The Property Market Monthly Fact File - November 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, trends and information from the property market. This aims to help many persons with an interest in property gain an accurate view of what is happening in the UK property market as a whole.
To read the monthly fact file, click here.

Landmark High Court Decision as Dismissal Upheld for Human Rights Possession Claim
Ref. Southend-on-Sea Borough Council v Armour (2012) QBD 18/10/2012
In a landmark decision by the High Court, the first of its kind, Mr Justice Cranston has provided a strong judicial precedent for the future, concluding that a possession claim in Southend should be overturned on Human Rights grounds…
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Definitive Ruling on Village Greens from Court of Appeal also highlights ‘By right’ v ‘As of right’ distinction
Ref. Barkas v North Yorkshire County Council [2012] EWCA Civ 1373
The Court of Appeal has ruled definitively on the conversion of public recreation grounds, provided by Local Councils, to village greens, thus creating a precedent that will likely reappear in numerous future planning disputes……
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Lord Heseltine wants a “sense of urgency” in UK Planning System
The report of the moment and the subject of much heated debate in the Commons is the Government ordered ‘No Stone Unturned in Pursuit of Growth’ by former Tory bigwig Lord Heseltine. The report lays out 89 suggestions for generating growth within the UK economy and includes a focus on several property related aspects…
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Extending Short Leases and the Associated Legal Problems
Too many leaseholders are unaware of the status of their lease and the ramifications of not extending that ownership before selling. We outline the difficulties faced by those on a short lease and what to look out for when extending…
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House Prices on the up at Fastest Rate for Two years A new wave of figures from the FSA and Land Registry highlight mixed news for the UK property market. Year on year house prices are rising at their fastest for two years, but first time buyers still face an uphill battle… To read the whole article, click here.

Infrastructure Bill Gains Royal Assent and First Victory
31st October 2012 saw Royal Assent given to the Infrastructure (Financial Assistance) Act, enabling the Government to use their own excellent credit rating to guarantee up to £40 billion of investment in infrastructure and £10 billion of new homes.
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Making the Most of What You’ve Got – A Guide Following in the footsteps of our popular article – Five Ways to Help Sell Your Home in a Difficult Market – we cast a surveyor's eye over the slightly more drastic measures that can add thousands to the value of your home. From swimming pools to energy efficiency and staying ahead of your purchaser, there is much that can be done… To read the whole article, click here.

Good news and Bad news
Price Optimism on the up, but Negative Equity ‘millstone’ on almost a fifth of Homeowners
Leading property website Rightmove has published a number of interesting statistics concerning the UK property market, showing increased price optimism on the one hand, but a negative equity millstone still around the necks of a fifth of homeowners.
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Grade I Listed Admiralty Arch to become Five Star Hotel
In a move that has been met with a mixed reaction, the world famous Admiralty Arch in London is to be sold off on a 99 year lease by the Government and converted into a luxury hotel to rival even the Ritz…
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In case you missed it…..
Cowell hires ‘House Healer’ for £15m Beverley Hills Mansion
In perhaps the strangest piece of property related celebrity news in recent times, including Rooney’s architect designed garden shed, Simon Cowell has forked out for a ‘house healer’ to purge negative energy from his vast, $15m mansion in Beverley Hills…
To read the whole article, click here.