Why are some properties being upgraded quicker than others?

Whilst we strive to primarily progress customers on a first come, first served basis, there are also other factors that determine how quickly you’ll move through the system.

Geographical area is perhaps the most important. This scheme is ultimately funded by property developers who release funding as their planning approvals are granted by Somerset Council. Your property must lie within the same river catchment that the property development project is sited in. We’re unable to influence the speed at which planning is granted but by grouping properties according to river catchments we improve our operational efficiency when delivering upgrades. For this reason we often ‘chunk’ properties for a certain river catchment as the funding is released.

The circumstances of your property are also important, namely whether your home is mortgaged and whether your title deeds are registered with the Land Registry. In most circumstances unmortgaged properties can pass through the legal agreements more quickly and if your title deeds are registered with the Land Registry and up to date, this smooths the process. Where there’s discrepancies between the names of those listed on the title deeds it can necessitate more legal to-ing and fro-ing.

It doesn’t matter how big your property is – property size is neither an advantage nor a disadvantage – and it doesn’t matter when your existing system was installed. The simple truth is that this is a long process and we pride ourselves on doing the job properly. It’s important that legal documentation is correct, that surveys are comprehensive and that the system we install serves you well for years to come.

In short, there are several factors over and above the chronological order in which someone registers for an upgrade that determine the speed of the upgrade. While we will always endeavour to move customers along in date order, there are times when someone else will appear to have ‘jumped the queue’ because their property provided a better fit for the property development project that was funding their upgrade.

Do bear with us, it will be worth the wait!