First Cottage, Strethall Road, Littlebury, Saffron Walden, CB11 4TQ

First Cottage is a two-bedroom mid-terrace house in Littlebury, Saffron Walden, Saffron Walden (CB11 4TQ). It has a recorded floor area of 76 m² (around 818 sq ft), construction records dating it to 1991-1995 and council tax band D. The latest certificate (September 2011) shows a D (score 68), on the cusp of jumping into the C band. When first surveyed in December 2008 the rating was E, the property has climbed 1 band since. Between certificates, hot-water efficiency went from Poor to Average, lighting went from Good to Very Good and main heating went from Poor to Average. The recommended improvements would push it to C (score 70). Main heating runs on electricity. The latest certificate is from September 2011, so improvements made since then won't be reflected.

Untraded for 17 years, with the last transfer in December 2008. That sale landed at the peak of the pre-credit-crunch market, which is a useful reference point when interpreting the price. Across 2006–2008, sale prices on this property compounded at 1.4% per year. Today's modelled estimate of £299,000 sits 51.4% above the 2008 sale of £197,500. On a £-per-square-foot basis, the last sale (£241/sq ft) was about 23.7% below the postcode norm. At 76 m² it sits well below the postcode median (120 m² across 10 EPCs), making it one of the more compact homes locally.