Property – Metro https://metro.co.uk Metro.co.uk: News, Sport, Showbiz, Celebrities from Metro Mon, 20 Nov 2023 12:15:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.2 https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/cropped-m-icon-black-9693.png?w=32 Property – Metro https://metro.co.uk 32 32 Woman transforms humble home increasing value from £275,000 to £450,000 https://metro.co.uk/2023/11/20/diy-project-sees-house-value-increase-275-000-450-000-19848751/ https://metro.co.uk/2023/11/20/diy-project-sees-house-value-increase-275-000-450-000-19848751/#respond Mon, 20 Nov 2023 12:14:07 +0000 https://metro.co.uk/?p=19848751
home before and after
The colourful transformation in full force (Picture: Mediadrumworld)

A woman with a budget of £22,000 managed to add nearly £200,000 onto the value of her home through DIY.

Retail buyer Helen Sellwood, 38, from County Durham changed the entire face of her house as a lockdown project.

Helen redecorated the entire house, remodelled the kitchen, levelled the garden and added new paving, changed the colour of the house and added different wallpaper in two out of four of the bedrooms.

And, as a result of her efforts, she converted her humble £275,000 house into a luxury £450,000 home.

Bathroom before renovation DURHAM THIS WOMAN has revealed how she converted her humble ?275K house into a luxury ?450K home in a bid to beat her lockdown blues while making a profit on the side. With a budget of just ?22K, retail buyer Helen Sellwood (38) from County Durham changed the entire face of her house and made a tidy return of ?140K as part of her battle against lockdown blues. Helen lives with her husband, Dave Sellwood who is a sales executive, her two sons, Harry (7) and Austin (2), and her Bella, their Boston Terrier. They redecorated the entire house, remodelled their kitchen, levelled the garden and added new paving, changed the colour of the house and added different wallpaper in two out of four of the bedrooms. The couple also re-painted the bathrooms and used tile paint to get rid of the tired beige tiles, refurbished the living and dining room and even changed the look of their stairs. ?I had a difficult time before lockdown and had been in a job I really didn?t like,? she said. ?It was so hard not being able to see family and friends in the months that followed, but lockdown gave me a chance to be creative again and a happy distraction. ?This made me try new things I wouldn?t have had time for before, like upcycling old furniture with murals and painting bathroom tiles. ?The paint for our living room cost ?150, and the sofas, ?1800. We bought a footstool off Facebook marketplace and then painted it using chalk paint, which cost us ?140 in total. ?For the dining room, the paint cost us ?100, and we got the table free off Facebook marketplace.
Bathroom before renovation (Picture: mediadrumimages/@baliol.house)
Kitchen being remodelled DURHAM THIS WOMAN has revealed how she converted her humble ?275K house into a luxury ?450K home in a bid to beat her lockdown blues while making a profit on the side. With a budget of just ?22K, retail buyer Helen Sellwood (38) from County Durham changed the entire face of her house and made a tidy return of ?140K as part of her battle against lockdown blues. Helen lives with her husband, Dave Sellwood who is a sales executive, her two sons, Harry (7) and Austin (2), and her Bella, their Boston Terrier. They redecorated the entire house, remodelled their kitchen, levelled the garden and added new paving, changed the colour of the house and added different wallpaper in two out of four of the bedrooms. The couple also re-painted the bathrooms and used tile paint to get rid of the tired beige tiles, refurbished the living and dining room and even changed the look of their stairs. ?I had a difficult time before lockdown and had been in a job I really didn?t like,? she said. ?It was so hard not being able to see family and friends in the months that followed, but lockdown gave me a chance to be creative again and a happy distraction. ?This made me try new things I wouldn?t have had time for before, like upcycling old furniture with murals and painting bathroom tiles. ?The paint for our living room cost ?150, and the sofas, ?1800. We bought a footstool off Facebook marketplace and then painted it using chalk paint, which cost us ?140 in total. ?For the dining room, the paint cost us ?100, and we got the table free off Facebook marketplace.
Kitchen being remodelled (Picture: mediadrumimages/@baliol.house)
living room before renovation
The living room before the renovation (Picture: mediadrumimages/@baliol.house)
Kitchen before renovation
The kitchen before the reno (Picture: mediadrumimages/@baliol.house)

She also re-painted the bathrooms and used tile paint to get rid of the tired beige tiles, refurbished the living and dining room and even changed the look of their stairs.

