Martin Lewis has told people to take a meter reading today, before the April price cap rise. The money-saving expert says anyone who pays for their gas and electricity through a direct debit should take a meter reading on March 31st.

He has also shared what to do if you simply can’t take a reading today. With the average annual cost of energy bills rising by around £700 next month, we all need to look for energy-saving tips for the home and ways to reduce costs.

Image credit: Alamy

Martin Lewis’ tip basically means your energy supplier knows exactly how much you’ve used before bills rise, so you’re not charged extra. If you’re away or won’t have time, he recommends taking a meter reading as close to today as possible, so ideally over the next few days.

‘The nearer to today you do it the less chance of misestimates, so don’t panic about missing it (either through your own or the firm’s issue) just get it in as soon as you can,’ he says.

Martin Lewis advises people to take meter reading today ahead of April price hike

Speaking on his ITV show, The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, he said, ‘You can’t give a falsely high direct debit reading at the end of March, that’s fraud. But I would say, diarise now to take a meter reading on the 31st March.

‘That way you draw a line in the sand that says to your energy firm that says, “I’ve only used this amount at the cheap rate, don’t start charging me more on the high rate and estimating that I used some of it afterwards,”‘ he explains.

Image credit: Getty images / pixelnest

For those on a pre-paid, non-smart meter, Martin Lewis recommends topping up as much as possible before the energy price hike on 1st April. This will save you money because you pay according to the rate on the day that you top up.

So by paying in advance (if you can afford to), you could end up paying for energy in April at the lower pre-price hike rate. Martin Lewis is urging people to get up to date with their energy meter readings at the end of this month so suppliers know just how much they’ve used.

It’s worth bearing in mind for future that smart meters will do this for you. They also give you accurate calculations for your utility bills and sending monthly meter readings to your suppliers automatically.

Image credit: The Radiator Company

They will also help you keep track of what you’re using. There are also plenty of smart heating options, too.

If you can take a reading today, do it, so you don’t end up paying an unnecessarily high estimate. If not, try and get the job done over the weekend or early next week.

The post Martin Lewis urges people to take a meter reading today to avoid higher bills appeared first on Ideal Home.

A record £13bn of stamp duty tax receipts were collected by HMRC last year according to analysis by Coventry Building Society. Your contribution depends on the stamp duty bands that apply to you, your property type and your circumstances.

Stamp duty is charged when you buy a property or land that is valued at more than the minimum tax threshold for your country. Use our stamp duty calculator to see how much stamp duty you will need to pay if you’re buying a house.

Some bills can run into the tens of thousands of pounds, so it’s really important to work out what your stamp duty bill will likely be before deciding how much you are willing to spend on your new home.

What are the different stamp duty bands in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for a main residence?

Stamp duty bands for your main residence ‒ classed as the home which you live in the most ‒ work slightly differently across the various countries that make up the United Kingdom.

Let’s look at England and Northern Ireland first

The threshold at which stamp duty kicks in is £125,001. If you buy a property worth £125,000 you pay no stamp duty.

After that, your bill is calculated by applying the tax rate to the portion of the purchase price that falls within the stamp duty band.

So for example, if you bought a property for £200,000, you would not pay stamp duty on the first £125,000 of that purchase, only on the £75,000 that falls within the 2% stamp duty tax band.

The Scottish system is called Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT). These are the bands and corresponding rates in Scotland.

In Wales the system is called Land Transaction Tax (LTT).

While the stamp duty bands are set at different levels for Scotland and Wales, the tax itself works in much the same way. You will pay tax based on how much of the purchase price falls within the relevant tax band,
First-time buyers may be exempt from paying stamp duty depending on where they buy a home and how much it costs.

Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole

How do stamp duty bands change for a second home?

In April 2016, the government brought in an additional stamp duty charge that would apply to buyers of second homes or buy-to-let properties.

Part of the reason for the introduction of the additional stamp duty levy was to dampen the appetite of buy-to-let investors who often compete with first-time buyers for the cheapest homes.

Matthew Todd, national technical tax and advisory manager at RSM UK, explains: ‘When buying a second home, a flat higher-rate surcharge is added to your stamp duty bill. In Scotland this is known as the additional dwelling supplement.’

