“Purple is not a ‘safe’ colour like neutral creams, browns and greys, it is a bold statement that expresses confidence, style, even opulence,” says Tom. “It is the traditional colour of wealth and status. It’s the mark of royalty and Roman emperors, which is why it is known as imperial purple. It is deep and rich, combining the coolness of blue with the hotness of red, and in the hands of the right designer can make strong, sophisticated decorative statements.”

Marrying artisan craftsmanship with contemporary style, Trend’s authentic Italian glass mosaic tiles can extend such colour statements to most interior and exterior settings, adding visual excitement and textured interest to walls, floors and ceilings. Being non-porous, non-flammable, fade-resistant, wipe clean and virtually maintenance-free, glass mosaic is suitable for reception halls, living and dining rooms, bathrooms and showers, even ‘wet areas’ like swimming pools, fountains and other features.

Scattered amongst the 250 pages of Trend’s lavish online catalogue, viewable at www.trend-gb.com, fashionable shades of purple can be found permeating the entire collection. The classic 2 x 2 cm tile format [from £49 per square metre] offers iridescent purple, plum and violet Shining tiles, tonal veins of enamel and aventurina in Brillante and plainer semi-transparent mosaics in the Vitreo range. The 1.5 x 1.5 cm range [from £120 psm] extends choice in the purple spectrum to opaque glass Lux in plain shades and the opulence of Shining, created with semiprecious metal solutions in molten glass. Smaller yet, the 1 x 1 mini mosaic tiles [from £51 psm] allow for more intricate décor panels and borders, using tiny Brillante 1 x 1 designs in varying shades of purple.

Offered in 2 x 2 and 1 x 1 formats, the Aureo Lucio Orsoni designer collection [from 85p per piece] includes violet-tinted 24 carat gold mosaics; while white gold, yellow gold and platinum white tiles from the precious Modern Aureo and Traditional Aureo selections [from 65p per piece] will reflect and enhance purple hues. Trend’s full-bodied Karma glass mosaic [from £220 psm] is additionally available in plain and multi-coloured purple ‘stained glass’ effects, in a whole variety of hand-cut formats and sizes.

Karma’s depth of colour and irregular shapes are exploited in Trend’s distinctive Liberty collection [from £230 psm], designed in collaboration with Italian artist Giulio Candussio. His use of different tile shapes and sizes, with straight and sinuous lines, is perfectly expressed in Liberty Purple, which is presented in irregular film-faced modules measuring approximately 26cm x 31cm.

Further preformatted studio designs with purple notes can be found in Trend’s Miscele [from £90 psm] and Shading Blends [from £133 psm], featuring square format glass tiles in colour-coordinated designs. Mixes like Calycanthus, Happyness and Sensitivity display varying strengths of purple, while the Lavender shading blend graduates visually from near white to deep purple.

For the most dramatic decorative statements, Trend’s exclusive Wallpaper collection [from £180 psm] features the repeat pattern structure of paper or silk wallcoverings, but has the textural and hardwearing appeal of Italian glass mosaics. There are a number of purple-hued Wallpaper patterns, such as the abstract Grand, classic Floral and labyrinthine Glorious designs, and the tiles are pre-grouted and mounted on a polyethylene mattress system for quick and easy installation.

Finally, for countertops, floor tiling, panelling and other hardwearing exterior and interior finishes, there are Trend Agglomerates [from £188 psm]to continue the purple décor theme. Variously made from Italian granite, quartz or recycled glass blended with polymers, these surfaces are heat, stain, scratch and impact resistant and available in a wide choice of tile, plank and slab formats.

In December 2009, the council was awarded £1.2 million by Defra (Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to undertake a Coastal Change Pathfinder project. The funding was not intended as a ‘compensation’ scheme but rather to provide practical support and guidance to those most at risk.

The funding has now been allocated in full to households in or near Aldbrough, Cowden, Hornsea, Skipsea, Tunstall and Ulrome.

Support has been used to help with the cost of property demolitions and site restorations, which previously fell in full to the residents. In addition, financial support has been provided to cover practical relocation costs and for establishing residents in their new homes in safe locations. People have also received money towards removals and the purchase of essential white goods and furnishings for their new properties. The support offered to each resident has been based on an assessment of individual circumstances and the criteria set by the Council.

There is also a small grants fund to enable individuals, groups and businesses in the East Riding to develop unique approaches to coastal erosion and coastal flood risk management.

Councillor Jane Evison, portfolioholder for rural issues and cultural services, said: “The council cannot turn back the forces of nature but what we have for the first time been able to do through Coastal Pathfinder is to provide real practical support and assistance to people most at risk to coastal erosion .

“As the project comes to an end in March, I want to stress that we will not be resting on our laurels but will continue to lobby hard for additional funding, recognising the strong case for supporting people living on undefended East Riding coastline that does not meet the Government criteria for sea defences and highlighting how much can be achieved with relatively small amounts of money.”

A feedback report on Coastal Pathfinder was presented to the council’s cabinet on 31 January 2012 and is available on the council’s website.

During a routine inspection by an East Riding building control officer, it was discovered that the work carried out by Adams was dangerous and required immediate action to make it safe for the occupant of the domestic property in Willerby.

Mr Adams, trading as A+M Electrical, was found guilty of failing to comply with the Building Regulations by not providing an earth to the electrical system which made it unsafe and failing to notify the Authority of the commencement and completion of the work.

As the lead local flood authority (LLFA), the council used powers under the Flood & Water Management Act 2010 to investigate the circumstances of the flooding, which included data gathering from numerous agencies, interviewing residents and relevant staff to establish a timeline, inspection of facilities in the area and analysis of the information received.

From the available data, the council concluded that in excess of 32mm and probably in excess of 64mm of rain fell between 4.30-5.30pm on 3 August. Even the lower estimate is in excess of the design standards applied to drainage systems and therefore it is likely that even if the drainage system was ‘as new’ and operated to full capacity, there would’ve been significant areas of flooding.

Nigel Leighton, director of environment and neighbourhood services at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The rainfall that caused the August flooding was without doubt very exceptional.

“As a result of the resident survey, the council has become aware of areas where, even during significantly less intense storms, localised flooding occurs on a regular basis. While these in the normal course of events do not affect properties internally, they are an inconvenience to some residents and the council will investigate these and ensure appropriate remedial action is taken by the relevant body concerned.

“The town of Goole is situated on the edge of the Humberhead Level flood plain in an identified flood zone and is bordered by three major rivers, The Ouse to the east, The Aire to the north and The Don to the south.

“Given the complexity of the Goole sewer system, the degree of interaction between systems and the limited and unverified rainfall data available, it is not possible to definitively state a single cause of the flooding.

“The investigation has recommended a series of proposed actions for the consideration of a number of agencies and for approval by cabinet, including an overhaul of communication and incident response procedures, remedial and improvement works and further investigations with other flood risk management agencies in order to mitigate and reduce the affects of future incidents in the area.

“The council would like to thank members of the Goole community, Yorkshire Water Services Limited, The Environment Agency and the Goole and Airmyn Internal Drainage Board for their assistance in this investigation.”

Councillor Chris Matthews, cabinet portfolio holder for highways and emergency planning at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, who also represents the authority on the Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee, said: “As a result of the changes in legislation, this is the first time the council has had the authority to investigate and make recommendations to other flood risk management agencies about mitigating flooding in specific localities.

“The council takes flood prevention very seriously and, where necessary, will use these powers again in the future to help tackle flooding in the East Riding.”

Umbrella supplier Booth Brothers in Sheffield entered the history books today by becoming one of the first places in the UK to get the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive.

Its offices, housed in an 18th century former corn mill in Penistone, will be kept warm through an underfloor heating system powered by a renewable energy heat pump.

The second installation to be accredited is at a set of holiday cottages in East Yorkshire. A ground source heat pump will provide heat and hot water to five holiday lets at Broadgate Farm Cottages in Beverley.

The £860m Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was launched last year to make it more financially attractive for industry and businesses to install low carbon heating systems like heat pumps, biomass boilers or solar thermal panels.

The RHI is expected to increase the number of installations in industry, the commercial and public sector by seven times to around 126,000 and support the thousands of existing jobs in the heating sector.

Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said:

“It’s fantastic news that the Renewable Heat Incentive has received its first two successful applicants, and this is just the start.

“Renewable heat is a largely untapped resource and an important new green industry of the future. It’ll help the UK shift away from fossil fuel, reducing carbon emissions and encouraging innovation, jobs and growth in new advanced technologies.”

Chief Executive of Booth Brothers, Charles Booth said:

“Being amongst the first installations to be accredited under the Renewable Heat Incentive is very satisfying for Booth Brothers in terms of developing our strategic target of carbon neutral for our Bullhouse Mill site and eco-umbrella factory. Last year our Old Corn Mill offices were commended for their eco rating and we generate electricity from two wind turbines, solar panels and hydro generation so making the heat we use low carbon was naturally the next step.”

Owner of Broadgate Farm Cottages, Elaine Robinson said:

“We don’t have mains gas and the price of oil and LPG is very expensive so when we decided to develop the holiday cottages a ground source heat pump was the most economically attractive in the long term, especially with the Renewable Heat Incentive. This is the first of our applications to be approved.”

Currently around half of the UK’s carbon emissions come from the energy used to produce heat – more than from generating electricity. The RHI will reduce emissions by 44 million tonnes of carbon to 2020, equivalent to the annual carbon emitted by 20 typical new gas power stations.

Over 95% of heat in the UK is currently produced by burning fossil fuel but with North Sea supplies now in decline leading to an increase in imports, low carbon alternatives are needed.

The number of properties listed for sale in Beverley fell by 10% in December 2011 compared to November 2011.

Of the 625 listings registered with the UK’s leading property web site, Rightmove for property sales within the HU17 postal code 571 were houses with flats making up the remaining 54.

The figures dod show an increase in properties listed for sale in Beverley on December 2010 when just 589 homes were listed for sale.

The cost of housing continues to rise in the Uk despite the squeeze. In figures released by Nationwide for December 2011 the Building Society prices have increase by on average 1%.

Natiowide are predicting the prices to go sideways or down slightly in 2012 though other property pudits are predicting prices will go donw by upto 10% as sellers continue to push for unrealistic prices.

According to consumer website www.uswitch.com, BT are ready to roll out its fibre optic broadband to Driffield, Hornsea and Withernsea, among other more rural locations.

Householders and businesses will soon be able to access download speeds of up to 20Mb – way faster than they currently can.

It’s a challenge to the region’s main communications provider – Kingston Communications – as BT are aggressively moving into their area in search of new business.

BT’s regional director for Yorkshire and Humber John Anderson said it will be a huge boost for everyone in East Yorkshire.

He continued: “We want to go even further by working with the public sector to find ways of bringing faster broadband to areas which are geographically and commercially more challenging.”

The news is of great interest to people in East Yorkshire, who have only had one viable option in KC for their communications needs.

However, KC themselves are trying to innovate and have recently connected residents of Woodmansey to fibre optics which has given them access to 100Mb downloads speeds.

And they believe they can fight off outside competition by giving 15,000 more people in the area access to the super-fast broadband in the coming months.

The centre, which is situated in Bessingby Industrial Estate, offers lets on easy-in, easy-out terms as well as administrative support, business support, shared managed resources, such as reception, kitchens, toilets, accessible loading bay and modern conference facilities, available for tenants and non-tenants. The site has ample on-site car parking and is DDA compliant.

Over the past 10 years the centre has offered business advice and support to over 2000 clients in the local area and 240 clients in the last year.

Since opening in 1998, the business centre has assisted 28 new business start-ups to take office space and provided further office accommodation for 44 established businesses. The business centre initiative in Bridlington has aided the creation of 53 new jobs and allowed the safeguard of another 82. The centre has also overseen the expansion of 41 businesses who have secured larger self-contained premises in the local area.

The result of a business premises study in 2006 identified the need for units ranging from 800–1500sqft and East Riding of Yorkshire Council subsequently developed the Enterprise Units, adjacent to the business centre, to bridge a much needed gap in the area. These facilities have seen three new business start-ups take space and accommodated six established local businesses, which in turn has created 21 new jobs and safeguarded a further 41.

Councillor Andy Burton, cabinet portfolio holder for economic development and regeneration, said: “East Riding of Yorkshire Council is determined to support businesses across the East Riding and help grow the local economy.

“The council’s business centres are providing start-up and existing businesses with affordable premises as well as support and guidance to help them through these uncertain economic times and allow them to flourish in the future.”

The venue also has a conference room, for up to 18 delegates, for hire at a cost of £100 per day, £60 for a half day or £18 per hour. A smaller meeting room which can accommodate up to six people is also available.
For further information, contact Bridlington Business Centre on (01262) 401399

The council has been awarded £46,000, the full amount it bid for under the Department of Health’s Warm Homes Healthy People Fund, and will be using the funding over the next few months in partnership with organisations like the NHS.

Plans include using some of the money for emergency oil funding for up to 30 vulnerable households who cannot afford to buy heat during the winter months. A further 1,000 households are set to benefit from cold weather alarms which will inform people when they need to turn up their heating to maintain a healthy warmth.

The funding will also be used to support the council’s existing Health through Warmth project, leading to an increase in the number of front-line NHS staff able to provide fuel poverty and energy efficiency advice, and it is planned to hold additional events in rural communities to recruit and train energy champions for a project run by the Humber and Wolds Rural Community Council.

Councillor Symon Fraser, portfolio holder for the environment, housing and planning, said: “I am delighted we have been successful in obtaining this funding which can be used immediately to help people in the East Riding.

“Each winter there is a spike in the number of people suffering from cold related illnesses and it is a priority for us to continue to seek out available funding opportunities to try and help them stay healthy in their own home.

“In November, the council confirmed that we would be continuing to invest in measures to make homes in the East Riding more energy efficient despite the reduced amount of national funding now available. These include a discount scheme run in partnership with Npower to provide cavity wall and loft insulation and additional funding to continue our award-winning scheme to install air source heat pumps to properties in rural areas which are off the main gas network.”

If you are single, aged under 35 and living in self contained privately rented accommodation your housing benefit will change to the shared accommodation rate (exceptions apply). This means that the amount of housing benefit you receive will go down.

If you are a private landlord and your tenant receives housing benefit and you receive direct payment for them then your payments will reduce.

If you claimed housing benefit before April 2011, changes have been made to Local Housing Allowance. Your claim has been protected for 9 months from the annual review date of your claim. This means that from January 2012 onwards your benefit may change. We previously wrote to customers to advise of this change.

For more information and details of when your benefit will reduce call 01482 394799 of call into your local customer service centre. Further information is available at www.direct.gov.uk or www.eastriding.gov.uk

One of the incidents involves an address in Main Street, Skidby on Thursday 08 December.

The house is occupied by an elderly couple and the woman had got up at approximately 0615hrs to let her dogs out.

It would appear she left an external door open for a short time before closing it without locking it and returning to bed.

When the woman got up she found her handbag had been stolen from the kitchen.

The bag was later discovered by a member of the public in a wheelie bin in Northgate, Cottingham and handed into police.

