The answers to our Name the Christmas Artist Competition were: A. Vincent van Gogh, B. William Turner, C. Joseph Farquharson, D. Fra Angelico, E. Peter Rubens, F. Claude Monet, G. Leonardo da Vinci, H. Rembrandt van Rijn, I. Pieter Bruegel (the Younger) & J. Paul Gaugin. The tie breaker – Salvator Mundi sold for $450.3M (£341M). Thank you to everyone who entered. As there were several correct entries, the winner & runner-up were chosen by way of a draw.

Here are 10 winter & Christmas scenes, some are more familiar than others but who painted them? Name as many artists as you can!

1st Prize – 12 Bottles of Wine

2nd Prize – 6 Bottles of Wine

TIE BREAK – How much was Picture G sold for at auction in 2017?

Email your answers & contact details to: admin@ruralview.co.uk

or send them to Rural View, Unit 5, Manor Farm, Chilmark, Salisbury SP3 5AF

CLOSING DATE – Tuesday 2nd January 2018

For full competition rules email admin@ruralview.co.uk

It has been on the cards for a while now, but legislation has a habit of creeping up on us and EPC changes in residential lettings is on the horizon.

Government guidance states that:

‘ From April 2018, landlords of privately rented domestic and non-domestic property in England or Wales must ensure that their properties reach at least an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E before granting a new tenancy to new or existing tenants. These requirements will then apply to all private rented properties in England and Wales – even where there has been no change in tenancy arrangements – from 1 April 2020 for domestic properties.’ 

So landlords of properties with EPC ratings below E are now on notice that their properties must be improved before signing up a new tenant, or renewing an existing tenant’s contract. There are exemptions to this, most notably listed buildings, although those landlords will have to show that energy efficiency improvements have been made to the extent that they are permitted within the planning rules. This exercise would preferably mean taking advice from their local authority and the conservation officer, and the property would also have to be registered.

One cannot argue that tenants should not have the opportunity to live in relatively energy efficient houses and this legislation will no doubt press rogue landlords into action, but as yet another squeeze on the private rental sector many period properties will have to see significant expenditure if they are to continue to be let.

It had been suggested that an initial cap of £5,000, which landlords would be expected to spend to bring a property up to standard, would be applied. Until the government publishes more detailed guidance, however, this cannot be confirmed.

In the meantime landlords should be checking their EPC’s and taking note of the improvements that are suggested. If in doubt, you should speak to your local authority and maybe to an energy consultant who can advise on where and how to invest in improvements. Let us know if you need some contacts.

Nervous about marketing current property before finding your next home?

We often conduct market appraisals where owners are not comfortable with putting their own properties on the market until they have found somewhere to move to. This is understandable, especially in a market where there is little to choose from. If they have been in their home for many years the decision to move in itself can be difficult, but if there is also nothing on the open market to look at, the whole process can become very demoralising.

Finding your next home – we’re here to help

We see our role as estate agents, not only to sell property for our clients, but also to try to help wherever we can in the house moving experience. It can be a stressful and frustrating time, so our clients appreciate all the help we can give them. As a boutique firm, our ethos is all about service and we want to be able to provide complete assistance if we can, so we are now actively helping our clients to find their next property as well as selling theirs.

All Part of the Rural View Service

There is no extra fee. All we ask is the loyalty that comes with being fully retained, so that when the right house becomes available we are then instructed to market our client’s property. This ideally means that all ducks have been put in a row and the brochure is prepared in advance, so that no time is lost when it really matters.

In the meantime we work alongside our clients to really get to know what they are looking for and to use our many contacts and years of experience in the marketplace to uncover the right house for them.

While it is generally better to find a buyer first before finding a house to move to, this service greatly assists those who are nervous of never finding the right property and we are genuinely happy to be that helping hand.

One of the most pressing reasons for moving house is to live within reach of the best school that we have selected for our children.

Gone are the days when a job for life meant a house for life with the local school as the only option. We are all much more mobile and selective these days and competition amongst schools is intense. League tables, Ofsted and Best Schools Guides amongst others have put huge pressure on performance and of course most of us want to do the best for our children by getting them into the best performing establishments.

State Schools in Wiltshire

The catchments for state secondary schools, some of which are excellent, are often illogical in terms of area and post codes can invariably play a crucial role. Top performing Grammar Schools such as South Wilts Grammar School for Girls and Bishops Wordsworth, both in Salisbury, select their intake on a geographical basis, so, if your child is marginal, the closer you are as the crow flies the better chance that he or she will make it; that is if the 11-Plus is passed in the first place. You really need to be as close as possible to the City as you can and obviously a bus route helps enormously, but many pupils take the train from Tisbury which is a very easy commute.

Village Primary Schools are obviously more numerous, but some are more in vogue than others and for parents to travel for more than twenty minutes to the school of their choice can mean a lengthy school run twice a day.

Private Schools in Wiltshire

And then there is the private sector, where day schooling is becoming much more prevalent and the school run is, again, a priority for parents to consider. Some schools such as Dauntseys and Clayesmore offer a pretty widespread weekday busing system, but with Saturday school and sports matches often compulsory, the journey time is still an important factor.

We often sell or let family houses in South Wilts based on the need to be close to schools or in catchment

and in general these houses not only attract a premium, but also sell faster than those that are farther flung. We have even seen the second home market stir for parents to be closer for weekends, half terms and exeats, although given the Stamp Duty impact this is still a rarity.

If you are in the market for a family home within easy reach of a top school please get in touch. If we are not currently listing the right property we may otherwise know of just the house for you. Alternatively, if you need information on the top state and private schools in South Wilts, North Dorset and South Somerset we can also point you in the right direction.