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The Changing Tastes in Property Names
If you are thinking about removals to Norfolk, then you may well have the choice of a new home with an unusual moniker. The county has one of the highest numbers of ‘named’ houses in the whole of the UK, so you could find yourself moving to a Rose Cottage, an Orchard House – or even a Hogwarts or a Tardis!
Hamiltons Removals, who have more than 20 years’ experience in helping people move to and from the county, always keep up to date with the latest trends in the property market. Here we look at the official procedures you must go through for naming or renaming your home, and how classic literature and modern TV programmes are providing the inspiration for many homeowners today.
The Vital Statistics
312,000 properties across the UK have individual names, and not just a number on a street. Norfolk has the greatest concentration of these named homes in the UK. Norwich is currently in the lead for the title city with the most named properties, closely followed by London, Bristol, York, Southampton and Leeds.
As far as the actual names go, the most popular are Orchard (11,900), Meadow (11,473) and Rose Cottage (11,308).
The Current Crazes
An increasing number of homeowners have named their properties after fictional places featured in TV series, films and books. Ross Poldark’s ‘Nampara’ cottage can be found on 116 addresses in the UK, Doctor Who has influenced several ‘Tardis’ houses, while the popularity of Harry Potter has led to a number of Hogwarts houses springing up around the country.
Medieval fantasy TV series Game of Thrones is also particularly popular with homeowners, with more than 800 properties across the UK named ‘Stark,’ ‘Tyrell’ and ‘Frey’ after characters from the books and TV series.
The popularity of the TV series Downton Abbey has led to the creation of several properties named Highclere, while there are a few Thornfields in the UK, named after the home in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre.
Adding Value
While it was once deemed bad luck, changing the name of a house to something that has significant meaning to you or your family can give your home more an individual feel.
Studies have also suggested that it can actually add value to your home, particularly if it attracts interest from fans of the film, TV series or book the property is named after.
The English love their gardens, so houses named after mulberry and chestnut trees do better than the national average selling price by almost a fifth (20%). Similarly, homes with flowers such as foxglove and wisteria in the title could also prove profitable should you ever want to sell it – these are up by more than 5% compared to the average house price.
How Do You Change It?
You may be moving to a home with an unusual name you don’t like, or you want to give your home a touch more individuality than just a street name or number. So, what do you do?
It is important to remember that you are legally obliged to keep the same house number, in case of emergencies. If you want to add a house name, then contact your local council with your suggestion and they will check that the name isn’t already being used locally as duplications aren’t allowed.
Your local council will then contact Royal Mail for their approval. If they give it the all-clear, you will then have to make sure you sort out all the necessary paperwork with the Land Registry, utility providers and the electoral roll. However, there may be some small costs involved with these processes.
Hamiltons Removals is a leading supplier of commercial and domestic removals to Norfolk. We are based close to the Norfolk/Suffolk border, and offer domestic and commercial removals, as well as specialist moving services, including pets, equine services and vehicles, tractors and machinery.
We also have Safe N Stored self-storage at Harleston and Aldeby, so you have somewhere secure to put your items if you are between moves, or just need somewhere to store your possessions while they are not being used, such as seasonal items like boats, summer clothing or garden furniture.
If you are moving into, out of or within Norfolk, speak to one of our friendly team today on 01379 855203 to arrange professional, stress-free move. Click here for a free, no-obligation removals quote.
The Most Popular French Cities to Move to
France is still one of the most popular countries for people to move to, with more than 150,000 UK-born people choosing to make their home across the Channel.
Hamiltons Removals organises international removals to all destinations in France for domestic and commercial customers and, in partnership with property specialists Cle France, we offer a weekly moving service. Here is our guide to five of the most popular French cities to move to.
Lyon
According to recent surveys, this city in central Eastern France even outranks Paris for the overall quality of life. In a recent PwC Global survey Lyon scored highly for its general standard of living, healthcare and the strength of the economy.
The third largest French city is famous for its cuisine, with top regional dishes including coq au vin (chicken braised with wine) and salade Lyonnaise (lettuce with croutons, bacon and a poached egg). Two of France’s most famous wine-growing regions are close to the city; the Côtes du Rhône region to the south of the city, and the Beaujolais to the north.
Toulouse
Toulouse has often been named the most popular place to live in France by the French themselves. Its nickname is La Ville Rose – the pink city – because a large number of buildings have bricks and roofs in that colour. The quality of education provision is excellent, making it a particularly popular choice for families.
Its location in the south-west of France, close to the Spanish border, means the city benefits from warm Mediterranean summers and mild winters. Many locals enjoy strolling along the banks of the Garonne River and the Canal du Midi, both of which run through the city.
Marseille
The second largest city in France, on the country’s south coast, also enjoys warm, Mediterranean-type summers and is officially France’s warmest city. The combination of climate and location means it is the perfect place for a spot of sunbathing or water sports, and there are plenty of beaches to choose from.
There are a number of thriving expat communities in the city; many people move to Marseille to work either at the port or for one of the many multinational companies which are based here. The city was designated a European Capital of Culture in 2013, which acted as a catalyst for a host of regeneration projects.
Paris
The country’s capital remains one of the most popular places in France to move to. It ranks just above Lyon in the 2017 Mercer Quality of Living survey, coming in 37th out of more than 200 cities.
While the cost of accommodation can be high, the city can boast world-famous tourist attractions including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Art Gallery and the Notre Dame Cathedral. It is also easy to get there, thanks to the Channel Tunnel and three airports.
Bordeaux
The city, like Toulouse, is in the south-west of the country and lies on the banks of the Garonne River. It is best known for its wine, and the warm climate helps produce the world-famous grapes as well as attracting a lot of expats.
However Bordeaux can also boast a wealth of historic buildings, museums and art galleries and in the recent PwC survey it scored highest among the French for its overall quality of life. The quality of its urban infrastructure and environment helped it secure the top spot.
Hamiltons Removals can organise international removals to all the major towns and cities in France, including Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille and Lyon. Follow the link above if you would like to receive a detailed quote for your move.
We can offer three types of moving packages for domestic and commercial customers. Our dedicated service gives you exclusive use of one of our vehicles. If you want to specify collection and delivery dates then you can opt for our special service. Our part load/groupage service means you will share a vehicle with other customers. Our friendly, experienced staff will be able to put together a package which will be tailored to meet your individual needs.