out a number of inspections, such as:

• Loft insulation
• Boiler
• Double glazing
• Hot water tank
• Radiators

Once they’ve noted down some information, this is entered into specialist software which helps them calculate how energy efficient your home is, as well as its environmental impact. These measurements are easy to carry out, there’s no drilling or noise, and it’s non-invasive, so there is no risk that things will get damaged.

The homeowner is the one who pays for the EPC, but the good news is that it’s not expensive. It’s easy to compare prices online, and you can use any assessor to do the report, as long as they’re certified.

Improving your EPC

Your report will include a number of ways that you can improve your EPC rating. These will be specific to your property, so it’s worth having a read through them and deciding whether to take action before you sell. If your EPC is particularly low, you may find this puts off potential buyers, so you may want to follow some of the suggestions, for example:

• Adding more loft insulation. Topping up existing insulation can give you a few extra points
• Adding wall insulation. Draughty walls can make a home feel much colder and can lead to energy wastage as you keep turning up the heat
• Upgrading your boiler. A newer condensing model could add up to 20 points to your EPC rating, especially if your current boiler is very old
• Switching to renewable energy. Solar panels and small wind turbines in rural areas can boost your rating. The solar panels will usually give you the most points
• Sealing chimneys. Whilst open fireplaces are a nice feature, if there’s a draft then this can lower your EPC rating. Consider adding a logburner instead
• Keep documentation. EPC assessors only carry out a visual assessment of your insulation, so if you have insulation in inaccessible areas, keep documents when it’s installed to show the assessor

If you’re moving out soon, you may not want to get improvements made, as you won’t personally reap the benefits of them. However, a low rating can put off potential buyers, as they may worry that the house is poorly maintained in general or will be very expensive to heat. It’s better to make changes that will improve your rating the most, such as installing a new boiler.

When it’s time to sell your home, an EPC is a legal requirement, but luckily, it’s a quick, easy process to get your grade. Although it may seem like a pain when you have a million things to do, it’s easy to find an assessor, and you may find it useful to have some tailored suggestions on how to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

For further help with your EPC, please contact us and we will be happy to advise and recommend. Call us or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Details

Published: 30 January 2023

Hits: 290

Renovating to Sell for a Profit. The Party Wall Act

If you are renovating a property before sale, you need to be aware of the impact of the Party Wall Act and the implications for you if you don’t follow the rules. A Party Wall is a wall which sits on the boundary between two properties and includes:

• The wall between two terraced houses
• The middle wall in a pair of semis
• The boundary wall between two gardens
• The horizontal “wall” between floors in a block of flats. Here it is called a Party Structure, but the rules still apply.

If you live in England or Wales and you are doing works to your property and you share a wall (or structure) you probably need to serve a Party Wall Notice on your neighbour. The process is meant to stop disputes, but is also to help people resolve them if they do arise. Works include:

• Any work to the wall between terraced and semi-detached houses
• Any work to a shared “party structure”
• Any work to boundary walls
• Excavation works or underpinning within 6 metres of the party wall
• Loft conversions that mean cutting into a party wall
• Inserting a damp proof course into a party wall
• Making the party wall thicker or higher
• Building a second storey extension above a party wall

The Notice must include full details of the works you are doing, give your neighbour at least two months’ notice of the works starting and say what, if any, access you need across their property to get the works completed.

Works that don’t need a Party Wall Notice:

• Drilling into the wall internally to fit kitchen units or shelving
• Having the wall plastered
• Adding or replacing electrical wiring or sockets

Once you have the specification of work from your builder, or a list of the works if you are doing them yourself, you should write to your neighbour and make it clear that this is a Party Wall Notice.

They will either write back and say they are OK with everything, write back and say they don’t agree (and maybe say why), or not respond at all.

If either of the latter two, then you will need to appoint a Party Wall surveyor to represent both of you. The surveyor draws up the Award (see below). It is important to note that although the Party Wall Surveyor is instructed by your neighbour, they are not acting for you. Their role is the protect the Party Wall or Structure and they answer only to the Courts.

Your neighbour can have a different Party Wall Surveyor if you wish, the only downside to this process is that you will pay both lots of fees.

What is the Party Wall Award?

The Award is a basically description of the works, how they will be carried out and who pays the surveyor’s fees, which in this case will be you.

Why would I bother with the Party Wall Notice?

There are many occasions when people just get on with works, don’t bother serving the Notice and hope that everything goes smoothly and the works are finished before anyone has a chance to do anything about it. Some people are just averse to paying professional fees!

Once the works are completed there is nothing neighbours can do about the Notice or an Award, the rules are not retrospective. But there are advantages to you in having an Award in place:

• It massively reduces the risk of disputes as the works are done.
• Everyone has agreed upfront what the works will be and how they will be done.
• If you need access across your neighbour’s property, whether that is garden, roof, or to put scaffolding up on their property, the Award will give you the right to do so.
• If your builder damages their property during the works the Courts take a dim view if you have failed to serve Notice and put an Award in place. They have a good chance of successfully suing you for damages (and trespass if you have accessed via their property without consent). If there is an Award in place then it gives you more protection and the Party Wall Surveyor/s should be able to resolve any disputes along the way.

