UK Property News

Durkan Estates has introduced the Exchange Bond to help buyers secure a new home. This means that buyers of off-plan properties, with completion dates longer than three months, will have that time to save for the deposit.

Dean Mirfin, Business Development Director of independent equity release specialist Key Retirement Solutions, comments on the National Landlords Association's draft code of practice for landlords involved in the Sale and Rent Back market:

New land registration rules were made on 17 July 2008. They amend the Land Registration Rules 2003 and come into force on 10 November 2008. They follow an extensive consultation on proposals to amend the 2003 rules that ran from October 2007 to January 2008.

The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), the residential sales arm of the National Federation of Property Professionals (NFOPP), is calling on the Bank of England to reduce interest rates or at least to maintain them in the current climate.

The National Landlords Association (NLA), the leading representative body for private-residential landlords, has asked interested parties to submit their views on its draft Code of Practice for landlords involved in the sale and rent back market.

Prospective buyers in the North East can get £1,000 off the price of a new Barratt home, simply by logging onto the housebuilder's website and requesting a brochure. "Once you have registered your details online and requested a brochure, you can download and print off the voucher - it's so simple and you can gain £1,000 for just two minutes' time," said sales manager Steve Mariner.

With summer finally here, more and more people are enjoying the lighter nights and balmy evenings in the pleasant surroundings of what many perceive as the extension of their home - the garden.

With significant rises in energy costs in the UK, homeowners are increasingly concerned about household energy use and the rising cost of living. Whilst capped energy deals offer a short-term solution, Countryside Properties says that new homes could ease the long-term burden, as research shows new homes offer considerable cost-saving advantages.

UK farmland prices surged at the fastest pace in the RICS’ rural market survey’s history during the first half of 2008 but lifestyle buyers retreated as the credit crunch deepened.

Following the release of the Nationwide house price index today, Peter Bolton King, Chief Executive of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), the residential sales arm of the National Federation of Property Professionals (NFOPP), said: "The report in question started at a period of time when the property market was experiencing phenomenal growth.

More than one in four (27 per cent) young people starting university this year will have to live with their parents to save money, according to a report from Lloyds TSB Student banking.

This week the highly controversial Home Information Pack (HIP) will be celebrating its first birthday since its launch into the market place on 1st August 2007.

For first time buyers keen to gain a foothold in the property market, sharing provides the perfect answer. That is the view of Katy Dines (21) who has recently moved into Bellway’s Prospectus* development in Beaulieu Park, Chelmsford. She is not only buying into a Shared Ownership scheme but is sharing the burden by buying on a 50:50 basis with a friend.

Matthew Sawyer has taken his first step onto the property ladder, thanks to a special initiative by Government agency English Partnerships and Barratt Homes. He was able to buy a 2-bedroom house at Hardwick Green in Stockton using the First-time Buyer Initiative (FTBI). This scheme helps aspiring first-time buyers, who cannot otherwise afford to buy a home outright, to purchase a home for as little as 50 per cent of the price with English Partnerships providing the remainder.

With reports that household energy bills could increase by as much as 40 per cent this winter as oil and wholesale gas prices hit record highs, now is the time to ensure your home is as energy efficient as possible. The increases in energy costs could mean households paying £400 more a year on average for their gas and electricity, and this figure could rise even higher if your property is poorly insulated.

Barratt pioneered part exchange more than 30 years ago and its unrivalled Part Exchange Scheme is still helping to get things moving for buyers today. As well as assisting new buyers - it is offering some great deals to buyers who want a second hand property too.

The recent British Crime Survey (BCS) report, Crime in England and Wales released by the Home Office, clearly demonstrates that the majority of crime is property related, with 56% of offences against homes or vehicles.

Buy-to-let yields remained stable at 6.4% for the second consecutive month in June, according to Paragon Mortgages' Buy-to-Let Index. Average UK rents, which had been rising rapidly, have stabilised just short of £1,000 a month, and remain 9.3% higher than a year ago.

Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) is setting out plans to contribute at least £5 million to a scheme to support households in England which face a particularly high risk of flooding but which are not protected by traditional community level defences.

Following the CLG announcement that Property Information Questionnaires (PIQ) could become the new mandatory element of HIPs, Peter Bolton King, Chief Executive of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), the residential sales arm of the National Federation of Property Professionals (NFOPP), comments:

A proposal to further enhance the home buying and selling process for consumers by presenting information in a simpler way up front in a Home Information Pack, has been announced.

Credit crunch or no credit crunch, the housebuilder Charles Church and its suppliers have shown that they are still extremely charitable and have raised a grand total of £3,500 for charity after team members took part in a charity cycle ride.

With banks tightening their mortgage lending criteria, home buyers are finding it harder to take their first or next step on the property ladder - but here's news of an incentive in South Wales which could throw home owners a much needed lifeline.

Househunters in Downend have been wowed by Barratt's Page Court development with crowds flocking to the showhome opening. Barratt sales director Andrea Pilgrim said that even in a difficult market it was evident that Barratt homes are still in demand and interest has far exceeded expectations.

When you think of Persimmon, chances are you automatically think of new build properties, but are you also aware that the company has an extensive portfolio of second hand properties to choose from which have been taken in under the Part Exchange and Home Change banner? Properties taken in by Persimmon all have to conform to the company's quality standards and are independently valued by two local estate agents.