As COP26 – the United Nations Climate Change Conference - gets underway we will all be wondering how we can do our bit. One of the most significant challenges in reaching net zero is the need to retrofit the nation’s housing stock with improved insulation and green heating systems to increase energy efficiency.

The UK Government announcement of £3.9 billion of new funding for decarbonising heat and buildings from 2022 to 2025 is a substantial investment, but only a fraction of this will specifically help bring privately owned and rented homes up to target standards.

In parallel the Government is currently proposing to, again, raise the bar for landlords, requiring all rented properties to reach band “C” by 2025 and for new tenancies and 2028 for all tenancies.

It was hoped that that our Government would recognise the need for a long-term financial plan to support homeowners and landlords with making energy efficiency improvements. Instead, a £450 million Boiler Upgrade Scheme will provide £5,000 grants to incentivise the installation of low-carbon heating systems. However our experience on the ground is that there is still deep scepticism regarding air source heating systems which have a reputation for being expensive to run and maintain before capital cost is considered.

The second caution is that these grants will not be accessible unless energy efficiency can be demonstrated. Insulation and double plus glazing are items which tenants are prepared to pay a premium for and therefore are positive landlord investments which we would be encourage landlords to consider.

The above may be a mis-shaped carrot, but there is no doubt the stick won’t be far behind.

Jackie Monro FARLA FNAEA, Head of Lettings

A five-bedroom home with large garden on the fringe of the picturesque village of Nesscliffe, has been launched to the market. The Haven is located some eight and ten miles from Oswestry and Shrewsbury respectively, with a generous choice of primary and secondary state and private schools at hand.

The welcome is to ample parking space with an attractive veranda the full length of the property, beckoning to the front door. Beyond the hallway opens to the study, lounge, dining, kitchen and boot room. The kitchen is full of natural light and a quarry tile floor runs through to the dining area, where folding doors open to the terrace and garden beyond.

Alistair Hilton head of sales at Balfours, comments: “This is a charming country property which is finished to a lovely specification, beyond fresh contemporary aesthetics is new thermally efficient double glazing and two stylish bathrooms, one being en-suite. The veranda also gives access to a space currently used as a children’s playroom and entertaining space, with utility and cloakroom off, however it would equally serve many homeworking businesses; or adapt to a ground floor bedroom.

“This house offers great flexibility, currently a good-sized single bedroom is used as a dressing room. The Haven also has a detached garage. With Nesscliffe Hill nearby for walking, cycling and riding it meets many popular lifestyle and personal wellbeing choices too,” Alistair adds. Balfours are marketing The Haven with a guide price of £485,000, call 01743 353511 for more information.

A chain free, three-bedroom bungalow with a south facing garden has been launched to the market by Balfours. Found in the sought-after area of Copthorne, just over two miles west of Shrewsbury town centre, 86 Falcons Way, borders onto the Rad Brook.

The property comprises of hall with cloakroom, large lounge with double doors opening into the dining room. Onwards is a well-equipped kitchen with good natural light and from which the utility is accessed. The lounge opens to a generous conservatory from which the south facing gardens can be accessed. There are three bedrooms, each with fitted wardrobes, served by a bathroom.

Alistair Hilton, head of sales at Balfours comments: “This detached bungalow is wonderfully light and airy, it sits in a good-sized plot with space to park three cars, plus a garage. The whole is designed to be low maintenance. Local facilities include an excellent selection of well-respected primary and secondary schools and Shrewsbury Hospital is very close by too.”

The bungalow is marketed with a guide price of £375,000, for more information call 01743 353511.

A character cottage in one of the most sought-after villages in South Shropshire has been launched to the market by Balfours, with a guide price of £350,000.

Number Eight, Ashford Carbonel, is a two-bedroom end of terrace character cottage, offering well-presented living space, which is both spacious and filled with natural light. The ground floor comprises of a beautifully presented lounge with original inglenook in which a wood burner sits. Adjacent a good-sized kitchen breakfast room opens to the conservatory. A study, utility and shower room complete the ground floor accommodation. On the first floor are two double bedrooms.

Balfours Ludlow sales manager, Scott Kemsley says: “Number Eight is a truly delightful cottage and while anyone could move in and live happily, it has additional potential too. There is opportunityl for a ground floor bedroom with en-suite, or indeed capacity for an extension subject to planning.

“The cottage is complemented by a charming garden with seating framed by pleached trees and borders, a garden shed and boiler house. Ashford Carbonel is a vibrant village with village hall and green, primary school plus church. Significantly there is off street parking for several cars too,” Scott adds. For more information call 01584 707100.

Ten acres, river frontage with fishing rights and a pond are all part of this four, en-suite, bedroom package which has stunning views.

The Birches is a generously sized dormer bungalow located just outside Church Stoke, Montgomery is three miles, Newtown ten, while Shrewsbury and Ludlow are 25 miles. The property is hugely pleasing to the eye in a soft brick with slate roof with varied and steeply pitched roof lines.

Internally the hallway gives access to all the ground floor rooms, save the utility which is off the kitchen and has external access too. The dining room is directly opposite the kitchen and both have picture bay windows; the dining room also has French doors to the garden, as does the lounge. A study, cloakroom and one en-suite bedroom complete the ground floor.

There are three en-suite bedrooms on the first floor, plus eaves storage space. A detached double garage benefits from a wc and stairs to a good-sized loft room, which provides potential for work or leisure activities.

“This is a magnificent location, with outstanding views, the property is extremely well presented and includes pasture, amenity woodland and a large outbuilding currently used as a workshop, but easily adaptable for horses or other livestock,” says Balfours Ludlow sales manager, Scott Kemsley. The Birches is marketed with a guide price of £720,000, call 01584 707100.

A former Harper Adams student, with experience working for the National Trust on their estates and properties in the West Country and Dorset, has joined Balfours.

Matthew Doyle graduated with honours from Harper Adams’ Rural Enterprise and Land Management course in 2019, which incorporated a placement year at Warwickshire County Council, assisting with the management of their Smallholdings estate.  He has been recruited to the Balfours team as an assistant land agent.

Matthew reflects: “I was aware Balfours are held in high regard, and they were strongly recommended as a good place to work and learn. The fact that the partners encourage getting out on site presents opportunities to work with a variety of people and projects; making the work interesting, challenging and satisfying in equal measure.

Matthew assists Balfours partner, Justin Stevenson who says: “Matthew has the aptitude and flexible mind to succeed, he is now on a pathway to qualifying with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors through his APC -Assessment of Professional Competence and we look forward to supporting him through that process.”

A keen runner with a few half marathons under his belt, Matthew hopes to join a local running club and now has ambition for full marathons. Originally from Lichfield, he has just moved to Shrewsbury and is based at Balfours Shrewsbury office at New Windsor House.