National trade body The Property Care Association (PCA) has established a new membership category, representing specialists with the skills to help householders encountering problems where sprayed foam insulation is installed in pitched roofs.

Homeowners have experienced a number of issues where sprayed foam has been applied in the roof space, including situations where properties have been hard to sell, or were unacceptable for equity release lending, due to potential issues with the installation.

Now, with the new PCA membership category in place, householders will be able to access practical guidance, centred around identification, evaluation and the recommendation of appropriate actions.

James Berry, Deputy Chief Executive of the PCA, comments: “Sprayed foam is a method of insulating within roofs, walls and floors to reduce heat loss through the building envelope.

“It has been used for many years, but its use in pitched roofs has received a lot of negative publicity as many surveying professionals and financial organisations have raised concerns regarding the potential effects of poorly applied or inappropriately specified foam.

“As a result, the presence of spray foam may significantly affect a surveyor’s valuation of a house, with many mortgage companies refusing to lend on such properties.

“For surveyors and property professionals, sprayed foam could potentially pose an issue when evaluating and reporting on the condition of structural roof timbers, ventilation and moisture management.”

The launch of the new membership category comes after the PCA contributed to new guidance in 2022 as part of a cross-industry group, which offered a defined course of action for the inspection of properties with spray roof insulation.

James Berry added “The new membership is a progression from our work two years ago and marks the next step in helping to address householders concerns across the UK.

“Those affected by poor installations had no route to seek advice on how to deal with the issue, but the new PCA membership, which has stringent requirements for entry, means there are now trained and recognised professionals who will be able to provide assistance.”

More information can be found at https://www.property-care.org/homeowners/advice/sprayed-foam

The PCA also offers a sprayed foam course for built environment professionals. More details athttps://www.property-care.org/training-qualifications/courses/timber/evaluating-spray-foam-roof/17618

Property and built environment students at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) were faced with a ‘real-world’ challenge last week. As part of a Sustainable Development Challenge – sponsored by property industry leaders, Jansons Property – students in their second year at the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment (ADBE) were given the task of developing sustainable solutions.

Professor Richard Bull, Deputy Dean of the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment at NTU said; “As a university we thrive on providing real-life work experiences like this to support our teaching and help make our students industry-ready for when they graduate from NTU. We are grateful to Jansons for investing their time and sharing their expertise with our students. Collaborative experiences, especially those with a focus on sustainability, are vital in providing the next generation with a solid understanding of the challenges they will soon face as young professionals in their built environment careers.”

By bringing together students from the Departments of Property Management, Architecture, Engineering and Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, the aim of the challenge was to encourage industry-like conditions of teamwork and realistic addressing of sustainability issues. It was designed to encourage collaborative working between different departments – an industry imperative– and help students look at real-world solutions, alongside individuals from other disciplines.

“The property industry relies on collaboration – buildings aren’t built by individuals, they come together from a lot of different disciplines joining forces. We felt it was important to create a project where NTU students could engage in the same way professionals do and solve a real problem,” explained Paul Nash, Construction Consultant at Jansons Property.

Following a design brief, the students used their individual and group skills to consider and create sustainable approaches. This culminated in pitching their proposals to a judging panel at the end of the day.

The event was attended by industry specialists and staff who offered mentor support and judged the competition. It concluded with a dinner at NTU where the winners were announced, and prizes awarded by Andy Jansons, Managing Director of Jansons Property and a former NTU student himself, who commended the students for “their commitment to the challenge and the high quality of the work that they produced and presented”.

Students Krishna Bhat, Milo Connelly and Dishav Vasudev made up the winning team, and walked away with a cash prize and recognition of their collaborative working across disciplines.

By Sarah Thompson, Managing Director, Mortgage Scout

Compared with a decade ago, today’s first-time buyers are older, more likely to buy with a partner and more likely to have dependent children. This highlights how getting on the property ladder is becoming increasingly hard for younger borrowers. However, lenders are always introducing new propositions to ensure solutions are in place to help prospective homeowners buy their first property. It could be you who helps them!

The 1980s, perhaps best known for its music and the invention of Super Mario, was a time when the average house price was £22,676 and the average deposit was £3,000. Fast forward to 2018, and we see a completely different picture: the average house price is £224,353, and the average deposit costs you £34,000. This shows a whopping growth of around 890% in house prices! However, wage growth hasn’t seen the same hike, so it is no surprise that borrowers are continuously finding it harder.

For many, the Bank of Mum and Dad seems like the only option. According to the Social Mobility Commission, over 30% of UK households with dependent children hold assets that could be used towards a deposit to purchase a home. This could lead to an increase in the number of first-time buyers turning to help from their family. The Social Mobility Commission’s research suggests this could rise to nearly 40% by 2039/40. Do you hold assets that could give your loved ones the gift of a lifetime?

Joint borrower, sole proprietor mortgages (JBSP)

JBSP mortgages are one solution that may help. They’re aimed at bridging the gap between salaries and house prices and are geared towards helping close family members get onto the property ladder or move home. Lend a helping hand to your children’s plans of purchasing their first home!

Joint borrower, sole proprietor mortgages allow you to support your family by adding your name to the mortgage, increasing income and increasing the maximum loan available. A JBSP mortgage is a financial arrangement where up to four individuals can jointly secure a mortgage, but only one person legally owns the property.

This type of mortgage is commonly chosen by parents who wish to help their children step onto the property ladder, but it’s also used by siblings or friends combining their incomes to buy a house with only one residing in it.

A key aspect of JBSP mortgages is that while all borrowers are jointly responsible for the mortgage repayments, reducing the risk for the lender, there’s also a collective liability. If one borrower fails to pay, the others must compensate for the shortfall. It’s, therefore, essential to enter into a JBSP mortgage with trusted individuals and clearly understand each other’s financial situations.

Only the sole owner of the property, the proprietor, is listed on the title deeds. This means other borrowers have no legal rights to the property or any increase in its value. Lenders usually stipulate that this individual must reside in the property. This arrangement is ideal for those who want to assist with a property purchase without retaining a long-term interest in it, allowing for an easy exit when the proprietor can take on the mortgage independently.

In terms of operation, JBSP mortgages are similar to standard mortgages. To evaluate affordability, lenders assess all borrowers’ financial circumstances, including income and outgoings. Borrowers must also meet the lender’s specific criteria, such as age limits and creditworthiness. The age limit for a JBSP mortgage typically caps at 70 or 80 years at the end of the mortgage term. When the initial fixed-rate or discount period ends, the sole owner has the option to remortgage solely in their name.

One of the advantages of a JBSP mortgage is its potential impact on Stamp Duty. Generally, purchasing a property with someone who already owns a home attracts a higher Stamp Duty rate. However, under a JBSP mortgage, the non-owning parties don’t trigger this additional charge.

Planning for unexpected scenarios, such as illness or unemployment, is prudent, like any mortgage. Income protection insurance can effectively ensure mortgage repayments and other bills are covered during such times.

Raising a deposit

Affordability is not the only challenge to first-time buyers and joint borrowers; sole proprietor mortgages may not be the best solution for everyone, so there are other options you may want to consider. If your loved ones cannot raise a deposit, you can still help. You can use your property or savings as security for their mortgage instead of gifting them a deposit. Many lenders are offering these types of products, too.