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LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

PROPERTY NEWS

SEPTEMBER 2020

AUTUMN RECIPES FROM FRESH SEASONAL PRODUCE

THE TOP CARS OF 2020 WHAT ARE THE BEST SELLING CARS OF 2020 SO FAR?

BACK TO SCHOOL HELP YOUR LITTLE ONE SETTLE AGAIN

PREVIEW THE RETURN OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE

CONKER SEASON HOW TO PICK THE BEST CONKERS

CONTENTS LIFESTYLE

COVER STORY

Autumn recipes Using fresh seasonal produce to create some simply stunning dishes

PROPERTY

Preparing for Autumn Getting your garden and home prepared for the colder months ahead

Turning the heating back on Now’s the time to make sure everything’s running smoothly with your heating system

Our latest instructions Take a look at a selection of our latest properties on the market

About us Get to know our team a little better and see why we are your agent of choice

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Wheels of fortune The Stamp Duty holiday has given home-buyers more spending power Photography hints and tips Helpful tips to take Insta-ready photos with the best of them Conker season is here It’s a centuries-old game but some people still go bonkers for conkers Settling children back at school With most having a longer time away from nursery and school, it’s a worry for some parents Top TV this Autumn A selection of must-watch shows that are returning to our screens

SPORT

Return of the Premier League It may have only just finished, but this month the 2020/21 season starts

WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE!

ummer is on the wane! The nights are drawing in and the temperature is starting to drop. With the arrival of September, we welcome the stunning colours and flavours of Autumn. With the property market thriving, and the Stamp Duty Holiday in place, if you’re thinking about moving but haven’t started the process, we have put safety guidelines in place to ensure your safety. And with our expert local knowledge, we have all the tools you need to get you moving – including a FREE personalised website for you to share on social media. This month’s issue boasts some great tips about how to make the most of this time of year and take some stunning insta-ready

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photos as well as savouring the freshest, seasonal ingredients to create some mouth-watering Autumnal recipes. Plus, we take a look at some of the best car deals to take advantage of your savings on stamp duty and a preview for the new Premier League season. Children returning to school, or starting for the first time? We have a great article with some advice to help them settle and tips on getting your heating in prime working order ready to watch this season’s top new TV! Till next time… Jonathan Wheatley Editor

hen the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced a Stamp Duty holiday to enable the homes property market to breathe life into the post-lockdown economy, thousands of prospective house buyers must have raised their eyebrows and applauded wildly. It meant an estimated nine out of 10 people buying their main home would not pay the tax, removing a not-inconsiderable burden until March 31 next year. And you could almost hear the sound of belts being slightly loosened as new kitchens, bathrooms and planned improvements were scratched off the wishlist and confidently transferred to the ‘to do’ schedule. But while a raft of home improvement catologues were being thumbed through, a tentative motor industry would have been hoping: ‘Don’t forget about us’. Because, although upgrading your wheels may not be high on the list of priorities when it comes to spending some of the equity, now may be the best time to buy that car you’d always promised yourself, one day, if you had the money … A combination of factors, including the new September registration plate and an industry also suffering post-lockdown blues, means there could be a lot of bargains and good deals out there.

WHEELS OF FORTUNE

The Government’s easing of Stamp Duty has given home-buyers more spending power

For example, with a new Nissan Juke available, dealers want their old stock of this very popular SUV off the forecourt which means there are some cracking offers on as-new pre-registered models. In theory, you could drive off in a new bug-eyed compact crossover for less than £12,000.

and hand it back at the end of the contract – and if you have a few extra pounds you hadn’t bargained for, now could be the time to go big.

Take the Audi A3 E-Tron… and with some of these deals you’d be hard-pressed not to. Largely because there’s a new A3 waiting in the A combination of wings, the older models factors means there are very reasonably priced. A plug-in hybrid from a could be a lot of premium manufacturer bargains and good for around £250 a month? deals out there What’s not to like?

Similarly, the Fiat Tipo, with its 440litre boot, is one of the roomiest small cars in its class and although it might not be one to make your new neighbours sit up and take notice, there are huge discounts to be found, bringing it down to around the £11,000 mark.

However, the old saying ‘Cash is King’ might not always be the case nowadays where there are more ways to make your money go further. If you like to change cars regularly, leasing is a sensible choice, albeit with a mileage allowance. Put down your initial payment

If you like the idea of a new car for an affordably monthly amount with the option of handing it back or buying at the end of the contract, then personal contract payment is for you, although you will need to do your homework to find the right deal. When you do, you can bag a great car for far less than you might expect, such as the Volkswagen Tiguan Match 2.0 TDi a jack-of-all-trades that, despite the name, is difficult to match. With a £10,000 deposit, it could cost you just £255 a month – a staggering amount for a brand with huge badge appeal. As always, the rush for the new registration means an influx of used cars to the market and while some may sneer at anything around five years old that’s got a few miles on the clock, those more astute shoppers will already be perusing websites and forecourts. So, anyone for a pre-2015 Range Rover Evoque 2.2 SD4 PureTech from £17,500? How about a BMW 118i M Sport from under £9,000? Or a Nissan Qashgai 1.2 DiG-T Acenta from £7,500? Happy hunting.

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PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRINT

And if you want a larger saloon, consider the Ford Mondeo 2.0 Zetec Hybrid. Although the Mondeo’s days as market leader are long gone, this one can make a long journey pass comfortably. And it’s a rarity – a hybrid for around the £20,000 mark.

And if your new home comes with a car charging point, think about the Renault Zoe GT Line 100kw. Although electric cars were unfeasibly expensive two years ago, they now compare favourably with petrol models and the Zoe, with its conventional

supermini looks and automatic style gearbox, can go 250 miles on a full charge, for £227 a month.

PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR AUTUMN

The colder months are approaching and this means getting your garden and home prepared accordingly. The garden particularly has been hard at work throughout the summer but getting ready for autumn and winter isn’t necessarily that diff icult, and these jobs can easily be done yourself

utumn is the ideal time of the year to trim your garden into shape and prepare the home in general. Spring and summer are when your garden is most busy, tending to wildlife, growing wildly, and flourishing into its best version of itself. But now it’s time to unwind and tidy up for the coming months, as well as ensure your home is prepared internally, for the colder times ahead.

CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS Gutters easily gather moss, leaves and twigs, and they’ve probably been abandoned somewhat through summer, so now’s the time to clean them. Fix any broken guttering ready for the colder months because blockages and leaks can cause water to drip, and possibly run down the side of your house’s

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external masonry. Internal walls can also become damp if moisture is drawn through.

CLEAR YOUR DRAINS OF FALLEN LEAVES When it’s raining, gutters will ultimately need to dump the water they’re carrying, and that will be into the drains, so it’s important to make sure the drains are cleared of any leaves, grass cuttings, or any other garden debris that has found its way in there. This will prevent rainwater from collecting where it shouldn’t and causing damage or inconvenience.

To keeps germs away from your bird feeders, give them a good and thorough scrub with boiling hot water, which should also kill off any parasites which may be in the feeders too

Self-adhesive foam tape can easily fit around windows, and a plastic or metal strip with a brush or wiper attached is better for doors or loft hatches

CONCEAL ANY DRAFTS FROM DOORS, WINDOWS AND FIREPLACES Checking for gaps around windows and doors is easy and can save you a significant amount of money on your energy bill, so it’s a worthwhile task to carry out. Loft hatches and around pipework are also areas where cold air from outside can get through. If the pipework runs through an external wall, it can be filled with a silicone sealant or expanding polyurethane foam. Self-adhesive foam tape can easily fit around windows, and a plastic or metal strip with a brush or wiper attached is better for doors or loft hatches.

GET YOUR BOILER SERVICED Your boiler won’t have been working as hard throughout

the summer months, so if it has a serious problem you wouldn’t know about it. Don’t wait until you actually need your central heating - get the boiler checked out now because, depending on the seriousness of the potential problem, it could take a while to get it fixed or indeed to even get someone out to look at it. Best to book in a professional before they all start getting really busy.

CLEAN YOUR GARDEN FURNITURE AND BBQ Let’s be honest – your BBQ’s had a good run this summer but it’s time now to give it a deep clean and store it away or cover it up for the colder months ahead. Ashes and spent charcoal should all be disposed of. All garden furniture should be cleaned

down too, and now’s the time to spot-clean stains on cushions before storing it all in a dry place until next spring.

PRUNING While the weather’s mild, now is the best time of the year to prune your plants. Cutting your shrubs to about a quarter of their original size is the general recommendation, and don’t forget to thin out the congested stems to improve air circulation. Berries and perennials, in particular, will benefit from cutting back, as will plants such as lavender and rosemary that don’t handle pruning in the winter.

PREPARE YOUR PERENNIALS Speaking of perennials, now’s the time to tidy them up – geraniums and astrantias in particular. A great tip is to

remove any collapsed stems or dying leaves, either by cutting from their bases with some pruning clippers or by gently hand-pulling them out. After you’ve done this, make sure to get rid of any remaining weeds, then spread some compost over the soil to give your plants a boost, leaving worms to do the rest of the work over the winter.

CLEAN AND REPLENISH YOUR BIRD BOXES AND FEEDERS To keep germs away from your bird feeders, give them a good and thorough scrub with boiling hot water which should also kill off any parasites in the feeders too. Ensure they are completely dry before you restock it for the winter.

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY HINTS AND TIPS With smartphones having cameras better than some Digital SLRs, and with the stunning colours of autumn around the corner, we wanted to give you some hints and tips to take Insta-ready photos with the best of them

SETTING UP YOUR CAMERA’S PHONE Depending on what make of phone you have, it will be worthwhile going into the camera settings early. In the settings, you will get options to change the front and rear camera quality. For the best photos, you will want UHD (60 fps) 3840x2160 as a minimum. You will also be able to turn on HRD (rich tone) on most phones which will give your pictures extra depth.

INTELLIGENT FEATURES Samsung Galaxy phones have a range of options when it comes to intelligent features for the camera including a Scene Optimizer, Shot suggestions and a smart selfie angle. These features are super cool and easy to use to get the best pictures possible. Apple iPhones have their own smart features including artificial intelligence. Every time you go to take a photo, the three cameras (on iPhone 11 and above) will quickly take eight images before you press the shutter. The phone’s camera will then compare your image against the previous eight and merge the best pixels to create the final image.

TRIPODS AND SELFIE STICKS If you are super serious about your photography or are looking at making videos, then you will want to invest in a highquality, customisable tripod. These handy tools are perfect for panoramic photos and time-lapse photos as the phone will be set in place, reducing wobble. The same goes for videos. Over the past few years, selfie sticks have become all the rage. They’re very simple to use; simply attach your phone in the holder, hold the stick away from you and voila, suddenly you can fit more people, or background, into your selfies. As most smartphones aren’t cheap, we would recommend spending the extra bit of money to get a secure one for your phone though.

EDITING YOUR PHOTOS Both Samsung and Apple phones have built-in editing suites. Having played on both, the Samsung auto edit feature is fantastic to give your photos a professional edge. With social media apps, especially Instagram, they have their own editing features built-in for uploading your photos. Their ready-made filters are perfect whether you are looking for sepia-toned, black and white or even comic-strip style photos.

By following some of these hints and tips, hopefully, you will be ready to get out there taking high-quality photos of this beautiful world as the seasons’ change

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THE CONKER LINE It’s a centuries-old game that’s been in decline, but some people still go bonkers for conkers

