Property Archives - Amora Escapes

Top tips for house hunting in France

Lorenzo Joe Hamilton — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 09:02:01 +0000

Many people dream of moving to France, whether it is relocating full-time or buying a French holiday home to enjoy for part of the year.

But what do you need to think about before you embark on your property search?

The Connexion spoke to property experts to find out what potential movers should consider when looking to buy property in France.

Do your homework

Make sure you research France and its varied regions before you start house hunting, or better yet, take a trip to research possible locations.

“France is a huge country with massively varied countryside, architecture and climate. A holiday spent touring the part that you are drawn to is good research,” says Julie Savill, from estate agency Beaux Villages, which has local property experts across France.

“Take a map and start marking areas, towns or villages that you like. Narrow down your search area before you even start thinking about viewings!” she says.

How remote do you want to be?

Many people dream of moving to rural France and escaping the hustle and bustle of the city, but it is worth thinking carefully about just how rural you want to be and what the ramifications of a rural life could be.

“There are plenty of properties where you can be very rural, with no neighbours and a short or long drive to the nearest village. For some, this seems idyllic, however, you need to consider whether the novelty of seeing very few people and always having to drive to get your bread and provisions will wear off over a period of time,” says Natasha Alexander of Suzanne in France, a British-owned estate agency based in Normandy.

“We recommend you do some research into the nearest village and large town and decide how close you would like to be,” she says.

Create a wishlist

Writing down what you definitely want in your new house can be useful when it comes to starting your property search.

“How many bedrooms/bathrooms? Will you do renovation work or just decorating? Do you want the luxury (and the cost) of a pool? Would you be happiest in a village or do you want to be completely alone in the countryside?” says Ms Savill.

Also consider what kind of house you would ideally want to buy.

“Do you dream of a renovated farmhouse, a maison de maître, a pavilion style house – how do you wish to live? Is it preferable to live on one floor or do you require something that is a new-build where the energy efficiency is the best it can be,” says Ms Alexander.

And it is just as important to think about your red lines.

“Are neighbours an absolute no? What about modern properties?” says Ms Savill.

Research the French housing market

Get acquainted with France’s housing market, which could be very different from that in your home country.

“Researching the housing market is essential. Prices vary significantly depending on the region and may not be as cheap or expensive as expected, says Patrick Joseph from My French House, a UK-based company that helps house hunters find properties in France.

“Some buyers still harbour the dream of finding a chateau to renovate or a farm in Provence for the price of a terraced house in the UK, but this is usually unrealistic. The good news is that asking prices for resale properties have been reducing over the past few months as the national market cools,” he says.

Check transport links back to your home country

Those who plan to buy a second home or stay in their home country for part of the year should look into transport links.

“Have you looked at the various routes available and the costs involved in travelling back to your home country. Are there good links back? How long will it take?” says Ms Alexander.

“This may not be of great importance if you do not plan to do this regularly but if you are commuting between the two countries this may be a deciding factor as to where your house will be.”

Be realistic about your budget

It can be easy to ignore your budget when picturing yourself in that beautiful chateau, but it pays to be realistic.

“Consider currency exchange rates so you know just how much you have to work with,” says Ms Savill. “Estate agency fees are generally included in advertised prices and you will need to pay in the region of 8% notaire fees on top. This includes the equivalent of stamp duty/land registry in the UK.”

“Setting your budget is a fundamental step,” agrees Mr Joseph. “If you need financing, apply for a decision in principle from a French bank or broker as early as possible; the criteria for mortgages are very strict. If you need to sell a property elsewhere, try to coordinate the timing of listing your home with your visits to France,” he says.

Mr Joseph also recommends researching currency transfers and the buying process in France, for example, how exactly to make an offer and when to pay your deposit. “These will differ from your home country,” he says.

Beware of the land trap

It is not only your budget about which you should be realistic – while many people dream of buying a property with land – consider how much you will be able to look after.

