The focus at The Country House Company is to ensure that our viewings and appraisals are carried out safely and efficiently.
All the regulations in place for COVID 19 precautions may seem daunting but actually are quick, effective and inspire confidence during a viewing or appraisal and we have an efficient system in place for all members of the team.
Having ensured in writing that no individual involved with a viewing or appraisal are displaying symptoms of Covid 19, are self-isolating or have been in contact with anyone who is self-isolating, we ask all parties to wear gloves and mask and we provide our own re-usable Country House Company masks. For a market appraisal we will have gained a lot of information on a property before we arrive and would simply ask that internal doors are open so we do not need to touch any surfaces. Extended discussion on properties will take place outside where possible.
For viewings we ensure that doors are open in advance of a viewing, we only let 2 adults, from the same household, in a property at any one time, and we leave a sensible period of time between viewings. The viewing agent will wipe down any surfaces or door handles touched, and all viewing agents have a pack with sanitizer and disinfectant.
After over 25 years in the industry we are experienced at making the viewing as effective as possible for the applicant and the vendor or landlord. As a company we have always prided ourselves on getting the right applicant for the right property.
We are experiencing an exceptional demand for houses at the moment to sell and to let. We have had offers on houses confirmed within a week of launch, sales offer agreed on the first day of viewings and a couple of rentals booked even before the property has been marketed. These are busy times so if you do have a property to sell or are looking at the possibility of letting out your house please do call us on 023 92 632275.
Marishelle Butler
Offered for sale through The Country House Company, this stylish home has been the subject of extensive, yet sympathetic renovation by the current owners.
Situated in the hamlet of Beauworth, the cottage has well-presented accommodation brimming with character features throughout including fireplaces, exposed timbers and wooden latch doors.
On the ground floor are a welcoming reception hall, a spacious kitchen/dining room with Aga, an impressive sitting room with inglenook fireplace and log burning stove and a cosy family room also with fireplace. In addition, and completing the ground floor is the utility and cloakroom.
Upstairs, on the first floor is the master bedroom with en suite shower room, three further bedrooms, a study area and family bathroom.
The property sits in a pretty, mature and well stocked garden with large areas of lawn and formal planting. It has a lovely outlook over the village green to the front and glorious views to the South Downs Countryside to the rear.
The house has private parking and a detached double garage, gym and store.
There is a public House and Church nearby and easy access to Alresford and Winchester which provide more extensive amenities, the latter train services to London. Local schools are at Cheriton and Alresford with private schools including Twyford, St Swithuns and Winchester College within easy access. Local road links also make this an ideal location for commuters with the A272/M3/A3 also accessible. For leisure pursuits the protected surrounding countryside offers an abundance of footpaths and bridleways.
By the time the government had launched its #keepthecountrymoving campaign activity levels were already high. We were receiving lots of enquiries from applicants looking to buy or rent and mainly from families looking to move out of London.
The level of interest has remained high. Applicants who made plans during lockdown to change their work/homelife balance, to embrace a more rural lifestyle, to have more space and access to the open areas have followed their plans through. The changes to stamp duty have been a further boost to an already busy market.
The results of a post Covid survey of 500 respondents conducted by Savills tell us that:
• The experience of Covid-19 had caused almost three quarters to reconsider their work-life balance
• This has made them become even more committed to moving, not just in the next 12 months but also in the shorter term
• There is less stock on the market than they expected and more competition among buyers
• The stock that is available is priced more highly than they had anticipated
• But a surprisingly high proportion will take a short-term view on future values if buying today
• Where they are unable to secure a property in the next six months, renting is a viable option for around half of prospective buyers in the current market
We have certainly seen these findings reflected in activity within The Country House Company. Rental and sales transactions during the past quarter are up on last year, despite the lockdown restrictions dominating that period. The demand is still high for reasonably priced properties for sale and to rent; so, if your plans and thoughts are reflected above then now is the time to act. Call Kate Porter or Claudia Hunt to discuss your property and the options open to you. 02392 632275
Marishelle Butler
The government’s campaign to #keepthecountrymoving appears to have been a success. Whether the current levels of activity can be attributed to the season, the weather, the recent announcements on stamp duty, a desire to move having been forced to stay put for so long, or a combination of all these factors, the end result is that the country appears to be on the move. Agents across the country are reporting exceptionally high levels of activity in sales and rentals.
