Stamp duty to be extended
Stamp duty to be extended – more reasons to put your property on the market with Homesite
About 300,000 property purchases in England could benefit from a three-month extension in the stamp duty holiday, it has been estimated, as reports suggest the chancellor could be set to prolong the tax break in next week’s budget.
The tax saving - which cuts the bill entirely on properties costing between £125,000 and £500,000 and reduces it on homes costing more than that - was announced last summer and is due to end on 31 March.
However, Rishi Sunak is understood to have decided to extend it for three months in line with other measures to support the economy.
It is not clear if the extension would apply to all purchases, or would be on a tapered basis and apply just to those agreed before an earlier day, as lobbied for by some in the mortgage industry.
The rush to take advantage of the break, which amounts to a tax saving of £15,000, combined with lockdown restrictions across the country has led to delays and backlogs in the homebuying process, and calls for the deadline to be moved.
The property listing website Rightmove has estimated that if it is not changed, about 100,000 buyers who agreed a purchase in 2020 will have to pay the tax, which will add up to £15,000 to their costs.
It said that figure combined with sales that could be completed before a June deadline, could mean an additional 300,000 transactions escaped the tax, at a cost of £1.75bn to the Treasury.
In recent months the tax break seems to have led to a boom in transactions and prices, with official figures showing prices climbed by 8.5% in 2020.
The credit referencing agency Experian said there were 12% more applications in February than in the same period last year, even though the chance of completing before the March deadline is low.
Lisa Fretwell, Experian’s managing director of data services, said: “Extending the deadline will help ensure these people get their deals over the line and provide a welcome boost for the mortgage market.”
However some in the industry have said that the chancellor will just delay the inevitable “cliff edge” if he simply extends the holiday, and that a new hard deadline would mean buyers continuing to attempt to complete ate all costs.
Hedley Adcock, a director of property law firm Adcocks Solicitors, said buyers were “taking high-risk strategies to speed up the process”, such as skipping property searches and valuations.
“If an extension is announced next week, it is essential that a tapering-off period is also granted, such as a paperwork deadline,” he said.
“In other words, buyers who have either exchanged contracts but not completed, or those who can demonstrate they have started a transaction before the deadline and have incurred solicitor costs, for example.”
He added: “Our worry is that if the deadline is simply extended, we can expect to see buyers continue to take unnecessary risks to aid the moving process in a few months’ time.”
What will happen to house prices in 2021
It’s hard to believe now, but this time last year, all the talk was about how resilient the housing market had been in the face of Brexit uncertainty. And, with Boris Johnson’s election and his unexpected success in renegotiating terms with the EU, it all ended with a rising sense of optimism. Commentators were even promising ‘a far brighter, smoother year in 2020’. Little did they know.
By January, the market was beginning to feel the effects of the much anticipated ‘Boris Bounce’. Rightmove reported asking prices had risen by 2.3%, their biggest ever rise for the month. In February, asking prices rose again, this time by 0.8% and, according to Rightmove’s Miles Shipside:
“Owners coming to market this spring face their best selling prospects for several years.”
Even London’s market, which had been lagging behind the rest of the country, was showing signs of improvement. In February, prices in inner London rose by 3.5% and by 3.1% annually.
And then in March we had lockdown and house sales fell off a cliff. In an effort to prevent the market from crashing, the government slashed the base rate to 0.1% and introduced mortgage holidays for cash-strapped homeowners. Even so, many were predicting house prices could fall by as much as 15%.
Unable to buy or sell, the housing market was forced to tread water until May, when it unexpectedly reopened. After months of being confined to our homes, many were desperate for some extra space, especially those living in flats. With the weather improving, we also wanted gardens and easy access to open spaces.
All that pent-up demand meant, just two days after the reopening, there were 5.2 million visits to Rightmove’s property portal. It was a different story for first-time buyers, though. The crisis had made lenders wary of exposing themselves to those with smaller deposits and a huge number of high loan-to-value mortgages were withdrawn from the market. As a result, demand was far higher for houses than for starter flats, especially for those in less urban areas, as we sought refuge in the country.
In July the Stamp Duty holiday was announced and things really took off. Buyer inquiries rose by an astonishing 75% compared to July 2019. Activity didn’t even quieten down for Christmas. With delays in many parts of the sales process, buyers and sellers rushed to get deals tied up before the Stamp Duty holiday ends on 31st March 2021. In the midst of it all, our Brexit deal was finally signed off, although it no longer grabbed the headlines like it once did. By the time the year ended, prices were up by an impressive 7.3% (Nationwide).
