Latest news with #JaneDenton
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Starling Bank blocked me from buying a EuroMillions ticket and locked my account for two days
I decided to buy a £2.50 EuroMillions ticket last week but my payment wouldn't go through, so I contacted my bank, Starling. It said the EuroMillions ticket couldn't be bought because I have a gambling block on my account, which is something I don't ever recall asking for. I asked Starling to lift it and its customer service representative said it was done but that my account was now blocked for two days – and there was no way to reverse this. Is this right, it seems a bit harsh for a lottery ticket? Jane Denton, of This is Money, replies: The EuroMillions bumper jackpot has reached dizzying heights in recent weeks - including hitting £208million last Friday. That wasn't won and the record breaking sum is still up for grabs tonight (Tuesday 10 June 2025). It is noteworthy you do not recall asking for the bank's gambling block to be switched on for your account. I contacted Starling Bank about your question and its spokesman pointed me to the bank's gambling policy on its website. On Starling's website, gambling is defined as involving a person betting money or something of value against an outcome that is not within their control, in the hope of winning money or some kind of reward. Betting on sports, horse racing or other sporting events constitutes gambling, Starling said. Betting at a casino, playing slots or using an electronic gambling machine are also gambling, it adds. 'Games designed for gambling', such as bingo, blackjack or poker, also fall in scope for the definition of gambling, Starling said. Crucially for your case, the following also, according to Starling, constitutes gambling: 'Playing instant win games or buying a lottery ticket.' Starling is quite right to point out that harmful gambling is a serious issue that can cause people to lose control and bring harm to themselves or others around them. A Starling spokesman said of the gambling block: 'Once customers choose to turn it on, they won't be able to make payments with your card to gambling merchants – online or in person and this includes the Euromillions. 'And if customers want to reactivate it, there's a 48-hour delay, making gambling or betting on impulse more difficult.' On its website, Starling suggests that you would need to switch on the gambling block in order for it to work. I'm not sure how or why it's been switched on in your case. Starling's website does state its gambling block will not stop all 'gambling-related payments', including purchasing a lottery ticket at a supermarket or newsagent, placing a bet on a site that is not categorised as a gambling merchant, or gambling subscriptions that are paid by direct debit faster payments or bank transfers. I note you had to wait 48 hours to to be able to buy a lottery ticket after the gambling block was switched off. This meant you could not buy a EuroMillions ticket for Friday in time. While inconvenient for you, the 48-hour period is aimed at helping prevent people with a gambling problem from making impulse bets. I imagine you have been left wondering what life would have been like with more than £208million in the bank. Unless you defy all the odds tonight, you may have to ponder a little while longer.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
We loathe our neighbours - can we put a fence down the middle of our shared driveway?
We live in a house with a shared driveway and have had a history of problems with our neighbours. They have converted half of their front garden to park on, and their car is half on their front garden and half on our shared driveway. From what I understand, the shared driveway is supposed to be kept free as a right of way, but I'm not certain. According to the deeds for our house, the borderline of our property is straight down the middle of the shared driveway. We'd like to build a fence or wall down the middle of the shared driveway so we can make our front garden bigger and get to use our entire property properly. Can we do this and what happens if the neighbours object? Jane Denton, of This is Money, replies: When buying a home, it's easy to get carried away and overlook issues like a shared driveway which could become problematic in the future. A shared driveway is a driveway that more than one household requires access to. Many new-build developers favour shared driveways as they help economise on space, while other older properties built before the 1930s often feature them too. As well as parking, access or bin troubles, shared driveways will require occasionally require maintenance. A maintenance agreement between neighbours for a shared driveway is a good way to help prevent disputes. However, much you despise your neighbours and their driveway antics, before jumping in and erecting a fence or wall down the middle of your shared driveway, you should pause for thought. Review your property's title deeds and other relevant documentation carefully to check what you can and cannot do when it comes to the shared driveway and determine precisely where the boundaries are located. You can't restrict your neighbour's access and everyone involved will need to agree how to split it. If you do split the driveway, the title deeds and deeds of easements for the properties affected will need to be amended to reflect any changes. While it is not acceptable for part of your neighbour's car to be parked on your side of the shared driveway, by building a fence or wall down the middle you could end up obstructing your neighbour's right of way. This could lead to a host of legal issues which are best avoided. You may want to