‘I had a difficult time before lockdown and had been in a job I really didn’t like,’ she said.

‘It was so hard not being able to see family and friends in the months that followed but lockdown gave me a chance to be creative again and a happy distraction.

‘This made me try new things I wouldn’t have had time for before, like upcycling old furniture with murals and painting bathroom tiles.’

Helen painted her footstool with chalk paint.
Helen painted her footstool with chalk paint (Picture: mediadrumimages/@baliol.house)
Bathroom after renovation
Bathroom after renovation (Picture: mediadrumimages/@baliol.house)
the colourful home in Durham
She puts colour into every aspect of her home (Picture: mediadrumimages/@baliol.house)

Now the bright and colourful home is both on trend and more profitable.

Helen said the kitchen was the biggest project, and it cost £17,000 in total, including labour.

She said: ‘We installed new units that cost around £7,000, a mirostone worktop – a modified acrylic which gives the look and feel of natural stone surfaces – cost us £1,500, the rest, flooring, fitting, a new door and a new radiator together cost us £3,750,’ she said.

‘We saved about £12000 on the kitchen by shopping around and getting things for cheap off online marketplaces and second-hand stores.

‘We have saved thousands in labour costs by doing a lot of the work ourselves and about £10,000 on putting new bathrooms in by upcycling the ones we had and painting every surface, including the vanity units and the tiles.’

the colourful home in Durham
She doesn’t care for minimalism (Picture: mediadrumimages/@baliol.house)
Close up of Helen
Helen loves doing DIY (Picture: mediadrumimages/@baliol.house)
Living room before the rennovation
Living room before the rennovation (Picture: mediadrumimages/@baliol.house)

Helen adds another huge job was the back garden.

She explains: ‘It was a run-down space. My dad and brother are landscapers, and they completely levelled the area and added new paving, along with a herringbone fence and a pallet sofa, which turned it into a lovely place to relax during summers.’

According to Helen, social media has had a huge impact on her decor decisions around the house.

At first, she wasn’t keen on using wallpaper around the house, but when she saw it everywhere on Instagram, she became ‘obsessed’ and incorporated it around the house.

House stairs after renovation
House stairs after renovation (Picture: mediadrumimages/@baliol.house)

‘It really adds depth to a scheme and gives it such a cosy feel,’ she said.

‘Instagram also inspired me to wallpaper a ceiling! I added the tree mural from the Swedish brand Rebel Walls to our loft ceiling, which was a huge project, but I loved it.’

Helen enjoys a maximalist lifestyle and got rid of the previous neutral tones in the house.

‘I think maximalism is about expressing your personality and surrounding yourself with items you love and have a purpose,’ she said.

‘It isn’t merely about consumerism. So many items in our home are from charity shops or off the Facebook marketplace.

‘I have upcycled a lot of our furniture to give it a unique look. I also love collecting items from our travels as little keepsakes from places we have visited.

‘One can live a maximalist lifestyle with minimal things, and it just needs a little bit of creativity and some DIY.’

Her whole family loves the house, and whenever anyone new views their living space, they always leave them with comments like: ‘This is the house of my dreams’, ‘I wish I was as brave with colour’, and ‘It’s such a happy house to be in’.