All the contents remained in the bag with the exception of £30 in cash.

In a separate incident, a quantity of jewellery as well as a mobile telephone and three handbags, were stolen from an address in Manor Way, Anlaby between 0150hrs and 0730hrs on Saturday 10 December while the occupants were asleep in bed.

The semi-detached property was entered via an insecure kitchen window and items moved from the window ledge before a search of other rooms took place and the property was removed.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Hutchinson said: “I oversee all burglary and vehicle crime investigations in the East Riding and know first hand how distressing it can be to think a person has been inside your home or car; quite often when you have been inside your house and taken your personal belongings.

“Not only is it horrible to think a burglar has been in your home or car, but has taken things that you just can’t live without, like your keys, mobile phones or bank cards and cash.

“Burglars and thieves are not master criminals, they are opportunistic. A burglar only needs to spot an open window, unlocked side gate or dodgy security alarm to make their move, think about it – if you know your home security looks poor, so will a thief. Statistics show that properties with little security are over five times more likely to be burgled than those with good security.

“With Christmas being less than a week away, I’d like to remind everyone to be more security aware, don’t leave Christmas present on show until the big day, don’t advertise your new gifts after Christmas by leaving the packing outside for a week before your bins get collected, all you are doing is advertising to thieves you have a new Wii or PSP etc.

“Detectives in the East Riding are very good at detecting burglaries and vehicle crime, but quite often the crime could have been prevented in the first place if the owners just locked their doors, removed sat navs from cars and put just a little effort into making their property more secure.

“I hope you do not need to see one of my detectives this Christmas, but if you do, please be reassured they will do their best to get your property back.”

With only a few days left before Christmas, a number of security warnings and advice have been issued;

• Insurance – get it or regret it! Getting insurance is cheaper than paying out a small fortune to replace stolen belongings.

• Mark your property – Mark important and expensive possessions (such as your computer/DVD player) with your postcode and house number using special security marker pens. Keep a record of the make, model and serial numbers of all electrical equipment. If the police recover them after a burglary, this will be proof that they are stolen good- and yours.

• When returning home lock your door immediately – Even if you are in the house or garden, keep doors and windows locked. Don’t help sneak thieves. They only take a few seconds to steal something. Look at your doors and windows. Make sure you have sufficient quality locks, restrictors and door chains. If you would like more specific advice please contact your local PCSO or Community Wardens, who will be happy to discus security with you.

• Keep valuables out of sight where possible – Net curtains and blinds restrict what can be seen from outside. Hide purses and handbags and don’t leave cash lying around.

• Be aware who is in your neighbourhood and contact the Police if you are concerned on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

To outwit the a thief:

Always keep your car locked, even if you only leave it for a few seconds. That’s all the time it takes for a criminal to steal your car or belongings.
Avoid leaving anything in your car, whether valuable or not, particularly when its parked overnight. Almost 63% of thefts of and from vehicles happen when they are parked outside the home.

If you need to leave anything in the car, put it in the boot, or out of sight. Be particularly careful about expensive stereo, mobile phone or satellite navigation equipment.
Park with care and never leave keys in the ignition.

KC is connecting customers in Weel using fibre to the home technology to give customers speeds of 100Mbps. Existing Karoo customers can take part in a trial of the new service which includes unlimited downloads.

Councillor Stephen Parnaby, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said “It’s great to see KC installing fibre in rural areas in the East Riding and giving residents there access to the very best broadband available in the UK. Too often rural residents are neglected when it comes to the provision of services, but KC’s investment demonstrates its commitment to the whole region.”

With speeds of 100Mbps – more than twice as fast as BT’s Infinity fibre service – KC’s superfast fibre optic broadband will allow customers to download an entire music album in less than two seconds, an hour-long television show in around 30 seconds and a full high-definition movie in one to two minutes.

KC’s Director of Network and Engineering Services, Andy Whale, said “For me, the most satisfying part of our fibre roll-out is seeing the reactions on customers’ faces when they first try the service. At first people are simply amazed at just how fast it is, which is quickly followed by excitement about what they’ll be able to do with their new broadband service.

“Over the last two years we’ve invested several million pounds in our network to upgrade it and increase its capacity so that our customers already get a fantastic broadband experience as they spend more time online and use services that need much more bandwidth.

“With our multi-million pound investment in fibre broadband we’re bringing the full power of the internet into their homes and businesses.”

Weel, on the outskirts of Beverley, has previously experienced low download speeds due to its distance from the nearest telephone exchange. KC chose to deploy fibre there to both improve customers’ speeds and also because it’s one of the most technically challenging areas in which to deliver superfast broadband.

KC has already connected more than 200 customers to its new superfast fibre broadband in Woodmansey and in Hull city centre.

By the end of next year KC will offer fibre broadband to 15,000 homes and businesses in Hull and East Yorkshire, with locations and information about the different services available due to be announced at the beginning of January.

In the meantime, a demonstration suite in KC’s customer service centre at its main office in Carr Lane is showcasing the new super fast service so customers across Hull and East Yorkshire can drop in to see for themselves how fibre will transform their online experience.

To find out more or sign up for the trial in the Great Thornton Street area or Weel people can call KC’s fibre team on 01482 604911 or visit www.kc.co.uk/fibre.

Residents and owner-occupiers will receive a letter prior to the survey, explaining that an officer from the private sector housing team will be visiting in the near future.

A free follow-up home safety check, provided by the fire service, will also be arranged, as well as the opportunity to address any identified health and safety issues.

The survey will enable the council to develop a clearer picture of both the type and nature of housing occupation in the area and target energy efficiency programmes.

Those tenants who live in properties which have been accredited by their landlord as part of the council’s accreditation schemes will not be visited as they already comply with the minimum standards and in many cases exceed them.

Landlords are encouraged to join the council’s accreditation schemes, which have numerous benefits, with details available on the council’s website or by contacting the private sector housing team, on (01482) 396301.

Renting a home in England and Wales has risen for the ninth consecutive month but the rate of increase has slowed, according to a national survey.

LSL Property Services, which owns big estate agencies such as Your Move and Reeds Rains, said the average rent for a house in England climbed to £720 a month in October.

But, they also say the 0.2% monthly increase was the smallest rise seen since February.

Frustrated first-time buyers continuing to rent and a shortage of rental property have led to rising costs, even in the East Riding despite the availability of new housing stocks.

On a regional basis, rental costs rose the most in the south-east (up 1.5%) and the east(up 0.8%) in October compared with September.

Over the last year, tenants in London have seen rents rise faster than in any other region.

However by comparison, rents fell by 1.4% in the north-east and south-west.

“The recent increases are likely to continue to level out in run up to Christmas – traditionally a slower time for the market,” said David Newnes, of LSL.

“Nevertheless, despite the slower rate of increase, the cost of renting is still rising annually at nearly twice the speed of the average salary and many tenants will need to dedicate a growing portion of their disposable income to the cost of accommodation over the next year.”

Matt Hutchinson, director of flat and house share website, Spareroom.co.uk, said:

“With the economic climate unlikely to be much improved as we go into 2012, this supply-demand imbalance will worsen rather than improve, which could well put more upward pressure on rental prices.

“However, the one saving grace is that the last thing landlords want is empty properties, so they will have a responsibility not to price tenants out of the market.”

The majority of couples own property as ‘joint tenants’, meaning that when one of them dies the property will pass to the survivor and after second death, on to the children.  However, if the surviving spouse should remarry, or need residential care, the children could end up with nothing.

Therefore, a Protective Property Trust in your Will can avoid both of these situations and provide security to the surviving spouse as well as the beneficiaries.

To enable the Trust you will have to convert the ownership from joint tenants to joint tenants in common. This way each owner can leave their share of the home in trust for their chosen beneficiaries after the second death, while at the same time providing for the remaining spouse to live in the house for the rest of their life.

Community Care Tax – the most vicious tax of all!

The Community Care Act 1990 introduced this tax and can come close to being a 100% tax on your wealth.  The local council ‘inherits’ around 70,000 homes each year depriving children and grandchildren of vital inheritances.  However, much of this drain is avoidable by taking some simple planning precautions.

Anyone who owns property should make professional advice a priority for financial planning – act early or the local council could disinherit your children..

Require further information?

If you would like more information or would like to ask us a question then call us on 01482 881919.
To ask us a question online  click here .

David Cameron announced this week that house buyers will be able to borrow up to 95 per cent of the value of their new homes – new builds so the construction industry will get a welcome boost – which he hopes will “get Britain building again”.

It’s a welcome boost to the property market in Beverley, which has been hit hard by the difficulty of borrowing to by new homes and should give a boost to new housing schemes in Hopwood, on Manchester Street (Hey Mount) and on Darnhill, as well as stimulate new schemes.

It’s hoped that the mortgage indemnity scheme to be underwritten by the Government will help hundreds of first-time buyers in Beverley make their first step on to the housing ladder.

Following the boom and subsequent bust of the mid 2000s, borrowing became a lot more difficult for Beverley’s would-be house owners. High-risk mortgages had brought many banks and building societies to their knees – Northern Rock a great example – and many first-time buyers were being asked to stump up as much as £40,000 as a deposit on their first home.

Mr Cameron recently told the CBI: “When first-time buyers on a good salary cannot get a reasonable mortgage, the whole market grinds to a halt.

“And that ricochets around the economy, affecting builders, retailers, plumbers – all the people that depend on a housing market that is moving.

“If we don’t do something like this we are not going to get this vital market moving… We will restart the housing market and get Britain building again.”

Ministers will also do their best to kick-start some of the 130,000 building projects which are estimated to have been approved but delayed by funding problems, many of them in and around Beverley.

The Scheme requires practices to undergo a strict assessment, compulsory training, self reporting, random audits and annual reviews in order to maintain CQS status. It is open only to members of the Law Society who meet the demanding standards set by the scheme and has the support of the Council of Mortgage Lenders, the Building Societies Association, Legal Ombudsman and the Association of British Insurers.

Neil Oakes, Head of Residential Conveyancing at the firm explains:

“By becoming members of the Conveyancing Quality Scheme we are showing our clients and potential clients that we adhere to good practice management standards and to prudent and efficient conveyancing procedures and that we offer an excellent service at what can be a very stressful time for people.”

“My team’s shared philosophy is to make the moving process as stress free as possible by providing honest, realistic advice. I know that a cause of frustration when moving home is lack of communication so we endeavour to keep clients fully informed throughout the process. QualitySolicitors

Lockings’ conveyancing team is very busy. Even during the current economic downturn we are finding that local property owners are coming to us because we are a trusted name on the high-street and as a result we have a big share of the local conveyancing market.”

For further information on QualitySolicitors Lockings please call 01482 300200 or visit www.qualitysolicitors.com/lockings

Police were called following a burglary on Wentworth Close, Willerby which happened between 1810hrs and 2235hrs on Sunday 13 November 2011.

Thieves entered the property through an insecure window, whilst the occupants were in another room, and stole a gentleman’s Ingersoll 9ct gold diamond watch.

Between 1830hrs and 2230hrs on Tuesday 15 November, a property on Southgate Close, Willerby was entered via an insecure window and a black coloured jewellery box was stolen, which contained a significant amount of jewellery including:

An 18ct gold sapphire and diamond ring, an 18ct ring with four rubies and three diamonds, a ladies Citizen silver watch with a mother of pearl face, a gold leaf brooch and a bumble bee broochwith a blue coloured body.

Also, between 1900hrs and 2310hrs on Tuesday 15 November an attempt burglary took place on Southgate Close as an offender attempted to gain entry to a property through an inscure window, but was unsuccessful.

Anyone who may be help to help police with their enquiries into these incidents is asked to call Humberside Police tel 101 quoting crime reference number 1874482.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has an empty homes team which is pro-active in tackling the problem of empty homes in the area and will be active on the streets of Withernsea during the week of action.

It is vital that empty homes are brought back into use and the empty homes team will work with owners to achieve this. Most homes are brought back into use by informal negotiations with the owner, however, should this fail the home may ultimately be subject to a compulsory purchase order (CPO).

Councillor Symon Fraser, cabinet portfolio holder for environment, housing and planning, said: “Empty homes blight communities and are a wasted resource which could otherwise be occupied. They are also known to attract anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping and vandalism.

“The empty homes team is focused on addressing this problem and will act appropriately to encourage the owners of empty homes in the Withernsea area to bring them back into habitable use.”

For further details or to report an empty home, call (01482) 396301 (selecting option 2) or email private.sector.housing@eastriding.gov.uk

The Government has fixed the level below which no tax is paid – an effective tax rise when inflation is taken into account.

Currently, any individual with an estate worth more than £325,000, or a couple whose estate is worth £650,000 will pay a huge 40% tax on the excess.  The government has fixed these limits until 2014.

David Dunning, General Manager at Chartered Financial Planners, cba financial services in Beverley said:

“Many people put off taking any action to mitigate inheritance tax as the Conservative Party had suggested raising the limit to £1,000,000 if they got into office.  Obviously, they are not in a position to do this and we now know the limit will remain unchanged for at least 4 years.

However, with some careful planning, it is possible for anybody who may be affected to avoid the tax.  As Lord Jenkins said in 1968- Inheritance

Tax is broadly speaking a voluntary levy paid by those who distrust their beneficiaries more than they dislike HM Revenue & Customs .

The cost of Inheritance Tax, together with Long Term Care are the two biggest threats to your hard-earned money, and yet there are ways to reduce the impact of both, and ensure you pass more of your money to those who are important to you.”

The Workplace Retirement Income commission says 14 million people are not saving into a workplace pension scheme at all and those who are in a scheme, often get charged too much for a service that is complicated and inefficient.  The Pensions Minister Steve Webb described the review as “a wake-up call”.

Changes being introduced in 2012 will see workers automatically enrolled into a pension scheme, unless they earn a very low wage or opt out themselves.  The review said the Government should consider increasing the minimum amount that is contributed by these workers.  It also made the following recommendations:-

- Charges – it claimed were too opaque.  It said bigger, lower-cost pension schemes should be able to operated.
- Annuities – it said should be more flexible and suggested people should be directed to an annuity price comparison site.
- Risk – should be mitigated for those in defined contribution schemes, according to the review.
- Cultural change – saving should be encouraged.
- Stability – with a commission set up to oversee long-term pension policy.

Mr Webb said the review gave “a very serious warning and wake-up call” and that “unless people started saving now for their retirement they could find themselves enduring “a pretty meagre existence” in the future.

cba financial services limited broadly welcomed the report.  Paul Hegarty, Pensions Specialist said “It has been clear for a long time that people are shying away from contributing to pensions, mostly due to the bad press they have received.  Modern pension contracts are low-cost, flexible and available with a risk level to suit the individual.

Many of the historic problems have been eliminated.  As chartered financial planners, cba financial services limited is committed to finding the most appropriate solution for all retirement needs.  High quality advice from a truly independent financial adviser is essential to ensure retirement is not spent in poverty.”

For more information please call cba financial services on 01482 881919 or visit www.cba-partnership.com

The awards recognise and promote excellence in directory and online publishing and celebrate the best in the industry across the UK.

