ESTATE AGENT CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY WITH SPECIAL SELLING FEE

In January 2008, just after the financial meltdown took hold and plunged the country into the start of the recession, Darren Head opened Besley Hill’s 17th and newest franchise to date on the busy and vibrant Gloucester Road in the heart of Bishopston. Despite Bristol’s then Lord Mayor, Councillor Royston Griffey, performing the official opening during the harshest of economic times, the office has exceeded its targets in residential sales, full letting services and benefits from its own independent financial advisor, auction and survey departments. Still going strong and prospering in the ever-changing market trends, Darren has recently employed Laura Savage as the new office manager, who brings years of experience in the estate agency business to the existing strong and dedicated team. The office is celebrating its sixth birthday by inviting visitors to this website to join them at 66 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, on Saturday 25 January between 11.00am and 2.00pm when they will be able to meet the team. “We will be offering a yummy slice of birthday cake and champagne, along with balloons and goody bags for our younger visitors, and hope it will be a memorable occasion for all,” said Darren. And, to mark the occasion, Besley Hill’s Bishopston office is offering a special exclusive selling fee, whereby, for six weeks only, until 8 March, they will sell your property for 0.6% plus vat including a free EPC! For those unable to make the birthday celebrations, call the team (Darren, Laura, Tom, Matt, Dawn and Sally) on 0117 9244008 for further information on the exclusive selling fee or even just for a more informal chat about the housing market. They would be pleased to hear from you - and look forward to welcoming you as one of their guests on 25 January. Caption: Preparing to celebrate the sixth birthday of Besley Hill’s Bishopston office (left to right) are Thomas Dowdeswell (senior negotiator), Darren Head (director) and Matthew Winch (negotiator)

HOUSE PRICES TO RISE 2% IN 2013

House prices in the UK will see an increase of 2% over the course of next year while the cost of renting a home should rise by around 4%, according to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Although challenging times are still ahead for the nation’s economy, 2013 may see some slight improvements and this will be reflected in the housing market. In addition to rising prices, the number of transactions will also see a further increase, moving up just over 3% to 960,000 (from 930,000 in 2012). Although this represents an improvement, to put this in context, total sales in 2006 were well above this amount at 1.67 million. In London, the prime central market is likely to be broadly stable following the tax changes announced earlier in the year but much of the rest of the capital will continue to see above average increases. Elsewhere, the South East and the North West should also see modest rises. The rest of the country will either see prices dip slightly or remain flat. Meanwhile, with estimates stating that up to a quarter of loans taken out at the height of the market (2007) now being in negative equity, the recent trend in repossessions looks set to continue. However, with the number of possession claims and mortgages currently more than three months in arrears falling, the number of repossessions should dip below 35,000 for the first time since 2007. 2013 UK housing market at a glance: • House prices to increase 2% • Cost of renting to grow 4% • Transactions to modestly increase to 960,000 • Repossessions to drop to below 35,000 • Housing starts to edge up towards 115,000 in England Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist, said: “The average house price in the UK looks set to rise by a further 2% next year, despite the uncertain outlook for the economy. More positively, the amount of sales going through should also see an increase across the country, climbing to its best level since 2007, as the Funding for Lending scheme helps boost the availability of mortgage finance. But these tentative signs of recovery in the sales market should not blind us to the very real problems that still exist. Even with the Funding for Lending scheme and some other government policies beginning to be felt in the mortgage market, many first-time buyers will continue to find it difficult to secure a sufficiently large loan to take an initial step on the housing market. Meanwhile, the alternative of renting is becoming more and more costly with a further increase in rents likely in 2013. Critically, the government needs to ensure that the conditions are in place that will enable the stock of new housing, whether for purchase or rent, to rise more rapidly.”

BUY-TO-LET MORTGAGES BOOMING

Buy-to-let mortgages are shooting up with the number of new loans increasing by 16% in the third quarter of 2011, official figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) show.
The data also reveals that the value of mortgages in this sector went up by 19%.
“We have access to the whole buy-to-let market for mortgages and this trend is in line with the deals negotiated for investors by the Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB) representatives at our 15 offices throughout Bristol and Gloucestershire,” said Adam Offer, managing director of Besley Hill Estate Agents.
“We can confirm that landlords are reacting to high levels of tenant demand by using their own cash and short-term borrowing to purchase and renovate property, and then remortgaging using buy-to-let finance.”
In the three months to September, a total of 34,500 buy-to-let loans were advanced, up from 29,700 in the preceding quarter. The value of lending totalled £3.8bn, up from £3.2bn.
On both measures, buy-to-let lending was at its highest level since the final quarter of 2008.
Of the buy-to-let loans, 18,580 were for buy-to-let purchases – accounting for almost 12% of all house purchase loans.
As at the end of September, there were 1,378,700 buy-to-let loans outstanding, worth £157bn, up from 1,296,700 loans worth £150bn 12 months earlier.

