INTRODUCING WINNER FOR SOUTHEND-ON-SEA Belle Vue Property Services have just won The British Property Award for Southend-on-Sea. Their team performed outstandingly throughout the extensive judging period, which focused on customer service levels.

Want to extend your home, or a property that you are planning to buy? Here's how to do it without having to submit a planning application. Permitted development rights enable homeowners to make certain building works on a property without planning permission from the local council and without approval from a neighbour.

There could be a host of reasons for you to consider downsizing. Your kids may have flown the nest, your garden may be too large, you may want to release some equity, reduce your monthly outgoings, or you are simply drawn to living in a smaller, more manageable property. Downsizing isn't just for retirement. It can be an important choice at any stage of your life, location, health or wealth. Whatever your reasons, whether you are a homeowner, a private tenant, living in a council or housing association accommodation, it's important to review the options before making your decision.

Think hard a carefully about how much you want to spend. It's easy to get carried away with that better and more attractive property, but don't forget you also have bills to pay when you move in! You might also consider renting as a short term option whilst you're saving a deposit. In which case, set you budget sensibly and you'll have more available to save each month.

With temperatures continuing to soar and the outlook for this to remain throughout the Summer, it's more important than ever to keep cool indoors. Take a look at our survival guide to keep your cool at home…

You will almost certainly have read about technological advances relating to driverless cars, flying taxis and hyperloops (a mode of transport that propels a pod at speeds of up to 760mph). Whilst these offer the tantalising prospect of alternatives to commuting on congested road networks, the most common futuristic tools you are likely to come across are available as smart upgrades to your home.

Here’s a rather unnerving fact, as highlighted in research from insurance company CPP: a million Britons have moved house because of disputes with their neighbours. Yes, one in 20 of us have opted to sell up because of increasing tensions with — or bad behaviour from — the people who live nearby.

Perhaps it’s because of all the cookery programmes on TV; perhaps it’s because of our national obsession with food; or perhaps it’s because it’s such a sociable place to sit and chat – but the kitchen has become the most popular room in the house.

It’s autumn, it’s the UK… and therefore - inevitably and obviously - it’s freezing. So what have you done to winterise your house? Or were you just planning to have the heating on full blast every day (which is both expensive and ecologically unsound)?

Need more space for the family but love where you live? Extending your house could be the answer. Research shows that more and more homeowners are choosing to extend instead of moving. It will certainly improve and enhance your home, but needs careful consideration before taking the plunge.