Local housebuilder awarded 5 stars for customer satisfaction for a record 12 years in a row
Local housebuilder Barratt Homes East Scotland has received the maximum 5-star rating in the new Home Builders Federation (HBF) annual New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey.
The number of stars awarded is based on customer responses to the question “would you recommend your builder to a friend”? For Barratt to have been awarded 5 stars means that over 90% of its customers would recommend their homes to a friend.
This is the 12th year in a row that Barratt has achieved the 5-star rating – a record unmatched by any other major national housebuilder.
It comes on top of the recent Supreme Win at the NHBC Pride in the Job Awards, where Barratt site manager Kirk Raine scooped the top award out of a possible 11,000 site managers across the country – marking the fifth Supreme win for Barratt site managers in six years.
The HBF New Homes Survey is one of the largest surveys of its type in the country and is completed by nearly 50,000 people who have recently bought a new build home. The simple 1-5 star rating system was developed to give customers an easy to view ranking system of which housebuilders have the most satisfied customers.
The high satisfaction rates are a testament to Barratt’s commitment to building high quality homes and great places that its customers are proud to call home. The customer is at the heart of everything Barratt does, and it is this focus on making customers happy which results in such high recommendation scores.
Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation, said: “The survey demonstrates that the industry is delivering an excellent level of service in the opinion of over 90% of its customers.
“The fact that we have seen four successive years of improved satisfaction levels shows the clear focus builders have been putting on the customer. That this level of satisfaction has been delivered during a pandemic that saw sites closed and builders unable to access homes for a period makes it even more of an achievement.
“To achieve a 5-star rating, meaning that at least 90% of your customers would recommend you, is a fantastic achievement that requires commitment from everyone within the organisation.”
Alison Condie, managing director at Barratt Homes East Scotland, said:“We’re incredibly proud to have been announced a 5-star housebuilder for a record 12 years in a row.
“We work hard to look after our customers, both before and after they buy their new homes, so it’s great to know that our customers rate us so highly, and that so many of them would recommend us to a friend. We will continue to give all of our customers a 5-star service.”
Barratt is currently building a range of quality new homes across the east of Scotland.
With the pandemic driving interest rates into the ground, it’s only natural that people are searching for a more lucrative return on their investments.
Research by insurance and personal finance comparison experts Quotezone.co.uk reveals that 85% of those looking for landlord insurance own just one property – suggesting this is a buy-to-let investment rather than their full-time job.
The data, which covers a sample of landlord insurance quotes from 2019 to 2020, suggests redundancies and furlough has perhaps created an emerging trend of small and first-time landlords.
Although the majority of the 19,000 landlords Quotezone.co.uk sampled have owned their property for five years or more, there is a recent spike emerging, with properties owned for ‘less than 1 year’ in Scotland seeing a 14% year-on-year increase during the pandemic.
The data also showed that the average age of a landlord in the UK is 51 – these people are likely at least a decade from retirement and looking to invest their skills and savings in a more long-term asset that may offer higher returns than other investment options out there.
And with only 52% of landlords using cash to purchase during 2020, the lowest figure on record* – buy-to-let is an increasingly viable option for many UK buyers, even those with a relatively modest amount of capital to invest.
The average rent landlords can expect from their investments differs dramatically across the UK, with data from Statista revealing that Greater London has the highest average at £1,556, while the cheapest region is the North East where the average rent is just £539. The UK average is currently £832.
The best interest rate available from savings accounts currently stands at just 3%. By contrast, the average rental yield in the UK is currently 5.2%***, and buy-to-let property in some parts of the country even offers rental yields in excess of 7%.
However, there are overheads a landlord needs to consider such as a managing agent, utilities inspection reports and certificates, landlord licence (£500 every 5 years), safety equipment such as fire alarms and extinguishers and routine maintenance to the property. Landlord insurance is another vital element but by comparing policies on comparison platforms, there are competitively priced policies available.
The research also showed that the majority of tenants were employed professionals followed neck-and-neck by short-term Airbnb lets and DSS / unemployed occupants.
