It’s not just the Grinch who wants to steal Christmas – the months between October and January are the most common for burglaries.

Not only do the darker evenings create cover for thieves to go unseen, it’s also when we’re more likely to have high value items in our homes and leave them unattended for festive celebrations.

Nearly half of Brits close blinds and curtains or leave lights on while we’re out to try to deter burglars. They also found that 18% ask friends and family to check their door is locked, while 16% leave the TV or radio on so it looks like someone is in. 

But these methods don’t always work.

Former burglar and home security expert Michael Fraser, who has featured on BBC’s Beat The Burglar, has revealed the most common home security errors we’re making, along with little-known tips to ensure you home stays safe.

Alarms

In today’s age a burglary can be done by an opportunist, not just a professional. Most burglars will be able to enter a property within three minutes, so when they are passing by and spot a home which is visibly empty, it can be very easy for them to access it without anyone noticing.

This is why you should install an alarm but also make sure it works.

Of the 43% of households that do have a security alarm installed, 18% don’t turn it on when they leave the home, either because it doesn’t work, they don’t know how to use it, they find pets and children setting it off a nuisance, or they only turn it on when they go on holiday.

I would also strongly recommend purchasing an alarm that can be split between certain parts of the home, so that households with two floors can set an overnight alarm for the downstairs area.

Some brazen burglars will break in at night time even knowing the homeowner is in but will not want to end up in a confrontation. Putting an alarm on downstairs will notify you of any suspicious activity and deter the burglar from entering.

Leaving the alarm box dirty can be a signal to burglars too, showing it isn’t being serviced or used, so give it a wipe down every so often.

The back of the home

Most people often only consider what the front of the home looks like to burglars but forget about the back.

Over Christmas, your present-covered tree could be especially attractive to opportunistic thieves, so it’s advised to ensure windows and doors at the rear of the property are obscured, moving valuable items away from the line of vision.

Calendars

Additionally, you may want to keep your family calendar away from the eyes of potential burglars.

While a physical calendar may appear harmless, if it is visible from the window then burglars may use it to figure out what days and times the home will be left unattended.

I would always recommend closing the calendar when leaving, or at least moving it out of sight.

Personal documents

It isn’t just physical items burglars can nab – they may be looking to steal your identity.

The first thing burglars will do is look through a person’s wheelie bin, as they may be able to find documents or advertisements with the homeowner’s name on it and use it to claim their identity.

Households must ensure they shred or cut up all documents they throw away.

Locks

Cylinder locks on doors appeal more to burglars as they don’t hold very well, making your home seem like an easy target.

A deadlock is much stronger, more robust, and will make burglars less confident about attempting a break in.

Beware of the dog signs

One of the most common tips often given to households is putting up a ‘beware of the dog’ sign, however this provides more reason for burglars to attempt a break in.

When burglars see this sign, they immediately believe the home may have a pet flap and a weakened point of entry.

Spare keys

Another thing many homeowners do (around a third according to Toolstation, which carried out the research) is leave a spare key near the front door.

If you leave a key outside your home it is bound to be found. Burglars will be aware of all the common hiding spots and look for hints within the area, such as fresh soil in a certain spot compared to the rest of the lawn, or a pot which has slightly moved from its ring stain.

Avoid running the risk of a robbery and leave it with someone you trust instead.

Social media

Advertising you’re going to be away is a big no-no, either in person to people you don’t know or to your wider network online.

If travelling to the airport by taxi, order it to arrive down the road and don’t provide any information on where you are travelling abroad to.

With such a strong social media presence today, it is very easy for burglars to find out people’s locations, so try not to post any holiday snaps until after the trip is complete.

Parcels and packaging

With Christmas on the way, it’s wise to be careful of what burglars can spot outside your home.

Most burglars are constantly trying to identify weaknesses and mistakes households have made such as leaving new TV packaging by the outside bins or a parcel being left outside the front door.

