UK house prices crept up by one per cent across 2011

Andrew WilliamsNews

According to recent research, House prices in the UK inched up by one per cent in 2011. Regional variation in prices has been less significant than that recorded in previous years, with London witnessing the strongest growth for 2011.

Richest Buyers costing £1bn in Stamp Duty Avoidance

Andrew WilliamsNews

A stamp duty dodging scheme is reportedly costing up to £1bn in potential Government revenue from house sales. Research indicates that as much as one in three sales over £1m are avoiding the 5% Stamp duty. This popular avoidance system involves the use of offshore companies to transfer ownership of a property. In this case, the deeds to a property … Read More

Frequently asked questions concerning Energy Performance Certificates on holiday lets in England and Wales.

Andrew WilliamsEnergy Performance Certificates

Is an Energy Performance Certificate needed for holiday accommodation? In certain circumstances, yes – basically, an Energy Performance Certificate is required whenever a property is rented out (unless it is intended to be used for less than 4 months in a year), including when it is rented for use as holiday accommodation. A rental arrangement is one where a person … Read More

Putting you in the know – SAVA Home Condition Survey

Andrew WilliamsHome Condition Reports

Buying a house is a major investment. One that you really need to make an informed decision about. That’s exactly what the Home Condition Survey allows you to do. It’s a striking fact that around 70% of homebuyers do not commission any form of independent survey on the property they purchase. Which?, the consumer agency, estimates that undertaking a condition survey … Read More

GREEN DEAL

Andrew WilliamsSurveying

GREEN DEAL The ‘Green Deal’ intends to reduce carbon emissions cost effectively by revolutionising the energy efficiency of British properties. The new innovative Green Deal financial mechanism eliminates the need to pay upfront for energy efficiency measures and instead provides reassurances that the cost of the measures should be covered by savings on the electricity bill. ECO A new Energy … Read More