This story is sponsored by Kempston-Parkes.

As concern grows across the country following the latest rise in interest rates, Harrogate’s foremost chartered surveyor says he’s confident the market will remain largely unaffected in our area. 

Last week, the Bank of England raised interest rates to 5% – a level not seen since 2008, when the global financial crisis hit. As a result, mortgage lenders have been withdrawing deals and raising their rates ahead of a predicted peak of 6% later this year. 

But Andrew Kempston-Parkes, of Kempston-Parkes Chartered Surveyors, said: 

“A lot of people seem very fretful about the housing market at the moment – there’s a lot of bad news in certain sections of the press. But what I’m seeing here in Harrogate and the surrounding areas is that sales are still going ahead. 

“Interest rate rises don’t seem to be having much effect here, and Harrogate and Knaresborough still have a very strong market. Those agents that are busy are very busy, and the houses that are coming to market are still selling.” 

Mr Kempston-Parkes said the town and its surroundings had so many “pull” factors that the local property market would be able to weather any storm arising from the 0.5 per cent rate increase. 

He said: 

“In my career I have seen four sets of rises in property values and four sets of falls in property values (‘booms and busts’, if you are a certain tabloid newspaper), but the long-term trajectory is upward.

“And whatever happens in terms of a fall in value across the country, Harrogate and district has always been affected least and we have always recovered to the high level of values, quicker than anywhere outside of London. Our property market is resilient.”

He said the area has high levels of employment, good schools and a clean environment, meaning that plenty of people still want to settle here from other places. 

Mr Kempston-Parkes added that with six trains a day to King’s Cross, London is very accessible for commuters for those working in the capital for two or three days a week. 

He added: 

“Despite Menwith Hill being significantly rolled back in terms of personnel, it still contributes the Harrogate’s housing market, not least because most of the housing up there has been demolished. That means there are a lot of base personnel in the rental market, which in turn supports the general housing market.”

Mr Kempston-Parkes earned his professional qualifications form the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in 1997, and founded Kempston-Parkes Chartered Surveyors in 2011. It now employs 15 people from its offices in central Harrogate. 

Find out more:

Kempston-Parkes Chartered Surveyors provide surveys and valuations for all purposes, including purchase, inheritance tax, capital gains tax, matrimonial assessments, boundary disputes and Land Registry plans. 

For more information, go to www.kempston-parkes.co.uk, or for a confidential conversation about your requirements, call 01423 789111.

This story is sponsored by Linley & Simpson.

Harrogate’s property market will remain healthy despite the unprecedented challenges faced by the wider economy, according to a Harrogate property professional with over 20 years’ experience. 

Jonathan Foggitt, who is Senior Land & Development Manager at Yorkshire estate agent Linley & Simpson, said prices across the district would stay buoyant despite a complex web of factors.  

He told The Stray Ferret: 

“One of the biggest problems in Harrogate is the lack of land supply. The council needs to build a certain number houses per year to meet their obligations, but the development opportunities are simply not coming forward fast enough.” 

He said this was due to various factors, some of which were influenced by global forces:

“These are interesting times – it’s quite unusual to have so many factors affecting the market all at once. The cost-of-living crisis has affected affordability and the war in Ukraine has impacted costs. Political turmoil at home generally affects investment into the UK negatively too.  

“Brexit and Covid have also had a huge effect. Brexit caused delays at the ports, which has affected lead times, and Covid saw factories shut down – many are still not working at full capacity – so there are shortages in the supply chain. 

“Physical costs of materials have soared over recent times – timber’s gone up by 40% – and lead times for steel orders have tripled, although we have seen a cost stabilisation more recently. 

“It’s a simple example of supply and demand, and as consequence, not enough houses are being built, so prices remain robust.” 

Jonathan has spent over two decades in the property industry, mainly self-employed, and took over Linley & Simpson’s Land & Development department in October. His team can help developers through both the initial stages of a project and the post-construction phase, including marketing. 

He added that opportunities for developers could open up too, as those lacking liquidity exit the market. The transfer of housing and planning powers from the now-defunct Harrogate Borough Council to the new North Yorkshire Council (NYC) may present opportunities.

He said: 

“I think there’ll be a review of the remaining allocations by NYC, and there could even be another call for new development sites.

