As more people become conscious of the environmental impact of their housing choices, our guardianship properties offer a viable alternative that benefits both the occupant and the planet.
Home Security on a Budget
Keeping your home safe is always at the top of everyone’s list. When looking to secure your home, it’s often a daunting task and many see it as an expensive one too. There are plenty of ways to secure your home on a budget and to keep those belongings safe. It doesn’t all have to be about bolts and fancy cameras, we’ve put together a few of our top DIY security tips to help you feel more secure.
Lighting
Sensor lights by your front, back, side or any positioned door, are a great way to keep those unwanted guests out. You can pick up motion-sensor lights for under £20 to keep the boundaries of your home illuminated and safe. We know energy costs are constantly on the up, which is why solar-powered lights are a great option to keep those energy prices down too.
CCTV and Alarms
Now we’re not saying kit your home out like Fort Knox, that would cost a fortune! Hear us out on this one, a great option to act as a deterrent is dummy systems and alarms. Taking advantage of products that imitate real CCTV and alarms is an effective option if purse strings are a little tight at the minute. Certain dummy systems even come with LED-fitted lights to give them that extra layer of security.
Hiding Valuables
This is probably the most important factor when it comes to keeping your home safe. Making sure your valuables and keys are out of sight is imperative to keeping your home secure. Remember not to leave things in plain sight, especially by windows.
Set your Boundaries
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, making use of things such as fences, bushes and your surrounding areas can be your first line of defence. Make sure your fencing is in good condition as any damaged areas or panels can give unwanted eyes a chance to scope out the area and possibly gain access.
Let’s make some noise. If there’s a path or driveway leading to your doors, laying gravel is a great tactic to deter burglars away. As it’s noisy to walk on, gravel can help alert you to people approaching your home before they arrive at the door.
There’s always the old trick of using dense and thorny hedges around your property to put intruders off. Don’t think anyone fancies a trip through thorns and nestles, do they? Top hedges ideas: holly, pyracantha and hawthorn.
These are just a few simple steps to make your home more secure without breaking the bank. We’re always giving out some tricks and tips on our blog and in our newsletters, you can sign up here to get them right to your inbox.
A Growing Concern of Rising Rent Prices in 2023
The cost of renting in the UK has been on the rise for several years and it doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down in 2023. According to finance gurus, Finanze, rents are predicted to sky-rocket once again by nearly 13%. So it’s no surprise that the constant rent increases are causing tenants to grow concerned.
One of the most significant factors catapulting rent prices in the UK is the shortage of rental properties available. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), reported that the number of available rental properties has fallen to its lowest level in nearly 20 years. Simon Rubinsohn, the chief economist of RICS, stated that ‘the overall tone of the latest RICS Residential Survey is understandably more downbeat than previously’.
The shortage of rental properties has put upward pressure on rents as landlords can increase prices due to high demand. This trend is heavily noticeable in some of the UK’s largest cities. For example, London’s rental market has seen increases as high as 27%, not to mention Manchester’s private rental increases of 20%! Tenants just simply can’t afford it as pay is not keeping up with inflation.
We know that times are tough at the minute and it’s not just rent prices on the rise, the cost of living is squeezing those hardest in the rental market. We are constantly updating our property portfolio with key workers, mature postgraduates and working professionals in mind. With new properties come new opportunities for property guardians with prices at least a third cheaper than rentals in the open market.
It’s not an easy task to find affordable housing, but at Blue Door, we’re always on hand to offer you help with accommodation if you meet our criteria.