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Aberdeen and Edinburgh have been ranked in third and fifth place in an evaluation that rates cities in terms of jobs, health, income and skills, work-life balance, house affordability, travel-to-work times, income equality and pollution.

Meanwhile, Glasgow continues to creep up the rankings, from 26th place in 2012 to 24th now. When compared to the 10 largest cities outside of London, Glasgow is also outperforming major English hubs including Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle, Birmingham and Liverpool.

The report, by PwC and think-tank Demos, found that the majority of cities have improved their score as the effects of economic recovery, in particular rising employment and a return to growth in real earnings, are felt across the UK.

However, the impact of lower oil prices has seen Aberdeen fall from a high of 2nd place in 2013 and 2014 to 5th place.

Paul Brewer, PwC’s government and public sector lead in Scotland said: “While Aberdeen’s oil wealth has consistently influenced high scores in areas such as jobs, income and skills, the lower for longer oil price backdrop is beginning to chip away at that. It’s vital that Aberdeen future-proofs itself, extending its success beyond the life of North Sea oil exploration.”

Dundee, Inverness, Perth and Stirling performed above average for transport infrastructure and provision, not only in comparison to other devolved cities but the wider UK list.

Skills scored highly in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness while the two major central belt cities also ranked above average for work life balance. Inverness and Perth also scored highly alongside Aberdeen and Edinburgh for jobs.

Mr Brewer added: “Overall, Scottish cities have successfully delivered skills, communications, and employment opportunities with work/life balance. Investors want high-level skills readily accessible, competitive operating costs and strong infrastructure. These are key drivers of investment that can in turn drive up sustainable employment.”

Source: heraldscotland

Image: www.flickr.com/alanjamieson

Why choose a new build home?

There are many advantages to choosing a new build home over an older property.

• Everything in the property is brand new. It should be in move in condition with no decorating and minimal DIY required
• You’re unlikely to need to make any repairs within the first few years
• Energy efficiency and fire safety standards will be high
• You may be able to choose fixtures and fittings while the property is being built, or negotiate with the seller on some items
• New build homes come with a 10 year warranty (guarantee)

Where do I find new build homes?

New build property developers advertise on s1homes.com. There are over 1200 new homes all over Scotland from developers such as Ogilvie Homes, County Estates, Barratt Homes, Stuart Milne and many more.

Viewing new build homes

For developments that are already built, the process is similar to any other type of property. You will contact the seller and arrange a time to visit and be shown round. However, if the development is in progress, or still in the planning stages, you may visit a show home – a property already completed that is similar to the one you’re interested in. There may be other people visiting at the same time and an appointment is not always necessary. You might also be able to see an artist’s impression of how the property is expected to look. It’s important to consider if building works will be continuing around you if you were to move in, or if there are further plans for the area surrounding the development you are interested in.

Buying a new build property

Some of the buying process is the same – you will need to work out what you can afford, arrange a mortgage and appoint a solicitor to make an offer. New builds are usually sold at fixed price, however, some new home developers offer incentives such as part exchange or a contribution towards your deposit. They may also participate in the Scottish Government’s Help-to-Buy Scheme. Each developer has different offers so it’s best to check what applies to the area or development that you’re interested in.

New homes are often advertised during the planning and building phases so there are different options:

• Buy a completed new home
• Buy a home that is in the process of being built
• Buy a home that has been planned but has not yet been started. This is known as buying ‘off plan’

Buying ‘off plan’ is where this purchase of a new build is particularly different from an older property. Because your property is not yet built you will need to get a completion date from the developer. If this is not written into your contract as a condition of the sale, there is the possibility that this may be delayed. Once contracts are agreed, a deposit will be paid and the agreement with the builder becomes legally binding. Your property will be inspected before completion to check that it meets the required standards and issue a note to your solicitor on satisfactory completion to allow mortgage funds to be released.

Inspections and snagging

It is a good idea to do a snagging inspection, or pay a professional company to carry this out for you. This is an inspection of the home and reports any flaws that the developer should fix. If you are doing this yourself make sure you have a checklist so you know what to look for and ideally carry it out before completion to allow time for repairs. It can still be done within the first two years of the warranty. There is more information at the NHBC website.

To search new build homes in Scotland, search s1homes.com

1. Mount Stuart Drive, Wemyss Bay

The kitchen in this 4 bedroom detached house has been beautifully refitted. Features that make it one of our favourites include a walk-in pantry, freestanding five ring range cooker, a Belfast sink and quartz work surfaces.

2. Lasswade Road, Liberton, Edinburgh

One of the best things about this 5 bedroom bungalow is undoubtedly the open plan kitchen / diner. There is also space for a large dining table and lots of surfaces for cooking family meals, perfect for the festive season.

