Muirton Living Archives - Urban Union Ltd

The Benefits of a Newly Built Home

Older homes can be characterful and attractive and are often the preferred choice for many buyers. However, there’s a lot to be championed when it comes to new-build homes. Not only are they more energy efficient and cheaper to run they are also highly customisable and convenient from the very start.

At Laurieston Living, Pollokshaws Living and Pennwyell Living, our high quality one, two, three, four and five-bedroom properties are located within a thriving community and benefit from our trademark features of high ceilings, long windows and great storage. What’s more, every home comes equipped with all the features necessary for modern life, including well-finished, fully integrated kitchens, plenty of storage space and airy living areas, suitable for a wide range of buyers. But what are the other benefits of a newly built home?

Warranty

A newly built home will be structurally sound and less likely to need any repairs. With an older property, you could find that it will experience ongoing problems simply through wear and tear and so it’s important to set aside a budget for decorating and minor repairs with any home you buy. After several years you may need to replace the windows and manage an established garden. You could find that here in Scotland we have weather related problems such as leaky roofs and dampness.

A new property will have a building warranty, which will safeguard you against large repair payments which are typical of older properties.

Energy efficiency

The fuel price cap is going up on April 1st and many families are worried about the rising cost of their utility bills. In addition to this, we are placing more importance on eco friendly behaviours and helping the UK to reach net zero. Home energy efficiency is a huge part of how we need to deal with this collectively. The good news is that new homes are built with energy efficiency in mind and are constructed to a higher standard than in previous years. They must adhere to minimum standards when it comes to energy efficiency, leading to lower household carbon footprints and lower energy bills. When buying a new build home you won’t be wasting money on heat that is escaping via poor insulation or old windows.

Safety and security

Newly built properties have the most up-to-date standards on safety and security incorporated. Materials must be fire-resistant with detectors fitted for you. In addition, the overall designs are also built with fire safety and evacuation in mind. Security is often standard too, giving both peace of mind as well as helping to bring down home, building and contents insurance fees.

Find out more about our developments and register to find our more about our next releases. 

 

New Year New Home

Is 2022 the year that you want to realise your dream of purchasing your own home? If so, you may have been looking at both new and existing properties to compare the spec and price. But what are the reasons why buying new is the best choice over buying an existing property?

Why buy new?

A newly built property is your chance for a fresh start – a home that is clean, bright, fresh and untouched by any other owners. There’s no dodgy DIY to fix, no one’s taste to put up with and a blank canvas for you to put your own stamp.

Being new, your home will be highly energy efficient and cheaper to run than an existing property – this is especially important with the recent rise in energy prices. Your new home will have been built to the latest environmental standards and so your carbon footprint will be lower compared to an older property. You’ll have a brand new, efficient heating system, insulation, double glazing and often the sale includes integrated highly efficient appliances.

Price is a very attractive factor – you won’t be in an ‘offers over’ situation and paying possibly more than it is worth – the price is fixed and fair, and often new build homes are competitively priced in order for them to sell swiftly. In 2021 the property market was unprecedented with demand outweighing supply, and the result was properties going for up to 20% over the asking price. Buying new prevents you from paying over the odds and struggling to get finance on a home you’ve set your heart on.

Another reason to buy new is the range of generous incentives available – from additional fixtures and fittings to low reservation fees, you can also have your say on the fixtures and finishes if you reserve early enough.

When buying a newly built home, you aren’t in a purchasing chain. You pay a reservation fee and it’s yours – making the process much less stressful. What’s more, you can move in as soon as you’re ready without having to take into consideration a seller’s plans – so from the start there is no uncertainty.

You will not only have a point of contact with your sales representative and excellent customer care but you’ll also have a 10 Year Home Warranty for peace of mind.

You’ll be spoilt for choice with a range of property styles, sizes and locations to choose from and whatever you choose, it could be the best investment you can ever make especially if you’re using the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme.

