For many of us university is the first flight from the nest, that is the family home we grew up in,  and with so many things to prepare I can honestly say trying to find that suitable place is not only a challenge but physically and mentally draining. 

 If you are lucky enough,or clever enough, (you decide!) to have filled in halls of residence requests/ researched the local area and found suitable housemates, you will be absolutely fine.

If, however, like me, you left everything to the last minute, you will be in for a serious reality check come Septmenber.

The main quandary new students find themselves in is the halls v shared house debate. Halls are generally clean, and well maintained with the correct number of smoke alarms/doors etc. The landlord is the university so money laundering is not an issue and the obvious fact that you are generally positioned very close, if not on top of the campus has got to be a winner. Some lucky students are even blessed with an ensuite- a real luxury in student living.

Somehow, despite my frantic, last minute approach to house hunting, I managed to land myself one of the 30 odd ensuite campus halls. It was modest and the bed was way smaller than your average single but much to my delight I had a glistening bathroom- all to myself. Admittedley halls aren’t cheap, but like an expensive pair of shoes, they are reliable. You know what you’re getting and can rest assured lectures are a 2 minute stumble away. In fairness, I was fifteen minutes out of London so wasn’t suprised at the costly living, and not only the halls but the shops. 

Despite having my ‘home’ albeit a bedroom and bathroom in a very clinical looking building, I did find it very lonely. Obviously you are sharing with another 30 students, and as their was only 1 kitchen you were forced to mingle, but it just didn’t feel quite right. I must admit I felt a little bit ungrateful, I shouldn’t have got that accommodation but the officer had worked her magic and here I was in the most desirable living space for the Uni.

And then there is shared housing, although I went for the safe and secure option, I found some real beauties outside of the campus. One house was in the process of rennovation, which I can understand is a messy process but the mind boggles as to why a landlord would advertise a property that barely had any walls. Needless to say I didn’t take a second look at that one, for a start there was one smoke alarm, 1 bathroom and 8 bedrooms. It was all squeezed in to maximise profit and I think it may have been a little bit illegal. The second one I viewed was even less appealing, despite having four walls and being structurally intact, it was way out of town and the size of  a dolls house.

I always think shared housing promises house parties, new friends and a real sense of being self sufficient. Along with that comes (some) dodgy landlords, illegal living and complicated payment processes.  

So all in all, housing for students can provide more hassle than it is ultimately worth. Halls are hard to come by and expensive whilst shared housing can cause arguments and high fees. Obviously the most sensible idea is that of commuting, , however it is a far cry from student living, and after all, isn’t that why lots of us go to Uni?

With the recession still in full force renting  has become not a choice but a necessity for many and with demand overweighing supply, prices are most definitely on the up. With London having some of the highest rents, getting a quality property on a budget can be tricky, whilst places like Lincolnshire provide more generous accommodation for a tighter, more realistic budget.

Lincolnshire

Although Lincolnshire is hundreds of miles from the big city it boasts incredible architecture and some of the most authentic tea rooms, and apparently the cheapest rental prices!

As rental prices are much cheaper in Lincolnshire you can get alot more for your money. The cottage also proves that you can get a character property that won’t break the bank whilst this modern town house is evidence that desirable proeprty can be affordable.

 Cambridgeshire                                                                                                                      

 Cambridge generally won’t buy you a lot for £600 a month but this little gem is available as well as a range of modern 1 bed apartments. Cambridge is renowned for its culture with many art galleries/ musuems and prestigious university and is only fifty minutes from central London which explains the slightly higher price tags.           

Derbyshire

Derbyshire has a broad choice that I would say caters to most tenants. A quaint limestone cottage with two bedrooms and sloping ceilings or a ultra modern 3 bed end of terrace suitable for a young family. The wider availability is impressive and the ecclectic mix of historic charm and modern attractions make this a fairly desirable county!

Lancashire

Lancashire offers a wide choice for 600pcm and again, can fulfill the wishes of any type of tenant. For your money you can rent a stylish apartment situated in Manchester’s desirable Salford Quays. Lancashire also offers an array of family homes, with this modern 3 bedroom townhouse coming in at £600pcm.