consider asking a solicitor to check if and how you can divide the driveway, though will will come at a cost, as will a fence or wall installation. I've asked two solicitors for their thoughts on your problem. James Naylor, a partner at Naylor Solicitors, says: Next door is, of course, in the immortal words of that 1980s theme song, 'only a footstep away'—which means I'm often asked by clients if they can build a fence down the middle of shared driveway to keep their neighbour's car off their patch. A shared driveway often means each property owner owns up to the centre line, but both parties enjoy a right of way over the whole width for access. This right of way is typically for passing and repassing—in other words, for coming and going, not for parking, picnicking, or storing your collection of garden gnomes, unless your deeds say otherwise. While your deeds may show the boundary running down the middle—and, yes, that's important for ownership—it does not override the right of way. The real headline act here is the right of way itself. If your deeds specify it, the driveway must always be kept available for access. There are no exceptions for vintage Minis or Lime bikes. Parking a vehicle so that it blocks the shared driveway, even if it's just a tyre over the line, is generally considered an unlawful interference with the right of way. Unless the deeds specifically say otherwise, neither party has a legal right to park on the shared driveway. Parking on the shared area, even if you're technically on 'your' half, can still be an obstruction if it interferes with your neighbour's right of way. Equally, if your neighbour parks with half their car on your side, they may be obstructing your right of way. If the deeds are silent on parking, the default position is that parking isn't allowed if it interferes with access, even if the land is under your own wheels. Therefore, building a fence or wall down the middle of the driveway might sound tempting—perhaps you're channelling your inner Donald Trump and wondering who's going to pay for it. But here's the snag. If you do, you could be obstructing your neighbour's right of way, just as they're obstructing yours by parking. Even if you own the land, you can't block the shared access. If you build a barrier, your neighbour could object, and you might find yourself starring in your own episode of Neighbours at War—with a court order to remove it as the season finale. Remember, while next door may be 'only a footstep away', you don't want that footstep to end up in court—especially if it's tripping over a fence that you shouldn't have built. Olivia Egdell-Page, a partner and head of property at Joseph A. Jones & Co., says: You may not be surprised to hear that shared driveways can often lead to disagreements between neighbours. It is essential that you check provisions regarding such arrangements meticulously when purchasing a property accessed in this way. It is difficult to give specific advice without having sight of the legal documents, however I am envisaging from your query that the driveway is used by and shared between the two properties, with each property owning the section that is coextensive with their property. Each property will have the benefit of rights of way over the neighbour's land, on the basis that their own section will be subject to reciprocal rights in favour of their neighbour to use that part of the driveway. Usually, a scheme of enforceable covenants will be included in the legal documents alongside these rights of way. The covenants typically prevent either party from using their part of the driveway in a way that would obstruct it's use by the neighbour, either with parking vehicles or changing the surface or use of the land. It seems that your neighbours have done just that, using part of their driveway as a garden which means they are encroaching on your land when they park their car. Before taking action to build a fence or wall, or otherwise altering the driveway, my suggestion would be that you need to check your title documents and ensure that by taking such steps you will not be in breach of covenant or obstructing or interfering with an easement or right of way in favour of your neighbour. Interference is the legal term for a scenario where someone is preventing you exercising your right of way, which can result in court proceedings in some circumstances. Not every interference will be actionable, however, and further action can be taken only if the interference is considered substantial. Where the landowner is able to use the right of way as conveniently and practically as before, this may not amount to a substantial interference. So, the legal implications of taking steps to separate the properties will depend on the layout of the properties, the size of the area in question and practicalities such as turning space and parking. My recommendation would be for you to instruct a solicitor locally to you to attend the property and advise you as to the potential implications before you take any further action. How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Buy-to-let landlords should also act as soon as they can. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. What about buy-to-let landlords Buy-to-let landlords with interest-only mortgages will see a greater jump in monthly costs than homeowners on residential mortgages. This makes remortgaging in plenty of time essential and our partner L&C can help with buy-to-let mortgages too. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. > Find your best mortgage deal with This is Money and L&C Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
My neighbour smokes and the fumes come into to our flat: Can we stop him?