Helen's DIY expense list:

For the Living Room:

  • Paint – £150
  • Sofas, £1800
  • Footstool off Facebook marketplace then painted – £100

For the Dining Room

  • Paint – £100
  • The Kitchen – £17,000 in total, including labour
  • Units cost around £7000
  • Mirostone worktop was £1500
  • Flooring and fitting was about £2500
  • New door £800
  • New radiator £450

Bedroom 1

  • Paint – £70
  • Wallpaper – £200
  • Bed – £600
  • Vintage wardrobe – £20
  • Dressing table – Free

Austin’s bedroom

  • Paint – £40
  • Blind £150
  • Built-in wardrobes £1300
  • Carpet £250

Harry’s bedroom

  • Paint – £50
  • Blind £170
  • Drawers £50
  • Bed £200

En-suite

  • Paint £150
  • Terrazzo chips for floor – £40
  • Floor paint and varnish – £60

TOTAL: £22,270

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We sold our belongings to live in a tiny shed — but we’re not roughing it https://metro.co.uk/2023/11/19/sold-belongings-live-a-shed-not-roughing-19845245/ https://metro.co.uk/2023/11/19/sold-belongings-live-a-shed-not-roughing-19845245/#respond Sun, 19 Nov 2023 16:30:17 +0000 https://metro.co.uk/?p=19845245
fin kernohan
The couple spent just $6,500 on a shed-like cabin. (Picture: Fin Kernohan/SWNS)

Fin Kernohan, 44, says she has always had an ‘adventurous spirit.’

As well as being a regular camper, the Thai native has previously lived on a narrowboat and in an attic.

But her biggest adventure to date is falling in love with her husband, John — a 61-year-old from Florida.

After getting married, the pair decided to live ‘off-grid’, in a home powered purely by solar and thermal energy.

But don’t think the pair are roughing it – their chic home includes an outdoor pool, boho interiors and a free standing bath tub.

Fin, who lives in Georgia, USA, said: ‘Every single morning when I get up, I’m like, ‘Man, I am living a dream – this is how I envisioned I’d live my life.’

Main area inside John and Fin?s off-grid cabin home. See SWNS story SWSMcabin. A couple sold all their belongings to move into a tiny off-grid
Small but chic (Picture: Fin Kernohan/SWNS)
Kitchen inside John and Fin?s off-grid cabin home. See SWNS story SWSMcabin. A couple sold all their belongings to move into a tiny off-grid
The kitchen is outdoors (Picture: Fin Kernohan/SWNS)

After meeting online in 2010, Fin and John struck up a bond despite being 4,000 miles apart. 

Their early days of dating involved traveling back and forth between Miami and London, where Fin lived. Then, they rented a narrowboat to live in England together.

By contrast, when Fin visited John in Miami, they stayed in his sprawling three-bedroom flat.

fin john
We could while away a few hours here (Picture: Fin Kernohan / SWNS)
Main area inside John and Fin?s off-grid cabin home. See SWNS story SWSMcabin. A couple sold all their belongings to move into a tiny off-grid
They’ve learnt how to utilise their space (Picture: Fin Kernohan / SWNS)

But it was an off-hand comment that led to their current way of life.

‘We had a joke conversation where she said ‘I don’t know where this relationship is going, but I’m never going to clean this place,’ John recalled.

‘I joked I’d hire a housekeeper – and she responded suggesting getting somewhere smaller.

Walk-in closet in John and Fin?s off-grid cabin home. See SWNS story SWSMcabin. A couple sold all their belongings to move into a tiny off-grid
Enough room for a walk in wardrobe (Picture: Fin Kernohan/SWNS)

‘The seed was planted.’

By 2013, Fin and John had got hitched, and she moved from London to the States. This time, however, Fin convinced her husband to go off-the-grid and live in a remote cabin, telling him: ‘I love the man you are when we’re out in the woods.’

They started out by spending $1,200 (£962) on a block of land before buying their 304sqft cabin, which set them back by $6,500 (£5,214). The couple then spent a further $6,000 (£4,813) getting furniture and electronics for the shed-like structure. 

They sold most of their possessions to pay for the cabin – and the early days of shed living weren’t always easy.

‘When we started out, about six months in, I thought we’d made a mistake because we never had any space,’ John admitted.

But Fin helped him see things differently. ‘She said: ‘if you want space, we have acres and acres out there, go take a walk,’ he added.

’I realised she was right, it’s what you make of the space, not its size – personal space doesn’t have to be a room.