Discover our range of properties. 

My Sustainable Home Competition

To celebrate the opening of COP26 House, we’re inviting primary school pupils to design their own sustainable home using recycled materials.

Taking inspiration from COP26 House, we want to see a model of what your sustainable home could look like and hear what makes your design both special and environmentally friendly.

To create a model of your sustainable home, you could use materials such as:

  • Used cardboard packaging
  • Empty cans
  • Toothpicks
  • Corks
  • Egg cartons
  • Bottle caps

To be in with the chance of winning £100 worth of Smyths vouchers, please ask a parent or guardian to send the following to info@urbanunionltd.co.uk

  • Full name
  • Name of primary school
  • Class / Name of teacher
  • Photograph of your sculpture along with a short description of your design
  • Please note, you must also attach a consent form signed by a parent or guardian. This can be downloaded below:

Urban Union Consent

The most creative entry will be selected by a panel of judges from Urban Union & Beyond Zero Homes.

To bring this to life, the digital construction team at Robertson will transform the winning design into a rendered 3D digital model.

The competition closes on 22nd November.

Good Luck!

 

COMPETITION TERMS & CONDITIONS

  • The parent or guardian of the entrant must apply by email as stated above
  • A winner will be chosen by Urban Union and representatives from Beyond Zero Homes
  • The winner will receive £100 voucher for Smyths
  • The prize is non-transferable and no cash alternative will be offered.
  • The competition closes at 5pm on 22nd November
  • The competition is open to primary school pupils in Scotland only.
  • This competition is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by Facebook or Instagram.
  • The competition excludes Urban Union and Robertson Group employees and their immediate family.
  • Entries are limited to one per person
  • The winner will be notified within fifteen working days of the competition closing via the email
  • In the event that the winner does not respond to our message informing them they have won within five working days, we reserve the right to choose a new winner.
  • We reserve the right to cancel this promotion at any time.

Over the last year or so we have relied on a good broadband connection more than ever before. During the lockdown and subsequent restrictions we all relied on the Internet to work, socialise, get fit, learn new skills and teach our children whilst off school. Speedy internet access and a reliable broadband connection are essential especially as many of us also stream a large percentage of home entertainment. In fact, broadband has become such an important factor in people’s daily lives that it’s one of the top must-haves on most homebuyers’ wish lists and homes with a poor connection or coverage can be tricky to sell.

With fast broadband at the top of most buyers’ wish list, here’s what you need to consider when purchasing a property.

Broadband speed

It’s free and easy to check the broadband performance in a particular area. You can do this by asking any Internet Service Provider (ISP) such as Sky, TalkTalk, BT or Virgin to name just a few, to check the broadband coverage. You can do this either online or by calling the sales line. Make sure you speak to more than one provider to get the best speed.

Check the following:

Download speed: this is the speed at which information is transferred from the Internet to your device, for example music, films, TV, photos. The speed at which they download will be dependent on your speed.

Upload speed: this is the speed that information is uploaded from your device to the Internet, for example emailing or uploading files, photographs, home movies and music.

Response time: the response time is measured in milliseconds and it means the speed at which you get a response after you’ve sent a request.

You’ll usually find that upload speeds are slower than download speeds as providers prioritise the former.

Types of broadband

The nationwide average speed is 18.5Mbps with upload speeds of around 4.3Mbps and download speeds of around 46.2Pbps.

There are several types of broadband which will vary in price. Cable broadband is fibreoptic, mobile broadband uses 3G or 4G (and soon 5G) which don’t require a phone line, and ADLS broadband uses a telephone line. If you use ADLS you will also have to pay a line rental fee to BT but it tends to still be the cheapest connecting type.

There are, and you have three different kinds to choose from, all of which vary in price and each with their own pros and cons. There’s cable broadband (otherwise known as fibre optic), mobile broadband (which uses 3G or 4G mobile phone signal) and ADSL broadband (which requires a telephone line).