So, what about 2021? After 2020, only the very brave would claim any real certainty, but the general consensus is that, despite the latest lockdown, the rush to beat the Stamp Duty will keep agents busy until the end of March. New sales activity, however, may be reduced from February, as deals agreed beyond January would be very unlikely to make the cut. As has happened with previous changes to Stamp Duty, there is then likely to be a significant lull.
What comes next is not yet clear but, by late spring, large numbers of people will have been vaccinated, which should bring about a feel-good factor. If we then see a rapid economic recovery then house prices will rise with it. If, on the other hand, the economy fails to recover quickly enough or unemployment rises more than expected, prices could come down. The uncertainty means experts’ predictions for 2021 are even more wide-ranging than usual, varying from -5% to +4%. Even if the most pessimistic of predictions came true (-5%), it would still not wipe off the spectacular and unexpected gains made in 2020.
2020: The facts
Nationwide: Dec 19 to Dec 20: National £230,920 +7.3%. London £486,562 +6.2%
Halifax: Dec 19 to Dec 20: National £253,374 +6.0%.
Land registry: Oct 19 to Oct 20: National £245,443 +5.4%. London £490,936 +3.9%
Hometrack: Nov 19 to Nov 20: Top 20 cities £259,900 +3.5%. London £485,100 +2.8%
Rightmove: Dec 19 to Dec 20: National £319,945 +6.6%. London £620,986 +3.5% (asking prices).
The predictions:
Please note – where possible, comparative figures for 2020 are from the commentator’s own indices.
Nationwide
Nationwide’s indices recorded growth of 7.3% in 2020. Last year, they predicted prices would remain flat. This time around, they haven’t given a precise figure but say:
”The outlook remains highly uncertain. Much will depend on how the pandemic and the measures to contain it evolve as well as the efficacy of policy measures implemented to limit the damage to the wider economy.”
Halifax
Halifax didn’t give an exact figure for 2020 but expected prices and transaction volumes to rise. In the event, they did, but – but by an unexpectedly high margin – 6%. This year, with unemployment likely to be on the increase, they expect prices to fall between 2% to 5%
Hometrack
They were one of the few to get things just about spot on with their prediction of +3% against a final figure of 2.8%. This year, they expect house price growth to slow to +1%
Rightmove
Rightmove are another who underestimated growth in 2020. Their 2% prediction was some way below the 3.5% reality. They are one of the more optimistic about 2021, forecasting growth of 4%, with housing remaining a priority on people’s life agendas.
RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors)
RICS predicted prices would rise by 2% in 2020, which was some way short of the average 6%-7% reported by the larger lenders. They are yet to make a prediction for 2021.
ARLA Propertymark (National Association of Estate Agents)
Last year, more than a quarter of member agents (28 %) were expecting house prices to fall against 56% who expect them to remain the same. Only 25% got it right, expecting prices to rise. They have yet to make their predictions for 2021
A selection of other predictions
CEBR expects house prices to fall by 3% in 2021
EYITEM expects a fall of 5%
Capital Economics is also predicting a fall of 5%
What will happen to the rental market in 2021?
At the start of 2020, supplies of rental property were plunging and rents were rising. In January, Homelet’s Rental Index showed average rents were up by 2.3% and by 4.4% in London. Despite a raft of upcoming tax and legislative changes, landlords’ confidence remained surprisingly high - 25% were expecting rents to increase, and 32% were expecting property prices to rise (source: Paragon Mortgages). Then, just as with the sales market, March came and everything ground to a halt. Afraid of mass evictions and tenant hardship, the government allowed tenants to take a three month rental holiday and banned evictions.
Pent up demand ensured there was plenty of activity when the market re-opened in May, although COVID restrictions made viewings more complicated than previously. Just like the sales market, demand for inner city properties was markedly lower than for other areas, with tenants searching for more open spaces, resulting in a market that was operating at two different speeds.
As we moved into summer, landlords, unable to evict tenants, were becoming increasingly concerned about tenants’ arrears, although rents continued to rise - up by 2.1% between July and August. In the autumn, there was a brief window of opportunity for landlords to evict problem tenants, but with such large backlogs, only the most serious cases were heard. The extension of the furlough scheme until April 2021 did offer some comfort, providing vital financial support for both companies and their employees.
