General news (March 2010)
Latest General news
Aviva: Homeowners putting investments at risk with underinsurance
Homeowners need to make sure they are not under-insuring themselves, according to Aviva. People could be risking their investments by not maintaining the sum insured – the price it costs to rebuild a house – at adequate levels and the problem could worsen as the UK comes out of the recession. Mark Dunham, commercial property underwriting manager at the company, ...
26th Mar 2010
Rental supply drops for second consecutive quarter
The supply of properties for rent decreased for the second consecutive quarter, research by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) has found. Some 33 per cent of chartered surveyors believe rents will increase in the coming three months, thought to be because of the continuing decline in flats and houses available. For the quarter ending January 2010, new ...
16th Mar 2010
General news archive
Home insurance rates 'could increase'
There could be an increase in home insurance rates due to the recent poor weather conditions in the UK, according to one expert. Steve Foulsham, technical services manager for the British Insurance Brokers' Association, said there are concerns in the industry about the amount of claims for water damage and in particularly burst pipes. He added: "Once we know all the ...
12th Mar 2010
HBF: Less homes being built than anytime since World War II
There are less houses being built in England than at any time since the second world war, according to the Home Builders Federation (HBF). The shortfall is nearing one million properties and every UK constituency is being affected by the issues. Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the HBF, said the issue has to be addressed. He added: "The social and economic ...
10th Mar 2010
'Doubt cast' on improvement in construction sector
An improvement in the construction industry is in doubt, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics). The organisation said there was an "ongoing strain" on the sector after Office for National Statistics data showed the overall construction output was estimated to have declined by more than one per cent in the last three months of 2009. Simon ...
8th Mar 2010
Housing investment needed 'to quell waiting lists'
There is a need for a continued investment in housing to combat growing waiting lists in London, according to one expert. Jim Vine, head of programme for UK housing policy and practice at the Building and Social Housing Foundation, said funding for the industry should be "prioritised". He added: "Not only does it help to meet the need for decent roofs over ...
2nd Mar 2010
Self-build 'a great way to get what you want'
Self-build is a great option for those who want to get exactly the home they want at an affordable price. This is according to Raymond Connor, chief executive of BuildStore. He said there are good savings to be made at the moment when it comes to labour, materials and land rates, so "there has never been a better time" to create a house from scratch. More people ...
1st Mar 2010