Latest news with #&Q
The Sun
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I got a newbuild council house with a garden – trolls fume it's ‘better' than theirs and ask ‘what's the point working?'
A MOTHER has revealed that she has been given a sparkling newbuild council house with a large garden. Jaz, a mum-of-two from the UK, explained that she moved from a two-bedroom first floor flat to a much bigger two-bedroom home on a newbuild estate. 2 2 Posting on social media, the content creator gave her followers a close-up look inside her jaw-dropping home, which is complete with fresh grey carpet and herringbone-style flooring. It's even got a fresh kitchen, downstairs loo, upstairs bathroom and spacious patio and grass area outside. Thrilled with her new home, Jaz said: 'Come view my new housing association house with me - so this is a newbuild housing association house. 'It's just been built, they've just had the handover for the keys and this was me viewing it.' Showing off her outside space, Jaz added: 'This place has a garden, a lovely, nice average size garden - the kids have never had a garden in their life, so I'm really happy about that.' The young woman confirmed that there's two bedrooms and she plans to have the smaller room so her two kids can share the larger one. She also voiced her intentions of transforming the room's storage cupboard into a wardrobe. Jaz later confirmed that she was previously renting privately while she was pregnant. However, she was then able to get her housing association property after she was made homeless as a result of a section 21 notice. She also confessed that she was unable to get a job around her children's childcare, which meant she then couldn't afford to rent privately. Council Lounge Makeover with B&Q buy The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ typicalgeminix, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 421,300 views. Not only this, but it's also amassed 10,300 likes, 897 comments and 498 saves. How can I get a council house? To apply for a council home, you need to fill out and hand in an application to your local authority. To find your local authority, simply use the Government's council locator tool on its website. Once you have access to your local council's website, it should offer you guidelines on how to complete your application. After applying, you'll most likely have to join a waiting list. Bear in mind, even if you are put on a waiting list, this doesn't guarantee you a council house offer. Your council should also offer you advice on how to stay in your current home and solve any issues you might have, such as problems with a private landlord or mortgage. You are eligible to apply for council housing if you are a British citizen living in the UK providing have not lived abroad recently. Each council has its own local rules about who qualifies to go on the housing register in its area, but it is based on "points" or a "banding" system. For example, you're likely to be offered housing first if you: are homeless live in cramped conditions have a medical condition made worse by your current home are seeking to escape domestic violence Once you are high enough on a council's waiting list, it will contact you when a property is available. Some councils let people apply at the age of 18, while others let you apply even sooner at 16-year-olds. EU workers and their families and refugees may also be eligible. A council house is reached through a points system, so depending on your housing needs, you may be considered low priority. The council will contact you about any available property once you are high enough on the waiting list. There is no limit on how long you can expect to be on the waiting list. Big divide But social media users were left massively divided by Jaz's clip - while many were stunned and didn't think it was fair that she was given such a gorgeous property, others reinforced that Jaz would still have to spend money on her new home. One person said: 'I paid £160,000 for a wimpy newbuild, and yours is better! What's the point in working, when you get it for free!' Another added: 'I work so hard to get a house and people like you get handed to you!!! How is that fair! Single mothers get more priority.' Whilst a third rudely remarked: 'The taxpayer giveth.' The reality of living in a council house LEANNE Hall, Digital Writer at Fabulous, has discussed what it was like growing up in a council house, and why those living in such properties are often judged... When I was a child I grew up in a council house, and was blissfully unaware of the discrimination that came with that, until I became an adult. My younger years were spent running up and down the stairs of my flat, meeting with other friends who lived there and making the most of the communal garden. But now, it seems no matter your circumstance, everyone has something to say about why you shouldn't be there. Living just outside of London like I did, rent prices are still high, and as my mum was at home raising three kids at the time, it wasn't easy to find a job that fit around that. People in council houses are often labelled as 'scroungers' or 'lazy' but it's nothing of the sort. Most families in council homes experience overcrowding, and let's not even mention the horrendous amount of damp and mould that comes from living in old social housing that hasn't had work done to them in 50 or so years. It's not ideal for many, but it does provide a secure home without the fear your rent will shoot up every single year, which I would argue is vital to children growing up on the poverty line. At the same time, someone else slammed: 'People need to stop having kids and expect tax payers to do the most.' Despite this, one user wrote: 'Please note people - you DO pay rent for housing association or council homes - they are NOT FREE.' Meanwhile, another shared: 'Guys don't be mad at her, be mad at the government for not providing more of these.'