They can be roasted. You can pickle, bake or coat them in clear nail varnish, but that’s frowned upon. Yet they are best au naturel, teased out of their prickly green case to be skewered, threaded on to a piece of string and swung at varying velocities in the direction of another of their kind in nature’s version of a demolition derby. Ladies and gentlemen, we are talking conkers. And this month we are heading towards that season beloved of schoolboys from the age of 35 upwards. Yes, it’s conker time! Since the spring, their parent horse chestnut trees have blossomed and nurtured the fruit until the early autumn when, too heavy for their slender stalks, the chestnuts tumble to the ground. Then it’s game on…. and it has been for a few hundred years. Although the first recorded game of conkers was not until 1848, a similar pastime played with hazelnuts – also known as cobnuts – and snail’s shells has been around since the 15th Century. The fruits of the horse chestnut tree did not become involved until well after their introduction to this country from the Balkans more than 100 years later, when initially the nuts were ground and fed to cattle, deer but predominately horses – hence the name horse chestnuts. However, the origin of the name ’conkers’ is open to

debate. It may have been dialect for ‘hard nut’ but is believed to be French, from the word cogner, meaning to bang, or a conch shell – conque. Safe to say, it’s nothing to do with William The Conkerer. There are regional variations – it’s called ‘cheggers’ in Lancashire and in DH Lawrence’s ‘Sons and Lovers’ it is referred to as ‘cobblers’. But essentially it’s the same face-toface combat loved by children of all ages and loathed by school caretakers and the Health and Safety Executive. Their hostile background almost brought them into the war effort in 1917 when, in a secret initiative, children were offered money by the Ministry of Supply to collect conkers. A shipping blockade in the latter years of World War One had prevented cordite from America reaching Britain’s munitions factories, and it was discovered acetone needed for the production of the compound could be produced from starch, initially from maize but, when that ran short, from horse chestnuts. Ultimately, though, there were issues transporting the vast quantities needed and the idea was mothballed. However, it did nothing to dampen the fervour for the game and in 1965 the World Conker Championships were born, albeit in an unlikely setting and even unlikelier circumstances.

Legend has it that a group of anglers in Ashton, Northamptonshire, had to scrap their fishing trip because of bad weather and decided, because there were a lot of horse chestnut trees around the village green, to have a conker tournament instead. A prize was quickly found and donations were made to a charity for the visually-impaired because one of the competitors had a relative who was blind. It continued as an annual event, eventually outgrowing its original home and the decision was taken to move just up the road to Southwick, another village on the outskirts of Oundle, where it has been since 2013. As the championships’ popularity has grown – ironically as general participation has waned because of bruised knuckles and injuries from flying shrapnel - categories have increased. Now there are prizes for the overall champion, plus

men’s, women, team, junior and intermediate categories, but they still donate to charities for the visually impaired, raising almost £415,000 over the years. The event, traditionally held on the second weekend in October, has only once been postponed - and that because of bad weather - although there was reported to be something of a crisis a few years ago when it was feared a dry summer would leave the domestic conker crop smaller and shrivelled. Adequate replacements were tracked down in Germany although it is unclear whether they were used. This year, however, the championships on October 11 face a potential knockout blow from Covid-19 which could mean 27-year-old Jasmine Tetley from Derbyshire will not put her overall title on the line until 2021. A decision will be taken in early September. See worldconkerchampionships.com for further details

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

HELPING YOUR CHILD SETTLE AT SCHOOL

Children pick up on their parent’s emotions, so on the first day of school make sure you are positive and in the right frame of mind. Save the tears till after they’ve gone into their class

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With most of our children having a longer time away from nursery and school than ever before, it is a worry for some parents as to how they will settle back at school this month…

s parents, there is nothing that makes us more nervous than your child’s first day at school. With 2020 being anything but a standard year, this is even more so for school starters this month. Children entering reception class haven’t had the usual amount of time at nursery getting them ready and most haven’t had the chance to visit their new school or meet their new teachers face to face. However, there are still ways to ensure your child feels confident and relaxed when they start their new journey this year…

ONLINE MEET AND GREETS Most schools have offered Zoom or Skype meet and greets which are perfect for your child to get to know their teachers and fellow students. Their teacher and any teaching assistants provide your child’s safety net while at school so you want them to build trust very early on. Just having a familiar face will help your child on their first day of school.

The teacher will also be responsible for keeping an eye on your child and identifying and worries or anxieties they are having. So having a good relationship with the teacher yourself is very important.

ENCOURAGE FRIENDSHIPS AND BONDING WITH OTHER CHILDREN

The friendships your children make at school can last a lifetime. It is important to support and encourage your children to make friends with their classmates early on. When at home, play games that help them to understand the principles of sharing and taking turns as well as being kind and compassionate to others. When the school has started, set up playdates at home or picnics with their friends. By showing your child that you like their friends it encourages them to carry on with

the forming of friendships. The most important thing is not to force friendships on them with other children because of your own social standing or friendship groups. These friendships could be too forced and could, in fact, put your child off socialising.

There are ways to ensure your child feels confident and relaxed when they start their new journey this year

ESTABLISH A ROUTINE

If this is your first child starting school you will soon realise that getting your child ready in the morning can be one of life’s most frustrating chores. By setting a routine before they start school, this should help with the process. Getting your child to wake up, get out of bed and get dressed independently as well as eating meals and snacks at the same time as the school will help them acclimatise to their new surroundings. By taking your child school clothes shopping will also help to build the excitement. Let them pick their own schoolbag, (if allowed) pencil case, etc, so they feel comfortable when they go in on their first day. You could also include a family picture in their pencil case or school bag as a little reminder of home and can help to ease the anxiety.

This will help them reduce their anxiety in the long run as they will have confidence in themselves in new situations such as moving classes, learning new things and changing into different uniforms.

HAVING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

Children pick up on their parent’s emotions, so on the first day of school make sure you are positive and in the right frame of mind. Save the tears till after they’ve gone into their class. Have something positive for your child to come home to on the first day – it doesn’t have to be big, just a little treat, and remember to talk about their day and their experiences. Gentle and positive coaching will help your child integrate into school life. It can also help them build self-esteem to try hard at everything and to never give up. Perseverance is a great trait to have, so make sure they get recognition for it. And finally, don’t dismiss any worries or fears they may have. Allow them to ask lots of questions and answer them honestly and openly. Remember, a lot of the anxiety your child might have is that you might find their problems silly. Reassure your child that you understand every one of their worries and that everything will be fine.

ENCOURAGE INDEPENDENCE

Helping your child build independence is extremely important for their future and builds their resilience. By encouraging your child to do everyday tasks themselves such as introducing themselves to new people, asking for help and packing their own school bags will help them build independence.

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SUMPTUOUS SEPTEMBER SUPPERS The start of autumn is a wonderful time especially with the fresh produce available to create some simply stunning dishes

GRILLED PEPPERS STUFFED WITH HERBY, CHEESY COUSCOUS These sweet and salty, stuffed peppers are perfect for a late summer BBQ or done under the grill, all using fresh ingredients from your garden or supermarket.

