Current Listings
Guide Price £345,000
3
1
3
Guide Price £345,000
3
1
3
Guide Price £330,000
3
1
2
Guide Price £375,000
3
2
4
Guide Price £230,000
3
1
Guide Price £335,000
3
1
3
Guide Price £410,000
4
2
3
Guide Price £385,000
4
2
3
Guide Price £270,000
3
2
2
Guide Price £300,000
3
1
6
Guide Price £450,000
3
1
3
Guide Price £760,000
4
2
5
Guide Price £445,000
3
2
4
Guide Price £435,000
4
2
4
Guide Price £350,000
3
1
4
Guide Price £305,000
2
1
4
Guide Price £180,000
2
3
Guide Price £400,000
4
3
3
Guide Price £220,000
2
2
1
Guide Price £500,000
3
1
6
Guide Price £530,000
4
3
4
Guide Price £375,000
3
2
6
Guide Price £1,500,000
5
4
12
Guide Price £274,000
2
2
2
Guide Price £350,000
3
1
1
Guide Price £600,000
5
1
3
Guide Price £925,000
5
4
13
Guide Price £240,000
3
1
2
Guide Price £365,000
4
1
3
Guide Price £425,000
3
2
8
Guide Price £350,000
3
1
3
Guide Price £395,000
3
2
2
Guide Price £260,000
3
2
2
Guide Price £500,000
3
2
2
Guide Price £935,000
5
4
6
Guide Price £550,000
5
2
6
Guide Price £375,000
3
2
6
Guide Price £360,000
3
1
4
Guide Price £350,000
4
2
3
Guide Price £250,000
3
1
3
Guide Price £895,000
4
3
10
Guide Price £260,000
1
1
2
Guide Price £225,000
2
1
2
£240,000
1
1
5
Guide Price £385,000
3
2
3
£163,500
1
1
£255,000
3
2
2
£270,000
3
1
2
Guide Price £465,000
4
2
6
£425,000
4
2
4
Bennet Samways Estate Agents
Bennet Samways are a truly personalised estate agency, providing a high-end experience in the world of estate agency. Bennet Samways is your trusted partner in finding, selling and securing the finest properties tailored to your unique desires and dreams.
About Us - At Bennet Samways, we redefine the estate agency experience. As a small bespoke estate agency, we specialise in delivering exceptional service that goes beyond your expectations. Our mission is to expertly nurture, communicate and guide our clients through the selling, and buying process. We work hard to connect you with exclusive properties that match your lifestyle, preferences, and aspirations.
We take immense pride in being a licensed Propertymark estate agency. Our commitment to professionalism, transparency, and ethical practises sets us apart in the estate agency industry. As a licensed member of Propertymark, we adhere to the highest standards, ensuring that our clients receive expert guidance and the utmost confidence in their property transactions. Whether you’re buying, or selling, you can trust Bennet Samways to provide you with a superior level of service that is both dependable and dedicated. We understand the significance of your property decisions, and our affiliation with Propertymark underscores our unwavering dedication to delivering excellence in every aspect of your estate agency journey.
Bennet Samways was established in 2021 by Stuart Bennet and Nick Samways, with combined 35 years of estate agency experience. Winning the ‘British Property Award Gold Winner For Best Estate Agent In Ashbourne’ in both 2022, 2023 & 2024. We were also listed in the 'Best Estate Agent Guide' for Ashbourne 2023.
Discover The Difference Today - Whether you’re selling a country cottage in Derbyshire, a discerning character home with land or a stylish home in Ashbourne, Bennet Samways is here to make your property dreams a reality.
Explore our exclusive listings, read our client testimonials, and get in touch with us to start your journey in selling your home and find the perfect property that reflects your unique style and taste.
Located at the prestigious office at Ednaston Park, between Ashbourne and Derby, adjacent to A52 with easy access, and free car parking for our clients on their appointment. Why not call Stuart, Nick or Katie on 01335 818550 and discover the difference…
Your extraordinary estate agency journey starts here…
THINKING OF SELLING? FREE VALUATIONS AVAILABLE
We provide EXPERT advice on achieving the best possible price for your home. We are pleased to offer FREE Valuations, and advice on maximising the saleability of your property, along with a ‘No Sale No Fee’ approach.