BUYING IS CHEAPER THAN RENTING, SAYS HALIFAX

The latest Halifax Buying vs. Renting Review, which tracks changes in the cost of buying and renting a typical two bedroom flat for a first-time buyer across the UK over the last three years, shows that the cost of buying a home for first-time buyers is more than £100 a month lower than renting.
The cost of buying for a first-time buyer has fallen by 2% over the past year and average rental costs have risen by 6%.
In 2008, the average cost of buying was £212 more than the average rent paid. But there has subsequently been a decline in buying costs for a first-time-buyer due partly to the fall in mortgage rates and house prices.
The average mortgage rate for a new borrower is now 3.84%, a fall of 207 points from an average of 5.91% in mid 2008, while the average first-time house price has also fallen by 14% to £124,378 over the same period.
The average monthly costs of buying a two bedroom flat in the UK for a first-time buyer totalled £567 in July 2011, 16% lower than the £677 a month typical rent paid on the same type of property.
Average buying costs include mortgage payments, income lost by funding a deposit rather than saving and spending on household maintenance and repair and insurance costs.
“The recent decline in the cost of buying a property for first-time buyers compared to renting has been substantial and reflects the drop in both mortgage rates and house prices since 2008 as well as a marked increase in the average rent paid over the past year,” said Halifax housing economist Suren Thiru.

LANDLORDS' CONFIDENCE IN BUY-TO-LET MARKET GROWS

Optimism has grown among landlords for their buy-to-let prospects, according to a new report.

Almost a quarter of landlords are feeling more optimistic about the prospects for their property portfolios, rental income and yields, Paragon Mortgage’s Q2 Private Rented Sector Trends Report reveals.

They are encouraged by the availability of buy-to-let finance, with 22% in the second quarter of this year saying that it was reasonably available, compared with 17% in the first quarter.

Some 23% of landlords feel more optimistic than was the case in Q1, particularly if they are professional landlords, 30% stating they were more optimistic, compared with 15% of smaller-scale landlords.

On average, landlords expect to have 13.1 residential properties in their portfolios in a year’s time, compared with 12.6 properties currently - the first time in two years that landlords have predicted an increase in the number of properties in their portfolios.

Nearly three out of ten landlords (29%) have increased rents during the second quarter, the majority of whom reported an increase of between 2% and 4%, states the report.

Landlords are also more optimistic about the net value of their portfolios, with a growing proportion expecting an increase in value (14% in Q2 against 13% in Q1), and fewer are forecasting declining values (12% Q2 vs 19% Q1). The majority of landlords (74%) expect net values to remain the same.

The report also shows a shift in the types of property that landlords are looking to add to their portfolios during the third quarter. Of those looking to purchase during the quarter, terrace houses are the most popular choice, with more than half of landlords saying they expect to buy this type of property.

There have also been increases in the popularity of semi-detached houses (up from 28% to 41%) and detached (up from 9% to 22%).

Commenting on the report, Adam Offer, managing director of Besley Hill, the South West’s biggest network of independent estate agents, says: “The trend shown by this report is consistent with the increasing number of buy-to-let deals being arranged for landlords by the Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB) representatives at our offices throughout Bristol and Gloucestershire.”

1 in 6 Estate Agents will live to be 100!

Well all right, it's not just estate agents! Recent research from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) shows that more than 10 million people currently alive in the UK are expected to pass their 100th birthday that's 1 in 6!

So get to know your local Estate Agent - you could be friends for many years to come!

