Connecting you to Verified Independent Chartered Surveyors
This Month's Newsletter
www.propertysurveying.co.uk

The Property Market Monthly Fact File - October 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.

"Buy land, they're not making it anymore" - As it turns out, they actually are…
Ref. Loose v Lynn Shellfish Limited (2014) EWCA Civ 846
The immortal quote from Mark Twain, “Buy Land, they're not making it anymore” was this month challenged in the courts with a case over newly accreted land in the Wash. Legal ownership was called into question in a High Court Case last year and has been considered again in the Court of Appeal. So the question is, are they making land?
To read the whole article, click here.

VAT Property Payment Ruling in Conveyance Case
Ref. CLP Holding Co Ltd V Singh and Kaur (2014) EWCA Civ 1103
The court ruled on who was responsible for a VAT payment on the purchase of a commercial property, when there was an element of conflict within the conveyance procedure concerning general and specific terms. The result carries a number of interesting points for commercial conveyancers and property owners…
To read the whole article, click here.

Defy planning authorities at your peril – Crown Court finds against landlord in Proceeds of Crime property case
A hearing at Inner London Crown Court early in September found against a developer who had, despite three failed planning applications, proceeded to rent out a property as flats. The result is a successful action under the Proceeds of Crime Act and a bill for more than £175,000 for the offending company and its millionaire owner…
To read the whole article, click here.

Which statutory requirements do I need to follow when letting out a holiday home? Summer has faded and the time for packing up and trooping off to your British holiday home might be over. But many will still want to escape from the cold months and sit in front of a warm fire in a beautiful holiday cottage. What they will most likely be looking for is a peaceful, comfortable living space that oozes warmth. With that in mind, you may be thinking about letting your lovely country holiday cottage for someone to escape to. We look at the stringent requirements surrounding the process, to help make sure your letting is stress free and profitable…… To read the whole article, click here.

20% discount for the under 40s could help thousands onto the property ladder
David Cameron has promised to help First-time house-buyers under the age of 40 by offering a 20% discount on new homes if the Conservatives are re-elected. The scheme, an extension of Help-to-Buy, could impact tens of thousands of families. If you're under 40, you could be eligible…
To read the whole article, click here.

Rent-to-Buy Scheme announced to further assist first time buyers - totalling £400 million of loans
Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government, The Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, has unveiled a “Rent to Buy” scheme of loans totaling £400m to assist housing associations and developers in building 10,000 homes. Split 50/50 between London and the rest of the country, the scheme seeks to "stand by people who work hard and do the right thing, helping them move on and up in life"…
To read the whole article, click here.

Construction Stagnates with Scottish Disruption
It has been confirmed that Britain’s construction output did not expand at all in July, marking the end of a period of rapid house building expansion. The month before showed growth of 1.2%, but the poor showing in July – fuelled primarily by a 4.1% slump in maintenance and repair activity - has brought the annual figure to an eight-month low of 2.6%. Is this the end of rising building figures and what has the effect of the Scottish question been?..
To read the whole article, click here.

Top tips for converting your barn
Permitted Development changes have made it significantly easier to convert a barn or other agricultural building into a residential or commercial space. We look at some top tips from our Chartered Surveyors for those of you considering a conversion project, covering such aspects as planning permission, building regulations, sustainability and design… ..
To read the whole article, click here.

Super-sewer approved for London
A project to build an extra large sewer which will run for some 16 miles (25km) beneath London and the River Thames, was given the official go ahead this month. It aims to stop the 39 million tonnes of raw sewage which floats into the Thames each year from the incumbent overloaded, Victorian era system…
To read the whole article, click here.

Back by popular demand... Chimney stacks, flues and fireplaces The pitfalls, weaknesses and characteristics of chimneys and what to do about repairing and removing them... To read the whole article, click here.

And Finally....

In case you missed it…..

Property Developer erects 6ft fence around neighbour’s house, blocking in their car and denying access to their own front gate
A couple have become unable to access their house via their front gate as a neighbouring property developer erects a 6ft fence just inches away – even preventing the couple from moving their own vehicle off the driveway.
To read the whole article, click here.