There is of course a lot more in the detail but if you start work and your neighbours know nothing about it, they may come and talk to you and you can sort it out amicably. On the other hand they might just go straight to their solicitor and get an injunction to force you to stop work.

The cost of that could put your profit in jeopardy.

So don’t take the risk, get a Party Wall Notice served and crack on!

Details

Published: 30 January 2023

Hits: 271

10 Top Tips For Making A Rented House Feel Like A Real Home

Add A Special Touch That’s All Your Own And Make Your Rented Home Cosy

Sometimes, renting a home makes it difficult to make your living space feel homely. Worrying about losing your deposit can deter you from making changes. But luckily, there are many ways to add a special touch that’s all your own and make your rented home cosy without having to spend a fortune or risk the wrath of your landlord!

The team here at Warren Powell-Richards have some great advice to share with you to help make your rental feel your own. Here are our top 10 tips.

1. Decorative Touches

Cushions and throws are a great way to make your home inviting and cosy while also hiding any rental furniture that isn’t quite to your taste.

2. Don’t Forget Your Sense Of Smell

A home that smells amazing automatically feels cosier and more welcoming. Buy fresh flowers, add reed diffusers and burn scented candles around your home to make it feel fresh and clean.

3. Framed Photos

Put some photographs of your loved ones in frames and place them around your home. If you don’t feel as if you can put them up on the walls for fear of losing your deposit, simply place them on surfaces like the mantelpiece, shelving, or bedside table. By adding these special touches, you’ll be making your home your own.

4. Create The Right Mood With Lighting

Often, rental properties only come with a ceiling light in each room and no mood lighting. Yet fairy lights or standing lamps can work wonders to make a home feel comfortable and snug.

5. Be Artistic

Usually, rental properties come with magnolia walls that are just crying out for some bold art pieces. If you can’t stretch to some actual paintings, why not frame some of your favourite posters? If you can’t secure them to the walls, just prop the frames against the wall for a relaxed and cool décor look.

6. Keep Your Feet Cosy

Whether your rental has a carpet or wooden flooring, adding a rug can bring a whole new life to your room. Your feet will love you for it, and you may also reduce your risks of losing your deposit as you won’t spill anything on your carpet!

7. One Statement Furniture Piece

If your property is furnished, it can be difficult to love the landlord’s furniture, especially if it happens to be mismatched and outdated. Investing in a statement piece of your own, such as a comfortable armchair, will help you bring a bit of yourself to your rented property.

8. Go Green

Plants inside the home bring a host of benefits. Not only do they add colour to your rooms, but they also keep the home fresh by giving off oxygen.

9. Reflect Light With A Mirror

If you have a dark hallway or small room, place a mirror strategically to reflect light and create the illusion of space.

10. Eliminate Clutter

Even though you rent your home, you don’t want it to feel as if you’re only there on a temporary basis. Keeping your things stored away in a coordinated and orderly fashion will allow you to really relax at home. Invest in storage solutions so your property will stay tidy and neat for as long as you live there.

Looking For A Rental Property?

If you’re looking for a home to rent, call the team at Warren Powell-Richards today. As specialists in the local property market, we can help you find the ideal rental property.

Details

Published: 30 January 2023

Hits: 268

Summerhouse Ideas. How to Create the Perfect Garden Room

Summerhouses, or garden rooms, are purpose-built wooden structures that generally have felt or tiled roofs.

They are becoming a staple of the modern British home, enabling us to get the most from our garden spaces. Summerhouses can be used for many different purposes, from offices to playrooms to cocktail bars.

The beauty of summerhouses is that they are entirely bespoke. No garden is too small, and a design can be developed to complement your home beautifully.

Most summerhouses do not require planning permission, but it is always best to check with your local council if you plan to build something particularly large.

Summerhouses are Functional and Multipurpose

Getting the most from your summerhouse means developing it to cater to a range of circumstances.

With the rise of home working, many choose to use their garden room as a home office. This is a great way to build a literal segregation between work and home, a blurred line many of us struggle with.

However, when using the space as an office, ensure it can double as something else during the evening and weekends, to use your space to its full potential. This might include an arts and crafts area, or a potting shed for keen gardeners.

Once you have defined the uses for the summerhouse, designing and decorating the room will flow much more naturally.

Don’t Forget the Insulation

The name doesn’t limit the room exclusively to the summer months, and this should be a space you enjoy all year round.

Therefore, insulation is essential to ensure your summerhouse is enjoyable in the colder months. Especially if you intend to use the space as a home office, proper insulation is crucial.

It’s Positioning Matters

Choosing the perfect sized summerhouse is vital. You need a space big enough to be functional but not so large that it will detract from your garden. Your summerhouse should complement rather than overpower.  

Generally, the best positioning is at the very end of your garden. It feels secluded and can provide the tranquillity many crave.

Avoid placing the summerhouse in the middle of your garden, as it can make the area feel claustrophobic. Additionally, too close to your home will not allow this garden room to become its own separate entity, and you could risk blocking sunlight to the house.

