The Property Market Monthly Fact File - August 2012
The property market fact file is a collection of data compiled each month by our chartered surveyors and the propertysurveying.co.uk team, collating survey data, statistics and related trends and information from the building and property market. This will help many persons with an interest in property to gain an accurate view of what is happening in the property market as a whole in the UK.
To read the monthly fact file, click here.

Law Case Reveals Extent of Health and Safety Legislation when Dealing with Independent Contractors
Ref. HSE v Marshall Morris and Poole (MMP)
The successful prosecution of a large estate agent in Cheshire by the HSE has set a precedent for agents dealing with independent contractors. Great care must be taken to ensure contractors work safely, or hefty fines could result…
To read the whole article, click here.

Solihull Council Marks Landmark Victory in Tenant Succession Case
Ref. Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council v Hickin [2012] UKSC 39
In a complex battle of conflicting statute versus common law positions, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (Birmingham) has finally one out in the Supreme Court, marking a new precedent for future cases of joint tenancy succession.
To read the whole article, click here.

Plans to Introduce New Legal Rights to Aid in Property Matters of Missing Person Cases
Following a report by the Commons Select Committee on Justice, plans have been unveiled to introduce a ‘certificate of presumed death’ which should give significantly greater legal rights to the families of missing persons in dealing with property and other matters. Notaries and lawyers must take note as further changes could be ahead.
To read the whole article, click here.

EU Approves Regulation Allowing Expats to Bypass Inheritance Laws
The EU has this month given final approval to a regulation which will allow British expats living in France the ability to choose the law of their own country over French inheritance rules; affording much greater flexibility in whom an estate can be left to and in what proportion.
To read the whole article, click here.

Plague of Heritage Crime Sweeps the Nation
Up and down the country, acts of so called ‘heritage crime’ have taken place, causing thousands of pounds of damage and the loss of priceless and irreplaceable artefacts. Attempts are being made to stem the tide…
To read the whole article, click here.

July Sees Green Light for Landmark First Self-Build Community
Plans for the nation's first ever dedicated, large-scale self building community were given the green light in July by Housing Minister Grant Shapps, to include a £30m financing package.
To read the whole article, click here.

Interest Rates and Risk - Loan to Value Ratio Hits Those With Small Deposits
There is a growing differential with the new post recession property market between those having an equity stake in excess of 30 % and those requiring a 90% plus loan. Those unable to scrape together a substantial enough deposit are losing out and the situation is only getting worse…
To read the whole article, click here.

Homeless Households up by over 10,000 or Damn Lies and Statistics?
Data analysis company SSentif has recently released figures suggesting that Britain’s homeless population, on which we have written many times before (see here for example), has increased by almost 26 per cent over the last three years, with urban locations like London suffering the most.
To read the whole article, click here.

In case you missed it…..
Pop-up Mall in Shoreditch Seeks to Bring Back Local Shops to our High Streets
A new concept for British shopping has emerged in Shoreditch, Hackney, where a small corner of disused land by the High Street train station has been regenerated into a thriving mall….using shipping containers.
To read the whole article, click here.

If you have any suggestions for articles to be written, send an email to the editor via the office email below.