Thanks to EA Today 22.02.11

VICTORIAN HOME AT HORFIELD TO RENT

Looking for a house to rent with two double bedrooms in the Horfield area of Bristol?
Then 33 Boston Road,a Victorian middle-terrace property, should fit the bill.
The bay-fronted house, which is available part-furnished for £675pcm from 8 November, also has two reception rooms.
Further benefits include gas central heating, white suite bathroom and garden.
The property is located minutes away from the A38 Gloucester Road, providing good access to the busy Bishopston shopping area, Southmead Hospital, major employers at Abbey Wood and Filton, and the motorway network.
“This home is ideal for families, professional sharers and students,” says Darren Head, of Besley Hill Estate Agents at Bishopston.
For further information contact Darren on 0117 924 4008, email bishopston@besleyhill.co.uk

THE LETTING SHOP JOINS BESLEY HILL

The Letting Shop, one of the leading letting agents in the South West, has become a Franchise of Besley Hill Estate Agents and changed its name to Besley Hill Residential Lettings.

The move, which increases Besley Hill’s turnover as the region’s biggest franchised estate agency group to £15 million, follows a strengthening of the ties between the two firms.

Adam Offer, Managing Director of Besley Hill Estate Agents, said: “The two businesses have always worked in association with one another but there is now even closer co-operation.

“The Franchise agreement reflects this development and consolidates a relationship that plays an important part in Besley Hill’s ability to provide a fully comprehensive property service.”

Besley Hill Residential Lettings serves landlords and tenants, offering more than 100 properties to rent at any one time through the Besley Hill 16-strong branch network throughout Bristol and Gloucestershire.

There are offices at Bedminster, Berkeley, Bishopston, Bishopsworth, Chipping Sodlbury, Downend, Dursley, Easton, Fishponds, Kingswood, Knowle, Longwell Green, Stroud, Thornbury, Whitchurch Village and Wotton-under-Edge.

Two types of lettings service are available to landlords – full management and introduction.

Mark Offer, Managing Director of Kingswood-based Besley Hill Residential Lettings, said: “The Letting Shop became a UK Top 50 lettings agency named in several exceptional performance sections. Closer co-operation with Besley Hill as a Franchise will widen the range of services we offer to our landlords.

“As brothers, Adam and I are able to steer the business with a unique family approach which you don’t tend to get in companies of this size with typical directors and board members. Sunday lunch at mum and dad’s often turns into an interesting informal board meeting!”

For full details of the lettings services available, contact Mark Offer at Besley Hill Residential Lettings, 385 Two Mile Hill Road, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 1AD, tel 0117 961 0011

FURNISHED MODERN FAMILY HOME TO LET

A modern three-bedroom end of terrace family home at Horfield is available to let furnished for £850 pcm.

Presented to a high standard, the accommodation includes a large full-width lounge with leather sofas and glass coffee table, and a kitchen/dining room with table and chairs and white goods.

There are also two furnished double bedrooms (one with en-suite shower room), a good-sized single bedroom/office and a white suite bathroom with bath and shower.

Further benefits are gas central heating, double glazing, private rear garden, single garage and parking for two cars.

The house is situated at Keats Court, which is within easy reach of the Gloucester Road amenities, major employers at Filton and Abbey Wood, and the M32, M4 and M5 motorways.

For further information and to arrange a viewing, contact Besley Hill Estate Agents at Bishopston, tel 0117 924 4008, email bishopston@besleyhill.co.uk.

HOME IN CONVENIENT LOCATION TO LET

A well presented terraced house, situated on Kings Drive, Stoke Gifford, is available to rent unfurnished now for £785pcm.

The accommodation includes three bedrooms, lounge, dining room, modern kitchen and a white suite bathroom with bath and shower facilities.

The property also offers such benefits as loft access, gas central heating, double glazing throughout and an enclosed rear garden leading to a garage for one car.

The home is close to all local amenities, Aztec West, the MOD at Abbey Wood and Bristol Parkway station, as well having easy road access to the nearby motorway network and Bristol city centre.

Contact Besley Hill Estate Agents at Bishopston on 0117 924 4008 or email them at bishopston@besleyhill.co.uk to arrange a viewing.

UK interest rates kept at 0.5% for 15th month in a row

UK interest rates have been kept on hold at a record low of 0.5% by the Bank of England for the 15th month in a row.

The Bank also decided not to inject any more money into the UK economy under its policy of quantitative easing (QE).

Interest rates have now been at 0.5% since March 2009.

Meanwhile, a Reuters poll of 61 economists suggested that the central bank would not raise rates until next year.

Trevor Williams, chief economist at Lloyds Banking Group, said the decision was "no shock at all".