“A lot of properties come with a lot of land. If this is to be a holiday home, think carefully about the work and cost of maintaining a big garden or even a field and woodland if you are only there occasionally,” says Ms Savill.

Natasha Alexander says Normandy, and its excellent value for money, is attractive to people who want to buy land, for example to run a business or have a smallholding.

“Consider how much land is too much. Don’t forget acres and acres need to be maintained and looked after. Do you want this burden, in particular, if you want a lock-and-leave holiday home?” she says.

Be prepared to change your mind

There is nothing wrong with changing your mind about what you want, says Julie Savill.

“Be prepared to change your mind once you start viewing. That cute old stone property might just feel very dark once you get inside and a complete lack of neighbours could turn out to leave you more isolated than you anticipated,” she says.

And be willing to see a few wild cards.

“Sometimes really good properties don’t come over so well in photographs. Be prepared to go and see a couple of places that challenge your wishlist,” Ms Savill says.

Check out the local schools

If you are moving with young children, make sure to research the local schools before deciding on a house.

“Do you have easy access to the local primary school? While it may seem very quaint and again idyllic to live in the countryside when the children are very young. Have you considered when they become older and wish to play with friends after school?” says Ms Alexander.

“A little planning ahead could mean that you are not spending a lot of time taxiing your children to and from various sports clubs and the school itself.”

Consider healthcare options

It is important to think about healthcare options, whether you are planning to stay in France into old age or perhaps have a current healthcare condition that will need regular attention once you move.

“None of us like to think of getting older or sick, but consider your local clinic for services and the closest hospital. How long will the journey be if you need regular treatment?” says Ms Alexander.

Check the Internet connection

Something that could easily slip your mind is checking the local internet speed of the house you are looking at.

“While many areas have fibre now you will need to check the speed of the internet connection, in particular, if you use the internet for your work,” says Ms Alexander.

Find an agent

A good agent can help you navigate the process of buying in France.

“Buying privately is absolutely possible if you feel informed and confident enough to deal with a negotiation and contracts, which will all be in French,” says Ms Savill.

“An agent will have excellent local knowledge and a great awareness of the correct pricing for your local area. Speak to a few people and find someone you connect with,” she says.

Source: The Connexion

The post Top tips for house hunting in France appeared first on Amora Escapes.

With home prices up more than 50%, some states try to contain property taxes

Jonathan Barton — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:57:14 +0000

For retirees Tom and Beverly McAdam, the good news is the value of their two-bedroom home in suburban Denver has risen 45% since they purchased it more than six years ago.

That’s also the bad news, costing them thousands more in real estate taxes and leaving less for discretionary spending.

“To pay the higher property taxes, it just means we’ve got to take more money out of our investments when it comes time to hit those big bills,” Beverly McAdam said.

She backs a Colorado ballot proposal that could cap the growth of property tax revenue. It’s one of several measures in states this year to limit, cut or offset escalating property taxes in response to complaints.

Over the past five years, single-family home prices have risen about 54% nationally, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.

That means higher tax bills for homeowners when governments don’t offset higher real estate values by reducing tax rates. And with offices seeing higher vacancies as people still work from home after the coronavirus pandemic, some commercial property values are declining, putting even more pressure on residential properties to deliver revenues.

“With assessed values skyrocketing over the past few years,” said Jared Walczak, vice president of state projects at the nonprofit Tax Foundation, “homeowners are clamoring for relief, and state policymakers are increasingly exploring ways to provide it.”

Colorado, like Alabama and Wyoming, also has a new law that will limit the growth in tax-assessed values for homeowners. Property tax relief will be part of a special legislative session beginning June 18 in Kansas, while Nebraska also could hold a special session to cut property taxes.

Georgia voters will decide in November whether to authorize a new law limiting increases in assessed home values for tax purposes to the rate of inflation, unless local governments or school boards opt out.

Five years ago, Lanell Griffith and her husband paid a little less than $2,700 in property taxes on their Topeka, Kansas, home in a historic neighborhood of tree-lined, brick streets. Their bill last year was more than $3,700.