‘If we ever get annoyed at each other, we just get over it real quick – we resolve the negative vibe and move on.’

fin
The cosy home means they don’t have mortgage debt. (Picture: Fin Kernohan / SWNS)

The pair have learnt to be innovative with their space. Their bathroom, for instance, also doubles as a greenhouse, while their kitchen is situated outdoors overlooking a pond of Koi Carp and other tropical fish.

In order to be as off-grid and sustainable as possible, they also use a biogas system, which involves creating cooking gas from non-compostable waste like leftover meat.

Over the past twelve years, John and Fin have slowly expanded their land through buying other adjoining plots, and even added another building to their paradise.

They’ve also become short-term getaway hosts, as they aim to show ‘It’s possible to live off-grid without roughing it.’

fin
Their bathroom also doubles as a greenhouse. (Picture: Fin Kernohan / SWNS)

In total, the couple have bought 16 acres of land. It cost them $83,000 (about £66,500), but it’s still cheaper than a mortgage – and their $3,000-$5,000 (£2,400 – £4,000) per month income as AirBnb hosts in surrounding cabins and yurts mean they live very comfortably and, most importantly, debt-free.

When they aren’t hosting similar properties for holidaymakers, they’re running ‘tiny house festivals’ to bring together like-minded people who also want to escape the hustle and bustle.

Still, John adds that he and Fin still attend parties in ‘big houses,’ but confesses that he ‘can’t believe’ they used to live that way. 

‘When I met John I already knew how I wanted to live my life and it wasn’t that hard to convince him,’ Fin added. ‘As a hunter he’s always in the woods, so I sort of knew he’d like it. If he didn’t, he’d have to! When I have a vision, you’re with me or you’re out!’

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‘We live on a £5million Cheshire farm and didn’t need a deposit’ https://metro.co.uk/2023/11/18/live-5million-farm-cheshire-didnt-need-a-deposit-19837285/ https://metro.co.uk/2023/11/18/live-5million-farm-cheshire-didnt-need-a-deposit-19837285/#respond Sat, 18 Nov 2023 08:00:00 +0000 https://metro.co.uk/?p=19837285
Mike and his family on the farm
We’re in Cheshire this week (Picture: Joel Goodman)

Welcome back to What I Own – Metro’s property series where we hear from homeowners about their buying experience.

This week, we are hearing form Mike – who has overseen the builds of sustainable, carbon-neutral residential homes in Cheshire, after securing a £1.45m development finance loan in 2020.

Mike now lives on site in one of these homes – which are designed to be as energy-efficient as possible – and sold the other three houses for £1.5m each. He found the original site listed for sale in Horse and Hound magazine.

Here’s what Mike had to say about his property journey…

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Mike Battersby, I’m 52 years old and I run a sustainable, carbon-neutral supply chain company alongside overseeing my regenerative farm based in Mottram St Andrew in Cheshire, England. I live with my wife, Rebecca Fallows-Battersby –who provides sustainable procurement consulting and runs a successful stud yard –and our 10-year-old daughter.

It’s a beautiful part of the country and sits in Cheshire’s greenbelt. It has an abundance of great walks, and the Peak District is on the doorstep.

Mike and his family on the farm
Something a little different this week (Picture: Joel Goodman)

When did you move in?

We moved to the farm in the year 2000 and developed one home in 2020. We then moved into our recent property which is on site in 2021. The total value of the farm with its two properties included is approximately worth £5m.

As we developed the property, no deposit was required. We paid for the development of the house using the profits from building and selling other projects that we have built. Together – the mortgage lender – provided £1.45m worth of development finance, which we put towards the development of the site.

What is the monthly cost of living here now; both mortgage and bills?

Council tax is our largest monthly bill, but we don’t currently have a mortgage. Council tax is about £3,500 a year, and bills are around £2,500 a year – so roughly £290 for council tax per month and £208 on bills.

As the house was built to a passive eco-friendly standard, our utility bills are low compared with a non-passive alternative. It is hard to put an exact number on this as we have just been through huge fluctuations in utility prices however, as these homes are filled with leading technology, they use up to 75% less energy than the average new build house. The premise of a passive house is that basically, you’re building an insulated airtight house so that the footprint of the house makes it environmentally sustainable.