Because ADSL requires a home phone line, there is usually an additional monthly line rental fee to pay on top of your broadband package costs to BT. Despite this, ADSL remains the cheapest type of connection currently available. 3G and 4G can be costly because if you go over your allowance you will have to pay for the additional data making it quite limiting.

The fastest broadband tends to be fibre optic. It is usually a very reliable connection as it links directly to a BT cabinet nearby. Packages are more expensive, but you could notice your download speed double or even treble overnight. Fibre optic is ideal if you have family with several people using the Internet at the same time regularly streaming and gaming. Not all properties have this facility so check with the service providers to see if it’s available in your new or prospective property. If you live alone or with a partner and only use the Internet to browse online and stream one device at a time, ADSL should be sufficient.

If you’re moving into a new home, you should pre-arrange your broadband so that you’re up and running on the day of moving.

 

Helping the Edinburgh Community Through the Pandemic

As part of our community benefit programmes for the City of Edinburgh Council, and Muirhouse Housing Association (MHA), we have provided over £15,000 in ongoing support to the Muirhouse Millennium Centre in the north of Edinburgh since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020.

The Muirhouse Millennium Centre, run in partnership with Low Income Families Together (LIFT), aims to relieve poverty among the residents of the surrounding areas, provide recreational and leisure facilities, and promote education and training in skills of all kinds.

During the first wave of the pandemic, from March to October, these cash boosts helped the Millennium Centre become a major player in food distribution in the north of Edinburgh. Since then and throughout the two lockdowns, the money has helped fund over 5,000 food parcels, 22,000 packed lunches, 6,000 ready meals as well as baby formula and nappies for local families and homeless accommodation.

Adapting their recreational support service, the Millennium Centre also delivered over 500 play packs and activity resources, allowing children to continue taking part in the Centre’s homework and youth clubs through Zoom.  In October, once children were allowed to be welcomed back, the Centre used the funding to deliver five sessions a week to reduce isolation and strengthen social skills after being at home for the duration of the first lockdown.

As part of our community benefits mission, we have previously also supported Muirhouse Library’s Breakfast Club to ensure local children had a nutritious start to their day as well as helping Pennywell School build their STEM curriculum, recently launching a STEM-based learning project.

Neil McKay, Managing Director of Urban Union, said: “Our focus at Urban Union is to not only regenerate a physical landscape, but to create strong relationships and support the communities in which our developments are based. We are ecstatic to have been able to support the Millennium Centre and LIFT throughout a very challenging period for many families.

“We are always happy to give something back to the Muirhouse community and we will continue to offer opportunities for local people and support for the most vulnerable in the area.”

Iain Strachan, Chair of the Muirhouse Housing Association added: “Muirhouse Housing Association is dedicated to supporting our tenants and local community. This last year has been one of the most challenging in our near 30 years of being part of the Muirhouse community. We are glad that we can work with Muirhouse Millennium Centre and LIFT in supporting local people and families during a very difficult time and will continue to do so in the future.”

Pauline Bowie, Managing Director of Low Income Families Together said: “We are very grateful for this generous donation from Urban Union and MHA which has made a real tangible difference to children and families alike across Edinburgh during an extremely difficult time.

“The Centre relies on funding to deliver our programmes and reach those who need it the most. Everyone deserves a chance in life, and donations like this allows for local people in challenging situations to access different forms of support.”

City of Edinburgh Council’s Convener of Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work, Councillor Kate Campbell said: “During this crisis, we’ve worked together to put our most vulnerable residents first and making sure people can access the right support when and where they need it has been an absolute priority.

“It’s great to see our development partner Urban Union and Muirhouse Housing Association providing this much needed funding for Muirhouse Millennium Centre’s invaluable work, and the positive impact it’s had on the community’s families and children since the beginning of the pandemic.”