I live in a leasehold flat and there is a leak in the shared water pipe running from my bathroom into the bathroom below. My neighbour wants me to pay towards fixing this as the pipe originates in my bathroom, even though he is the one with the leak. I think the property management company should pay as these pipes are communal. At the same time, my neighbour smokes and the fumes come through from his flat to mine through vents in the bathroom, kitchen and hallway. The smell is so strong that anyone coming in would assume I was also a smoker. My sister who I live with is asthmatic and this is making her extremely upset. Other neighbours have also complained. The property management company spoke to my neighbour about it, but he just said he has sealed all the air vents and that there's nothing more he can do. Is there anything I can do to resolve this? Why should I spend money fixing the water leak issues that he is complaining about, when he isn't addressing the issue of the toxic smoke fumes coming into my property? I'm considering selling the flat as this is such a nuisance. When I purchased the flat, the lease was missing. Does that affect anything? Jane Denton, of This is Money, replies: Your situation is distressing and there are multiple components to it. Getting a copy of the lease or a new one made is crucial. I'm perplexed as to how you were able to complete on the flat without this. This document will help you determine who is responsible for getting the shared water pipe fixed. It should be the managing agent or freeholders, I imagine. A key concern for you is the smoke fumes coming from your neighbour's property into yours. It is possible this could constitute a statutory nuisance, giving you a better chance of getting the problem resolved. At this stage, you may need to put your plan to sell on hold. The issues you have outlined would need to be disclosed during the selling process. I have asked two legal experts for their thoughts on your case. Given the complexity of your case, it would be sensible for you to find a solicitor and see how they can help you. Manjinder Kaur Atwal, director of housing law at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, says: You have described a deeply distressing situation involving two key legal issues for leaseholders: repair responsibility and nuisance. In respect of the leak and leasehold flats, anything serving more than one property — such as shared water pipes — is usually the responsibility of the freeholder or managing agent. If the leaking pipe is part of the communal plumbing system, the management company should investigate and arrange for repairs, which should be covered by the service charge. If you do not have a copy of the lease, ask your managing agent for one, along with the building's insurance policy. The lease sets out the obligations for everybody in respect of repairs. If the lease fails to mention shared pipework or is ambiguous, you may still have a case under broader property law principles. Generally, landlords are responsible for maintaining structural and communal parts of a building especially where issues affect multiple flats. If the lease confirms the landlord is responsible for the repair but they do not act, there are several options available. Begin by raising a formal complaint in writing, referring to the relevant lease provisions and clearly requesting remedial action. If the issue remains unresolved, you may consider applying to the First-tier Tribunal to carry out the repair or, if the associated costs are recoverable, through the service charge. However, if you want to compel the landlord to undertake the works or to claim compensation for losses suffered due to the disrepair, you need to issue a County Court claim, which can grant specific performance, award damages or issue injunctive relief. You can also report the matter to your local authority under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. Officials can assess the health risk and issue enforcement notices if the property is deemed hazardous. Second, the heavy smoke entering your flat could amount to a nuisance and breach your neighbour's lease, especially if it affects your health. Most leases ban behaviour that annoys or disrupts others' enjoyment of their home. The managing agent has a duty to enforce this. If they don't, you can again take legal action and possibly seek an injunction. Given your sister's asthma, you could be protected under the Equality Act 2010. Landlords must avoid discrimination and take reasonable steps to reduce harm to disabled residents. Documenting the problem, including dates, witness statements from neighbours, and any health impacts is vital if legal action becomes necessary. As for selling the flat: unresolved leaks and nuisance problems can affect its value or saleability, so resolving the issues first is best. Legal advice is highly recommended