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE FILLING

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• • • • • • • •

4 x Red Peppers 2 tbsp Olive Oil 2 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar 1 tbsp Lemon Juice 1 tbsp Maple Syrup

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200g couscous 200ml vegetable stock 2 cups of walnuts 2 cups of fresh basil leaves 2 tbsp olive oil 200g feta cheese 3 x garlic cloves Parmesan or any other Italian hard cheese Salt and pepper to taste

METHOD • • • • • • • • • •

Pour the vegetable stock over the couscous; add salt and pepper and cover. Meanwhile, pop the walnuts, basil leaves, olive oil, parmesan cheese and garlic cloves into a mortar and pestle roughly. Season with salt and pepper. Break the Feta cheese into 1 cm cubes and fork into the couscous. Add the mix from the mortar into the couscous and give a good stir. Cut a circle around the stalk of the pepper and pop off the top. Clean out the inside removing the seeds. Stuff the peppers with the couscous and seal the lid of the pepper with cocktail sticks. Mix the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice and maple syrup into a bowl to create a marinade. Put the sealed pepper directly on to the BBQ or under the grill. Marinade the pepper every few minutes while on or under the grills. Once the pepper’s skin is charred on all sides, marinade once more before serving.

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IMAGE FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY

BOLD BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH CHILLI & CRÈME FRAICHE Early autumn is the perfect time to harvest fresh butternut squash. Combining its earthy flavour with chilli and crème fraiche really brings this soup to life.

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

• • • • • • • •

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1 butternut squash 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp butter 2 chopped red onions 1 roasted garlic clove 2 red chillies 850 ml vegetable stock 4 tbsp crème fraiche

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan. Place the roasting tray with 1 tbsp olive oil inside. Peel the butternut squash, deseed and then cut into 4 cm chunks. Wrap the garlic clove, with a little olive oil, in tinfoil and put into the hot roasting tray alongside the butternut squash. Roast for 30 mins, removing the garlic after 10. Meanwhile, melt the butter with the remaining olive oil in a saucepan. Add the diced red onion, the roasted garlic and the chopped, deseeded chillies. Cover and cook for 20 mins. When the butternut squash has had 30 mins, add to the saucepan with the vegetable stock and the crème fraiche. Stir before blitzing with a hand blender or liquidiser. Season to taste before serving in bowls with an extra bit of crème fraiche on top.

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HEARTY SAUSAGE CASSEROLE WITH HERBY POTATO WEDGES This is the perfect warming dish for a cooler autumn evening. Make sure you get high-quality sausages and try to use fresh herbs when possible.

INGREDIENTS •

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8 high-quality sausages (Lincolnshire or Cumberland) 1 tin chopped tomatoes 2 red onions 1 red pepper 8 large potatoes

• • • • • • •

2 tbsp cumin ½ bottle of stout 2 tbsp paprika ½ cup fresh thyme ½ cup fresh rosemary 3 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

METHOD • • •

•

• • • •

Slice the potatoes into wedges and pop into a pan of salted, boiling water for 10 mins. Meanwhile, put a roasting tray with 2 tbsp olive oil, ¼ of the rosemary and ¼ of the thyme into a 230C/210C fan preheated oven. When the potatoes have had 10 mins, drain, season with salt and pepper, add the remaining thyme and rosemary and bash them in the pan to fluff the edges before adding them to the roasting tray alongside the sausages. In a saucepan add 1 tbsp olive oil and add the chopped onions and pepper. Cook until the onions have gone soft and then add the balsamic vinegar and leave for another minute. Check the sausages and potatoes and flip to ensure neither stick to the roasting tray. Add the stout to the saucepan and boil down. Add the chopped tomatoes, cumin and paprika, season with salt and pepper and leave to simmer. Remove the sausages from the oven and add to a glass casserole dish with the sauce and put on the bottom shelf of the oven until the potatoes are ready. When the potatoes are crispy, remove any excess oil using kitchen roll. Serve on a plate with the sausage casserole on top.

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TURNING THE HEATING BACK ON SAFELY Your boiler hasn’t been used very much over the past few summer months, if at all, so now’s the time to make sure everything’s running smoothly with your heating system

eing safe about this is of the utmost importance because even a small error could result in the absence of a boiler until it’s replaced or fixed, and this could take months, meaning a very cold autumn indeed. Follow our guide on how best to prepare.

BLEED YOUR RADIATORS

As you haven’t been using your central heating system, you’ve probably not noticed whether your radiators have stopped working effectively over the summer. It only takes one radiator which isn’t heating fully like the others to determine it needs bleeding.

When heating systems sound like a kettle boiling when turned on, this could mean a build-up of sludge or limescale on your boiler’s heat exchanger, This is known as kittling and can result in restricting the flow of water within the heat exchanger causing it to overheat, steam and boil.

Bleed any under-performing radiators to remove trapped air. It’s also worth noting that thermostatic radiator valves can become stuck if they’ve been left closed for long periods, which means they won’t work when it comes to turning the heating on again. So it’s important to keep them open as much as you can during the summer months

SWITCH YOUR BOILER ON GRADUALLY

Again, you’ve probably had your radiator switched off for most of the summer, although it’s a good rule of thumb to fire it up once or twice a month to help prevent a build-up of things like dust and corrosion, while also helping to flag up any other potential issues before switching back on permanently when the weather gets colder. If you haven’t been doing this throughout summer, and it’s not quite cold enough yet, worry not because there’s still time for you to do it before the chill of autumn descends.

CHECK FOR FAULTS

Problems with your boiler are most likely to occur during long periods of inactivity. When heating systems sound like a kettle boiling when turned on, this could mean a build-up of sludge or limescale on your boiler’s heat exchanger, This is known as kittling and can result in restricting the flow of water within the heat exchanger causing it to overheat, steam and boil. Ensure there are no issues with your gas supply before trying to reignite the pilot light. This could be caused by a broken thermocouple that’s stopping the gas supply or maybe even a draught blowing the light out altogether.