KC Colour Pages was described by award judges as a ‘beacon for other directories’ due to its local focus and popularity with customers.

Nick Thompson, KC’s Director of Consumer and Information Services, heads the team that produces the directory.  He said: “KC Colour Pages has been around for 57 years, which in itself is a measure of its success in helping local business promote their services.

“It’s the most widely-used business directory in the local area, and we try to make every edition we produce more useful than the last. We’re delighted to be recognised in this way for our efforts to bring buyers and sellers together.”

KC Colour Pages is Hull’s original and most comprehensive local business directory, distributed to more than 240,000 homes and businesses across Hull and East Yorkshire.  It continues to thrive in an online age by making the most of the latest technology – many ads in the directory feature Quick Response codes that can be scanned by smartphones, while www.colourpages.com has its own iPhone application to make it easier for people to use it while they’re on the move.

KC’s directory sales and marketing teams were also shortlisted for awards at the event, while General Manager Steve Allbones was a finalist in the Publishing Executive of the Year category. KC was just pipped to the post in the Digital Publisher of the Year category for its karoo.co.uk website by the online version of Which? magazine.

Pro’s

COST –The main reason for taking on a project of this size, a full kitchen refit, is often to keep costs down.  Numerous companies are offering ‘interest free’ or ‘buy now pay later’ options on their websites and at showrooms to encourage buyers to buy everything they need in one quick easy purchase, which makes it very appealing for any prospective kitchen fitters to design and fit the perfect kitchen easily on paper and choose to cut out the expensive shop markups.  On-going costs are also generally kept to a minimum as the usual need for experienced kitchen fitters is not needed as you can plan on doing most of the work yourself.

LEAD TIME – When ordering direct from a supplier the lead times for delivery are much shorter than they generally are if you are buying from a store or local kitchen fitters as the flat pack boxes are stored in warehouses and can quickly be dispatched by courier within hours rather than weeks.  In my experience, specialist kitchen companies can take anywhere from 6 to 16 weeks for delivery as they are often are dependent on fitting around their installation team.

Con’s

TIME – Taking on a kitchen refit can take anything from 2 to 3 days if you have joinery skills, or up to 2 to 3 weeks to undertake with no previous experience. This often means taking time off employment to take on the work, which will more often than not take longer than you plan – I have heard many cases of people taking a week off work to re-do a kitchen, only to be still doing it a couple of months later as once you’ve used up all your holiday time they can only do the rest of it on evenings and weekends!

QUALITY – Just like any industry, there are experts who specialize in their field and people who think they are experts.  The experts have years of training and experience which means they know plenty of methods for things like ‘how get the perfect edge on a corner unit’, or a ‘smooth join on a worktop’.  Experienced home DIY’ers might be great at putting together Ikea bedroom furniture, but the complex nature of kitchen cabinets, or measuring sink holes, aligning kitchen hinges  on the cupboard doors, and many other things like that, which are a completely different issue which normally results in a far from perfect finish.

KNOWLEDGE – There are many parts involved in the make-up of a kitchen, and even the most experienced and helpful kitchen suppliers will only be able to give you so much advice to get you going.  It’s really easy to choose the cupboard doors and worktops in the finish you want, but we don’t automatically think about things like the weight the drawers are going to take?  If it’s a drawer made for cutlery then that’s not too heavy, but if it’s going to be a drawer for pots and pans are the drawer runners   going to take the weight?

My Conclusion – I like to think like this – replacing a kitchen is a very large expense, often on par with a purchase such as a car, so along that idea would you ever buy a flat pack kit to build your family car? Most people would reply with a ‘no’, so therefore why would you put this large investment at risk by cutting corners? We say always use professional kitchen fitters – they have build up experience and are often so efficient that the cost for their time is really not as much as you think.

Article provided by Gareth Jones From Eurofit Direct – providing Fittings and components for office and kitchen furniture from their Beverley warehouse

A draft strategy has been developed and is now out to consultation.

The draft strategy’s vision is to ensure that the range, quality and affordability of housing in East Riding meets the needs of current and future residents, contributing towards more sustainable communities and encouraging economic growth and prosperity. This vision is delivered through three broad objectives: knowing our community; ensuring strong, vibrant and healthy communities; and delivering excellent housing services.

The draft strategy has been influenced by changing Government policy, particularly the Localism Agenda. The draft strategy provides a very broad framework against which a series of more detailed policies, plans and strategies will be developed. Specific reference is made in the draft strategy to the planning system in delivering identified housing priorities. The draft strategy also focuses on the provision of housing and support options; capital investment in existing housing; and the delivery of new homes, including specialist supported housing to help meet the needs of vulnerable people.

Councillor Symon Fraser, council portfolio holder for the environment, housing and planning, said: “The draft housing strategy is an important document, which sets out how the Council plans to address both short and long term challenges. It is important that residents give us their views so that they can influence both the strategy and subsequent housing policies and plans.”

To view the housing strategy, log onto the council’s website at www.eastriding.gov.uk/housingconsultation. You can provide feedback by simply writing to us at Housing Strategy and Development, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, County Hall, Cross Street, Beverley HU17 9BA or by sending an email to housing.strategy@eastriding.gov.uk

For further information on the draft housing strategy or any other housing policies, please contact the housing strategy and development team on (01482) 393922.

The closing date for comments is Friday, 6 January 2012.

The drop-in session will be held on Tuesday 22 November at Applegarth Court extra care scheme, Applegarth Lane in Bridlington between 10am and 3pm.

The term telecare is used to describe a range of alarms and sensors in the home to enable independent living, linked to a 24/7 call centre.

The telecare devices being demonstrated can help people to live independently in their own home for as long as possible by managing the risk to their personal safety.

This is achieved by the use of telecare technology that sends a signal to the East Riding lifeline control centre should there be an emergency and an urgent response is needed from either a family member or the response team.

The Lifeline control centre operates 24 hours a day, giving complete reassurance to both services users and their families.

Other equipment on show at the event will be the Lifeline response unit which is plugged into a telephone socket, enabling two-way communication with operators, and a range of other equipment to support people to live independently, such as flood detectors, fall detectors, medication reminders and property exit sensors.

There will also be the chance to see a range of telehealth equipment which can be used to remotely monitor trends in patients’ vital signs, such as blood pressure, weight and oxygen.

This allows doctors and nurses to monitor trends in patient readings and to support people to become better at recognising changes in their own conditions.

Councillor Richard Harrap, portfolio holder for adult and carers services at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “This gives people the opportunity of seeing first hand the potential benefits that can come from this new technology.”

Lianne Therkelson, assistive technology project manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “All members of the public are welcome to come and see how the equipment works. No appointment is necessary as it is a drop-in session.

“Our helpful staff will be on hand to talk to people about their individual circumstances and how the devices could help either yourself or a loved one manage in their own home now or prepare for the future.”

Under the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2007, landlords and letting agents are required to provide a valid energy performance certificate free of charge.

These certificates provide information to prospective tenants about the energy efficiency of a property and give an indication of how much it is likely to cost to run.

The survey will help the council determine the level of compliance with the current regulations amongst local landlords and letting agents.

Survey forms were sent out in October asking landlords and letting agents what procedures they have in place in line with the regulations and, where necessary, offering advice and further information.

To date, 43 per cent of landlords have responded, with over 100 seeking further information and advice. Reminder letters have been sent out to non-respondents and officers will continue in their efforts to ensure all landlords are aware of their obligations.

Although there are enforcement powers under the legislation, the aim of the survey is to ensure landlords and letting agents are aware of the law and are compliant, not to punish those who are not complying.

For further information call (01482) 396301 (select option 2), or email private.sector.housing@eastriding.gov.uk

We make use of our wide range of professional contacts to ensure you have a suitable independent adviser and we work with them to provide you with impartial advice in areas such as:

•    Pension schemes;
•    Life assurance;
•    Critical illness cover;
•    Private medical insurance and care plans;
•    Mortgages, re-mortgages, commercial, residential, buy-to-let;
•    Individual savings accounts; and
•    Investments;

Retirement strategies

Everyone hopes to maintain the same standard of living in retirement as they presently enjoy while working, but to achieve this requires considerable forward planning. Here are some important questions you need to ask yourself:
Exit strategies

If you are in business, the first thing you need to consider is your exit strategy. Will you withdraw from the business, leaving it for the next generation, or will you hope to sell the business? If you intend to hand the business over, do you have a workable succession plan? If you intend to sell, how will you value the business, find a suitable buyer, etc.? Are you aware of all the tax implications of the timing of disposals?

Pension provision

Have you made adequate pension provision, and do you have the right type of pension? Are you aware of all the pension possibilities open to business owners and directors? Are you making full use of all your allowances?

Savings and investments

Do you have the right balance between savings and investments, and between high and low risk exposures?

Life assurance and long-term care

Do you have adequate life assurance, and have you made provision for long-term care and medical insurance for you and your spouse in your later years.

Require further information?

If you would like more information or would like to ask us a question then call us on 01482 881919.

Each year thousands of people die in this country and most of them leave their families with all the problems of Intestacy, which means to die without a legally valid Will.

CHERYL Leaning, says: “If you have children, own a home have savings or have a business, then having a Will applies to you.  It isn’t the daunting prospect many people might imagine, it actually provides a sense of relief to know that loved ones will be taken care of as stated in the Will.  The common mistake made is that people believe their possessions will automatically be passed on to family members.  This is not always the case, as without a Will, the courts could decide how the estate is divided.”

“It is just as important to keep a Will up-to-date.  If a couple separate and don’t change their Will it could mean that upon death the ‘Ex’ would inherit the estate.”

Having a Will written by a solicitor ensures that it is stored safely and can be kept up-to-date when circumstances change.

As the saying goes – ‘Where there’s a Will there’s a way’, for further information, please call QualitySolicitors Lockings on 01482 300200 or visit www.qualitysolicitors.com/lockings

KC Talk Global gives customers free calls to landline numbers in 50 countries for just £5.00 per month. And for just £7.50 per month, KC Talk Global Mobile gives customers the freedom to call both landline and mobile numbers in 50 countries.

All of the most popular international calling destinations for KC customers are covered by the packages, including Australia, Ireland, Poland, South Africa and India. Customers can make up to 10 hours’ worth of calls each month to any combination of countries, with the peace of mind that comes from being charged one low monthly fee.

Nick Thompson, KC’s Director of Consumer Services, said: “Staying in regular touch with loved ones abroad keeps the bonds of friendship and family strong, and our new services offer fantastic value for money to people who have friends and family in far-flung places, as many of us do these days.

“We hope that with Christmas approaching, our new services will be used to help spread some festive cheer across the globe without any nasty surprises in January’s phone bill.”

For more information and a full list of countries covered go to www.kc.co.uk/global or call 01482 602555.

Simon Riley , Mortgage specialist from cba financial services says: “There is a lot of uncertainty in the media at the moment about interest rates and how the decisions made by the Bank of England will affect our lives.”

“Getting advice from an independent mortgage broker now, could minimize the impact of interest rate rises.

We advise clients to consider how their monthly payments would be affected should the base rates rise in the near future.  In some cases, borrowers on a variable rate would be wise to fix now in order to buy peace of mind for the future.”

For further information on cba financial services limited’s services, please call our team of chartered financial planners on 01482 881919 or visit www.cba-partnership.com

What is Conveyancing?

The word ‘conveyance’ means the legal transfer of ownership of property from the seller of the property to the buyer. There are several stages involved in this process for both the buying and selling of property:

•    Stage one is concerned with the communication between the seller and buyer’s solicitor
•    Stage two is the stage between the exchange of contracts and completion
•    Stage three is what happens upon completion.

Solicitor’s costs for conveyancing are usually reasonably modest; however prices vary for some aspects of the conveyancing process, depending on the firm. This is why it is important to shop around to find the best solicitor for you.

Stage One: the communication between solicitors:

The first stage involves the exchange of information between the solicitors of the buyer and seller:

1.    The buyer’s solicitor contacts the seller’s solicitor, after which they will receive a draft contract. The contract will contain information such as the terms of the agreement for sale, price details, information on deposits and information from the seller’s title deeds.

2.    The buyer’s solicitor upon receipt of the contract will check for any unusual terms and may attempt to negotiate these if the initial contract is not satisfactory. The solicitor is also required to send to the buyer a copy of the contract so as to enable him/ her to check it as well. This enquiry and searches stage is important and has to be undertaken with due care. Most disputes arise out of negligence at this stage resulting from not carrying out the necessary searches. This is why it is very important to get the right solicitor.

3.    The contract is negotiated and signed if everything is satisfactory. A completion date (the date at which ownership of the property will transfer from the seller to the buyer and the buyer can begin living there) is then agreed upon. If a mortgage is required, one is sought and secured at this stage. A solicitor is required to act on your behalf and deal with the formal requirements if you are taking out a mortgage.

Stage Two: the exchange of contracts and completion phase

At the second stage the purchase of the property becomes ‘official’. Before this point it is possible for either party to withdraw their offer. However, once the exchange takes place the parties are legally bound by the contract.

1.    Once everything is agreed between the seller and buyer, contracts are exchanged. Often this takes place (becomes ‘official’) by both parties’ solicitors forming an agreement to exchange contracts over the telephone, and the documents are then posted to both parties.

2.    The buyer pays the deposit, usually required, which in non-refundable and is typically set at 10% of purchase price.

3.    The buyer’s solicitor then arranges the signing of the mortgage documents and carries out further searches on the register.

4.    At this stage the buyer’s fees such as Land Registry fees and stamp duty must be paid. The solicitor will provide a statement detailing the total amount to be paid before ‘completion’.

Stage Three: Post Completion Phase

‘Completion’ is the final stage of the conveyancing process, when the purchase price of the property is paid in exchange for the conveyance or transfer of the property to the buyer.

1.    Upon completion, the buyer receives the keys and the house has to be vacant for occupation.

2.    The balance of the purchase price has to be paid.

3.    The buyer receives the title deeds and the transfer documents.

4.    It is important to ensure that all other costs and fees to do with the conveyance are paid off at this stage.

5.    The solicitor conducts the final administration of the purchase and ensures everything has been done in accordance with the legal requirements.

Buying and selling property – common problems

There are several reasons the buying and selling process might not go according to plan. It is advisable to be aware of some of the potential problems and to seek legal guidance when problems arise:

Procedural Problems

During the enquiry and search process some problems relating to the property might arise, for example, it may be important to the buyer that planning permission is available yet a search reveals that this has been denied by the local authority, or there is a charge registered to the property.

Negotiations

It may be that, during negotiations between the parties, the buyer is not satisfied with the information provided by the seller relating to the property. It is important to note that the seller is not obliged to reveal all the faults of the property, therefore the buyer must be thorough in their investigations and obtain legal advice where anything is not understood.

Deposits

The deposit paid by the buyer to the seller at the second stage of the procedure will cause problems if the buyer is refusing to pay it, or if the solicitor or licensed conveyancer keeps hold of the interest accumulated on the deposit. In the first situation, the seller may be entitled to withdraw their offer. In the second situation, the seller is entitled to the interest and should request that the interest be passed on to them as this will not always happen automatically.