 

 

 

An Urban Union Community

At Urban Union we specialise in not only delivering outstanding new homes, but regenerating communities. Our ambitious developments deliver homes where they are most needed and in doing so we support local communities and enhance the lives of those who live there. So when you consider what home you’re buying – we hope you’ll also consider what kind of community you’ll be a part of.

We create homes that provide a mix of terraces and apartments in a variety of different house types suitable to first-time buyers and growing families alike. In addition to one and two-bedroom apartments, our developments include two, three, four and five-bedroom terraced homes. Everyone from young professionals to families can enjoy a modern and stylish home at an affordable price.

Established in 2011 with the aim of working in Glasgow, similar regeneration opportunities followed, and we now deliver housing in key regeneration areas across Scotland.

With a track record in delivering critical regeneration projects to support the demand for high quality, affordable homes we provide an opportunity for people to join the property ladder in city centre locations. New sustainable mixed tenure communities are facilitated through the provision of new housing, community facilities, green space and, where appropriate, commercial units. Our developments combine superior architecture, urban design and spacious, flexible accommodation.

The heart of a community

Community engagement is at the heart of our plans and our aim is to build relationships with the local communities to ensure the homes we build are to the benefit of the people of the cities in which we have developments.

Various jobs are created during the construction phase of the project, with Urban Union committed to providing employment opportunities for local people.

We have successfully delivered hundreds of homes at our developments and are putting that award-winning experience to good use as we support ongoing regeneration.

Embedded in our developments is the link to local community, for example connecting the community by supporting the Citizen’s Theatre, local school children helping to plant trees at the Pennywell Nature Garden, celebrating local heroes with our Living Legends arts project at Laurieston, and running young apprenticeship programmes links to local schools and colleges across all of our Projects.

Commitment to exceptional design

We work with architects who have an ongoing commitment to creating high quality, crafted architecture, public realm and landscape that is embedded and connected to its local and wider context. We ensure that our regeneration projects benefit the local landscape and community, so our sites feature green spaces and a mix of accommodation, with potential for commercial opportunities and retail outlets.

Help to Buy

The range of properties are competitively priced and are suitable for a wide variety of needs and budgets. Most include outdoor space and the flexibility for home working.

With the introduction of the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme in March 2021, you can purchase a home with just a 5% deposit (subject to application) or by using the First Home Fund. We enjoy welcoming residents to the area to start the next chapter of their lives and becoming part of a thriving community.

 

 

2021 – The year of working from home!

Last year was challenging for most of us, but with the vaccine rollout in full force, we could soon start to get back some much-needed normality. One of the changes that many of us have experienced is home working – either full or part time – and it appears that many people will continue to work from home especially as we have all adapted to this way of working. Zoom meetings have replaced in-person meetings and people are able to work longer hours when not having to travel to and from work. Many companies have now embraced the benefits to both themselves and their employees in allowing staff members to work from home either full or part time.

As a result of this change in lifestyle, demand for homes with an extra bedroom are in high demand and many people are looking for ways to create a home office within their home. Recent reports stated that having a home office shed in your garden can boost the value of your home by as much as £12,000.

A place to work

It’s important to set up a quiet dedicated area otherwise you could find it’s a difficult balance trying to cut off from your personal life when in the home.

Think carefully about an area to set aside for home working. Some people work well with the radio or television on and some need complete quiet. If you have space restrictions then look at the space you do have – could you clear an area on your dining table, use a dressing or console table, clear out the under stairs area or even transform your shed? Anywhere could be a possibility as long as it makes you feel comfortable and the space is functional.

Furniture and office equipment

Make sure that you pay attention to a good office chair that is both comfortable and comfortable. You’ll be spending hours sitting on it and you need to take care of your posture to avoid any problems in the future. Look also at where you position your printer, computer screen and anything else you may need. If you have a laptop, consider getting a monitor so that you are looking ahead rather than downwards to avoid putting pressure on your neck and spine. This may help you to calculate the correct height of your desk and chair: https://www.blitzresults.com/gb/ergonomic/. Make sure you also have all the office equipment you need along with suitable storage so that the area can be left clean and tidy.