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TOP TV

RETURNING THIS AUTUMN

As a result of the pandemic, many scheduled shows have not been able to go ahead as planned, and thus, we’ve been starved of our regular ‘new’ TV fix

owever, as we approach the busy Autumn period, thankfully some of our returning favourites had managed to complete filming before the full force of the pandemic was felt. Therefore, we’ve picked out a handful of the must-watch shows that are still planning to return to our screens in Autumn 2020.

HIS DARK MATERIALS - BBC ONE

The fantasy drama series based on the books of the same name by Phillip Pullman will return for a second series. The show, which was renewed before the first series even aired has been received well and will boast more huge names including Andrew Scott (Sherlock), and Phoebe WallerBridge (Fleabag), who have been added to the already star-studded cast, which includes Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton), and James McAvoy (Atonement).

MARCELLA - ITV

The third series of this Anna Friel led show had already finished filming when the pandemic hit. It’s been teased that in the new series Marcella has assumed an undercover identity in Northern Ireland. And after the pain-staking cliff-hanger back in 2018, it looks like fans won’t have too

much longer to wait to be gripped by this drama, once again.

DERRY GIRLS - CHANNEL 4

Channel 4’s hit comedy set in 90s Northern Ireland had to pause filming with immediate effect as a direct result of the pandemic. But as yet, there is no official statement to say that series three will not still be released this year. The most-watched show in Northern Ireland since records began, Derry Girls season 3 should have all the usual shenanigans that we’ve come to expect as it follows a group of girls who attempt to navigate their way through their teenage years.

We’ve picked out a handful of the mustwatch shows that are still planning to return to our screens in Autumn 2020.

THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE-OFF CHANNEL 4

Rather than attempt to reschedule a lot of the summer shows have decided to completely postpone until 2021 and it looked like The Great British Bake-Off had followed suit. However, it has been announced that filming is currently taking place on a fourth Channel 4 series, and mammoth eleventh overall. And even if strict rules are in place to prevent the famous Paul Hollywood handshake, it’ll still be good to have a more festive version of the Bake-Off back this year.

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THE RETURN OF

THE PREMIER LEAGUE …AGAIN

It may have only just finished, but this month the Premier League returns for the 2020/21 season

ow we know which teams have been promoted, as well as relegated, it’s time to make some predictions for the upcoming season. But with such a shortened summer hiatus, might the form shown since the restart of last season give an indication as to how next season will go?

TITLE CHALLENGERS

For the past two years, only Manchester City and Liverpool have produced consistently enough to mount title pushes, and it’s hard to see this changing anytime soon. Although Liverpool won the title at a canter last season, Manchester City can be lax in defence, having lost six more games than Liverpool throughout the 2019/20 season. However, with how Manchester City performed after the league’s restart in June – having scored 34 goals in their final 9 league matches – and already making signings to bolster their leaky defence, come May, don’t be surprised if it’s a two-horse race.

BATTLE FOR TOP FOUR

Only Manchester City and Liverpool have produced consistently enough to mount title pushes

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If we assume that Liverpool and Manchester City will be jostling it out for top-spot, that leaves two more Champions League qualification places and a whole host of teams who will be looking to grab them. For the first time in years, Manchester United are favourites to gain a top-four place. And, although their defence looks suspect, they showed some serious goalscoring power since the restart, last season. And so if they continue this form into next season, it will be hard for any team to outscore them. Chelsea will also feel confident ahead of next season. Although they were hit and miss throughout 2019/20, the signings of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner will fill fans with

optimism that, along with Manchester United, they should have lots of attacking threat. Wolves are the next best if they can keep all of their top players. They’ve shown in their two-season return to the Premier League that they are a dangerous counter-attacking team, and can also keep it tight at the back. As for the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham, neither have a realistic chance unless there are dramatic improvements in the defensive department.

SURPRISE PACKAGE

Leeds United are finally back at the top table. Out of the Premier League since 2004, they’ve got a couple of things going for them that may encourage their fans to believe that they’ll have a successful return. They have Marcelo Bielsa at the helm. With his managerial CV boasting the Argentinian national team and Athletic Bilbao, among others, as well as recently receiving praise from Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino, he may show his ability to turn this sleeping giant into Premier League regulars. Bielsa also has a squad of players who have little experience of top-flight football. We’ve seen that in recent years, the likes of Brighton and Sheffield United have

thrived after gaining promotion. After being tipped to go straight back down, both teams did incredibly well because of their lack of top-flight experience. So will Leed’s lack of experience actually allow them to go under the radar?

RELEGATION FAVOURITES

Leed’s lack of Premier League experience could work to their advantage, but it could have the opposite effect on the other two promoted teams. Unlike Leeds, Fulham and West Brom have both enjoyed recent seasons in the Premier League, to the point where one could perhaps label them ‘yo-yo’ teams, in the sense that they go up and down divisions with relative ease. And although they both showed defensive grit in the Championship last term, they both know that the Premier League is a different prospect. Along with these two, Aston Villa could be in trouble once again, after they only narrowly escaped the drop in July. Crystal Palace could be in trouble too. After the restart, they only picked up four points from nine games and if they were to lose their star man, Wilfred Zaha, things would look nervy for the Eagles.

MANAGER SACK RACE

Here are our top three for the chop:

The start of the new season brings new challenges to every team in the division, especially their highly paid managers. Premier League clubs aren’t known for their patience if things aren’t going the team’s way, so who’s head will be on the chopping block from day one?

1. Jose Mourinho – Tottenham Hotspur. 2. Roy Hodgson – Crystal Palace. 3. Dean Smith – Aston Villa.

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

exclusive

Clover Hill, Old Warwick Road £2,500,000

** NO UPWARD CHAIN ** Absolutely Stunning & Significantly Extended Six Bedroom Detached Edwardian Residence Set Within Gardens & Grounds Approaching One Acre * Discrete Location In The Heart Of Lapworth Village And Affording Many Period Features Associated With A Property Of This Era * Includes Detached Two Bedroom Coach House With Separate Access & Separate Garden * Set Behind Large Block Paved Driveway With Private Gated Entrance * Four Stunning Reception Rooms Including Living Room / Sitting Room / Dining Room / Family Room * Magnificent Master Suite With Walk In Wardrobe & Luxury Ensuite * Modern Open Plan Breakfast Kitchen Overlooking Formal Gardens * Large Private & Southerly Facing Landscaped Gardens * EPC Rating E *

Lynton Croft, Rising Lane £1,100,000

* Significantly Extended Four Bedroom Detached Property Set Within A Most Private Location With Uninterrupted Views To Open Fields * Outstanding Opportunity To Further Extend & Improve Subject To The Necessary Planning Permissions * Set Within A Plot Extending To Approx. Half An Acre * Separate Garage With Large Utility With Scope For Annexe Conversion (STPP) * Living Room & Dining Hallway * Breakfast Kitchen * Four Double Bedrooms & Four Bathrooms * Stunning Views To Open Fields * EPC Rating E *

Visit our website xacthomes.co.uk for more details.