By the time the year ended, rents had risen by 2.7% across the country but had fallen by 4.5% in London. The average rent (excluding London) is now £838 and £1,556 in the capital (source: Homelet).
Commenting on the outlook for 2021, Andy Halstead, chief executive at HomeLet & Let Alliance, said:
“Whilst overarching optimism remains strong for 2021, with vaccines being rolled out for COVID, we can still expect a year that will be disrupted by the impact of the virus. With the new national lockdown and the prospect of additional restrictions to help curb the impact of the virus and new variants, we can expect the demand for certain property types and locations to grow, pushing rents up further.”
Our eventual return to commuting may also lead to increased demand for properties in city centres, especially if, as expected, the cost of commuting rises substantially as transport companies try to make up for their substantial losses.
As ever, there are some legislative changes to watch out for this year - electrical safety tests will be required for all existing tenanted properties by April 1st, although, the government is being lobbied to extend the deadline for another 12 months. The eviction ban has just been extended for another 6 weeks and may well be extended again. And, finally, the Right to Rent checks on EU citizens will change from 30th June 2021 to take into account the new Points Based Immigration System.
Fittings & Fixtures
Fittings and fixtures
What should stay and what should go
Over the years there have been an awful lot of horror stories about people moving into a new house or flat, only to find it stripped bare, with even the light switches removed. Don’t panic, these are extreme examples, but whether you are buying or selling a property you need to be very clear about what is staying and what is going. Arguments over fixtures and fittings can be costly and, in certain circumstances, can adversely affect the sale of a property. Your solicitor should be able to steer you through the process, but to avoid the pitfalls, you need at least a basic understanding of how it works.
The logical starting point is the definition of fixtures and fittings. Fixtures – these are things that are fixed or bolted down, such as a kitchen unit, a fitted wardrobe or a plug socket. Fittings – these are things that can be carried away, such as a hanging mirror, rugs and curtains. The problem is that there are also a lot of things that fall into the grey area between. What about shelves that are not fixed? A seller may wish to take them, but a buyer may assume they are staying. A freestanding cooker is by definition, a fitting, not a fixture. Sheds are another common problem area - if they don't have foundations, they are not considered to be fixtures. Hanging lights are technically fixtures, although it is normal practice to replace them with hanging bulb fittings during the course of a house sale.
The general rule of thumb is that if there is no agreement, fixtures remain and fittings are removed. However, almost all vendors will provide a fairly comprehensive inventory of what is staying and what is going. You can, in theory, put what you want on the list. The vendor has the right to take any fitting not specified in the inventory, which can sometimes come as a surprise to the buyer. Conversely, if you take something with you that was included in the sale or, for that matter, if you leave anything behind that is not, in extreme circumstances you can be taken to the Small Claims Court.
Most problems occur when a buyer fails to check the list properly, distracted by other, more pressing issues. If something untoward does happen during the moving process, before you let the matter go to court, you should be aware that the cost of it will almost certainly be more than replacing, say, a set of shelves or some door handles.
The best way of dealing with the issue of fittings and fixtures is to do some preparation. Before you sell, go through each room carefully and make a note of all the things that you are taking with you, especially if they are fixed elements. Then hand the over list to your solicitor. If you are buying - check the house to see if there are any specific items that you would like to have included in the sale. If they’re not listed on the inventory, you may want to offer to purchase them. It is very important that this part of the process is handled with tact. What you may consider to be a piece of old tat may be a prized family possession and it is not uncommon for one or other party to take offence during the process. Another point to note is that most vendors consider anything under 12 months old to be priced almost as new, regardless of its true value.
For anyone buying a rental property, you could save yourself quite a lot of money if you buy some of the existing fittings. And, don’t forget to check to if anything you’re taking with you will actually fit in in your new place. If your Welsh dresser is higher than your new kitchen ceiling, it's the perfect opportunity to offer it to your buyer. Again, don’t be offended if they don’t want it – everyone has different ideas and taste.
Finally, always keep in mind you are selling a house, not a wardrobe or some flowerpots from the garden. Don’t let negotiations over minor issues sour the whole process.
The information is for general guidance purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Should you need legal advice please contact an appropriate professional.
Renewable energy for your home in Notting Hill
Renewable energy for your home in Notting Hill
With gas boilers increasingly in the crosshairs in our fight to reduce carbon emissions, we thought it might be a good time to take a look at some more eco-friendly options for heating and powering our homes.