Latest Blog Posts
Apr 25, 2024
ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES (EPC): A GUIDE FOR HOME SELLERS IN ASHBOURNE & DERBYSHIRE
When selling your home in Ashbourne & Derbyshire, it is essential to possess a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This documentation plays a crucial role in helping potential buyers understand the energy efficiency and environmental impact of the property they are considering. In this article, we will delve into the significance of EPCs, why they are necessary when selling in Ashbourne & Derbyshire, and how to obtain one for your UK property. Understanding EPCs An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) provides information about a property's energy efficiency and its environmental footprint. These certificates are valid for a period of 10 years. Whether you are a homeowner or a landlord, having an EPC is mandatory when selling your property in Ashbourne & Derbyshire. EPCs grade properties on a scale from A to G, with A being highly efficient and G indicating poor energy efficiency. This assessment takes into account various factors, including appliances, heating systems, insulation, and other elements affecting energy consumption. Importance of EPCs When Selling a Property In the UK, it is a legal requirement to have an EPC when selling any property. As the seller, it is your responsibility to ensure that your home has a valid and non-expired EPC. If your certificate has expired, it is crucial to arrange for a new one before putting your property on the market. Fortunately, your estate agent in Ashbourne & Derbyshire, Bennet Samways can assist you in quickly obtaining a new EPC. Apart from legal compliance, EPCs serve as a valuable tool for potential buyers. They provide insights into the energy efficiency of the property, including: Energy efficiency of the property and its appliances. Grade of energy efficiency achieved by the property. Estimation of potential energy bills for the property. Failure to obtain an EPC can result in fines during the conveyancing process. Therefore, it is crucial to adhere to this requirement to ensure a smooth selling experience. EPCs for Landlord Sellers If you are a landlord selling a property, an EPC is still mandatory. It serves as an important document to showcase the energy efficiency of the property to potential tenants. However, there are a few exceptions to when an EPC may not be needed, such as for certain holiday accommodations based on the duration, or licensing agreements. Landlords should refer to the GOV.UK website for a complete list of exemptions. Obtaining an EPC for Your Home To obtain a new EPC, you will need to schedule an inspection with an accredited energy assessor. You can conveniently book an inspection online via the GOV.UK website or seek assistance from your trusted estate agent in Ashbourne & Derbyshire. If you wish to verify whether your property already has a valid EPC that hasn't expired, you can check the GOV.UK website for existing certificates. Contact Estate Agent in Ashbourne & Derbyshire, Bennet Samways At Bennet Samways, we are your local estate agents in Ashbourne & Derbyshire. Our friendly team is dedicated to assisting you throughout the home selling process, including arranging your EPC and preparing your property for sale. Need a Home Valuation? Give us a call today on 01335 818550 or send us an email at stuart@bennetsamways.co.uk to book your valuation now....
Apr 19, 2024
WHAT ARE HOUSE BUYING SEARCHES?