The difference between a standard new build and a passive build is that everything to do with a passive build is designed to be sustainable, including the materials you’re using. So, for example, our panels use wood fibre that would otherwise go to waste, and our panels use about 30% less timber than a timber frame.

We set out to build was something ‘exclusive by design, inclusive by nature’ as we like to say. We want people to understand that building sustainably doesn’t mean you have to give up on luxury.

? Joel Goodman - 07973 332324 - all rights reserved . 09/11/2023. Cheshire , UK . Mike is a musician and enjoys practicing on one of his guitars. The family home and farm of husband and wife Mike Battersby and Rebecca Fallows-Battersby and their daughter Grace Battersby (ten) . Photo credit : Joel Goodman
‘As we developed the property, no deposit was required.’ (Picture: Joel Goodman)

What was the process of getting a development loan like for you? Did you find any parts challenging?

I’ve used Together, a housing group, for over 20 years on various property development projects. I like their individual approach when it comes to development loans and their ability to offer bespoke packages. The process was easy and enjoyable, I look forward to using them again in the future.

Where did you live before this – were you renting or living with family?
Before we purchased the farm we lived in Warrington in a four-bed detached property as my wife, Rebecca, was completing her business degree at Liverpool.

Mike and his family on the farm
‘It’s a beautiful part of the country and sits in Cheshire’s greenbelt’ (Picture: Joel Goodman)

What made you want to buy rather than renting?

We developed the property – we liked having control over the exact type of house I would be living in.

How did you find this property? What made you choose it?

We originally found the property through an advert in the Horse and Hound magazine.

How have you made the property feel like home?

We are both inspired by nature and so the house was designed to fit in with the natural world. The whole place feels like home. Rebecca has worked on many interior design projects. We like things to feel cosy and we love natural stone and timber. We love to take the traditional and give it a contemporary twist. We wanted open plan however not in a minimalist way. We like the kitchen to be the heart of the property and we love sumptuous bathrooms.

Mike and his family on the farm
‘We set out to build was something “exclusive by design, inclusive by nature”‘ (Picture: Joel Goodman)

What’s your favourite room and why?

The open plan kitchen living. the picture window makes you feel you’re in amongst the nature outside. In the summer the bifold makes it a perfect indoor/outdoor space.

Do you feel like you have enough space?

Yes, we have lots of space both indoor and out. Although the main living is open plan, the bedrooms are in a separate wing and the configuration makes them very private and cosy.

Do you have plans to change the property?

We never say never. Life is like the seasons it changes and evolves and sometimes your home needs to come along for the ride.

Are there any problems with the property that you have to deal with?

There are none that we can think of.

Mike and his family on the farm
‘This is our family home, and we would like to stay here for as long as possible’ (Picture: Joel Goodman)

What do you want people to know about buying a home?

We would advise people to think about why they are buying the home, and if it is a long-term move, to make sure that the house has the potential to meet your future goals. If you’re looking to build something of a passive nature, then use people with the experience not a general builder.

Something my grandmother used to say to me when I was a kid was that ‘you can only be responsible for your own behaviour’. And she’s right. We’re all responsible for the part we play in creating a better, healthier world for our children.

If all new houses were built as passive houses, the consumption of gas and fossil fuels will drop, as well as household energy bills, which is something which is really prominent right now. The government has set targets to be net zero by 2050, and in my opinion, the only way we will hit that target is to start looking at the carbon emissions emitted from our homes.

What are your plans for the future, in terms of housing? Do you plan to stay here long term?

This is our family home, and we would like to stay here for as long as possible and then hopefully our daughter will take it from there. We are currently involved in other projects and will hopefully create more passive projects for other people. Rebecca has recently refurbished one of our properties with estate agent Jackson Stopps & Staffs which is an amazing barn conversion called Skyfall. We have been asked to work on some third-party interior designs, which is also very exciting.

Shall we take a look around?

