The Latest Property News Headlines
from aboutproperty.co.uk
Charity says calls for help over mortgage arrears up 35 per cent
Leading UK charity National Debtline is calling on the government to provide extra support for struggling households, as the effects of rising prices, interest rate rises from last year and the tightening of lending amid the credit crunch conspire to hit Britons.
Building societies failing to pass on interest rate cuts
Twenty-four mortgage lenders have still not passed April's cut in interest rates onto borrowers, according to money search engine Moneyfacts.co.uk.
New-builds down 24%
The number of new-builds started in the last three months fell by 24 per cent – new government figures show.
Barratt raises more fears about property market
Barratt Homes has said this morning that the housing market has "deteriorated significantly".
Brown announces sale and rent back probe
Gordon Brown announced an investigation into the controversial sale and rent back sector in the draft Queen's Speech today.
Inflation will stay high
UK inflation is forecast to stay high for a number of months, the Bank of England governor warned today.
Share equity schemes opened up
Buyers earning less than £60,000 will be able to take advantage of the government's share equity scheme, Gordon Brown announced today.
HSBC extends mortgage switch offer
The bank has also extended the its rate matching mortgage service to all UK homeowners, whose fixed-rate mortgage period matures before 31 August, subject to affordability criteria and a maximum loan-to-value of 80 per cent.
Nationwide cuts rates on fixed rate mortgages
In what will surely be greeted with some relief by borrowers Nationwide has announced that it will reduce the rates on its two and five year fixed rate mortgage deals later this week.
Housing minister admits house prices will fall between five and 10 per cent "at best"
Housing minister, Caroline Flint, has accidentally revealed her concerns about the state of the UK property by revealing she now expects house prices to fall by between five and 10 per cent this year “at best”.
Mortgage lending still depressed says CML
The Council of Mortgage Lenders has warned that it will be some time before borrowers feel the benefit of the efforts of the Bank of England to ease the credit crunch.
Rics: Market sentiment falls deeper
A balance of 95.1 per cent of chartered surveyors are reporting house price falls, as buyers steer clear of the market.
HMRC investigating rental income
Hefty fines could be in store for buy-to-let landlords who believe they do not owe income tax because their rent revenue is being swallowed up by mortgage payments, an accountancy firm has warned.
First time buyers finding it harder than ever to get a mortgage
Evidence of the continuing decline of first time buyers in the mortgage market emerged today as Charcol revealed only four per cent of its customers were first time buyers in March.
Most people unafraid by house price falls
More people want house prices to fall than to rise research commissioned by the BBC has found.