Mortgage services

Some solicitors offer, under the ‘Conveyancing’ umbrella, additional mortgage advice and services other than those for buying and selling property. For example, they may be able to offer help with taking out new mortgages, mortgage payment, and with drafting and checking the relevant legal documents. The benefit of seeking legal assistance with your mortgage is that a solicitor can give independent advice on what is best for you, unlike your mortgage lender whose priority when advising you on your mortgage is looking after their own interests.

Finding the best Conveyancing solicitor

Although a lot of law firms offer a Conveyancing service, the level and breadth of services offered can differ from firm to firm. Most firms will offer a quote for their standard Conveyancing procedure; however some firms deal strictly with the Conveyancing procedure, whereas others provide additional services such as written, detailed reports of your purchase/sale’s progress.

Which firm is most suitable to you will depend on your individual needs. However, the best firms will keep you informed at every stage of the procedure, and will not necessarily be your local firm.

Be wary of using Conveyancing services offered by supermarkets, they do not always use legal experts and will only be able to help you with certain parts of the procedure. It is also advisable to treat recommendations for solicitors from your estate agent with caution. Often these solicitors will not be able to offer the complete, informative service offered by most law firms.

Have you considered what might happen to your home and your family in Beverley if something happens to you?

According to research undertaken by one of the country’s leading life insurers, too many people in Beverley and Great Britain haven’t considered this. Maybe it’s too tragic to consider, but according to Sainsbury’s Life Insurance it can’t be overlooked.

In Britain, more than four in 10 of mortgage borrows do not have life insurance that covers their payments should they day.

Research suggests those without life cover have outstanding balances of £36,000, while particularly worrying is the fact that 33 per cent of 35-44 year olds and 30 per cent of 45-54 year olds have no life cover. This could leave their children’s future in doubt.

Helen Williams, head of Sainsbury’s Life Insurance, says:

“Mortgage repayments are one of the biggest financial commitments in many peoples’ lives but, as our research shows, unfortunately it is not something that enough mortgage holders have taken steps to protect.

“Having life insurance gives those with a family peace of mind that should the unthinkable happen and they die, their dependants can continue living in the family home with the lifestyle they have without worrying about the financial implications.

“We would urge anyone who doesn’t have life insurance to consider taking out a policy, and those who do and have moved to a bigger house to make sure it is updated to reflect their mortgage commitment.”

The scheme works by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and the house builders loaning a total of 20 per cent of the property price, meaning purchasers only have to make up the other 80 per cent from savings and a mortgage to buy a home outright.

It is anticipated that FirstBuy could help up to 200 households in the East Riding between now and 2013 and because FirstBuy is only available on new-build properties it also offers a timely boost to the housing market as well as supporting jobs in the construction industry and related trades.

Councillor Symon Fraser, cabinet portfolio holder for housing, environment and planning at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, was pleased with the announcement.

He said:  “We all know that house prices in the East Riding are beyond the reach of many people living and working here, especially those trying to set up their first home.  It has become very difficult for people to save the large deposits banks and building societies want.

“This scheme offers help to first-time buyers and will be most welcome, it will also help to shorten the council’s housing waiting list.”

Subject to contracts being signed over the summer, house builders offering FirstBuy in the East Riding, will include national builders Barratt, Bovis, David Wilson, Gladedale, Linden Homes, Persimmon and Redrow, as well as local firms, such as Fulford Builders and Peter Ward Homes.

A variety of property types and sizes will be available on schemes across the whole of the East Riding, including the main towns of Beverley, Bridlington, Brough, Cottingham, Driffield, Goole, Hornsea, Howden, Market Weighton, Pocklington and Withernsea, as well as smaller villages, such as Barmby Moor, Beeford and Hook.

David Curtis, executive director at the Homes and Communities Agency said: “I am really pleased that our investment will mean that local people can buy the home they want at a price they can afford. By having homes available in almost 20 locations from nine developers means that first time buyers will have a fantastic choice. “

Anyone wanting more information should contact the house builders direct, or approach my4walls, the local HomeBuy Agent at www.my4walls.co.uk

No fees are charged on the loan for the first five years and the loan has to be repaid when the property is sold or the mortgage paid off.

Richard Bettison, site manager of Risby Homes, the Beverley based house builder has become NHBC Pride in the Job, North East of England Regional winner 2011 at a presentation held in York on 28 October.

Richard had already won a Pride in the Job Award but was very pleased to be awarded a Seal of Excellence and then the regional win at the ceremony.  He will now go forward to the national award ceremony to be held in London in January when he will be competing against 7 other regional winners from around the UK for the national title of Supreme Winner in the small builder category.

Risby Homes and Richard are no strangers to winning awards for the quality of their work.  Risby’s development of town houses at Keldgate Bar in Beverley has won Local Authority Building Control awards and the President’s Award for the Almshouse Trust, presented by their Patron, HRH Prince Charles.  Richard for his part has won an NHBC Pride in the Job award for four consecutive years now along with a Seal of Excellence and the Regional title in 2009.

Mark Barrett, Managing Director of Risby Homes said “I am delighted that Richard’s outstanding commitment to producing high quality homes has been recognised and I am very proud of what he and his team have achieved.  The next round of judging will be very challenging as Richard is being assessed against the 8 best site managers in the UK”.

The NHBC have been running the Pride in the Job Awards for 30 years now with the aim of encouraging excellence amongst the participating site managers.  Each year, 13,000 site managers are assessed across the small, medium and large builder sections until Supreme Winners in each category are selected.

The consultation is on the draft Core Strategy, which is the main planning document for the Local Development Framework. Once adopted, the Core Strategy will guide decisions on the location of new housing, businesses, shopping, leisure and community facilities to 2028, and will replace the existing Local Plans.

A previous consultation took place in summer 2010, which generated 2250 comments. The council has decided to carry out a further consultation on specific parts of the Core Strategy so that it can address responses to last year’s consultation and take into account new information on the demand and need for new housing and the amount of jobs that are expected to be created.

The consultation seeks views on:

*     The ‘vision’ statements which set out how the East Riding’s main towns will look by 2028.

These have been prepared for Anlaby/Willerby/Kirkella; Beverley; Bridlington; Cottingham; Driffield; Goole; Hessle; Willerby; Elloughton/Brough; Hedon; Hornsea; Howden; Market Weighton; Pocklington; and Withernsea.

*     The number of new houses that will be built throughout the East Riding and  how many will be built in each town and village.

The consultation proposes that 25,500 new houses will be built in the East Riding  for the period up to 2028.  This reflects a number of issues including: anticipated demographic changes  (birth rates, death rates, migration into and out of the East Riding); the level of anticipated housing need (for example, emerging new households); the number of new jobs that are forecast to be provided; and the need to limit development near Hull in order to support the city’s regeneration.

The number of new houses proposed in ‘rural service centre’ villages has been reduced to address local priorities about keeping new development in these settlements proportionate to the size of the village.

*     Changes to the policy setting out what types of development can be built in smaller rural villages and the countryside, including:

o     Allowing small scale housing development in villages that are close to the main towns and which have good access to larger centres. Small scale is usually no more than five homes. Examples include Barmby Moor, Nafferton and Woodmansey.

o     Allowing single homes to be built in rural villages that have basic services such as a shop, village hall or primary school without  the requirement to demonstrate ‘local needs’ for new houses.

*     The amount of land that is needed to support new jobs and the economy.

Updated economic growth forecasts suggest that 235 hectares of employment land is needed in the East Riding to 2028. The majority of employment land in the East Riding is located along the M62 corridor at sites such as Capitol Park/Junction 36 at Goole, Melton, Hessle/Humber Bridgehead.

In addition, approximately 200 hectares is proposed at Hedon Haven to support the anticipated growth of the renewable and low carbon energy sector and the recently announced ‘Enterprise Zone’ status.

*     The amount of affordable housing that will be provided with new housing developments.

Recent studies of affordable housing needs and the East Riding housing market suggest that, in the larger towns, affordable housing should be required on sites where 15 or more homes are built. In other areas affordable housing will be required when three or more homes are built. The proportion of the new housing that should be affordable varies throughout the East Riding from 5 to 25 per cent depending upon how economically viable it is to build in different areas.

*     How much recreation space will be provided through new developments.

The consultation proposes what standards we should use to determine how much and what types of recreational and amenity space will be provided with new developments.

How to access the document and make comments Full details about the Local Development Framework and all its documents including information on the number of proposed houses in different parts of the East Riding is at http://eastriding.limehouse.co.uk/portal/

Telephone: 01482 391739

Email: forward.planning@eastriding.gov.uk

Address: Forward Planning, County Hall, Cross Street, Beverley, HU17 9BA

The consultation closes on Monday 19 December 2011.

Public ‘drop in’ sessions are being held throughout the consultation period at the following locations, from 2.30-6.30pm:

Date              Location

Tues. 22 November       Withernsea Library

Tues. 22 November       Hessle Library

Wed. 23 November Bridlington North Library

Tues. 29 November       Hedon Library

Tues. 29 November       Pocela Centre,  Pocklington

Wed. 30 November Goole Library

Thurs. 1 December Beverley Library

Thurs. 1 December       Willerby Library

Mon. 5 December   Driffield Library

Tues. 6 December Petuaria Centre,  Brough

Tues. 6 December Hornsea Library

Wed. 7 December   Howden Library

Wed. 7 December   Wicstun Centre, Market Weighton

Thurs. 8 December       Cottingham Library

Have you considered what might happen to your home and your family in Beverley if something happens to you?

According to research undertaken by one of the country’s leading life insurers, too many people in Beverley and Great Britain haven’t considered this. Maybe it’s too tragic to consider, but according to Sainsbury’s Life Insurance it can’t be overlooked.

In Britain, more than four in 10 of mortgage borrows do not have life insurance that covers their payments should they day. Research suggests those without life cover have outstanding balances of £36,000, while particularly worrying is the fact that 33 per cent of 35-44 year olds and 30 per cent of 45-54 year olds have no life cover. This could leave their children’s future in doubt.

Helen Williams, head of Sainsbury’s Life Insurance, says:

“Mortgage repayments are one of the biggest financial commitments in many peoples’ lives but, as our research shows, unfortunately it is not something that enough mortgage holders have taken steps to protect.

“Having life insurance gives those with a family peace of mind that should the unthinkable happen and they die, their dependants can continue living in the family home with the lifestyle they have without worrying about the financial implications.

“We would urge anyone who doesn’t have life insurance to consider taking out a policy, and those who do and have moved to a bigger house to make sure it is updated to reflect their mortgage commitment.”

The council has a good record over the years in supporting residents both through its  own schemes – particularly cavity wall and loft insulation – and by helping people access national ones.

However, fuel prices continue to rise fast and many households in the East Riding, as elsewhere, struggle with bills and are estimated to be in fuel poverty.

Despite the ending of national funding, the council has set aside money to continue its cavity wall and loft insulation scheme in partnership with Npower for the next two years.  Under the scheme, some residents can get this for free while others pay just £99 for cavity wall and £109 for loft insulation – a small proportion of the commercial cost.

The council has also earmarked £200,000 to continue its award-winning scheme to install air source heat pumps to properties in rural areas which are off the main gas network.  The pumps work by extracting ambient heat from outside and condensing it to the inside – like a fridge in reverse.  Working in partnership with a not-for-profit company, the council has already put the energy efficient technology into around 100 homes.

More people in the East Riding are now seeking to install solar panels to their properties to reduce fuel costs.  As well as making their homes more energy efficient, a Government policy for ‘feed-in tariffs’ allows residents to receive income for the electricity produced (although the tariff will change from 12 December which could reduce the return on the investment) .  The council will now develop a list of qualified installers in the area and also an information pack to help local residents.

Councillor Jane Evison, portfolio holder for rural issues and cultural  services, said: “It is good, and a wise use of resources, that the council is helping residents to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, cut costs and reduce their carbon footprint.

“These measures are particularly useful to people in rural areas who have a limited choice of traditional fuels and very often properties that are difficult and expensive to heat.

“Fuel poverty is a real concern and anything the council can do to help is to be welcomed and applauded.”

The council’s cabinet endorsed these energy efficiency initiatives at its meeting on 1 November.

The seminars are free events and include workshops looking at excess cold, damp and mould growth within properties and what landlords can do to prevent it occurring and what works need to be carried out to remedy the hazards.

An update will also be given about housing benefit changes, changes to legislation, landlord training and the new Green Deal and Energy Efficiency Bill.

Seminars will be held on Thursday, 10 November at Cottingham Park Golf Centre, Tuesday, 15 November in the Waterfront Suite at Goole Leisure Centre and on Wednesday, 23 November in the Harbour Suite at The Spa Bridlington.

These informal events have been organised as part of council’s commitment to working in partnership with private landlords and promoting responsible letting.

All events will take place between 6-8.30pm.

If you would like to book a place or would like further information, call (01482) 396301 (selecting option 2) or email private.sector.housing@eastriding.gov.uk

After all, there’s so much to think about. From mortgages and insurance to bathroom suites and getting all your stuff moved in, there is a lot to sort out when you’re buying a house. Read on for some top tips for first time buyers, which will hopefully help make the process at least a little bit easier.

Research the local area

Something you should always do when buying a house is to research the local area. Looking at property prices for houses similar to the one you are interested in buying is a good place to start, as this will help you determine whether or not the house is on the market for a fair price.

Also look at things such as local amenities: are there shops and restaurants? What are the transport links like? Will you be able to get to work easily from your new home? If you’re buying a house with the intention of starting a family, it can also be a good idea to look at issues such as schools in the area. Houses in the catchment area for good schools are also popular when it comes to selling them on in the future, so this is something to bear in mind.

Visit properties more than once

It can also be a good idea to visit properties you’re interested in more than once. You can forget things about the house if you only go once, so going back for at least one more visit will be very helpful. You should particularly look at the important practical rooms such as bathrooms and bedrooms, as these can often be the most time-consuming to change if you’re not a fan of the décor.

It can also be useful to visit the local area at different times of the day to find out what it’s like. After all, a place can change a lot in the space of a few hours, so finding out about the local nightlife and the character of the area can be helpful when you’re trying to decide where to live.

Build in the cost of renovation work

Another tip for first time buyers is to look for houses with potential. Often, if a property needs a fair amount of work doing to it, you’ll be able to get it for a better price, so don’t be put off by houses that need renovating. As long as you’re aware of any major structural issues before you buy the house and you make sure to build in the cost of renovations, you should be fine. For instance, you can buy items such as bathroom furniture and bathroom suites for good prices, so if you have the choice between a pristine but expensive house and a moderately priced house with bags of potential, it might well be worth going for the latter.

Don’t forget additional fees and costs

When you’re saving for your deposit, don’t forget to build in money for costs such as estate agent’s and solicitor’s fees. There are also insurance costs to consider once you have bought your home, so it can be wise to plan for these in advance.