The Irish Sun
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Aldi is selling a spring gardening essential that will protect your plants – it's half the price of the B&Q version
ALDI is selling a gadget crucial for protecting your plants this spring, and it's half the price of the B&Q version. With next week, and another bank holiday on the horizon, many of us are likely planning on spending more time getting jobs done in the 3 Aldi has the perfect tool to help you tackle spring gardening jobs Credit: Getty 3 The £19.99 flower bed is a portable plastic greenhouse, perfect for displaying plants on balconies, patios or small gardens Credit: Aldi 3 The B&Q product is more than double the price Credit: B&Q Spring is a great time to sow an abundance of plants such as sunflowers, sweet peas and hardy annuals, to ensure that your garden is in full bloom for the summer. And Aldi's 50L The £19.99 flower bed is a portable plastic greenhouse, perfect for displaying plants on balconies, patios or small gardens. Its semi-transparent lid turns the raised bed into a greenhouse, providing plants with more heat, to help them flourish. Read more Aldi stories The product is super easy to assemble, and can easily be transported around the garden, to suit your needs. And it's even made from weatherproof materials, so you don't have to worry about it getting battered by the rain. The product is available as part of Aldi's Specialbuys, and can be found in the middle aisle of the supermarket now. However, as with all Specialbuys, once they're gone, they're gone, so garden lovers should head over the budget supermarket now to avoid disappointment. Most read in Fabulous In comparison, B&Qs The B&Q product also acts as a mini greenhouse and is made with weather resistant materials, however, unlike the Aldi buy, the more expensive bed includes a self watering system, and water level indicator. Aldi is selling a greenhouse that's the 'best $39.99 ever spent' and perfect for getting your garden ready More Aldi Bargains Shoppers will be delighted to hear that Aldi is bringing back its sell out garden range this weekend. From Sunday, April 27, customers will be able to get their hands on the Rattan Effect Corner Sofa, priced at £199.99 . The bargain buy is easy to assemble, comes with seat and back cushions, and is built with a powder-coated steel frame and UV-protected rattan effect weaving for long-lasting comfort. What's more, it is hundreds of pounds cheaper than similar products from B&Q and The Range, which cost up to £500. Top 5 Spring Gardening Jobs *If you click a link in this boxout, we may earn affiliate revenue Nick Grey, 1. Clean your garden Make sure to clear away all leaves, soil and plant debris from your patios and flower beds; this creates a healthier environment for new growth, especially as we get into the summer months. 2. Weeding Early Spring is the best time to tackle weeds; if you can introduce some regular weeding into your routine, you can guarantee a tidy garden all year round. 3. Hedge maintenance Spring is the ideal time to tidy up overgrown hedges and shrubs, as regular trimming ensures healthy growth and reduces pest issues. Using a tool like the 4. Composting Starting a compost heap this spring is a pro-active, cost-effective way to harness nutritious soil for your plants and recycle organic waste that will benefit the overall health of your greenery and foliage. 5. Look after your lawn Lawn care is hugely important in assuring your garden stays looking beautiful. Make sure to rake away any excess leaves and trim your grass routinely. For anyone planning on hosting guests this early May bank holiday, the Rattan Garden Bar is the perfect purchase to impress friends and neighbours . It's priced at £79.99 and includes a tempered glass top, a stainless-steel ice bucket, bottle storage and two wine racks. And no spring bank holiday get together would be complete without a BBQ, making the 4-Burner Gas BBQ a must have buy. Meanwhile, the Balcony Coffee Setting, priced at £99 is perfect for soaking up the sun in smaller spaces. It is important to remember to always shop around when buying something like this as you might find a cheaper alternative. Websites like Trolley and Price Spy let you compare thousands of products across different retailers to find the best price. Price Spy even lets you see how much an item has cost over time, so you can see if the current price is a good deal. A quick scan on the Google Shopping/Product tab will also bring up how much retailers are selling a certain item for too.