“The government shouldn’t be able to arbitrarily just increase what they say you owe them without any sort of guardrails on that,” Griffith said.

Kansas lawmakers this year passed three measures that would have reduced the state’s property tax levy for public schools. But each was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly because of concerns about other sections to cut income taxes. The special session will mark a fourth attempt at consensus.

In Vermont, Republican Gov. Phil Scott has vowed to veto a bill that would raise property taxes by an average of nearly 14% to provide more money for public schools. Scott said people “simply cannot afford a historic, double digit property tax increase.”

In many states, property taxes are primarily a function of local governments such as counties, cities, school boards and special districts for libraries, fire departments and water systems. Each entity sets its own property tax rate, which is added to the others to come up with an overall tax bill for property owners.

State legislatures can intervene in a variety of ways. They can establish statewide limits on how much assessed property values can rise, create partial tax exemptions for all homeowners or provide income tax credits to help offset property taxes for certain people, such as those 65 and older.

But any relief carries consequences. Limits on the growth of assessed property values may provide a greater benefit to the wealthy. Exemptions for homes used as primary residences can shift a greater tax burden to rental properties and businesses.

“If you do this too much, you can now start tying the hands of your local government and cutting them off from the ability to raise revenue,” said Richard Auxier, a principal policy associate at the nonprofit Tax Policy Center.

While signing several property tax relief laws this year, Republican Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon vetoed one that would have exempted 25% of a home’s value from property taxes. He said it “jeopardized the financial stability of the state and counties.”

Rob Romeijn protests property taxes outside Rockdale County offices in Conyers, Ga., on April 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)

In 1982, voters in Muscogee County, Georgia, approved a local ordinance freezing assessed property values for homes used as primary residences. The result: longtime homeowners pay very little, newcomers pay more and businesses face some of the state’s highest property tax rates, said Suzanne Widenhouse, the county’s chief appraiser.

Last year, two similar homes worth around $330,000 had dramatically different tax bills. One, whose assessed value was frozen in the 1980s, owed less than $8. The other, whose assessed value was frozen when purchased about five years ago, owed $3,236, Widenhouse said.

“Anytime you grant an exemption, you create an inequality,” she said.

A Georgia ballot measure would amend the constitution to allow increases in assessed property values to be capped at the rate of inflation. But it wouldn’t undo past increases.

In the eight years since Rob Romeijn bought a ranch-style house on 10 acres (4 hectares) southeast of Atlanta, Rockdale County has raised the assessed value of his property from $127,000 to $230,000, also bumping up his property tax bill, he said.

As a Dutch immigrant with permanent residency, Romeijn can’t vote in elections in Conyers, but he was so unhappy about the increase that he made a sign urging people to vote out Rockdale’s commissioners and protested outside county offices in April.

Colorado also has been at the center of the property tax debate. The state has experienced decades-long growth in new residents, driving up demand for housing. Meanwhile, it has struggled to find a balance between providing tax relief for homeowners and sufficient funding for local governments.

A 1982 constitutional amendment limited residential properties to 45% of Colorado’s total property tax base while also setting a fixed assessment rate for commercial properties. To keep the ratio in balance as home values rose, residential tax assessments were cut, leaving less revenue for essential services such as fire districts.

Colorado voters repealed that constitutional provision in 2020. Since then, assessed home values have risen rapidly and the General Assembly has responded. The latest law, signed in May, is projected to shave over $1 billion annually off future property tax revenue by reducing tax rates and imposing growth limits.

But that’s not enough to satisfy some residents. The conservative group Advance Colorado backed a citizens initiative asking voters in November to cap all property tax revenue growth at 4% per year and is gathering signatures for still another ballot initiative to lower property taxes.

“People are saying this is too much growth; government doesn’t need this much money,” Advance Colorado President Michael Fields said. “People are genuinely scared of losing their houses.”

Source: AP News

The post With home prices up more than 50%, some states try to contain property taxes appeared first on Amora Escapes.

