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By month: May 2007
UK house price growth continues into May
31-May-07
The UK saw its monthly rate of house price increases fall slightly in May, but annual change continued to increase, according to new research from Nationwide Building Society.The mortgage lender's monthly survey has reported a 0.5 per cent increase in pri
April house price rises fuelled by London market
31-May-07
London has once again been declared as the driving force behind the continued surge in house prices following the publication of new figures by a governmental department.The Land Registry's house price index found that prices rose by 0.6 per cent in April
Buyers look to housing ladder in face of rising rents
30-May-07
The sale of homes increased in the first quarter of 2007 as demand for lettings fell away in the face of rising costs and weaker employment growth, it has emerged.The latest survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) has found that 16
Property ladder 'only accessible via shared ownership'
30-May-07
Young professionals looking to buy property but unable to get onto the housing ladder themselves should be given more help with regards to shared ownership schemes, it has been suggested.The National Housing Federation (NHF) has called on the government t
Property boom drives rich-poor gap
29-May-07
Property ownership is an indicator of long-term wealth, according to new research published today.The Closer to Equality report claims that the gap between Britain's wealthy and poor has grown immensely over the last ten years and rising property prices a
First-time buyers use the Bank of Mum and Dad
29-May-07
Almost half of all first-time buyers buy with assistance from their parents, a new survey has suggested.Research by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) reveals that 40 per cent of those who have taken out their first home loan since 2004 have done so wi
Brits turn to conversions to create space and increase value
25-May-07
With rising house sale prices the UK has been in a frenzy of home extensions and conversions with £90 billion being spent converting 'dead' space into living space a new study has revealed.A study by AA showed that 20 per cent of homeowners have unde
House prices continue strong growth
25-May-07
The average price of a UK house for sale increased by 11.1 per cent in April and is up an average of 20 per cent in the last year, new research reveals.According to Assetz, the average price of a home in April was £208,174, up from £204,828 in M
Estate agent complaints reach record high
24-May-07
Complaints against estate agents reached unprecedented levels during 2006, according to figures released yesterday.The Ombudsman for Estate Agents (OEA), which monitors such grievances, received 8,472 enquiries last year, a 41 per cent increase over 2005.
40% of young home buyers turn to parents for help
24-May-07
Many young people are relying on their parents to help them step on to the property ladder, claims a new survey. Research by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has discovered that 31 per cent of potential first-time buyers are hoping their parents will
Fresh calls for more affordable London homes
24-May-07
The capital city needs more reasonably priced homes in order to meet the ongoing demand for housing, claims London Council's executive member for housing, Jamie Carswell.Escalating house prices across London and a lack of affordable housing could be lead
23-May-07
Introduction of the Home Information Packs (Hip) scheme is to be delayed until August, it was announced last night.The packs will now initially only be mandatory for houses with four or more bedrooms.The delay was triggered by the Royal Institution of Cha
London property growth 'biggest for 30 years'
22-May-07
Property is central London is accumulating in value at a pace unseen since 1979, according to recently-released research.The Prime Central London Residential Index indicates that London's best properties are now worth 33 per cent more than they were 12 mo
Homebuyers 'think Hips is a disease'
22-May-07
A new survey suggests that as many as 40 per cent of all British adults believe that Hips is the name of a disease.One in three respondents to the survey said that they thoughts Hips was a new strain of hayfever, while one in ten thought it was a sexually
21-May-07
The cost of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for Home Information Packs (Hips) could be three times the amount estimated by the government, it has been claimed.A study by the Open Europe think tank insists that the overall cost of EPCs will be £
'Shop around for home insurance', homeowners told
21-May-07
Many homebuyers are making a mistake when they buy home and life insurance from their mortgage provider, according to a new survey.Research by the Post Office suggests that almost half of all people who borrow money to buy property also purchase insurance
18-May-07
Rising interest rates are doing little to satiate the public's appetite for buying property, it was claimed yesterday.A leading British mortgage provider has reported a 77.8 per cent increase in net borrowing over the course of the past financial year.The
£50,000-a-year rentals 'increasingly common'
18-May-07
People are frequently spending as much as £50,000 per annum simply to rent a property – and it's not just in London.A report in the Scotsman newspapers says that such high-cost rentals have skyrocketed over the past five years.Demand for townhouses
Hips receive final confirmation
17-May-07
Home Information Packs (Hips) now look as though they will definitely be introduced on June 1st 2007.MPs voted by a majority of 306 to 234 that Hips should go ahead as previously planned.The result followed a 90-minute debate in which the pros and cons of
Call for a judicial review of Hips
16-May-07
Call for a judicial review of HipsThe Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has initiated a legal challenge to the introduction of Home Information Packs (Hips).RICS claims that there was insufficient consultation prior to the creation of Hips,
London prices rise by £180 a day
16-May-07
London's property boom has reached such proportions that the average house now accrues in value by £180 per day, it has been claimed.The Asking Price Index report, from Home, shows that house prices in the capital rose by 1.5 per cent next month.The
Carbon-neutral mortgage launched by Giraffe
15-May-07
A new mortgage has been launched, with the aim of attracting environmentally-conscious homeowners.The Carbon Offset range of mortgages from Giraffe promises to offset 5.5 tonnes of carbon emissions for each promotional year of the loan.Products available
Semi-detached and terraced 'best investment'
15-May-07
