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First-time Buyers – What are the Chances of Getting on the Property Ladder?
Back in 2016 we explored the challenges first-time buyers faced. Since then, of course, we’ve waved goodbye to the European Union and are only just (hopefully) emerging from a global pandemic, so how are things looking for first-timers now? The property market is currently very buoyant and demand means higher prices – not great news…
Housing Market Predictions for 2021
Now that we’re several stages into the Government’s roadmap designed to guide us safely back to some semblance of normality, we thought it would be worthwhile looking at how the property market is responding and how it’s likely to look throughout the year. Back in December 2020, we gave an overview of the property market…
Home Survey Standard Introduced by RICS
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, of which Home-Approved is a member, introduced its Home Survey Standard on 1 March. Find out more.
The Stamp Duty Freeze and How the Property Market is Faring
Have you been spotting ‘for sale’ and ‘sold’ signs lately? Drive down any residential road and there seems to be loads wherever you look. Ever since July, when Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced that he was putting a freeze on stamp duty until 31 March 2021, the property market seems to have gone…
What Do Building Surveyors Do?
One of the questions our customers frequently ask is “What do building surveyors do?” It’s a good question because what we do can seem a little bit shrouded in mystery and yet everybody who buys a home is strongly advised to hire one. Let’s find out what we actually do for our money! We know…
Buying a Victorian Property in 2020 – Ideal Living for the Post-Covid-19 Era?
Updated for 2020 Looking for a Victorian property? Ideal living for the post-Covid-19 era Coronavirus, lockdown and our gradual emergence from lockdown has changed the world we live in. It’s hard to really get a handle on just how long we’re going to have to live with social distancing, face masks and caution in everything…
So buying a new build property doesn’t guarantee a clean bill of health
Back in June, we picked up on the news about housing firm Persimmon and highly dissatisfied owners. At the time, one couple were feeling angry that their property had 30 faults in every room. Another couple identified 700 defects!
The Impact of Climate Change on the Housing Sector
As much as Brexit has been dominating the headlines for what seems like far too long, there is another, far graver, topic that is fighting for the world’s attention. It is, of course, climate change. David Attenborough rocked up at Glastonbury to make an impassioned plea to clean up our collective act, teenager Greta Thunberg…
Help, I’m Worried That My Neighbour’s Building Plans Will Affect My Property!
Disputes between neighbours over building works are incredibly common. Online forums are full of anger, desperation and murderous intent as individuals rant about laws being flouted, lack of communication and downright bloody-mindedness. Of course, it doesn’t have to be that way and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 was introduced to protect the interests of…
