News
Property News
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The future’s bright… 26th November 2008
A savings scheme to encourage first time buyers (FTBs) to build up funds for a mortgage deposit has been welcomed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at the group, commented on the tax-relieved savings scheme unveiled by chancellor Alistair... Read More
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Pre-Budget: what it means for housing 26th November 2008
The centrepiece of the Pre-Budget Report was a cut in VAT from 17.5 per cent to 15 per cent, which the Government hopes will encourage people to spend. The cut is a temporary measure from 1st December 2008 until 31st December 2009 as part of the Government's battle to boost the market... Read More
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Ecotowns: another setback 26th November 2008
Construction of the UK Government's first prototype eco town has been postponed by at least a year in light of the economic downturn. Another setback has hit the doomed eco towns. A month ago, it was announced that only one of the 12 shortlisted eco towns had met the government's criteria... Read More
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Stamp duty ‘must be cut,’ says NAEA 24th November 2008
The majority of National Association of Estate Agent members feel that the government is not doing enough to help prospective homeowners or the housing industry. In order to solve this, they are calling for a further base rate cut and a significant change to the stamp duty regime in order to... Read More
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Property sales on the up 24th November 2008
It’s not all bad news- according to the National Association of Estate Agents, (NAEA) property sales rose slightly in October, for the second month in a row. The NAEA survey showed that the average estate agent sold seven properties last month, which was an increase from six in... Read More
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New regulations for rental sector 24th November 2008
With the number of people renting out their properties because they can’t sell them in the current climate, the rental sector has been pushed into the spotlight. The Government has been told that the UK rental sector needs to be better controlled and subject to compulsory regulations, with... Read More
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Money borrowing made easier 24th November 2008
Prime minister Gordon Brown has suggested that new measures to make it easier for small firms and homeowners to borrow from banks will be in this week’s budget. He announced that the measures would be applicable to all banks despite their history during the current crisis. Mr Brown said... Read More
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UK landlords 'optimistic' 20th November 2008
Recent research has found that the number of UK landlords who are feeling positive about the property market has risen. The research, from agency BDRC, is based on the opinions, attitudes and expectations of more than 500 private British landlords during the past few months. Fourteen per... Read More
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Harmonious relations 20th November 2008
The vast majority of tenants get on well with their landlord, according to a new poll carried out by The Deposit Protection Service (DPS), the only government approved custodial scheme for the safeguarding of tenants' deposits. The new figures show that 84 per cent of tenants get on well with... Read More
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Bank of Mum and Dad 20th November 2008
Still relying on your parents? Don’t panic-you are not alone. Half of all first time buyers under the age of 30 are still looking to their mum and dad to help them get onto the property ladder. Recent research from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) shows that lenders have lowered their... Read More
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Use a bit of common sense 20th November 2008
The beautiful British countryside must be better protected, says the Open Spaces Society. The society has now launched an awareness campaign to safeguard the ‘common land,’ which made up more than half of England 400 years ago. Fast forward to today and there is only 1.3 million acres... Read More
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Landlord market confidence remains high 11th November 2008
Recent research carried out by one of the UK’s largest independent buy-to-let mortgage brokers, The Money Centre, has reported that one in five landlords expect to buy more properties within the next three months. Although the economic slump has hit landlords in different ways, such as mortgage... Read More