Adding a garden path through your lawn towards the summerhouse not only looks great but helps avoid dragging muddy shoes into your lovely purpose-built garden room.

Let in The Light

A summerhouse allows you the freedom to create an ambience utterly different from that in your home. You must inject the most natural light into the space that you can, great for boosting productivity and mood whilst enjoying the room.

Large patio doors and windows are ideal, allowing the sunlight to seep into the space effortlessly. However, if you opt for large panes of glass, be sure to hang great quality blinds. This will allow for light manipulation and family privacy.

Inject Your Personality

Your summerhouse is a space that affords you complete freedom with regards to décor.

A summerhouse gives you the ability to express your personality and interior design style, running with a design or theme that you may not have the confidence for inside the home. Bright colours work amazingly and are wonderful if you are doubling the space as a playroom.

White-washed Scandinavian themes are popular in offices, permitting you to keep furniture to a minimum in the room. Alternatively, mix and match items to give a relaxed, bohemian finish, which works particularly well when textures and colours contrast.

Be sure to show your personality on the outside of your garden room too. You should not feel limited to brown woody tones. Pastel blues and greens look marvellous surrounding summerhouses, encapsulating the summer vibe.

Remember to Leave a Little Storage

The uses for a summerhouse differ dramatically from that of a shed, but leaving yourself with a little storage will be extremely useful.

Most gardens are not afforded the luxury of enough space for both a summerhouse and a shed. So, for those without a garage, a summerhouse may also need to work as a storage space for some essential garden items. Having a space to store your lawnmower and other tools securely is ideal.

Keep this storage area completely separate. If possible, divide the space into two different rooms with a door adjoining. This way, your summerhouse will retain its functionality and continue to look fabulous.

Warren Powell-Richards are your local property experts for the area. Call us on 01483478200 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to chat with a member of our friendly and experienced team.

The living room is arguably the most important room in the house when it comes to design and style.

It’s likely to be the room where you spend most of your time, the room where you spend time entertaining guests, and it’s probably the first room that people see when they walk into your home.

Therefore it’s worth investing some time, effort and money to make it look as good as it possibly can.

Here are six top tips for styling your living room.

1. Be Sensible With The Space You Have

It’s important to be realistic about what can and cannot go in your living room. For example, just because you might have big ideas about getting a giant corner sofa, it doesn’t mean it will be a good fit for your living room.

Use the space wisely but avoid clutter. If that means some furniture has to go, or won’t be suitable then be ruthless and get rid, or avoid buying it.

Every living room is different, and it’s not a case of one size fits all.

If you are short of space then go for furniture that’s multi-functional, such as a footstool with storage space or a sofa that’s raised off the floor.

2. Give Your Room A Focal Point

If you’re fortunate enough to have a fireplace or a mantelpiece then you already have a focal point to work with.

If you don’t have either of these, then opt for a large mirror, artwork or clock. The focal point will be the first thing visitors see when they walk into the room and once it’s in place you can style the rest of the room around it.

Choose something that’s personal to you, and that you’ll want to see every time you walk into the room, not just a generic picture or mirror that’s just filling up a space.

3. Choose Your Colour Pallette – And Make It Personal

Your living room should be a reflection of your personality so be bold and style it to suit you.

Choosing the right colours to decorate your living room can make or break it. Light, airy colours such as magnolia, light grey or pastel green can really help to make the room feel more spacious, whereas darker colours will give it more of a cosy, homely feel.

It’s all down to personal choice and you should go with colours that you’ll be happy with in the years to come.

Making the space unique to you will help turn the room into a living space that you’ll want to spend time in. Whether that’s having an individual piece of art, or using retro furniture, be creative, and go with things you’ll love.

A few photos in the right places can be great for this, and give the room a more homely feel.

4. Avoid a Showroom Feel

There’s nothing particularly wrong with buying all of your furniture from the same place, but it can scream ‘showroom’ to guests, and it’s not individual or personalised to your own tastes.

Instead, try to go for a mix of colours, textures and fabrics, and even mix up old furniture with new to give the room a uniqueness.

5. Choose The Right Lighting

In the same way that you need to be sensible with the space you have, choosing the right lighting is crucial to the overall feel of your living room.

It may be that you want a chandelier when spotlights would be a better fit, or perhaps you’re looking for spotlights when a hanging fixture would work better.

Getting the right lighting will improve the aesthetics of your living room and choosing the right bulbs will help to set the mood for the room. Whether that’s a bright and airy feel or a cosier, warmer vibe, it’s important to go with the best lighting for your own space.

6. Make Sure It’s Functional

Sometimes it’s possible to get so carried away with styling your living room that you forget what it’s actual purpose is – a place to chill out in and host guests!

So before you even start looking at vintage antiques or giant wall clocks, consider what the essentials are that you’ll need to make the room work for you.

A sofa or armchairs, a coffee table for food and drinks, and some form of entertainment, most likely a TV, are the must haves, and after these are lined up you can begin thinking about rugs, artwork and accessories.

Want more home staging and styling tips? Warren Powell-Richards are your local property experts for the area and are happy to help you get your home ready for market.

Call us or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out how we can help you.