Homes & Gardens

Pet owners just can’t bear to be apart from their animals at night according to a new survey - with nearly a quarter of those asked allowing their companions to sleep with them in the bedroom.

Five star housebuilder Barratt Homes, which is bringing new homes to Exeter, carried out the survey, asking 2,000 people where their pets generally sleep. A significant 23 per cent said the bedroom, closely followed by 20 per cent allowing them to spend the night in the lounge. The news comes during April - which is designated National Pet Month in the UK.

“Pets are important for a...

Spring is here, so home improvements are definitely in the forefront of peoples mind. The only thing about these types of projects is, they don’t tend to come cheap. We have put together some financial planning options and advice for you so you can give your home the spring clean it deserves.

Use your Savings

If you do have a rainy day fund, why not use it for home improvements rather than holidays or a new car? Effectively you are making your living environment a more enjoyable place to be, and it’s actually an investment in your property . Changes to your home can...

A home is easily the biggest investment you will ever make in your entire life. For some people, their house is, in fact, their retirement fund, and they have plans to sell it and downsize once they retire. It can also provide you with much-needed funds through home equity loans and lines of credit. It’s a nest egg that grows in value over time and that you get to enjoy in the meantime.

With that said, most homeowners want to be sure that they are doing all they can to add to the value of their home over the years. This means simple things like maintenance and repairs when needed,...

In line with many other councils across the country, East Devon District Council has agreed to a Council Tax increase. This amounts to a £5 annual Council Tax increase for an average property for 2018/19 to ensure it continues to secure crucial front line services for its residents and businesses.

The increase means the authority’s portion of the annual Council Tax bill for a Band D property will be £136.78 a year or £2.63 a week for all the services it provides. The amount is the lowest for a district council in Devon and one of the lowest in the country. The £5 increase, which...