NOW I know, what with the drab grey skies and the spiteful rain, it is hard to imagine all the colours of spring sprayed across your front garden.

But if you take a look at the first of our two featured properties this week you should be able to let your imagination run riot.

Laburnum Cottage is a beautiful property in the village of Cowthorpe with a lovely front garden.

There is lots of cottage character inside the house, too, with, for instance, a lounge with a feature fireplace housing an open fire and with light dancing in from an attractive bay window.

Upstairs there are three bedrooms and a luxurious bathroom.

It is marketed by Letters of Distinction at a rental of £850pcm.

The same agents are also offering another character property in the shape of Shamrock Cottage, in Shipton by Beningbrough, another village just a short distance from York.

Among the wow factor features here are a superb living room with solid wood flooring, log-burner and coving and cornicing.

On the first floor there are two bedrooms, one double, one single and a family bathroom. Shamrock Cottage is offered by Letters of Distinction at £750pcm.

If you don’t fancy village life but still want a character property then how about a city centre apartment?

Well, they don’t come much closer to the city centre than a first floor apartment in Talbot Court, Low Petergate.The apartment offers a secure entry system and lift, a private entrance hall and a large open plan lounge/kitchen/dining area, with the kitchen being fitted in contemporary style. The master bedroom has an ensuite and there is a second bedroom with patio doors out to a private balcony with Minster views. This property is offered by Martin and Co at a rental of £1,250pcm.

Reeds Rains, meanwhile, also have a city centre pad on offer, this one in Centurion Square, Skeldergate, a leisurely stroll from the shops, bars and restuarants. It’s a modern, contemporary apartment with an open plan living/dining/ kitchen area, two bedrooms and a modern bathroom.The rental is £950pcm.

Next we have another close to the city apartment – this time, however, in a period property in Nunthorpe Avenue, off Scarcroft Road. This one is a very fine ‘maisonette’ or split level property which has been recently modernised and offers a sitting room, breakfast kitchen and a bedroom and bathroom and separate WC on the ground floor and two further bedrooms off a second floor landing.

Offered by Stephensons at a rental of £675pcm.

And we will finish off with another pair of period properties, both spacious houses and both stylishly presented. The first is a terraced house in St Johns Street, just outside the city walls.

Here you will find an entrance hall, lounge, dining room, kitchen with oven and hob and fridge and a separate utility room with washing machine, fridge freezer and dishwasher. On the first floor there are three bedrooms and a bathroom while there is a further bedroom and a shower room to the second floor. This home is offered by Linley and Simpson at a rental of £1,195pcm.

And now, in our last but definitely not least slot, we have a beautiful forecourted mid townhouse in Norfolk Street, in the hugely popular Bishopthorpe Road area.. There is a smart kitchen. On the first floor there is a master bedroom, a second double bedroom, a single bedroom and a modern house bathroom.

The attic has also been converted to provide a further double bedroom. Super house for which Ashtons are asking £1,350pcm.