Barratt aiming to bee better

Responding to the fact that bees are threatened in many parts of the UK, Barratt Homes, working with the British Beekeepers' Association, says it will plant bee-friendly shrubs in the gardens of its sales centres and show homes across Lincolnshire

Henry Boot expects election boost

Henry Boot says the outright win for the Conservatives at the election will see a return to normal activity after a slowdown as the election approached. The construction and property firm’s chairman John Brown told shareholders at the annual general meeting that trading had been encouraging in 2015 and that the pace of transactions is expected to pick up now uncertainty over the government had been resolved.

The end of rogue tradesmen

A new government approved scheme has been made available to home owners which could see an end to cowboy builders and rogue tradesmen. Under The Home Improvements Guarantee a builder is unable to lay hands on any money until the customer is completely happy. Instead of upfront fees, the customer will put enough money to cover the work in a secure "holding" account. Once the work is complete, the homeowner must sign off payment to the builder. In case of a dispute an independent surveyor will give a final verdict on whether the contract has been fulfilled satisfactorily.

Avocado bathroom suites the biggest turn-off

According to a new poll, avocado coloured bathroom suites are the feature most likely to put people off buying a home. The Barclays Mortgages poll, also found that woodchip wallpaper and stone cladding, were big turn-offs. The poll also found that two out of five feel a designer kitchen is the most desirable home improvement.

Knotweed problem

The Mail on Sunday notes that many lenders will baulk at providing loans for houses that have gardens infested with Japanese knotweed. Barclays, for example, demands buyers call in an expert who is a member of the Property Care Association - and who offers a ten-year insurance-backed guarantee against its return if the plant has been discovered within seven metres of the home. Leeds Building Society goes further; it will not lend money when knotweed is present in the garden and a valuer concludes it offers a significant risk either to the property or the chances of selling it in the future. Other lenders make decisions on a case by case basis but most have some associated restrictions and conditions.