One of the delights of the BBC’s The Archers is the number of story lines constantly unfolding and although dramatised are based on real life situations. Brian and Jennifer Aldridge are about to leave Home Farm and are desperately trying to find a rental property. Last night Brian moaned that Letting Agents were closing for Christmas already. Well not so here at The Country House Company! We are open through to Saturday 22nd December and although there will be reduced staff levels on some days between Christmas and New Year, all enquiries will be dealt with and where possible we will still organise viewings.
We currently have a range of properties available to rent from a five bedroom family house for £3,000 per calendar month to a stylish one bedroom detached annex at £895 per calendar month.
If you are looking to buy, then we have a good choice from an exciting detached residence set in 4.5 acres with a spring fed trout lake to a perfectly positioned 2 bedroom village property.
So while there may be no room for some at the inn over Christmas call us now on 02392 632275 and we will be able to help you with accommodation for early in the New Year.
During the winter months and especially over the Christmas holiday period contractors in general, and particularly boiler engineers, plumbers and electricians, are very booked up and may not be available. Also, even if they can respond to an emergency, they may not have access to the parts needed to make the necessary repairs. Therefore, landlords and tenants, below is a useful check list to help minimise the chances of a breakdown, water leak or other problems.
01 Ensure that there is plenty of oil, gas and/or other fuels needed.
02 Check that boilers have been serviced and are in good working order.
03 Chimneys/flues including Aga and Rayburn flues should be swept annually.
04 Ensure that septic tanks have been emptied.
05 Check that white goods are in good working order.
06 Check that pipes are insulated with lagging where sensible.
07 Pay particular attention to outside taps and it may be worth turning off the water supply all together to outside taps or at least ensuring they are insulated.
08 Check that you are aware of the location of the stopcock and that it works.
09 Check the guttering to ensure it is free from blockages and leaves as this reduces the risks of leaks and blockages.
10 If there is a persistent cold spell it is advisable to keep the heating on low constantly to prevent pipes freezing.
11 Bleed radiators; keeping the heating system healthy is important as low pressure can cause a problem.
12 Maintain good ventilation in the property otherwise damp and mould will develop.
13 If you are going away remember to leave the heating on to prevent pipes freezing.
14 If you are going away it is wise to inform somebody who could check on the property for you. Also, please do remember tell us or your landlord if you are leaving the property for a long period of time.
15 Immediately report or attend to any leaks you may have detected however small, it may seem insignificant but a small drip will often lead to a larger problem.
16 Ensure you have torches with full batteries to hand.
* If you smell gas – Call the Gas Emergency Services on 0800 111 999.
If you are in immediate danger evacuate the building and then call the Gas Emergency Service.
If you think you could have a gas leak, you’ll need to turn off the gas supply at the meter.
How to turn your gas off at the meter in an emergency (if it is safe to do so)
If the gas supply is in a cellar or basement then don’t turn it off. Evacuate the building and do not re-enter as the concentration of gas may trigger an explosion, from even a small spark.
If your meter is easy and safe to locate, to turn off your gas supply, first locate the gas emergency control valve, which you should find next to the meter. In newer houses, the gas meter and isolation valve are often outside in a meter box. If not, try looking under the stairs, beneath the kitchen sink or in the garage. We suggest you find out where your gas meter and emergency control valve is, so you’re prepared in case of an emergency.
To turn off the gas supply, simply turn the handle a quarter turn so the lever is at 90 degrees to the upright gas pipe.
Next steps:
- Open all windows and doors.
- Don’t turn electrical switches on or off – including your TV, computer, oven, etc.
- Put out any naked lights (flames), e.g. your hob or candles. Don’t smoke, strike matches or do anything that could cause ignition.
- Open any electric doors or gates manually.
*information taken from npower
Water leak – Turn off water at the mains. Switch off electrics if the water leak is near lights or power outlets.
Electrical fault – Check that fuses have not blown, circuit breakers are in the ‘on’ position and that there has not been a power cut in the area.
The Country House Company Emergency Management phone – 07824 467 518
We have a dedicated out-of-hours phone, manned by the Management Team at The Country House Company, for our landlords and tenants of managed properties wishing to contact us in an emergency.
This phone will be checked regularly but not necessarily answered at all hours so where there is a risk to life or damage to the fabric of the property and where applicable please call the emergency services on 999.