There are five main categories of renewable energy sources and these are wind turbines, solar power, micro-hydro power, ground source heat pumps and biomass fuels. Each one has a different set of requirements and the location or orientation of your property has a serious bearing on which of them are suitable for you.
We’ll start with solar power and the first thing to note is that there are actually two different types of solar power systems. Some generate electricity and some just heat water. In basic terms, both devices use the power of the sun to generate either heat or electricity. The latest generation of panels don’t need constant sunshine in order for them to work but, ideally, you need a south facing roof. It is sometimes possible with an east of west facing one, but not if it’s north facing. In England, most solar power systems don't need planning permission, but your roof will need to be able to support the weight of the panels. Additionally, a water tank is required for the water system and a battery is recommended in order to store excess power from the electricity generating systems.
Installing a solar hot water system in your home will cost between £4,000-£5,000, depending on the size of the property and the energy requirements. They do not tend to produce dramatic savings, but you can expect to reduce your annual bill by around £60 per year compared to a gas system (Energy Saving Trust - https://energysavingtrust.org.uk).
The good news is the price of electricity generating (photovoltaic) solar panels has fallen dramatically in recent years – down 82% since 2010. The cost of installing the average 3.5kW system is now around £4,800 and will reduce your household’s carbon emissions by over a tonne a year. It will save you money, too. If you’re home all day you and are selling any excess capacity back to the grid, you could save around £300/year, or £220 for nine to fivers. At those levels, it will take between 16 and 23 years to recoup the installation cost.
Wind power also comes in two different forms, building-mounted or, the more powerful, mast mounted turbines. Clearly, one of the key issues is whether you have enough wind to power it. You can do this by going to http://www.renew-reuse-recycle.com/noabl.pl?n=503 and entering your postcode. Turbines work much better in more exposed areas with consistent wind. You will almost certainly need planning permission and it is recommended that you also store excess electricity from a windy day in a battery linked to the system. Mast mounted versions are more expensive and require considerably more space. For a 6kW pole, the average installation cost is between £23,000- £34,000. It would typically generate savings of about £250/year and cut carbon emissions by 2.5 tonnes. In addition, you could earn up to £440 per year in Smart Export Gurantee payments (https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/smart-export-guarantee/).
Selling your home
As we head towards the colder months, the housing market tends to quieten down a little. However, this year with the stamp duty holiday, there is still plenty of zip left in it. If you're thinking of putting your property on the market, though, there are a few things you need to bear in mind when you are preparing it for sale, especially in relation to covid.
Keeping everyone covid safe has, and will continue to be, a priority for Homesite. That means there is an emphasis on virtual viewings, at least initially, and a need to ensure social distancing is maintained at all times. For physical viewings, there are some simple rules to follow. As they cannot involve more than one household (excluding our agent), vendors should vacate the property while they take place. There is a structured booking process, so you will have plenty of notice and you won’t need to be out for long, as viewings are limited to 15 minutes. Beforehand, we will also ask you (and the viewer) the following questions:
Has anyone in your household had COVID-19?
Has anyone in your household displayed COVID-19 symptoms or not yet completed a required period of household self-isolation?
Is anyone in your household in the high-risk category?
It is recommended that, just before the viewing commences, vendors should open all internal doors and clean any likely touch points, such as door handles, using standard household cleaning products. For your protection, viewers and our agents will wear facemasks and try to minimise their contact with any surfaces.
But don’t forget, it’s not all about Covid. After all, the whole point of the exercise is to sell your property (and get the best price), and that means also making sure it looks as good as it can. At this time of year, the wind and rain can take a heavy toll on your paintwork and windows, leaving them looking tired and grubby. And, if you have any kind of outside spaces, there will be dead plants and leaves everywhere. Sweep away those leaves, cut back any dead plants and give your external doors, windows and paintwork a really good scrub with soap and warm water. If you have one, mow the lawn, too. As long as you set the mower a little higher than normal (grass should be about 2 inches long). It won’t do it any harm whatsoever and it’s amazing what a difference it makes.
With less natural light, it’s also worth paying careful attention to your home’s lighting. And that starts on the outside. A warm and welcoming porch light will set the right tone, right from the start. You want all the lights turned on inside, too, because the last thing you want is for your home to look gloomy. Although be careful, a single source of light can make a room look like a prison cell and will do more harm than good. To mimic natural daylight conditions you need multiple, low level light sources. If necessary, go and buy some extra free-standing or table lights.