Commercial property sector expects more flexible lease terms in future

Sean Potter — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 15:14:46 +0000

The Republic’s commercial real estate sector expects lease terms to become more flexible for both tenants in the future as the industry recalibrates to new post-pandemic realities.

A survey of some 250 commercial property professionals, conducted by business law firm Mason Hayes and Curran in late February, also indicates that the sector considers current rent review processes to be fair but ultimately wants better access to market data to level the playing field.

The Republic’s commercial property sector, particularly the office market, has come under pressure in the aftermath of the pandemic due to several interrelated factors. Hybrid working arrangements have eaten into demand for office take-up while many large employers — most notably in the global tech sector, which accounts for a significant proportion of office demand in Dublin — have reduced their headcount in response to shifting market dynamics.

Meanwhile, rising interest rates have made the cost of borrowing and servicing property-related debt more expensive for landlords and commercial property owners.

Headline rents are yet to decline substantially but close to half of survey respondents said they expect commercial leases to become more flexible for tenants and landlords soon.

However, a sizeable 46 per cent of respondents said they expect lease terms to become more tenant-friendly.

“Since Ireland legislated to end ‘upwards-only’ rent reviews in commercial leases in 2009, the rent review process has become more complex,” said Michael Doran, partner and co-head of real estate at Mason Hayes and Curran. “All parties must now agree an ‘open market rent’ that could be higher, lower or remain the same as the original amount. There are a number of factors that can affect rental value, from the strength of the market at the date of review to the assumed lease term.”

While an overwhelming 81 per cent of real estate professionals said the current rent review processes are fair, almost half said they would like better access to market data, reflecting a “move towards a more informed and data-driven negotiation process”, said Mr Doran.

Meanwhile, 61 per cent of professionals said their main goal when entering rent review negotiations was to achieve market-aligned rates while just 20 per cent said they are chiefly concerned with securing long-term occupancy.

Source: The Irish Times

The post Commercial property sector expects more flexible lease terms in future appeared first on Amora Escapes.

Foundation Home Loans launches Multiple Properties Under One Title product

Javier Valdez — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 15:09:30 +0000

Foundation Home Loans has launched a suite of products specifically for landlords buying or refinancing Multiple Properties Under One Title.

Available to individuals, portfolio landlords and limited companies, and for letting on a standard Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST), short-term let or holiday let basis, Foundation is able to lend against up to four individual properties or units on one freehold title.

Examples include where a number of farm buildings have been converted for residential buy-to-let (BTL) use, or up to four units within a single block – a ‘traditional’ multi-unit freehold block – but on one title rather than multiple titles.

Products include 2-year and 5-year fixed rates, available to both 65% and 75% loan-to-value (LTV), with rates starting at 6.69% for the 2-year deals and 6.54% for 5-year. The product fee is 2%.

The maximum loan size for 65% LTV is £3m and £2m for 75% LTV, with a minimum loan size of £100,000.

Tom Jacob (pictured), director of product and marketing at Foundation Home Loans, said: “By launching ‘Solutions by Foundation’ at the start of year, we have been able to look at more specialist lending requirements and to offer specific products that fit these niche areas, but are increasingly in demand.

“These new products for landlords seeking to either buy or remortgage Multiple Properties Under One Title fit that particular billing, and not only can we offer them for standard buy-to-let AST rental agreements, but we can also cover both short-term lets and holiday lets, which we believe is a strong offering within this particular sector of the private rental sector.

“Increasingly, landlords are looking at ways to broaden their portfolio, increase their yield, and focus on different areas of the rental sector. The concept clearly has similarities with existing Multi-Unit Freehold Blocks but in this scenario we can lend on up to four dwellings or separate houses or flats on just the one title.”

He added: “We’ll continue to look at opportunities such as these within the ‘Solutions by Foundation’ range and would urge advisers to look at our more traditional buy-to-let product range plus these specialist options in order to provide a full range of options to their landlord clients.”

