Looking for a fine family home to rent? Brian Page takes a look at some good candidates in both town and country.

I READ one of those business selfhelp books recently. It said that if you have writer’s block or can’t think of an answer to a particular problem, you should leave your desk and go for a walk.

It might have worked if the walk I took was not straight to the pub… I woke up the next day feeling distinctly fuzzy. But I did dimly remember a conversation with someone who had sold their house and was looking for a family home to rent. I think he might also have mentioned something about “waiting to see which way the market was going”, but I might have made that bit up.

Anyway, thanks to beer in The Ship and a chance conversation, here’s this week’s column – on family homes to rent.

Starting with a little beauty in Hopgrove Lane South, just off Malton Road, York. It is a spacious extended dormer bungalow handy for the York ring road, the A64 and city centre access. Here you have a bay fronted living room and a “stunning”

dining kitchen with Aga which opens onto a conservatory overlooking a landscaped private rear garden.

There are two ground-floor bedrooms and a bathroom and then two further bedrooms upstairs. The rental for this splendidly presented property is £995pcm. Apply to Ashtons.

Another property on the rural edge comes in the shape of Ebor House, a brilliant detached home in Scagglethorpe, Malton. This is an exceptional family house which has recently been completely refurbished, bringing in lots of contemporary comforts while retaining many original features.

Highlights here include a large kitchen/breakfast room with Aga, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, electric hob and oven and utility room. There’s plenty of living space with three large reception rooms (two warmed by wood burning stoves).

Upstairs you have four double bedrooms, the master having an en-suite bathroom, and a family bathroom. A patio terrace, gardens and garage and outbuildings complete the picture for which Susie Smith is seeking £1,750pcm.

If you are looking for rural properties then Stephensons rarely fail to deliver. This week they have pointed us in the direction of a cute couple.

The first is in Low Medstone Drive, Easingwold, a recently built house close to the Market Place.

Lots to admire here including a sitting room with dining area, fitted breakfast kitchen, two bedrooms and a family bathroom to the first floor and a super master bedroom with an en-suite shower room to the second floor. A great modern home, offered at a rental of £750pcm.

Not too far away is the village of Newton on Ouse where we find a well-appointed modern town house in Dawnay Cottages. It has an entrance lobby, a spacious lounge and refitted dining kitchen, three bedrooms and a newly refitted bathroom.

With gardens to front and back it is yours for £795pcm. Again apply to Stephensons.

Time to leave the country and get a bit closer to town...

Number 44 Grosvenor Terrace, Bootham, is an imposing three storey townhouse within walking distance of York city centre and Bootham and St Peters schools.

It has plenty to offer including two reception rooms and a modern fitted kitchen with integral appliances including range style oven, fridge/ freezer, dishwasher and washing machine. On the first floor there are two bedrooms and a smart bathroom while there are two further bedrooms on the second floor. A great example of an updated period town house, offered by Ashtons at a rental of £1,250pcm.

And now off to suburban villages for our last two properties.

Number 65 Milner Street, Acomb, is an unfurnished mid terraced house with highlights including a through lounge/diner with patio doors to the garden, a modern fitted kitchen with oven and hob, fridge/freezer and dishwasher. The ground floor bathroom is also contemporary and there are two double bedrooms and a single bedroom upstairs. There’s a rear garden with shed included in the £750pcm rental.

Apply to Letters Ltd.

And last but not least comes a smart family home in Heath Moor Drive, Fulford, handy for the University and in the catchment area of the top-rated Fulford School.

On offer here is an entrance hall, living room, dining room, kitchen and utility and cloak rooms. On the first floor there are four bedrooms, two with fitted wardrobes and a house bathroom. The rental is £850pcm; contact Linley and Simpson.