January 2021 Property Surveying Newsletter

Snowy Christmas at home

A summary of this month’s Property Surveying articles and market news including …

The Property Market Monthly Fact File

The property market fact file is a collection of data compiled each month by our Chartered Surveyors and the propertysurveying.co.uk team, reflecting survey data, statistics, trends and information from the property market. This provides a single place where anyone with an interest in UK property can find the information they need.


apartment buildings

Housing secretary announces leasehold reform

A long-awaited reform of property law in England has been announced by the Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick, including new rights and protections for leaseholders in England.


The cladding companies putting profits ahead of safety

The inquiry that follows the June 2017 fire, in which 72 people died at the Grenfell Tower in West London, has highlighted some of the shocking tactics of the management company and insulation and cladding firms, who are essentially putting cost-savings and profits ahead of safety.


Capital Gains Tax could cost buy to let property sellers and renters

The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has recommended changes to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) that could result in costly implications for buy to let property sellers and, ultimately, renters.


roof timbers from old property survey

Empty Property Grants in Wales

Wales has been operating a pilot scheme of empty property grants for home buyers that promises to help tackle problems of poor housing stock and antisocial behaviour.


Flipping property

England and Wales are enjoying a 12-year high of homes that are ‘flipped’ – the term used for properties that are bought, renovated and sold within a short period by investors.


Gas explosion builder cleared of health and safety breaches

Magistrates in Salisbury have cleared a builder of health and safety breaches, after a gas explosion at the property on which his company worked.


Revised fairer formula to address northern house building needs

The government has announced plans for a revised ‘fairer formula’ to its plans to build thousands of new homes in England.


Shared ownership investigated

An investigation by the BBC’s Panorama programme has given an insight into some of the potential pitfalls of shared ownership.


image of house keys

Shares rollercoaster for retirement home builder McCarthy & Stone

McCarthy & Stone is well known as the company that builds, sells and manages retirement homes and flats in the UK. The company has made a remarkable recovery after near collapse during the 2008 financial crisis, only returning to the stock exchange only five years ago.


Appliance safety in the home

Between tumble driers, gas cookers and the tragic Grenfell tower fire – we are all horribly aware of the importance of appliance safety in the home.


suspended wood flooring in the home

Surveyors Guide to the insulation of suspended wooden floors

Suspended wooden floors are very often forgotten when it comes to insulating a house. People insulate the roof space, double glaze the windows but forget to insulate the floors, but if the rest of the room is insulated, the floor becomes a thermal weak point.


And finally …

Origins of English place names

Have you ever wondered where the name of a place has come from? Prior to the 15th Century, the majority of English place names referred to the land ownership or were based on features of the location or landscape. Does it matter? To a surveyor, it sometimes does …

 

Written by Independent Chartered Surveyors
of the UK wide network of Property Professionals

The Property Surveying Newsletter is a free service by PropertySurveying.co.uk for those with an interest in the UK Property Market. As well as being posted online here, it is emailed direct to our subscribers all across the country.

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