3. Napier Road, Merchiston, Edinburgh

This traditional kitchen is spacious and welcoming. As well as plenty of storage space, there is a utility room just off it. This house would be perfect for a family Christmas – as well as the lovely kitchen, it has a cinema room for relaxing after your meals.

4. Bowden, Melrose

This property in the Borders has a gorgeous breakfasting kitchen with Aga cooker and a utility room. There is space for a long dining table and it’s cosy and welcoming for the colder winter days.

5. The Stables, Knockbuckle Lane, Kilmacolm

This kitchen and breakfast area is exceptionally spacious and benefits from a 4 oven Aga, a breakfast bar and a centre island. Off the kitchen there is a walk-in larder, perfect for storing all the supplies for family gatherings.

6. The Burns, St Andrews Brae, Bearsden

This home is suited to entertaining with its superb breakfasting kitchen and family area leading out to the garden. It’s sleek and modern and definitely offers inspiration to those who prefer a more contemporary style.

7. Ettrick, Eskbank Grange, Dalkeith

The kitchen in this family home is large and bright. The floor is beautiful, the layout is convenient and sociable, and the units and surfaces are inspiration to anyone looking to restyle their kitchen.

8. Southbrae Gardens, Jordanhill

This living / dining kitchen has feature patio doors, a Parisian balcony and double doors to the lounge. The layout is modern and smart and makes great use of the space.

9. Belhaven Terrace West, Dowanhill

This home has a large contemporary kitchen. It’s super stylish, has an overhead gallery and direct access to the courtyard via patio doors – ideal for dinner parties. This house also has a pool entertainment room to keep everyone happy.

10. Parkhouse Close, Aboyne

Double Georgian doors welcome you to this kitchen which offers quality from the first look. The units are hand built French oak and the lighting is stylish and attractive. Perfect for shaking up a cocktail or two this Christmas.

For these and thousands more homes to browse, search s1homes.com

It may sound like a Halloween tale but this could become a reality after buyers swooped on a derelict cemetery gatehouse.

Now the building, at the entrance to Cardonald Cemetery and just yards from the plots, could be transformed in to flats.

The gatehouse – on Mosspark Boulevard – is being sold by City Property.

An offer of £98,000 has been received for the disused three-bedroom villa and today Glasgow City Council’s Executive Committee is being asked to rubber stamp the sale.

A report by City Property – the council’s arms-length buildings organisation – states that the buyers have “various options” for the 0.32 acre site from building six flats to two or creating an office and home.

They could also decide to demolish or refurbish the derelict building.

There would be no objection to either of these options from planning officials, the report states.

It adds: “The proposals range from demolishing and the development of six flats, retaining the existing building and conversion to two apartments or to a mixed use development of part residential and part office use.

“Initial discussions with Development and Regeneration Services Planning indicate that there would be no objection in principle.”

The buyers, who have been named in the report as Hugh and Mairi Kinnaird, were one of nine people who put in an offer for the gatehouse.

Their bid of £98,000 was the second highest but was chosen because it would “not be subject to planning conditions and does not require bank borrowing”, the report states.

It adds that extra discussions were held with council officials over the sale of the building “due to the sensitive nature of this potential disposal forming part of an operational cemetery”.

The property was first marketed in November last year and an offer of £100,000 was received in March.

But it was later withdrawn and the property put back up for sale in August.

Planning officers will ask councillors to approve the sale, at meeting of the Glasgow City Council’s Executive Committee today.

Source: Evening Times

Official figures show that sales grew by 6 per cent between July and September, the largest amount of growth since 2008.

The total value of homes being sold also hit a seven-year high, with £4.74 billion worth of property changing hands.

However, house prices have fallen slightly by half a percent compared to last year, partly because of the greater number of homes passing through the market.

Figures released by Registers of Scotland (RoS) have revealed the hotspots where property markets have been booming during the past 12 months.

Top of the list was West Lothian, where the biggest percentage rise in volume of sales of 23.1 per cent was recorded. The town, which was ignominiously nominated for the bad architecture award The Plook on the Plinth in 2013, saw sales rise from 905 compared to 735 the previous year.

Overall, the largest property market was found in Edinburgh where there were 3,520 sales, an increase of 9.6 per cent in a year.

The capital was also the most lucrative area, with total sales earning more than £805 million between July and September, an increase of 6.2 per cent on 2014.

In Glasgow the volume of sales rose by nearly 10 per cent, while house prices grew by 1 per cent to stand at an average of £140,426.

Across Scotland, the average property price was said to be around £169,400 with the biggest rises coming among semi-detached properties.

But slight decreases were also noted among detached homes, terraces and flats, dragging down the typical house price recorded by RoS.

The troubles and job losses affecting the oil industry were reflected in a fall in house prices in Aberdeen, where the average value was said to have fallen by 2.2 per cent.