The house’s temperature is another important consideration - warm and snug, but not hot. The mean recommended temperature is between 19 and 21 degrees, so make sure it stays around those levels whenever there are viewings and that you allow plenty of time for it to warm up beforehand. If you’ve got a gas fire, it's well worth lighting it, as it will help create the right kind of ambience. Lighting a real fire, on the other hand, is not such a good idea as they can be dangerous when left unattended.
How easy is it to get planning in our area?
Many of us have spent far too much time lately cooped up in our homes, dreaming about extra space. You might have considered buying a garden office or, as this month’s design article reveals, turning your shed into some kind of outside den. The truth is, if you want enough space for an extra bedroom, bathroom, a home study or even just a bigger kitchen, you’re going to have to build an extension. And that involves the dreaded planning permission (https://www.gov.uk/planning-permission-england-wales).
We’ve all heard horror stories from friends and family about the fights people have had with their local planning departments. About how perfectly reasonable requests have been rejected – multiple times. How planners have insisted on the most ludicrous changes and conditions. That the process has gone on forever. Mostly, though, what we've heard is, whatever you want, the answer always seems to be 'no'.
I know exactly how that feels. I am currently battling it out with my own local planning authorities, who’ve come up with a list of some of the most ludicrous objections I have ever heard. At one point, they even claimed my house was “too near a conservation area”. Surely, either you are in it or not. Or are conservation areas made of stretchable elastic? Anyway, I confess, it led to me using some very unflattering language about them. Some of it not for young ears. However, I may have erred. It turns out they are not the worst planning authority in the country, after all, although their IQs and their parents’ marital status remain unproven.
And how is it that I know this? Roofing Megastore (https://www.roofingmegastore.co.uk/) has been digging through the data. Now I know for certain who the most difficult planning authorities are. Enfield’s residents - you may want to look away now, because your local planning department is, officially, the worst of the worst. On the other hand, if you like things just the way they are, you might think them the best.
Despite our preconceptions, Roofing Megastore discovered that 91% of planning applications for home renovations in England are granted. It does, though, depend very much on where you live. Your chances of success could be as low as 65% (Enfield), or as high as 99% (Carlisle, Cumbria). So, why are there such big discrepancies? The fact is, planning permission depends on a large number of variables. These range from neighbours’ objections, to site specific factors, the type of development, whether it’s a listed building or in a conservation area and, crucially, where, exactly, the property is located.
And, although there is a national policy framework, there are localised ones too. Planning authorities have their own, area-specific building regulations, planning constraints and development targets. There are also different individuals in charge, with different ideas and agendas. It means the same project could sail through in one area and stand no chance in another. Overall, the most difficult area to get planning permission is London. Below is a list of the top ten hardest places to get permission and 8 out of 10 of them are in the capital. That maybe a result of it being one of the most densely populated areas in the country, as any developments are more likely to impinge on their neighbours.
Sadly, a lot of time and money is wasted on failed applications. A full application for an extension costs £206. Over the past three years, 309,403 were rejected, costing £64 million. If you then add in fees for design, plans and surveys (typically around £2,000), the total waste could be as high as £619 million.
If you’d like to know what chance you have with your own planning project, just follow this link (https://www.roofingmegastore.co.uk/easiest-hardest-cities-planning-permission) and check out your area on the interactive map. As for me, I’m already thinking my best route might be an appeal.
10 Hardest Places to Get Planning Permission in England
Rank Area Approved %
1 Enfield, London 65.13%
2 Hillingdon, London 66.01%
3 Harrow, London 69.56%
4 Hounslow, London 71.24%
5 Greenwich, London 71.47%
6 Lambeth, London 73.55%
7 Rochdale, Greater Manchester 74.03%
8 Southend-on-Sea, Essex 74.46%
9 Newham, London 76.02%
10 Bromley, London 76.82%
10 Easiest Places to Get Planning Permission in England
Rank Area Approved %
1 Carlisle, Cumbria 98.90%
2 Copeland, Cumbria 98.72%
3 Richmondshire, North Yorkshire 98.17%
4 Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire 97.89%
5 County Durham, North East 97.82%
6 Fareham, Hampshire 97.79%
7 Cornwall, South West 97.39%
8 Eden, Cumbria 97.38%
9 North West Leicestershire, Midlands 97.36%
9 Rushmoor, Hampshire 97.36%
10 Darlington, County Durham East 97.29%
Rental Update
Rental news
Covid has resulted in some testing times for landlords. With the government’s ban on evictions of non-paying tenants, many landlords have had to bear a heavy financial burden and the protective measures keep coming. Evictions were allowed to begin again on 21st of September but there are big backlogs at the courts. At more or less the same time, though, the rules for regaining possession changed. Now, if you want to sell the property, for example, and your tenants don’t want to leave, it will take at least 6 months to remove them, even if their contract comes to an end in the meantime. The government is also proposing a ‘Christmas Truce’ preventing evictions over the festive period and temporary bans on any evictions in lockdown areas.
