There are signs the mortgage market is recovering from the credit crunch Mortgage rates are back to where they were in August 2007 at the onset of the credit crunch, according to research by price comparison website Moneyfacts. The average rate on a two-year fixed deal is now 6.59% – almost the same as 6.56% [...]
The North East has had the fastest increase in house prices in the past five years according to a new report from the National Housing Federation. Jon Land for 24dash.com in Housing – Wednesday 20th August 2008 However the document – researched by independent economists Oxford Economics – forecasts a fall in house prices through [...]
The challenge to Foxtons, the London agents, by the Office of Fair Trading over the charging of renewal fees is continuing to have repercussions – which could prove costly – for agents all over the UK. Estate Agent Today – 21 August 2008 The OFT announced its HIgh Court action earlier this year and immediately [...]
The market slowdown has claimed another victim, Hipstar. The HIP provider, based in Chertsey, Surrey, has gone into administration. Estate Agent Today – 21 August 2008 Callers to the company are told that a liquidator is to be appointed and that anyone with queries meanwhile should email info@hiipstar.co.uk Hipstar also had a significant franchise operation [...]
Welcome to the July 2008 edition of the LandlordZONE Newsletter. Problem Tenants – August 2008 Issue 32 Download the Full Newsletter It’s hard to believe it’s 12 months since the long running boom in the housing market came to an abrupt halt. The “credit crunch” suddenly froze the wholesale money markets around the world, practically [...]
Carbon monoxide from untested boiler caused the death of six-year old girl The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is highlighting the fatal consequences of carbon monoxide gas following the death of a six-year old girl who was poisoned by fumes from a faulty boiler. Hussein Jajbhay, director of property company Amadeus Investments Ltd, was fined [...]
Demand for rented accommodation in July grew by 76 per cent year-on-year, according to new data from estate agent Your Move. Sharon Flaherty, FTAdviser – Friday , August 15, 2008 Lease commencements were up by more than three quarters in July this year compared to July 2007 as thousands of would-be house buyers scrapped plans [...]
Household finances have been badly stretched in the past year as the cost of energy has increased by 17% and the cost of food by 12%*. And the credit crunch means that the cost of new mortgages has increased, there are fewer mortgages available to choose from, and they are more difficult to obtain. A [...]
As the third and final part in its series on housing law reform, the Law Commission today announces its proposals for better regulation of the private rented sector. The report, Housing: Encouraging Responsible Letting, follows wide consultation with both landlords and tenants. It focuses on improving the overall coherence and stability of the current private [...]
Encouraging Responsible Letting Recommendations: On 14 August 2008 we published our final proposals on better regulation of the private rented sector in the report Housing: Encouraging Responsible Letting. A press release is also available. The project, which arises out of our previous work on housing law reform and tribunals, aims to identify and address regulatory [...]
