UK Property News

Legal & General's annual online survey, ‘Safe as Houses', worryingly reveals that although we're good at having home security features in place, we're not good at checking that they are still working and could even be delaying repairs to broken or faulty home security measures.

The Church of Scotland has joined the National Landlords Association (NLA), the leading representative body for private-residential landlords in the United Kingdom, becoming its first ecclesiastical member.

Energy efficient living has been a major focus in 2008 and next year looks set to be the same with everyone feeling the pressure to enjoy a ‘greener' lifestyle. With most people feeling the pinch of the credit crunch this Christmas we could be forgiven for thinking energy efficiency and environment saving is impossible amid the festivities.

There are signs emerging from the market that there could be an early recovery with several developers recording an increase in the number of visitors to sites. This is backed up by a recent report from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors that the level of new buyer enquiries improved in November for the seventh consecutive month and has now reached the best levels since October 2006.

With no immediate foreseeable upswing in the state of the housing market, homeowners are being forced to get creative in order to sell their properties. From installing 'green' fixtures designed to lure buyers with the promise of offsetting outlay with future gains, to paying stamp duty on the property themselves instead of leaving it to buyers, tricky times are prompting shrewd selling solutions.

Now that Christmas is well and truly upon us, most of us look forward to spending time at home with family and friends, enjoying the festive season and all it brings, from delicious food and fine wines to opening presents and relaxing in good company.

Three new directors, including a new MD, have come on board at Redrow Homes in South Wales with a shared vision for a successful 2009. New managing director Stuart Rowlands, who moved to the Cardiff Gate office from another Redrow regional company, is joined by new sales director Debby Pavitt and commercial director Andy Diss, who have been promoted from within Redrow ranks.

All the spoils of a luxury showhouse can be yours this Christmas as Sarah Brentnall, Options Centre manager for Miller Homes East Midlands, shares a few tips on how to create the perfect warm and inviting festive scene in your very own home.

Consumers are leaving a trail of information behind them when they move house and risk becoming victims of identity fraudsters. A survey by home move service Moveme.com has found that 85% of people regularly receive the mail of at least one person who no longer lives at their address.

Estate Agents can boost transactions by taking on part exchange properties, reports New Homes Part Exchange, which, through its network of local agents provides a part exchange service to housebuilders across the UK.

Energy efficient living has been a major focus in 2008 and next year looks set to be the same with everyone feeling the pressure to enjoy a ‘greener' lifestyle. With most people feeling the pinch of the credit crunch this Christmas we could be forgiven for thinking energy efficiency and environment saving is impossible amid the festivities.

If you're looking to move home, Midas Homes can help you make that move with confidence and peace of mind. The company is helping homebuyers by offering free mortgage protection when they reserve a new home at any of its developments.

mydeposits.co.uk, a Government-approved tenancy deposit protection scheme, is warning landlords they must provide sufficient evidence should they need to withhold part or all of a deposit.

The average number of transactions per surveyor fell again in November but buyer interest rose for the first time in over two years, says latest RICS' UK housing market survey.

Award-winning housebuilder Linden Homes Chiltern is continuing to experience excellent sales success despite the doom and gloom stories about the market. The latest development in the house builder's portfolio to sell out is The Highfields in sought-after Loudwater.

A new package of measures to ensure consumers receive improved information in the home buying and selling process has been announced by Housing Minister Margaret Beckett.

The National Landlords Association (NLA), which provides landlords with a tenant referencing service through NLA Tenant Check, has published research showing that 71 per cent of landlords expect rent arrears to increase during 2009.

Over the next two years commercial property capital values could fall by a further 25 percent taking the peak to trough declines to at least 50 percent - thanks to by a sharp drop in rents, says RICS' commercial property forecast.

To help young people find decent housing in the economic downturn, the TUC has published A Place to Live.

New homes builder Bellway East Midlands is well aware of the financial impact of the current economic climate and is implementing a number of incentives to help first time buyers and those with a property to sell.

Simon Gordon, Head of Communications, National Landlords Association, commenting on the Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme, said: "Given that 71 per cent of landlords expect rental arrears to be a major issue during 2009,

Home seekers can look forward to a warm welcome and hot deals when they visit a Barratt Homes development over the festive break. The housebuilder has some tree-mendous offers including help with the deposit for first-time buyers and mortgage subsidies.

The UK could be in for some severe weather this winter, so before the forecast bad weather strikes, Halifax Home Insurance is advising homeowners to winter-proof their homes to minimise damage to their property.

Bellway Southern Counties is inviting every visitor to its new homes developments throughout December to help decorate a Christmas Tree – and stand the chance of winning retail vouchers to spend in the New Year.

Firmly in the driving seat, Bellway North West has accelerated the number of visitors to its stunning Sunbeam Place development on Woolton Road, through a creative credit crunch campaign.