KNOWLE T: 01564 777284 | E: knowle@xacthomes.co.uk SOLIHULL & SHIRLEY T: 0121 712 6222 | E: solihull@xacthomes.co.uk | E: shirley@xacthomes.co.uk BALSALL COMMON T: 01676 534411 | E: balsallcommon@xacthomes.co.uk

Dean Cottage, Beoley £265,000

** Immaculate Semi Detached Character Barn Conversion ** Set Within Private Location In The Heart Of This Popular Village * Two Double Bedrooms Master Bedroom With Ensuite * Discrete Location With Allocated Parking * Approached Via Shared Gravelled Driveway * Open Plan Living / Dining Room * Fitted Kitchen * EPC Rating D *

Milton Road £350,000

** NO UPWARD CHAIN ** Extended Three Bedroom Semi Detached * Separate Living Room & Dining Room * Kitchen & Utility * Downstairs Wet Room * Garage * Scope For Extension (STPP) * Three Bedrooms & Family Bathroom * Catchment Area For All Local Schools * EPC Rating C *

Visit our website xacthomes.co.uk for more details.

KNOWLE T: 01564 777284 | E: knowle@xacthomes.co.uk Newlands Road ÂŁ379,950

* Three Bedroom Semi Detached Property Located Within Walking Distance To All Local Amenities & Schools * Planning Permission For Further Extension * Modern Breakfast Kitchen * Large Utility & Guest Cloakroom * Deep Driveway * Large Rear Garden * Modern Fitted Bathroom * EPC Rating D *

Longdon Croft ÂŁ395,000

* No Upward Chain * Completely Updated & Modernised Throughout * Uninterrupted Views To Copt Heath Golf Course * Two Double Bedroom First Floor Apartment * Living Room & Dining Room * Modern Fitted Kitchen * Utility * Refurbished Shower room * Outstanding Communal Gardens & Grounds * Separate Garage * Leasehold Apartment With Share Of Freehold * EPC Rating C *

Visit our website xacthomes.co.uk for more details.

Wootton Close £449,950

Blacksmiths Lane £495,000

* Modern Three Bedroom Detached Built By Miller Homes With South Facing Rear Garden * Easy Walking Distance To All Local Schools & Knowle Village * Open Plan Kitchen / Diner * Living Room * Master With Luxury Ensuite * Luxury Family Bathroom * Driveway / Carport * Private South Facing Rear Garden * EPC Rating C *

* Completely Refurbished & Internally Remodelled Four Bedroom Detached Property * Located In The Heart Of Hockley Heath Village * Beautifully Presented Throughout * Through Kitchen / Diner * Living Room * Utility & Guest Cloakroom * Four Bedrooms * South / Easterly Facing Rear Garden * Store * Large Tarmacadam Driveway * EPC Rating D *

Barcheston Road £649,950

Boningale Way £735,000

* Significantly Extended Five Bedroom Detached Property Located Within A Sought After Cul-De-Sac Of Knowle * Occupying A Prominent Plot With South Facing Garden * Open Plan Breakfast Kitchen & Utility * Living Room & Dining Room * Conservatory * Garage / Store * Master With Ensuite * EPC Rating D *

* Significantly Extended & Absolutely Stunning Five Bedroom Detached Property Located Within A Quiet CulDe-Sac * Beautifully Maintained & Immaculate Throughout * Detached Double Garage * Five Double Bedrooms & Three Luxury Bathrooms * Living Room * Dining Kitchen * Conservatory * Versatile Accommodation With Bedroom & Shower Room To Ground Floor & Four Bedrooms To The First Floor * South Westerly Facing Rear Garden * EPC Rating C *

Visit our website xacthomes.co.uk for more details.

SOLIHULL & SHIRLEY 0121 712 6222 | E: solihull@xacthomes.co.uk | E: shirley@xacthomes.co.uk

Raddington Drive £450,000

Noble Way £275,000

* Quiet Cul-De-Sac Location * Impressive Two Bedroom Detached Bungalow * Extended & Modernised Throughout * Open Plan Lounge/Dining/Kitchen With Bi-Fold Doors To Rear Garden * Utility Room * Two Double Bedrooms * Walk In Wardrobe * Ensuite Shower Room * Family Shower Room * UPVC Double Glazed * Gas Central Heating * Ample Off Road Parking To The Front * South West Facing Rear Garden * EPC Rating C *

* No Upward Chain * Two Bedroom Mid Town House * Popular Cheswick Place Development * Immaculately Maintained & Decorated * Double Glazed * Gas Central Heating * Ideal For A First Time Purchaser * Attractive Lounge * Luxury Fitted Breakfast Kitchen * Downstairs WC * Utility * Two Bedrooms * Ensuite Shower Room * Family Bathroom * Two Allocated Parking Spaces * Landscape Garden * Early Viewing Essential * EPC Rating B *

Dewberry Road £425,000

Witham Croft £475,000

* Popular Tidbury Heights Development * Immaculate Four Bedroom Modern Detached * Built To The Laurel Design * Immaculately Maintained & Decorated * UPVC Double Glazed * Gas Central Heating * Internal Viewing Essential * Spacious Lounge * Impressive Family/ Dining/Kitchen * Four Bedrooms * Ensuite Shower Room * Family Bathroom * Garage * Landscaped Garden * Early Viewing Essential * EPC Rating B *

* Impressive Four Extended Link Detached * Tudor Grange Academy Catchment * Spacious Accommodation * Internal Viewing Essential * Double Glazed * Gas Central Heating * Entrance Hall * Guest Cloakroom * Large Living Room * Extended L Shaped Kitchen Diner * Four Bedrooms * Ensuite Shower Room * Family Bathroom * Garage * South Facing Rear Garden * Viewing Essential * EPC Rating D *

Visit our website xacthomes.co.uk for more details.