Source: The Intermediary

The post Foundation Home Loans launches Multiple Properties Under One Title product appeared first on Amora Escapes.

Julie James returns as Welsh Housing Ministe

Ross Collins — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 15:05:43 +0000

Propertymark has welcomed the reappointment of Julie James as the new Welsh Housing Minister.

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, said the agency trade body is proactively seeking to arrange an initial meeting to help address future challenges across the housing sector in Wales.

He said: “We are pleased to see the reinstatement of a ministerial position with a dedicated remit concerning housing and have long advocated the need for this to be a devoted role given the magnitude of challenges that lie ahead in Wales.

“We are also pleased to see that Julie James continues in her housing role to ensure continuity.

“However, Julie James must use this opportunity to listen to concerns from the property industry and to end the prospect of rent controls in Wales.

“The minister must also work across government to increase housing supply by reviewing Land Transaction Tax on additional properties and support for the sector to decarbonise. In addition, a key priority must also include Propertymark’s long-term call for a Welsh Housing Survey to help gather better insight for evidence-based policy making going forward.”

Source: Estate Agent

The post Julie James returns as Welsh Housing Ministe appeared first on Amora Escapes.

Gorgeous potential first family home in highly desirable location on the market

Jonathan Barton — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 15:01:47 +0000

FINDING THE perfect first family home can be tricky, but a recent addition to the property market in Gwent could be the answer.

Situated on Woodland Place in the community of Gilfach, Bargoed, this three-bedroom mid-terraced house could offer the ideal starter home for any family.

In what the estate agents describe as a “highly desirable location”, the property is within walking distance of popular schools and has plenty of local amenities nearby, including a convenience store and train station.

According to the estate agents New Horizons, the home could also be regarded as a “dream for anyone into cars or motorbikes”.

The property compromises of a entrance porch, open plan lounge/dining room, fitted kitchen, newly fitted ground floor bathroom, three generous sized bedrooms, double glazing, gas central heating, rear garden with paved patio and large garage with power and light.

It has recently been refurbished to a “high standard throughout”, with two double bedrooms and a single offering an ideal space for a family.

There is a feature fireplace in the lounge area, which could either be used for storage or for a wood burner, while the kitchen offers space for plenty of utilities, such as a tumble dryer, washing machine and dishwasher.

The ground floor bathroom has been fitted as part of the recent refurbishment, so is in excellent condition, as are all three good-sized bedrooms.

The house is being marketed by New Horizons Estate Agents, Bargoed, and currently has a guide price of offers more than £155,000.

New Horizons have said that the property is a “must be seen” before purchase, so if you would like to find out more details or book a viewing, you can do so on the website here, or by calling the estate agent on 01443 801564.

Source: Yahoo

The post Gorgeous potential first family home in highly desirable location on the market appeared first on Amora Escapes.

Average house price-to-earnings ratios improved last year amid wage growth

Leon Clarke — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 14:59:32 +0000

House prices have become more affordable since 2021, but remain in line with pre-coronavirus pandemic trends, the Office for National Statistics said.

Housing affordability improved in three-quarters (75%) of local authorities across England and Wales in 2023, compared with the previous year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Affordability worsened in just under a quarter (24%) of local authorities and remained the same in 1%, the ONS said.

Average house prices increased in just over two-thirds (69%) of areas compared with 2022 – but average earnings increased in a bigger proportion of areas, at 88%.

Kensington and Chelsea in London was the least affordable area last year, with an average house price-to-earnings ratio of 34.3.

(PA Graphics)

The most affordable was Burnley in Lancashire, with an average house price-to-earnings ratio of 3.7.

In 2023, 7% of areas typically had homes selling for less than five times the average earnings of workers. This was an improvement compared with 2022; however, in 1997, 88% of areas had this ratio.

The report said: “Therefore, affordability remains considerably worse than at the start of the series.”

Looking at England, in the 12 months to September 2023, the average home sold for £290,000, while average full-time earnings were £35,100.