“Any such process will have to happen for all seven of the former local council areas, so it will be fascinating to watch. It could create all sorts of opportunities for developers – and ultimately for housebuyers too.”

Linley & Simpson was founded in Leeds in 1997 and has 19 branches in towns and cities across Yorkshire, including Harrogate, Ripon, Wetherby and York.

Find out more:

Jonathan and his team understand the challenges involved at every stage of the development process. To find out how they can help you with your next project, call them on 01423 540054. 

This article is sponsored by Myrings.

Harrogate’s leading family estate agents Myrings has scooped four prestigious titles at the biggest awards in the UK property industry.

The independent agency received the Gold Estate Agent Award, Gold Landlord Award, Silver Tenant Award and Best in County for North Yorkshire at the prestigious ESTAS Customer Service Awards 2022.

The team from Myrings, which is based on Princes Square, collected the award at a glittering ceremony in London.

The winners were announced by Phil Spencer, who co-presents Location, Location, Location with Kirstie Allsopp.

The awards are powered by the ESTAS customer review platform that highlights the best agents, conveyors and brokers for customer service in the UK.

Gemma Myring, Managing Director of the family-run business, which was established in 1998, said:

“We are absolutely thrilled to be recognised in this year’s ESTAS.

“It means so much to us as we know it’s our customers who have judged our performance. We take our levels of customer service very seriously because we know clients have a choice. We have always been very proud of the personal service, and this proves we are delivering what we promise.”

Ms Myring put the continued success of the agency, which is ranked in the top 2% for sales in the country, down to the hard-working team.

She said:

“The staff have pulled out all the stops and I’m so proud of all of them. A good team is what sets you apart.

“We are going into our 25th year really proud of what we have achieved.”

Phil Spencer, who has hosted The ESTAS every year since their inception in 2003, addressed the audience at the awards.

He said:

“I’ve said it many times but the work of agents, conveyancers and brokers is vastly underrated by the general public and it’s only when clients go through the process that they understand the effort, complexity and hard work that goes into your job.

“It’s your passion for what you do that makes The ESTAS the most important day in the property calendar every year.”

To find out more, visit the Myrings website. You can call the sales department on 01423 566400, or contact the lettings team on 01423  569007.

Nidderdale’s countryside conjures up images of farmhouses and stone cottages peppered across the sweeping rural landscape.

So Fringill Dike House in Darley certainly catches your eye.

However, the £2.25 million property isn’t invasive, as it has been intentionally designed to “blend in” to its natural surroundings.

The five-bedroom eco-house has been designed by Skipton-based Rural Solutions and took more than two-and-a-half years to build.

Underground

The property, which spans more than 6,000 ft, has been constructed using a mix of traditional dry stone walls and sedum living roofs. It is fitted with ground source heating, as well as an underwater storage tank, which collects rainwater.

A third of the house is also built underground.

Owner Paul Chapman lives on a nearby farm. He explained that the home had originally been built for him and his wife, Caron, on land owned by the couple.

Mr Chapman, who has eight children, said:

“We built four houses for our sons in one field and built this house in another. The intention was my wife and I were going to move into it.

“However, we decided we didn’t want to swap 13 acres for one. So we made the decision to sell it rather than move in.”

The property is back on the market with joint agents Knight Frank and Carter Jonas after an original sale fell through.

An aerial view of the house.

Despite it’s £2.25 million price tag, Mr Chapman said there had been a lot of interest in the property, which he put down to it being located in an affluent area.

However, he admitted he had spent too much on the build, which was hit by delays due to the pandemic.

He said:

“The difference between the build cost and the sale price is the price of the land, that’s all. It might not even be that much.”

But there is no denying the house is impressive, with no expense spared.

Private driveway

The property is approached via a lengthy private driveway over a bridge, which gently winds past a grassed field.

Upon entering the house, oak steps lead down from the hallway into a huge kitchen space. A wall of floor-to-ceiling glazing frames uninterrupted views of Nidderdale.

The huge kitchen that boasts incredible views across Nidderdale.

The lower ground floor features two large spaces, which have yet to be transformed.

Cinema room

Mr Chapman said:

“We were going to put a bar in one of the rooms, but when we decided we weren’t going to move in, we left them empty. So whoever moves in can build a bar, cinema room or a gym.”