Founder of Quotezone.co.uk, Greg Wilson, comments: “It is interesting to see that 85% of people in our data, who class themselves as landlords, own just one property – suggesting that actually first-time landlords with other occupations could be adding this asset to their portfolio as an additional revenue stream or an alternative to pension investments.
“Covid has created a temporary shopping spree within the housing market with the government’s stamp duty holiday, however I fear this temporary boost in sales may be short-lived as the economic aftermath of the pandemic is yet to be revealed and the stamp duty holiday is due to expire at the end of next month.
“However rental properties haven’t gone untouched by the crisis with many tenants on furlough or facing redundancies and social distancing creating physical barriers to the properties making routine maintenance and repairs difficult.
“It is perhaps more important than ever to ensure landlord insurance policies are thorough, accurate and up to date so that landlords are fully protected should a claim be needed.”
Policies vary from one landlord insurer to another, but in general can cover any damage to the building caused by insurable events like fire, flood, storms, subsidence, theft and vandalism.
Landlord contents insurance, landlord liability and unoccupied property insurance can also be added as well as extra tailored features such as rent guarantee insurance, landlord home emergency cover and legal expenses.
Recommended by 97% of reviewers, Quotezone.co.uk helps around 3 million users every year, with over 400 insurance brands across 60 different products
Plans for a new legal requirement for all homes to meet the same standards will be included in a major national housing strategy published today.
The new Housing Standard, applying to all tenures, is an important element of Housing to 2040, which will set the path for how Scotland’s homes and communities should look and feel in 2040
The new standard will create a single set of quality and accessibility standards, no matter whether a home is owned or rented.
Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “Everyone living in Scotland is entitled to a warm, comfortable and safe place to live.
“That’s why we will develop a new Housing Standard which will be aligned to standards for energy efficiency and heating, meeting expectations for housing as a human right and delivering homes that underpin health and wellbeing.
“This will cover all homes, new and existing, with no margins of tolerance for sub-standard accommodation. Importantly we will also enshrine the Standard in law.
“The Scottish Government will work with local authorities, registered social landlords, private landlords and communities to drive improvements to the quality of all homes so that everyone is living in good quality accommodation, regardless of whether they own it or rent it from a private or social landlord.
“Our existing homes need to keep pace with new homes to ensure no one is left behind.”
Following consultation, and subject to the outcome of the election, the Scottish Government will publish a draft Standard in 2023 and introduce legislation in 2024-25, for phased introduction between 2025 and 2030, recognising that different types of homes in different places may need more or less time to achieve compliance.
Housing to 2040 was published by the Scottish Government this morning.
The Scottish Government’s plans to deliver 100,000 affordable homes over the next decade are set out today in a 20-year housing strategy.
Recognising the importance of everyone having a safe and affordable home that meets their needs, Housing to 2040 – Scotland’s first long-term housing strategy – outlines what the Scottish Government wants housing and communities to look and feel like for the people of Scotland, with actions on how to get there.
Key priorities in the strategy, which will be taken forward subject to the outcome of the election, include:
delivering 100,000 more affordable homes by 2032, with at least 70% of these being for social rent. This target would support about £16 billion in total investment and up to 14,000 jobs a year
setting a single set of standards for housing quality and accessibility, no matter whether a home is owned or rented
tackling high rents in the private sector and supporting fair, accessible private and social rental sectors through a Rented Sector Strategy and Housing Bill
decarbonising heating in all homes in line with Scotland’s climate ambitions, ensuring this is done in a fair and just way, including by adapting and retrofitting existing homes
aiming for all new homes delivered by Registered Social Landlords and local authorities to be zero emissions by 2026
establishing a new fund to help local authorities bring empty homes back into residential use
supporting housing development in rural and island areas, helping to prevent depopulation and enabling communities to thrive
continuing with our updated plan to end homelessness and rough sleeping once and for all
undertaking a comprehensive audit of our current housing and homelessness legislation to understand how best to realise the right to adequate housing.
Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “Homes are not simply bricks and mortar. They support people’s health, wellbeing and life chances, can help to tackle poverty and climate change, and are a major investment in the economy. Housing policy is essential in helping us achieve our ambitions for a fairer, more equal Scotland.
“Housing to 2040 sets out a vision for what we want homes and communities to look and feel like for people regardless of their stage in life or where they live. It is a vision where homes are affordable for everyone, where standards are the same across all tenures, where homes have easy access to green space and essential services, and where homelessness, child poverty and fuel poverty have all been eradicated.
“We have already delivered almost 100,000 affordable homes since 2007, and before the pandemic we were on track to meet our target of 50,000 during this parliament. The pandemic interrupted the housing sector’s ability to hit this target, but we are committed to meeting it as soon as it is safe to do so. From there, we will start our new ambition to deliver a further 100,000 affordable homes by 2032.
“Our strategy shows how we will take this forward while tackling empty homes and poor housing, increasing energy efficiency and working to eradicate fuel poverty.
“In developing Housing to 2040 we have engaged with more than 2,000 people, including at 22 events across Scotland and through nationwide consultation. They told us what a good home and a vibrant community looks and feels like, and I’d like to thank them for their input.
“After a year when we have all seen the value of having a warm, safe place to live, this new long-term strategy will ensure every person in Scotland has a home that meets their needs.”
Sally Thomas, Chief Executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), said: “This is an ambitious 20-year housing strategy, and there is much to commend. It is SFHA’s ambition that everyone in Scotland has a safe, warm, energy efficient, affordable home, now and in the future, and the Scottish Government’s strategy could help to realise this.
“SFHA has long campaigned for an Affordable Housing Supply Programme commitment beyond one parliamentary term in order to tackle housing need and to maintain progress, so we really welcome the priority to deliver 100,000 more affordable homes by 2032.
“It is vital that our members can also invest in their existing stock, and we are pleased to see the commitment to supporting social landlords to do so, particularly important if all homes are to meet the same quality standards in the future. We welcome the proposal to mainstream standards of accessibility in order to deliver homes that are future proof and adapt to people’s changing needs.
“We look forward to seeing further detail of the strategy’s proposals and to working with the next government to support our members to deliver great quality homes that meets people’s needs and aspirations in the decades ahead.”
A new strategy for Scotland’s rented sector will improve accessibility, affordability and standards, as part of a new 20 year route map for housing to be published next week.
The Rented Sector strategy will be a key element of Housing to 2040 – Scotland’s first long-term housing plan which will set the path for how homes and communities should look and feel in 2040. It will specifically address private and social rent and agricultural tenancies, to ensure an affordable, quality sector offering choice to meet people’s needs.
Tenants will be closely involved in the development of the strategy with a national network of social rented tenants developed alongside a Tenant Participation Panel.
Housing to 2040 will also include a proposal for a new Housing Bill, to be introduced early in the next parliament, in order to take forward further reforms in the rented sector and increase the rights of tenants.
Speaking at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s virtual Scotland’s Housing Festival 2021, Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “Housing to 2040 sets out Scotland’s approach to improving the nation’s housing over the next two decades, and making improvements in the rented sector is a vital part of that.
“It will set out our plans to develop a new Rented Sector strategy that will improve accessibility, affordability and standards across the whole rented sector, so we can increase affordability and quality of choice when finding a home.
“In the private rented sector, we need to address the economic impacts of the pandemic and ensure homes are affordable now and in the long term. Local authorities need to be able to tackle unreasonably high rents, so we will also reshape the existing Rent Pressure Zone legislation to make it an effective tool for them to use.
“Subject to the outcome of the election, we will make sure this is in law by bringing forward a new Housing Bill early in the next parliament, which will also strengthen the rights of tenants with greater protections from unreasonable rent increases and unfair evictions.”
Tenants and private sector landlords facing financial difficulties caused by the pandemic have more time to access support after two loan schemes were extended.
The Tenant Hardship Loan Fund and the Private Rent Sector Landlord (non-business) COVID-19 Loan Scheme, both of which offer interest-free loans, will continue to receive applications beyond the original deadline of 31 March 2021.