Sainbury Drive £699,950

Crimscote Close £345,000

* Impressive Four Bedroom Spacious Detached * Double Glazed * Gas Central Heating * Spacious Lounge * Dining Room * Conservatory * Fitted Breakfast Kitchen * Four Good Sized Bedrooms * Ensuite Shower Room * Family Bathroom * Double Garage * South Facing Rear Garden * Easy Access To Widney Manor Station, Golf Course & Valentine’s Heath Club * Within The Tudor Grange Academy Catchment * EPC Rating C *

* Popular Monkspath Estate * No Upward Chain * Three Bedroom Link Detached * Gas Central Heating * Double Glazed * Easy Access To All Amenities * Enclosed Porch * Entrance Hall * Guest Cloakroom * Lounge * Dining Room * Kitchen * UPVC Double Glazed Conservatory * Three Bedrooms * Shower Room * Garage * Workshop * Well Maintained Gardens Viewing Essential * EPC Rating C *

Lode Lane £565,000

Sansome Road £325,000

* Walking Distance To Solihull Town Centre * Easy Access To All Amenities * Impressive & Spacious Five Bedroom Detached * Immaculately Maintained & Decorated * UPVC Double Glazed * Gas Central Heating * Attractive Lounge * Fitted Breakfast Kitchen * Utility Room * Four Double Bedrooms * Fifth Bedroom/ Study * Family Bathroom * Wet Room * Garage * Private Landscaped West Facing Garden * EPC Rating D *

* Traditional Three Bedroom Semi Detached *Easy Walking Distance To Shirley Railway Station * Popular Location * UPVC Double Glazed * Gas Central Heating * Two Reception Rooms * Extended Kitchen * Utility Room * Three Bedrooms * Bathroom * Garage * South Facing Mature Garden * Early Viewing Essential * EPC Rating E *

Visit our website xacthomes.co.uk for more details.

BALSALL COMMON T: 01676 534411 | E: balsallcommon@xacthomes.co.uk

Barston Lane

Balsall Common

£699,950

OIEO - £775,000

* Beautiful Character Property Set In Semi Rural Location * South Facing Aspect * Extended Four Bedroom Victorian Semi * Open Plan Breakfast Kitchen * Separate Living Room & Dining Room * Guest WC * Utility Room * Four Bedrooms * En-Suite Principal Bedroom * Garage & Stable * EPC Rating G *

* Four Bedroom Detached * Approximately 2500sq ft in Total * Planning Permission Approved for Two Storey Extension * Large Gated Driveway * Lounge * Dining Room * Kitchen * Garden Room * Study * Four Double Bed-rooms * Double Garage * South West Facing Rear Garden * Driveway With Parking For Multiple Vehicles * EPC Rating C *

Brickyard Close

Tidmarsh Close

£675,000

£500,000

* Spacious Five Double Bedroom Detached Property * Well Presented Throughout * Walking Distance To The Village & Train Station * Breakfast Kitchen * Lounge * Dining Room * Utility Room * Guest Cloakroom * Two EnSuite Bedrooms * Three Further Double Bedrooms * Double Garage * Off Road Parking * Westerly Facing Landscaped Rear Garden * EPC Rating C *

* Four Bedroom Detached * Quiet Cul De Sac Location * Walking Distance To Local Schools * Lounge * Dining Room * Kitchen * Utility Room * Guest Cloakroom * Ensuite To Master Bedroom * Newly Fitted Family Bathroom * Garage * Tarmac Drive With Block Edging * Lansdscaped Rear Garden * EPC Rating D *

Visit our website xacthomes.co.uk for more details.

KNOWLE TEAM

BALSALL COMMON TEAM

SOLIHULL & SHIRLEY TEAM

MORTGAGES TEAM LETTINGS TEAM

Visit our website xacthomes.co.uk for more details.

LETTINGS T: 01564 781781 | E: knowle@xactlettings.co.uk Bird in Hand Court, Mill Lane £895 pcm

Ground Floor Apartment* Two Bedrooms* Views to the rear over Lapworth Canal * Doors Leading out to Communal Rear Garden* Lounge/Diner* Fitted Kitchen* Bathroom* Separate Toilet* Double Garage in Separate Block* Communal Parking* Electric Underfloor Heating* EPC Rating E * Unfurnished* Available Now*

Clarks Lane, Dickens Heath £750 pcm

Second Floor Flat * Re-Decorated Throughout * New Carpets Throughout * Two Bedrooms * Lounge/Diner * Bathroom * Gas Central Heating* One Allocated Parking Space* EPC Rating C* Unfurnished* Available Now*

Visit our website xactlettings.co.uk for more details.

Huntley Drive, Solihull £1,700 pcm

Detached Property* Ideally located for Solihull Town Centre* Four Bedrooms* Dual Aspect Lounge* Dining Room* Study* Kitchen* Study* Utility* Downstairs Cloaks* Family Bathroom* Two En-Suites* Detached Double Garage* Walking Distance to Local Schools* Gas Central Heating* EPC Rating D* Unfurnished* Available Now*

Charterhouse Drive, Solihull £850 pcm

Well Presented Mid Townhouse* Two Bedrooms* Lounge* Kitchen* Conservatory* Bathroom* Two Off Road Parking Spaces* South Facing Rear Garden * Ideally Located for Solihull Town Centre* Gas Central Heating* EPC Rating D* Unfurnished* Available Now

Visit our website xactlettings.co.uk for more details.

