As of today we now have some subtle changes to the Home Information Pack legislation that could bring added benefit to the exisiting HIP via some modifications including the Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) which is now a required document.
Home Information Pack (HIP) changes
April 6th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Home Information Packs, News | 15 Comments »
Are you aware of Commercial EPC regulations
April 3rd, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in EPC, Property Conveyancing | 5 Comments »
The commercial EPC legislation came into force on April 2008 and now the large majority of commercial properties require a Commercial Energy Performance Certificate before marketing of the property can legally commence.
Whereas the domestic equivalent do vary slightly they are generally under a £100; whereas the commercial EPC is generally £350 and upwards and very much dependant on the individual property. The similarity between commercial and domestic energy performance certificates names can give people an impression they will be similarly priced. The difference in cost is due to the much increased time and expertise required to produce the commercial EPC both on-site and off-site.
Where now with Fuel Poverty?
March 23rd, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Energy Saving, EPC, News | 2 Comments »
The Fuel Poverty bill has been thrown out of parliament as not enough MPs turned up to vote on the bill. With rising energy prices and the challenging financial situation at present surely this was a good move to help those less vulnerable than themselves, who can not claim £60k for a second home.
The Fuel poverty Bill was put forward by David Heath, the Liberal Democrat MP. It is estimated that there are currently 5.5 million households living in fuel poverty; this figure is calculated by the number of people where one tenth or more of their income goes on gas and electricity bills.
Buy to Let – is it the wise market move?
March 18th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Landlords, Property Market | 1 Comment »
Buy to let was once the king of the investment portfolio, quite often a sure fire solid investment. As we have all seen the property market has changed, some say never to return to what we have seen in days gone by.
Northern Rock Announces 90% Mortgage
March 16th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Mortgages, News, Property Market | 6 Comments »
With a move clearly designed to inject some life into the housing market, state owned bank Northern Rock has announced that it will resume lending 90% mortgages.
Currently the chances of getting a mortgage of more the 75% are very slim and this move could be seen as a government approved display of intent. Quite how relevant it is remains questionable and many have pondered whether the announcement is more publicity stunt designed to bring back consumer confidence rather than a definite assurance of impending lending.
House Repossessions Rocket
March 11th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Mortgages, News, Property Market | Comments Off on House Repossessions Rocket
The state of the UK housing market is constantly in the news at present and the latest figures on home repossessions make more depressing reading.
In the year 2008 repossessions reached the highest levels for 12 years. A staggering 54% rise in instances of homeowners losing their homes equates to 40,000 houses being repossessed.
House Prices Fall to 2005 Levels
March 9th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in News, Property Market | 3 Comments »
Land Registry figures released at the end of February show that house prices in the UK have fallen to the same levels they were at in March, 2005. With the average property now valued at just under £157,000, this represents a drop of 15.1% over the last year.
Will interest rates reach zero percent?
March 6th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Mortgages, News, Property Market | 4 Comments »
The Bank of England has reduced interest rates to 0.5% in order to put a halt to the housing crash, in the latest reduction we have witnessed over recent months.
With interest rates being cut at such a speed over the past few months it begs the question ‘Will we see interest rates reach zero perecent?‘
Upsizing your home – easier for some
February 26th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Energy Saving, Mortgages, Property Market | 1 Comment »
With the property news full of tales of woe in the banking world and the related slump in the housing market, it is easy to overlook some of the better news that the falling price trend has influenced. In an intriguing twist it has emerged from recent research that trading up to a bigger property is now financially less problematic than only a year ago, depending on the size of house one needs to buy.
Agents report increased interest in property market
February 23rd, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Property Market | 2 Comments »
Recent reports of increased interest in the property market and the Halifax index indicating a surprise increase in prices of almost 2%; while estate agents are reporting an increase in interest this is not immediately being converted into sales.
Energy efficiency in the home – how much can you save?
February 21st, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Energy Saving, EPC | 5 Comments »
The continuing credit crunch is affecting homeowners in great numbers, and with no sign of improvement imminent it could be worth looking at just how efficient your home is.
We all think we have done enough to improve our homes, but how many of us have? And when it comes to the crunch, just how much can be saved and how?