Much of the interest is from families currently living in London. Hampshire has always been a desirable county with its proximity to London and the south coast combined with glorious open countryside, idyllic villages, numerous market towns and historic cities. A recent article in The Guardian listed Petersfield, a central Hampshire market town, as one of the top 10 hotspots to escape the city to, highlighting the fact that the commuting time by train to London Waterloo is just 3 minutes over the magic one hour mark, making it a commuter town with all the benefits of rural life.
The Country House Company has a wide variety of properties available for rent and for sale. Exciting and different sales properties include glorious barn conversions, a unique refurbished converted station and a former chapel now an immaculate character home. Equally exciting and different rental opportunities include a stylish contemporary detached 3 bedroom property in the Meon Valley village of East Meon, a smart furnished penthouse apartment in Petersfield and a converted period cottage opposite Gilbert Whites house in Selborne.
With the demand for viewings remaining high if you are considering renting out your property or moving house then now is the time. Contact Marishelle, Claudia, Kate or any member of the team at The Country house Company for expert advice on 02392 632275
Situated in the Test Valley village of Wherewell, this beautiful cottage has spacious and stylish accommodation, off street parking and a large enclosed formal garden. The property presents all the features expected of its period including exposed timbers, beams, fireplaces and wooden latch doors and yet has unusually good ceiling height throughout.
The accommodation is extremely well presented and includes a spacious kitchen/breakfast room with Aga and feature oak panelling, a formal dual aspect dining room with fireplace, a substantial triple aspect split level sitting room with log burning stove, a conservatory which is accessed from the kitchen, a welcoming reception hall and a shower room.
On the second floor there are 4 double bedrooms, a dressing room, a study area and a family bathroom. The layout is flexible and this floor could easily be arranged to provide two elegant bedroom suites if preferred.
To the side of the property is a gravelled drive with off road parking for two cars and gated access to the rear garden. The garden is enclosed and laid mainly to lawn with mature borders and planting and a paved sun terrace immediately adjacent to the cottage. The garden is lovely and private and benefits from a south easterly aspect.
The cottage is positioned within the heart of the village of Wherewell which lies between Winchester, Stockbridge and Andover. The village has a thriving community with popular village school, a church and a public house. Locally, across the water meadows, is the neighbouring village of Chilbolton which has a village store and public house. The surrounding area offers glorious countryside that is renowned for its outdoor pursuits.
Guide price £895,000
All enquiries to Kate Porter, Head of Sales, 02392 632275 email: katep@countryhousecompany.co.uk
Old Droxford Station is a truly unique property steeped in history and now a stylish private residence available for sale through The Country House Company.
Droxford Station was a small station on the Meon Valley Railway, designed by British architect T.P.Figgis. T. P. Figgis was renowned for his work on British public buildings including the iconic London stations of Stockwell, Oval, Kennington, Elephant & Castle and Borough. Droxford Station was opened in 1903 and was one of 4 stations designed by Figgis for The Meon Valley railway, which between 1903 and 1968 ran along 22 miles of glorious Hampshire countryside.
The major claim to fame for Old Droxford Station came in 1944 amid World War ll, when Droxford Station was used by the Prime Minister Winston Churchill as his base during preparations for the Normandy landings. Based in an armored train parked in the sidings at Droxford, Churchill met with numerous ministers, military commanders and leaders of allied nations. On 4 June 1944, shortly before the landings were due to take place, Free French leader Charles de Gaulle visited Churchill at Droxford, and was informed of the invasion plans.
So, with that exciting history the property, with its classic station design and original features, has been skillfully refurbished by the current owners to create a unique and stylish 4 bedroom family home. The main station waiting room is now a dual aspect drawing room with a magnificent oak panelled vaulted ceiling and fireplace with log burning stove. The ladies waiting room is now a family room and the original ticket office is now a study designed to retain the booth and cabinets from its operating days.
