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Published: 21 December 2022

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If you’re thinking about buying a place of your own, you’ll need to decide which type of property you want to live in.

While the price can often be a huge deciding factor, houses are not always more expensive than flats. Sometimes, choosing between the two depends on other factors.

In this article, we’ll explore the differences between buying a house vs a flat and share our thoughts on the pros and cons to consider.

What are the Pros of Buying a House?

1.   You’ll Have More Control

When you buy a house, you often purchase the freehold instead of the leasehold. With freehold ownership, you have more control over what you can do with and to the property.

For example, you can decorate, renovate or extend your property without needing permission from a leaseholder.

2.   You Should Have Free Parking

Generally, buying a house means you’ll have access to free street parking or (if the property has a driveway) off-street parking. In flats, you often have to purchase a parking space – which can be a one-off or annual cost.

However, be mindful that you may need to pay for a council permit to park outside some houses, especially if it’s near a station.

3.   You’ll Have a Front & Back Garden

Sizing varies, but almost every house has a back and front garden.

This means you’ll need to do more maintenance. But, more importantly, it also means you can enjoy gardening, decorating your front garden, and having access to private outdoor space.

What are the Cons of Buying a House?

1.   You’ll Have More Responsibility

Since you normally own the freehold when you buy a house, you’re responsible for maintaining everything related to the property. This can include upkeep of things like fences, drains, windows, boilers, gardens and the roof.

What are the Pros of Buying a Flat?

1.   You’ll Have Less Responsibility

Even though you still need to maintain your home, most flats offer leasehold ownership. This means that, while you own the flat, someone else owns (and is responsible for) the building.

Within your lease, your ‘landlord’ may be responsible for things like cleaning the windows or arranging costly building repairs.

What are the Cons of Buying a Flat?

1.   You’ll Have Less Flexibility

Sometimes, leasehold ownership comes with restrictions. For example, the lease may prohibit things like laying hardwood flooring or having a pet.

2.   There are Extra Charges

When you buy a flat, there are normally more charges than a house. For example, you’ll need to pay rent and service charges (which can change annually) to pay for general building repairs.

How to Decide Between Buying a House vs a Flat

Choosing between buying a house vs a flat depends on many factors.

Before you decide, consider the following:

• What you can afford
• How long you plan on living there
• How much responsibility you want
• How important outdoor space is to you
• What parking access you need

Or ask a local estate agent for advice.

Enquire Today

If you need help deciding which option is right for you, Warren Powell-Richards are your local property experts. Our friendly team are happy to discuss our properties and help you decide which one is right for you.

Give us a call today or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to arrange a call back.

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Published: 21 December 2022

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While country kitchens are not a new and emerging trend, the style continuously finds innovative ways to reinvent itself.

Particularly popular for those with large families, the country kitchen turns the room into the heart of the home, providing a space to cook, relax, and socialise.

The traditional country kitchen will never go out of style. Whilst interior fashions will continually evolve, we will all love and appreciate this design for as long as time itself!

For many years, people believed that the traditional country kitchen was only available to those with considerable space to work with. However, with a few clever tricks, you can transform just about any size space into the kitchen of your dreams.

Colour is Everything

No traditional country kitchen is complete without the earthy tones we all know and love.

Painted cabinets are one of the most defining elements of a farmhouse style kitchen. Whether you chose a chalk-like textured paint or something with a smooth finish, the colour you opt for will undoubtedly set the tone of the entire room.

Pastel and light shades are favourites for country kitchens, keeping the space bright and airy, yet adding a touch of personality. Sage is a stunning colour for this kitchen style and paired with brass accessories a timeless room can be created that will never go out of fashion.

If you decide on a bolder or more daring colour, do not feel like you have to use it for every cabinet. Using a different colour on the upper and lower cupboards can add an extra dimension to your kitchen.

Invest in Traditional Appliances

Investing in traditional appliances for your country kitchen is an expensive task. You can emulate a fantastic traditional space without these pieces, but incorporating them will elevate the room to the next level.

A classic farmhouse stove is an investment, but one that you will not regret. It will effortlessly tie the whole room together and become a real centrepiece.  Investing in big pieces such as a stove gives you the freedom to mix and match with other, maybe more modern elements, yet still retain the kitchen’s traditional look.