It comes after Housing Minister Kevin Stewart extended temporary regulations banning the enforcement of eviction orders in the private and social rented sectors, giving further safeguards to tenants during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
Mr Stewart said: “Throughout this pandemic our focus has been on enabling people to stay safe in their homes while the lockdown restrictions needed to suppress the virus are in place.
“These loan schemes have provided vital support as part of our broader effort to help those facing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19. For the majority of tenants facing financial difficulties and arrears the best means of support continues to be regular non-repayable support, for example through Universal Credit and Discretionary Housing Payments.
“However, for those who may fall through the gap and are unable to claim such support, these funds offer a helping hand to manage any rent issues that have arisen in the last few months as a result of COVID-19.
“We have been clear that no landlord should evict a tenant because they have suffered financial hardship due to the pandemic and that tenants in difficulty should engage with their landlord and seek advice on the options open to them.”
PLATFORM_’s planning application for a Build-to-Rent (BTR) scheme at Bonnington Road Lane was ‘minded to grant with conditions’ by the City of Edinburgh Council Development Management Sub-Committee yesterday.
PLATFORM_ intends to build 453 BTR units, including 25% affordable housing. BTR is an innovative housing solution where homes are built, rented, and managed over the longer term. They are not for sale.
The site extends from the former Bonnington Resource Centre at the southern edge and over the recently demolished John Lewis depot to the north.
The development is a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, duplexes, and studios, and will benefit from on-site concierge and maintenance staff. The proposals also include communal amenity spaces such as a residents’ lounge, roof terraces, a Bike Café and Workshop and gym.
To help create a vibrant atmosphere, the proposals also include retail and employment space at ground level which will be available to residents, start-up companies, and other workers.
Additionally, the development will create a public pocket park, a new pedestrian priority public street connecting Bonnington Road Lane and Anderson Place, and will replant 80 additional trees across the site.
PLATFORM_ has undertaken an extensive community and stakeholder engagement programme.
A community consultation was held in December 2019 and readvertised again in December 2020 to demonstrate improvements made since the original May 2020 submission.
Proposals were recommended for approval ahead of yesterday’s meeting after thorough discussions and collaboration with city planners.
Turley provided planning support and architectural design was produced by jmarchitects. Hirst were the landscape architects and Harley Haddow the project engineers.
A spokesperson for PLATFORM_ said: “We are very pleased to have received approval for our high-quality Build-to-Rent scheme at Bonnington Road Lane.
“The development will offer residents flexibility on a wide range of housing needs. The project will support the delivery of regeneration within the local area.
“Our key aim is to create quality, sustainable, and responsibly managed properties and we are looking forward to delivering this for Edinburgh.
“We will continue to update the community as the project develops and look forward to working with our partners across Edinburgh to deliver this exciting development.”
Ambitious new measures aimed at widening responsibility for homelessness prevention could stop people from losing their homes and make Scotland a world leader in ending homelessness, according to a new report from an independent group of experts.
With at least 8% of the Scottish population (1 in 12 people) having experienced homelessness there is clear need to change the system to stop people from losing their homes in the first place.
The Homelessness Prevention Review Group was set up at the request of Scottish Government and convened by the charity Crisis to take forward the work of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group on preventing homelessness.
In its new report, the Group recommends that action to prevent homelessness would start up to six months before someone faces losing their home.
This would mean that public bodies, such as health services, should ask about people’s housing situation to identify any issues at an early stage and act where a problem exists.
They would then work together with housing professionals to ensure that people get help early and do not lose their home unnecessarily. The proposals, if implemented, would ensure that no one leaves an institution, such as prison or hospital, without somewhere to sleep that night.
The Group proposes clarifying the current law and requiring local authorities to take specific steps to prevent homelessness, building on recent developments in Wales and England. This would mean that once again Scotland has the strongest protections in Great Britain for people facing the prospect of homelessness.
The recommendations would mean that people facing homelessness should have greater choice and control in where they live and have access to the same options as other members of the public. They set out protections which must be in place to ensure that an individual’s housing is stable and meets their needs, minimising their future risk of homelessness.