For landlords who need to regain possession as a result of rising rent arrears, the new legislation was not good news. Research by the Resolution Foundation found one in eight private tenants had fallen behind with their rent since the outset of the pandemic. If you add in delays at court, landlords could wait up to a year before they can evict non-paying tenants. Mediation services may well be the best option - the PRS Mediation Service (https://tenancymediation.theprs.co.uk/) works on behalf of both landlords and tenants. Its costs are very reasonable – starting at £100 for helping arrange an informal understanding to £300 for a legally binding and documented agreement. And, even if no agreement can be reached, the courts will at least look favourably on any efforts to reach a compromise.
There are exceptions to the six month eviction rule - landlords are only required to give 4 weeks’ notice if the issue is anti-social behaviour and 2 to 4 weeks notice for domestic abuse and false statement cases. 4 weeks is the timescale for anyone whose rent arrears are over six months and breaches of Right-to-Rent or Right-to-Remain have a 3 month notice period.
The unusual conditions mean rents are following a very similar path to the sales market, with rising demand and prices in many regions. Across the UK, average rents were up by 0.2% in September and by 2.1% annually. In London, though, rents continue to fall, down by 0.4% month on month and by 2.8% annually. The closer to the centre, the greater the falls, with some of the biggest to be found in areas in and around the City. The falls are likely to be only temporary though and should, hopefully, be reversed in the spring when many of us may return to our normal places of work.
Commenting on this month’s data, Martin Totty, chief executive at HomeLet, said:
“Tenant demand remains strong whilst supply may be a little more constrained if some landlords are selling into a stronger sales market, even if that could be a short-term phenomenon. It also doesn`t help tenants much if, for them, the prospect of securing first time mortgage finance remains as elusive as ever.”
If you have a property for rent or sale in Notting Hill, Bayswater, Kensington or Holland Park and are concerned about any of the issues raised in this article.
Call us at Homesite and we can talk you through your options.
Haunted Houses
With Halloween on its way, we thought we'd take a peek at some of the country’s most haunted houses. Britain is positively overflowing with ghosts and ghouls.
There’s even a haunted village – Pluckley in Kent, where there are almost as many ghosts as there are inhabitants. As you’d imagine, there's also plenty of haunted castles and palaces. At Hampton Court, for example, a ghostly medieval figure was recently caught on CCTV (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sjzjyfPJqA). However, we’re going to concentrate on more domestic dwellings, where the bumps in the night and the weird goings on are happening in the kinds of places some of us call home!
1) Wymering Manor, Hampshire
Like all good haunted houses, Wymering Manor is old and comes with a rich and colourful history. As Portsmouth’s oldest house, it was mentioned in the Domesday book (http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/) of 1042 and was originally owned by King Edward the Confessor. In latter years, it became a youth hostel but was recently gifted to the Wymering Manor Trust (http://www.heritagetrustnetwork.org.uk/our-members/wymering-manor-trust/) after its fame as a haunted house made it unsaleable. There are a number of different ghosts associated with the house, the most famous of which is the brilliantly named Reckless Roddy. According to legend, in medieval times, Reckless Roddy rode to the manor to have his wicked way with a new bride after her husband had been called away on an emergency.
Unfortunately for Roddy, the husband returned just in time to run him through with a sword. Now it’s said Reckless Roddy makes an appearance every time there’s a new bride in the house. Another famous resident is the bloody nun. There are rumours the attic was once used for illegal abortions, allegedly the result of illicit unions between nuns and monks. Now a nun often appears at the top of the stairs, with her hands covered in blood.
Many visitors also report the cries of children, sudden changes in temperature and unseen hands that reach out and touch passers by.