This means that, in England, full-time employees could expect to spend 8.3 times their earnings on purchasing a home in their local authority area.

This represents an overall improvement in affordability compared with 2022, when the average home in England cost around 8.5 times the average wage.

In Wales, the average home sold for £196,500 in the 12 months to September, while the average workplace-based full-time wage was £32,400.

This gave an affordability ratio of 6.1, down from 6.4 in 2022.

House sales prices have become more affordable since 2021, but remain in line with pre-coronavirus pandemic trends, the ONS said.

The affordability ratio doubled in England from the start of the records in 1997 to 2007.

In 1997, a home in England was worth around three-and-a-half times the average wage, but by 2007 buyers faced paying just over seven times their salary typically to buy a home.

In Wales, affordability ratios doubled from 1997 to 2005 and peaked at 6.6 in 2007. Since then, they have remained between 5.5 and 6.5, with a less pronounced increase and decrease in the past three years than in England, the ONS said.

Mortgage rates have jumped amid increases in the Bank of England base rate, meaning that some existing homeowners could have a payment shock when their deal expires.

Recent signs that inflation is cooling have raised expectations around the potential for the Bank of England to start cutting the base rate in the months ahead.

Source: LBC

The post Average house price-to-earnings ratios improved last year amid wage growth appeared first on Amora Escapes.

Eight Golden Rules for Property Investors in 2024

Sean Potter — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 12:38:41 +0000

An expert has shared his eight steps to help boost chances of securing capital growth when investing in property this year.

Jonathan Rolande, the founder of House Buy Fast, says early signs indicate “growing positivity across the market”.

He adds: “We’ve seen three consecutive months of house price rises and it looks as if the repeated interest rate increases which dogged the market in 2023 are over. This will rightly encourage people to look again at property as an area to invest in.”

· Start by checking the demographics. Areas with more older people tend to hold prices well but don’t have as much potential for growth as there are fewer movers.

· Next, look at the schools, the building of a new school or college or an existing one that has improved its ratings is a very good sign. Many buyers and renters will pay more to live near a good educational institute.

· Thirdly, check the ratios – how many properties are on the market in the area and of those, how many are sold. 30 per cent-plus sold is a good indicator. Check rentals too, there should be no more than a handful of properties available to let in the postcode area.

· Four, investigate what prices have done in the past. It’s not a sure-fire way to predict the future but areas that have exceeded past increases or haven’t fallen as far in previous dips should be at the top of your list.

· Take note of crime rates the lower the better.

· Six, investigate any developments nearby. Developers investing millions into property in the area is a very good sign, just be aware that this can have a negative effect – the area could be flooded with buy-to-let, driving prices down.

· Seven, assess if the area is prone to flooding. Those which can be tricky but don’t be too alarmed by online searches. Many areas show a possibility of flooding at some time in the future.

· Finally, ask can you add value? With the right permissions and vision there are ways to improve properties to create more income in rent and the capital value. Moving a kitchen to the lounge area frees up a room, extending into the roof space or garden, changing the planning use or adding a garage can add value.”

Source: Property Investor Today

The post Eight Golden Rules for Property Investors in 2024 appeared first on Amora Escapes.

Housebuilder secures housing site in Barns Green for 32 new energy efficient homes

Scott Mcdonald — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 11:39:28 +0000

Located off Chapel Road, the site – to be known as Sumners Fields – is situated in Barns Green’s largely rural community, surrounded by expanses of countryside. Designed by Worthing-based ECE Architecture, the 32 homes will include one-, two-, three- and four- bedroom apartments and houses. 12 of these properties are allocated for affordable housing, providing an above policy 37.5% allocation.

Hunter Developments Holdings Ltd and the Smith Family worked in close cooperation with Sigma Homes in developing the design proposal for the site.

Geoff Potton, Chief Executive of Sigma Homes, said: “We are delighted to have secured another prime site in such a highly sought-after village, which is less than 5 miles from Horsham. With so many development proposals in the district currently held up by planning and pre-construction delays caused by Natural England’s current advice on water neutrality, this will be one of the first schemes to be delivered within Horsham District which achieves a water neutrality solution. The plans sensitively respond to the site characteristics and will result in a high quality, sustainable addition to Barns Green.