‘This surcharge is 4% in Scotland and Wales, and 3% in England and Northern Ireland. This surcharge applies to people buying second homes or buy-to-let properties, as well as companies that buy residential properties. The surcharge will not apply to households who are replacing their main homes, regardless of any other property interests that may have.’

How do I work out my stand duty band?

Working out your stamp duty band, and therefore what your stamp duty bill is likely to be, is relatively simple.

Let’s say you are an existing homeowner who is moving house, and the house you are buying is priced at £300,000. Breaking your purchase price down into the stamp duty bands, your bill would be:

0% on the first £125,000 ‒ £0

2% on the portion between £125,000 and £250,000 ‒ £2,500

5% on the portion between £250,000 and £300,000 ‒ £2,500

That means a total stamp duty bill of £5,000.

If you’re buying the property, in England, as a second home or a buy-to-let investment, then you will need to add an extra 3% to each band. This would therefore be:

3% on the first £125,000 ‒ £3,750

5% on the portion between £125,000 and £250,000 ‒ £6,250

8% on the portion between £250,000 and £300,000 ‒ £4,000

As a result, you would have a total stamp duty bill of £14,000.

Remember, in Scotland and Wales the surcharge is 4%.

There may be occasions where you inadvertently own two properties simultaneously, without planning a move into buy-to-let or holding a holiday home. Will this mean a higher tax bill?

Andrew Montlake, director of mortgage broker Coreco, explains: ‘Some homebuyers might find themselves inadvertently owning two homes at once because the purchase of their new home has completed before their old home has sold. Don’t worry, if you find yourself in this situation you have up to three years to sell your old home and apply for a stamp duty refund.’

What is the progressive stamp duty rate system?

The UK moved to a progressive stamp duty system in December 2014. It follows the same principles as income tax.

Using the example of income tax, someone who earns £51,000 and therefore just tips into the higher rate tax band does not pay the 40% higher rate of tax on their whole salary, just the part which exceeds £50,270.

That’s how progressive stamp duty works. You only pay higher tax rates on the portion of your property that falls within the corresponding stamp duty bands.

Before the 2014 reformation, stamp duty bills were worked out using a slab system where one percentage rate was applied to the entire purchase price. So if your purchase price edged into a higher stamp duty band, it meant the higher rate was charged on the full amount you were paying.

The progressive system was introduced as it is generally considered to be a fairer set up for a tax like stamp duty.

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The cloakroom or downstairs loo is often the poor relation when it comes to bathrooms, but you can try out clever cloakroom tile ideas that you might not want to risk in a bigger room. It’s not seen as a major space, so be bold in your choices and use it as a ‘test’ space to try out ideas.

However, sometimes the small bathroom space is awkward, some are under the stairs for example, so there are sloping ceilings to take into consideration, and you may need storage, but is there room for it? It takes a bit of clever thinking, that doesn’t mean it can’t be done, you just need to think outside the (ahem) box. Sometimes putting in a back-to-the-wall loo is a smart design trick, as although you lose a part of the room, you also gain a shelf which can be really useful. And there are small-scale vanity units designed for cloakrooms that are great for storing cleaning products.

‘Tiles can really bring a small space to life, especially in a tiny bathroom. Try to be creative with the way you lay your tiles – think focal point splashbacks, interesting layouts etc.’ says Amanda Telford, Marketing Manager of CTD tiles.

‘There are so many ways to use rectangular metro tiles for instance, whether that’s stacking them horizontally, which can make the room appear larger, or creating a herringbone effect for maximum impact. Small bathrooms are often a place where you can be a bit bolder with your design choices, consider opting for pinks, greens, blues for a designer statement.’

Cloakroom tile ideas

If you have fallen in love with expensive tiles, then this is the ideal place to use them as you won’t need as many, so you can indulge yourself without feeling too guilty.

If you are worried about colour or pattern being overpowering in a small space, consider lighter colour schemes and pale floors, and choose tiles that are smaller in size such as mosaics.There are more ideas here  https://www.idealhome.co.uk/bathroom/bathroom-ideas/cloakroom-ideas-185615

1. Choose smaller scale tiles

Image credit: Ca Pietra; Brasserie Glass Sand tiles, £183.08 per m2

Hexagonal tiles are hugely popular for modern bathrooms, but if you are using them as a cloakroom tile idea, choose a smaller size so the proportions suit the size of the room. This design is made from recycled glass that oozes eco appeal. The room has been further enhanced with a small size hexagonal basin too, and add a touch of luxury with a marble-effect counter top. These tiles can also be used on the floor.