2) Woodchester Mansion, Gloucestershire
Woodchester Mansion is a vast Victorian gothic pile, built in place of a much older building, Spring Park. Unusually for a haunted house, Woodchester was never occupied because, owing to financial problems, its original owner died before it was completed. With its missing floors, stairs that lead nowhere and large community of bats, it’s certainly spooky. However, it seems it’s the ground it sits on that is the source of its many manifestations. From the very beginning the house seemed cursed - during its construction, it is said 6 people died and one man was murdered. After the workers had downed tools, the house was then abandoned for many years, until, just before the war it came close to becoming an insane asylum. Instead, at the last minute, it was requisitioned as a base for American soldiers.
Whilst training for the D Day landings at a nearby lake, twenty of those soldiers were killed when a pontoon bridge collapsed and the tank they were in sank into the freezing waters. Their ghosts are just some of the many apparitions that inhabit the house. The cellar is reputed to be the most haunted area, although there are plenty of reports of ghosts in the chapel, where satanic rites are said to have taken place in the 80s. There is also a young girl who is regularly spotted running up and down the stairs, a woman singing soulful Irish songs in the scullery and a clock that, although not used, often chimes unexpectedly. Over the years, the house has been the subject of a number of TV programmes, including Most Haunted (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b4gaEGoM8w).
3) The Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire
Reputedly one of the most haunted buildings in Britain, The Ancient Ram Inn was built in 1145. Originally the property of the nearby St Mary’s Church, it is now owned by John Humphries, who runs it as a place of pilgrimage for ghost hunters and spiritualists. Not only is the house on the intersection of two ley lines, it is also directly above an ancient pagan burial ground. And, to add to its many myths, children’s bones and sacrificial daggers were recently discovered buried at the bottom of the stairs. It is therefore no surprise to find the place is home to a whole host of malevolent spirits. One of the best known is the ghost of a witch who hid in the house before being caught and burned at the stake in the 1500s. She even has her own room – the aptly named Witch’s Room.
However, the most haunted room of all is said to be the Bishop’s Room. There you might be confronted by the sight of a previous innkeeper’s daughter hanging by a noose from the ceiling, a shepherd, several ghostly nuns, or, if you are really unlucky, an incubus (male sex demon) and a succubus (female sex demon). There are countless stories of hardened spook hunters running screaming from the house, but what is perhaps most unnerving of all are the physical aspects of some of the hauntings. Furniture is said to regularly fly around and the owner, John, and a number of visitors also describe having been dragged around by unseen forces. During the making of Most Haunted, one of the crew was filmed as he was attacked in the barn. And it seems those spirits are there for keeps, as a few years back, the Bishop of Gloucester tried and failed to do an exorcism, describing the Inn as “the most evil place I have ever had the misfortune to visit.” The Ancient Ram Inn on Most Haunted (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3iQgGEcvc)
4) The Cage, St Osyth, Essex
The Cage was originally a small prison. Notorious witch, Ursula Kemp (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursula_Kemp) and six others were kept there prior to their trial and execution in 1582. It was later used to house the victims of the plague, after which there was a steady stream of drunks and petty thieves until it was finally decommissioned in 1908. It has now passed into private hands, but it seems it has retained many echoes of its dark past and has rarely been owned by anyone for more than four years at a time. One of its longest standing custodians is Vanessa Mitchell, who bought the place back in 2004, unaware of its history.
There have been a whole host of unexplained incidents, including frequent poltergeist activity. The house is also blamed for producing feelings of suicide and despair among those who live there. Whilst pregnant, Vanessa says she was pushed to the floor by some unseen force and, another time, was beaten on the backside. When she saw a ghostly figure bent over her child’s cot and blood splatters on the floor she decided she'd had enough.
She initially turned to a series of spiritualists and paranormal investigators in an attempt to get rid of her unwanted guests, but without success. She then rented it out, but, unsurprisingly, the tenants never stayed long. In 2016, after a CCTV camera captured an image of a satanic goat’s head, she put the house on the market for £180,000. With buyers thin on the ground, she started giving tours to ghost hunters, as well as the morbidly curious.
Notting Hill, is full of history and plenty of it spooky, too, If you have a ghost story you’d like to share, or just want to buy, sell or rent a home in any of the following areas – just let us know:
Notting Hill, Bayswater, Kensington, Holland Park
Legislation 2020 – Are You A Landlord In Notting Hill Or Bayswater?