Mike's home in Cheshire
Let’s start the tour (Picture: Joel Goodman)
Mike's home in Cheshire
The family room (Picture: Joel Goodman)
Mike's home in Cheshire
Breakfast bar island (Picture: Joel Goodman)
Mike's home in Cheshire
The bar set-up (Picture: Joel Goodman)
Mike's home in Cheshire
(Picture: Joel Goodman)
Mike's home in Cheshire
The lounge area (Picture: Joel Goodman)
Mike's home in Cheshire
The open plan space – perfect for gymnastics (Picture: Joel Goodman)
Mike's home in Cheshire
From the entrance by the stable a utility room to clean off (Picture: Joel Goodman)
Mike's home in Cheshire
This lives in the utility room too (Picture: Joel Goodman)
Mike's home in Cheshire
View out of the master bedroom (Picture: Joel Goodman)
Mike's home in Cheshire
The dressing room off the master bedroom (Picture: Joel Goodman)
Mike's home in Cheshire
On the way to the en-suite (Picture: Joel Goodman)
Mike's home in Cheshire
Mike’s daughter’s bedroom (Picture: Joel Goodman)
Mike's home in Cheshire
Story time (Picture: Joel Goodman)
Mike's home in Cheshire
End of the corridor away from the lounge with Grace’s bedroom on the left (Picture: Joel Goodman)
Mike's home in Cheshire
Mike in the William Holland copper bath in the family bathroom (Picture: Joel Goodman)
Mike's home in Cheshire
Downstairs toilet behind the kitchen (Picture: Joel Goodman)
Mike and his family on the farm
The farm stables and family areas are linked by a bridge building which the horses can pass through (Picture: Joel Goodman)
Mike's home in Cheshire
A wine cellar beneath the open plan lounge, kitchen and dining area (Picture: Joel Goodman)

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Landlord charges £75 per month for ‘pet rent’, so your dog better get a job https://metro.co.uk/2023/11/17/landlord-charges-75-per-month-pet-rent-19837859/ https://metro.co.uk/2023/11/17/landlord-charges-75-per-month-pet-rent-19837859/#respond Fri, 17 Nov 2023 12:51:58 +0000 https://metro.co.uk/?p=19837859
This landlord charges you £75 per month in 'pet rent'
This landlord charges you £75 per month in ‘pet rent’ (picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The rental property market is a wild place, to say the least.

And in the latest instalment of ‘can the landlord actually do that?’, one woman stumbled across a rental listing charging £75 per month in ‘pet rent’.

The two-bed, two bath flat is situated in London’s Stepney Green, near Whitechapel and Bank. Professional landlord Fizzy Living is offering the property for a deposit of £2,300 and £2,180 per calendar month rent.

This means if you have a pet it’ll take your monthly total to £2,255. As if pets aren’t already expensive enough.

X (formerly Twitter) user Hannah Louise wrote: ‘Sometimes I think there is nothing a landlord could do that I would find shocking anymore and then they hit you with PET RENT.’

One person jokingly responded: ‘How is your pet meant to pay rent? Do they have a job?’

Another wrote: ‘PET RENT?!?!? I am aghast,’ while another said: ‘How much for a tamagotchi?’

Fellow renters on the platform shared their experiences of being charged for pets in their rental properties.

Hannah shared a screen shot from one person, who messaged her to say their building was charging £25 for hamsters.

Another wrote: ‘We pay £50 a month for our dog,’ while another said: ‘Mines £15 extra a month which I don’t massively mind, but I wish we didn’t have to.’

Someone else shared that they had to pay an extra £500 deposit so their landlord would allow their cat to live in the property, while another had to pay £200 and has to get the property professionally flea sprayed if they move out.

Clearly people are forking out the money. Research from Zoopla showed that a rental property being ‘pet friendly’ made it much more desirable but as of 2021 just 7% of landlords advertised their homes as being suitable for pets.

Properties are more desirable if they're pet friendly
Properties are more desirable if they’re pet friendly (picture: Getty Images)

Of the 1,261 landlords surveyed by SpareRoom back in 2018, 69% said they don’t allow pets in their properties because they’re worried about the smell or damage a pet might cause.