Give your area some personality

One of the best things about working from home is that you can personalize the space without any restrictions! Use your favourite photographs and pictures, add colourful plants, or go crazy on cushions and colours – there is no office policy other than yours.

Lighting

It’s essential that your space is well-lit to avoid straining your eyes if you are doing anything off-line. Use a good quality lamp and if you have natural light try and maximise this.

Keep it tidy

Tidy work area, tidy mind! Make sure you clear away any cables using the DIY solutions available and make sure all paperwork is tidy and use paper trays to organise your documents. There are also some very small and compact filing cabinets available.

Setting up a home office doesn’t need to be daunting or expensive especially as it could be temporary.

  Muirton Living Sells Out With Last Home Purchased We are delighted to announce that our award-winning Perth development, Muirton Living, has sold-out. Launched in 2016, Muirton Living – a 101 home, mixed tenure community in Perth – sold-out after its final proper read more

Differences Between the First Home Fund

The First Home Fund closed applications in October last year, but the government has confirmed that applications will re-open early this year. It runs alongside Help to Buy (Scotland). Eligibility for both is subject to lender terms and conditions, but what are the similarities and differences between the two schemes? Here we break it down so you can decide which scheme is right for your circumstances:

Who can apply?

Help to Buy: Open to all first time buyers (including those who have owned a property before) and existing home owners

First Home Fund: Open only to first time buyers who have never previously owned a property.

What contribution do I need to make?

Help to Buy: The government will contribute up to 15% of the purchase price.

First Home Fund: The government will contribute up to £25,000 or 49% share of the purchase price.

What is the minimum deposit required?

Help to Buy: A minimum of 5% deposit is required.

First Home Fund: A minimum of 5% deposit is required.

What type of property can I purchase using the scheme?

Help to Buy: It applies only to new build properties that are built by registered builders.

First Home Fund: This scheme applies to all new build and existing properties.

What is the maximum property price?

Help to Buy: What are the Key Differences Between the First Home Fund and Help to Buy?There is a maximum property price of £200,000

First Home Fund: The maximum house price is unlimited but is subject to lender terms and conditions.

What is the minimum mortgage amount that I will need?

Help to Buy: The mortgage will need to be at least 25% of the purchase price.

First Home Fund: The mortgage will need to be at least 25% of the purchase price.

What is the equity interest?

Help to Buy: There is no interest paid on the additional equity.

First Home Fund: There is no interest paid on the additional equity.

Is there a restriction on the type of mortgage?

Help to Buy: The scheme cannot be used with a buy-to-let mortgage and can only be used for a residential mortgage.

First Home Fund: The scheme cannot be used with a buy-to-let mortgage and can only be used for a residential mortgage.

What is the deadline?

Help to Buy: This scheme ends on 31st March 2021.

First Home Fund: This scheme ends on the 31st March 2021 and is limited to a budget of 150 million pounds.

If you are looking to purchase a first or even second home, you could use one of these schemes. Talk to us at Urban Union about the properties we currently have available in Edinburgh  and Glasgow. Your dream of owning a property could become a reality! See more. 

 

 

Buying Your First Home

At present lenders are regularly changing the availability of their mortgage products, leading to confusion for those wanting to buy a new home, in particular first time buyers.

Today’s property market still remains challenging given the current lockdown restrictions. In addition, it is unlikely that many first-time buyers will benefit from the increase in the LBTT threshold, as first-time buyers were already exempt on properties valued to a maximum of £145,000.

The combination of the LBTT holiday and highly competitive mortgage rates on lower LTV deals has been designed to get the housing market moving again and the result has been a rise in house prices in the last month here in Scotland.

Despite the challenging market there has been a record number of mortgage approved in recent months. There are still several options available to first-time buyers that will make purchasing a home more affordable.