Did you know during the course of the last 2 years, there have been 19 new legislative changes that effect Landlords and Letting Agents for tenancies in England and Wales, and the penalties and fines imposed for non-compliance have been on the rise.
How many of the below are you familiar with as a landlord?
Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 4) (Coronavirus) Rules 2020
The new rules will require a landlord seeking possession of their property to set out in their claim any relevant information about a tenant’s circumstances, including information on the effect of COVID-19 on a tenant’s vulnerability or whether they are claiming benefits. Information should also be provided on how the pandemic has affected a tenant’s dependents if any.
Evictions under the Coronavirus Act 2020
Emergency legislation passed in the Houses of Parliament means that from Saturday 29th August 2020 tenants have to be given six months’ notice if you wish to regain possession of your property. (new forms 3 and 6A have been updated and will be published tomorrow). This includes possession of tenancies under the Rent Act 1977, the Housing Act 1985, the Housing Act 1996 and the Housing Act 1988.
The Deregulation Act 2015 Preventing Retaliatory Evictions – All tenancies from October 2018
This Act introduces new rules designed to prevent retaliatory evictions whereby a landlord evicts a tenant by the use of the Section 21 procedure simply because they have made a legitimate complaint about the condition of the property.
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2018
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 provide new flexibility in the timing of landlords’ annual gas safety checks and the date when the next safety check is due.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/139/introduction/made
Home and Planning Act 2016 – Banning Orders – Applies to all Landlords from April 2018
Banning Orders are part of a range of measures introduced in the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to tackle rogue landlords and letting agents. The Banning Orders will force the most serious and prolific offenders to either drastically improve the standard of the accommodation they rent out, or to leave the sector altogether.
The Tenant Fees Act 2019
The act enforces a ban on landlords, letting agents, or anyone acting on the tenant’s behalf in England to charge fees on top of the rent, except for a capped refundable Tenancy Deposit, a capped refundable Holding Deposit and tenant default fees.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tenant-fees-act-2019-guidance
Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO’s)
Mandatory licensing will no longer be limited to certain HMOs that are three or more storeys but will also include buildings with one or two floors. Any landlord who lets a property to five or more people, from two or more separate households, must be licensed by their local authority.
The rules also introduce new mandatory conditions for national minimum sleeping room sizes and waste disposal facility requirements.
https://www.gov.uk/house-in-multiple-occupation-licence
Additional HMO Licensing
If the local authority believes there are problems such that there is a need to license certain HMOs not subject to mandatory licensing (such as section 257 HMOs or purpose-built flats situated in a block comprising three or more self-contained flats) it can designate a specific area as subject to additional HMO licensing.
The Deregulation Act 2015 Changes to Section 21 Notices – All Assured Shorthold tenancies from October 2018
There are new restrictions on serving Section 21 Notices early and a new template Section 21 form. The new rules also remove the need for a landlord to specify that a tenancy must end on the last day of a rental period; unless the tenancy started on a periodic basis without any initial fixed term where a longer notice period may be required depending on how often the tenant is required to pay rent (for example, if the tenant pays rent quarterly, they must be given at least three months’ notice, or, if they have a periodic tenancy which is half yearly or annual, they must be given at least six months’ notice.
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES)
Landlords must not grant a new tenancy of a property (including an extension or renewal), nor continue to let the property (on an existing tenancy) after 1 April 2020, where the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is below the minimum level of energy efficiency for private rented properties of band E.
Homes (Fitness For Human Habitation) Act 2018
Landlords and letting agents acting on their behalf must ensure properties, including common parts where they have an estate or interest, are fit for human habitation at the beginning and throughout the duration of a tenancy. Tenants will now be able to take direct legal action if their agent or landlord does not comply with the Act.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homes-fitness-for-human-habitation-act-2018
The Electrical safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020
Landlords must ensure:
• Electrical safety standards are met when the property is occupied
during a tenancy.
• Every fixed electrical installation at the property is inspected and
tested at least every five years by a qualified person.
• The first inspection and testing is carried out before new
tenancies commence on or after 1 July 2020 and by 1 April 2021
for existing tenancies.
Here at Homesite, as members of ARLA Propertymark and the Property Ombudsman, we understand the implications and repercussions of such pivotal change within the industry, and our experienced team are prepared for what lies ahead – so let us take the headache away and enable you to focus your time, on the things you like doing best.
Please get in touch with our Team if you have any questions or concerns regarding any of the above.