Inflation in April hit its highest rate in 17 months. On the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure, inflation hit 3.7% - well above the Bank's target of 2% and the highest rate since November 2008.

The Bank uses interest rates to try to curb inflation, but Mr Williams said: "The target was never meant to be hit every single month. It's a medium-term target. And I think they're quite right to hold off. "I think [inflation] will fall back later in the year."

Source BBC News Thursday, 10 June 2010 12:37 UK

MODERN FAMILY HOME TO RENT

An extremely well presented three-bedroom family home, 22 Hazel Grove, Horfield, is available to rent part-furnished for £850 per calendar month at the end of June/early July.

Built just over five years ago, the end-of-terrace property has downstairs cloakroom, large lounge with modern decorations and floorings, and kitchen/dining room with gas hob, electric oven, dishwasher and fridge/freezer.

On the first floor are two double bedrooms (one with en-suite shower room), single bedroom/office and a white suite bathroom with bath and shower.

Other benefits include double glazing, alarm, gas central heating, off-street parking for two cars and large rear garden.

“The owners have recently redecorated the lounge and the property is in very good order throughout,” says Darren Head from Besley Hill Estate Agents at Bishopston.

“The home is ideal for a small family, a professional couple or professional sharers. We have let a similar house on the same estate to a doctor who relocated from Austria and now works at Frenchay Hospital.”

The property is set close to Gloucester Road (A38), providing easy access to other major employers such as Rolls Royce, Airbus, BAE Systems, MOD and Hewlett-Packard as well as the M32, M4 and M5 motorways.

For further details contact Darren Head at Besley Hill Estate Agents, 66 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8BH, tel 0117 924 4008, email bishopston@besleyhill.co.uk

ENTERING THE BUY TO LET MARKET

Patrick Ennis, John Simmons, Nigel Bull and Mark Gregory, financial advisers from Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB) based at Besley Hill Estate Agents’ offices throughout Bristol and Gloucestershire, comment on entering the Buy to Let market
Buy to Let – should I or shouldn’t I? In the recent economic climate many potential investors question whether to enter the Buy to Let market.
When house prices first started to fall, many experts warned that Buy to Let investors might run scared, potentially prompting a house price crash. This didn’t happen – in fact, just a few months ago some reports suggested Buy to Let was booming, benefiting from larger numbers of people renting and cheaper property prices.
The National Landlords Association (NLA), the leading representative body for private-residential landlords across the UK, represents almost 20,000 individual landlords. According to Simon Gordon of the NLA, research shows that renting is no longer the ugly sister of the property market.
”Increasing numbers are attracted to renting, as a simpler, more flexible alternative to home ownership. Gone is the view that renting is the only option for those who can’t afford to get on the property ladder. Nowadays there are property savvy renters who prefer not having to worry about home repairs or concerns about making ends meet with potentially volatile interest rates,” he said.
Buy to Let loans are based on the property’s value and its rental potential and, although the market for Buy to Let Mortgages is not as good as it once was, there are still deals available.
Q. Is it the right time?
A. Despite uncertainties over the future of the Property Market in the UK, the Buy to Let sector is predicted to grow, a marked turnaround from early last year. The three key reasons for an increase are:
1. More opportunities for people seeking flexibility and mobility with rented properties
2. Younger generations finding it more socially acceptable to rent rather than buy
3. A rise in the traditional rental market
Q. What benefits are there to become a landlord?
A. Now may not be a good time to sell so why not turn it around and let your property out? There are a number of benefits. Here are some key ones:
1. Long term investment
2. A steady sum of income, depending on where your property is and rental charges
3. Considerable tax advantages (tax breaks offered to landlords who rent out their property)
Q. Should I self manage or get a letting agent to manage?
A. There are pros and cons of self managing. Self managing allows you to keep your variable costs down; if you find tenants and manage the property yourself you could save money. Bearing this in mind, you will need to find suitable tenants, draft up an appropriate tenancy agreement, ensure it’s signed properly, and check references. In addition to doing all this, you will need to be first in line for any maintenance problems.
However, if a letting agent managed your property it will save you all the hassle of running around, as the agency will do all the leg -work on your behalf.
Helpful Information
Landlord Association
Landlord Associations are a good place to start as the advice and information will be invaluable. Three of the more well-known Landlord Associations to join are:
• National Federation of Residential Landlords
• National Landlords Association
• Residential Landlords Association
Landlord and Buy- to- Let Show
The Landlord and Buy- to- Let Show is the largest and longest established private rented sector show with shows at London Olympia in March and September and also in mid November at Birmingham NEC. You can visit the following link to view more information http://www.landlordshow.com/home.asp
Buy to Let Mortgages
Buy to Let Mortgages are specifically designed for investors to borrow money to purchase property in the private rented sector in order to let it out to tenants.
Typically, the interest rates that are offered on Buy to Let mortgages are fairly close to residential mortgage rates but will on average be higher and you will typically be charged higher fees. This is due to the perception amongst banks and other lending institutions that Buy to Let mortgages represent a greater risk than residential owner-occupier mortgages. It is therefore essential that potential investors seek independent mortgage advice to ensure they secure the most suitable deal for their circumstances.
For further information on Buy to Let mortgages, contact Patrick Ennis (Fishponds, Downend, Easton and Kingswood), John Simmons (Bedminster, Bishopston, Bishopsworth and Whitchurch), Nigel Bull (Longwell Green, Chipping Sodbury and Knowle) and Mark Gregory (Dursley, Stroud, Thornbury and Wotton-Under-Edge) at your local Besley Hill Estate Agents office, www.besleyhill.co.uk
Note:
Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
There is no guarantee that it will be possible to arrange continuous letting of the property, nor that rental income will be sufficient to meet the cost of the mortgage.
A fee of up to 1% of the mortgage amount may be charged depending on individual circumstances. A typical fee is £95.