before taking drastic action. Kathryn Cooling, an associate in RWK Goodman's property disputes team, says: There are a lot of issues here, but let's start with the missing lease, because that's fundamental. When you buy a leasehold property, your legal rights, responsibilities, and even what you actually own are defined by the lease. Without it, a solicitor can't confirm what your obligations or entitlements are. If the seller didn't have a copy of the lease, you'll need to track it down - either from the landlord, the management company or the Land Registry. If that fails, you may need to negotiate a replacement lease with the freeholder. Frankly, I'm surprised your conveyancer let the sale go through without the lease. That could be a case of professional negligence, depending on the advice you were given at the time. You might want to look into that separately. Onto the leaking water pipe—you describe it as a shared pipe. Typically, any water pipes that serve more than one flat are considered communal services, and maintaining those is usually the responsibility of the freeholder or property management company. It's worth reporting this formally to them if you haven't already. If it is their responsibility, you may still need to co-operate with them on repairs by giving access to the pipe, but at least it takes one thing off your plate. As for the toxic fumes, if your neighbour is creating a persistent smell that affects multiple properties, your local council can step in. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, this could be considered a statutory nuisance. Most councils allow you to report these issues online, and if an investigation supports your complaint, they can take formal action to stop it. If you are looking to sell the flat, these issues are all likely disclosable - meaning you'd need to inform potential buyers about the leak, the fumes, and especially the missing lease. Unfortunately, this could make your flat very hard to sell. Given all these complications, I strongly recommend that you get independent legal advice regarding your lease and the previous conveyancer, escalate the leak and fumes to the management company and local council respectively, and consider resolving these matters before attempting to sell. How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Buy-to-let landlords should also act as soon as they can. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. What about buy-to-let landlords Buy-to-let landlords with interest-only mortgages will see a greater jump in monthly costs than homeowners on residential mortgages. This makes remortgaging in plenty of time essential and our partner L&C can help with buy-to-let mortgages too. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. > Find your best mortgage deal with This is Money and L&C Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you. lll
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
My wife insists on showing potential buyers around our house - should we just let the estate agent do it?
My wife and I have been trying to sell our family home for more than six months. We're downsizing as my mobility isn't very good any more. Our children grew up in the house and it means a lot to us. We've had multiple viewings, but no offers. My wife insists on helping show around prospective buyers and providing them with in-depth details of the history of the house, family goings on in the place over the years and even highlights renovation work or improvements that need doing. Do you think buyers are being put off by my wife attending viewings? Is it just best to leave viewings to the estate agent and potential buyer? Would this increase our chance of getting a good price for the house and selling it quicker? Jane Denton, of This is Money, replies: Your wife sounds like a great character and that's to be applauded. It's no surprise if you've lived in the home for decades that you've all got a deep emotional connection to the property - and as such, you care about who owns it next. However, if you are both serious about downsizing, sentimentality needs to be removed from the equation. Your objective is to sell your house for the best price possible as quickly as possible. The viewing period is crucial and needs to be conducted correctly. Putting it bluntly, your wife's interventions, while well-meaning, may be putting buyers off, particularly when she's talking about renovation works that needs doing. Buyers will be totting up how much they will need to spend on a property on top of the house price. During viewings, prospective buyers need the space and time to be able to view themselves in your house. They need to be able to imagine themselves living there. I've asked two property experts for their take on your question. Liam Gretton, owner of Liam Gretton Bespoke Estate Agent, on Wirral Peninsula, says: Viewings are one of the most