Smart security

Smart security tools are among the best methods to keep burglars at bay. If you’ve had a break-in before, this makes you extra vulnerable to it happening again, so upgrading with gadgets that show would-be thieves you’re watching and allow you to instantly respond to suspicious activity may give you peace of mind.

By setting up a smart security system, burglars will be deterred from the home as they know the property is guarded. So, the software not only keeps the home secure, but also advertises the fact that you are well set up.

The consultant and motivational speaker suggests going for an option that includes two-way audio communication, remote control, and movement-activated floodlights for an all-round approach to safeguarding your home.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

MORE : You’re almost definitely making this mistake when decorating your Christmas tree

MORE : Man shocked to find ‘creepy webcam’ in Airbnb sofa

A woman with a budget of £22,000 managed to add nearly £200,000 onto the value of her home through DIY.

Retail buyer Helen Sellwood, 38, from County Durham changed the entire face of her house as a lockdown project.

Helen redecorated the entire house, remodelled the kitchen, levelled the garden and added new paving, changed the colour of the house and added different wallpaper in two out of four of the bedrooms.

And, as a result of her efforts, she converted her humble £275,000 house into a luxury £450,000 home.

She also re-painted the bathrooms and used tile paint to get rid of the tired beige tiles, refurbished the living and dining room and even changed the look of their stairs.

‘I had a difficult time before lockdown and had been in a job I really didn’t like,’ she said.

‘It was so hard not being able to see family and friends in the months that followed but lockdown gave me a chance to be creative again and a happy distraction.

‘This made me try new things I wouldn’t have had time for before, like upcycling old furniture with murals and painting bathroom tiles.’

Now the bright and colourful home is both on trend and more profitable.

Helen said the kitchen was the biggest project, and it cost £17,000 in total, including labour.

She said: ‘We installed new units that cost around £7,000, a mirostone worktop – a modified acrylic which gives the look and feel of natural stone surfaces – cost us £1,500, the rest, flooring, fitting, a new door and a new radiator together cost us £3,750,’ she said.

‘We saved about £12000 on the kitchen by shopping around and getting things for cheap off online marketplaces and second-hand stores.

‘We have saved thousands in labour costs by doing a lot of the work ourselves and about £10,000 on putting new bathrooms in by upcycling the ones we had and painting every surface, including the vanity units and the tiles.’

Helen adds another huge job was the back garden.

She explains: ‘It was a run-down space. My dad and brother are landscapers, and they completely levelled the area and added new paving, along with a herringbone fence and a pallet sofa, which turned it into a lovely place to relax during summers.’

According to Helen, social media has had a huge impact on her decor decisions around the house.

At first, she wasn’t keen on using wallpaper around the house, but when she saw it everywhere on Instagram, she became ‘obsessed’ and incorporated it around the house.

‘It really adds depth to a scheme and gives it such a cosy feel,’ she said.

‘Instagram also inspired me to wallpaper a ceiling! I added the tree mural from the Swedish brand Rebel Walls to our loft ceiling, which was a huge project, but I loved it.’

Helen enjoys a maximalist lifestyle and got rid of the previous neutral tones in the house.

‘I think maximalism is about expressing your personality and surrounding yourself with items you love and have a purpose,’ she said.

‘It isn’t merely about consumerism. So many items in our home are from charity shops or off the Facebook marketplace.

‘I have upcycled a lot of our furniture to give it a unique look. I also love collecting items from our travels as little keepsakes from places we have visited.

‘One can live a maximalist lifestyle with minimal things, and it just needs a little bit of creativity and some DIY.’

Her whole family loves the house, and whenever anyone new views their living space, they always leave them with comments like: ‘This is the house of my dreams’, ‘I wish I was as brave with colour’, and ‘It’s such a happy house to be in’.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

MORE : Financial experts issue urgent warning over Black Friday scam

MORE : Savvy DIY couple transform three-bed on their own — adding £30,000 to house’s value

Fin Kernohan, 44, says she has always had an ‘adventurous spirit.’

As well as being a regular camper, the Thai native has previously lived on a narrowboat and in an attic.