Despite being underground, the lower floor features high ceilings with glazed panels in the terracing above, flooding the space with natural light. In addition to the two rooms, there is a shower room with a sauna, separate cloakroom and plant room.

One of the underground rooms.

Upstairs, a landing provides access to five bedrooms, all with their own ensuite facilities.

One of the bathrooms.

The gardens and grounds surrounding the property extend to just under 1.5 acres. A large paved sun terrace spans the entire width of the rear of the property.

Locally-sourced

Mr Chapman said:

“We had discussions with the architect and when the plans were designed, we were able to do a virtual tour of the house.

“We made sure everything was where we wanted it to be. We put in the best appliances and units and everything was sourced locally. For example Woodhouse, in Harrogate, designed and fitted the kitchen.

“It is named after the beck – or dike – that runs through the property.”

Mr Chapman, who has owned race horses for 15 years, has also named one of his horses Fringill Dike, a champion at that.

He said:

“He’s running again at Hexham this weekend and we are hoping he will win again.”

The sauna in the underground space.

Asked if he would build any more houses in the future, Mr Chapman, who moved to Darley from Howarth 12 years ago, didn’t seem overly keen.

He said:

“It went on too long. We did it for ourselves, but I wouldn’t want to build any to sell. If you employ a middle man, it’s hard to make a profit. Especially if you have to buy the land.”

‘Anchored in nature’

A statement on the Rural Solutions website, which features some impressive architectural drawings of the property, said:

“Working with the client, we produced a design for a new house on an open, sloping site in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“Incorporating a dynamic, landscape-based concept we used indigenous dry-stone walls as a device to structure a single ‘ribbon’ design. In this way the project was designed deliberately to blend into the landscape, using local, natural materials; a beautiful home anchored in nature.”

You can watch a video of the property here.

Read more:

• Top gardening tips from Harrogate horticulture experts
• Interior designer selling her Harrogate home after huge transformation

When I visited interior designer Joan Maclean’s Harrogate house for a course just before Christmas, it was love at first sight.

It was one of those properties that just made you feel instantly at home.

So when I spotted it on Rightmove, in my mind I had already packed up the removal van and moved in.

But, alas, we’re not in a position to move just yet, so I reined myself in and asked Joan to tell me more about her amazing home instead.

The study with glazed doors on to a roof terrace where there is a wire sculpture.

Sensational semi

Joan confirmed that she has indeed decided to sell the sensational 1919 semi on Wetherby Road, which she has extended and completely transformed.

She said:

“I’m thrilled to have two exciting new projects in France which have lured me away, but I know the new occupants of No 61 will enjoy the house and garden.”

The huge kitchen area.

Secret garden

Joan bought the property in September 2016 after initially only agreeing to view it out of politeness.

She said:

“It was a friend-of-a-friend selling it – I didn’t want to live on the Wetherby Road.

“What I didn’t know was that it hides a secret garden which extends the width of Harrogate Town Football Club’s pitch next door.”

While the garden was impressive, Joan said the house itself was crying out for a major renovation.

Now, thanks to a contemporary rear and side extension, an attic conversion and reorganisation of the original layout, the property has a huge open-plan living kitchen, a drawing room and a cloakroom on the ground floor.

The open plan sitting area and dining room.

New-build

On the first floor, there are three double bedrooms, an en-suite and a house bathroom, and on the top floor, there is a large master suite with shower room and dressing room.

The property is now on the market with Verity Frearson for £700,000.

She said:

“The size of the plot meant we could look at a great extension. Rather than extending across the drive at the side of the property, David Scott, the architect, promoted the idea of developing the amazing new-build at the rear that now exists.”

Joan in her amazing home.

Inspiration

Joan worked in showbusiness and TV before moving to Los Angeles for five years, where she studied interior design at the University of California.

When it came to the design of the extension, she took inspiration from the work of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who she greatly admires.

She said:

“His influence is here at No. 61 – from the overhanging ‘pod’ bedroom suite at the back of the house, to the asymmetric windows.

“Probably one of his most iconic buildings is Falling Water with the overhang, although he also designed the Guggenheim Museum in New York, which is all about the curve.”

Read more:

• Top gardening tips from Harrogate horticulture experts
• Boozy Tour of Harrogate to launch next month

Only two rooms remain as they were from the original floorplan, and with the loft conversion raising the gable end, the space now extends to 2,500sq ft.