If you are working with a tighter budget, do not be afraid of searching the second-hand market. Many beautiful pre-loved items work perfectly and are a fraction of the price.

Traditional or Modern Flooring?

Flooring can make or break a traditional country kitchen.

This one feature has the massive job of tying the whole room together. With such a vast array of options, it can be challenging to know which flooring is best suited to your kitchen and tastes.

Ceramic tiles create a durable, everlasting elegance and are available in pretty much any design, colour, and style. A more muted tile can complement a brighter kitchen, creating a sophisticated interior that wows anyone who enters.

Conversely, a bohemian style can be created with Mediterranean tiles. Or, tie together a traditional Victorian home using black and white checkerboard ceramics.

Wooden floors are a perfect fit for traditional kitchens. If you are lucky enough to have excellent floorboards, they can be varnished or painted to create an effortless flooring solution. However, if you already have exposed woodwork elsewhere in the kitchen, you may prefer a contrasting option to complement the existing features.

Invest in a Kitchen Island

If your floor space affords it, then a kitchen island will surely complete the room. The island creates a focal point. It builds a place for everyone to gather, whilst providing an excellent amount of storage space.

Where space might be tighter, and to add a slightly modern twist, you can consider incorporating a breakfast bar and a kitchen island together. This encourages people to relax in the kitchen whilst you are cooking, making it ideal for dinner parties. Creating a social element to the room whilst developing a multifunctional space.

Concentrate on The Details

The beauty of every room is in its details. Adding antique touches to your kitchen will make the overall finish appear effortless. Use open shelving to display your items proudly.

Switching the plug sockets to ensure they are in keeping with the theme can drastically change the room. Brass details look exceptionally classy. Lightbulbs, light shades, blinds, and curtains should also be carefully considered.

The key to this room is in cohesion. Creating a space that ties together beautifully is not simple, but is well worth the work.

Warren Powell-Richards are your local property experts for the area. Call us or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to chat with a member of our friendly and experienced

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Published: 21 December 2022

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Whether you have just bought a new home, or you are looking to freshen up where you currently live, it’s important to get the rooms looking right for your taste.

After all, it’s your living space and it’s important that you love it. People often rightly talk about walls and ceilings, tables and chairs, paint charts and colour co-ordination, but often overlook how the “humble rug” can add so much style, colour, and charm!

That’s right, a perfectly positioned Persian rug could make your room more homely, while a faux fur finely placed will add a touch of style. 

But can a rug be more than that? We think so.

Here are our top six thoughts on getting the right rug for your home.

1. Create a centrepiece with a rug

A sitting room, with a wooden floor can be a beautiful space with the addition of a rug in the centre of the room. Perhaps with a coffee table in the middle, and with seating arranged around it. A rug makes a perfect focal point around which to have a conversation.

You might want to choose a Persian rug, or an oriental rug, square or circular, or a modern microfibre one. Whatever you choose, and price will be a factor, it’s sure to be a focal point and a talking point.

2. Make a rug practical

While a rug can add colour and vibrancy to a room, it could also be a functional addition too. A non-slip and washable rug in a kitchen or dining area can prove useful, particularly if you have young children.

Not only can it be cleaned easily, but it will also protect the flooring that’s underneath. A rug doesn’t only have to look great; it can be practical too. It’s super important you ensure your rug doesn’t become a trip-hazard though, particularly when placed in a kitchen. Use non-slip corner pads for safety.

3. Inject personality using a rug
   
   A rug can be a statement as bold as you like and can reflect who you are. Big and bright fluffy rugs might show you to be expressive and outgoing, while a more subdued colour and pattern reveal you to be thoughtful and quieter.

It’s about you, as all decor should be, but it might be that it helps you to fill a space in a room. What’s more, you should be able to find one that suits your budget and taste too.

Be careful though! A bright rug bought on a whim may not suit all tastes in your home, or even your taste after a few weeks! What you don’t want to do is buy a rug only for it to be rolled up and shoved in the shed after a month or so!

4. Use a rug to connect or divide

Rugs can connect the different parts of your home in a stylish way. Imagine having a striped carpet working its way down your stairs. Then imagine having a similar striped rug running along the hallway, guiding people to other rooms.

