Our Green and Pleasant Land
After lockdown anticipation and trepidation, that unforgettable holiday could be anywhere in the UK. As Boris Johnson announces that the lifting of all restrictions will now be moved to the 19th July 2021 pending a further review, has meant that the has continued to be UK a sought after holiday destination. But It is strange that because of a pandemic, the UK is fully booked where it was once the preferred destination for tourists rather than the British.
Yet, our country is undeniably beautiful with so much to offer that so many are only now discovering. Steeped in history, our cities have exceptional stories that unfold before us; the scenery to be seen across green and undulating hills or on the coast, is quite breathtaking, and now is the time to look inward to the UK. Our MD has been travelling across the UK and has provided us with a Top Ten List of super destinations.
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Newcastle - Historically, the city dates back at least 2,000 years but the city itself has now been bought up to date with exceptional restaurants, a super nightlife and with great access to breath-taking North Tyneside and Northumberland coastlines.
How does Your Garden Grow?
After a year of being in Lockdown, outside space of kind became extremely important and very much sought after. A report by the Office of National Statistics showed that "the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its behavioural impacts (including many people working from home and spending more time at home in general) may have had some effect on people's preferences for properties, increasing the focus on space - including outdoor space - and reducing the focus on proximity to offices." But it is the fact that outside space regardless of whether it is a balcony, court yard or garden was clearly at the top of the wish list for many tenants.
Research by Rightmove found that the priorities for both buyers and renters had similar skews towards properties with bigger gardens or access to one, and properties that were generally bigger by measure of square footage.
May 17th - Excitement and Trepidation all in One
The roadmap towards a full easing of Lockdown is underpinned by four key tests that are linked to data, which act like a checklist that must be met before moving on to the next step of reopening.
The tests determine whether the vaccine rollout is going as planned; vaccines are effective in bringing down deaths and hospitalisations; case numbers are not rising so fast that the NHS risks being overwhelmed; and new variants do not create unforeseen risks.
The Prime Minister confirmed on Friday that clusters of the Indian variant were evident in Bolton, Blackburn and Darwen, regions which have invited all adults aged 18 and over to receive the vaccine from May 17 in a bid to curb the spread. And although Covid cases and hospitalisations have continued to fall across the UK, the Indian variant poses a concern as it has spread three times faster than other imported strains. Public Health England figures show that the strain is now dominant in several Covid-19 hotspots in the North West of England.
Landmark Domestic Abuse Bill receives Royal Assent
Domestic Violence has always been a serious and emotive topic, yet since March 2020 and the first Lockdown in the UK, reports of violence in the home increased by 1000%. Victims were literally locked in with their abusers with no where to go, no possible escape. Our Advice Line deals with many different issues which relate predominantly to Landlord, Tenant lettings related matters, yet there have been “topics” which have become more and more prevalent - death of a landlord or tenant, mental health issues and of course, domestic violence within rented properties. It is the letting agent and / or property manager that is often faced with dealing with such matters - none of which are very straightforward or easy to navigate.
However, it is Domestic Violence that has come to the fore over the last 13 months, therefore the fact that The Domestic Abuse Act will provide further protections to the millions of people who experience domestic abuse and strengthen measures to tackle perpetrators, is a milestone.