Give your home a hot new look

3:31pm Friday 31st October 2008

IT is that time of year when there are more trends flying around than falling leaves.

Tenants get more choosy

12:35pm Monday 27th October 2008

TENANTS are becoming more choosy when searching for a property to let, according to home move specialist moveme.com.

Time is right to make eco changes

12:28pm Monday 27th October 2008

WITH fuel prices high and the credit crunch biting, Essex County Council is showing residents that being warm this winter doesn’t mean money burning a hole in your pocket.

Tailoring energy tips for home

12:25pm Monday 27th October 2008

UNTIL the winter bills start coming in, loft insulation is the last thing most of us want to think about. By the time we get round to making those energy-saving changes, sometimes the financial damage has already been done. Although we all know the credit crunch and high fuel prices could send our utility bills through the roof this year, it can still be hard to get motivated. Luckily, with this being National Energy Saving Week, run by the Energy Saving Trust (EST), help is at hand. The organisation has a network of energy doctors ready to listen to questions and help reduce your gas and electricity bills. Energy doctor Tamara Mauro explained that a few small changes can save you £270 per year. “Our latest research showed that 80 per cent of people are worried about their energy bills this winter,” she said. “While there’s definitely been an increase in awareness about saving energy, often people are too busy to do anything about it, but it really doesn’t take long to make a few changes.” Ms Mauro said the beauty of the EST service was that the advice is tailored to your home. “You'll get everything from basic help about not leaving your television on standby, to how to get the loft insulated. “People don't always realise that there are grants available for some of the more expensive energy-saving measures,” she said. This winter is likely to be a test of the nation’s financial resilience. Energy prices will be high and the economic outlook gloomy. In such financially-testing times, consumers shouldn’t bury their heads in the sand. Two years ago consumer campaign body Which set up a site designed to help people find the right deals on gas and electricity. Which spokesman Alison Morrison explained: “All of the suppliers put up their prices in response to rises in the wholesale oil market earlier this year, and we had a a lot of concern from our callers wanting to know what they could do. “We offer a free online energy comparison service, Switch with Which. “In the last year, people who used the Switch with Which service to change their supplier or tariff saved an average of £200 on their annual bills,” said Ms Morrison. To use the site you need two key pieces of information. Which tariff you’re on, and your annual usage. KNOW YOUR TARIFFS Capped: Guarantees that the unit price (often called the kilowatt hour price – kWh) of your electricity or gas will not rise beyond a certain level for a fixed period of time. The unit price will normally always be higher than the supplier's standard tariff, but could decrease accordingly if its standard prices come down during the period. There may be an “exit fee” to pay if you choose to switch your supplier before the fixed period has expired. Dual fuel: By far the most popular choice of consumers. Energy suppliers often offer a big discount to customers who decide to buy both gas and electricity from the same supplier. Economy 7: This is an electricity tariff most suitable for people who run appliances, such as storage heaters and hot water at night. You will pay less for the electricity you use during the night than during the day – but always check if it represents good value. Green: Eco-conscious consumers can choose electricity tariffs that guarantee that each unit of electricity they use will be matched by one purchased by their supplier from a renewable source, such as a wind farm. Fixed: Similar to a capped tariff, but guarantees that your unit price will not rise at all for a set period of time. However, as prices are fixed, you won't benefit from any reduction in the company's standard prices during the period. Online: These tariffs are usually the cheapest available and are growing in popularity. Frequently these tariffs will require you to manage your account online. l To switch Your Energy Supplier visit: switchwithwhich.co.uk or call free on 0800 533 031. l To find out how much you can save in your home, fill out the Energy Saving Trust's online home energy check www.energysavingtrust.org.uk or call the advice centre on 0800 512 012.

Tenants losing out in deposits

2:33pm Monday 13th October 2008

TENANTS are still losing thousands of pounds in deposits each month by not sticking to tenancy agreements, it has been claimed.

Investors remain committed as ever

1:44pm Friday 5th September 2008

DESPITE house prices falling, 70 per cent of buy-to-let investors are planning to buy property this year, according to a poll.

Market lifts landlords’ confidence

10:30am Monday 1st September 2008

LANDLORDS’ confidence in the buy-to-let market is still strong, according to research.

Home rental growing in popularity

3:49pm Friday 22nd August 2008

AN increasing number of homeowners are choosing to rent out their property than sell it, according to figures.

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