Scottish Sun
22-04-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Garden lovers race to B&Q as patio moss and algae ‘killer' halved in price just in time for summer
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IF your patio is looking a little worse for wear this spring, don't worry there's a quick fix. B&Q shoppers are heaping on the praise for a handy gadget that will leave your outdoor area sparkling. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 A B&Q shopper shared the impressive bargain she picked up on a gardening gadget ahead of the summer Credit: Facebook 3 Gardening fans can pick up an outdoor cleaning gadget for almost half off at their local B&Q Credit: Facebook Whether there's moss sprouting up on between your concrete slabs or algae covering your decking, this item will clean them instantly. And now is the best time to invest in this B&Q buy, and not just because summer is quickly approaching. The Bosch Universal Aquatak 135 High-Pressure Washer is currently on sale for a fraction of its original price. One impressed buyer shared the offer on the Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK. "Haven't had a bargain for a while - always check out the clearance section in B&Q," the homeowner wrote. They shared an picture of the price tag, which showed the item had been reduced from £159 to just £80. Given the almost 50% discount, the shopper encouraged their fellow bargain hunters to hurry. The Facebook user pointed out there were only five washers left on the shelf of her local B&Q. According to Bosch, the pressure washer guarantees "fast, flexible, and effortless" cleaning. It includes a Trio Nozzle with fan, rotary, and pencil jet settings, for "versatile cleaning". Get your patio sparkling with a £1.49 Wilko buy - as shoppers rave the 'results speak for themselves' The gadget comes equipped with a quieter motor pump and a 450-ml High-Pressure Detergent Nozzle, which saves time by applying soap quickly. It is described as having "greater mobility and easier storage" thanks to an extendable handle and larger wheels. Facebook users shared their thoughts on the deal in the comments section. "Wow. Great bargain," wrote one impressed bargain hunter. Another person described the offer as "fabulous". How to clean green algae off decking Is your decking covered in green algae or moss? The experts at Ronseal have shared their guide to cleaning your decking after a wet and warm winter. You'll need: A wire brush Decking cleaner A pressure washer or hose Clear the decking Clear your decking and grab a broom - give it decking a good sweep to dislodge any dirt. Choose your cleaner Some cleaners are better at tackling certain jobs than others, so you need to consider what it is you want the cleaner to do. Decking Cleaner and Reviver preps new wood whilst cleaning up older decking. It can tackle algae and mould and can be used over stains and oils. It's a good general-purpose cleaner and can brighten up your decking throughout the year. This is good for decking that's dirtier than average and in instances where a brush and jet wash don't quite cut it. Decking Stripper is for tough stubborn stains that won't budge. It does exactly what it says on the tin and strips all stains and oils from your decking. It's ideal for prepping your deck ready for a fresh coat of stain, paint or oil. This is most effective with really, really dirty and discoloured decking that needs reviving. Clean your decking Top tip: Before you power ahead, read the instructions on the back of the packet. Some of our cleaners don't need water and can be poured directly onto your decking. And B&Q has more offers available on garden furniture with 25% off some items. Gardening fans can also nab a £15 bargain that is said to transform your outdoor space. And another £8.50 gardening gadget will leave your lawn perfect ahead of summer. A budget hack can also turn your garden into a trickling oasis in time for the warm weather. And another affordable item can help remove stubborn algae from your garden fences.
