Let's Talk Property

The decline of UK hedgerows is contributing to the alarming loss of plant and animal species. A typical hedgerow encompasses over 2000 diverse species of plants and animals. The People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and ARLA farmers across the country are working together to redress the balance. We can also help at home, and make a difference by encouraging our children to get involved too. My guests are Oliver Williams, Farmer, and Lizzie McLaughlin, Head of Commercial Content Solutions at Agriconnect, who both promote the idea that we can all get involved, whatever the size of our garden, and become 'Custodians of the Land'. You don't need to be a farmer to become a landlord to a thriving population of diverse wildlife. You can create wildlife-friendly gardens and green spaces within your own garden, balcony, or local outdoor areas. Some simple ideas include introducing bee hotels, bee boxes, bee bricks and manage outside space to encourage the return of bumblebees, insects and hedgehogs. How can you help to secure a brighter future for the remarkable wildlife we risk losing? Simply - join in the conversation. June 2023

Graham Sheppard of Rottingdean Parish Council joins Heather Hilder-Darling and James Duffy to discuss life in Rottingdean village.  How did the 'resident' Rottingdean heron get his name? And a trip down memory lane...

How well does your home broadband perform? Guy Cocker, my guest today, reveals the multitude of frustrations caused by unreliable broadband speeds. Unreliable internet means missing out on gigs and festivals - and with a summer of events and sport ahead of us - we don't want to miss our favourite shows. I can't wait for Wimbledon! From buffering to lags, a lack of broadband speed causes issues for people on a daily basis. When multiple people are in the home at the same time, unreliable broadband can result in bickering, homework getting delayed, and for those working from home, project deadlines being missed. EE unveils their most advanced broadband, with new FULL FIBRE 1.Gbps, delivering the fastest speeds and best reliability. Our personal and professional lives depend on fully operational broadband. Research (RWB) shows that 30% of us have daily issues with speed. Heat affects internet speed, servers and routers giving yet more misery to users. If you're finding it difficult to work from home, or impossible to hand in assignments and projects to your school/college/employer, maybe it's time to make the change? June 2023

Is house-building politicized?  How are developers future-proofing new homes? Join me as I chat with Neil Jefferson, MD Home Builders Federation, about how the cost of living crisis and a potential recession has changed the way we look for, and buy, new homes in the UK. Market analysis found that the cost to bring most old properties in line with modern standards can be upwards of £70,000.  Research reveals that more than 53%* of us would consider buying a new build to increase energy efficiency and lower our utility bills. Heather Hilder-Darling 28 February 2023 *Research carried out by Yonder Data Solutions between 3 - 5 February 2023 with sample of 2,088 UK adults.

Have you been affected by recent flooding? A new report by LV= GI and independent think-tank Localis, has revealed that as many as 25,550 new homes are set to be built in areas that are already urbanised or where more than 1% of homes are already at risk of flooding. LV= together with Interior Designer Gaby Blackman and Flooding Expert Dr Jess Neumann have designed a 'Flood Proof Home' of the Future. Dr Neumann tells me, "The homes of the future could well require features such as underground drainage networks, built-in flood defences and even amphibious foundations..." Let's find out about buoyant foundations, a U-shaped garage roof and features to protect our homes of the future. Heather Hilder-Darling 23 November 2022

Feeling the cold already?   Today's topic 'Heat Yourself Not your Home' comes at a time when 71% of Brits are looking at alternative methods to heat themselves as temperatures begin to drop. Consumer and finance expert Alice Beer has worked with Silentnight to create a guide if you're looking to keep warm and save money this autumn. As concern rises about 'heating or eating', people are looking at how to warm themselves, aside from switching on the heating. Alice says, "One of my favourite tips in the guide is to heat yourself... Things like electric blankets or heated throws are perfect for this as they cost just pennies to run..." New figures from Silentnight have shown that almost 39% have turned to wearing more layers in a bid to stay warm.  So apart from saving money by turning down the thermostat, could the electric blanket keep the nation warm? As part of the campaign, SleepyPeople.com is running a penny sale on winter warmer products on Friday 14 October at 09.00h. Heather Hilder-Darling October 2022  

Don't know what to do with the kids this half-term?   Holly Smith, the Coupon Queen and Money Expert, joins me to chat about how it's now cheaper to go on a fun-filled family staycation than to stay at home. According to a new study by Butlins, it costs the average family £348.25** to entertain the kids with various child-friendly activities over the course of four days at home.  The research found that single trips to the theatre, swimming pool, soft play centre, fairground and pantomime all add up to the triple figure total. With families under pressure from the cost-of-living crisis, many have already cut down on takeaways and meals out to afford trips away.  Holly provides money saving tips - from supermarket coupons to family days out to getting away for as little as £50!   Also, check out your Council website for ideas of activities for children during half-term. Heather Hilder-Darling October 2022 ** Based on average UK costs for individual activities for a family of four in the UK