2. Box in the toilet system to provide a shelf

Image credit: Future PLC/ Jon Day

Back-to-the-wall loos are a great idea in a small space, as although they take up more room, as you have to build a false wall to hide the cistern. But turn this into a positive by using the wall as a handy shelf for storage or to dress with accessories. The boxed in structure provides the ideal place to decorate with tiles, to make it more purposeful.

This false wall has been tiled with square tiles with a subtle pattern so it’s easy to keep clean and the tiles team perfectly with a characterful Cole & Son wallpaper.

3. Go monochrome

Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole

If you’re worried about too much pattern in a small space, choose a simple black and white bathroom colour scheme like this. Classic metro tiles on the walls are unobtrusive but the floor adds the wow factor in a geometric pattern. It really lifts the space and has impact.

4. Trick the eye

Image credit: Future PLC/ Claire Davies

Tiling up to ¾ height of the wall means a small room like a cloakroom looks taller than it really is. Tiles can take all the knocks that might be thrown at it, and are easy to clean, especially if you have young children. These elegant, pale grey metro tiles have an uneven edge and a rippled surface for a slightly rustic look. Finish them off with a tiled border in a subtly different shade.

5. Continue the pattern

Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole

There has been a trend recently for the floor tiles to continue onto the wall. Here, large-scale Victorian-style tiles are used on the floor and behind the basin which is a great idea in a small space. It’s a big pattern but it works well in this cloakroom and the tile design complements the traditional fittings.

6. Clever use of space

Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme

This cloakroom takes the back-to-the-wall loo idea to another level. Building out the wall has created an alcove which is the perfect size for this wall-hung basin. Then the whole thing has been tiled in white metro tiles. It’s such a neat solution. Then the upper part of the wall has a fabulously indulgent flamingo wallpaper on it, in two different colours.

7. Make an impact

Image credit: Walls and Floors

Make a statement with a classic understairs cupboard converted into a cloakroom. To make a feature of the facing wall, a clever cloakroom tile idea is to use two tile colours. It’s the same square tile but it has been placed in a diamond pattern, with white at the bottom and grey on the upper part of the wall. The grey theme has then been used on the floor tiles too, with a pattern to add a subtle design feature. Then to enhance the monochrome look, choose a black tap, black and white mirror and black accessories – using the back of the door is a brilliant idea for a shelf.

Buy now: Vernice Storm tiles, £36.95 m2, Walls and Floors

8. Go bold

Image credit: Fired Earth

Really splash out and use a strong colour in the cloakroom such as this deep aqua shade. The tiles are long and thin and have been laid horizontally to make the space look wider. They also have a rippled finish which picks up the light and adds interest in a small space. White grouting really makes them pop. This would be great in an en-suite and tied into a bedroom colour scheme. Check out other ideas here https://www.idealhome.co.uk/bathroom/bathroom-ideas/en-suite-bathroom-ideas-90944

Buy now: Onda Aquamarine tile, £67.20 m2, Fired Earth

9. Introduce pattern with tiles

Image credit: Crosswater; Glide II collection starting from £75

Doesn’t this look fabulous? it’s another hex tile in a fab Art-Deco-inspired design with a stylish white sun-ray effect. Tiling the whole wall is a good cloakroom tile idea and makes it easy to keep clean, and there is no need for a separate splashback which might break up the space. The addition of a dark grout adds a wonderful contrast rather than the more usual white. Similar tiles are Palm Springs Blue £63 m2 from Porcelain Superstore https://www.porcelainsuperstore.co.uk/collections/bathroom-tiles?page=2.
Then to pull the whole scheme together, the back to the wall WC has blue boxing. A warm wood-effect floor prevents the room from looking too cold.

10. Make the floor the hero

Image credit: CTD Tiles

Using large, patterned floor tiles brings the attention down and adds interest without being overpowering. It’s a good way to ramp up a plain cloakroom. The addition of a grey border tile at the bottom and a pale aqua tile at dado height adds subtle colour to tie into the colours in the floor – a great cloakroom tile idea.

Buy now: Havana Silver floor tiles, £54.99 per m2, CTD Tiles 

What size tiles are best for a small cloakroom?