Oxfordshire

 Oxford is most commonly know for it’s elite university and medieval architecture. Needless to say £600pcm won’t buy you an awful lot in the pretty county but there are a few hidden gems. For £450pcm you can rent a room in this incredible period property, it is a single room but this charming home boasts hundreds of authentic features. Alternatively you can rent 1 bed terraces, like this one.

Leicestershire

Like Lincolnshire, Leicstershire gives you alot for your money.  2-3 bed houses seem to be the staple £600pcm property as well as a range of modern apartments. With a generous mix of traditional and modern homes, £600 gets you along way in this county!

Traditionally, the bungalow is considered to be a modest home for the over sixties. But with the modernisation of properties on the up, the traditional bungalow has seen a radical transforma

The Hertfordshire Bungalow

This is the picture perfect country bungalow. Connotations of hearty sunday roasts and lots of baking. The home oozes character with the beams and rural charm!

The Lincolnshire Bungalow

This modern gem is perfect for young families. Bright and airy, fantastic space and very modern furnishings. Alot of bungalow for your money.

The Surrey Bungalow

This is the fairytale bungalow. With its quaint style, bay windows and country garden this home is idyllic, the wooden floors and airy feel make for a nice mix of old Vs new!

The Bath Bungalow

Otherwise known as the manor house of Bungalows. Needless to say the outside space is remarkable,a gardeners dream. A quintessential english home with plenty of rustic charm.

The Hampshire Bungalow

This is the woodland ranch bungalow. Perfectly set in this rural loaction, comprising of wood exterior and interior and use of a fantastic mini pool and snooker table. Quite American actually…!

 I have seen some incredible homes in my time but never anything quite as spectacular as this. As an avid Barbie fan, (even now) I can’t quite believe my eyes! In honour of Barbie’s 50th birthday, designer Jonathan Adler created this homage to the princess of pink!                                 

The Barbie Lounge                     

With its lack of colour coordination this room should be a design nightmare  but the eccentricity and charm of this living room makes it a winner.

The corseted tutu chairs are a fantastic design feature and the attention detail is quite astonishing. I am also intrigued by the chandeleir, which, unless my eyes are decieiving me seems to be made out of real hair! The pop art canvas, the pristine pink furnishings, the loud animal prints! It should be too much but it isn’t!

The Barbie ‘boudoir’

I imagine this room to be every little girl’s dream, and as a grown woman it is still my dream. Although it’s predictable with its grandure, pink furnishings, and draping ceiling , it really is fit for a princess!

  The Barbie terrace

As you would imagine this fabulous terrace is perfect for a lady of leisure. An idyllic setting for sunbathing/ partying and relaxing. With it’s pink carpet and ultra modern furnishings you almost forget that it is a garden!

. Pakistani Rescue teams try and get to the injured after devastating floods.

.Northern Rock are making profits after a tough year.

. PM and deputy write letter to reinforce idea that reducing the deficit is the most pressing issue facing Britain.

.Greater Manchester council considering Minimum drink prices- propsed laws mean it would be illegal to sell alcohol for less than 40p a unit.

 In light of new figures demonstrating that the private rented sector is in fact increasing, Rick Flay from Belvoir Sheffield, the leading letting agent in Sheffield is advising landlords UK-wide to gear up for changes heading their way.

 Expanding by around 50 per-cent in the last nine years, the private rented sector is increasing beyond all recognition, forcing landlords to rethink their tactics and reassess their competition.

 Rick Flay, Director at Belvoir Sheffield, who offer a wide range of property to rent in Sheffield, said, “In the last few years the property market has seen a cultural shift away from home ownership and this increased demand has lead to a lack of rental properties in ‘good’ locations.

 “Due to the desire for flexibility, the lack readily available mortgages and the high deposits required, people holding off purchasing their first home.

 “It is highly likely that to meet such demand, the rentals market will move to a more continental model seen in countries like France and Germany, where leases are offered on a five or ten year basis as opposed to the six and twelve month leases currently offered in the UK.”

 As the population in the UK is expected to increase from 60 to 70 million by 2029, commentators are estimating that the amount of people looking for good rental properties will also increase, leaving a supply and demand imbalance.