At this stage, no specific building has been identified and there will need to be a consultation and planning approval process.  However,  the proposal is to accommodate up to nine people supported by 24-hour on site staff.  Working in partnership with other organisations, the intention is to support the various needs (eg healthcare, probation, training, employment) of an extremely vulnerable group of people and to help equip them with the skills necessary for more independent living.

The Government’s vision is to end rough sleeping and, through co-ordinated local action, quickly identify those who are and signpost them to emergency accommodation.

Councillor Symon Fraser, portfolio holder for environment, housing and planning, said: “This is an important opportunity for East Riding of Yorkshire Council to improve the way we can help rough sleepers.

“This scheme will enable up to nine adults with accommodation challenges to access the support they need to live independently and to manage their health or behaviour problems without resorting to more costly statutory intervention through the criminal justice system or NHS.

“It will also help the council to reduce the number of people sleeping rough in the East Riding. Local church groups have campaigned for a facility such as this for rough sleepers and the local police also recognise the need and support the proposal.”

Rob Pearson, head of area at the Homes and Communities Agency, added: “The Council’s plans are a great way to meet the needs of vulnerable people and I am very pleased that we were able to fund the scheme. The plans will not only help prevent people having to sleep rough but also ensure that they do not have to in the future.”

For instance, every bathroom needs storage and there is a great range of bathroom furniture available for exactly that purpose. A wall-mounted bathroom cabinet with shelves could be a great addition to your room. It can even be both practical and stylish, as there are lots of different styles available. You can often choose the finish of your bathroom cabinet, meaning that whether you’re hoping to create a modern room or a more traditional look, you’ll be able to find a finish to suit you.

If you’re creating a minimal room with a white bathroom suite, for instance, you could add some design interest by going for a black bathroom cabinet. Alternatively, a light oak finish could be ideal for natural-looking room where you’re hoping to combine complementary pieces of furniture. Most bathrooms also have a mirror in them and your bathroom cabinet can be a great place to put one, so this is definitely something worth bearing in mind.

Another good thing about accessorising your room with bathroom furniture is that you can buy items such as cabinets and cupboards in different sizes. This is important as many bathrooms have only a limited amount of space, and it’s one of the reasons wall-mounted furniture can be such a good idea. Also, you’ll probably need to work your furniture around your bathroom suite, so having control over the size you choose is certainly useful.

It’s not just about cabinets and cupboards, though. A towel rack could be another great item of bathroom furniture to add to your room. Again, there are some really nice wall-mounted options available. Chrome can be a good choice as it’s really easy to clean and will go with whatever colour you decide to decorate the room. If you have slightly more room available in your bathroom, you could even choose a free-standing towel rack with room to store toiletries, too. A natural oak finish would be a nice choice for this, depending on the effect you were hoping to achieve in your room.

All bathrooms and bathroom suites are slightly different and so the same furniture options won’t work for everyone. However, keeping in mind the practical aspects of the furniture can help you make your choice no matter what the rest of your bathroom looks like. Once you know what you need the furniture for and where it’s going to go in the room, you can turn your attention to the fun things like style, finish and colour. With any luck, you’ll have a beautifully appointed and accessorised bathroom that looks as welcoming as it is practical.

Sadly very few UK homes have an adequate means of escaping from an upstairs bedroom window. Family Safe has launched the new Family Safe Fire Escape window system to dramatically improve the chances of surviving a fire in the home.

In 2010 the UK Fire and Rescue Service attended over 277,000 fires in England and Wales alone, over 320 people died and a further 7,400 required medical attention for burns, smoke inhalation, broken bones, cuts and abrasions incurred during falls and dropping from heights was also a factor. The majority of those involved in these fires found that finding a quick means of escape was the most difficult part. The Family Safe Window system has been designed with this in mind.

On discovering a fire in the home, the first thought is always of ensuring that all the family can get out. Sadly the design of most bedroom windows in the UK do not lend themselves to making climbing out of them and getting to the ground easy.

Family Safe Windows decided to eliminate the window design flaw, so no matter what your window design is, be it just two small top opening windows and one large fixed bottom pane of glass or even a solid window with no openings, when mounted into the Family Safe Window System, it is effortlessly moved out of the way and at the same time an automated rigid ladder is deployed both inside the room to aid the climb up onto the window sill and another rigid ladder is deployed outside from the window sill to the ground. Both these ladder systems become fixed rigid ladders, making them easy for any member of the family to climb safely to the ground.

For those of the family who are too small or have limited mobility or just feel they can’t use a ladder, then they can use the integrated pulley and harness system to be lowered to the ground. Harnesses for adults, children, infant cradle harness and even pets can all be lowered safely away from the burning building.
Family Safe is a family owned company, the product was first designed for our own family’s safety, once the first system was built, we recognized that lots of people would need and want a safe means of escape in the event of a fire at their home. That’s why we have developed the system and put it into full production and it is now available today on line and at selected window installers around the UK.“, Steve John, owner of Family Safe Window Systems, explained. We are very confident that our fire safety window will safe lives, give an enormous level of peace of mind and it will also increase the value of the properties it is installed in,.”, he added.

The main safety Features of the Family Safe Window System are:

• Forms an easy means of escape from a house fire
• The quick and easy deployment of the window and ladders is part of the automated design
• Developed with every family member in mind and every window no matter what the window configuration• Can be reused should a home unfortunately experience more than one house fire.

The Family Safe Window System is simple to install, simple to use and designed to save lives. We know that the peace of mind the Family Safe Window System offers a parent can not be put into words. The Family Safe Window System will fast become the first choice in house fire protection.

Accreditation is free and landlords receive a package of benefits, including access to a free advice line, a ‘shop and save’ scheme that entitles them to discounts from certain retailers, a membership certificate and the right to use the accreditation scheme logo on their letterheads and publicity material.

Since their launch, both schemes have been well-received by landlords, with those joining saving on costs for compliance with regulations and also attracting good standards of tenant.

The aim of the prize draw is to promote the schemes and encourage more landlords to sign up.

Areas with good take up have shown fewer problems for tenants and less enforcement is required, saving the council time and resources as landlords are self-regulating.

To be in with a chance of winning the vouchers, all landlords have to do is accredit one of their rental properties, within the East Riding, before the end of October.

For more information, contact the private sector housing team on (01482) 396301 or email privatesector.housing@eastriding.gov.uk

TV’s 60 Minute Makeover presenter Linda has been invited to officially open the St Nicholsgate development at Flemingate on Saturday 17 September, where 130 new homes will be built.

Linda, who attended the company’s Howden development opening earlier this year, will be chatting to visitors about how to make the best of their home when it comes to interior design.

Alongside Linda, there will be an appearance by town crier Michael Wood, and KCFM will be broadcasting live from the development from around 10.30am.

The long-awaited opening of the three-bedroom Bentley show home marks the official launch of the development – which has already attracted huge Interest from potential buyers during recent months.

Linden Homes’ connections and marketing manager Gizzy Murray said: “We are really delighted that Linda has agreed to be our special guest once again. Visitors can not only look forward to seeing our fabulous new show home, but they can get some professional tips from the expert!”

Current prices range from £150,000 for a two-bedroom home with two parking spaces, to £205,000 for a three-bedroom end terraced house also with two parking spaces.

The homes will be built to the latest energy efficient standards, with the first due for completion in September/ October 2011.

For more details, contact 01757 or 07918 640427.

As a result and following on from the successful Advance Goole private rented housing inspection programme, which helped ensure homes were meeting the minimum legal standards as well as providing valuable assistance to landlords, a similar survey of residents will now take place in parts of Hessle and Cottingham.

The survey will enable the council to develop a clearer picture of both the type and nature of housing occupation in the area and residents will receive a letter this week about the survey and explaining that an officer from the private sector housing team will be visiting in the near future.

While the main aim of the survey is to help improve standards of pubic health by ensuring that privately rented homes are meeting the minimum legal standards, staff will also determine whether tenants and owner occupiers are eligible for help with the heating and insulation of their homes which, in some cases, may be free of charge.

Where a tenant or owner occupier does not want to participate they can contact the council and no visit will be made.

Those tenants who live in properties which have been accredited by their landlord as part of the council’s accreditation schemes will not be visited as they already comply with the minimum standards and in many cases exceed them.

The benefits of a visit include a follow up home safety check by the Fire Service, the focussing of energy efficiency programmes in the area and the opportunity to address any identified health and safety issues.

Landlords are encouraged to join the council’s accreditation schemes, which have numerous benefits, with details available on the council’s website or by contacting Sarah Horner, landlord liaison officer, on (01482) 396028.

This was the second awards event for the area and an opportunity to showcase local authority building control successes.

All the finalists and award winners represented excellent examples of partnership working with local authority building control and were drawn from a large number of nominations received.

The awards scheme is open to architects, designers, builders and home owners and all category winners received a trophy.  Winners of each category are also eligible for nomination into the National Local Authority Building Control awards to be held in London later this year.

Projects in the East Riding which received recognition at the awards event were as follows:-

Commended in the ‘Best Domestic Extension or Conversion’  category

Barn Conversion at Towthorpe Manor, Storwood.  Architect:  R C Donkin & Partner

Extension at Westcroft House, Tibthorpe.  Architect:  Malcolm Tempest Ltd.

Commended in the ‘Best Housing – Small Development’  category

Black Cat Homes, Beverley Road, South Cave.  Architect: Ingleby & Hobson Architects.

Commended in the ‘Best Social/Affordable Housing Development’ category

East Riding of Yorkshire Council – various schemes in the ERYC area.

Highly Commended in the ‘Best Educational Building’ category

East Riding of Yorkshire Council -Inmans School,  Hedon.

Winner in the ‘Best Sustainable Project’ category

East Riding of Yorkshire Council – Social Housing Scheme – various schemes in the ERYC area.

Commended in the ‘Best Sustainable Project’ category

Skipsea Village Hall, Skipsea – Architect: C J Lock Design.  Builder:  Brian Fell (leven) Ltd

Pete Ashcroft, head of planning and development management, said: “Building Control is an important part of the construction process which helps to ensure high quality, thermally efficient and safe development in the East Riding.

“I would like to congratulate all those involved in these East Riding projects which have been recognised through the prestigious LABC awards.”

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is one of 26 local authorities across the country that was successful in securing funding to allow just over 150 new homes to be provided, with the added benefit of providing continuing employment in the construction industry on a programme of around £18million.  Further housing will also be provided by housing associations working in the East Riding.

The Council’s bid included a range of schemes in towns and villages across the East Riding involving both new building and refurbishing existing homes and will provide high quality housing to meet the needs of local people.

Councillor Symon Fraser, cabinet portfolio holder for housing, environment and planning at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, was delighted with the announcement.

He said “This is very welcome news.  The funding will allow us to continue to build much needed affordable housing in the East Riding, and will also help to support jobs in construction and related areas.

“We are very grateful to the Homes and Communities Agency for continuing to support us as we tackle the shortage of affordable housing in the East Riding.  We know that there were huge demands on this funding programme, and that regional officers must have lobbied strongly on our behalf to secure this level of funding.”

Officers will now enter into further formal contract negotiations with the Homes and Communities Agency to enable the programme to begin in April 2012.

Affordable rented homes will be let at rents up to a maximum of 80% of open market rent, and can be offered on flexible tenancies which will run for at least two years.  Charging higher, but still affordable, rents will allow housing associations and local authorities to raise money through borrowing to fund the development of new affordable homes with much lower levels of grant than were previously available.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s successful bid to the Homes and Communities Agency’s Affordable Homes Programme 2011-2015 will mean that the new homes it provides will be let at Affordable Rents.  A small proportion of its existing homes will also be converted to Affordable Rents when tenants move out and the homes are re-let to new tenants from the Council’s waiting list.

Whilst existing residents might have concerns, rents for existing tenants will not be affected.

Councillor Symon Fraser, cabinet portfolio holder for housing, environment and planning at East Riding of Yorkshire Council said

“We share the concerns that residents will inevitably have about these changes to future rent levels which we have no choice but to follow if we are going to deliver new affordable homes in the East Riding.  We will do our best to ensure that the impacts are minimised and where we can we will try to reduce fuel bills through the installation of new technologies and eco-improvements, and keep the overall cost of living in the homes to a minimum.”

Mark Thomson, gained official recognition for the excellence of the Barratt Vogue site he runs in Hull, with the receipt of a Pride in the Job Quality Award. This is Mark’s Fourth accolade for his outstanding pride in the job and quality of work.

He was joined on the winners’ podium by fellow Quality Award winners Richard Cadman, who runs the David Wilson site at Serenity, Doncaster and Mark Titley, who is based at the brand new David Wilson Bradley Park development in Market Weighton.

This is Mark Titley’s first role as a Site Manager and to receive a Quality Award in his first year is a great achievement and hugely deserved for his dedication and hard work at the innovative, new development.

The Pride in the Job Quality Awards are the most coveted in the housebuilding industry. They are awarded after the construction standard setting body NHBC (National House-Building Council) carries out a series of spot check site inspections to select the best-organised and best-quality housing developments.

Almost 13,000 site managers throughout the UK were judged on every aspect of their job, including technical skill, quality workmanship, customer service and site safety.

All three site managers will now go forward to the final round of the competition which will select the best site manager in Britain.

Paul Newman, Managing Director of Barratt & David Wilson Yorkshire East said: “The official recognition of the jobs which Mark Titley, Richard Cadman and Mark Thomson are doing shows that Barratt & David Wilson is building some of the best quality homes in the country right here in Yorkshire.”

“The site manager plays a pivotal role in delivering high-quality new homes and that is why we are so delighted with all three of these national awards.”

“We are determined to continue operating at the highest possible level and deliver hundreds more homes of exceptional quality in Yorkshire in the next 12 months.”

Caption; Mark Thomson and Mark Titley play a pivotal role in delivering high- quality new homes.

Mrs Edith Clarke of Station Road, Otley, appealed against the issue of an improvement notice served on Rose Cottage, Kilnsea Road, Kilnsea. The improvement notice required the landlord to carry out works to the property, which included installing heating to the house and providing adequate fire precautions. In addition the council required Mrs Clarke to obtain a structural survey of the property to determine its stability and to ensure that the electrical installation was safe due to the poor condition of the property.

In a case heard by the Residential Property Tribunal, they upheld the service of the improvement notices dated 10 January 2011 and the section 49 demand for payment. Mrs Clarke now has seven months to complete the works as listed on the improvement notice.

The Housing Act 2004 introduced the system of assessing the condition of residential properties and provides local authorities with guidance in the way in which they can enforce housing standards. The Housing Health and Safety Rating System used by local authorities assess the condition of residential properties and enable the identification and assessment of the risk posed by the hazard. Once a local authority has identified serious hazards within dwellings it must take appropriate enforcement action. This legislation was introduced to protect the health, safety and well-being of occupiers within their home.

After consideration the local authority served Mrs Clarke with an improvement notice requiring her to carry out works within the property to reduce the hazards.

Landlords who do not agree with the decision of the council to serve a notice have the right to appeal to the Residential Property Tribunal. This is a public body established through Government legislation giving them powers to settle certain disputes which would otherwise be dealt with by the courts.