LETTINGS T: 01564 781781 | E: knowle@xactlettings.co.uk Slater Road, Bentley Heath £1,100 pcm

Semi Detached Property* Three Bedrooms* Dual aspect Lounge* Kitchen* Conservatory* Bathroom* Garage* Store Room/Playroom* Off Road Parking* Ideally Located for Local Schools* Gas Central Heating* Shed* EPC C* Unfurnished* Available End of August

Poplar Road, Dorridge £650 pcm

Over 55’s bungalow * One Double Bedroom* Fitted Kitchen* Lounge/Diner* Walk-in Shower Room* Electric Heating* Communal Gardens* Communal Laundry* Walking Distance to Dorridge Village* EPC Rating D * Unfurnished* Available Now.

Visit our website xactlettings.co.uk for more details.

Mill Lane, Bentley Heath £1,750 pcm

Extended Detached Property* Five Bedrooms* Lounge* Dining Room* Breakfast Kitchen* Study* Downstairs Cloakroom* Utility* Family Bathroom* Shower Room* Garage* Two Storage Sheds* Gardener Included* Well Presented Throughout * Ideally Located for Local Schools* EPC C* Unfurnished* Available Mid September*

Ralph Road, Shirley £995 pcm

Extended Traditional Semi Detached* Three Bedrooms* Lounge* Dining Room* Kitchen* Utility* Garage* Downstairs Cloakroom* Shower Room* Separate W.C* Attractive Rear Garden*Walking Distance of Schools and Shops* EPC Rating C* Unfurnished* Available Now

Visit our website xactlettings.co.uk for more details.

LETTINGS T: 01564 781781 | E: knowle@xactlettings.co.uk

Meet our Lettings Team

Sarah Bent HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? Over 6 years WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Meeting people SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW? I once appeared in a play at the Birmingham Rep when I was in a youth theatre group FAVOURITE FOOD? Chocolate FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? City break, New York

Lisa Davies

Wendy Clarke

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? 3 weeks

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? 4 years

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Looking forward to learning all about the industry and meeting new people

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? The people I work with

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW? Has an O’Level in Latin

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW? Been cautioned by police for demonstrating about women’s rights

FAVOURITE FOOD? Chinese

FAVOURITE FOOD? Crème Brulee

FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? Villa Mora in Portugal

FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? I like historic sites in Italy

Visit our website xactlettings.co.uk for more details.

Sara Cope

Andrea Jones

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? Nearly 2 years

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT?

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Meeting people

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? The people I work with

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW? I used to sing in a choir for 20 years FAVOURITE FOOD? Curry/spicy food

5 years

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW? I am double jointed FAVOURITE FOOD? Curry or anything spicy

FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? Anywhere in the Carribean

FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? The Algarve or Vegas

Yvonne Williams

Julie Chinnery

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? 2 years in August WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Working as part of the team with Landlords and Tenants SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW? Played county hockey until the age of 24 FAVOURITE FOOD? Pretty much everything FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? With family and like to travel to both the UK and overseas

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? Just over 10 years WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Organizing and helping put things in place so we can work more efficiently FAVOURITE FOOD? Curry FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? Cape Verde

Visit our website xactlettings.co.uk for more details.

UK rental market

bounces back as restrictions lift

Goodlordâ€™s Lettings Activity Tracker and latest Rental Index show a remarkable bounce back in lettings activity since restrictions around moving house were lifted in mid-May.

The latest data from Goodlord shows a remarkable bounce back in lettings activity since restrictions around moving house were lifted on 13th May. The first day of June saw new tenancies applications soar above 2019 levels to 111%. Volumes of new tenancy applications have now risen by over 82% compared to the activity levels seen in mid-April. As the market has picked up, the average cost of rent has held fairly steady, although void periods have understandably fluctuated.

Lettings Activity Tracker Following lockdown, market activity across the lettings sector plummeted, shows Goodlordâ€™s Lettings Activity Tracker. In mid-April, demand was operating at just 28% when compared to the same day in 2019 representing a decrease in activity of 70% for new and completed tenancies. However, pent-up demand started to trickle out of the market from the first week of May onwards, ahead of the official Government announcement on 13th May that

house moves could go ahead once more. Since then, both new applications and completed lets have spiked. The busiest day so far has been Monday 1st June, when new applications reached 111% of the volumes recorded on the same day in 2019. Completed applications remain at 70% of 2019 levels, but continue to increase week on week. Whilst the market has yet to fully stabilised, this surge in demand is more than welcome for agents, landlords and tenants after weeks of shutdown.

Visit our website xactlettings.co.uk for more details.

Average rents Data for average rents in May gives a steadier picture than might be expected, shows the latest Goodlord Rental Index. There’s been little change in the overall UK average cost of rent, which now stands at £862.48, increasing ever so slightly from April’s average of £861.25.

Slight increases in average rents were recorded in the East Midlands (3%), North East (6%), and Wales (3%). However, the average cost of rent dropped by 2% in the capital and by 4% in the South East. Prices in the North West, South West, and the West Midlands held steady.

Average void periods & renter demographics The average UK void period held steady at 23 days, but there was a significant amount of change within the regions themselves. The East Midlands, Greater London, North East and South East all recorded increases in void periods. Whereas drops were recorded for the South West, Wales, and the West Midlands as the pace of market recovery was felt more keenly in some areas. The age of the average renter increased from 32 to 33 years old. And the average salary of a UK renter also increased; from £24,525 to £25,068.

Tom Mundy, COO of Goodlord comments:“The whole industry breathed a sigh of relief on 13th May. Since then, it’s clear that agents have gone above and beyond to ensure lettings can move ahead safely and that demand for new tenancies can be handled effectively. We predict a little more ebb and flow in the market as it works to find equilibrium, but it’s wonderful to see the industry springing back to life in this way. The rental sector will be keeping the whole property industry afloat over the coming months and possibly years.”

Have you taken advantage of the Stamp Duty Holiday yet?

contact us today. Unsure about the details of the Stamp Duty Holiday? We are on hand to keep you up to date with professional advice on how to make the most of the Stamp Duty Holiday! So, take advantage and contact us today.

Visit our website xacthomes.co.uk to find out more. KNOWLE

SOLIHULL

T: 01564 777284 E: knowle@xacthomes.co.uk

T: 0121 712 6222 E: solihull@xacthomes.co.uk

SHIRLEY

BALSALL COMMON

T: 01676 534411 T: 0121 712 6222 E: shirley@xacthomes.co.uk E: balsallcommon@xacthomes.co.uk