Joan said:

“The key thing for me was to ensure that the living is predominantly at the rear of the property so, along with the new windows, there is not even a hint that the house is sited on a main road. I don’t think anyone ever quite believes me until they come into the space and there is silence.”

When it comes to the interior designer’s favourite room, she loves the master suite with its “views reaching far across towards Sutton Bank on a clear day”.

The master suite.

Storage

She said:

“I also love the super luxe en-suite, although my heart is held by the dressing room. What else do you do with space in the eaves? And every girl needs a place to hide those shoes and handbags.”

In fact the house boasts plenty of storage, with a downstairs cloakroom that features a wall of cupboards.

She said:

“I run interior design and styling courses and they are a treasure trove of my props –  especially as I rearrange my displays all the time.”

A stylish corner of the house on Wetherby Road.

She also loves the main living space, as it is where she spends most of her time.

She said:

“We moved a lot as I was growing up with my father’s job. My mother always assessed a house based upon the party-hosting capabilities of the space – I’m a girl after her own heart and this house is made for parties!”

The living area.

Colour

Reflecting on how the home has evolved over the years, Joanie said one of the elements she has been “thrilled with” is the colours that run through the house.

She said:

“They’re entirely consistent through the space, with ‘Little Owl’ as the predominant colour being a soft, warm grey, and ‘Tempest’ – a moody, deep blue green – as the contrast downstairs. These are both from Fired Earth.

“With a small hit of Farrow and Ball’s Peignoir in the master suite, there’s a real flow through the house and they’re really soothing, warm neutral tones that really work in this light-filled space.”

And while the house is stunning, the ‘secret garden’, is undoubtedly the pièce de résistance.

‘Striking’ plants

Joan said:

“There’s a large terrace directly outside the house and then steps take you down into the long garden. The design is all based around curves as a counter to the rectangular nature of the house.

“I love architectural plants so phormium, red hot pokers, fatsia and sedum fill the beds – they are green and striking all year.

“There’s also a magical element to the garden at night. Apart from the lights, I have a projector and we have movie nights projecting onto the rear wall of the old cottage, whose back wall is one of the boundaries of the garden – the best way to turn a virtue out of a reality.”

The stunning ‘secret’ garden, that stretches around the property.

Harrogate is back in the top three happiest places to live in Great Britain, according to a survey of tens of thousands of residents now in its tenth year.

Property website Rightmove is behind the poll, which measured factors such as community spirit, nature and the opportunity to develop skills locally.

This year’s poll of more than 21,000 people gave the Northumberland market town of Hexham the top spot, Richmond upon Thames in Greater London second place and Harrogate third.

While Harrogate previously topped the “happy at home index” in 2015, the spa town dropped to ninth place in the survey last year.

Read more:

• Staveley ‘legend’, 87, raises £100,000 in table tennis marathons
• Sneak peek: Harrogate’s new Manhattan-style cocktail bar
• 52 social homes built in Harrogate despite 1,800 households stuck on waiting list

Daryll Digpal, the managing director at Beadnall Copley in Harrogate said:

“Harrogate property prices across both lettings and sales markets soaring due to unprecedented demand fuelled by lockdowns and the Chancellor’s Stamp Duty holiday.

“The town boasts a thriving high street with many international retail brands, a booming hospitality industry and excellent state and private schools.

“Furthermore, at its heart is the famous Stray owned by the Duchy of Lancaster, a much enjoyed haven, particularly over the past 18 months.

“As such is it no surprise that this attractive spa town is one of the country’s happiest places to live.”

Where are the happiest place to live in Britain?

1. Hexham, North East – average asking price £297,088
2. Richmond upon Thames, Greater London – average asking price £1,196,892
3. Harrogate, Yorkshire and Humber – average asking price £353,624
4. Hove, South East – average asking price £525,906
5. Llandrindod Wells, Wales – average asking price £193,601
6. Stirling, Scotland – average asking price £191,226
7. Monmouth, Wales – average asking price £312,649
8. St Ives, South West – average asking price £494,393
9. Anglesey, Wales – average asking price £278,391
10. Leamington Spa, West Midlands – average asking price £350,981
11. Perth, Scotland – average asking price £167,160
12. Hitchin, East of England – average asking price £491,223
13. Woodbridge, East of England – average asking price £427,542
14. Kendal, North West – average asking price £258,961
15. Macclesfield, North West – average asking price £277,772
16. Exeter, South West – average asking price £303,215
17. Salisbury, South West – average asking price £318,806
18. Horsham, South East – average asking price £433,892
19. St Albans, East of England – average asking price £632,320
20. Guildford, South East – average asking price £542,947

This post is sponsored by Lapicida

Since opening its doors in 2019, Grantley Hall has quickly earned a reputation as a top destination for the rich and famous.