The Group was chaired by Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick of Heriot-Watt University and was made up of local authority bodies, representatives from the housing and homelessness sectors and health and social care.
It was supported by the Prevention Commission, a group of people with lived and frontline experience of homelessness, whose views shaped the proposals.
Commenting on the report, Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “Ending homelessness is a priority for the Scottish Government so I welcome the recommendations in this report, which focuses on the importance of preventing homelessness from happening in the first place.
“The report also highlights the importance of a whole-system, person-centred approach to our goal of preventing homelessness, for example through the work of health, education and justice services.
“This report was developed in consultation with frontline workers and people with lived experience of homelessness as well as so many organisations from across the public and third sector, and I want to thank everyone involved.
“Crisis in particular has provided significant resources to this work and I am grateful for the commitment they have shown. I now look forward to working with COSLA and all our other partners to discuss how we can put these proposals into action.”
Prevention Review Group chair Professor Fitzpatrick said:“While we have strong protections in place to help individuals and families when they are at imminent risk of losing their home, we have laid far less emphasis to date on effective work to prevent homelessness happening in the first place.
“This means it is all too common for someone to reach crisis point before they get the help they need.
“It was this need to act earlier and prevent people from ever having to experience the trauma of homelessness, which drove the work of the Prevention Review Group.
“Our work was guided by three principles: that there should be a collective responsibility across public services to prevent homelessness; that intervention to prevent homelessness should start as soon as possible; and that those at risk of homelessness should have greater choice in where they live and access to the same options as other members of the public.
“The homelessness system should become the safety net it was intended to be rather than a default response to housing problems. The recommendations in this report hold the potential to radically change the face of the homelessness system in Scotland.”
Lisa Punton, Prevention Commission Member, said:“Having worked in the sector for more than 10 years I have become increasingly frustrated with the existing legislative framework. In providing such a strong safety net for people experiencing homelessness something of what we were trying to achieve, which is to prevent it, was lost.
“If we really want to end homelessness those with lived experience must always have a seat at the table. People who have experienced services can tell us how these impact on their lives amid crisis and trauma.”
Cllr Kelly Parry, COSLA Community Wellbeing Spokesperson, said:“The publication of the report from the Prevention Review Group is welcomed, and I am grateful to members of the group and those who have supported its work for their efforts.
“I am particularly grateful to those who contributed their own lived experience of homelessness to inform the work of the group – it is important we keep their voices at the centre of our considerations.
“Local Government is committed to ending homelessness, and fundamental to that is preventing it happening in the first place. We know that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have not been felt equally across society – with those who are facing poverty and social inequality most affected.
“The importance of sectors, organisations, and individuals working together is clear, and as we work with our communities to rebuild and recover, we have the opportunity to put the needs of those most at risk at the centre. The recommendations within the report offer insight on how we do this together.
“Local Government will work with Scottish Government over the coming months, to consider the proposals within the report seeking further input and consultation with partners.”
As well as new shared public responsibilities to prevent homelessness, the Group made recommendations in some specific areas:
Where people needing homelessness assistance have complex needs requiring input from multiple services, a case co-ordination approach should be put into place
Health and social care partnerships should co-operate with the local authority to plan for the needs of applicants for homelessness assistance who may have health and social care needs
16 and 17 year olds who are at risk of homelessness should be assisted by children’s services rather than adult services
Recommendations in relation to support for victims of domestic abuse include:
Support and security measures to remain safely in their own home where this is their preference, including access to free legal aid to get an exclusion order
Social landlords should put in place protocols to address housing issues relating to domestic abuse
Edinburgh’s council tenants will be spared a rent rise following a vote at today’s Budget meeting.
Conservative, Green and Lib Dem opposition councillors submitted an emergency motion this morning and have comfortably defeated the city’s Capital Coalition SNP – Labour administration in a key vote on the council’s Housing Revenue Account Budget Strategy.
Hailing the vote as a victory for Edinburgh’s poorest citizens during the pandemic, the Greens said the decision was ‘environmental justice’.
