General news (September 2011)
Latest General news
Govt cutbacks 'affecting construction sector'
Cutbacks made by the government are affecting the UK's construction sector and this will continue unless action is taken to stimulate the new homes market, one industry body has claimed. The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) made the comments after figures from Glenigan showed that the number of construction projects placed on hold in the three months to August ...
30th Sep 2011
Research 'is key' when refurbishing a property
People planning on refurbishing their property in the coming weeks and month need to ensure that they have carried out a great deal of research to ensure the project goes smoothly, it has been claimed. That is the opinion of Julia Kendell, DIY SOS presenter and interior designer, who said that UK property owners need to be as objective as possible and have "a good ...
29th Sep 2011
General news archive
UK properties 'are expanding'
A growing number of UK property owners are extending their homes into the garden, according to one expert who has observed that there is a major trend for people to make their garden reflect their personality in a similar way to their home interior. Shaun White, sales at Norfolk Leisure, said that sales of outdoor furniture have risen as people look to make their outdoor ...
27th Sep 2011
UK 'lagging behind Europe' in property sustainability
The UK is still some way behind Europe when it comes to the construction if sustainable property , it has been claimed. According to the Green Gauge report, conducted as part of the new Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Sustainability Index, the UK is in fourth place when it comes to sustainability. The rating of 53 per cent places it behind Canada (74 per ...
26th Sep 2011
'Serious sellers' returning to the housing market
The UK housing market has benefitted from the return of "serious sellers", according to a new report by the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA). It claims that the country's property industry fared better than expected this summer, with estate agents reporting an increase in sales during the traditionally quiet month of August. According to the ...
23rd Sep 2011
People struggling with mortgages 'should consult lenders'
In the present economic climate, many UK property owners may be struggling to keep up with their mortgage repayments, and for these people it could be advisable top speak to their lender, one expert has suggested. According to Catherine Hearnden, director at MyMortgageDirect, there are many options open to people in this situation, from slightly altering the terms of the ...
22nd Sep 2011
Deposit requirements 'a big problem' for FTBs
First-time buyers in the UK property market are increasingly finding that it is a major problem trying to scrape together a deposit to put down on a house, one analyst has noted. Property market expert Helen Adams made the comments after a new report by First Direct showed that housing deposits have increased tenfold in 20 years, while household income only doubled. The ...
20th Sep 2011
Equity release 'could be considered' by property owners
UK property owners could consider equity release in the coming months as the cost of living continues to spiral, it has been claimed. Andrea Rozario, director-general at Safe Home Income Plans (Ship), said the proportion of property owners struggling in the current climate is one of the "massive drivers" for equity release. His comments came after analysis by ...
20th Sep 2011
Property owners given safety advice
UK property owners have been issued with some gas safety advice ahead of the colder months to help minimise their risk. Jeff Learman, director of communications at Gas Safe Register, said it is essential that people regularly have any gas appliances in their homes checked over to ensure they are safe. It comes after a study carried out by his organisation for Gas Safety ...
19th Sep 2011
Negative equity prevalence 'could double'
The number of households in negative equity could be set to increase substantially in the coming months, according to one expert who has predicted a worsening of the current situation. Property market analyst Paul Holmes made the prediction after new analysis of UK mortgages undertaken by HML showed that, if house prices fall by a further ten per cent, the number of ...
19th Sep 2011