Guarantor Mortgages

This type of mortgage has been designed for those who have a poor credit rating or do not have access to the deposit required to obtain a mortgage. There are still several guarantor mortgages currently available in the market. If you’re interested in a guarantor mortgage you will need a close relative to be willing to be liable for the entire mortgage should you default on your repayments. Your guarantor will be required to put up collateral by way of savings or their own home as part of ‘springboard’ deals. It’s worth noting that guarantor mortgages are usually a higher rate than a standard residential mortgage. Due to the small number of deals available it’s advisable to talk to an independent mortgage advisor.

Help to Buy (Scotland)

The Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme enables those who want to buy a property to do so with just a 5% deposit. Help to Buy (Scotland): Affordable New Build and Smaller Developers Schemes have now been extended to March 2022 with an additional £55 million provided in 2021/22. This additional funding means that the government can help another 2,000 households to buy new-build homes.

Under the scheme buyers can borrow an equity loan from the Government up to an additional 20% of the property’s value meaning they can buy with a mortgage that covers 75% of the house price.

Demand is higher in areas where property is cheaper – and during the lockdown developers have been able to continue to sell property as they were already well-adapted to using virtual viewings and CGI imagery, and reservations could still be taken. This has resulted in a greater degree of activity compared to existing homes that could not take viewings or go on the market.

First Home Fund

The First Home Fund launched in December last year to help first-time buyers purchase a property.

It is a shared equity scheme whereby the Scottish Government will have an equity share in the property, but you will own the property outright. You will normally repay the government’s share when you sell your home, but you can also choose to pay this off earlier.

The scheme is open to anyone who does not own, or has previously owned, a property in Scotland or anywhere else in the world. You will need a 5% deposit of the purchase price (subject to individual lender requirements) and your mortgage must be at least 25% of the purchase price.

This scheme allows those who want to get onto the property ladder to split the cost of purchasing the property with the Scottish Government and funding your share via a smaller deposit than otherwise would be required, and a mortgage.

You won’t need to pay monthly instalments or interest to the Scottish Government for their contribution but will pay it back when you sell your home. While you own the property, you will have full ownership rights and will hold the full title.

You cannot apply for this scheme if you are a cash buyer or if you own a property in part or full or have previously owned a property as a sole or joint owner.

The maximum contribution from the Scottish Government is £25,000 or 49% of the property valuation figure or purchase price (whichever is lower). You can submit a joint application and the property must be the sole residence of all applicants. In addition, you cannot apply to any other Scottish Government shared equity schemes such as Help to Buy Scotland while applying for this scheme. You must withdraw this if you have an existing application.

Shared ownership

Shared ownership enables you to buy a share of a home instead of having to fund its entire cost. You can buy a 25%, 50% or 75% share of a home with the remaining share is owned by a housing association. Because the housing association owns a share of your home you don’t own it outright but will pay an Occupancy Charge to the housing association.

Shared equity

If you cannot afford the full price of a home for sale in the open market you might be able to get help through the Open Market Share Equity (OMSE) scheme. This is available across Scotland to first-time buyers and priority groups including those over 60, social renters, disabled people, members of the armed forces, veterans and widows or widowers of those who have served.

You’ll pay for the biggest share which is usually between 60% and 90% of the home’s cost. The Scottish Government will hold the remaining share under a shared equity agreement which it will enter into with you. You’ll have complete title and hold the deeds but the mortgage will have a security on the home to protect the Government’s share. If you sell the home, the Scottish Government will get a share of the money.

It is important to consult with an Independent Financial Adviser before applying to the scheme as they can help you to decide which is the most appropriate scheme for your circumstances.

The Help to Buy and First Home Fund schemes can be used to purchase one of the many properties available from Urban Union across all our developments. Contact us to find out more about current and future availability.

Find out the key differences between Help to Buy (Scotland) and the First Home Fund: https://www.urbanunionltd.co.uk/2020/02/18/differences-between-the-first-home-fund/