How many trees to buy?

Last week, we introduced our partnership with Trees4Scotland, aiming to neutralise the carbon footprint of all 320+ properties managed by us.

We've done our figures and here are some of them: initially, we'll be investing over £1,600 on behalf of three clients which will buy us 232 trees. Those trees will also offset the carbon footprint of our office and the company vehicles.

The properties are rated depending on their size: a 2 bed flat with kitchen, bathroom and living room would need 5 trees whereas a 5 bed flat with 2 bathrooms and a combined living kitchen would need 9 trees in total.

So far, so good! Over the next couple of weeks, the team will be hands-on at Teaghlach Wood, planting trees and we're delighted to be joined by a couple of clients based locally.

We can't wait to see with our own eyes what our contribution will mean to Trees4 Scotland's project and pictures will follow.

We're going green(er) with Trees4Scotland

We're joining Trees4Scotland with the ambitious goal to offset the carbon footprint of all of our managed flats.

We're well aware that every business does have an impact on the environment and needs to work on minimising it. Trees4Scotland seemed the perfect partner: their initiative to restore native Scottish woodlands is a perfect way for us to do our share.

For each property, Angus Crabbie of Trees4Scotland will help calculate the amount of trees we need to plant to offset its carbon footprint.

We will be starting with three clients initially, but all of our landlord clients will be invited to join us with their properties and go carbon neutral. Find out whether your flat is part of the initial stage of the project or get in touch if you want to contribute, too.

There are plenty of ways to minimise the environmental impact of properties and we have a number of handy tips ready for you to put into practice. Just email us for more information.

In our blog we'll follow the progress of the project, i.e. the growth of the trees quite literally and will keep you updated on how it all goes.

Let us know if you have any questions at all!

Is renting just a temporary solution?

For decades, if graduates were asked what they were looking to do in relation to their living arangements after leaving university, a  majority was looking to get their feet on the property ladder and buy as soon  as they could.

Now, with asking prices rising again and mortgages still hard to get for many young professionals, renting seems to become a longer-term solution. At the same time, landlords are looking to increase their portfolios and the UK rental market in general has had a strong start to 2012.

What does it mean for you? Whilst it may take a few more years to own your own home there will be a good selection of high quality rental properties available. With more landlords expanding their portfolios, too, tenants will have more choice and, naturally, the quality of rental properties will increase at the same tim, making renting a good longer-term option.

Second toilet anyone? 41% say 'yes'

During the week of the Diamond Jubilee, statistics wizards at Lloyds TSB have looked at what’s happened to the private rental market over the past sixty years. Whilst their findings are specifically for England, it’s a similar picture in Scotland showing that not only do 41% of households now have a second toilet – but also reminding us that renting a home was very popular in the 1950s. The number of home owners grew in the 1970s and 1980s, but now renting’s on the up once again. Surprisingly, though, there’s still 1% of properties that have no basic water supply!

Chelsea or Bayern?

Who's your favourite for Saturday night's Champions League Final? The teams have met once before, in the 2004/5 season when Chelsea beat Bayern on aggregate to reach the semifinals, only to be kicked out by Liverpool FC.
Email us with your prediction for a chance to win a crate of beer for your flat! Entries close at 20.45 on Saturday and the winner will be drawn from all correct predictions. Good luck!

Mad about football?

In our office, there are two distinct fractions this week - those who can't sit still with excitement about the footie weekend coming up and those who wish it was over already!

No matter what side of the fence you're on, our blog will have something for you this week. It's all things Scottish Cup Final today, but from tomorrow we're running a Champions League competition. Don't miss out...

Get ready for Edinburgh football fans celebrating or mourning the result of the Scottish Cup Final on Saturday afternoon! Whether you want to avoid the football-mad crowds after the match, fancy joining them or just enjoy a spot of people watching, you need to know where to look for them.

Both Hearts and Hibs have launched their victory march routes and you can be sure the pubs on either one will be buzzing. Both start or end at the respective stadiums, so Dalry, Gorgie and the Easter Road areas will be busy. the same will be the case for the city centre which both teams are planning to use.

Click here for Hibs' and here for Hearts' route and start planning your people-watching spot or get ready to avoid those parts of town!

Are you getting the best deal?

Check out your energy prices now as consumer watchdog uswitch.com is warning that many online package prices for gas & electricity are creeping up. With the summer approaching, utility bills tend to be lower, however, it's never too early to bag a bargain!