In their decision, the tribunal stated that the local authority was correct in deciding to serve and improvement notice and was the most appropriate enforcement action taken in respect of the hazards within the property and the works required in the improvement notice was reasonable and proportionate.

Paul Abbott, public protection group manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “In the interests of safety, the council is committed to ensuring that all residents have a safe and healthy home in which to live. We carry out lots of work to ensure that landlords are educated on their responsibilities and have introduced free training to landlords on how to inspect their properties and recognise hazards within their properties.

“Landlords need to be aware of their legal responsibilities and the potential consequences of not complying with the legislation, and are urged to contact the private sector housing team to discuss any concerns they have.”

Full details of the Residential Property Tribunals decision are available on their website.

For more information and advice about the requirements for landlords, contact the private sector housing team, on (01482) 396301.

The East Riding of Yorkshire Council brought the prosecution against Stephen Binns of 39 North Promenade, Withernsea, after Mr Binns failed to carry out required works in his property. Mr Binns also allowed his property to be occupied by more persons than is permitted on his licence.

In a case heard by Hull Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 7 June, Mr Binns was found guilty of breaching Regulation 7 of the Management Regulations 2006, over occupation of a licensable property in accordance with section 72 of the Housing Act 2004 and failure to comply with an improvement notice served under Section 11 of the Housing Act 2004.

Legislation relating to the management and licensing of HMO properties was introduced to protect the health, safety and well-being of people living in this type of higher risk property, that they are managed properly, that the occupants have access to a good basic standard of facilities, and that appropriate health and safety precautions are in place

HMO properties are an important source of housing to some of the most vulnerable people in society.

Councillor Symon Fraser, cabinet portfolio holder for housing, said: “In the interests of safety, the council is committed to ensuring that landlords in control of houses in multiple occupation manage their properties effectively and comply with licence conditions in their properties, where applicable.

“It is recognised that the tenants of houses in multiple occupation are exposed to a greater risk from hazards such as fire and the mandatory licensing scheme has been introduced nationally to improve management and standards in these types of properties. Landlords need to be aware of the consequences of not complying with the law.”

BARRATT’s ‘little bees’ also known as a host of Yorkshire school pupils are now well underway with plans to boost Britain’s shrinking bee population thanks to an exciting initiative with the five-star housebuilder.

The team from Barratt Yorkshire East has now visited all participating schools in the ‘Save the Bee’ project with their own bee mascot to present on why bees play such an important role in our economy and what can be done to help save them at school and at home.

Children from Hall Road Primary, St Vincent’s Primary and Cottingham Croxby Primary have put together plans for gardens which incorporate ‘bee friendly’ plants and each school will win its own garden based on the chosen design. Each pupil has also been given a goody bag containing lots of fun facts and bee related goodies. The pupil responsible for the winning design will receive an extra gift in the form of some vouchers.

This regional project is part of a long-standing commitment from the Barratt Group which is designed to boost key environmental causes through a host of exciting and diverse activities nationwide.

The planting of these special gardens is set to commence in the coming weeks and once completed, the team will be revisiting the schools to start seeing the benefits of the gardens in action.

Paul Hogan, Sales Director for Barratt Yorkshire East said; “Bees are vital pollinators in the food chain and when we heard that the population was dwindling we felt the need to help.

“We are delighted by how well the project has gone so far and we look forward to presenting the schools with their gardens.”

Sarah Irwin, Hall Road Primary School said; “We were thrilled when Barratt Homes asked us to take part in this really exciting project. The pupils and staff at Hall Road Primary are passionate about helping the environment in any way that they can and saving the bee is now on the top of our agenda. Everyone is really excited about planting the new garden at school and watching their seeds grow at home.”

“We hope that more people in Yorkshire will get involved and that this time next year we will see a flurry of buzzing bees.”

For more information on Barratt Yorkshire West please call 0800 590733 or visit www.barratthomes.co.uk

The private sector housing team provides a range of free training sessions to landlords, who own and manage property in the East Riding, designed to give information and guidance on all aspects of being a landlord.

Monday’s course is ideal for new landlords and provides an introduction to the basics of setting up and maintaining a tenancy within the private rented sector.

Landlords will gain a basic understanding of different tenancy agreements, their legal responsibilities, and the responsibilities of both the landlord and the tenant throughout the tenancy duration as well as sharing of best practice ideas.

The course also gives landlords an understanding of different types of tenancies; tenancy deposit schemes, responsibilities and liabilities during a tenancy, legal responsibility of landlords, what harassment is, how to legally increase rent and identify Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

The council also run courses in ending a tenancy and inspecting residential properties.

For further information about any of these courses, or to book a place, call (01482) 396301 and select option two or visit www.eastriding.gov.uk

This free event will be held at the Ropewalk, Barton upon Humber, and places are available to all landlords in the Humber area.  It is a unique opportunity for landlords to hear guest speakers from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and the Department of Work and Pensions on issues such as, the Local Housing allowance, housing benefit changes and how national policy impacts on the private rented sector  across the Humber area.  There are also speakers from local and national landlord related organisations

The conference will include a number of informative workshops covering important areas such as Inventories, Debt Enforcement, Fire Safety Risk Assessments and other subjects that all landlords need to know about, no matter how many properties they rent out.    The conference is supported by an exhibition of organisations and businesses involved in the private rented sector.

A spokesperson for the Humber Housing Partnership, said:  “We recognise that private rented housing is playing an increased role in meeting housing needs across the Humber area and we are keen to provide opportunities to help landlords build on their knowledge and skills and improve the quality of private rented property in the area.

“This conference and exhibition is aimed at anyone who rents out a property and will provide them with the opportunity to learn about the many regulations they have to comply with and how to deal with problematic tenancies.”

Booking early is advised as places are limited.  To register your place, please contact landlordinfo@nelincs.gov.uk or visit www.nelincs.gov.uk/housing/ for a registration form.

LINDEN Homes is gearing up for a truly stylish celebrity show home launch at its new development in the East Riding town of Howden.

Interior design guru and TV presenter Linda Barker will be joining the crowds eager to take a peep around the stunning King Edgar’s Court four-bedroom show home during the weekend of May 7/8.

Famous for working her interior design magic on the popular BBC Changing Rooms series and her current show Sixty Minute Makeover, Linda will be joining Linden Homes as the developer’s special guest on Saturday May 7.

Linden will be casting her eye over the show home during her appearance at the development from 11.30am until 1.30pm – and will also be sharing her design secrets with visitors during a special presentation.

Linden Homes’ connections and marketing manager Gizzy Murray said: “This is a double celebration for us – a highly-anticipated show home opening at one of our newest developments, coupled with such a fabulous guest as Linda Barker officially launching it for us.

“Forward interest at the development has been amazing, ensuring that it really has got off to a promising start. To have a show home now open will only add to the buzz King Edgar’s Court has already created.”

The first two-bedroom homes have been reserved at the development, where customers have taken the advantage buying their dream from off plan.

The development will boast 54 two, three and four-bedroom homes with the first due for completion this summer.

Prices currently range from £139,950 for a two-bedroom mid terrace home to £219,950 for a three-bedroom detached.

King Edgar’s Court marks the latest in a series of new developments planned for the East Yorkshire area – predominately close to York and Hull – as part of Linden Homes’ long-term expansion project.

The homes will be built within the shadows of the 18th century St Peter and St Paul Minster Church, one of the many local landmarks.

Buyers seeking a superb and spacious home for the family to enjoy are urged to visit The Worx before it’s too late. The last fabulous Hambleton offers excellent, spacious living accommodation well presented to meet the demands of busy family life. This final three bedroom home can be purchased for an incredible £179,995 and is ready to move into straight away.

To make the move into the Hambleton home even easier, Barratt is offering free carpets, curtains, wardrobes, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine and 100 per cent Part Exchange.

The process is simple, chose a new Barratt home and the sales team will arrange for two independent professional valuations of the current property and then offer the top valuation. It is an ideal solution to aid the move from a house to a home. It means no hassle, no chain, no estate agents fees and no last minute price haggling.

Examples of furnished homes are available to view and will allow buyers the opportunity to really get a feel for the kind of contemporary living now within their reach.

The Worx, which has been hailed a ‘great success’ by local MP, Graham Stuart, is a superb development, situated at Figham Road, Beverley, offering buyers a range of house types in a desirable setting. Beverley town centre is just a stones throw away whilst superb transport links are available to Hull and the coastal resorts of Scarborough and Bridlington, making it ideal for First Time Buyers and families alike.

Donna, Sales Advisor at The Worx said; “The Worx is a fantastic development and perfect for families seeking a stylish new home in a great, convenient location.

“This development has seen such huge sales success that we don’t expect the remaining three bedroom home to be available for long, especially at such a fantastic price.”

For more information on The Worx please call the sales team on 01482 874634 open daily from 10am to 5pm or visit www.barratthomes.co.uk.

A leading Yorkshire employer has won the highest national award for quality housebuilders in Britain.

It is the second year in a row that Barratt Yorkshire East has been confirmed as meriting the maximum five star official rating from the Home Builders Federation (HBF). The news was announced after more than 20,000 new home buyers across the country took part in this year’s HBF customer satisfaction survey.

Asked if they were satisfied with the quality of their new home, and whether they would recommend their builder to a friend, more than 90 per cent of Barratt Yorkshire East customers answered yes. A score in excess of 90 per cent gives a housebuilder the rare and prestigious five star status.

“Nobody knows the quality of our homes better than the customers who live in them,” said Paul Hogan, Sales Director at Barratt Yorkshire East. “We are therefore ecstatic that they have awarded us the maximum five star rating for the second consecutive year.”

“This unprecedented achievement is a credit to the Barratt Yorkshire East staff who I know take such pride in every home they build and sell. It is their skill and dedication which has enabled literally thousands of customers to enjoy living in homes of the highest quality over many years.”

“We are the only housebuilder to offer a free five-year warranty on fixtures and fittings to give added peace of mind to our customers. This is in addition to the ten-year NHBC warranty on the structure of the building.”

The HBF poll, in which buyers were sent a questionnaire around eight weeks after moving in, covered the 12 months until September 2010.

“Not only is the quality of our homes first class, we’re also making it much easier for our customers to take their next step on the property ladder, even if they don’t have a large deposit,” added Paul Hogan.

“If you’re a First Time Buyer you could move in for just 85 per cent of the price by taking advantage of our Head Start scheme. While homeowners who want a larger property are currently taking advantage of our part-exchange service in record numbers.”

“I would urge anyone who is looking to buy a new home of the highest quality to pick up the phone and ask us more about how we can help them.”

For more information on Barratt homes in your area please call central sales on 0800 590733 or visit www.barratthomes.co.uk

In light of recent reports that the average age of a first time buyer in the UK has risen to 37, residents close by to recently submitted applications have been standing up against opposition; explaining why they feel new developments are so important for the future of the region.

The planning department at the housebuilder’s Yorkshire East division is working on a series of proposals across North and East Yorkshire including developments for Beverley, Hull, Pickering, Cayton and more.

Recent support has come through public events and even direct letters to the housebuilder. Comments include:

Retired Firefighter Brian Johnson, who used to chair a residents association in a fight against a development, is now in support of plans. He said; “Let’s all take time to look at the bigger picture, we need houses, we need investment and most importantly we need employment. “

All plans are subject to stringent community consultation to ensure they meet the needs of the locality in terms of socio-economic and environmental factors. This process ensures needs such as additional school places created by the development are provided through funding to extend existing facilities or provide new ones where appropriate.

Carol Bailey wrote; “The benefits are immense and will be giving the community a sense of pride.”

Letters of support have also been coming in from across the region in support of developments which will be vital for housing provision as today’s children grow.

Paul Butler, Planning Manager for Barratt Homes commented: “We work hard to produce plans that incorporate the needs of the locality while bringing other benefits to the existing communities; be that through the provision of sports facilities, school funding or additional transport routes.

“We think most people agree that while we may move several times throughout our lives we all value our homes and understand the need to keep making provisions for those seeking to take that important first step onto the ladder.

“If you consider the large number of social and economic benefits that the development of new homes provides, as well as resolving existing local issues such as school capacity, drainage infrastructure or highways capacity then we would hope that everyone can get behind these schemes, recognising the long term benefits.”

75 per cent of the spectacular homes have been snapped up in just one year and now the sales team is urging anyone looking for a dream home in the Beverley area to visit the popular development today.

The final properties at this superb development are now ready for reservation and the sales team will be on hand daily to show house hunters around the fabulous homes and tell them about the fantastic deals on offer.

Home hunters seeking that all important first step on the ladder are being given an exciting boost as Barratt it is offering homes at The Worx for just 80 per cent of the purchase price and an unbelievable package of goodies to kit them out.

Buyers can expect everything from sofas, wardrobes and beds to coffee tables, crockery and cutlery. Not to mention carpets, light fittings and appliances. This deal is a lifeline to buyers that may have been worried about being able to afford and furnish a new home.

Examples of these furnished homes are available to view and will allow buyers the opportunity to really get a feel for the kind of contemporary living now within their reach.

The Worx, which has been hailed a ‘great success’ by local MP, Graham Stuart, is a superb development, situated at Figham Road, Beverley, offering buyers a range of house types in a desirable setting. Beverley town centre is just a stones throw away whilst superb transport links are available to Hull and the coastal resorts of Scarborough and Bridlington.

Thanks to Barratt’s Headstart scheme home hunters can move into a new two bedroom home at The Worx for as little as £395 per month (list price £109,995), giving them the perfect opportunity to move into a dream home without overstretching budgets.

Headstart is a payment deferral scheme that aims to make the buying process more affordable by allowing purchasers to move in for just 80 per cent of the price. The remaining 20 per cent is funded through a deferred Barratt loan which is payable in ten years time or when the property sells, whichever comes sooner.

Donna, Sales Advisor at The Worx said; “The Worx is a fantastic development and perfect for first time buyers in Beverley who thought that a new home was out of their reach. We welcome anyone struggling to get onto the property ladder to visit us today and we are sure to have a scheme to help them make the move into one of the remaining properties.”

For more information on The Worx please call the sales team on 01482 874634 open daily from 10am to 5pm or visit www.barratthomes.co.uk

The changes may mean that the amount of benefit you receive towards your rent will go down and you will have to pay the difference.

The council will be writing to all those in receipt of the benefits outlining the changes and setting out in detail how they will impact on the amount people get.

However, anyone with further inquiries is urged to ring the council on (01482) 394799, call into their local customer service centre, or visit the council website www.eastriding.gov.uk or go to www.direct.gov.uk for more details.

As speculation continues over what will happen to interest rates over the next few months or years, mortgage lenders are taking a mainly cautious approach to the deals they will offer.

Anyone looking to buy a house or secure a mortgage for their home in Beverley will know just how difficult is seems to make the right decision – do you try to take advantage of low interest rates now, or try to secure yourself against possible inflation rate hikes?

