Welcome to the Property Advice Newsletter
Written by Independent Chartered Surveyors
of the UK wide network of Property Professionals
www.propertysurveying.co.uk
Publication date: 10th April 2013
This month's edition includes a strong new precedent in a previously untested area of law, a concluded case which will strongly influence further litigation next month with implications for both charities and landlords, a look at the poshest places in Britain and the tale of an unlucky couple over the Easter break...
The Property Market Monthly Fact File - April 2013
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.
Court of Appeal decides on important empty property issue concerning charitable use and the Business Rates Retention Arrangements - resulting in £1.5m liability order granted
Ref. Kenya Aid Programme v Sheffield City Council [2013]
The Court of Appeal has recently passed judgement on a case concerning the current trend of agreements between landlords and charities which seek to avoid business rates charges on empty properties. The conclusions should set an important precedent for many such cases in the future and support a far more aggressive stance on business rate taxation from Local Governments.
To read the whole article, click here.
High Court controversially finds Council ‘Within Its Powers’ to withhold sites from Neighbourhood Forum
Ref. Daws Hill Neighbourhood Forum & Ors, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government & Anor [2013] EWHC 513
The High Court has passed judgement on an important case for the development of the Localism Act 2011, siding with a council who sought to exclude two notable sites from the consideration of a local Neighbourhood Forum. If it stands, the case could form an important precedent for councils around the country.
To read the whole article, click here. |
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Editor's Comment
Our Editor, a Chartered Surveyor experienced in local planning matters, takes a look at what this case could mean for local planning. If the matter is uncontested or further supported in the Court of Appeal, it could spell the end for true local planning power just months after it was granted...
To read the whole article, click here.
The Budget - March 2013
Help to Buy and Build to Rent – ‘turbo charging’ the housing market?
The centre piece of the March 2013 budget was the introduction of a two-pronged ‘Help to Buy’ scheme that aims to stimulate the housing market and kick-start Britain’s ailing economy. As with seemingly all of the Government’s policies, it is not without its critics, but proponents are touting it as a ‘dramatic’ intervention into the housing market…
To read the whole article, click here.
£1.3bn scheme impact ‘misjudged’ – Can you trust Government construction figures?
The National Audit Office has released a report that raises serious question marks over the Government’s figures for the Homes Bonus scheme. If these forecasts were substantially wrong, can we trust the policies appearing now to be accurate?
To read the whole article, click here.
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Class Study reveals the Poshest places in Britain
Is your town teeming with Precariats or the reserve of the Elite?
The BBC and the ONS have both recently released the results of their class surveys, sparking a rethink about how Britons classify themselves. The Beeb believes there are now seven distinct class 'brackets', ranging from 'Preceriat' to 'Elite'. What class are you and your home town?
To read the whole article, click here. |
A Month of Firsts:
First Ever Neighbourhood Plan Referendum / First Council Promoted Planning Act 2008 Scheme
In an exciting month for planning, communities and local democracy, we look at two major firsts that are paving the way for further progress…
To read the whole article, click here.
Tougher Stance on Social Housing Introduced to Control Immigration Issues
The Prime Minister has laid out a number of changes to Social Housing and the way Private Landlords must ‘vet’ potential tenants. We discuss the changes below in the context of potentially hundreds of thousands more immigrants entering the nation as restrictions on Bulgaria and Romania are lifted...
To read the whole article, click here.
Stagnated house prices result in up to 630,000 borrowers languishing in negative equity.
Look on the bright side - despite up to 630,000 borrowers being stuck in negative equity due to stagnated house prices, at least you’re not living in the 1990’s...
To read the whole article, click here.
And Finally....
In case you missed it…..
Couple miss entire Easter Holiday due to lift maintenance failure just 500m from Airport
A couple from North Wales seeking a sunny getaway to the glorious Mediterranean instead got an hour and a half in a lift and, despite staying overnight just 500m away from Luton airport, missed their one and only flight...
To read the whole article, click here.
A special edition of our newsletter reflecting on property changes during the Thatcher years, will be published next Tuesday.
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