You could have slightly different colours but the same pattern on your rugs for different home zone areas, in the dining area or in the sitting room for example. This connects the rooms but highlights the differences too.

5. Make a rug into a wall of pattern

When you think of a rug, we’re willing to bet that you think of the floor. Yes, it’s a great place for a rug of course, but have you thought about a rug as a piece of art on a wall?

In Eastern countries, that’s exactly what rugs have often been used for. In bygone days, tapestries and rugs were hung from the walls of medieval English properties too.

While you may not have tapestries that depict battles between kings, a wall-mounted rug can add so much character to a bare wall.

6. Size of rug matters

If you have a large room and only have a postage stamp-sized rug, it will look out of place. Likewise, if you have a small room and the rug fills everywhere, you may as well have purchased a carpet instead! So, getting the size right is important. Design, style, and function all play a part, but think of the visual aspect in terms of room size too. Size does matter.

Buying a rug, selecting wallpaper, and other decorating tasks take time and thought, and we have bags of advice we can offer.

Warren Powell-Richards are your local property experts for the area. Call us or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to chat with a member of our friendly and experienced team.

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Published: 21 December 2022

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In theory, buying a new-build property should mean that you experience minimal issues when you move in. Unfortunately, though, that isn’t always the case. Teething problems with newly-built properties are common.

Happily, every new-build home comes with warranties for your peace of mind, and the most commonly-issued type of new-build warranty is the NHBC warranty.

Here’s exactly what this type of warranty is and what it covers.

Does An NHBC Warranty Protect A New-Build Property?

Yes. The National House-Building Council issues these warranties, hence their abbreviation to NHBC. The NHBC warranty has been designed as a guarantee on new-build properties and it covers all newly-constructed homes. It is the builder who has constructed the property that takes out the warranty to cover themselves in the event of a problem. NHBC warranties are issued for several different types of developments including build-to-rent properties, custom builds, private sales, and shared ownership homes.

Are There Other Home Warranty Providers?

Although there are several other providers of new-build home warranties, NHBC warranties are the most common. Premier Guarantee, Build-Zone, LABC, and FMB are just some of the alternatives.

What Does An NHBC Warranty Cover?

An NHBC Warranty will cover both structural issues and defects in the property. However, there are two timeframes covered on each warranty. For two years after the property’s construction, the warranty covers you for both structural issues and defects.

After 24 months, only structural problems are covered. Therefore, from the third year onwards, snagging issues, fittings and fixtures issues and small non-structural problems are your responsibility to deal with and rectify. It’s vital, then, to know when the defects period comes to an end, and it’s also essential to keep a running snagging list, ensuring that things can be fixed before your cover comes to an end.

Is Anything Not Covered By An NHBC Warranty?

There are some things that are excluded from NHBC warranties including:

• Weather damage
• Natural disasters
• Wear and tear

Some issues like dampness are sometimes covered by the warranty, but only when the problem’s root cause is traceable to an issue during the property’s construction. If condensation has accumulated afterwards, for example, and mould has taken hold, it isn’t the builder’s responsibility to fix the damage, it’s yours.

How Long Does An NHBC Warranty Last?

Typically, an NHBC warranty lasts for ten years, but in some cases, an extension to twelve years is possible.

Can The NHBC Warranty Be Transferred?

The NHBC warranty is issued not on the property’s owner but on the property itself. Therefore, if you move home within the lifetime of the warranty, it will be passed on to the buyer. If there’s a policy already in place for your home, that is often an appealing selling point.

You should ensure your estate agent knows about the policy before listing your home for sale. You should also note, though, that any improvements that you have made to the property after moving in aren’t covered by the warranty.

What Will Happen If I Discover A Snag After Moving In?

If you keep a running snagging list, you’ll be able to easily track any issues that arise after moving into your new property. However, if you notice a severe defect, get in touch with your builder straight away. If you fail to do this, further damage may occur that could end up causing your warranty to be invalidated.

It’s also wise to keep records of all correspondence with the builder about the defects you discover. Keeping notes of times, dates, and what you discussed will prove to be very helpful should the builder be unresponsive or refuse to carry out the necessary work.

If you’re considering buying a new-build property, take a look at the current developments that are available on our website at wpr.co.uk. The team at Warren Powell-Richards is looking forward to helping you find your perfect new home, so give us a call.