It’s quite clear which way some of the bigger lenders are leaning, as the cost of a tracker mortgage decreases while fixed-rate deals become more expensive According to figures from financial information group Moneyfacts.co.uk, the average cost of a two-year tracker mortgage for borrowers in Beverley has fallen to just 3.4 per cent, the lowest figures since 1988.

Many of the big players in the mortgage game – including Santander, Nationwide and Northern Rock – are leading the way in lower tracker mortages, which indicates they expect interest rates to rise over coming months.

Consequently, the cost of trying to insure yourself against interest rates rising is increasing.

The average cost of a two-year fixed mortgage in Beverley is now at a 10-month high of 4.9 per cent, although this does not seem to have deterred many borrowers who fear interest rate hikes as the best deals remain on the market for an average of 14 days compared to 28 days just 12 months ago.

Michelle Slade, spokeswoman for Moneyfacts.co.uk, explained that extra fears about increasing interest rates had caused more and more people to consider changing their mortgages, with 27.6 per cent more visitors to the website looking at new mortgage deals.

She said: “Some borrowers have taken a wait and see approach over the last two years, preferring to remain on a lender’s standard variable rate rather than move to a more expensive mortgage deal.”

The council’s private sector housing team is working towards compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) for the properties which will then be sold on to developers who agree to bring them up to a decent standard.

A notice has already been posted at a property in Lansdowne Road, Bridlington, and the council is also preparing to take action at a property in Beverley which has drawn complaints from neighbours.

Councillor Jane Evison, portfolio holder for cultural services, housing and public protection at the council, said: “Putting these properties back into use will not only provide homes for people, it will also help to keep the East Riding looking its best.

“The deterioration of an empty property can have a noticeable affect on the area. We can understand how people living near these properties feel, as they do not want to be affected by the possibility of fly tipping, anti-social behaviour or other problems empty homes can attract.

“Ideally we would always choose to work with the owners of an empty building to make sure it is put to good use, but where this is not possible we can choose to use a CPO to resolve the situation.”

The latest CPOs follow recent success in Seaton Road, Hessle, where a derelict three bedroom mid-terraced property was bought by the council. After the council completed the CPO process The Lands Tribunal set a price of £65,000. The house was then sold on the market for £68,000.

Terms of the sale included a time scale for the new owner to complete the refurbishment work to the house, which will ensure that the property is renovated and re-occupied.

The result will be beneficial to the whole of the Seaton Road area and demonstrates that the council is dedicated to improving residents’ quality of life.

Three empty properties in Goole will also be put back into use after the council negotiated to buy them from their owners, avoiding the CPO process.

Most empty properties are brought back into use by informal negotiation with the owner. Should that fail compulsory purchase under The Housing Act (1985) is the last resort to restore a home to use.

Anyone concerned about an empty property should contact Roger Curry, empty property officer, on (01482) 396016.

THE housing market in Yorkshire received a timely boost today when the region’s leading housebuilder said it would be opening 15 new sites this year alone.

Barratt Yorkshire plans to start work on 15 new developments comprising 1860 new homes before the end of 2011. The developments have a total sales value of close to £281m and provide further evidence that the property market in Yorkshire is likely to outperform some other parts of the country.

“Many househunters in Yorkshire think that now is a good time to buy because prices are lower than in 2007 and interest rates are rock bottom. We believe that this will help sustain the local housing market whatever happens to the national economy,” said Paul Hogan, Sales Director at Barratt Yorkshire East.

“We would not be making this significant commitment to the market in this area unless we were confident about its prospects in the medium-term.”

“By building these developments we will be bringing new jobs to Yorkshire. We will also be creating well-designed, competitively-priced new homes which local people need.”

For more information on new developments in your area please call central sales on 0844 8115533 or visit www.barratthomes.co.uk

Two informal events are being held in Goole and Bridlington by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s private sector housing team as part of the council’s commitment to working in partnership with private landlords and promoting responsible letting.

The seminars will provide information about issues including imminent housing benefit changes and amendments to legislation around the rental of properties.

Those taking part will also hear from a local landlord about best practice and the use of tenant guarantors.

The event in Goole will also include a update presentation on the additional licensing scheme which has recently been introduced in the town, while those who attend the event in Bridlington will be able to discuss the level of fire precautions acceptable in properties.

Sarah Horner, the council’s landlord liaison officer, has helped to organise the events. She said:  “The seminars will be a useful opportunity for private landlords to put their questions to us and share their ideas in a relaxed and informal setting.”

The first seminar will be held on Thursday, 17 March, in the Waterfront Suite at Goole Leisure Centre, while the second will be held on Monday, 28 March, in the Harbour Suite at The Spa Bridlington.

Both events will take place between 6pm and 8.30pm.

For more information or to book a place on either seminar please email private.sector.housing@eastriding.gov.uk stating which you would like to attend as well as your name, address and contact phone number or call the private sector housing team on (01482) 396301 selecting option 2.

Bee numbers declined by 20 per cent last winter alone, according to a survey by the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA).

And that’s not only bad news for people who like honey. Because bees are vital pollinators in the food chain, with some 70 per cent of crops in the UK either dependent on, or benefiting from, visits from the humble bee. It has even been estimated that their value to the British economy is around £200 million.

With modern farming practices continuing to disturb the bee’s natural habitats, Barratt Yorkshire East is taking the initiative by planting species such as honeysuckles, foxgloves, poppies, lavenders and catmint around its new homes. All of these make the bee feel like it is in clover.

“We aim to create outstanding environments where people will aspire to live,” said Paul Hogan, Sales Director at Barratt Yorkshire East.

“For that reason we want to support the biodiversity at our developments and create new habitats which will be there for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.”

“Plants and shrubs need to be put-in now if they’re going to be any use when the bees emerge from their hives in the spring.  We hope that our initiative will raise awareness of how important the bee is in the British garden and encourage others to provide more habitat and forage at their own homes.”

“It is very encouraging to see companies such as Barratt Yorkshire East  taking steps to help the bee population and would persuade more people to think about ways that they too can help,” said Tim Lovett, President of the BBKA.

“People can encourage bees to visit their garden by planting single flowering plants and vegetables, such as flowering herbs, mints and beans. Tall plants such as foxgloves and hollyhocks are also popular with bees.”

Participating developments in the Wakefield area include Millers Croft, Castleford and The Wharf, Knottingley.

For further information on current availability and prices at Barratt Yorkshire East please call Central Sales on 0800 590 733 or visit www.barratthomes.co.uk

Yorkshire’s leading housebuilder is giving First Time Buyers the chance to move into a new home in the New Year for just 85 per cent of the price.

The outstanding offer means that buyers could get on the property ladder in Yorkshire in the next few months with a deposit as low as just £5499.

Barratt Yorkshire East’s Head Start scheme is specifically designed for homebuyers who want to get on the housing ladder as soon as possible but don’t have the large deposit required by some lenders.

“Our message is very simple – you could move into a new Barratt home now for just 85 per cent of the price and with a minimal deposit,” said Paul Hogan, Sales Director at Barratt Yorkshire East.

“With Head Start, you would need a deposit of just five per cent and only an 80 per cent mortgage. That means lower monthly repayments and access to more affordable mortgage rates

“It is an ideal solution for First Time Buyers who have been priced out of the market for years. But they have been struggling to take advantage of the lower prices which we’ve seen since 2007 because of the twin obstacles of raising a deposit and getting a mortgage.”

Under Head Start, homebuyers can purchase a new Barratt home for just 85 per cent of the asking price, with an 80 per cent mortgage and a five per cent deposit. The remaining 15 per cent is paid back, interest free, after 10 years or when the property is sold – whichever comes sooner.

Participating developments in the Beverley area is The Worx.

For more information on developments in the Beverley area please call 0800 590733 visit www.barratthomes.co.uk

An additional licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation has been introduced in the south east of Goole by East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

Since Friday, 14 January, properties in this area require a license if they are two or more storeys tall and occupied by four or more people that do not form a single household but share facilities.

These properties are now designated as licensable houses in multiple occupation, which helps the council ensure that the properties are being managed effectively, have sufficient amenities and adequate fire precautions for the people living there.

The license also requires landlords to act in a responsible fashion. Inspections will be carried out on properties by officers from the private sector housing team.

If landlords think they may own a licensable property they should apply for a license as soon as possible to avoid legal action.

Councillor Jane Evison, portfolio holder for cultural services, housing and public protection at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “This work will help us to make sure the safety of tenants remains a priority.

“The additional licensing scheme in Goole is a great way to make sure that the right facilities are available for people living in rented accommodation there – whether that is kitchens and bathrooms or fire plans which will help everyone to escape the property safely should the worst happen.”

Before the additional licensing scheme was introduced the council wrote to all known landlords and to all 4,041 properties within the affected area of Goole to consult with them about the proposed change.

Those written to were invited to get in touch with the council to discuss any concerns they had around this project.

The private sector housing team received replies from around 10 per cent of the properties written to within Goole, and 83 per cent of these were in favour of the proposals. A minority of just 49 properties wrote back to say they did not agree with the implementation of additional licensing.

Any landlords or residents who would like further information can ring (01482) 396301 selecting option two or email private.sector.housing@eastriding.gov.uk

Yorkshire’s leading upmarket housebuilder will mark National Nest Box Week for a second consecutive year by putting up dozens of nest boxes at its developments across the region.

The move comes as many much-loved species of garden birds continue to decline. In the last 30 years starling numbers have fallen by 77 per cent, house sparrows by 64 per cent, blackbirds 39 per cent and robins 37 per cent, according to an annual survey by the British Trust for Ornithology.

The phenomenon is attributed to the loss of gardens and suitable nesting sites in modern houses so David Wilson Yorkshire East will help to counter the trend by installing nest boxes in the homes of purchasers who move in during February.

Last year the upmarket housebuilder built dozens of comfortable new homes for Yorkshire’s avian residents. This year staff hope to put up even more of the nest boxes, which are perfectly suited to starlings, house sparrows and other traditional hole-nesting species.

“A beautiful environment complete with native plants and traditional garden birds is an integral part of the communities we build,” said Paul Hogan, Sales Director at David Wilson Yorkshire East.”

“That is why we are committed to doing everything we can to support the wildlife at our developments and create new habitats that will be sustainable for generations to come.”

“The peak of the nesting season is in May but it is important to put up nesting boxes well in advance so that birds can become accustomed to them. We are therefore acting now to put nest boxes on both newly built homes and suitable trees at the development.”

Jeff Baker of the British Trust for Ornithology said: “We are delighted that David Wilson Yorkshire East is supporting our 2011 National Nest Box Week. The fact that a leading housebuilder is showing the way to help our feathered friends is a very exciting development.”

National Nest Box Week runs from 14-21st February 2011 and is organised by the British Trust for Ornithology, Britain’s leading bird research charity. For further information visit www.bto.org/nnbw

For more information on participating developments call 0800 590733 or visit www.dwh.co.uk

STAFF at Barratt Yorkshire East are celebrating after enjoying remarkable sales success in the year just gone, showing that demand for new homes in the area remains strong despite the mixed national picture.

The Yorkshire-based housebuilder sold homes worth £30 million in the final six months of the year just ended – hitting its own internal targets. The outcome provides solid evidence that demand in the local housing market remain strong.

“We are proud of our reputation for building high quality homes in great locations throughout the region which has enabled us to perform strongly despite the uncertainty about the wider economy at the moment,” said Paul Hogan, Sales Director at Barratt Yorkshire East.

“It is clear that plenty of customers think now is a great time to take their next step on the property ladder. Prices are lower than they were in 2007 and interest rates are low too which means rock bottom mortgage repayments.”

“What gives us the edge over other people selling homes is that we can provide customers with innovative financial incentives which enable them to get a mortgage – the key issue for anyone buying today.”

“It’s a great result for the last six months and speaks volumes about the talent and commitment of our team here in Yorkshire. We’re hoping for continued success and many more satisfied customers in 2011.”

Developments in the Beverley area include The Worx.

For further information on developments in your area please call central sales on 0800 590733 or visit www.barratthomes.co.uk

On Saturday 29^th and Sunday 30^th January buyers can enjoy some drinks, nibbles and an exclusive sneak peek at plans for the bespoke homes as well as the opportunity to reserve a plot at amazing pre-construction prices.

Bradley Park is an intimate development of just 39 homes, all of which are never before seen house types; sure to be a big hit with buyers seeking the comfort and well-designed features of a new home with some added creativity.

Home hunters will be able to choose from a range of three, four and five bedroom homes with prices starting from just £149,995.

Picturesque Market Weighton offers a host of amenities for prospective Bradley Park buyers and is just a stones throw away from York, Beverley and Hull; perfect for a commute or access to the leisure and retail activities on offer across the region.

David Wilson is also offering buyers the chance to take advantage of some of its fantastic deals to make owning a dream new home a reality. On offer at Bradley Park are the famous Headstart and Part Exchange schemes (selected plots only, terms and conditions apply).

Sue Blackburn, Sales Manager for David Wilson Yorkshire East commented; “Bradley Park is set to be a huge success. With such a small number of homes available and a new range of style to choose from, interested buyers need to join us on launch weekend to avoid disappointment.”

Interested buyers should visit www.dwh.co.uk for more information or call central sales on 0800 590733.

If you want a great Tenant who will look after your property we have more waiting!

With the support of Martin & Co Derby the team, including coaches Brian and Nathan, now have a redesigned logo, training jackets, winter coats and hats, sporting the nationally recognised Martin & Co brand.

The clothing and logo were supplied by Kustomised.co.uk, who happen to be in business two doors down from Martin & Co.

“We are experiencing one of the coldest winters for years,  so Martin & Co’s support is very welcome.  The boys are very proud of their new kit, and are the envy of their schoolmates!”  (Brian Mills)

Martin & Co work closely with Brian, and a number of other local contractors to ensure that the cost of work required to maintain or improve properties is quoted at competitve rates, and is completed to a high standard.  All large projects are overseen personally by the Managing Director. 

This level of attention  has helped to establish Martin & Co Derby at the forefront of customer service for letting agents in Derby, and the number one choice for landlords.

Mr Lidar, a landlord for whom the agency recently moved in a tenant to a three bed property in Chellaston, sent an email following check in:

“Thanks to the best letting agents in Derby”.

Anyway, the theme of the meeting was better networking – I’m sure that you have all tried networking and many have found iot doesn’t work for you – you just don’t generate the business that you are looking for. As explained by the speaker this is hardly a surprise – how can you do business with someone you met for about five minutes whilst eating breakfast?

So, whats the solution? Well according to the speaker the thing to do is to collect business cards – like a demon! (Oh I do dislike that kind of thing!). Anyway once you have these cards then try to arrange meetings (1-2-1s) with as many of your new contacts as you can. Use this as an opportunity to get to know them – it doesn’t matter whether they have any business for you it could be that the next person they meet has nothing for them but maybe has something for you!

Will it work? Who knows but it seems worth a try – of course in the mean time you could always just pop into the Office and say “Hi” – sit down have a cup of coffee and see how things go from there!

See you soon!