In addition, on the ground floor is an elegant formal dining room, a superb extensively fitted kitchen/dining room with a range cooker and large utility/boot room with cloakroom and access outside. There is also a rear lobby, additional cloakroom and second staircase to the guest suite with bathroom.
Accessed via the main staircase is the master bedroom with en suite bathroom, two further double bedrooms and a large family bathroom.
The gardens are a superb feature of the house and again in keeping with its history. They have been attractively landscaped to include large areas of lawn with perennial borders, orchard, raised vegetable beds plus Victorian style Hartley Botanic greenhouse and two paddocks.
The detached signal box has been reconstructed as a tasteful one bedroom annexe which has open plan living space with kitchenette and fireplace, a double bedroom and private bathroom.
There is also a garage/workshop/office which is substantial and benefits from planning permission for use of the first floor as an office.
Old Droxford Station is in the Hampshire village of Soberton which lies on the west of the River Meon and in the heart of the Meon Valley and South Downs National Park.
Guide price £1,600,000
For full details please see www.countryhousecompany.co.uk or call Kate Porter on 02392 632275.
New electrical safety standards for tenancies in the private rented sector have come into force on 1st June 2020.
These regulations apply in England to all new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and all existing tenancies from 1 April 2021. This means that tenancies signed on or after 1 June 2020, which start on or after 1 July 2020 should have an Electrical Installation Condition Report, (EICR). Typically, an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is used to conduct an electrical installation safety report.
The regulations require that private 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.
If an existing certificate was done longer than five years ago, regardless of whether it is valid for 10 years, it will not be applicable for these Regulations. Consequently, to comply with the Electrical Safety Standards the existing EICR must be less than five years old (dated back five years from when the tenancy agreement was signed).
Therefore, following the inspection and testing a landlord must:
- Obtain a report that includes the results of the inspection and test and the date of the next inspection and test.
- Supply a copy of that report to each existing tenant at the property with 28 calendar days of the inspection and test.
- Supply a copy of the most recent report to any new tenant before the tenant moves in and to any prospective tenant within 28 days of receiving a request in writing for the report.
- Retain a copy of the report until the next inspection and test is due as well as supply a copy to the person carrying out the next inspection and test.
Where a report requires the landlord to undertake further investigative or remedial work, the landlord must ensure that the work is carried out by a qualified person within 28 calendar days or the period specified in the report if less than 28 days, starting with the date of the inspection and testing.
- Obtain: landlords must obtain written confirmation from a qualified person that further work has been carried out and that the electrical safety standards have been met.
- Supply: written confirmation together with a copy of the report which required the further investigative or remedial work to each existing tenant and the local housing authority within 28 days of completion of the work.
Specific information regarding the above and details on Remedial Notice and Financial Penalties can be found on
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/312/introduction/made
Marishelle Butler
New electrical safety standards for tenancies in the private rented sector have come into force on 1st June 2020.
These regulations apply in England to all new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and all existing tenancies from 1 April 2021. This means that tenancies signed on or after 1 June 2020, which start on or after 1 July 2020 should have an Electrical Installation Condition Report, (EICR). Typically, an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is used to conduct an electrical installation safety report.
NB: For Contractual Periodic Tenancies (where it is written in the original tenancy agreement that on expiry of the fixed term the tenancy will become periodic) the periodic tenancy will be part of the same tenancy and no new tenancy would be created.
NB: For Statutory Periodic Tenancies (where on expiry of the fixed term the tenancy rolls over into a periodic tenancy automatically by statute, rather than by contract) the periodic tenancy would be a new tenancy. Therefore, properties let on statutory periodic tenancies where the Fixed Term expires between 1 July 2020 and 1 April 2021 will require an inspection and test at this point under the Regulations.
The regulations require that private 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.
NB: Where the most recent report requires an inspection and testing to be at intervals of less than five years, it must be at intervals specified in that report.
If an existing certificate was done longer than five years ago, regardless of whether it is valid for 10 years, it will not be applicable for these Regulations. Consequently, to comply with the Electrical Safety Standards the existing EICR must be less than five years old (dated back five years from when the tenancy agreement was signed).