The surrounding area of Aberdeenshire showed the largest decrease in total market value, with a decrease of 16.6 per cent to just over £323 million, while the average house price dropped 3.5 per cent.

Estate agents said that the latest RoS figures showed growing confidence in the property market, with househunters now looking beyond traditional hotspots in the big cities.

Sean MacMillan, an Associate Aberdein Considine, said that the surge in interest in West Lothian was a clear example of buyers willing to go beyond the beaten track.

He said: “It’s no real surprise that West Lothian continues its steady increase in both volume of property sales and in sale prices when considered in the wider context of the central belt housing market.

“Over a quarter of workers living in West Lothian work in Edinburgh. The average price of a detached home in Edinburgh has risen to almost £400,000 and the average flat in Edinburgh now costs almost £200,000, so it is no wonder that more people in the capital are considering the benefits which come with living in West Lothian where they can get a great deal more ‘bang for their buck”.

Rettie & Co’s Director of Research, Dr. John Boyle, added: “These latest statistics show that the housing market in Scotland is turning the corner. “The sharp rise in activity is more than a blip as the fundamentals are now in place to ensure a full recovery, with improving economic activity levels, consumer sentiment, bank lending and new build activity helping to raise the market. Stable price levels are helping the market to recover.”

Source: heraldscotland

The number of homes being sold in the West Lothian towns of Bathgate, Broxburn, Livingston, Linlithgow and the surrounding areas shot up by 23.1% in the last quarter, 17% faster than the rest of Scotland.

The new figures – complied from Registers of Scotland (RoS) data – also show that the value of sales in the region rose by more than 30% to £148million over the same period.

Broxburn was nominated for the Carbuncle Award, an ironic prize recognising some of the ugliest places and architecture in Scotland, just three years ago.

Across the country, a total of 28,019 properties were submitted for registration between July and September, the highest volume of sales for any quarter since Q1 of 2008-09.

The City of Edinburgh was the largest overall market, with sales of over £805million for the quarter, an increase of 6.2% on the previous year.

West Lothian property expert Sean MacMillan, an associate at national solicitor estate agent Aberdein Considine, said the town and the region are becoming increasingly popular with househunters.

“It’s no real surprise that West Lothian continues its steady increase in both volume of property sales and in sale prices when considered in the wider context of the central belt housing market,” he said.

“Recent increases in house prices in Glasgow and more importantly Edinburgh has had a significant effect on the West Lothian market.

“Over a quarter of workers living in West Lothian work in Edinburgh.”

He added: “Transport links from West Lothian to Edinburgh and indeed to Glasgow, Stirling and further afield have been improved significantly in the past five years and according to West Lothian Council statistics West Lothian residents are now within an hour’s drive of 60% of Scotland’s population and of 54% of all Scottish businesses.

“Substantial new-build developments are underway around the county, most notably in Winchburgh, Bathgate, Whitburn and East Calder, which will serve to further fuel the volume of sales heading into 2016 and beyond.”

Find your property in West Lothian, or tell us why you think it’s the best place to live in Scotland.

Source: heraldscotland

Types of property sold at auction

Most properties can be sold at auction, but there are some types that are more likely to be put to auction, rather than through more traditional methods.

• Properties with renovation potential – Developers looking for a property to modernise or refurbish often seek out opportunities at auction
• Land for building on – Plots and land for development (often coming with some planning permission) are sought after at auction
• Property selling for less than market value – Sellers looking for a quick sale or properties that have been repossessed
• Properties that have been left empty

Buying property at auction

For those of us who have watched Homes Under the Hammer, it’s clear that there is a buzz and excitement about buying property this way and there are certainly advantages.

• Property is often cheaper and you are aware of what the other buyers are offering, so it’s more transparent
• The sale also goes through quickly
• In some cases, the auction may accept offers before the event itself takes place

However, if you’re not familiar with the auction process, it can seem daunting and it’s best to do your research beforehand.

• Due to the increased speed of the transaction, your mortgage or finance should be in place before considering a bid. You should have discussed that you are looking at auction property with your lender as it can change the terms of the loan
• Be willing to take on a project. Often, the properties sold at auction will be in need of renovation. You can arrange to view the property and review the Home Report in advance of the auction. You may also want to arrange your own survey and get some estimates for work before you decide to bid
• Properties can be highly attractive to buyers so it can be highly competitive

The auction process

Auctions take place across the country regularly but you do not always have to be physically present on the day. You can bid over the phone or pay your solicitor to bid on your behalf. In some cases you may be able to bid online. The methods available to you will vary depending on the agent handling the sales auction so it is best to contact them directly. This is a good idea anyway, especially if you have never been to auction before. The agent will be able to offer advice on the process and what you should do – and allay your fears that you might accidentally sneeze and make a purchase! It’s also a good idea to go along and just observe the first time to get a feel for how it works.

Search auction properties at s1homes.com to find your next potential property.