One of the first steps to buying a house after your offer has been accepted is to order searches on the property. If you’re not sure what house buying searches are, we’ll explain in this article: What they are Why they’re important Whether you need to purchase them What Are House Buying Searches? House buying searches are checks carried out on a property before you buy it. They usually cost a couple of hundred pounds (approx. £200-300) and can provide highly valuable information about the property. For example, searches can tell you, and your lender, if the house: Sits on a floodplain and regularly floods Has any debts that you’ll take over when you buy it Sits on top of a mineshaft which, if it collapses, could cause severe damage to the property Is in an area where a new road, train line, housing estate, wind farm or other types of development will be built Sits on contaminated land from being previously owned by an industrial site – which can include things like asbestos, solvents, gases or arsenic You’ll normally have to pay for searches shortly after your offer has been formally accepted and you’ve instructed your solicitor to commence work. What Are the Most Common Searches That Need to Be Done? There are three main searches your solicitor will order for you when you buy a house: Local authority searches Environmental searches Water and drainage searches Local authority searches will check the following for issues: Planning Building control Highways Pollution Environmental searches will check for issues related to: Flooding Landslides Subsidence Contaminated land Water and drainage searches will check things like: Who owns and maintains the nearby sewers and drains Whether the property is connected to a water supply and sewer If the water supply is on a meter or not Where the public sewers, drains and pipes are on the property If you’ll need permission from a water company to extend the property Are Searches Necessary When Buying a House? If you’re buying a property with a mortgage, the lender will almost always require you to pay for searches on the property. This is because they need to know how much the property is worth and what issues they may be liable to pay for if they repossess it in the future (if you don’t keep up with your mortgage payments). However, if you’re buying in cash, you don’t legally have to pay for searches, unless you want to. But remember, there are still benefits to ordering searches when you’re a cash buyer. They are much more in-depth than a homebuyer’s survey and can provide a detailed picture of what risks there are in buying the property. Conclusion Generally, you’ll always need to pay for searches when buying a property with a mortgage. If you buy a property with cash, it’s usually your decision whether you pay for searches, but it’s important to remember that not paying for them can cause significant risk and issue later down the line. If you’re considering buying a property in Ashbourne & Derbyshire and want advice about the process, our friendly team of agents at Bennet Samways are happy to help. Give us a call today on 01335 818550 or email us at stuart@bennetsamways.co.uk to start the conversation....
Apr 1, 2024
7 HOME SELLING MYTHS...BUSTED!
When it comes to selling your home in Ashbourne & Derbyshire, there’s a lot of overwhelming information and old wives tales out there, and it can sometimes be difficult separating the fact from the fiction. Advice often comes from well-meaning friends or family members who are just trying to be helpful, but in reality, they are not property experts! Our team at Bennet Samways are all experienced property professionals with many years of experience between us. So, to ensure you are in possession of the correct information, here are seven home selling myths you're likely to hear and why they're not to be believed. Overpricing Your Home Will Lead to Better Offers Unfortunately, many sellers believe that by overpricing their house to start with, it leaves more room for negotiation and ultimately a better offer. That's why we often see sellers marketing their properties with the agent who has simply come in with the highest valuation! However, this is entirely false. When buyers are looking at properties, they'll search within their price range. If your property price has been inflated, then it's going to be competing against other properties that appear to be far better value for money, rather than sitting in the price bracket it should be in! This potentially means it will sit on the market for longer. Buyers whose budget doesn’t stretch to the higher price range will miss out on seeing your property altogether as they’re not even looking in that price bracket. You'll attract more offers and sell your property more quickly if it's been priced fairly. It gives it a chance to stand out among other properties in its price range, rather than being a poor relation in the higher price category. And you're more likely to see interested parties competing upwards rather than knocking you down. Getting an Immediate Offer Means it’s Priced Too Low If you've resisted the urge to overprice your home and an offer comes in straight away, it's tempting to think that you've missed a trick by not marketing it at a higher price. After all, if you had done, then you'd be a few thousand pounds better off surely. Again, this is false. Most buyers scour the market for a couple of months, waiting for the perfect property to come up, and there's a good chance that they've jumped in immediately to avoid missing out. Remember too that if you’d overpriced it, there’s a chance they wouldn’t have found it in the first place. A Better Offer Will Come Along if You Wait This is another all too familiar trap that sellers fall into. After all, if you’ve had an offer on the very same day your home has gone on sale, then surely there’s likely to be a whole queue of buyers lining up for it? No, not necessarily. You might just have been lucky enough to have the right buyer come along at the right time. If you receive a fair offer, then it's usually best to accept