It is a stately countryside stay, a glitzy resort, a wellness retreat and a foodie haven. And it is without doubt the place to be you want to show off on Instagram.

The 18th-century mansion, which has been dubbed by guests as “The Ritz of Ripon”, opened as a hotel after a £70m refurbishment.

It boasts 47 rooms, four restaurants, including one with a Michelin star, and 30 acres of sweeping wooded parkland and grounds.

The Palladian playground also has an elite performance fitness centre, with equipment so plush –  I would genuinely be scared to perspire – and a luxurious spa with two swimming pools. There’s even a nightclub.

Then there are the lavish events that are held regularly at the hotel, for example this month you can attend a champagne party and discover the “floral secrets of the stars” with a celebrity florist. There are also various super car meets across the year, so you can show-off your Lamborghini and swill champagne.

The fact that you can live your best life without leaving the grounds of the hotel, has sparked a property boom in the Grantley area, according to the owner of a Harrogate estate agents.

‘The Grantley effect’

Jeremy Hopkinson OBE, owner of Hopkinsons, said as well as property prices going up, people are also requesting to live within a 20-mile radius of Grantley Hall, making it one of the most desirable areas to live in the district.

He has labelled this ‘The Grantley effect’.

He said:

“We have seen a strong demand for the villages within a short drive to Grantley Hall.

“For example properties in Ripley, Hampsthwaite and the Burnt Yates area, as well as the immediate villages close to Grantley.

“Clients have approached me to see if there are properties that can be offered off-market.

“I have one client at the moment looking for a period family home within a 15-20 minute drive of Grantley.

“The whole Grantley set-up appeals to a wide range and age of buyer. They offer a high quality service and obviously you have got some fantastic bedrooms there as well.

“People are staying for two or three nights at Grantley and then ringing me to see if they can view properties close to it.

“I’ve currently got two local clients trying to find something in the area because they like going there. I’ve also got a couple from London coming to view properties because they have heard about Grantley.”

Read more:

• New state-of-the-art cosmetic surgery hidden in Harrogate village
• Wisteria hysteria: Are faux floral displays here to stay?

Property boom 

Mr Hopkinson OBE said the whole district is currently seeing a major property boom.

He said:

“It’s a very interesting time. Most estate agents are short of properties because they have been so busy.

“In this area there has been a 10 per cent increase in property prices this year – specifically for country homes which are in huge demand.

“People want a change of scenery and more space for everybody. I think they want a view and bigger gardens and are prepared to travel to Ripon or Harrogate and get the train down to London for work.

“There are also more people wanting to move into the area.”

Mr Hopkinson OBE said he had just sold three major properties off-market in the area, including one as a result of the buyers wanting to use the spa at Grantley Hall.

He said:

“It has boosted sales of properties around that area and will continue to do so.

“It’s a very desirable area and people want to be in a short drive of it. This is good news for the local economy basically. They use local producers and employ a lot of staff locally as well.”

Three properties that have sold or are for sale in villages near Grantley

A £1.7million five-bedroom detached home in Burnt Yates that has just been sold by Hopkinsons.

Click here to view the property

A detached five-bedroom property for sale by Hunters in Kirkby Malzeard for £750,000.

Click here to view the property

Nicholls Tyreman is selling this new semi-detached three-bedroom home in Birstwith for £395,000.

Click here to view the property

Property Gold is a monthly column written by independent property consultant, Alex Goldstein. With more than 17 years’ experience, Alex helps his clients to buy and sell residential property in some of the most desirable locations in Yorkshire and beyond. This month, Alex discusses buoyant Yorkshire property market – and what might happen next. 

There have been moments nothing short of insanity in the Yorkshire market recently, with exceptionally high prices being achieved, sealed bids, jaw-dropping competition and no let up.