crucial stages of a sale and you need to be strategic about them. How prospective buyers are handled can make or break the experience and, in some cases, determine whether they make an offer or not. It may seem like having the owner present is helpful, however in almost every case, the best person to carry out the viewing is your estate agent, ideally a personal agent who knows you, has read up and learnt about the property and understands your sale. Believe it or not, most first viewings are booked on emotion. A buyer has seen your photos or video tour and started imagining themselves in the space. At this stage, it's about them making an emotional connection to your home. If your wife is walking them through her memories and family milestones, she could be unintentionally breaking this connection. Second viewings are often driven by logic. That's when buyers are considering whether the property would really work for them and delving into the practicalities. This is the stage where, if needed, the owner's insight can add value, answering specific questions about the boiler, the garden drainage, or the neighbour's dog. However, this is only applicable if the buyer is already emotionally committed to the idea of living there. A big mistake I see all the time is sellers getting their hopes up because a buyer was lovely to their face, only for that buyer to disappear without feedback. Why? Because buyers don't want to offend. If you're present, they won't give honest feedback, they won't speak freely and they often won't stay long enough to form a real impression. Some estate agents will say it's fine for sellers to show buyers around and that 'no one knows the home like you do.' However, the truth is it feels more of a cost saving exercise and I see it as lazy standards. Viewings aren't about the property, but about the buyer and their lifestyle, future and vision. It is always sensible to have your estate agent show prospective buyers around. Buyers feel more comfortable and will be more honest. If it's not for them, you want to know quick so you're able to move on. It's also a good idea to block the bulk of the viewings together twice a week. As buyer one is leaving, they are seeing buyer two. This creates an anticipation that the property is going to sell fast and builds more interest. Amy Reynolds, head of sales at Richmond estate agency Antony Roberts, says: Most estate agents will agree that it is far better to let prospective buyers view your home without the owners present. Buyers need the space – both physically and mentally – to imagine themselves living there. That's very hard to do when the current owners are walking them through a lifetime of memories, even if those memories are heartwarming. While your home's history is important to you, the harsh reality is that buyers are thinking about their future, not your past. If your wife wants to share the story of the house, she could absolutely write a brief letter for your estate agent to hand to buyers after the viewing. That way, the emotional connection is shared – but it doesn't overwhelm the practical process of selling. It's also the estate agent's job to tailor the viewing to the individual, they'll understand what's important to each buyer and can highlight features accordingly. They are trained to guide people round, pick up on reactions, answer concerns, and sell the lifestyle your home offers, not just the bricks and mortar. Buyers often want to discuss changes they'd make – reconfiguring rooms, knocking through walls, changing the kitchen – and they're unlikely to speak openly if they fear offending the owner. They may also hold back criticism or questions, which can prevent them from fully engaging with the property. Instead of being present, the best way to help sell your home is to focus on presentation: declutter, refresh paintwork and keep the house clean. If you are willing to invest in the property, ask the agent what cosmetic changes could be made to help improve the outcome of the viewings. A freshly decorated hallway, with coat hooks and space for shoes is always more inviting than walking into a hallway and having to step over and around everything to get into the first room. How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Buy-to-let landlords should also act as soon as they can. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. What about buy-to-let landlords Buy-to-let landlords with interest-only mortgages will see a greater jump in monthly costs than homeowners on residential mortgages. This makes remortgaging in plenty of time essential and our partner L&C can help with buy-to-let mortgages too. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. > Find your best mortgage deal with This is Money and L&C Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
We want a new kitchen but tradesmen don't return our calls or give us quotes - why?