Election Manifestos 2010 - Who's promising what?

Now all the three main parties have released their manifestos we can look at possible changes and effects to the Housing Market in England and Wales.

Here is a summary of each parties’ main proposals:

Labour

• 110,000 new homes over the next two years either to rent or buy
• 10,000 Council Houses per year by the end of the next Parliament
• A further tightening by increasing restrictions on repossessions of homes
• FSA to be responsible for regulation of all mortgages; transferring second home loans often used by subprime lenders into the more vigorous FSA regime
• All new homes to be carbon zero (does anybody really know what that actually means) by 2016
• Press ahead with construction of so called “eco towns” will be pressed

Conservatives

 A permanent exemption for first time buyers from Stamp Duty on homes up to the value of £250000.
 Abolish Home Information Packs (HIPS) because of “significant problems”
 Keep Energy Performance Certificates
 No one would be forced to sell their home for unsecured debt under £25000

Liberal Democrats

o A Mansion Tax on all properties worth over £2,000,000 payable at 1% (per annum?) on the value above the £2,000,000 threshold
o Stamp Duty Avoidance measures introduced to ensure Stamp Duty is not avoid by the use of Offshore Trusts
o Stop major housing developments in flood risk areas
o Close loopholes in development of playing fields without proper planning procedures
o Scrap “burdensome Home Information Packs (HIPS)”
o Turn Northern Rock back into a Building Society

Initial Thoughts:

Labour has concentrated least on the Housing Market.

This may fall under Gordon Brown’s pledge not to get in the way of the recovery from recession.

No new policies have been put forward, and one would have to take the pledges on house building with a pinch of salt.

Conservatives have “called” Alastair Darling’s Stamp Duty holiday for First Time Buyers and “raised” it by making it permanent. It is a shame that they did not go the whole hog and be more democratic by giving the exemption to all buyers under the £250,000

Conservatives have followed up with their pre election pledge to abolish HIPs. Their emphasis however may belie a lack of enthusiasm. The pledge to abolish HIPs did not even merit a sub paragraph let alone a full paragraph.

The press has not picked up on this part of the manifesto, and whether there will be much enthusiasm post election remains to be seen.
Any new Government's priorities will lie elsewhere, and if HIPs were abolished, it might be towards the end of the next Parliament in 2014/15

The Conservatives commitment to keeping the Energy Performance Certificates is somewhat strange as this is already embodied in European legislation. They have not said whether the requirement will 10 yearly which is the European requirement or every occasion when a property is sold which is the present legal position in England and Wales.

Liberal Democrats have the most pledges that might affect the Housing Market. They will be deeply unpopular with Developers by stopping major developments on flood risk areas.

Asset rich but cash poor owners of “Mansions” will have additional yearly tax to pay on their homes. A punitive tax as it is based on non income producing assets.