But, the same study found 88% of pet owners have never had any complaints and that their pets have never caused damage to a property.

The landlord for this two bed, two bath, Fizzy Living, states: ‘We love pets! Fizzy is London’s most pet-friendly landlord (thanks TimeOut London!) and we welcome pets at all Fizzy buildings.’

However, its £75 per month ‘pet rent’ is in place across every single one of its properties, which it claims ‘contributes to the additional cleaning and maintenance required’.

This only applies to pets like cats and dogs, not hamsters or fish that are contained.

But can landlords actually charge you for having pets in the property?

The short answer is yes, but not excessively.

Fizzy Living charges 'pet rent' in all its flats
Fizzy Living charges ‘pet rent’ in all its flats (picture: Getty Images)

According to the House of Commons Library, in its explanation of the rules on pet ownership in rented properties, ‘Landlords cannot charge a fee for agreeing to a request to keep a pet and cannot ask for a higher deposit if this would breach the deposit cap requirements in the Tenant Fees Act 2019’.

When it comes to private landlords ‘the default position is for landlords not to unreasonably withhold consent where a tenant asks for permission to keep a pet’, but renters must seek permission.

Landlords have to be reasonable and should agree to this if they believe the tenant to be ‘a responsible pet owner and the pet is of a kind that is suitable in relation to the nature of the premises at which it will be kept’.

Kitchen and living room open plan.
The pet rent contributes to the additional cleaning and maintenance required (picture: Getty Images)

‘Clause C3.5 prohibits a landlord from exercising a blanket ban on pets. A responsible pet owner will be aware of their responsibilities in making best efforts to ensure their pet does not cause a nuisance to neighbouring households or undue damage to the Property,’ according to the House of Commons Library.

Reasons landlords can say no to requests are not wanting large pets in small properties and also if they deem it impractical.

‘If consent is given on the condition that additional deposit is paid by the tenant, the total deposit must not breach the deposit cap introduced under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 and must be protected in an authorised tenancy deposit scheme.’

Tenant Fees Act 2019:

From 1 June 2019, the only payments that landlords or letting agents can charge to tenants in relation to new contracts are:

  • Rent
  • A refundable tenancy deposit capped at no more than 5 weeks’ rent where the total annual rent is less than £50,000, or 6 weeks’ rent where the total annual rent is £50,000 or above
  • A refundable holding deposit (to reserve a property) capped at no more than 1 week’s rent
  • Payments associated with early termination of the tenancy, when requested by the tenant
  • Payments capped at £50 (or reasonably incurred costs, if higher) for the variation, assignment or novation of a tenancy
  • Payments in respect of utilities, communication services, TV licence and Council Tax
  • A default fee for late payment of rent and replacement of a lost key/security device giving access to the housing, where required under a tenancy agreement

Source: Gov.uk

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‘Glorified shed’ up for sale in Scotland for £100,000 https://metro.co.uk/2023/11/17/glorified-shed-sale-scotland-100-000-19838358/ https://metro.co.uk/2023/11/17/glorified-shed-sale-scotland-100-000-19838358/#respond Fri, 17 Nov 2023 11:22:05 +0000 https://metro.co.uk/?p=19838358
The building in Ardaneaskan for sale
The listing in question (Picture: Rightmove)

A building that’s been described as a ‘truly unique property’ has hit the market in the Scottish Highlands for £100,000.

Although, it’s also been dubbed online as a ‘glorified shed’.

The ‘hall’ is found in Ardaneaskan – a picturesque costal village – and recent planning permission means it can now be used as a detached single-storey residential dwelling.

Rightmove’s property description even goes as far as to add: ‘Making it the perfect canvas for your dream home.’

The building in Ardaneaskan for sale
It could be yours for £100,000 (Picture: Rightmove)
Inside the building in Ardaneaskan for sale
A peek inside (Picture: Rightmove)
The building in Ardaneaskan for sale
The humble entrance (Picture: Rightmove)

But with the overall floorplan coming in at just 4.5m by 8.5m, it’ll definitely be a cosy one.

