June 30, 2010

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Rents rise 2.3% as stock dwindles

Permalink: Rents rise 2.3% as stock dwindles
by Gill Montia

A further fall in supply means tenants have seen asking rents rise to their highest level since January 2009, according to the latest FindaProperty.com Rental Index. Over the past three months, rents have risen 2.3% to an average £839pcm, marking the ...

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House prices ease in June, say Nationwide

Permalink: House prices ease in June, say Nationwide
by Kay Mitchell

The latest house price index from the Nationwide Building Society has revealed a 0.1% rise for the month of June compared with May. The latest house price gain means the annual rate of house price inflation fell to 8.7% from 9.8% ...

June 29, 2010

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Conti offers 1.95% euro mortgage on French properties

Permalink: Conti offers 1.95% euro mortgage on French properties
by Gill Montia

Overseas mortgage specialist, Conti, is offering one of its lowest rates ever for properties in France, at 1.95%. According to the firm, France has always been a safe haven for overseas buyers because of its relatively stable property market ...

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BoE: May mortgage approvals fail to pick up

Permalink: BoE: May mortgage approvals fail to pick up
by Kay Mitchell

The Bank of England has today revealed mortgage approvals fell in May, suggesting the housing market will be subdued for the remainder of the year. According to the Bank, mortgage approvals for the month stood at 49,815, a fraction below ...

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Top tips for student tenants

Permalink: Top tips for student tenants
by Gill Montia

The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) and the National Union of Students (NUS) have produced a tenants' guide containing advice for students moving into their first rental property, or relocating for the start of the 2010/11 academic year. The guide sets out how the ...

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NLA names Green Property Woman of the year

Permalink: NLA names Green Property Woman of the year
by Gill Montia

The National Landlords' Association (NLA) has named Fiona Macaskill as NLA Green Property Woman 2010. Ms Macaskill received the accolade at the NLA Property Awards held in London, for her commitment to the environment and green policies. She has over ...

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UK tops European table for flatsharer rent

Permalink: UK tops European table for flatsharer rent
by Gill Montia

Flatmates in the UK are typically paying £348 per month in rent, making Britain the most expensive country in Western Europe for flatsharers. So says Easyroommate.co.uk, which has examined over 110,000 UK, French, Italian and Spanish rental properties to find that ...

June 28, 2010

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Land Registry reports 0.2% fall in May house prices

Permalink: Land Registry reports 0.2% fall in May house prices
by Kay Mitchell

According to the Land Registry, house prices fell by 0.2% in May compared with April, putting the average cost of a home at £165,314 in England and Wales. It must be noted that the Land Registry compiles its data ...

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Mr Greens estate agents differs from the rest

Permalink: Mr Greens estate agents differs from the rest
by Kay Mitchell

Estate agency, Mr Greens in Bournemouth, Dorset, said their motto is to "dwell it how it is" and has said honesty is the best policy when selling a property. Twenty-five-year-old Simon Ward, who runs Mr Greens, left his job as ...

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Taylor Wimpey eyes recovery

Permalink: Taylor Wimpey eyes recovery
by Kay Mitchell

Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey said it has noted an improvement since the general election but political and economical uncertainty continues to hold back the recovery of the housing market. The comments from Taylor Wimpey, which is the UK’s third largest housebuilder by volume, come shortly ...

June 27, 2010

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New protection for homeowners unveiled by FSA

Permalink: New protection for homeowners unveiled by FSA
by Kay Mitchell

City watchdog, the Financial Services Authority (FSA), has unveiled new measures which will help struggling homeowners avoid repossession. The FSA said new measures will be introduced from the end of this month to help borrowers who have fallen behind on their ...

June 26, 2010

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HomeLet launches feedback site

Permalink: HomeLet launches feedback site
by Gill Montia

Tenant referencing and insurance firm, HomeLet, is launching an online facility that will enable its 3,000 approved letting agents to post feedback. MyConnect will be up and running from 28th June and any new ideas or suggest areas for improvement will be reviewed by ...

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Citylets names Scotland’s rental hotspots

Permalink: Citylets names Scotland’s rental hotspots
by Gill Montia

A new report from Citylets has identified Scotland’s rental property hotspots. According to the lettings portal, only wealthy tenants should head for the Park district in Glasgow, where the average monthly rent for a 2-bed flat stands at £1,104, compared with the ...

June 25, 2010

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New rules to clean up sale-and-rent-back

Permalink: New rules to clean up sale-and-rent-back
by Gill Montia

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has published new rules aimed at protecting customers in the sale-and-rent-back (SRB) sector from firms that use "aggressive or unfair" methods. From 30th June the regulator has: Banned exploitative advertising and high-pressure sales techniques, prohibiting the use of ...

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Martin & Co launch rent guarantee policy

Permalink: Martin & Co launch rent guarantee policy
by Gill Montia

Letting agent, Martin & Co, has joined forces with rental insurance specialist, HomeLet, to develop a new rent guarantee product for landlords. Martin & Co Promise provides 100% of the monthly rent paid for up to five months from the first ...

June 23, 2010

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Buy-to-let CGT rise round-up

Permalink: Buy-to-let CGT rise round-up
by Gill Montia

The increase in Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to 28% for higher-rate tax payers has prompted mixed reviews from letting and estate agents. Spicerhaart business relationship director, Alison Beech, believes the 10% rise will have a negative impact on the buy-to-let market, potentially discouraging landlords ...

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RLA comment on emergency Budget

Permalink: RLA comment on emergency Budget
by Gill Montia

Commenting on yesterday's emergency Budget, the Residential Landlords' Association (RLA) has pointed out that the rise in Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to 28%, for those on higher tax rate, will work against landlords who have held property for a long period. The new ...

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BBA finally sees evidence of spring bounce

Permalink: BBA finally sees evidence of spring bounce
by Kay Mitchell

The British Bankers’ Association (BBA) has today revealed a rise in the number of new mortgages approved by the major banks in May. According to the BBA, mortgage approvals for the month stood at 36,709 - up 2% compared with ...

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Belvoir expands in Wales with Swansea branch

Permalink: Belvoir expands in Wales with Swansea branch
by Gill Montia

Swansea is to become the base for a new Belvoir Lettings branch, to be opened later this year. Ben Davies and Daisy Hewitt have taken up the franchise, having identified a gap in the market for Belvoir’s service levels. The soon-to-be proprietors ...

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Private rental commentators positive on Budget measures

Permalink: Private rental commentators positive on Budget measures
by Gill Montia

Property investment specialist Assetz has responded to the hike in Capital Gains Tax in yesterday's emergency Budget (from 18% to 28%, for higher-rate tax payers) as follows: "This move is not likely to have a negative impact on the UK ...