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The Property Market Monthly Fact File - January 2014
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 provide a single place where anyone with an interest in UK property can find the information they need.
To read the monthly fact file, click here.

DCLG victorious in High Court challenge to Permitted Development Rights changes
Ref. London Borough of Islington & Anor v Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government [2013] EWHC 4009
Back in August, we wrote a piece on a Judicial Review freshly brought against the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) over an attempt to amend the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development Order) 1995 and permit office-to-residential changes. That review has now reached a decision, much to the chagrin of two London Councils who missed exemption…
To read the whole article, click here.

Court of Appeal rules against City Council in defence of widow’s right to be considered for new tenancy
Ref. Leicester City Council v Shearer [2013] EWCA Civ 1467
Mrs Shearer brought a public law defence to possession proceedings against Leicester City Council when, after her husband died, she succeeded the tenancy by statute, but almost lost her accommodation through an unlawful possession proceeding. In thwarting the City Council, the Court of Appeal set an interesting precedent for all legal authorities…
To read the whole article, click here.

2013 – A look back It has been an eventful year in UK property and, thankfully, the future now looks a little brighter. The New Year provides an excellent opportunity for reflection, so we look at some of the big stories from this year that may have passed you by – including momentous legal precedents, substantial planning changes, growing localism and a startling Mr Blobby paint job… To read the whole article, click here.

Where to buy in 2014?
Rapidly rising house prices in the booming South East have made for an interesting market dynamic. The recent racing ahead has widened a substantial price differential across the country; a matter of great interest to both investors and seekers of a new home. We look at the key question, should I speculate or settle down and, if so, where?
To read the whole article, click here.

Look out for a special edition next week, when our Editor, a Chartered Surveyor of many years, takes a look at the prospects for UK property markets in 2014...

Overcoming the Supply problem:
Two construction methods you might not have heard about, but which could solve the UK’s undersupply issue
Back in October, we wrote about a report compiled by 33 London Local Authorities suggesting that London's property construction was projected to be 550,000 units behind where it needs to be in 8 years' time. Solutions touted at the time included various methods to reduce construction costs and an emphasis on bringing empty homes back into use. The problem still remains and we look below at two innovative construction methods which could make the difference to Britain's supply problems. The questions is, would you like to live in a house made like this?
To read the whole article, click here.

Houses in Britain are shrinking A study has found that the average British House has shrunk by two Sq m, resulting, some say, in many families living in overcrowded accommodation. Analysts are adding to this the impact of the 'boomerang generation' and estimate that 500,000 people across the country are now classified as living in 'overcrowded accommodation'. The picture (left) shows the smallest house in Great Britain; are we all headed this way? To read the whole article, click here.

Green Spaces Benefit Mental Health
It has long been thought that moving to an environment rich in green space has beneficial effects on the people living there. Now there is evidence to support this - at least as far as urban dwellers are concerned and Exeter University wants planners and developers to take note…
To read the whole article, click here.

Listed Buildings – Laws and Regulations
Article 3 – Me and my listing
In the third of a four part series, we look at English Heritage’s method of preserving significant buildings – Listing – and explore every aspect of the process, from choosing the building to the history of litigation surrounding enforcement. This time, we ask how can listed buildings affect you?
To read the whole article, click here.

Urbanites exploit the new country house gap Evidence suggests that city dwellers are beginning to make their move to their rural second homes, now that the price of property in London is right to sell up. Could this be the beginning of the end for the trend towards urbanisation which has been a remarkable part of British Demographics for over 200 years? To read the whole article, click here.

John Lennon’s £14m Former Home up for sale
John Lennon’s former home is on the market for a cool £14m, having been bought back in 1964 for just £20,000…
To read the whole article, click here.

And Finally....

In case you missed it…..
In case you missed it…. Reasonably priced town house on the market, but you’ll have to live with its previous occupants in the garden….six feet under
In Teddington, South-West London there appears to be a normal family home for sale. The four bedroom house is set in a pleasant suburb and is close to good schools. It is on the market for £650,000; very reasonable for a four bedroom town house in the popular area. The catch? The previous occupants are buried in the garden…
To read the whole article, click here.