Stamp Duty Holiday – The End is Nigh
The Stamp Duty Land Tax Relief for first time buyers buying a property between £125,001 and £250,000 comes to an end on 24th March 2012. First time buyers buying a property at a price between £125,001 and £250,000 who complete before 24th March 2012 will not have to pay the usual 1% of purchase price in […]
Tenant Deposit Schemes
In April 2007 the law changed in respect of how tenant’s deposits are held In respect of most new tenancies granted after 6 April 2007, Landlords should be aware that where a deposit is held for rent payable under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, that deposit should be held by an approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme. The […]
Every Cloud…..
Over recent weeks you cannot have escaped stories in the press predicting doom and gloom for the property market. There is no doubt that over recent months there has been a tailing off in the level of activity in the property market generally. However, it is not all bad news. With property prices stabilising and […]
Deposit Guarantee Schemes
The RICS have published statistics which suggest that acquiring a buy-to-let property is now 500 per cent more expensive than it was five years ago. A 70 per cent Loan to Value mortgage on a typical new-build apartment will mean that an investor has to find well over £100,000. Where a flat may not be […]
A Market Review – 2007
2007 has been a difficult year for UK property. Whilst there is no sign of the threatened property “crash”, there is no escaping the fact that the market for both residential and commercial property is currently very deflated. The year started off very well with house prices continuing to rise. But no fewer than 5 […]
A Helping Hand on the Property Ladder
As the property market continues on its downward trend and mortgages become harder to secure, parents may be caught up in the decision of whether to assist their children in purchasing their first home. First time home buyers are finding it increasingly difficult to raise funds for a deposit and the associated costs in purchasing […]
Energy Performance Certificates for Rented Properties
From 1st October 2008 all landlords in England and Wales will be required to provide an Energy Performance Certificate for their property. Failure to do so will incur a £200 penalty. Under new legislation, landlords without an EPC cannot market their property to prospective tenants. The EPC must be given when any written information about […]
General Permitted Development Rights
Householders currently enjoy significant permitted development rights which largely remove the need to apply for planning permission for someone looking to alter or extend their home within certain ‘permitted development’ levels. Under Planning legislation as a general rule all developments require planning permission. However, certain types of development are low impact and it is considered […]
Auction purchases – flourishing during the recession
Going once, going twice, sold! What can be more exciting than buying a property at auction? This is a question that you might now be able to ask an increasing number of your friends and colleagues, as buying a property at auction becomes less and less the preserve of the seasoned investor, and a more […]
Selling your home with a “Full Service History”
Having a car with a full-service history can add value to your vehicle. Adopting the same approach to selling your home can have similar results. The introduction of Home Information Packs two years ago means that certain basic items of information have to be available before selling your property. However, homeowners should be aware that […]