But her biggest adventure to date is falling in love with her husband, John — a 61-year-old from Florida.

After getting married, the pair decided to live ‘off-grid’, in a home powered purely by solar and thermal energy.

But don’t think the pair are roughing it – their chic home includes an outdoor pool, boho interiors and a free standing bath tub.

Fin, who lives in Georgia, USA, said: ‘Every single morning when I get up, I’m like, ‘Man, I am living a dream – this is how I envisioned I’d live my life.’

After meeting online in 2010, Fin and John struck up a bond despite being 4,000 miles apart. 

Their early days of dating involved traveling back and forth between Miami and London, where Fin lived. Then, they rented a narrowboat to live in England together.

By contrast, when Fin visited John in Miami, they stayed in his sprawling three-bedroom flat.

But it was an off-hand comment that led to their current way of life.

‘We had a joke conversation where she said ‘I don’t know where this relationship is going, but I’m never going to clean this place,’ John recalled.

‘I joked I’d hire a housekeeper – and she responded suggesting getting somewhere smaller.

‘The seed was planted.’

By 2013, Fin and John had got hitched, and she moved from London to the States. This time, however, Fin convinced her husband to go off-the-grid and live in a remote cabin, telling him: ‘I love the man you are when we’re out in the woods.’

They started out by spending $1,200 (£962) on a block of land before buying their 304sqft cabin, which set them back by $6,500 (£5,214). The couple then spent a further $6,000 (£4,813) getting furniture and electronics for the shed-like structure. 

They sold most of their possessions to pay for the cabin – and the early days of shed living weren’t always easy.

‘When we started out, about six months in, I thought we’d made a mistake because we never had any space,’ John admitted.

But Fin helped him see things differently. ‘She said: ‘if you want space, we have acres and acres out there, go take a walk,’ he added.

’I realised she was right, it’s what you make of the space, not its size – personal space doesn’t have to be a room.

‘If we ever get annoyed at each other, we just get over it real quick – we resolve the negative vibe and move on.’

The pair have learnt to be innovative with their space. Their bathroom, for instance, also doubles as a greenhouse, while their kitchen is situated outdoors overlooking a pond of Koi Carp and other tropical fish.

In order to be as off-grid and sustainable as possible, they also use a biogas system, which involves creating cooking gas from non-compostable waste like leftover meat.

Over the past twelve years, John and Fin have slowly expanded their land through buying other adjoining plots, and even added another building to their paradise.

They’ve also become short-term getaway hosts, as they aim to show ‘It’s possible to live off-grid without roughing it.’

In total, the couple have bought 16 acres of land. It cost them $83,000 (about £66,500), but it’s still cheaper than a mortgage – and their $3,000-$5,000 (£2,400 – £4,000) per month income as AirBnb hosts in surrounding cabins and yurts mean they live very comfortably and, most importantly, debt-free.

When they aren’t hosting similar properties for holidaymakers, they’re running ‘tiny house festivals’ to bring together like-minded people who also want to escape the hustle and bustle.

Still, John adds that he and Fin still attend parties in ‘big houses,’ but confesses that he ‘can’t believe’ they used to live that way. 

‘When I met John I already knew how I wanted to live my life and it wasn’t that hard to convince him,’ Fin added. ‘As a hunter he’s always in the woods, so I sort of knew he’d like it. If he didn’t, he’d have to! When I have a vision, you’re with me or you’re out!’

MORE : We’ve found the best way to explore Europe’s number one holiday destination for 2024

MORE : ‘We live on a £5million Cheshire farm and didn’t need a deposit’

MORE : ‘Another Eden’: Why remote utopia Madeira is the ideal spot for a wellness break

Welcome back to What I Own – Metro’s property series where we hear from homeowners about their buying experience.

This week, we are hearing form Mike – who has overseen the builds of sustainable, carbon-neutral residential homes in Cheshire, after securing a £1.45m development finance loan in 2020.