New government statistics indicate that terraced and semi-detached houses are accruing in value faster than any other kind of residential building.A typical semi-detached property gained 2.2 per cent in value between February and March 2007, while the ave
Gordon Brown to build new 'eco towns'
14-May-07
Britain will see several new carbon-neutral towns built if Gordon Brown becomes prime minister this June.The chancellor announced yesterday that he is planning five such residential centres, with a total population of 100,000.The new housing areas will fe
14-May-07
British homeowners will face extra costs because VAT will be introduced on Home Information Packs (Hips), it was claimed today.A report by the Daily Mail says the government is planning to add 17.5 per cent onto the cost of Hips, if the scheme is introduc
Estate agents receive record complaints
11-May-07
The popularity of estate agents plummeted over the course of last year, according to statistics released today.The Ombudsman for Estate Agents (OEA) reports that a record 8,000 complaints were received in 2006.The grievances, which increased by more than
11-May-07
Landlords are making increasingly substantial returns on their investments, according to new research released yesterday.An investigation by buy-to-let mortgage specialists Paragon shows that average rental incomes have risen by 8.2 per cent during the la
Do It Yourself replaced by Done For You
10-May-07
Homeowners are increasingly choosing to call in the professionals, rather than attempt to make home improvements themselves.Research undertaken by the Woolwich building society shows that seven out of every 10 homeowners would rather someone else undertoo
10-May-07
British property prices continued to grow last month, according to a report released today.The Halifax house price index showed a 1.1 per cent increase in the value of an average UK house between March and April 2007.The results also showed a 10.9 per cen
HIPs energy inspections 'ready to go'
10-May-07
Fears over the viability of introducing Home Information Packs (HIPs) are entirely unfounded, it was claimed today.The Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) has released research claiming that over 3,500 energy assessors will be available
9-May-07
Landlords who sell their properties are often making enormous profits, according to research published this week.The report claims that one in four landlords makes a profit of at least 30 per cent on the sale of their property.Research also shows that lan
9-May-07
The possibility has been raised that the new Home Information Packs (HIPs) will be scrapped before they are even introduced.Jack Straw, the leader of the House of Commons, confirmed that MPs will debate and vote on the future of HIPs next week.The poll ha
London property 'most expensive in world'
8-May-07
There is nowhere more costly to buy a house than the British capital, it was claimed this weekend.A new report suggests that London has overtaken Monaco as the world's most expensive city.The research shows that an average London property costs £2,30
Islamic mortgages to reach £1 billion
8-May-07
Mortgages structured to allow practising Muslims to borrow in good conscience are growing at a phenomenal rate, it was claimed this week.A report from the Arab News claimed projected that sales of such mortgages, currently worth £500 million in the U
House names 'indicative of price'
7-May-07
Choosing the right name for a property can significantly increase its value, according to a new report based on over eight million house sales.Research into the link between house prices and names has revealed the most expensive house names in England.Hom
Hips 'ease the burden of moving'
7-May-07
The Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) has hit back at recent criticism of Home information packs (Hips).AHIPP claims that Hips will help significantly to reduce the stress of moving house and smooth the process of buying and selling a
Property selling tips for spring
4-May-07
The UK's peak property selling season has arrived, and many homeowners will undoubtedly be looking for ways to make their property stand out from the crowd.Hamptons International has issued some timely advice for sellers to help them make their home as de
Buy-to-let mortgages 'set to rise by 53%'
3-May-07
The number of buy-to-let mortgages in the UK will double by 2010, according to a new report.The research, compiled by Mintel, claims that three per cent of UK homeowners – or one million people - intend to buy a second property within the next three yea
Homeowners 'neglecting to insure gardens'
3-May-07
Many homeowners have home insurance policies which do not cover the contents of their gardens, it was claimed this week.One insurer has said that thefts from the garden are among the commonest claims made to insurance companies and can often be in excess
Energy efficient homes 'more desirable'
3-May-07
Energy efficient properties are likely to sell quicker than homes which lack energy saving measures and will probably be worth slightly more, industry experts have claimed.Sellers can boost the saleability of their property by improving its energy rating
Online property sales 'to increase'
2-May-07
A major surge in online house sales is being anticipated between now and June, according to industry experts.One reason behind the frenzy of activity is said to be the forthcoming introduction of Home information packs (Hips).Hips become legally obligator
London house prices rise again
2-May-07
The value of property in London rose by an average of 11.6 per cent over the last year, according to the Land Registry.The statistics, which are compiled monthly, are based on every house sale made in the UK since the millennium.March was a fairly typical
Buyers shun structural surveys
2-May-07
A startling 72 per cent of homebuyers purchase their new property without commissioning a structural survey, new research has revealed.Fewer than three in ten pay for a structural survey or check the flood risk in the area of their new home, meaning that
Women 'more likely' to decorate
1-May-07
Women are more likely than men to spend their May bank holiday redecorating the house, according to a new survey.The research found that around 75 per cent of all women would consider next Monday a suitable day for undertaking such work, whereas only 60 p
Home information packs provoke debate
1-May-07
Plans for the introduction of Home information packs (Hips) are being cast into doubt, it was reported today.Conservative peers have tabled a motion in the House of Lords calling for the initiative to be scrapped.Hips – which are designed to make house
1-May-07
New homebuyers are usually keen to stamp their mark on a place the moment they move in, and it seems that the 'in' colours change with the seasons.This season's colour, according to experts, is a spring-inspired green, and homeowners are splashing a wide
