Cross Keys Estates has taken another exciting step towards sustainability by investing in solar panels and battery storage at our stunning office, perfectly positioned on the elevated corner of Devonport Road in the heart of Stoke Village.

With a south-facing rear elevation, our roof is ideally placed to capture the sun’s energy throughout the day (whenever the British weather allows!). Since the installation, we’ve already noticed fantastic results. Our Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating has risen from a G to an impressive B, thanks not only to our solar investment but also to several additional energy-saving measures.

This transformation means that we’re now saving money every minute of the day — while also reducing our environmental impact. A win-win for both our business and the planet.

In recent years, solar power has shifted from being a “trend” to becoming a proper mainstream energy strategy. Around the world, companies of all sizes are installing solar panels — not just to “go green,” but to save money, enhance resilience against rising energy costs, and, in some cases strengthen their company brand in order to align themselves with growing market and social trends.

So why are so many businesses investing in solar panels?

Cutting Energy Costs

Electricity bills can be one of the largest overhead costs for a small business. Solar panels provide a powerful way to reduce or even eliminate those expenses. Once installed, solar systems generate free electricity for up to 25 years or more, allowing companies to benefit from lower energy costs. The initial installation can pay for itself within a few years through savings alone and in some cases, there might be loans or grants from either local authorities, government schemes or from the utility providers direct.

Strengthening Brand Image and Sustainability Goals

Consumers and investors increasingly prefer companies that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability. Installing solar panels sends a strong message that a business is serious about reducing its carbon footprint and protecting the environment. This can enhance brand reputation, attract eco-conscious customers, and even improve employee satisfaction and retention — as more workers want to be part of more responsible organizations.

Energy Independence and Reliability

Rising energy prices and grid instability have made energy independence more valuable than ever. Solar power, especially when combined with battery storage, allows businesses to produce and store their own energy. The use of panels and batteries mean greater resilience during power cuts or when peak-demand might reduce your supply, more control over power supply and costs and the ability to continue operations even when the sections national grid is down as happened in late July this year when power cuts affected hundreds of customers.

Long-Term Investment and an uplift in your Property Value

Installing solar panels is not just an operational upgrade — it’s a proper investment in your business and property. Properties with solar installations typically have higher market values and are more attractive to tenants or buyers looking for lower energy costs and in addition, since panels require minimal maintenance and have long lifespans, they deliver really good value each and every year.

Meeting EPC and Incoming Compliance Standards

As the UK has adopted the EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) for absolutely everything from your television, your toaster through to your house, energy ratings have become a standard practice, companies are under pressure to reduce emissions. Solar installations are a clear, measurable way to meet these goals and comply with government and social expectations.

A Win-Win for Business and the Planet

Switching to solar energy isn’t just about saving the environment — it’s about creating a stronger, more resilient, and, at the end of the day, a more profitable business. With the falling cost of technology, attractive incentives, and growing pressure to operate sustainably, there’s never been a better time for companies to switch to solar power. The future of our business is bright – and it’s powered by the sun.

Hello again everyone and welcome to the third instalment of my guide to different aspects of life in Plymouth. With just about three months to go until Christmas, the mornings are getting colder and darker, and I’ve already noticed my food choices shifting to more seasonal dishes. It’s definitely the time of year when I start planning ahead – not just for Christmas, but also for a positive start to the new year. So I thought I’d share a few of the things I’ll be looking out for in and around Plymouth to keep life fun.

Oktoberfest – 25th October

The first event that springs to mind for October is Oktoberfest. Plymouth’s version is held in a huge Bavarian-style tent, complete with steins of German beer, bratwurst, pretzels, Oompah bands and traditional drinking games. It really does capture the Bavarian party atmosphere – lederhosen and dirndls included! If you’re up for lively music and plenty of laughs, this is one not to miss.

Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus – 26th October

For something a little more family-friendly, The Box is hosting Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus. I love that they’re encouraging everyone to dress up in their scariest outfits. Expect craft activities, magical science experiments, music and dancing – a real spooktacular. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to stay on afterwards to try the special Halloween menu in the café (just remember it’s card-only).

A Season of Theatre

Plymouth Theatre Royal is one of my favourite places to spend an evening, and their upcoming programme is brilliant. You can catch Juliet & Romeo, Black Sabbath – The Ballet, The Woman in Black, Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes and That’ll Be Christmas music extravaganza. And of course, they always round off the year with the panto, which I’ll talk about later.

Big Nights at Plymouth Pavilions

The Pavilions never disappoints either. This season includes John Bishop, a Michael Jackson tribute, Bastille, Riverdance at 30, Fisherman’s Friends, and Jools Holland with his orchestra. They’re even throwing an 80’s themed Christmas meal and party – which sounds right up my street.

Lights, Markets and Shopping

For me, the Christmas build-up really begins with the light switch-on, which this year is on 15th November. From mid-November onwards, you’ve got late-night shopping and the city centre Christmas market running right through December. I love the atmosphere when the market stalls are up – mulled drinks in hand, browsing for presents, all wrapped up against the chill.

The Santa Run – 29th November

I’ve done this one myself and I can honestly say it’s pure fun. The Santa Run is a 3km dash (or jog… or walk!) through the city – but the best part is that everyone is dressed as Father Christmas. It’s impossible not to smile when you’re part of that red sea of Santas.

A Different Kind of Christmas

Normally, I do Christmas in a very big way, but this year will be a first – I’ll be away with my husband enjoying some winter sun. Lots of people choose to do the same, opting for something less formal and, often, less expensive than the traditional celebrations. If you’ve got family travelling down, another option is to book one of the many Airbnb apartments or houses in Plymouth, which can make hosting much easier.