Mike now lives on site in one of these homes – which are designed to be as energy-efficient as possible – and sold the other three houses for £1.5m each. He found the original site listed for sale in Horse and Hound magazine.

Here’s what Mike had to say about his property journey…

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Mike Battersby, I’m 52 years old and I run a sustainable, carbon-neutral supply chain company alongside overseeing my regenerative farm based in Mottram St Andrew in Cheshire, England. I live with my wife, Rebecca Fallows-Battersby –who provides sustainable procurement consulting and runs a successful stud yard –and our 10-year-old daughter.

It’s a beautiful part of the country and sits in Cheshire’s greenbelt. It has an abundance of great walks, and the Peak District is on the doorstep.

When did you move in?

We moved to the farm in the year 2000 and developed one home in 2020. We then moved into our recent property which is on site in 2021. The total value of the farm with its two properties included is approximately worth £5m.

As we developed the property, no deposit was required. We paid for the development of the house using the profits from building and selling other projects that we have built. Together – the mortgage lender – provided £1.45m worth of development finance, which we put towards the development of the site.

What is the monthly cost of living here now; both mortgage and bills?

Council tax is our largest monthly bill, but we don’t currently have a mortgage. Council tax is about £3,500 a year, and bills are around £2,500 a year – so roughly £290 for council tax per month and £208 on bills.

As the house was built to a passive eco-friendly standard, our utility bills are low compared with a non-passive alternative. It is hard to put an exact number on this as we have just been through huge fluctuations in utility prices however, as these homes are filled with leading technology, they use up to 75% less energy than the average new build house. The premise of a passive house is that basically, you’re building an insulated airtight house so that the footprint of the house makes it environmentally sustainable.

The difference between a standard new build and a passive build is that everything to do with a passive build is designed to be sustainable, including the materials you’re using. So, for example, our panels use wood fibre that would otherwise go to waste, and our panels use about 30% less timber than a timber frame.

We set out to build was something ‘exclusive by design, inclusive by nature’ as we like to say. We want people to understand that building sustainably doesn’t mean you have to give up on luxury.

What was the process of getting a development loan like for you? Did you find any parts challenging?

I’ve used Together, a housing group, for over 20 years on various property development projects. I like their individual approach when it comes to development loans and their ability to offer bespoke packages. The process was easy and enjoyable, I look forward to using them again in the future.

Where did you live before this – were you renting or living with family?
Before we purchased the farm we lived in Warrington in a four-bed detached property as my wife, Rebecca, was completing her business degree at Liverpool.

What made you want to buy rather than renting?

We developed the property – we liked having control over the exact type of house I would be living in.

How did you find this property? What made you choose it?

We originally found the property through an advert in the Horse and Hound magazine.

How have you made the property feel like home?

We are both inspired by nature and so the house was designed to fit in with the natural world. The whole place feels like home. Rebecca has worked on many interior design projects. We like things to feel cosy and we love natural stone and timber. We love to take the traditional and give it a contemporary twist. We wanted open plan however not in a minimalist way. We like the kitchen to be the heart of the property and we love sumptuous bathrooms.

What’s your favourite room and why?

The open plan kitchen living. the picture window makes you feel you’re in amongst the nature outside. In the summer the bifold makes it a perfect indoor/outdoor space.

Do you feel like you have enough space?

Yes, we have lots of space both indoor and out. Although the main living is open plan, the bedrooms are in a separate wing and the configuration makes them very private and cosy.

Do you have plans to change the property?

We never say never. Life is like the seasons it changes and evolves and sometimes your home needs to come along for the ride.

Are there any problems with the property that you have to deal with?

There are none that we can think of.

What do you want people to know about buying a home?

We would advise people to think about why they are buying the home, and if it is a long-term move, to make sure that the house has the potential to meet your future goals. If you’re looking to build something of a passive nature, then use people with the experience not a general builder.

Something my grandmother used to say to me when I was a kid was that ‘you can only be responsible for your own behaviour’. And she’s right. We’re all responsible for the part we play in creating a better, healthier world for our children.