Housing Convener Cllr Kate Campbell responded: “Edinburgh faces huge housing challenges and this £2 million is money we can ill-afford to lose. This decision will have a detrimental impact on low-income familes.
“We are listening to our tenants and that is why we put forward this HRA report. We are doing what they asked us to do.”
The Help to Buy Scotland scheme may be discontinued, but this doesn’t mean first-time buyers are being left out in the cold. Barratt Homes is reassuring prospective homeowners that there is other help available for getting on the property ladder.
The First Home Fund is an alternative shared equity scheme offered by the Scottish Government that provides up to £25,000 to all first-time buyers towards the purchase of a home – great news for anyone hoping to make the move this year.
The property market can be challenging to navigate, particularly for those doing so for the first time, so Barratt Homes is reducing this stress by addressing some commonly asked questions and reassuring that the door to owning a property is still very much open.
Anne Ross, sales director for Barratt Homes East Scotland said: “We’re here to make the process of buying a dream home as easy as possible, and this includes sharing useful information about the funding options available.
“While the Help to Buy Scheme is discontinued, we’re here to remind people that the First Home Fund is available and that the journey to owning a home doesn’t have to stall.”
If the virus has shown us anything it’s that a comfortable home plays a big role in wellbeing. A new home is a decision not to be taken lightly – and considerations like flexible living spaces, travel connections and the surrounding area have taken on new meaning during the pandemic.
If you’re looking to buy in Edinburgh using the First Home Fund, Barratt Homes’ Mayburn Walk(below) offers a variety of three and four-bedroom homes in Loanhead, to the south of Edinburgh.
With quick access to the Edinburgh bypass, park and ride options and regular bus services, Mayburn Walk offers the chance to own a house and private garden without having to compromise on location.
A stone’s throw from the Pentland Hills, downtime can be spent exploring some of Scotland’s finest hillwalking trails, all within the local area.
Flexible living
We’re spending more time in our homes, and they really have become our sanctuaries. Every design decision made by Barratt has been carefully considered to get the most out of the space. Homes such as the three-bedroom Coull include open plan kitchen/dining spaces with direct garden access, separate lounge space and bright and open rooms that flood with natural light. Ideal for first time buyers, the third single bedroom can be transformed into a private work space, fitness area or hobby room.
Also available are homes in the stylish Bonnyton and Wemyss styles, which include ample storage and utility cupboards, two double bedrooms, a family bathroom and private gardens.
The numbers
Homes at Mayburn Walk are available through the First Home Fund – perfect for a professional couple looking to make their first move together in a house that will grow with them. You can buy with a 5% deposit, 75% mortgage and 20% interest-free equity government loan.
Prices start at £235,995, so your costs could look a bit like this:
Property price:
£235,995
Buyer depositMortgage
£11,800£199,195
Scottish Government loan:
£25,000
Barratt Homes’ First Home Fund Facts
When can I apply?
The First Home Fund shared equity scheme will re-open for applications on 1 April 2021 and run until 31 March 2022. The most awarded under the scheme to purchase a property is £25,000 but the Government will not charge any interest. Barratt Homes is currently taking reservations for homes under the First Home Fund scheme at Mayburn Walk.
I want to apply but where can I get professional advice?
We always recommend speaking to an independent financial advisor to help you navigate the market and ensure you’re getting the best mortgage deal for you. They’ll help you with your First Home Fund application.
Barratt’s expert sales advisors are on hand to help you choose a property that’s perfect for you, and can direct you to financial advisors in your community to guide you through the purchase.
How much of a deposit do I need?
You’ll typically need just 5% of the value of the property as a minimum, subject to lender requirements.
What other terms to I need to consider?
You’ll need to have secured a minimum mortgage of 25% of the property purchase price. In addition to this, the equity stake from the Scottish Government must not be more than 49% of the property value.
Is there a property price cap?
Unlike the Help to Buy Scheme, there is no cap on the property price, but of course buyers must ensure their ownership is sustainable and affordable for the long term.
For more information on Barratt Homes at Mayburn Walk, or for more advice on the First Home Fund, please visit the website.
