Grant Shapps has re-iterated his and the Conservative’s plans to scrap Home Information Packs HIPs; yet again over the last few days. However, yet again he has not detailed any planned phase out or replacement of the HIP.
Conservative Home Information Pack policy to stall property market?
December 3rd, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Home Information Packs, Property Conveyancing, Property Market 10 Comments »
Nationwide – 2010 The End of House Price Rises?
December 2nd, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in News, Property Market 1 Comment »
The Nationwide have released data indicating that house prices rose by 0.5% during November 2009. The data seemingly supports house price forecasters who expect that the rate of house price rises will diminish over coming months with possible retreat of prices during 2010.
The Southern Property Divide: Selling vs. Buying
December 2nd, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Landlords, Property Market 1 Comment »
Sticking with the trend of the previous two quarters, buyer interest in properties for sale continues to outweigh the actual stock available. As a consequence, sellers continue to have the power, and this has led to a slight increase in house prices year on year. However, the property equilibrium for the southern UK market may change within the next six months, and therefore sellers are advised to take advantage of the favourable conditions of the property market at present.
Landlord Licencing – How Much Longer Do We Wait?
November 30th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Guest Articles, Landlords, Property Conveyancing 6 Comments »
For this article I have decided to write about the debate surrounding the proposal of landlord/letting agent registration and licencing. It’s not a new issue as some parties have been calling for it for a number of years but it raised its head again when the Law Commission made recommendations on buy-to-let reform, tabled in Parliament in mid-August of 2008.
Number of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) produced
November 27th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Energy Assessors, EPC, Property Market Comments Off on Number of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) produced
Updated figures for the number of EPCs produced have been released by John Healey after a request from Mr Shapps in regard to Home Information Packs.
The request was looking at ascertaining how many HIPs have been produced which isn’t as far as we know possible. However, the response was certainly of interest and provides a good update on the EPC market.
Rent Guarantee Insurance for landlords
November 19th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Financial Products, Landlords 3 Comments »
Since the economy entered into recession what seems like an age ago, the knock on effect to private landlords has been felt across the whole country.
According to telegraph.co.uk the number of Buy-to-Let repossessions doubled over the last year as tenants experienced difficulties in keeping up with the monthly rental payments.
The buy to let king’s secret; avoids flats
October 30th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Landlords, Property Market 4 Comments »
Interested in property? be sure to watch this great interview if you have not seen it with Renegade Economist and the ‘man who owns 900 houses’, it is sure to make you smile.
Quidos produce Commercial EPC Compliance Report
October 22nd, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Energy Assessors, EPC, Property Market 5 Comments »
Quidos’s report was initially distributed to over 4000 contacts on Monday, including commercial property agents, Trading Standards offices, commercial energy assessors, accreditation schemes, Government departments (CLG and DECC) and industry press.
Why now is the time to buy property
October 21st, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in News, Property Market 1 Comment »
Investors have identified that now is an opportune time to invest in property. A recent survey conducted by the Property Investor Show & OPP Live reveals that while only 16.1 per cent of investors purchased UK or overseas property in the last six months, over double this number intend to invest in property in the next six months and are currently searching for the right opportunity.
Summer benefits both sellers and landlords
September 29th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in News, Property Market Comments Off on Summer benefits both sellers and landlords
London Sales
Unsurprisingly, demand is exceeding supply with homebuyers retracted into their shells for the traditional summer calm this August. The figures this year indicate a certain tidal change compared to the same period in 2008. Across London properties, the amount of offers being made went up 60% on an annual basis while exchanges 78%.
The Law Society finally plan on Improving Residential Conveyancing
September 14th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Home Information Packs, Property Conveyancing, Property Market 2 Comments »
The Body that represents the interests of solicitors, the Law Society, has recently published a consultation paper entitled ‘Improving Residential Conveyancing’. The purpose of this is to invite the views of its membership on ideas/proposals it has for improving the home buying and selling process.
The timing of this consultation paper is questionable, given that apart from the radical and some would say brave introduction of the Home Information Pack Regulations, no significant change to the selling and buying process has happened since 1925. So why after all this time is the Law Society looking to review and seek the thoughts of its members on possible reform?