Category Archives: Buying a House

  • Smoke Detectors Save Lives!

    May 22, 2013 0 Comment(s) Post By Jonathan Bevan Buying a House, Maintenance

    It is a fairly obvious statement and most houses that I visit are fitted with them but very often they are not in working order. Quite often the batteries have been removed to prevent false alarms when the toast burns. Alarms should be tested regularly in accordance with the manufacturers instructions and you must ensure that they are installed in the correct position.

    Detectors do not last forever and some should be changed at least every 10 years. Ideally install new detectors when moving into a new home – it is only a very small cost on the scale of things. Also consider having linked alarms.

    So;

    Install new alarms when moving home

    Test batteries at least once a month

    Fit at least one alarm on each level

    Contact your local Fire and Rescue Service to request a free Home Fire Risk Assessment. Further guidance is also available on the UK Fire Service Resources website at www.fireservice.co.uk.

  • Bank Of England Governor Warns Over Housing Plans

    May 18, 2013 0 Comment(s) Post By Jonathan Bevan Buying a House, Property News

    Sir Mervyn King, the outgoing governor of the Bank of England warns that a government plan to boost the housing market should not become permanent, saying there “was no place in the long run” for Chancellor George Osborne’s Help to Buy scheme.

    The scheme whereby the government will guarantee up to 15% of a mortgage on properties worth up to £600,000 is due to run from Jan 2014 for three years. The idea is that it will provide help for buyers that cannot afford a big deposit in order to get a mortgage.

  • No House Survey is false economy says RICS

    April 2, 2013 0 Comment(s) Post By Jonathan Bevan Buying a House, RICS

    More families are shunning full building surveys so they can raise enough cash to buy a home

    RICS Logo with lions head and black textThe Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) warns that that purchasers are risking nasty surprises and huge repair costs by not obtaining a pre-purchase survey.

    One in five of those who did not bother obtaining a survey later uncovered faults, according to research involving more than 1,000 buyers conducted by ComRes for the RICS.

    Remedial work cost £5,750 on average.

    The RICS said 17% of new owners ended up paying more than £12,000 to make their homes habitable.

    Read the full article on the BBC News web site.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21965535

  • Positive Year Ahead

    January 25, 2013 0 Comment(s) Post By admin Buying a House

    Positive Year Ahead for UK Housing Market, say CML

    A more stable and “positive” year in the UK housing and mortgage markets can be expected in 2013, a lenders’ group has said. The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said a steady increase in lending for house purchases signalled more activity.

    Read full article here