The Property Market Monthly Fact File - September 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.

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 Creates Hundreds of Criminals Overnight
In a move that will have made potentially hundreds of criminals overnight, squatting has now become a criminal offence; enforceable by arrest, fines and imprisonment.
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Council starts High Court legal challenge to planning decision.
Two new housing developments in Gloucestershire have been given the go-ahead by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, but Tewkesbury Borough Council had refused both the developments. A legal battle ensues.
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Policy Exchange Think Tank Tells Councils to Sell off Best Homes
In a report labelled ‘Ending Expensive Social Tenancies’, the Policy Exchange ‘think tank’ has claimed that a move to sell off Britain’s most expensive social housing could create the largest social housing building programme since the 1970s, giving the economy a much needed kick start.
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Government commits to early help for those at risk of losing their home
A new report in August set out a cross-Government approach to ensuring that anyone at risk of homelessness gets help at the earliest possible stage to prevent them from losing their home. Promises of help and funding hope to avert homelessness before it can happen.
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Equity Release Council Indicates Elderly freeing up Cash to Bail Out Family
The Equity Release Council, the formal industry body for the equity release sector, has recently revealed that £424million was taken out in equity release products between January and June 2012. 32% cited lending or giving money to their relations as their primary motivation, indicating that the older generation is being squeezed to bail out the younger.
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Houses of Parliament Could Close for Five Years
Commons officials in charge of maintenance at the Houses of Parliament have tabled proposals to relocate Parliament for up to five years in order that a series of repairs can be carried out to arguably Britain’s most famous building.
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Mortgage Payments hit 15 year low as Mortgage Approvals also hit 15 year low.
Halifax have released a report showing that mortgage payments are at a 15 year low relative to ‘take home’ earnings, a level of affordability showing that it is a good time to be a homeowner.
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Government to Send in Expert Negotiators for Stalled 106 Deals
Section 106 agreements have long been identified as one of the chief hindrances for hundreds of stalled construction projects around the country. Now Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has announced an action plan to bring to a close over a thousand stalled 106 negotiations.
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Editor's Comment: New Infrastructure to help - New Housing to hinder ?
There is confusion with regard to the intermittently stated aim of some politicians to include private house building in an infrastructure approach when it is fundamentally a different issue.
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In case you missed it…..
A Plan to Make Mr Crapper Proud
Why oxidising urine salts could be the future for your bathroom furniture……
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.