We moved into a two-bedroom terraced house six months ago. The house needs quite a lot of work doing to it. The kitchen and bathroom need replacing, and we're keen to get new doors installed. The small garden also needs clearing as it's very overgrown. We're finding it really difficult to get tradespeople to come and do any work on the house. Some trades we've been in touch with haven't returned our calls or emails. Others have come to do a quote but then gone completely silent. We've been speaking to other people who've had similar problems. Why is this happening, and what we can do to get tradespeople to come and work for us? The house is small, so maybe they don't see it as a big or lucrative enough project. Jane Denton, of This is Money, replies: The two experts I spoke to suggest a large part of the issue is a skills shortage. Put simply, there aren't enough people working in, or training to become part of, the trades sector. This means many decent tradespeople are booked up months or even years in advance. However, being given the silent treatment by a tradesperson after they've come to house to look at the job that needs doing is, I believe, bad manners and unprofessional. Those doing this don't give the industry a good name in the eyes of customers. If a tradesperson can't fit your job in or doesn't want to do it, they should be upfront. A simple one-line email, text or phone call to say they can't assist would be suffice. If possible, try and use tradespeople recommended to you by family or friends. If using online reviews to select trades, check them carefully to ensure they are verified. Good tradespeople are worth waiting for, even if it means your house won't be fixed as quickly as you'd hoped. Clive Holland, a broadcaster on Fix Radio, says: You're not the only one struggling to find a builder, with our own research at Fix Radio finding that over 400,000 people in Britain are waiting more than a year to get building work done. While your frustration is understandable, the good news is it's not personal, and you can improve your situation. There are several reasons behind the current shortage. A third of construction workers are nearing retirement, while apprenticeship numbers have dropped, reducing the pipeline of new talent. With more than a third of tradespeople now self-employed, many simply don't have the capacity to take on smaller or more involved jobs without long lead times. That said, there are ways to get your job seen and booked in. First, get specific. Create a clear list of what needs to be done and group the tasks by trade. A detailed, well-organised brief helps a busy tradesperson quickly assess whether the job fits their skills and availability. Second, don't underestimate the value of local networks. Builders' merchants are excellent sources of insight, as they often know which local tradespeople are reliable, available and suited to the work you need. These companies will hardly ever offer up bad tradespeople. It's also worth speaking to neighbours, posting in local groups online, or using trusted online platforms to find well-recommended professionals. Timing matters too. Many tradespeople get booked months in advance, especially in spring and summer. If you can be flexible, perhaps start your work in the winter or agree to stagger work in stages, as you're more likely to get a foot in the door. Good tradespeople are usually busy so be prepared to wait. If they can start tomorrow, that can be a red flag. Finally, make it clear to prospective tradespeople that you're serious about getting the work done. If you've already received quotes, follow up promptly, and when booking someone be transparent about your budget and timelines. I always recommend putting everything in writing as building trust is a two-way street. There's no denying Britain faces a skills crisis, but that shows just how valued skilled tradespeople are. By being proactive, respectful and well-prepared, you'll find the right team to help turn your house into the home you want. Andy Simms, a construction expert says: Sadly, this issue is one that we are hearing a lot, as the reality of the trades skill shortage starts to bite. Unfortunately, despite the trades offering an abundance of great career opportunities, impressive rates of pay and a fantastic springboard to running your own business, the sector has long been overlooked as a career choice. Recent research we ran showed that only one in 10 children or young adults in school and colleges were being told about the option of trades as a career. It's a great shame, because the trades continue to thrive and aren't threatened by the same external factors other industries are worried about such as AI. Statistics show that the skills shortage is critical, with over 1million new tradespeople needing to be recruited by 2030. Yet their skills are more in demand than ever. Make sure you plan well in advance. Some popular builders are booked up a year in advance, so if you have asked about a job that needs doing soon, they might not even reply. If you can, start the process of finding a tradesperson before you need them. For building work, a year or so is not excessive, and for smaller jobs, you may still need to give it several months. Second, tradespeople are very busy and some have a preferred way of contact - if they don't respond to emails, give them a call or send a text. Maybe even contact them on social media - they might not be ignoring you, they may just not monitor the method of communication you have tried them on. Third, make sure you include as much information as you can. A tradesperson gets so many requests to come and quote for jobs, and they are more likely to get in touch if they have all the information that they need from you. The more you sound like you know what you want, the more likely it is that the tradesperson will want to work with you. How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. > Find your best mortgage deal with This is Money and L&C Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