There is no mention on Stamp Duty. Who is to know whether turning the Northern Rock into a Building Society will be in the public interest given the amount of taxpayer bailout it has received.

The Lib Dems have also ganged up on HIPs and want to scrap them whilst again keeping (as they would have to anyway) the Energy Efficiency Certificate.

The Lib Dems opposition to HIPs is new as Vince Cable the Lib Dem’s Treasury spokesman is on record as saying that although HIPs were "badly timed and have added extra cost and friction [nevertheless] now they’re here, it’s not sensible to abandon them”.

There we have it: Hardly designed to set the pulses racing.

In essence not much between the parties to cement or differentiate and with the possible exception of HIPS, hardly any obvious vote catcher.

Thanks to Paul Hajek at Actionmove - www.actionmove.co.uk for the above analysis.

http://www.actionmove.co.uk/site/blog/election_manifesto_2010_and_the_housing_party_.html

Large Victorian Villa For Auction

For sale by public Auction unless previously sold. Auction to be held at the Kendleshire Golf Club, Henfield Road, Coalpit Heath, Bristol on Thursday 22nd April 2010. Contact Fishponds Branch Telephone 0117 9653162 for specific auction viewing arrangements.

A rare opportunity to purchase a three storey mid terrace 1900’s built portfolio investment arranged as three self contained flats providing outstanding rental investment potential. Likely to appeal to landlords, buy to let investors and property developers the combined sale of these three flats provide ample opportunity to increase rental income through careful refurbishment and modernisation of the garden flat.

Both the first and top floor flats are currently let for £495 per calendar month. The garden flat is offered with vacant possession. The top floor flat has received recent modernisation and refurbishment and offers well proportioned accommodation with a genuine double bedroom and smaller second/box room. Most apartments have UPVC double glazed windows and doors (where stated) together with gas heating boilers. Upper Eastville/Fishponds represents an ideal position for those requiring good access to the city together with a junction with the M32 motorway.

There are a small rank of shops within almost immediate walking distance together with a more comprehensive range of services along Fishponds High Street. Besley Hill Estate Agents are delighted to promote this home for auction and anticipate strong interest within this sale.

For more information click/copy & paste this link: http://www.besleyhill.co.uk/propertyDetails.php?pid=210312

TODAYS BUDGET REACTION FROM BESLEY HILL ESTATE AGENTS

Adam Offer, Managing Director of Besley Hill Estate Agents, with 16 offices in Bristol and Gloucestershire, welcomed the suspension of Stamp Duty on first-time buyer property purchases up to £250,000 during 2010 and 2011.

"But it would have done more to boost the housing market if the Chancellor had applied the exemption to all buyers or, better still, if he had scrapped Stamp Duty altogether," said Mr Offer.

For further comment contact Adam Offer on 07968029012

STYLISH LIVING IN THE HEART OF THE CITY

Fancy living at an iconic building with stunning views across Bristol’s Harbourside and city centre?

Well, now is your chance because five apartments at the new Quay Point North development, situated opposite Bristol Hippodrome, are available to rent from Besley Hill Estate Agents at Bishopston.

One of the them, 70 Central Quay North, Broad Quay, comes furnished with two bedrooms and two bathrooms at a rent of £875 per calendar month. The others, numbers 43, 46, 48 and 58, are all one-bedroom with rents from £725-£750 pcm.

Spread over seven floors, the 69 luxury studios, one and two-bedroom apartments at Quay Point North are extremely well presented and fitted to a high specification with a finish that is second to none. All have a balcony or terrace.

The spacious rooms are furnished with leather sofas, wooden table and leather chairs, double beds, wardrobes/cupboards and chest of drawers, complemented by modern neutral decorations, light carpets and wooden floorings.

The high quality, fully fitted kitchens include hobs, ovens, extractor fans, dishwashers, washer dryers and microwaves while the sleek bathrooms are fully tiled with shower over a white bath and contemporary wash hand basins. A limited number of two- double bedroom apartments have good-sized en-suite shower rooms.

The apartments also benefit from 24-hour concierge and security video door entry phone with lifts giving access to each level.

For further details contact Darren, Matt, Catherine or Jenna at Besley Hill Estate Agents, 66 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8BH, tel 0117 924 4008, email bishopston@besleyhill.co.uk, website http://www.besleyhill.co.uk/