‘Large-format floor tiles are great for small spaces as they have fewer grout lines which gives a more seamless appearance’ says Louisa Swannell, head of creative design at Walls and Floors. ‘Laying flooring in a herringbone format can also have a space-enhancing effect, as this layout tricks the eye and makes the room appear longer.’

‘It’s important to consider the size of the space, and find a harmonious balance between your decor; too much intricate pattern could make a small space feel cluttered. Bright, light colours and glossy finishes are great for small spaces as they bounce light around the room.’

Should a cloakroom be tiled?

Whether or not a cloakroom should be tiled is ultimately a matter of personal choice. But the experts say: ‘The cloakroom must meet a variety of different needs, and is often only allowed the smallest space in the house.’ says Emma Merry of Emma Merry Styling.  ‘Everything in the room must serve a purpose and tiling is no different. There are no rules, but when I’m designing a cloakroom, I nearly always opt for a tiled floor, it just makes cleaning a dream, especially around the loo and sink. For me, when budgets allow, I’ll advise clients to go for half-height wall tiling around the whole room.’

‘As a guest bathroom and for families with young children the cloakroom needs to take all that’s thrown at it’ Emma continues. ‘Tiling the bottom half of the walls enables everything to be wiped clean quickly and easily, so it’s much more hygienic.
To avoid the tiles overwhelming a small space, I’ve regularly teamed them with strong wallpaper prints that I like, and take it up and over the ceiling too. It creates a look that shows the space has its own unique character and opens up the ceiling area to inject interest into the scheme.’

The post Cloakroom tile Ideas – 10 ways to add style to a small space appeared first on Ideal Home.

As a nation of pet lovers, we love to pamper our pups. However, the increasing popularity of dog clothing has led to the rise of a household storage solution we never thought we’d see – a ‘dog wardrobe’.

As any responsible pet owner knows, accommodating a dog means stocking up on creature comforts too. The long shopping list includes; a dog bed or crate, collar, lead, food, feeding equipment, chew toys. But, what about a doggy wardrobe storage idea to store fur-friendly fashion accessories too?

The term ‘It’s a dog’s life’ is losing its edge. These days consumers can’t get enough merchandise and accessories to spoil their four-legged friends. From printed pyjamas for Pugs to waxed jackets that keep Weimaraners warm and dry, pet wear is proving extremely popular.

Image credit: Lords & Labradors

‘Doggy Couture is a rapidly growing trend as the humanisation of pets continues. We’ve found that people tend to dress their dogs like they’d dress their children and even doggy wardrobes are becoming a thing!

Our urban customers tend to choose apparel based on style for example rain macs, hoodies and pyjamas whereas our rural customers opt for more practical performance clothing and matching their ‘human’ brands like Barbour and Schöffel.’ explains Johanna Warden, founder of Lords & Labradors.

Dog wardrobes

With pets owning more threads than the wardrobe department of Vanity Fair or should we say Vanity ‘Fur’? Furniture manufacturers have ‘cottoned on’ to the fact we need somewhere to keep all this canine couture. Online-bedrooms.co.uk is now offering pet owners a place to store their piles of pet gear in a custom build doggy wardrobe.

Image credit: Future Plc

As well as a fun way to make use of an awkward space, the pet storage solution for small spaces, allows you to keep everything you need for your dog in one handy place.

Nic Shacklock, from Online-bedrooms.co.uk, said ‘We always encourage people to utilise the space in their homes and this is no different. The size of a doggy wardrobe will be relatively small, allowing you to make use of any awkward spaces or gaps that may be in your home.’

To order one of the new doggy wardrobes all owners have to do is measure up the space where you would like to fit the wardrobe using the online guide and send in your measurements.

Image credit: Online-bedrooms.co.uk

A designer will put together a quote along with a visual render (demonstrated above) of what the wardrobe will look like. Once you go ahead, it’ll be manufactured and shipped to you in just four weeks for easy self-assembly.

Unlike standard wardrobes, these made-to-measure doggy wardrobes can fit in whatever space you need – ideal for clever design for alcoves, porch or entrance areas.

From now on the only doggy- wardrobe dilemma you will have is what to wear for tomorrow’s walk. Will it be the ‘hound hoodie’ or ‘bow wow bomber jacket’ – why not let your pampered pooch choose?

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