Editors annual Recommendations

Through the Keyhole safeguards landlords, estate agents and tenants from potential legal wrangles with its high calibre inventories of properties to let.

This highly specialised company provides extremely detailed impartial reports of the contents and condition of any property within a house, flat or other premises at the outset of a new tenancy. These documents then provide failsafe evidence in the event of any damage occurring.

Through the Keyhole uses painstaking methodical processes to produce accurate, consistent reports recording the state of the property, item by item, in great detail. The company also keeps abreast of any new legislation which could affect tenancies and ensures that all its reports reflect the changes.

Company owner Katie Garratt says: “The new Tenancy Deposit Scheme tightened up the rules so landlords no longer have the power they once had. The reports we prepare can give both them and their tenants protection because they are comprehensive, independent and detailed, recording any wear and tear in a systematic, consistent way.

“This greatly minimises the risk of costly disputes and ensures that both landlords and tenants are abiding by the regulations.”

Through the Keyhole, covering Leicestershire and Warwickshire, uses time honoured survey and recording techniques rather than generic software. Staff are members of the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC), covered by both professional indemnity and public liability insurance.

Many customers wait for their boiler to break down before they decide to have a new one installed, but it could save the trauma of water damage to the home and a sudden unexpected expenditure if they were to plan ahead and have a modern system installed. Spring is a great time to have the work carried out.

Nobody wants to be left in the cold at this time of year and Meade Heating is the company which can turn on the heat in the nicest possible way in the event of boiler breakdowns. It can also install new oil or gas central heating systems.

A Hinckley-based company, Meade Heating carries out a great many oil, gas and LPG installations, especially in rural areas. It does a large amount of work for both domestic and commercial customers, including house builders and renovators, and operates not only in its home territory of Leicestershire and Warwickshire but also in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and even further afield.

The business was created by Richard Meade back in 1989 and has built up a solid reputation for workmanship, reliability and helpfulness. It repairs broken down boilers, installs new boilers and also installs tanks for bottled gas in areas without mains gas supplies. It also provides an emergency service, so people can speak to an engineer around the clock. All the engineers are both Gas Safe and Oftec registered, so work is fully guaranteed. Customers’ premises are always left clean and tidy at the end of a job.

Meade Heating offers a full range of heating systems, products and services. The company provides free quotations with no obligation for new and replacement heating systems and other installations, all at competitive prices. Afterwards completing work, it is happy to carry out regular maintenance checks and servicing.

Many customers wait for their boiler to break down before they decide to have a new one installed, but it could save the trauma of water damage to the home and a sudden unexpected expenditure if they were to plan ahead and have a modern system installed. Spring is a great time to have the work carried out.

If you love beautiful things which combine artistry, quality and practical design, you need Bagel & Griff in your life. The shelves never look the same two days running, so once you discover this stunning shop in Market Harborough it will quickly become your go-to venue whenever you want to buy for the home, find the perfect present or simply browse.

Bagel & Griff is a lifestyle store created by Heléne Inchmore, who enjoyed a globe trotting career in fashion design and buying before opening the outlet 15 years ago. Now Heléne exercises her eclectic taste in sourcing contemporary and handmade goods from around the world, stocking the shop with items mixed and matched to her own impeccable taste.

The leanings are always toward natural materials, artisan craftsmanship and style that speaks for itself. The main collections include ceramics, lighting, table and kitchenware. There are handsome items of furniture, diverse forms of storage, giftworthy toiletries and stand out stationery.

Everything is ethically sourced and personally chosen by Heléne, who named the business after two much adored dogs. Always she aims to provide choices her customers cannot find anywhere else nearby and present them in her unique and distinctive ‘Bagel & Griff’ style.

“Our continued success depends on being different and constantly identifying new products and sources,” says Heléne.

If you haven’t yet discovered Albert’s Archives Vintage & Loved, it’s time you did! Even experts from the BBC’s Antiques Road Trip have foraged and found treasures from the past on the shelves of this charming independent business in North Kilworth, just off the A4304 midway between Lutterworth and Market Harborough.

Albert’s Archives stocks vintage, antique and pre-loved items in units run by different trade specialists, who between them cover furniture, jewellery, pictures, ceramics, clothing and curiosities of every kind.

Alongside this runs Albert’s Café & Tea Room, a relaxing place to enjoy a wholesome home cooked meal, an afternoon tea or perhaps just coffee, cake and a chat while deciding what finds to take home with you.

The business is named after a vintage rocking horse which was discovered by business owner Val Martin in a skip during her very first house clearance 10 years ago. Restored and spruced up, Albert now has pride of place in a venue always enjoyable to visit because of its fun atmosphere and ever changing range of goods.

The Antiques Road Trip paid a visit to film an episode of the popular show, in which two experts compete  to buy antiques and collectibles with a budget of £200 and then put them into a local auction. The winner is the one who makes the most profit after five outings.

Expert Charlie Ross bagged bargains including a Russian samovar – a tea urn – and a pastel painting. Viewers can find out what happened when the show is broadcast in February or March.

Val says: “Somebody called from the BBC and said they’d heard about us from someone who’d been and had one of our wonderful Sunday lunches with us the previous week.

“It was a lovely experience and I can’t wait to see it on TV.”

Latest innovations in window technology are being offered by JB Windows Doors & Bi-folds, including amazing magnetic blinds fitted inside double glazed units and on trend bi-fold doors which enable people to ‘bring the garden inside’

JB Windows Doors & Bi-folds is a well established Leicester-based company which supplies and fits made to measure windows and doors, including French doors, patio doors and eye-catching Skypod® roof windows. It also carries out repairs.

Working with uPVC and aluminium, business owner Jason Bindley is an experienced professional in the field and has embraced some great changes in door and glazing technology over the years, but he is especially impressed by the latest products he has added to his range.

They include the magnetic blinds which come sealed into the latest double glazing units, controlled by removable magnets, one of which controls the tilt and another which controls raising and lowering. There are no wands or cords to operate and so they are safe even with young children around.

Jason also loves the modern bi-fold doors which swing and slide independently of one another, so people can open some and leave others closed as they wish.

“All our products add quality to people’s homes,” he says. “We provide honest fair and free quotes and all our products and workmanship is fully guaranteed.”