Bunk beds in bright colours make a great space saving solution at a reasonable cost.
People move house for lots of different reasons, and sadly divorce is one of them.
If our title seems flippant it is not meant to be, it is simply a trend we have noticed emerging, when Dad moves out (it’s often but not always Dad). Now he usually wants a better environment, and to include the children into his daily life following separation.
Divorce figures released today
According to figures collected by the Ministry of Justice the Greater London area has the highest number of divorce petitions in the country, which is not surprising given the density of the population. The next highest number of divorces are in Midland cities with Birmingham being the highest outside London. Leicester is in third place behind (of all places) Weston Super Mare. Quite why this popular tourist hotspot should be so high in the divorce steaks is unclear
The figures cover the period from 2011-2012, and it is expected that numbers will continue to rise as austerity measures kick in, causing financial strain on families.
Mediation rather than litigation
In order to lessen the financial burden of paying for legal proceedings The Government wants to encourage families who are separating to use mediation. Reaching agreement over child maintenance and access agreements through mediation is far less costly than court proceedings.
According to a release from the Ministry of Justice today the average cost of resolving disputes over money and property after separation is approximately £500 if dealt with via mediation. A similar claim settled through the courts averages £4,000 for a publicly funded client. The average time for a court settlement to be reached is 435 days compared to 110 days for non-mediated cases.
If agreements can be reached via mediation they are often far less stressful for all members of the family, and mediation allows for a more sensitive and flexible agreement to be made than those laid down in a court of Law.
Family Justice Minister Lord McNally said:
‘All too often I hear stories of families going through expensive and traumatic court hearings but we know that when working out how to split assets and arrange time with the children, mediation is a far simpler and cheaper approach for everyone and leads to better outcomes.
When families split it is important for children to keep contact with both parents. So wherever possible, it makes sense for the non-resident parent to have enough space for children to visit and sleep over. Having their own space, in both homes, will help to make them feel more settled and comfortable when they spend time away from the resident parent, especially if they are very young.
The Modern Family
The stereotypical scenario of dad having to move into a bedsit, while mum and the children live in the family home does still happen but as separated families become more and more normal the ways that people choose to split their time and their assets can be much more creative. There is no need for dad (if it is dad) to move into a empty flat and eat his meals of a packing case.
While it may seem a trivial social change the rise of popularity of cheap furnishing shops can make this transition between homes much easier. The partner who moves out is now able to, relatively cheaply, set up a new home using cheap and cheerful flat-pack furniture to brighten up the second home. They can cheaply and attractively provide enough beds and bedding to house a couple of kids – utilising bunk beds, folding beds or a sofa bed at a price that wont break the bank.
At Riley Marshall we are also able to offer full furnishing packs at very reasonable prices, and these are available to landlords, tenants, or householders who need a quick and price-effective solution to setting up a second home.
Click here to find out more about our Furniture Pack Service.
Filed under: House and Home, News, Property market
