Author: Diane

location location location

location location location was on last night.
Both couples were in london looking at tiny properties for large amounts of money.

Watch now on 4oD

Louise and Matt -Check out the homes Kirstie and Phil sought out in North London

Sarah and Stewart – Get details for all the properties Sarah and Stewart looked at in Finsbury Park

I don’t live in London. I live close to one of the UK’s biggest cities though.
I am always horrified watching how expensive houses are in London, but houses in Chorlton near me are astronomically expensive compared to the North East side of the city.

Better value up north!For not much more than the smaller budget that Sarah and Stewart had in London you could buy this 3 bedroom detached property in New Moston
You can see it’s a big house, detached with drive, front and rear gardens! So much more than the 2 bedroom ex-local authority flat you could get for about that money in London!

I assume everyone who doesn’t live in London is constantly shocked by the prices shown when they cover London in LLL!
terrace for over 1/4 millionIf you want to live in sunny CHorlton just a few miles awya you’d get this for the same amount of money – 3 bed mid terrace

Neither couple bought a property either ! They did have a clearer idea about what area they liked though!

The Mortgage Verification Scheme

Apparenty the Mortgage Verification Scheme started on the 1st September 2011. It is only mentioned in the 2010 budget here where it says:

“Income Verification Scheme

The Income Verification Scheme, through which HMRC has details of potentially fraudulent income declarations of individuals applying for a mortgage referred to it by financial institutions, is to become an ongoing facility. “

This article here states that financial services press releases have been made which clearly state the aim of the Mortgage Verification Scheme to be to combat potential mortgage fraud. Mortgage lenders will now be able to check with HMRC that mortgage applicants’ stated income levels tie in to those reported on tax returns.

Guardian Article about this mortgage verfication scheme – Anyone tempted to inflate their salary – or even submit fake payslips or bank statements – when applying should be aware that, if they are rumbled, they could find themselves being investigated and possibly prosecuted for frau

Latest adjudication report – things to note

From the latest adjudication report (August 2011 – pdf ) it shows just how important it is to get in writing permission from the landlord to redecorate. This should be done, and the proof kept safe.
Perhaps landlords when giving permission should ensure they give it in writing and perhaps add any specific conditions to it so that tenants are clear.

So if a tenant makes a request verbally then the landlord should issue them with a letter stating:

I give permission for redecoration of walls in these shades:
and for painting of skirting boards and woodwork in this colour:
If colours used outside this range the property must be returned to specific shade before end of tenancy.

Also from both tenant and landlord perspectives it’s advantageous to have photographic record of quality of paint work/decoration at start of tenancy. This ensures that true condition is known.

Bridwell Park

Bridwell parkA house with it’s own deer park? Look no further than Bridwell Park

Tixks the swimming pool and tennis court boxes on my list! Lovely looking house set in beautiful Devon countryside.
Beauitiful rooms and a fantastic georgian staircase as you’d expect to find in a Grade 1 listed manor house. I love the study and the swimming pool! And it’s only £4m.

4 Reception Rooms & 8 Bedrooms
Coach House, 2 Flats & Lodge
Swimming Pool & Tennis Court
Pasture & Listed Deer Park
About 118 acres

Mamhead House

Mamhead HouseAnother stunning house in Devon – Mamhead House has 16 bedrooms and is on for sale at £8m. It is at Mamhead, Exeter.

This house is really amazing! As well as Mamhead house, if you go north west of the house you find Mamhead Castle. Also designed by Anthony Salvin and built at the same time as the house it is a copy of 14th century Belsay Castle in Northumberland.

The current house was built in 1833 as a “Marriage House” for Robert Newman and his new bride, Mary. The initials of both appear entwined throughout the house. The family motto, “Ubi amor ibi fides”, “Where there is love there is trust” is beautifully carved above the front door and is repeated in various places throughout the house.
There has been a house on the site for many centuries and Mamhead is mentioned in the Doomsday book.

5 Principal reception rooms – 5 Additional reception rooms – Galleried halls, landings and corridors
Main kitchen/breakfast room, second kitchen/butler’s pantry – Domestic offices -Extensive cellars
16 Bedrooms – 8 Bathrooms
Attic with 11 rooms, 2 bathrooms
Camellia House
Spacious 3 bedroom staff bungalow
Garaging, outbuildings and estate yard
A Grade II* 19th century castle, currently providing 6 office suites
Landscaped formal Italian-style terrace and sunken garden
Lily pond
Parkland |
Agricultural land, woodland

The Gullet estate

The gullet estateThe Gullet Estate in South Pool, Nr Salcombe, Devon in on for sale at a price some of us might find hard to swallow! £10M!
This is one of the prettiest houses I’ve seen for ages, enhanced by its beautiful and secluded locations.
It’s got a swimming pool which is one thing on my list and some really beautiful rooms inside the house. It is breathtakingly beautiful countryside it’s set in and on the water’s edge.

The Gullet Estate has an Arts & Crafts house extending to about 9,000 sq ft. Ground Floor – 40′ drawing room, dining room, reception hall, study, fitted kitchen with Aga, sitting room, domestic offices
First Floor – master bedroom suite with bathroom, shower room, 2 dressing rooms and lift, 6 further bedrooms, 4 further bathrooms, staff flat
Home Barn – 47′ ball room with minstrel’s gallery, further bedrooms and bathroom
Estate offices with bedrooms above
Heated swimming pool, walled garden & greenhouses, beautifully landscaped gardens
Boat house
6 further cottages
35 acres of foreshore with jetty and up to 22 moorings
Farmland & woodland
In all about 156 acres of land (excluding the foreshore)