BUY TO LET LENDING IS IMPROVING -

www.martincomortgages.co.uk

Eastbourne property values still represent a very good return in the rental sector come and talk to the Eastbourne team for

sound advice on property aquisition for the rental market

only mortgage repayment calculation. Our free online service allows you to access all of these new mortgage products and compare them with all competing products in the market.

.

Our online service is free-to-register and there is no broker fee,

Particularly surprising perhaps has been the number on enquiries regarding relocations – from those needing a 2 bedroom place just for themselves and a partner to those looking at the upper end of the market for large detached houses.

So if you no someone who is perhaps moving away from Swindon and needs to sell – perhaps renting out the family home could be the answer – and who knows? maybe the new tenant will like it so much that he will want to buy it!

The current economic climate has changed the way that many people think about renting property and it is rapidly becoming  a serious alternative to buying. With the  requirement for larger deposits and low loan to value restrictions, many would be home owners are realising the benefits and flexiblity that renting brings.

And with pension funds dwindling, property could provide a better long term performance than other investment forms, particularly when considering the current level of house prices. Professional investors are seeing rental yields far ahead of interest on savings and, for many, it is an ideal time to grow their portfolios

Here’s some views of what may happen this year to the property market that may just help you with that decision.

The majority of property commentators predict;

1. Residential property prices will go down in 2011, yet they offer us hope – believing that this year will see the market bottoming out and property prices growing, albeit slowly in 2012

2. Borrowing money will be as difficult in 2011 as it was in 2010

3. Inflation will stay above The Bank of England’s target putting them under pressure to raise interest rates by the middle of 2011

4. Demand for rental properties will continue to increase as will the rent being charged.

5.The number of new homes being built will not be able to meet demand for housing

Is now the optimum time to buy property?

Our view is that it is always worth investing in property (no shock there!) as long as you invest for the long term you are very likely to make a profit. The profit is even better if you buy and sell at the optimum times, a little luck is normally needed to get this timing right, but every now and again it becomes easy to recognise one of those times and now is one of those times – it is time to buy?

If you are in a position to gear up from your present portfolio or you have cash available it looks very likely you will find some excellent properties at excellent prices.

If it’s time to buy, where should you buy.

Whether you like to chase the best areas in the country or even the world or you prefer to stay close to home and find the best local market, the local Letting Agent is the most likely to have the answers you are looking for.

We think finding the right area is more important than timing and that you deserve valuable information that will help you make a successful decision. Naturally, we believe at Martin & Co that we are the Letting Agent who can supply you with this valuable information.

We’d love to help, so if you are looking to expand your buy-to-let property portfolio or buy your first rental property contact us by phone, email or pop in to see us at 173 Victoria Road, Aldershot . We are more than happy to give unbiased advice and guidance on current rental values.Visit our homepage here for our office location.

We wish you all the very best for 2011.

Warm regards from Richard, James & all the team at Martin & Co Aldershot

The Buy to Let market looks set to hot up over the coming months, with tenant demand growing dramatically whilst the number of available properties decreases. And this looks like being the situation over the medium term as well. According to a report from Capital Economics, an organisation that predicted house prices would fall four or five years before they did, it is likely that, by 2015, 17% of households will live in privately rented accomodation, up from today’s level of 14%.

The current economic climate has changed the way that many people think about renting property and it is rapidly becoming  a serious alternative to buying. With the  requirement for larger deposits and low loan to value restrictions, many would be home owners are realising the benefits and flexiblity that renting brings.

And with pension funds dwindling, property could provide a better long term performance than other investment forms, particularly when considering the current level of house prices. Professional investors are seeing rental yields far ahead of interest on savings and, for many, it is an ideal time to grow their portfolios

“If you value your property you’ll value our service”

Findings from the January Upad Landlord Confidence Index show that 63% of residential landlords are more confident than last month, up from 60% in December.

337 landlords responded to the question “Are you more confident or less confident about the buy-to-let market than you were last month?”

Of those who said that they felt more confident, most cited increased tenant demand for properties as the reason. Comments included:

•        “Rents are edging up even in South Wales. There’s demand from young women in particular for well presented properties that are competitively priced. “

•        “Within the last month I have raised rents by 10% across my whole portfolio.  Whether this is a true reflection of the rental market or whether rents have been artificially inflated due to lack of first time buyer activity, remains to be seen.”

•        “There seems to be a great demand for good quality rental properties.  Wish we had more!”

To arrange a FREE Market Appraisal of your proeprty contact Martin & Co Poole Today!

Tel: 01202 710171

Email: poole@martinco.com

Martin & Co., letting agents erdington help people to move into Erdington by providing quality flats to rent. There information can be found on http://www.martinco.com/lettings-agents/erdington. A pro-active letting agent they would be happy to help with any questions you may have about Erdington and property.

The release of the latest unemployment figures indicate that difficult times continue to loom for the UK economy, potentially affecting thousands of private landlords. 

Economists now fear that the UK’s labour market will be unable to sustain the government cuts, and with previously safe jobs in the public sector at risk even those in what were once considered stable jobs could find themselves out of work in the coming months.

This is where Martin & Co (Wokingham & Bracknell) can help. In partnership with HomeLet, the UK’s leading insurance provider for the lettings industry, Martin & Co can provide landlords with fast and accurate tenant referencing and guarantee their rental income should the tenant fail to pay.

Commenting on the lettings market Peter Harris, Principal said: “Finding the right tenants can be a time consuming process but by working in partnership with HomeLet for our tenant referencing we already have a head start. Our tenant references provide landlords with detailed information about prospective tenants including their credit history, employer’s references and previous landlord references.

“Sadly, in the current economic climate there’s no longer any certainty that any tenant, no matter how good their references are, will be able to make their rental payments for the entire tenancy term. That’s why we offer the exclusive Martin & Co Promise, which protects the landlord’s rental income even if one of their tenants goes in to arrears.”

The Martin & Co Promise provides cover for the whole property, no matter how many tenants a landlord has. Martin & Co pay the monthly rent for up to a maximum of 5 months from the first date of arrears and even provide 75% of the rent for 2 months whilst they’re re-marketing the property to find suitable tenants.

Peter continued “I’d strongly urge any landlord to consider protecting their rental income. If a tenant does fail to pay the rent, for what ever reason, landlords may be sympathetic but it could cost them thousands in missed rent and legal fees.

“The Martin & Co Promise also includes access to a specialist legal team who take care of everything on the landlord’s behalf if the worse happens. This really helps to take the stress out of what can be an extremely difficult situation.”

The Martin & Co Promise also provides cover for legal expenses up to £75,000 to cover eviction costs if a tenant fails to pay the rent.

Sharron has a lot experience to bring forward to the business, she has worked previous in the lettings industry having worked for a couple of local agents and also as a legal secretary which involved all aspects of property law and administration.

Sharon said “I am delighted to be part of the Martin & Co team. This is a great opportunity for me. The company has established a superb name and reputation across the country and I am looking forward to contributing to the success of franchise network at a local level.

Sharon will be joining a team of 8 staff. As a lettings coordinator/property management will be responsible for the management of front office, which includes dealing with face to face, telephone and e-mail enquiries. Also, updating the Martin & Co website, property visits and referencing.

Barratt Yorkshire East is unveiling a major initiative to sell Showhomes at its developments to buy-to-let investors– as investor buyers’ return to the Yorkshire property market in significant numbers for the first time in four years.

The housebuilder says the return of investors may be an early sign that the local property market will outperform other areas of the country in 2011.

“We have not seen this level of demand from investor buyers outside of Yorkshire since the downturn of 2007,” said Paul Hogan, Sales Director at Barratt Yorkshire East.

“That is why we are today unveiling a deal called Showhome leaseback, which comes with a guaranteed yield of seven per cent.”

“Buyers have the opportunity to buy the Showhome at selected developments in the region and then immediately lease it back to us for up to five years to use as a marketing suite.”

“Rather than have to worry about untidy tenants, the investor knows that we will maintain the property in pristine condition. Barratt is also the only major housebuilder which guarantees internal fixtures and fittings for a full five years.”

Rents in Yorkshire are rising rapidly which means that rental homes are increasingly in demand. Whereas investors were primarily interested in flats before 2007, today they are looking for high-quality new houses.

“They take the view that the direction of house prices in the medium term is up,” added Paul Hogan. “So they expect to be sitting on a tidy profit in three to five years’ time.”

“We expect high demand for this product and have set-up a new section of our website at www.barratthomes.co.uk/showhome to provide full details to interested investors.”

For further information on investment opportunities please call central sales on 0800 590733 or visit www.barratthomes.co.uk

Caption; Barratt’s beautiful showhomes offer a guaranteed seven per cent yield to investors.

The council is hoping to buy up to ten properties on the market throughout the East Riding, which will be renovated and added to the council’s housing stock.

The properties will make 2011 a special year for families who are offered somewhere to live. Six of the properties have already been acquired by the council.

The move to bring even more housing stock to those on the housing waiting list in the East Riding comes as the council and the HCA work on a project to build 331 new homes to be added to social housing stock in the area.

Councillor Jane Evison, portfolio holder for cultural services, housing and public protection at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “We are so pleased to be working with the HCA on another project which will make a real difference to families living in the East Riding.

“This council has already shown its commitment to providing more high quality housing stock for residents throughout the area by working with local contractors and the HCA to build hundreds of homes which will benefit East Riding residents.

“Buying these older properties is another way that we can help people waiting for a home, by putting houses for sale in the area to good use.

“I look forward to seeing these properties refurbished and becoming homes for families in the near future.”

The total cost of the properties being looked at is just over £1m and the HCA will contribute nearly half of this amount.

Jayne Bishop and her family will be moving into their new home in Denison Road, Pocklington in the next few weeks. The three bedroom house was bought as part of the programme.

She said: “Due to unforeseen circumstances both my children and I faced the possibility of being homeless which caused an enormous amount of upset and pressure within our family home.

“I was overwhelmed with the care and support the council’s housing department gave us. We are now looking very much forward to moving into our new home and very pleased that it’s within the same community.

“We are extremely grateful to the council for making it possible for us to remain within the same area avoiding any disruption with schools and work. It makes me very proud to be part of the East Riding community.”

Lisa Jones, areas manager at the Homes and Communities Agency, said:
“It is fantastic news  that we have been able to  provide  East Riding  with 50 per cent of the funds needed  to help them meet their ambition and we are thrilled that the Bishop family  have been able to start 2011 by moving into a new home.

“By helping the council buy individual empty houses across the district we can ensure that the different housing needs of all local people are met.”

Properties in Beverley, Goole, Holme upon Spalding Moor, Pocklington, and Woodmansey are part of the council’s shopping list as part of the project with a view to providing them to families from mid March. Work is now starting to make sure the properties are up-to-standard in time for the first families to move in.

The council’s share of the funding will come from ring-fenced commuted sums that are designed to ensure that affordable housing is widely available.

This is money paid by developers as a part of the planning process where they have built developments within the East Riding without an element of affordable housing.

The survey is going out to around 85,000 households, including all households in rural areas and a sample in urban areas.

Councillor Jane Evison, cabinet portfolio holder for cultural services, housing and public protection, said: “The council urges people to complete the survey as the information is most important in helping to develop policies for planning, affordable housing and the housing needs of particular groups such as the elderly.”

The council stresses that the information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence and in accordance with the Data Protection Act (1998). No published reports will allow identification of individuals.

The return date for the survey is 7 February 2011. A report will be prepared for the general public in summer 2011 and information about the results will also be posted on the council’s website.

Under The Environmental Protection Act 1990, if waste is found dumped it is the person who it originally belonged to who is held legally responsible for it. They could face prosecution and a maximum fine of £5,000.

Anyone paying a carrier to dispose of their waste is advised to check that they are registered with the Environment Agency as a registered waste carrier and ask to see their registered waste carrier’s certificate. It is also a good idea to ask where the waste will be taken for disposal.

If they are unable to answer these questions or produce the correct documents another waste carrier should be used.

Rob Parkinson, streetscene environmental enforcement officer, said “People often have no idea that they are breaking the law until they are caught up in a prosecution case, please don’t let this happen to you.

“Please remember, you have a responsibility to ensure your waste cannot escape from your control and that it is going to be disposed of in a correct manner. If your waste is discovered fly-tipped, you could be held responsible and fined.”

The threat of prosecution and fine is not limited to home owners who use unregistered waste carriers.  It also applies to those whose waste is disposed of by other tradesmen including builders, gardeners and roofing contractors.

Homeowners are also advised to make a note of the vehicle registration number of the vehicle used to remove the waste, any contact details for the individuals, and a description of them, which may be useful if they do dispose of the waste illegally.

The Environment Agency can be contacted on 08708 506 506 for a waste carrier validation check.

Unfortunately, conmen and disreputable traders will see the misfortune of those whose homes have been damaged as a way of making easy money.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is warning members of the public to be on their guard when dealing with traders who knock at the door, without invitation, offering to carry out repairs or provide other services.

Councillor Jane Evison, the council’s portfolio holder for cultural services, housing and public protection, said: “The recent heavy snow and long periods of frost have caused damage to some buildings.  We want to alert potential victims to methods used by unscrupulous traders and urge people to treat doorstep callers with caution.”

Colin Briggs, the council’s trading standards services manager said: “I am very concerned that cowboy itinerant traders will take this opportunity to prey on people who have already suffered as a result of the cold.

“If you need any remedial work to be carried out to rectify damage to your home, ensure that you use traders who have a known track record or traders that are recommended to you by your insurance company.

“Do not be tempted by a promise of a quick fix from a complete stranger who knocks on your door, this will usually turn out to be expensive and of poor quality. Remember that all the reputable traders in the area will be busy so you will need to be patient, but this patience is more likely to be rewarded by a good quality job.”

Householders are advised to get three quotes in respect of any snow or ice damage, in order to check what work is required and compare prices.  They are also advised to check with their insurance companies before agreeing to work being done.

Anyone who may have been approached by a cowboy builder or simply has concerns about traders acting suspiciously can contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

Installing renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels, is not only good for the environment, but it can also be an investment.  Under the Government’s Feed-in-Tariff scheme, a typical three-bedroom property with a two kilowatt solar panel installation could earn around £800 per annum, as well as make an £120 per annum saving on fuel bills.  Payments are made to the property’s owner for 25 years, paying off the initial installation costs and providing a guaranteed income for the future.

At the event, to be held on Thursday January 27th 2011, interested landlords will be given information on the Government’s incentives, what renewable technologies are on the market and easy ways to make properties more energy efficient.

Organised by the Humber Housing Partnership in association with the Energy Saving Trust, the half day event, at the Rope Walk in Barton-upon-Humber, is free to attend and will run from 9.30am to 12.30pm, followed by a buffet lunch.

“We want as many landlords as possible in the Humber to benefit from the Government’s incentives ” said Councillor Jane Evison, Chair of the Humber Housing Partnership.  “This event will provide an opportunity for local landlords to put questions to experts and find out what they need to consider before installing renewable energy technologies”

If you are a landlord and are interested in attending this event or would like more information contact Matt Lewer on 01482 396115 or at matt.lewer@eastriding.gov.uk.  Spaces are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.