The descriptions continues: ‘Whether you’re seeking a peaceful retreat, a fantastic holiday let investment opportunity or an inspiring place to call home, this property offers it all.’

The floorplan of the building in Ardaneaskan for sale
The compact floorplan (Picture: Rightmove)
Inside the building in Ardaneaskan for sale
It needs a little TLC (Picture: Rightmove)
Would you consider buying this ‘glorified shed’ in Scotland for £100,000?Comment Now

For those who have been inspired by the recent micro-homes trend, this could be the perfect property opportunity.

It could also be an excellent choice for nature-lovers, as owners can enjoy views of the shimmering waters and rugged coastline from the building.

There’s also no denying its potential as a holiday home – for those who are willing to put the work in.

One person online said: ‘I love the corrugated iron aesthetic and the location is tempting. I imagine that it’ll be an Airbnb soon, and I’d be happy to stay there.’

But we can’t help but wonder if you’re getting you money’s worth with that square footage.

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This eight bedroom house in Blackpool could be yours for just £40,000 https://metro.co.uk/2023/11/16/this-eight-bedroom-house-blackpool-just-gbp40-000-19832718/ https://metro.co.uk/2023/11/16/this-eight-bedroom-house-blackpool-just-gbp40-000-19832718/#respond Thu, 16 Nov 2023 11:45:49 +0000 https://metro.co.uk/?p=19832718
House in blackpool
The house was a former guest house (Picture: Jam Press)

Fancy running a retro B&B? A house with an incredible eight bedrooms is set to go on the market for the bargain starting price of £40,000. 

The large home, which was formerly used as a guest house, is located in Blackpool on Palatine Road, just a short eight-minute walk from the iconic pier.

The home, set to go under the hammer with Auction House Lincolnshire, is admittedly in need of some TCL. But a little (okay, a lot) of elbow grease and DIY could return this place it its former glory.

The exterior
The exterior (Picture: Jam Press/Auction House Lincolns)

Once known as Chadsley Guest House, the home boasts a very large amount of space and is set across a whopping three floors. 

Inside, the mid terrace house has a ground floor with an entranceway, sitting-dining room, kitchen, and an office which could be used as a bedroom if the owner so chooses. 

Meanwhile, on the first floor, there are two bedrooms with en suites, plus two more bedrooms and a family bathroom.

Heading up to the second floor, there are two more en suite bedrooms, plus a further two bedrooms and another bathroom.

Not only this, there is another room which has the potential to be used as a ninth bedroom.

The entryway
The entryway (Picture: Jam Press/Auction House Lincolns)
The kitchen
The kitchen (Picture: Jam Press/Auction House Lincolns)
The floor plan for the eight-bed property (Picture: Auction House)
The floor plan for the eight-bed property (Picture: Auction House)

For those who like outdoor space, the property also has an enclosed rear garden. However, it is currently filled with rubbish, meaning the new owners will have to complete a thorough clear out. 

Inside there are dated furnishings and debris strewn around, but the listing insists there is good potential for the buyer and looking at the pictures, there is an opportunity to turn it into a dream home or a business venture.

One of the bedrooms
One of the bedrooms (Picture: Jam Press/Auction House Lincolns)

The listing currently reads: ‘This property offers a huge amount of scope and opportunity, with a multitude of different options, be that potential for HMO or bed & breakfast (STP) or owner occupier or investor.

Another bedroom
Another bedroom (Picture: Jam Press/Auction House Lincolns)

‘In such a sought after position, this property offers the opportunity for excellent yield.

‘Currently configured as a mix of rooms but would also suit self-contained apartments, this property needs to be viewed to be appreciated.’

The front room
The front room (Picture: Jam Press/Auction House Lincolns)

The bidding for the homes opens on Monday 20 November at 1pm GMT and is scheduled to end the following day at 2.14pm.

The property is available on Auction House with a minimum opening bid £40,000, and a guide price of £40,000 to £60,000. 

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