If all new houses were built as passive houses, the consumption of gas and fossil fuels will drop, as well as household energy bills, which is something which is really prominent right now. The government has set targets to be net zero by 2050, and in my opinion, the only way we will hit that target is to start looking at the carbon emissions emitted from our homes.

What are your plans for the future, in terms of housing? Do you plan to stay here long term?

This is our family home, and we would like to stay here for as long as possible and then hopefully our daughter will take it from there. We are currently involved in other projects and will hopefully create more passive projects for other people. Rebecca has recently refurbished one of our properties with estate agent Jackson Stopps & Staffs which is an amazing barn conversion called Skyfall. We have been asked to work on some third-party interior designs, which is also very exciting.

Shall we take a look around?

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

MORE : What I Own: Nurse Gabriel, who put down a £13,000 deposit on his two-bed Cambridgeshire flat with Help to Buy

MORE : What I Rent: I pay £3,250 per month for a one-bed apartment in Battersea

The rental property market is a wild place, to say the least.

And in the latest instalment of ‘can the landlord actually do that?’, one woman stumbled across a rental listing charging £75 per month in ‘pet rent’.

The two-bed, two bath flat is situated in London’s Stepney Green, near Whitechapel and Bank. Professional landlord Fizzy Living is offering the property for a deposit of £2,300 and £2,180 per calendar month rent.

This means if you have a pet it’ll take your monthly total to £2,255. As if pets aren’t already expensive enough.

X (formerly Twitter) user Hannah Louise wrote: ‘Sometimes I think there is nothing a landlord could do that I would find shocking anymore and then they hit you with PET RENT.’

One person jokingly responded: ‘How is your pet meant to pay rent? Do they have a job?’

Another wrote: ‘PET RENT?!?!? I am aghast,’ while another said: ‘How much for a tamagotchi?’

Fellow renters on the platform shared their experiences of being charged for pets in their rental properties.

Hannah shared a screen shot from one person, who messaged her to say their building was charging £25 for hamsters.

Another wrote: ‘We pay £50 a month for our dog,’ while another said: ‘Mines £15 extra a month which I don’t massively mind, but I wish we didn’t have to.’

Someone else shared that they had to pay an extra £500 deposit so their landlord would allow their cat to live in the property, while another had to pay £200 and has to get the property professionally flea sprayed if they move out.

Clearly people are forking out the money. Research from Zoopla showed that a rental property being ‘pet friendly’ made it much more desirable but as of 2021 just 7% of landlords advertised their homes as being suitable for pets.

Of the 1,261 landlords surveyed by SpareRoom back in 2018, 69% said they don’t allow pets in their properties because they’re worried about the smell or damage a pet might cause.

But, the same study found 88% of pet owners have never had any complaints and that their pets have never caused damage to a property.

The landlord for this two bed, two bath, Fizzy Living, states: ‘We love pets! Fizzy is London’s most pet-friendly landlord (thanks TimeOut London!) and we welcome pets at all Fizzy buildings.’

However, its £75 per month ‘pet rent’ is in place across every single one of its properties, which it claims ‘contributes to the additional cleaning and maintenance required’.

This only applies to pets like cats and dogs, not hamsters or fish that are contained.

But can landlords actually charge you for having pets in the property?

The short answer is yes, but not excessively.

According to the House of Commons Library, in its explanation of the rules on pet ownership in rented properties, ‘Landlords cannot charge a fee for agreeing to a request to keep a pet and cannot ask for a higher deposit if this would breach the deposit cap requirements in the Tenant Fees Act 2019’.

When it comes to private landlords ‘the default position is for landlords not to unreasonably withhold consent where a tenant asks for permission to keep a pet’, but renters must seek permission.

Landlords have to be reasonable and should agree to this if they believe the tenant to be ‘a responsible pet owner and the pet is of a kind that is suitable in relation to the nature of the premises at which it will be kept’.