it whether your property has been on the market for hours, days , weeks or months. The Estate Agent With the Lowest Commission is the Best Option While you’ll naturally want to earn as much money from your property sale as possible, it doesn’t mean you should sign a contract with the estate agent who offers the cheapest fees. Selling a property can be a very stressful process. A good estate agent will help make it run as smoothly as possible while communicating effectively and providing outstanding service, so it's crucial you weigh up what's included in their fee. Although it’s tempting to cut costs as much as possible in the short term, you might come to regret it over the longer term, especially if your property isn’t selling. Major Renovations Will Offer the Biggest Return on Investment Many homeowners are under the impression that if they spend a few thousand pounds on a conservatory, a swimming pool or a landscaped garden, they'll just be able to add the cost of it to the house when they come to sell. Sadly, it's not quite as simple as this. Not all buyers will want to maintain a pool or require the space that a conservatory ultimately takes away from their garden, for example. Many buyers prefer to start with a blank canvas too, so they can add their own renovations. That’s not to say that a major renovation is a bad idea, but if you’re only doing it to see a return when you come to sell, then it might be worth considering the type of renovation or extension that will bring you the best returns. It's Not Worth Fixing the House up at all If you've decided to sell your property, it's understandable that you won't be thinking about spending even more money on it. After all, it won't be you seeing the benefits long-term. This logic is flawed, though, and it could cost you when it comes to getting the full asking price. A property that's well maintained and looked after is far more appealing to buyers. Fixing broken fences and gates, tidying the garden, replacing broken windows or doors and giving any tired rooms a fresh lick of paint will go a long way towards selling your property for its true value. Online Valuations are 100% Accurate Online valuations are a fantastic tool and we are most definitely in favour! However, a quick online valuation of your property should be used as a guide. Online tools don't always take into account the condition of a property or the extra value you may have added. They're simply using other similar sized and types of properties in your area as a guideline. The best way to get your property valued is always to contact an experienced, local estate agent who will come and value your property in person. Bennet Samways are your local property experts for the Ashbourne & Derbyshire area. Call us on 01335 818550 or email stuart@bennetsamways.co.uk to chat with a member of our friendly and experienced team....
Mar 22, 2024
IS A NEIGHBOUR’S TREE BLOCKING THE LIGHT? HERE ARE OUR TOP TIPS FOR HANDLING THE SITUATION
Have You Heard Of The Right of Light Act? Homeowners in Ashbourne & Derbyshire are usually delighted when the sun shines – after all, we don’t see much of it for most of the year! However, if your neighbour’s trees are growing out of control and are blocking the sunlight from reaching your garden or windows, it’s likely that you’re not going to be very happy with the situation. The team here at Bennet Samways have a few tips to help you deal with this problem should it arise. Although you might want to force your neighbour to chop down their tree so you can enjoy more light, unfortunately, you can’t always do this. The only time you can get a tree chopped back is if it blocks the light from entering one of your property’s “defined apertures” such as the windows or glass doors. Even then, you may not always be able to legally do anything about the overgrown tree. Although there is a piece of legislation called the “Right of Light Act”, many legal claims are rejected since deciduous trees and trees that allow some sunlight through the branches and leaves won’t usually be covered. How Many Trees? An important distinction when dealing with blocked sunlight to your property is whether the problem is caused by a single tree or multiple trees. If you’re bothered by just one tall tree, your only real option is to discuss the situation with your neighbour to try to persuade them to take action. However, if two trees (or more) stand at least 2m above the ground level, the 2005 High Hedges Regulations in the Anti-Social Behaviour Act may come into play. You can approach the local council and ask for a notice to be issued to your neighbour asking them to reduce their trees’ height. Is The Tree Potentially Dangerous? If a tree is overhanging your garden and could potentially be dangerous to your property, your family, or yourself, it’s possible that it may be deemed a nuisance by the local council who can then take action for you. Alternatively, you could make a county court private nuisance claim, but this could be expensive as you’d need to use the services of a solicitor, as well as being potentially risky since you may lose your case. Can I Cut Down The Tree? Cutting your neighbour’s tree yourself may seem like the ideal solution, but it could cause you legal problems. For example, it could be subject to a tree preservation order, or be located in a conservation area. Although you have some common law rights to prune a tree if the branches encroach on your own property, it’s wise to be cautious. If you damage the tree, you could find yourself facing a liability claim. Therefore, employing the services of an arborist is best. You must also either return the pruned branches to your neighbour or reach an agreement beforehand about the disposal of them. If you’re considering looking for a new home with a lighter aspect, don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01335 818550 today, or pop over to our website at [personalise with="website"] and see some of the properties in Ashbourne & Derbyshire we have listed for sale. We can help you find the perfect property....
