In this month’s Property Surveying Newsletter … we look at forthcoming changes to the property market, examine leasehold overcharging and find out why insurance costs are going up while payouts are reducing
The Property Market Monthly Fact File
The property market fact file is a collection of data compiled each month by our Chartered Surveyors and the propertysurveying.co.uk team, reflecting survey data, statistics, trends and information from the property market. This provides a single place where anyone with an interest in UK property can find the information they need.
Lenders consider easing borrower protection rules
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has confirmed it will look at options to simplify the borrower protection rules that were introduced after the 2008 financial crisis.
Rental costs pushed up by investors
While the Government has trumpeted its pledge to turn our green and pleasant land into a building site in order to sort out their housing shortage, there is a less-publicised issue that is pushing up rents and squeezing availability.
Big trouble at Hamlets Towers as the Chinese do not come to town!
Tower Hamlets councillors initially rejected a planning application for a new Chinese Embassy. The decision was accepted by the Chinese government at the time, but they have now decided to appeal to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Is Spain “taxing out” UK second homeowners?
Spain plans to introduce a tax of up to 100% on properties bought by non-residents from non-EU countries, including the UK, to address its housing crisis.
Property law changes in 2025
The UK’s property sector is set to undergo some key legislative changes this year, some of which will affect home owners and renters. Many of the changes were announced in the Autumn Budget.
Why is my home insurance premium rising?
There are websites that promise to find us the best prices on home insurance, but when all the options seem to be at least double what we paid previously, it hurts. It is not simply that property insurers as businesses want to make a profit from adversity: there are other factors that are genuinely affecting these premiums.
How do insurance companies reduce property payouts?
With the huge number of factors driving insurance premiums up, how come so many insurance companies are managing to reduce their payout costs following claims? Simply put, the majority of people are under-insured. We look at what you can do to protect yourself.
Crushing fees charged on new build properties
An examination of court tribunals relating to the freehold owning company of around 4,000 properties in England and Wales, has revealed service overcharging on a huge scale. Homeowners of the properties examined had been overcharged almost £1.2 million for key cutting, cleaning doormats and the cleaning of council wheelie bins.
Is the UK’s housing market at risk?
If the housing market stays on course, it is predicted that by 2030 home buyers will pay over double the amount current stamp duty, giving the taxman an increase of £10 billion.
And finally …
Dot Cotton fooled into fronting home improvement con
The good name of Eastenders favourite, Dot Cotton, has been ill-used by a group of home improvement conmen, who duped Ms Brown into advertising their business, conning home owners out of over a million pounds.
Written by Independent Chartered Surveyors
of the UK wide network of Property Professionals
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