The city has rocketed 97 places from 2013 when the survey was last done to hit the number one spot this year.

The index from uSwitch.com assessed 138 UK cities and regions for 26 different lifestyle factors including working hours, life expectancy, hours of sunshine, food and energy bills, disposable income and more.

USwitch.com said: “Not only does Edinburgh have the lowest reported crime rate in the entire UK, it boasts cheap energy bills, an average salary of £29,558, a disposable income average of £20,083 and super-fast broadband speeds of 23Mbs.”

Solihull, which was the judged best place to live two years ago, dropped to second place.

Bradford and Hull were officially the worst places, let down, uSwitch.com said, by low disposable income, low employment, high rent and crowded schools.

The researchers said it was also a “victory for Scotland” as 13 of the 20 regions that saw the biggest gains in the Quality of Life rankings since they were last done two years ago are located north of the border. It means that more than half of Scottish regions have improved their Quality of Life ranking since 2013.

The top seven biggest climbers are all in Scotland. They include South Lanarkshire which moves up 55 places to be the fifth best place to live and North Lanarkshire which jumped 98 places to number eight. Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire enjoyed the biggest ranking gain, moving from 112th to 10th thanks in part to some of the lowest household costs in the UK.

But on the down side, the survey found Glaswegians have the shortest life expectancy while women in Buckinghamshire live the longest.

Life was less rosy south of the border with 16 out of the 20 biggest falling regions being English, with both Bradford and Hull, both in the Yorkshire and Humber region, rooted at the foot of the index.

The lowest ranking Scots region was the Western Isles which fell from 120th to 135th.

Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com, said: “Edinburgh has long been a city that’s inspired; a vibrant city with striking architecture and a world famous festival, all surrounded by stunning scenery. Now it’s official – Edinburgh is the best place to live in the UK. With low crime rates, high wages and affordable living costs, it’s not just the history and cultural attractions that are drawing people to Scotland’s capital.”

Andrew Burns, City of Edinburgh council leader, said: “This result is further great news for the city. The quality of life in Scotland’s capital is high because the city offers the best of everything.

“Edinburgh is the home of Hogmanay, spectacular architecture, great museums and the biggest arts festival in the world. We have a vibrant retail offering and thriving jobs market, award-winning green spaces and beaches and well regarded schools and universities – the list goes on. Little wonder, then, that Edinburgh tops the list of the best places to live.”

If you’re looking to move to the ‘best place to live in the UK’ search s1homes.com for your next home.

Artcle source: heraldscotland

Image source: www.flickr.com/dun_deagh

Main types of tenancy agreements

Short assured and Assured are the main types of tenancy agreements in Scotland. Landlords with these types of agreements must provide tenants with a written tenancy agreement that is fair and easy to understand. This forms the contract between the landlord and tenant and sets out the legal terms and conditions for both sides.

Short-assured

This is the most common type of tenancy in the private renting sector in Scotland and begins with a term of 6 months or longer. Once the first 6 months are up, the tenancy can be renewed for a shorter period. For a tenancy to be short-assured, a form called an AT5 notice must be given to the tenant before they sign the tenancy agreement or move in.

Assured

From the start of the agreement, this type of tenancy is classed as ‘contractual assured tenancy’ for a fixed period of time. It automatically becomes a ‘statutory assured tenancy’ if:

• The landlord issues a notice to quit because they want to change the agreement but the tenant stays in the property
• The fixed period covered by the tenancy comes to an end and the tenant stays in the property.

What is included in an agreement?

For short-assured and assured tenancies the agreement should include:

• Landlord and tenant names
• Rental property address
• Rent price and how payment is made
• Deposit and how it will be protected
• Length of lease
• Responsibilities for repairs
• Responsibilities for bills
• A statement for the tenant stating that antisocial behaviour is a breach of the agreement
• How to end the tenancy agreement (how much notice is required by the landlord and by the tenant for moving out of the property).

It may also contain information about the furniture in the property, rules around pets or smoking.

Depending on the type of tenancy, the landlord and tenant will have different rights and responsibilities so it’s important to have those clear from the beginning of the tenancy.

Other types of tenancy agreements

Common law

For cases where the tenant is living with the landlord. Although no written agreement is needed, it is recommended that there is a lodger agreement put in place.

Regulated tenancies

Tenancies created before 2 January 1989 are usually this type. Some of these still exist but a new one cannot be created. With these agreements, landlords or tenants can ask Rent Services Scotland to set ‘fair rent’ with a form called RR1.

Changes to tenancy agreements

If the landlord wants to make changes to the tenancy agreement then that will need to be agreed with the tenants.

Further information for tenants and landlords in Scotland can be found in the Private Renting section of The Scottish Government website

For thousands of properties to rent throughout Scotland, search s1homes.com

Image credit: www.flickr.com/woodleywonderworks