Electrical safety standards: the inspection and test of the installation is carried out in accordance with the eighteenth edition of the wiring regulations BS 7671:2018 (the national standard to which all domestic wiring must conform).
Electrical installation: fixed electrical cables or fixed electrical equipment located on the consumer’s side of the electricity supply meter as set out in the Building Regulations 2010.
Qualified person: someone who is competent to undertake the inspection and testing as well as any further investigative or remedial work in accordance with the electrical safety standards.
Therefore, following the inspection and testing a landlord must:
1. Obtain a report that includes the results of the inspection and test and the date of the next inspection and test.
2. Supply a copy of that report to each existing tenant at the property with 28 calendar days of the inspection and test.
3. Supply a copy of the most recent report to any new tenant before the tenant moves in and to any prospective tenant within 28 days of receiving a request in writing for the report.
4. Retain a copy of the report until the next inspection and test is due as well as supply a copy to the person carrying out the next inspection and test.
NB: When requested the report must be provided to the local authority within seven calendar days.
NB: A prospective tenant is someone who wants to view the property, makes an offer (either verbally or in writing) or requests any information about the property for the purpose of deciding to rent.
Where a report requires the landlord to undertake further investigative or remedial work, the landlord must ensure that the work is carried out by a qualified person within 28 calendar days or the period specified in the report if less than 28 days, starting with the date of the inspection and testing.
1. Obtain: landlords must obtain written confirmation from a qualified person that further work has been carried out and that the electrical safety standards have been met.
2. Supply: written confirmation together with a copy of the report which required the further investigative or remedial work to each existing tenant and the local housing authority within 28 days of completion of the work.
NB: This process must be repeated every time further investigative and remedial work is carried out.
For further information on the above and any aspect of letting your property, please call either Kate Morton, Head of Lettings or Marishelle Butler, Head of Property Management on 02392 632275.
Specific information regarding the above and details on Remedial Notice and Financial Penalties can be found on
www.arla.co.uk
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/312/introduction/made
www.gov.uk/government/publications/electrical-safety-standardsin-the-private-rented-sector-guidance-for-landlordstenants-and-local-authorities/guide-for-landlords-electricalsafety-standards-in-the-privaterented-sector
We are a proud nation of food lovers but food waste contributes to an enormous proportion of overall waste. There are many ways to combat the rise in food waste and this week we will be focusing on the dreaded plastic pandemic and local companies that can help cut down on plastic use……………
Supermarkets
There are ways in which you can be greener while you shop at the supermarket.
Bring your own bags and containers- try and buy meat and fish at the counters and insist on using your own containers to take it away.
1. Morrisons have started a green initiative where customers get a reward in the form of points on their loyalty card for using their own containers when they are purchasing meat and fish at the counter.
2. M&S in Hedge End have revamped their store and now have more non packaged fruit and veg.
3. Lidl has announced that it will become the first UK supermarket to introduce packaging made from ocean-bound plastic (plastic found within a 50km radius of an ocean coastline) collected from South-East Asia
4. Tesco and Sainsburys offer points on their loyalty cards for anyone who refuses plastic carrier bags
Waste Free Shopping
There are fantastic food retailers in Hampshire that focus on package free shopping and zero waste alternatives for everyday food items.
1. All Good Things of Wickham
This shop focuses on removing unnecessary plastic and has a bring your own container policy. They have delicious meat free alternatives and a good selection of beauty products and domestic cleaning products as well as a great choice of dry food. Whilst their food are more cupboard fillers than fridge fillers, this shop has all the dry food you need at competitive prices, and with no plastic in sight!
2.Using local groceries shops like Hylands in Bishops Waltham or Uplands in Wickham is a fantastic way to do your bit for the environment as they stock local seasonal fruit and veg and avoid the use of unnecessary plastic packaging.
3. To find fantastic bulk food shops and other retailers that provide package free alternatives for your weekly shop search zerowastenear.me
The plastic problem is just one symptom of the overall problem but cutting down on our usage of ‘useless’ plastic can make a massive difference. The hope is that good habits will create a better future.