As we exited the lockdown earlier in the year, the market very quickly (and as predicted) got instantly back up to speed. We then had the Chancellor’s ‘brain wave’ of overlaying a SDLT holiday – sending market activity through the roof. I have never experienced anything like it during my 19 years in the industry.

However, whilst the SDLT break provided a sharp shock to the market, the pace wasn’t just down to this. A positive from Covid (yes there are some!), was that it forced buyers to really analyse what they wanted. Companies realised that they could make substantial staff savings by having a remote workforce, family-work balance became more prominent and those in the cities realised they could be based further away from the office. As a result, Yorkshire has taken advantage.

Whilst we always had a strong local market, we now have large amounts of money being poured into the area from those relocating from London and the Home Counties, but also those based internationally. As I write, I have clients based in Singapore, the US and France – they are all Yorkshire ex-pats looking to ‘come home’ having been couped up in city environments.

Read More: 

• Property Gold: The empty homes scandal – who’s the fool?
• Property Gold: The butchered landscapes of PLC developments – who’s to blame?

So with all this recent activity, what do I think the market landscape looks like into the near future? Most importantly, myself and no one I have spoken with is predicting a price crash or correction. I have long said that the gap between the North and South was closing and this is proof. The prices we have seen, now provide a new benchmark for the area and I feel that we will now see a steady and reassured step forward onwards from this.

Currently there is a shortage of stock in the market, however this is down to the school holidays and people quite understandably wanting a break. Come early September I feel the market will be back on and whilst not at the same raucous pace, the outlook only looks positive.

However, in order to secure your next home, everything comes down to your buying position – and being ‘Under Offer’ doesn’t have the same clout it once did. With legals and banks taking ever longer, vendors and estate agents are shying away from the associated risk and delays, to opt for buyers that are ready to go. The only question you need to ask yourself is when you are going to join the foray.

It’s an exciting time to be in the Yorkshire property market and this is the start of the wave!

If you have any comments or questions for Alex, please feel free to contact him on alex@alexgoldstein.co.uk

David Waddington, Land and New Homes Director for Linley and Simpson, writes for The Stray Ferret and says lockdown has had a surprising effect on the market: 

Who would have guessed? Never have estate agents and property advisers had it so good since the Brexit referendum in June, 2016.
An unlikely phenomenon you would think, with only a small proportion of the folk returning to work following the COVID-19 outbreak. A number of sources are reporting enquiry levels at a new high with multiple offers against individual properties, sales on homes that have been marketed for a number years, and new developments receiving unprecedented requests to view.

So, when all we hear about is economic Armageddon, what’s going on?

I think the pent up demand is fuelled by a couple of factors:
Firstly, being cooped up in one’s home for 8 weeks is a sure way to test any relationship, an opportunity to buy bigger, downsize, or at least a change of environment to preserve sanity.
Secondly, whilst many have struggled financially, others have remarkably saved money and with the cost of borrowing being so low, the time seems right for aspiring buyers.

Economically the country is faced with a number of challenges, how do they pay for the furloughing of over 6 Million people? This is heightened by a surge in borrowing in the UK by £62.5bn in April, but putting this into context, the war debt was only concluded within the last ten years, so what’s the rush to pay it back?  Income tax however is likely to increase, but whilst we are all so indebted to the NHS, the metaphorical pill should be easy to swallow.

Worrying times we know, but such headline grabbing snap-shots need to be balanced against low inflation and still very cheap mortgage borrowing, assuming that your loan to value is on the right side of 75%.

Estate agents though are having to calm the storm by ensuring that social distancing requirements are observed.
Within the new homes sector, open days with hoards of people are now a thing of the past but properly managed, social distancing arrangements can be arranged for buyers. A recent campaign for a new apartment scheme in Harrogate has resulted in twenty back to back appointments over a two day period, giving each party a private dedicated slot of half an hour to inspect without the need for a shiny suited estate agent asking irrelevant questions. Following each viewing, the property is cleansed, with door handled wiped within a 15 minute window, to allow for the next party to view.

One social distance advantage though….the removal of the luke warm Prosecco and vol-au-vents.

Here in the Harrogate region, we have a strong sense of belonging to the finest area of God’s creation. It has inspired many to look to a new home, to enhance their home life, whilst being comforted by the familiarity of an area that is already enjoyed.