In this three-minute read, we look at why people planning to sell in 2021 should act now to take advantage of the traditional surge in interest from serious buyers. If you’re contemplating putting your home on the market next year, there’s one thing you can do right now to maximise your chances of getting a great deal. Before you get carried away in a giddy rush of festive fever and adorn...
November 2020
In this three-minute read, we look at the pros and cons of letting a property to a tenant with a pet. Should tenants be allowed to keep pets in rental properties? It’s a thorny subject that is back in the spotlight after an MP called for landlords to be more flexible on the issue. Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell argues that preventing tenants from being with their beloved pet companion is cruel...
In this important two-minute read, we look at six ways people in Rayleigh & Hockley can look after their mental health and that of their loved ones as we head into winter. In early November, a week after the clocks went back, there was a spike in the UK's highest levels of acute loneliness during the pandemic, according to the Office for National Statistics. A BBC report claimed that the longer,...
In this two-minute read, we look at what yesterday's Christmas announcements mean to households in Rayleigh & Hockley. This year has been filled with anguish and anxiety for many of us. But the news that came out last week around successful vaccines and yesterday's announcement of the temporary relaxation around social distancing rules over Christmas has cheered up many of us. And in true...
In this three-minute read, we look at the crucial role small businesses play in bringing prosperity and personality to our high streets. Small businesses across Rayleigh & Hockley have played a vital part in helping our community to get through the pandemic, so it’s no wonder that many of us are feeling a lot of love for local firms right now. A new survey has found 59% of Brits say they...
In this Wellbeing Wednesday two-minute update, we look at the benefits of exercising and why it could be easier than you think to get moving again. We’ve been through some historically uncertain times this year. But with the recent announcements around the highly promising vaccines to combat Covid-19, brighter times have appeared on the global horizon. During this period of uncertainty, one...
In this three-minute read, we look at the documentation landlords need to meet their legal obligations – and avoid messy disputes. First-time landlords often make the rookie mistake of underestimating the amount of paperwork involved in letting a property. Many assume that once the ink dries on a tenancy agreement, they’ve got the paperwork sorted – but nothing could be further from the...
In this three-minute read, we share our five-point plan for a smooth move in six months’ time. Moving can be stressful – some people rate it right up there with divorce in the aggravation stakes – but there are ways you can take the drama and disruption out of the process. The first step is to acknowledge that buying a new home is likely to be one of the biggest purchases you make in your...
In this two-minute read, we look at the new rules on eviction enforcement during the latest lockdown. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced a ban on bailiffs carrying out eviction enforcement during the lockdown in all but the most serious of cases. While the courts are continuing to hear eviction cases, under the new rules announced last week as England returned to lockdown, bailiff...
In this two-minute read, we look at five ways to stave off cravings and eat well this winter. Many of us turn to food when we’re bored or stressed, so it’s no wonder that the pandemic has played havoc with so many people’s waistlines. Spending lots of time at home this year, amid ongoing uncertainty, has meant that bad habits have crept in. Do any of these descriptions resonate with...