 Rick, from the Sheffield letting agents added, “Traditionally the rentals market was aimed at 20-35 year- olds, but we are now finding that the older generations are also looking for rental properties.  It is highly likely that that there will eventually be a housing shortage, which makes it a great time for landlords.

 “Rental properties are very much in demand and will continue to be so.  I would advise any would be landlords to take the plunge as there has never been a better time to invest in the buy-to-let market.”

Belvoir Lettings Sheffield is the One Stop Specialists for Lettings including Property Management, Tenant Find, Investment and Wealth Management Advice, Fit-outs and Renovations, Furniture Packs and Investment Property Insurances.

In light of the Land Registry’s latest price index which showed that house prices were on average 8.4 per cent higher than this time last year, Rick Flay from Belvoir Sheffield, the leading letting agent in Sheffield is advising landlords that future forecasts indicate that house prices will remain level or drop to much lower levels, making it the ideal time to invest in a buy-to-let property.

Rick Flay, Director at Belvoir Sheffield, who offer a wide range of property to rent in Sheffield, said, “The 1988 Housing Act made investment in residential property more attractive, especially when it introduced a new type of tenancy which gave landlords more control over their properties. Since then the market has seen a substantial recovery in the private rented sector and the availability buy-to-let loans has also increased the appeal of owning rental property. 

“The Office of National Statistics has predicted that the population will rise to over 70 million by 2030, and if the majority of these people can not afford to buy a property, their only alternative is to rent. This means that those who can afford to buy properties will benefit from this increased demand. The market has in the past experienced some turbulent times, but those in the industry are now finding that the rentals market is being left with a lack of high quality stock to meet demand.

Even if capital growth remains low, investors will potentially still get better returns than if they put their money in the bank. Although buy-to-let is now an extremely fruitful investment, landlords should air with caution and always seek the advice of a professional letting agent. 

Landlords should follow our five point plan when taking on such an investment:

-When you buy a property to let out, you are effectively running a small business and you have important legal responsibilities.  Make sure that you check what your responsibilities are and seek the advice of a professional letting agent before securing finance.

-Do your research. Make sure that you carefully research the market where you want to buy your property. You can either do this yourself or ask a specialist independent letting agent like Belvoir Sheffield to provide advice on the best area and type of property to rent out, to ensure that you are taking on a sound investment opportunity. Gathering information from estate agents, local papers, existing landlords and even the local authority, about the demand for and supply of, rented housing, will also aid you in the decision making process. Here at Belvoir we offer a consultancy and search service so that you buy the right property at the right price.

-Finding the perfect tenants. Once you have secured finance and researched the market, you will need to consider the types of tenant you are aiming to attract. Bear in mind that single people and families have different requirements.

-Location. Look at how close the property is to local amenities such as shops, transport and schools, and are these the type of amenities that are important to your tenants? If you are looking to let your property out to tenants, check for example how close it is to local schools as this will be a very important factor in the decision to rent for families. Make sure that you always visit the area that you are buying in, do your homework and assess your target market,  amazingly lots of investors buy without checking out the local area.

-Market your property effectively.  Make sure that you market your property effectively to yield maximum results.  Choosing a reputable letting agent can take the strain off this part of the process and will ensure that your property is rented to the ‘right’ sorts of tenants.  Here at Belvoir Sheffield, we are letting stock out in an average of nine days, which is down to our first rate marketing power.”

Belvoir Lettings Sheffield is the One Stop Specialists for Lettings including Property Management, Tenant Find, Investment and Wealth Management Advice, Fit-outs and Renovations, Furniture Packs and Investment Property Insurances.

.French couple in court today after bodies of 8 newborn babies are found in local french village.

.The idea of a ‘fixed retirement’ abolished, people reaching 65 no longer forced to retire next year.

. David Cameron tells the Queen he is not entirely sure the kind of government he intends to form.

.Pakistan spend the day mourning after worst ever ‘air crash’ for the country.

.House price inflation drops slightly- from 8.7% to 6.6%

.New high street bank launches, Metrobank.

. Plane crash in Pakistan kills 152 people, leaving no survivors. The reasons for crash have yet to be determined.