Planning Ahead

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that you really do need to book ahead in Plymouth at this time of year. Restaurants, pubs, cinemas, clubs – they all get packed. Roads and car parks get just as busy too, so sometimes I prefer to leave the car at home and use Park & Ride or hop on a local train instead.

Festive Drinks on the Barbican

The Barbican is always my go-to for catching up with friends in December. It’s a mecca for socialising and has everything – cosy pubs, cocktail bars, fish and chips, fine dining. Personally, I can’t resist a hot mulled cider at this time of year – it feels like Christmas in a cup!

Shopping – High Street to Hidden Gems

I love a good wander around the Barbican’s cobbled streets in December, dipping into the independent shops, antique stores and artists’ studios for presents. If you stray off the beaten track, there are so many little treasures – even quirky charity shops and lovely tea rooms.

Of course, there’s also Drake Circus for the big names. I always find myself in M&S for mum and dad, and Primark for nieces and nephews. If you’re looking for something more special, Allum & Siddaway and Michael Spiers Jewellers are both nearby, with Breitling and Omega tempting the watch-lovers.

Nightlife in December

With university students heading home for the holidays, the nightlife shifts a little and becomes more local. The bars and clubs are still lively, but many do charge entry fees at this time of year – so it’s worth bearing in mind.

Comedy at Marjon – 10th October

I can’t finish without mentioning comedy – one of my favourite nights out. Myra DuBois is performing at Plymouth Marjon University on 10th October. I’ve already got my ticket, and if you enjoy sharp wit and bold humour, I’d recommend it.

The Panto!

And of course – the panto. Oh no it isn’t… oh yes it is! This year it’s Dick Whittington, starring Shane Richie. He’s always hilarious, and it’s the perfect way to round off the year.

Wrapping Up

So that’s my guide to Plymouth this autumn and winter – from Oktoberfest steins and spooky science to mulled cider on the Barbican and panto laughs at the Theatre Royal. There really is something for everyone.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading Part 3, and I’ll be back in the new year with Part 4. Until then – take care, have a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Hello again folks, hope you are all doing well and enjoying this wonderful weather we are having. I thought it was the right time to give you all an update as to what is happening with the housing market at the moment.

I started this year with quite a lot of optimism for the year ahead but this was short-lived, as no sooner had we got back into the swing of things in January, the market became saturated with houses of multi-occupancy (HMOs) or large buildings that were split into multiple rental flats and lots of other rental properties that were older, Victorian / Georgian buildings. After talking to a lot of these owners, to find out why so many of them were selling, their reasonings became very clear, they wanted to get out of the rental game before the introduction of all the new legislation comes into effect.

The abolition of Section 21 (No fault evictions), will effectively handcuff the landlord to the tenant, even if they are not good tenants. The owner will only be able to evict the tenant if the tenant falls behind (2 months minimum) with their rent, if the owner decides to move back into the property, or if the owner decides to sell their property. If it is the last two, then that property will not be able to be let out again for a period of six months.

The renters reform bill – this bill will soon be coming into law and again prioritises tenants over the actual owners of the property. It is effectively a stick to beat landlords with. The landlord will have to go through so much red tape just to regain ownership of the property.

If you think that this is sounding a bit biased, it is my own personal experience of tenants and that of managing 300 other rental properties that has given me the in-depth knowledge that there are many more problematic tenants out there than ever there are problematic landlords.

EPC regulations – The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) was brought into effect as part of the Home Information Pack legislation for selling property back in 2007, originally part of the Kyoto agreement on Climate change. Our government of the time included these EPCs as a mandatory part of the selling process and here it has remained.

Currently, the law states that any property must have a minimum EPC rating of E for existing tenancies. However, since 1st April this year, any property being rented out with a tenancy starting after this date, must have a minimum EPC rating of C and by 2028 ALL existing properties (even existing rental agreed properties) will have to be the grade C rating.

This means that, I am talking specifically about Plymouth, all the rented housing stock, no matter the age or construction type, will have to have so much work done on them (internal and external insulation, new windows, new lighting or even ground source heat pumps).

Now, while all these improvements might sound fantastic, there are currently no grants or other forms of financial assistance for private landlords and the extreme costs of doing one, a few, or all of these improvements are not financially viable, and the argument that if you do these improvements you will be adding value to your property does not always hold true.

If you are one of our landlords and you are reading this and beginning to worry, worry not. As I stated earlier in this blog, I know that pretty much every one of our landlords have properties that pass muster and will not be adversely affected by these regulation changes. Even better, if we are managing your property, we will ensure that we deal with all of these issues for you, IF they arise. The bonus to this situation is that rental prices are still climbing and are at an all time high in Plymouth, meaning much better yields than have been enjoyed previously – a ‘win win’ situation.

The knock-on effect of this rental property dump on the market is that there are a lot of properties to chose from as a buyer and it is now a buyers’ market. If you put your property on the market at an unrealistic price, if your agent tells you “We can get you more than any other agent has valued it at” if your property has already been on the market for more than 8 weeks, if you have not had more than two viewings a week, then your property is overpriced – FOR THIS CURRENT MARKET. Prices have come down from the peaks that we saw in the last few years and you really do need to be realistic about what is achievable today.

With some positivity, I can confirm that Cross Keys Estates have exchanged on the sale of more properties in Plymouth than any other agent this year so far (data accurate as of 08/05/2025 – Zoopla), so if you are seriously looking to sell your property, why not give the team here at Cross Keys Estates a call.

We have been here for over two decades and have definitely become a market leader with our honest and qualified approach, which is why sellers, buyers and the rental sector all trust us and have given us a 98% recommendation rating.

I do hope that you take the time to read this and please feel free to share it around on your socials and to as many of your friends as possible.