Apr 25, 2024
ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES (EPC): A GUIDE FOR HOME SELLERS IN ASHBOURNE & DERBYSHIRE
When selling your home in Ashbourne & Derbyshire, it is essential to possess a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This documentation plays a crucial role in helping potential buyers understand the energy efficiency and environmental impact of the property they are considering. In this article, we will delve into the significance of EPCs, why they are necessary when selling in Ashbourne & Derbyshire, and how to obtain one for your UK property. Understanding EPCs An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) provides information about a property's energy efficiency and its environmental footprint. These certificates are valid for a period of 10 years. Whether you are a homeowner or a landlord, having an EPC is mandatory when selling your property in Ashbourne & Derbyshire. EPCs grade properties on a scale from A to G, with A being highly efficient and G indicating poor energy efficiency. This assessment takes into account various factors, including appliances, heating systems, insulation, and other elements affecting energy consumption. Importance of EPCs When Selling a Property In the UK, it is a legal requirement to have an EPC when selling any property. As the seller, it is your responsibility to ensure that your home has a valid and non-expired EPC. If your certificate has expired, it is crucial to arrange for a new one before putting your property on the market. Fortunately, your estate agent in Ashbourne & Derbyshire, Bennet Samways can assist you in quickly obtaining a new EPC. Apart from legal compliance, EPCs serve as a valuable tool for potential buyers. They provide insights into the energy efficiency of the property, including: Energy efficiency of the property and its appliances. Grade of energy efficiency achieved by the property. Estimation of potential energy bills for the property. Failure to obtain an EPC can result in fines during the conveyancing process. Therefore, it is crucial to adhere to this requirement to ensure a smooth selling experience. EPCs for Landlord Sellers If you are a landlord selling a property, an EPC is still mandatory. It serves as an important document to showcase the energy efficiency of the property to potential tenants. However, there are a few exceptions to when an EPC may not be needed, such as for certain holiday accommodations based on the duration, or licensing agreements. Landlords should refer to the GOV.UK website for a complete list of exemptions. Obtaining an EPC for Your Home To obtain a new EPC, you will need to schedule an inspection with an accredited energy assessor. You can conveniently book an inspection online via the GOV.UK website or seek assistance from your trusted estate agent in Ashbourne & Derbyshire. If you wish to verify whether your property already has a valid EPC that hasn't expired, you can check the GOV.UK website for existing certificates. Contact Estate Agent in Ashbourne & Derbyshire, Bennet Samways At Bennet Samways, we are your local estate agents in Ashbourne & Derbyshire. Our friendly team is dedicated to assisting you throughout the home selling process, including arranging your EPC and preparing your property for sale. Need a Home Valuation? Give us a call today on 01335 818550 or send us an email at stuart@bennetsamways.co.uk to book your valuation now....
Apr 19, 2024
WHAT ARE HOUSE BUYING SEARCHES?