.Catalonia becomes first region of mainland spain to ban bull fighting after a petitioners claim it to be ‘barbaric’ and ‘outdated’

.Us woman attempts to smuggle a ‘night vison rifle’  into Russia and is arrested at Moscow airport.

.China’s 3 gorge Dam is hit as floods get worse. Authorities have been advising locals to prepare for floods as gates release.

.David Cameron visits India for 2 day trip to ’strengthen’ relationships and create more jobs in the UK.

.Rio de Janeiro to clean up for the 2016 olympics, the plan will affect 260,000 households and cost approximateley £2.9bn

The Toilet Home

 Sim Jae-duck, the founder of the Korea Toilet Association has recreated a life size toilet shaped home worth $1.1million.Sim’s mother believed that people born in restrooms were more likely to live a long and prosperous life , this led to his birth in a public toilet!Sim created his two story eclectic home in an attempt to highlight the importance of ‘toilet hygiene’ and sanitation. The south Korean entrepreneur even offers stays in his home if visitors are willing to donate a whopping $50,000 to The world Toilet Association.’ 

The Guitar home

Located in Fayetteville, Georgia and owned by country and western singer Elvis Carden is this eccentric musical homage!With his guitar home, his album, ‘Living in an old guitar’ and his record label,’Guitar house records’ I am starting to see a pattern emerge!

The shell   

This home was constructed by Mexican architect Javier Senosiain and is located in the heart of Mexico City! It resembles a shell and looks a bit like something you would see in a dark Tim Burton film!

The underground home

This underground home is situated in Ksiazenice, Poland and was designed by architects KWK Promes. The minimalistic home is perfect for it’s rock star resident , with only a peek of window being visible above ground!

The small house

Situated in Conwy, Wales the world’s tiniest home is an unbelievable 5.49m in total. Local fisherman, Robert Jones, who ironically was a massive 6ft 3 , lived there up until 1900.

Eventually the local council deemed the modest little home as unsuitable for living and Robert was no longer allowed to live there!

Shame

The Boeing 727 house

Located in Mississippi, USA this realistic Boeing727 Model was bought by Joanne Ussary for $2000.00 but with costs of 4,000,00 to move and $24,000,00 to renovate this little venture set her back hundreds of thousands of US dollars. But with a Jacuzzi in the Cockpit and remote control stairs I would say it was well worth it!

The cubes                                                                          

These futuristic little cubes homes were designed by architect Piet Blom in the mid eighties. These bizarre structures are located in Rotterdam and consist of approximately 100square meters, but due to the angled ceiling, ¼ of this space is unusable!

Because of the constant passers-by and their fascination of the homes, a show home has been constructed to offer visitors tours of these remarkable buildings.

There are 38 small cube homes and two ‘super cubes.’ All consisting of three floors, with the top floor often being used as a small garden.

Extraordinary.

The Eliphante art house        

This fabulous rural building was owned by artists Leda Livant and Michael Kahn. The man made structure is located in AZ, USA and was created from scratch by the couple who ran a non profit arts organisation in the 1980’s. The home gets its name from the trunk like entrance and is a maze of shacks, follies and stunning domes!

Since Michael’s death last year, Leda has continued to run tours of her spectacular art house!

The  Forest Spiral (Darmstadt, Germany)

 This beautiful structure consists of 105 individual apartments that wrap around the courtyard and running stream. The building even has a restaurant and cocktail bar in the south east turret.

 The building is fairly new, only being completed in 2000 , it was designed by famous Austrian architect and painter, Friedensreich Hundertwasser . He was known for his contemporary and cutting edge designs that were based around irregular and organic forms!

Reversible Destiny Lofts – Mitaka, Japan                   

This childlike and lighthearted block is situated in Mitaka, Japan have been created to make home an inspiring and exciting environment as opposed to a relaxing one. These views are conveyed through Japanese architect, Shusaku Arakawa’s eclectic colour mix, curved walls and playground feel.

Other than creating an invigorating and pleasing aesthetic, the idea of these homes is to prolong the lives of the residents, the space is aimed at coaxing people to live for an indefinite period of time??