Response management offer
Winter can be demanding and challenging for both tenants and landlords. Although your tenants maybe very competent it could be useful during these months to have the professional team at The Country House Company on hand to filter calls, react to urgent situations, recommend contractors and enable you and your tenants’ access to our dedicated management phone which is monitored by a member of the management team during out of work hours, including the Christmas period. Our management services are very flexible and vary in level to suit the landlord and property. Response management is a popular service offered by the management team which gives you peace of mind over the winter holiday period that your tenants have a point of contact. Contact Marishelle Gibson, Head of Property Management or Kate Morton, Head of Lettings to discuss your options further.
This detached property is situated within the grounds of a large country house and enjoys a peaceful, private outlook over adjoining fields.
The accommodation is light and contemporary with wooden floors, beams, high ceilings and stylish fittings.
An inner hallway with adjoining cloakroom/utility opens to a large sitting room with dual aspect French doors. Towards the rear of the property is a spacious dining room, a modern fitted kitchen with 5 ring gas hob, fitted fridge and freezer and access to the rear garden. There is a small double bedroom with en suite on the ground floor which could also serve as a study.
The first floor provides two double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes and a bathroom with shower.
Externally the property has gated driveway parking, a car port and a generously sized south west facing garden with patio and shed.
The countryside village of Binsted is between the market towns of Alton and Farnham and has a public house, Church and church hall, primary school and recreation ground with tennis and croquet clubs. The nearby village of Bentley provides an additional primary school and village shop. Stations in Alton, Bentley and Farnham make the commute to London Waterloo just over an hour.
For full details or to arrange a viewing please call Emilie or Kate on 02392 632275 or see www.countryhousecompany.co.uk
Situated in the heart of the Hampshire village of Hursley, this delightful semi detached cottage is believed to date from the 1600s and displays some beautiful period details including feature wooden beams and brick surround fireplaces/stoves.
A welcoming entrance hall doubles well as a study space and leads through into an open plan Kitchen, dining and sitting room with a small working fireplace. There is the additional benefit of a modern ground floor shower room. The first floor landing leads to three good size bedrooms and a family bathroom with bath and separate shower.
Externally, there is a courtyard sitting out area and an allocated off-road parking space in a car port.
Roughly midway between the market town of Romsey and historic city of Winchester, the village of Hursley is ideally located for access to a wide range of amenities, bars and restaurants. The village itself boasts two well regarded pubs, a butchers and post office. The M3, M27, A34, A303 and a railway station are within easy reach, providing access to London and the South Coast. Nearby Southampton airport makes trips further afield very convenient.
For full details call Emilie or Kate on 02392 632275 or see www.countryhousecomany.co.uk
The Country House Company is delighted to offer this substantial four bedroom property for sale. Centrally located in Wherewell, a sought after Test Valley Village renowned for chalk stream fishing, this lovely home benefits from light and spacious accommodation and a large mature garden.
The property presents all the features expected of its period including exposed timbers, beams, fireplaces and wooden latch doors, yet has unusually good ceiling heights throughout.
The accommodation is extremely well presented and on the ground floor includes a spacious kitchen/breakfast room with Aga, feature oak panelling, fitted units and access to a conservatory which in turn opens to the garden. Also on the ground floor is a formal dual aspect dining room with fireplace, a substantial triple aspect split level sitting room with log burning stove, a welcoming reception hall and shower room.
On the first floor are 4 double bedrooms, a dressing room, study area and a family bathroom. 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 which is enclosed and laid mainly to lawn with mature borders and planting. Immediately adjacent to the property is a paved sun terrace. The garden overall benefits from a south easterly aspect.
The property is positioned within the heart of Wherewell, which lies between Winchester, Stockbridge and Andover. The village has a thriving community, popular village school, church and public house. Locally across the water meadows, at the neighbouring village of Chilbolton, there is a village store and public house. The surrounding area offers glorious countryside that is renowned for its outdoor pursuits which includes some of the reputed finest chalk stream fishing on The River Test.
For full details please call Kate Porter on 02392 633 026 or see www.countryhousecompany.co.uk
Quietly situated on the Holywell Estate in Swanmore near Bishops Waltham this attractive 4 bedroom home is available to rent now at £2,495 pcm excl.