Do you like talking kitchens? My guest, Char Eid of Charbox Designs, has a descriptive word for a kitchen - a Social Centrepoint - and he's right in the way we style and use our kitchens today.   As the 'heart of a home', the kitchen has evolved to spill out onto the garden for many homeowners, with a selection of styles, colours, kitchen ranges and pricing that make the eyes water. Char enlightens me as to how his creativity, plus the homeowners' preferences and budget, can open, literally, lots of doors.  From the smallest kitchen, to the most expensive kitchens, you'll often find Char at Hove Kitchens, listening to clients and working with them to design the kitchen of their dreams. To make the best use of space in your kitchen, Char's 3 top tips in the design of your social centrepoint include: 1. Aesthetics 2. Functionality 3. Comfort  Kitchen design involves more than just a layout - tiling, lighting, appliances, styling - and Char's available to help to design yours from start to finish. Heather Hilder-Darling October 2022

In today's podcast, Martyn Bridges, Director at Worcester Bosch, shares his easy tips to save 10% off our energy bills. The increase in gas prices this October has as many as 90% of us worrying about heating our homes.  The cold, dark winter ahead has spurred boiler manufacturer Worcester Bosch to encourage us to heat our homes wisely.  We should use our boilers carefully so as to avoid the risk of freezing pipes or paying more than we have to, by reducing our costs by £0.80-£0.90 per day. Martyn's Top 3 recommendations: 1. Have you lost the instructions for your boiler's timer/programmer?  Download the manufacturer's instructions from the website 2. Turn the room's heating thermostat down by 1 DegC 3. On your combi-boiler, turn the two temperature dials, for water and heating, down to around 65 DegC As the cold weather begins to bite, whilst cutting back on socialising, shopping or planning holidays, many of us believe the rise of the energy price cap will have a significant impact on our financial situation. Click for further details on how to save money on your energy bills, Energy Saving Trust. Heather Hilder-Darling October 2022

As we grapple with increasing living costs, do you know our homes lose around 10% heat through windows? I chat with Simon Rogers, Director, Sussex County Windows about how homeowners and Landlords can improve the thermal efficiency of homes and property. Simon also reveals how double and triple glazing has improved since the early days. Heather Hilder-Darling October 2022

As Brighton & Hove City Council backtracks on plans to clamp down on short-term lets, Compliance & Lettings Guru, James Duffy of Callaways Estate & Letting Agents, explains the basic differences between short-term lets and assured shorthold tenancies. The reduction in stock within the Private Rented Sector (PRS) is causing a shortage of properties for longer term tenancies, pushing up rental prices.  Additional burdens of taxation and legislation are making Landlords turn their backs on the PRS.   In today's episode, we examine the appeal and problems associated with short-term lets for Landlords. Landlords - James shares his 3 top recommendations if you're considering changing from long term to short-term lettings: 1. Make sure your property is suitable for the short-term lettings market (location, condition and specification)  2. You will need extra resources between occupancies as your 'guests' are likely to have higher expectations for their weekend/holiday break 3. Check your Head Lease and mortgage conditions - or you could find yourself in breach of terms and conditions. Heather Hilder-Darling 'Let's Talk Property' September 2022 

Amanda Prowse, International Bestselling Author, joins me today to chat about the publication on 6 September 2022 of her memoir, 'Women Like Us'.  Amanda's career has previously focussed on the lives of fictional women in a multitude of novels published around the world. What would Amanda do now, if she were to transpose herself into Vivienne in ‘I won’t be home for Xmas'? (from her ‘No Greater Strength’ series). In today's podcast, Amanda speaks candidly about her weight, eating disorders and a toxic relationship with food. Telling me ‘Change is needed with a thought, not a fork’, Amanda goes on to say there is ‘no such thing as bad food’. In this episode of ‘Let’s Talk Property’, Amanda offers a candid insight into how her need for authenticity encouraged her to write her intriguing memoir.  Heather Hilder-Darling September 2022

With a career spanning from the 1970s drought to today, my guest Gill Johnson of Sussex-based GKJ Consultants reminisces on her lettings' training start-up to successful business owner.  Describing lettings as 'opportunities to be sued' Gill gives her recommendations on training the professionals and the need to choose your Lettings Agency carefully.  As well as fulfilling her own intellectual curiosity in the industry, Gill enjoys seeing her trainees gain confidence in applying their new-found skills in managing Landlords and Legislation. Together, we affectionately remember the 70s and 80s when technology was in its infancy and before CRM, FB, and What's App etc came into being.  Heather Hilder-Darling September 2022  

Did you consider starting a business during lockdown? In 'Let's Talk Property' today, I chat with Brighton & Hove's Char Eid of CharBox Designs . Char had the courage to follow his convictions and fulfil his dreams much earlier than anticipated.  Getting to grips with all aspects of running a business, Char shares his experience of working hard, being patient and thriving to be different. His passion for design, plans for 5 years' time and how you can prepare in adolescence for becoming a business owner are all shared in this episode.  Heather Hilder-Darling September 2022 