One of the first steps to buying a house after your offer has been accepted is to order searches on the property. If you’re not sure what house buying searches are, we’ll explain in this article: What they are Why they’re important Whether you need to purchase them What Are House Buying Searches? House buying searches are checks carried out on a property before you buy it. They usually cost a couple of hundred pounds (approx. £200-300) and can provide highly valuable information about the property. For example, searches can tell you, and your lender, if the house: Sits on a floodplain and regularly floods Has any debts that you’ll take over when you buy it Sits on top of a mineshaft which, if it collapses, could cause severe damage to the property Is in an area where a new road, train line, housing estate, wind farm or other types of development will be built Sits on contaminated land from being previously owned by an industrial site – which can include things like asbestos, solvents, gases or arsenic You’ll normally have to pay for searches shortly after your offer has been formally accepted and you’ve instructed your solicitor to commence work. What Are the Most Common Searches That Need to Be Done? There are three main searches your solicitor will order for you when you buy a house: Local authority searches Environmental searches Water and drainage searches Local authority searches will check the following for issues: Planning Building control Highways Pollution Environmental searches will check for issues related to: Flooding Landslides Subsidence Contaminated land Water and drainage searches will check things like: Who owns and maintains the nearby sewers and drains Whether the property is connected to a water supply and sewer If the water supply is on a meter or not Where the public sewers, drains and pipes are on the property If you’ll need permission from a water company to extend the property Are Searches Necessary When Buying a House? If you’re buying a property with a mortgage, the lender will almost always require you to pay for searches on the property. This is because they need to know how much the property is worth and what issues they may be liable to pay for if they repossess it in the future (if you don’t keep up with your mortgage payments). However, if you’re buying in cash, you don’t legally have to pay for searches, unless you want to. But remember, there are still benefits to ordering searches when you’re a cash buyer. They are much more in-depth than a homebuyer’s survey and can provide a detailed picture of what risks there are in buying the property. Conclusion Generally, you’ll always need to pay for searches when buying a property with a mortgage. If you buy a property with cash, it’s usually your decision whether you pay for searches, but it’s important to remember that not paying for them can cause significant risk and issue later down the line. If you’re considering buying a property in Ashbourne & Derbyshire and want advice about the process, our friendly team of agents at Bennet Samways are happy to help. Give us a call today on 01335 818550 or email us at stuart@bennetsamways.co.uk to start the conversation....
Apr 1, 2024
7 HOME SELLING MYTHS...BUSTED!
When it comes to selling your home in Ashbourne & Derbyshire, there’s a lot of overwhelming information and old wives tales out there, and it can sometimes be difficult separating the fact from the fiction. Advice often comes from well-meaning friends or family members who are just trying to be helpful, but in reality, they are not property experts! Our team at Bennet Samways are all experienced property professionals with many years of experience between us. So, to ensure you are in possession of the correct information, here are seven home selling myths you're likely to hear and why they're not to be believed. Overpricing Your Home Will Lead to Better Offers Unfortunately, many sellers believe that by overpricing their house to start with, it leaves more room for negotiation and ultimately a better offer. That's why we often see sellers marketing their properties with the agent who has simply come in with the highest valuation! However, this is entirely false. When buyers are looking at properties, they'll search within their price range. If your property price has been inflated, then it's going to be competing against other properties that appear to be far better value for money, rather than sitting in the price bracket it should be in! This potentially means it will sit on the market for longer. Buyers whose budget doesn’t stretch to the higher price range will miss out on seeing your property altogether as they’re not even looking in that price bracket. You'll attract more offers and sell your property more quickly if it's been priced fairly. It gives it a chance to stand out among other properties in its price range, rather than being a poor relation in the higher price category. And you're more likely to see interested parties competing upwards rather than knocking you down. Getting an Immediate Offer Means it’s Priced Too Low If you've resisted the urge to overprice your home and an offer comes in straight away, it's tempting to think that you've missed a trick by not marketing it at a higher price. After all, if you had done, then you'd be a few thousand pounds better off surely. Again, this is false. Most buyers scour the market for a couple of months, waiting for the perfect property to come up, and there's a good chance that they've jumped in immediately to avoid missing out. Remember too that if you’d overpriced it, there’s a chance they wouldn’t have found it in the first place. A Better Offer Will Come Along if You Wait This is another all too familiar trap that sellers fall into. After all, if you’ve had an offer on the very same day your home has gone on sale, then surely there’s likely to be a whole queue of buyers lining up for it? No, not necessarily. You might just have been lucky enough to have the right buyer come along at the right time. If you receive a fair offer, then it's usually best to accept it whether your property