“This mix of open market and affordable homes – suitable for first time buyers, families, and downsizers – are much-needed to meet local housing demand. As with all our developments, this scheme will be constructed utilising timber-frame technology and a range of other ‘green’ features including grey water recycling, to enable residents to significantly reduce their water usage, carbon footprint and energy bills.

“2023 was a major milestone for Sigma Homes, as it marked our tenth year in business. With three other highly sustainable developments currently under construction across West Sussex, and with several more in the planning stage, we understand what our customers are looking for and the enviable lifestyle this county offers. The design, layout and build quality of our homes has been attracting discerning buyers for a decade now. We are immensely proud of the reputation for quality homes in prime locations that Sigma Homes have become synonymous with.”

The village of Barns Green is a highly sought after location and benefits from a range of local amenities, including a village shop, post office, primary school, sports club, and village hall. Regular public transport is available to nearby villages and towns, including Horsham. The site is a five-minute drive (2.2 miles) from Christs Hospital train station, which has services running to London Victoria in under 70 minutes. There is also a frequent 32-minute train service to Gatwick Airport. If future residents wish to have a day out or travel to the coast, there are also services running to the historic market town of Arundel (20 minutes) and the popular seaside resort of Bognor Regis (41 minutes).

The character of Barns Green is predominantly of a traditional style and material palette. Existing nearby properties include a combination of red brick and white painted window frames, timber-cladded rural homes, and more contemporary post-war dwellings. Due to the range of styles present within the village, Sigma Homes’ new development will follow a conventional yet modern style.

New landscaping, public open space, and ecological enhancements will be provided with most of the existing trees and hedgerows will be retained and enhanced. There will be sufficient parking available for each new home, as well as cycle storage. Electric Vehicle charging points will be provided to all houses with a garage and driveway, with further charging points allocated to the apartments.

Headquartered in the West Sussex town of Horsham, Sigma Homes was founded in 2013. The company has five live developments in premium locations across the south of England and is on track to deliver 200 homes per annum by 2026. All homes are constructed using timber frames, which improves efficiency, as well as delivering sustainability benefits. It was one of the first SMEs to be accepted onto the New Homes Quality Board, providing buyers with further peace of mind during the buying process, through the backing of this stringent new Code.

Source: Sussex World

The post Housebuilder secures housing site in Barns Green for 32 new energy efficient homes appeared first on Amora Escapes.

Government enforces hefty fines for landlords breaking right-to-rent rules

Javier Valdez — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 11:33:42 +0000

Landlords and letting agents who break right-to-rent rules could be hit with huge financial penalties.

In August last year, the UK government announced that agents and landlords who allow rental properties to be let to migrants who do not have the right to be in the UK will face much larger financial penalties.

The legislation has now come into force this week where landlords could face a £20,000 fine.

Landlords could face prison

The penalties will increase from £80 per lodger and £1,000 per occupier for a first breach to up to £5,000 per lodger and £10,000 per occupier.

Repeat breaches will be up to £10,000 per lodger and £20,000 per occupier, up from £500 and £3,000 respectively.

Current rules mean that as well as facing a heavy fine, landlords could face potential imprisonment for failure to check the occupier’s right to rent status.

Landlords and agents have legal responsibility

All landlords and their agents in England have a legal responsibility under the Immigration Act 2014 legislation to prevent those without lawful immigration status from accessing the private rented sector.

The Home Office says landlords must complete one of these checks before commencing a tenancy:

A manual right to rent check (all citizens)
A right to rent check using Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT) via the services of an Identity Service Provider (IDSP) (British and Irish citizens only)
A Home Office online right to rent check (non-British and non-Irish Citizens)

Source: Property118

The post Government enforces hefty fines for landlords breaking right-to-rent rules appeared first on Amora Escapes.