Where did the summer go? After a period of beautifully sunny days we seem to have found ourselves wandering into winter – or at least autumn.

The weathermen might be cautiously optimistic about a return to brighter days in August (and it would be the way of the world if the sun has come out again while you are reading this), but it is a reminder of what lies in store for us in the months ahead.

Which means those of us in big old draughty houses are already contemplating a return to woollies, long johns and furry slippers (as well as digging out the tool box for all the maintenance jobs that we just love to do).

How timely, then, to discover a release from Redrow Homes offering virtually maintenance-free, weather-proof, easy-living apartments.

Debut at Selby is a development being marketed not just, as the name implies, for first-time buyers but also for older folk looking to downsize.

Patsy Aicken, sales manager for Redrow Homes (Yorkshire), explains: “Apartment living is often seen as the domain of young people starting out in life, and while our Debut apartments are perfect for first-time buyers, they are also well suited for other groups of buyers.

“These include downsizers looking for somewhere more manageable or those who want a fresh start after a change in circumstances.” (I suspect the latter is a tactful way of suggesting divorced and separated couples – and there are plenty of them fuelling the apartment market these days).

Debut is located in Holme Lane, Selby, just a short walk from the town centre, and offers a choice of affordably priced apartments. One-bedroom designs are available from as little as £55,500, with two-bedroom apartments on the market from just £91,000 – and there’s the option to put off paying a massive 25 per cent of the purchase price.

Patsy is also keen to point out another advantage of the homes, one which definitely appeals to DIY-phobic people like ourselves.

“Because everything’s brand new, with modern kitchens and bathroom fittings, buyers don’t need to worry about finding money for expensive repairs or renovations that an older property may need. Instead, they can relax with the peace of mind that their investment is covered by a ten-year ‘Buildmark’ guarantee.

“Our Debut apartments are not only easy to maintain, but buyers won’t even need to worry about managing their money to budget for utility bills, as gas, electricity and water charges, even the window cleaning, are included in a single monthly service charge.”

So, simple budgeting, easy maintenance, built-in efficiency and proximity to local amenities are all factors which make the Debut homes ideally suited to downsizers.

“Anyone fed up with the constant maintenance, hard work and rising energy bills associated with a draughty old house and big garden, will relish the quality time they get to enjoy once living in a modern apartment. It’s also a great ‘lock up and leave’ option for those who want to spend part of the year overseas.” added Patsy.

Redrow is helping to make buying a home at Debut at Selby even more affordable with its ‘easi:buy’ scheme, which allows purchasers to defer paying up to 25 per cent of the purchase price for up to 25 years. It means a one-bedroom apartment could be snapped up for less than £42,000.

The ‘easi:buy’ payment is subject to terms and conditions and the deferred element is paid back at market value at the time of payment, which could go down as well as up. You should contact Redrow for full details of this scheme.

To find out more about the apartments, visit the show home and sales office, open Thursdays to Mondays, from 10am to 5.30pm. Details are also available by calling 0845 676 0295.