has been on the market for hours, days , weeks or months. The Estate Agent With the Lowest Commission is the Best Option While you’ll naturally want to earn as much money from your property sale as possible, it doesn’t mean you should sign a contract with the estate agent who offers the cheapest fees. Selling a property can be a very stressful process. A good estate agent will help make it run as smoothly as possible while communicating effectively and providing outstanding service, so it's crucial you weigh up what's included in their fee. Although it’s tempting to cut costs as much as possible in the short term, you might come to regret it over the longer term, especially if your property isn’t selling. Major Renovations Will Offer the Biggest Return on Investment Many homeowners are under the impression that if they spend a few thousand pounds on a conservatory, a swimming pool or a landscaped garden, they'll just be able to add the cost of it to the house when they come to sell. Sadly, it's not quite as simple as this. Not all buyers will want to maintain a pool or require the space that a conservatory ultimately takes away from their garden, for example. Many buyers prefer to start with a blank canvas too, so they can add their own renovations. That’s not to say that a major renovation is a bad idea, but if you’re only doing it to see a return when you come to sell, then it might be worth considering the type of renovation or extension that will bring you the best returns. It's Not Worth Fixing the House up at all If you've decided to sell your property, it's understandable that you won't be thinking about spending even more money on it. After all, it won't be you seeing the benefits long-term. This logic is flawed, though, and it could cost you when it comes to getting the full asking price. A property that's well maintained and looked after is far more appealing to buyers. Fixing broken fences and gates, tidying the garden, replacing broken windows or doors and giving any tired rooms a fresh lick of paint will go a long way towards selling your property for its true value. Online Valuations are 100% Accurate Online valuations are a fantastic tool and we are most definitely in favour! However, a quick online valuation of your property should be used as a guide. Online tools don't always take into account the condition of a property or the extra value you may have added. They're simply using other similar sized and types of properties in your area as a guideline. The best way to get your property valued is always to contact an experienced, local estate agent who will come and value your property in person. Bennet Samways are your local property experts for the Ashbourne & Derbyshire area. Call us on 01335 818550 or email stuart@bennetsamways.co.uk to chat with a member of our friendly and experienced team....
Mar 22, 2024
IS A NEIGHBOUR’S TREE BLOCKING THE LIGHT? HERE ARE OUR TOP TIPS FOR HANDLING THE SITUATION
Have You Heard Of The Right of Light Act? Homeowners in Ashbourne & Derbyshire are usually delighted when the sun shines – after all, we don’t see much of it for most of the year! However, if your neighbour’s trees are growing out of control and are blocking the sunlight from reaching your garden or windows, it’s likely that you’re not going to be very happy with the situation. The team here at Bennet Samways have a few tips to help you deal with this problem should it arise. Although you might want to force your neighbour to chop down their tree so you can enjoy more light, unfortunately, you can’t always do this. The only time you can get a tree chopped back is if it blocks the light from entering one of your property’s “defined apertures” such as the windows or glass doors. Even then, you may not always be able to legally do anything about the overgrown tree. Although there is a piece of legislation called the “Right of Light Act”, many legal claims are rejected since deciduous trees and trees that allow some sunlight through the branches and leaves won’t usually be covered. How Many Trees? An important distinction when dealing with blocked sunlight to your property is whether the problem is caused by a single tree or multiple trees. If you’re bothered by just one tall tree, your only real option is to discuss the situation with your neighbour to try to persuade them to take action. However, if two trees (or more) stand at least 2m above the ground level, the 2005 High Hedges Regulations in the Anti-Social Behaviour Act may come into play. You can approach the local council and ask for a notice to be issued to your neighbour asking them to reduce their trees’ height. Is The Tree Potentially Dangerous? If a tree is overhanging your garden and could potentially be dangerous to your property, your family, or yourself, it’s possible that it may be deemed a nuisance by the local council who can then take action for you. Alternatively, you could make a county court private nuisance claim, but this could be expensive as you’d need to use the services of a solicitor, as well as being potentially risky since you may lose your case. Can I Cut Down The Tree? Cutting your neighbour’s tree yourself may seem like the ideal solution, but it could cause you legal problems. For example, it could be subject to a tree preservation order, or be located in a conservation area. Although you have some common law rights to prune a tree if the branches encroach on your own property, it’s wise to be cautious. If you damage the tree, you could find yourself facing a liability claim. Therefore, employing the services of an arborist is best. You must also either return the pruned branches to your neighbour or reach an agreement beforehand about the disposal of them. If you’re considering looking for a new home with a lighter aspect, don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01335 818550 today, or pop over to our website at [personalise with="website"] and see some of the properties in Ashbourne & Derbyshire we have listed for sale. We can help you find the perfect property....
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