‘Clause C3.5 prohibits a landlord from exercising a blanket ban on pets. A responsible pet owner will be aware of their responsibilities in making best efforts to ensure their pet does not cause a nuisance to neighbouring households or undue damage to the Property,’ according to the House of Commons Library.

Reasons landlords can say no to requests are not wanting large pets in small properties and also if they deem it impractical.

‘If consent is given on the condition that additional deposit is paid by the tenant, the total deposit must not breach the deposit cap introduced under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 and must be protected in an authorised tenancy deposit scheme.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

MORE : Londoners outraged over £37 fish and chips with just nine fries

MORE : ‘Glorified shed’ up for sale in Scotland for £100,000

MORE : How feminist fetish-inspired fashion became the party look of the year

A building that’s been described as a ‘truly unique property’ has hit the market in the Scottish Highlands for £100,000.

Although, it’s also been dubbed online as a ‘glorified shed’.

The ‘hall’ is found in Ardaneaskan – a picturesque costal village – and recent planning permission means it can now be used as a detached single-storey residential dwelling.

Rightmove’s property description even goes as far as to add: ‘Making it the perfect canvas for your dream home.’

But with the overall floorplan coming in at just 4.5m by 8.5m, it’ll definitely be a cosy one.

The descriptions continues: ‘Whether you’re seeking a peaceful retreat, a fantastic holiday let investment opportunity or an inspiring place to call home, this property offers it all.’

For those who have been inspired by the recent micro-homes trend, this could be the perfect property opportunity.

It could also be an excellent choice for nature-lovers, as owners can enjoy views of the shimmering waters and rugged coastline from the building.

There’s also no denying its potential as a holiday home – for those who are willing to put the work in.

One person online said: ‘I love the corrugated iron aesthetic and the location is tempting. I imagine that it’ll be an Airbnb soon, and I’d be happy to stay there.’

But we can’t help but wonder if you’re getting you money’s worth with that square footage.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

MORE : This eight bedroom house in Blackpool could be yours for just £40,000

MORE : Inside the McDonald’s with the ‘poshest’ menu in the world

Fancy running a retro B&B? A house with an incredible eight bedrooms is set to go on the market for the bargain starting price of £40,000. 

The large home, which was formerly used as a guest house, is located in Blackpool on Palatine Road, just a short eight-minute walk from the iconic pier.

The home, set to go under the hammer with Auction House Lincolnshire, is admittedly in need of some TCL. But a little (okay, a lot) of elbow grease and DIY could return this place it its former glory.

Once known as Chadsley Guest House, the home boasts a very large amount of space and is set across a whopping three floors. 

Inside, the mid terrace house has a ground floor with an entranceway, sitting-dining room, kitchen, and an office which could be used as a bedroom if the owner so chooses. 

Meanwhile, on the first floor, there are two bedrooms with en suites, plus two more bedrooms and a family bathroom.

Heading up to the second floor, there are two more en suite bedrooms, plus a further two bedrooms and another bathroom.

Not only this, there is another room which has the potential to be used as a ninth bedroom.

For those who like outdoor space, the property also has an enclosed rear garden. However, it is currently filled with rubbish, meaning the new owners will have to complete a thorough clear out. 

Inside there are dated furnishings and debris strewn around, but the listing insists there is good potential for the buyer and looking at the pictures, there is an opportunity to turn it into a dream home or a business venture.

The listing currently reads: ‘This property offers a huge amount of scope and opportunity, with a multitude of different options, be that potential for HMO or bed & breakfast (STP) or owner occupier or investor.

‘In such a sought after position, this property offers the opportunity for excellent yield.

‘Currently configured as a mix of rooms but would also suit self-contained apartments, this property needs to be viewed to be appreciated.’

The bidding for the homes opens on Monday 20 November at 1pm GMT and is scheduled to end the following day at 2.14pm.

The property is available on Auction House with a minimum opening bid £40,000, and a guide price of £40,000 to £60,000. 

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

MORE : We hate our neighbour’s ‘left wing’ colourful home

MORE : What I Rent: I pay £3,250 per month for a one-bed apartment in Battersea