Worried about Aberdeenshire Property Affordability?
After a brief hiccup in house prices after Brexit, confidence has returned to the housing market in Scotland, and with a shortage of properties on the market, demand for high-value houses remains high from overseas buyers. But how affordable is owning a dream property for Scottish homeowners?
According to a recent report from MORE TH>N, almost half the average UK homeowner’s monthly income now goes towards essential home costs, such as utility bills, insurance and maintenance. Aberdeen comes out as the second most expensive area in Scotland to run a home, with an average home maintenance bill of £1,682 per month.
So how much might it cost you to run your ideal country pile? We take a look at five of the most expensive (and gorgeous) properties recently for sale, and see how much we’d get stung.
1. Invery House, Banchory, Kincardineshire, AB31
Yours for: £2,500,000
What you get:
– 10 en-suite bedrooms
– Billiard room, gymnasium and wine cellar
– Kitchen with triple Aga and larder room
– A “staff wing” with 2 en-suite bedrooms
– Coach house and stables
– 30 acres of land
EPC rating*: F
Likely cost to run: c. £121,000 (£10,000 a month)
The cost of maintaining this sprawling Georgian pile – and its outbuildings and grounds – could be crippling. In 2014, Country Life estimated the cost of running a large country house at £115,950 a year or £9,662 a month, including staff costs, council tax and repairs. However, the oil-fired Aga stove could add an extra £5,000 a year onto the bill alone.
2. 5 bedroom detached house for sale, Milltimber, Aberdeenshire, AB13
Yours for: £1,775,000
What you get:
– New-build luxury detached house
– 5 large bedrooms, 5 reception rooms
– Triple integral garage with electric doors
– 0.5 acres of garden
EPC rating*: B
Likely cost to run: c. £31,000 a year (£2,583 a month)
Being a new-build, there are no crumbling, listed features here to be maintained, and it’s pretty energy-efficient. However, you’re still looking at a hefty price tag for the buildings insurance alone – perhaps £1,000 a year – plus security costs of around £500 a year. And a gardener adds another £15,000 or so on top.
3. Balbithan House, Kintore, Inverurie, AB51
Yours for: over £950,000
What you get:
– Category A-listed baronial house
– 9 bedrooms, 4 reception rooms, library
– Garage, workshop, greenhouses, potting shed
– 9.75 acres of gardens and woodland
– Turrets and a spiral staircase
EPC rating*: F
Likely cost to run: At least £46,000 a year (£3,830 a month), depending on repairs required.
This impressive house dating back to the 16th century has oodles of original features. That, plus the Category A listing, makes it a very expensive property to take on. Utility bills are likely to hit at least £4,500 and you’d need to budget around £500 a year to maintain the chimneys. And if something goes wrong with that roof, the sky’s the limit on repair costs.
4. Fae-Me-Well House, Cothal, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire.
Yours for: over £760,000
What you get:
– Period home with self-contained annex
– 7 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms
– 3 garages
– 3 acres of landscaped gardens
EPC rating*: unknown
Likely cost to run: Around £29,700 a year (£2,475 a month)
This 19th-century converted farmhouse has great rental potential. But with seven bedrooms, plus one in the annex, utility bills could top £3,300 a year. Rental income on the annex would offset some costs, but you’ll have to pay separate council tax and water rates for it.
5. Countesswells House (South Wing), Bieldside, Aberdeenshire
Yours for: over £915,000
What you get:
– B-listed country house
– 5-6 bedrooms
– Greenhouse, sheds, summer house
– 4 acres of landscaped grounds
EPC rating*: unknown
Likely cost to run: Around £26,700 a year, or £2,225 a month.
This 18th-century-period house has been converted into two residences, and the roof has recently been renovated, so maintenance costs should be relatively low.
Still want that dream house in the country? We’ve seen that a rural idyll could put the richest homeowners under pressure. But with rising inflation, all homeowners and renters in Scotland are now feeling the pinch as energy bills soar.
With winter 2016/17 looking like a cold one, now’s the time to take stock of how much your home will cost to run over the next six months – and whether you’ve got enough savings to deal with something unexpected should the worst happen.
Are you feeling the pinch, and worried about getting more into debt?
Use our Trust Deed Scotland® debt calculator.
*An EPC rating (Energy Performance Certificate) indicates how energy efficient a property is, ranging from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).