The property is approached via its own double gates and gravelled driveway and is set within a large, low maintenance garden. The light, spacious accommodation includes a wonderful triple aspect conservatory which opens to the terrace and garden with extensive views beyond. The dining room has a wood burning stove and the spacious, fitted kitchen/breakfast room is beautifully finished with wooden surfaces, oil fired Aga and French doors to the garden.
There are four good sized bedrooms (two with integral wardrobes and feature fireplaces) on the first floor and two bathrooms, one with bath and the other with shower.
The property has the added benefit of a useful annex in the garden with power and a wood burning stove, ideal for use as a playroom or home office.
The enclosed garden is designed for low maintenance and is mainly laid to lawn with established trees and shrubs. There is a good sized paved terrace and driveway with ample parking.
Being situated on the Holywell Estate gives easy access to public rights of way for excellent walking and riding. It is close to Bishops Waltham and Wickham both with good local shopping and schools and Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth are within easy reach.
For full details please call Emilie or Kate on 02392 632275
Here at The Country House Company we try to support many of the numerous charity fairs, fates and events that are happening across the region. All parties win; the event gets money and publicity, The Country House Company gets exposure and of course we all get to visit the various events and shop!! The annual Watoto Christmas Fair starts tomorrow and is open 9am – 4pm on Tuesday 6th November and Wednesday 7th November. The fair offers a fabulous mix of stalls with a range of goods from beautiful jewellery and accessories, toys, clothes, soft furnishings, homewares, furniture, Christmas gift ideas as well as a delicious selection of food. Profits will be donated to Watoto Trust, Rosemary Foundation and St Catherine of Sienna Building Fund and the entry fee of £5 will include a coffee and lemon cake, plus the first few lucky visitors will get a free Country House Company bag to help hold all their exciting purchases!
Marishelle Gibson
Amidst all the various reactions, postmortems, reports, comments and critiques, the summary from ARLA Propertymark, our lettings governing body, clearly outlines what the Autumn Budget held for housing.
This year’s Autumn Budget was probably one of the most anticipated in recent years, setting out the domestic policy and fiscal measures direction ahead for the UK ahead of Brexit. The Chancellor sold the budget as a “budget that paves the way for a brighter future” saying that the era of Austerity is finally coming to an end, and that the country now has a new future outside the EU. He also said that, if necessary, he would extend the 2019 Spring Statement into a full fiscal event.
It was a budget relatively devoid of fiscal measures which will directly affect the private rented sector, with perhaps the biggest announcement coming in relation to Universal Credit.
The Chancellor announced an extra £1 billion of funding over the next five years to help aid the transition from areas that have still yet to make the move from the old benefits system to the new benefits package that is Universal Credit. He also promised “additional protection” for those moving onto UC, adding that more details will follow later this year. Work allowances will be increased by £1,000 per annum.
From April 2020 the Government will limit Lettings Relief to properties where the owner is in shared occupancy with the tenant, and reduce the final period exemption from 18 months to 9 months.
Chancellor Hammond also announced a financial package aimed at boosting the UKs high streets, which will include £900 million in business rates relief, cutting business rate bills by a third for almost half a million small businesses. A further £675 million co-funding injection is set to be introduced over the next four years and will allow towns and cities to redevelop under-used retail space into homes and offices, providing help to restore High Street properties and put historic buildings back into use.
The sales market
The Chancellor biggest announcement relating to the sales market was that stamp duty relief would be extended to include first-time buyers of shared ownership properties under £500,000.
Other key measures taken to address housing supply and planning were:
- Consultation on simplification of the process for conversion of commercial property into new homes
- Increased business rate retention from 2020, giving local councils greater control over the money they raise
- Removal of the Housing Revenue Cap
- Funding to empower up to 500 neighbourhoods to allocate or permission land for housing, through the Neighbourhood Planning system, for sale at a discount to local people
- A further £500m for housing infrastructure fund, which will unlock 650,000 homes. Local authorities bid for a share of the pot, which is designed to deliver new physical infrastructure to support new and existing communities and make more land available for housing in high demand areas, resulting in new additional homes that otherwise would not have been built
- The Government will respond to Oliver Letwin’s report on land and planning in the new year
- Family homes will be not be subject to Capital Gains tax
Marishelle Gibson