Who says you can't have a great time this Christmas AND do your bit for Planet Earth? In this two-minute read, we look at some simple things people in Rayleigh & Hockley can do to make the festive period as eco-friendly as possible. There's been some positive vaccine news starting to come out in the UK and across the world. But the news around our planet's health isn't as rosy. On Wednesday...
2020
In this three-minute read, we outline the costs and expenses landlords encounter when letting a property. To succeed as a landlord, you need to have a realistic idea about the costs you'll encounter when letting out a property. Many people think that being a landlord is child's play; they assume that once the tenant has the keys, the only thing left to do is collect the rent each month. But the...
In this two-minute read, we outline the costs and fees associated with buying a property so that you can budget for your next move. Buying a new home can be an exciting prospect, but often in the thrill of the search, buyers fail to budget for some of the costs that are part and parcel of the process. Consumer champion Which? estimates moving costs on average of £10,000 (that’s excluding...
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...
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...