I'm joined by Heb Bailey, Director at Robert Luff & Co to talk property.   What do estate agency professionals think about the current sales process, especially in today's market? Our lively debate of 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it...' brings practical recommendations as to how to fix our broken property sales process.  Each year 300,000+ transactions fail, costing thousands of pounds in lost revenue, wasted time, effort and stress. Listen in, and share your thoughts with us. Heather Hilder-Darling September 2022

Today I'm chatting about property perspectives from three different angles.   My guests are Char Eid of Charbox Designs, Gill Johnson of GKJ Consultants and Heb Bailey of Robert Luff & Co. Char of Charbox Designs enlightens me on 'working hard, being patient ... and thriving to be different'.  Starting in business in lockdown demands courage and conviction.  Char's tips for becoming a creative designer are clear and concise - and possibly not what you would expect! Gill Johnson of GKJ Consultants a proponent of 'Learning never exhausts the mind...' spells out her top 3 recommendations for anyone in the Lettings Industry.  With experience since the late 1970s in lettings and industry training, Gill knows exactly what it takes to become proficient in the industry. My lively debate of 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it...' with Heb Bailey, Director at Robert Luff & Co brought practical recommendations as to how to fix our broken property sales process.  Each year 300,000+ transactions fail, costing thousands of pounds in lost revenue, wasted time, effort and stress. Heather Hilder-Darling August 2022

On today's show  'Tiny Batteries, Huge Risks' ... How many children are treated as an emergency for swallowing batteries each year in our homes?   2,800 - that's 2,800 too many. And according to GOSH, 2 children die per year across the the country.  This is avoidable.  Today I find out from Emma Hammett (registered nurse, campaigner and Founder of 'First Aid for Life') how Duracell has found a replacement to make children spit them out. Are you a parent, care-giver, grand-parent in Brighton & Hove?  Then you'll want to know that 60% of Brighton & Hove parents say their child has been able to open devices exposing the coin batteries 11% of Brighton & Hove parents have no idea if these dangerous types of battery are lying in devices at home (you'll find them in remote controls, watches, calculators, electronic toys, key fobs, LED lights, monitoring devices and digital thermometers Would you know what to do if your child ingested one of these batteries?  Sadly, the danger is not limited to small children, but affects teenagers too.  Check out Emma's website 'First Aid for Life' to gain the skills and confidence to help in a medical emergency - before it's too late. 'Expose those hidden moving costs'... Phil Spencer, presenter, author, businessman and property investor, as well as co-presenter of the long-running Channel 4 series Location Location Location offers his tips on how to avoid unexpected or “hidden” moving costs as well as what it is that is still giving so many of us that drive to move, regardless of the current cost of living crisis.   'Where to start when it comes to Wills & Probate?'... Whether you're buying or selling, getting your paperwork in order is a great way to reduce the time it generally takes for the conveyancing process.  Selling a property due to the loss of a loved one is made more difficult without a will.  Will Mumford of Healys Solicitors in Brighton explains the complexities in the absence of a will in this scenario. 

Let's Talk Property - Conveyancing - with Jonathan Howgill.   Jonathan is Director of X-Press Legal Services Sussex.  His business, located in Hove, East Sussex,  provides conveyancers and Solicitors with 56 products, including Property Search Packs.  In turn, the conveyancing process is delivered quicker. He is well aware of the pressures of working in conveyancing, due to managing paperwork and multiple files. Jonathan took me on an interesting journey from his paper round at the age of 10, where he learnt the importance of cashflow, to his school days  through to Portsmouth University, where he obtained his Degree in Property Surveying. Find out Jonathan's goals for the growth of his business, partnership with the National Land Information Service (NLIS) and how conveyancing can only get better with full integration of Anti Money Laundering (AML) and additional compliance systems. 10 May 2022

Why is ‘Planning’ so contentious when it comes to housing policy?   If you've been searching for the answer, Damian Sullivan, Senior Planning Manager at Sigma Homes Group in Horsham, has practical experience and ideas as to how the Planning System could be improved.   Explaining some of the major changes in Planning that have been introduced in the last 2-5 years, plus the Levelling Up Bill, and policy changes we should expect this Spring/Summer of 2022, Damian gives us an insight into the workings of an industry which is at the heart of brand new homes and strategic land acquisition.   We also take a detour around Local Council Planning Department resources, Environmental Impact Studies, and Appeals. Damian is in agreement with me that the property and construction industries make fascinating career choices due to the variety of disciplines within.  We should encourage more graduates and apprentices to explore the opportunities offered in both these industries.   April 2022

Is a NET ZERO carbon industry possible - ever? In this episode I chat with Nick Roberts of RMR Group about what the construction industry can do, and has at its disposal, to try and meet the 17 Goals of Sustainable Development.   Focussing on the three main pillars of sustainability - People, Planet and Profits - how worried should we be about our children’s and grandchildren’s futures? As part of a listening company, Nick explains how it can be difficult to balance design with energy efficiency and eco-friendly products to meet clients' expectations for their extensions and renovations.   April 2022