Survey and Property Market News

New Housing Site in South Bristol

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 14:05:24 GMT

New housing site will create 1400 new homes in South Bristol.

A huge housing development planned for a city outskirts has taken a big step forward.

Bristol City Council-owned firm Goram Homes has announced it will be working with Countryside Partnership on the Hengrove Park scheme.

Once finished, it will contain 1,400 properties - a mixture of flats and houses.

The new development will be built on the site of the former Whitchurch Airfield to the south of the city.

Half of the new homes will be council-owned and 50% will be affordable.

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees said the agreement between Goram and Countryside Partnership was a "huge step forward".

"By working in partnership with private developers like Countryside, Goram Homes can not only deliver high quality, net zero homes fit for the future, but also provide new facilities, jobs, and training opportunities that will benefit people across south Bristol," he added.

The development will be a 50-50 mix of council homes and private homes.

In an online statement, Goram Homes said: "Half of the new homes will be council-owned, helping to meet a strong demand for social rented housing in this part of the city, and providing affordable homes for sale under schemes like shared ownership.

"There are currently around 6,500 households on the housing register in south Bristol."

Hengrove Park is located next to the South Bristol Skills Academy, and the first stage of construction is already underway.

The bulk of the homes will be built by Countryside Partnerships, which is based in Essex.

Part of the existing site will be developed into a 22-hectare public park, the size of around 30 football pitches, Goram Homes added.

'Meeting huge demand'

A new energy centre containing air source heat pumps will also be developed, connecting the new homes and surrounding business to low carbon heating and hot water through a district heating network.

Councillor Tom Renhard, Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes, said the homes will limit carbon emissions.

"Hengrove Park will create hundreds of council-owned homes, helping to meet a huge demand in this part of the city," he said.

The orginal articale be found on the BBC website and was by Dawn Limbu

Why have a Survey or Valuation?

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 12:24:26 GMT

Why have a house survey of valuation when

buying a new home?

The basic mortgage valuation is only to establish if the property is acceptable for a lender within that lender's specific criteria. It does not necessarily comment regarding all the defects which may be present. Our survey will report upon the general and overall condition of the property.

Repair costs/maintenance can be substantial and potentially costly. The cost of your Survey can often be recovered through renegotiation, using our report.

Typical process of undertaking a survey

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 08:24:45 GMT

The typical process for undertaking a property survey.

We normally find the majority of our clients are the intended purchaser of a property. The purchaser of the property is nearly always the one who arranges and pays for the residential survey to take place.

In the vast majority of circumstances, a property survey is undertaken after an offer has been accepted by the seller. A survey can also be undertaken prior to an offer being made e.g. when a property is being sold through auction, or an assessment of the condition is required prior to the offer.

Once you have made contact with us, we can discuss the property concerned, look at the online property details, and any other specific requirements you may have. We will then consider the most appropriate/cost-effective type of survey, provide you with a price and anticipated timescale for the survey to be undertaken.

House prices see biggest annual fall since 2009

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 21:52:07 GMT

House prices see biggest annual fall since 2009

By Kevin Peachey & Nick Edser

Cost of living correspondent & business reporter

House prices fell in March at their fastest annual pace for 14 years, according to the latest figures from the Nationwide.

The lender said prices were down 3.1% compared with a year earlier, the largest annual decline since July 2009.

The Nationwide said the housing market reached a "turning point" last year, after the financial market turbulence which followed the mini-budget.

Since then, "activity has remained subdued", it added.

"It will be hard for the market to regain much momentum in the near term, since consumer confidence remains weak and household budgets remain under pressure from high inflation," said Robert Gardner, Nationwide's chief economist.

A drop in house prices would generally be welcomed by potential first-time buyers, who have watched property values surge, even during the pandemic.

However, the reality is that renting has become more expensive for many people, and mortgage rates are higher than they might have planned for. The continuing rise in many regular bills and food prices are also adding to the financial strain.

To read the full article at its original source please click here to go to the BBC website.

People to start moving into Portishead's former 'Olditz' apartment block The huge apartment block has laid vacant since it was completed

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 11:52:19 GMT

People to start moving into Portishead's former 'Olditz' apartment block

The huge apartment block has laid vacant since it was completed

The first residents of Portishead’s former 'Olditz' apartment block will move in early next year - after the building has lain vacant since it was built.

Marina Gardens – dubbed Olditz by locals – was initially built as a multi-million-pound retirement and assisted living scheme and was completed in autumn 2019.

However, it has lain vacant ever since after its owners Pegasus Life said there was no longer a need for retirement accommodation and applied to change the use of the building to allow it to sell the one and two-bedroom flats on the open market.

Social housing provider Alliance Homes announced earlier this year it had bought the block earlier this year in a deal worth £28 million.

The £27.8 million purchase was supported by grant funding from Homes England and North Somerset Council as part of a shared ambition to deliver quality affordable homes in the district.

Bosses at Alliance Homes have announced that the first residents will start moving in early in the New Year.

There will be three tenure types at Marina Gardens - shared ownership, rent to buy and social rent.

A spokesman for Alliance Homes said: “We’re hoping the first residents will move in some time in the New Year.

“We’ll be producing documentation in the next few weeks which will better explain how people can obtain a home at Marina Gardens.

The complex has 127 apartments - a mix of one and two-bedroom and studios, and 96 parking spaces.

It also has a number of communal areas as well as a café and restaurant, a wellbeing spa and a hydrotherapy pool.

Portishead has grown massively in size in recent years thanks to developments at the marina and at the Ashlands and Village Quarter and is now the second-largest town in North Somerset.

When all developments are complete the town’s population is expected to swell to around 30,000.

There are currently more than 5,000 people on the council’s housing waiting list.

It took around 6,700 properties onto its books, representing over 77 percent of social housing in the district.

Over the next ten years, Alliance Homes plan to help tackle the national housing crisis by developing at least 2,000 new homes for sale and rent across the West of England.

To read this article on its original source website please click here

This article was originally written by Somerset Live.

UK house prices flatlining as mortgage rates rise, says Nationwide

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 11:38:04 GMT

UK house prices flatlining as mortgage rates rise, says Nationwide

Lender says slowdown will intensify in coming months as household budgets come

under more pressure

UK house price growth flatlined in September with a stronger slowdown expected in the coming months as a combination of soaring inflation and mortgage rates makes moving unaffordable for many.

The latest snapshot from the building society Nationwide comes at the end of a torrid week for the housing industry as lenders pulled 40% of available mortgages from the market after Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget last Friday.

Lenders began suspending products after the chancellor’s sweeping tax-cutting plans triggered a sell-off in financial markets and raised expectations for higher interest rates. The volatility made it increasingly difficult for lenders to price deals.

A typical UK home cost £272,259 in September, a zero increase on the previous month and the first time house prices did not grow month on month since July last year, according to Nationwide .

Annual growth in prices dipped to 9.5% this month, the first time house price growth has slowed to single digits since last October.

Annual house price growth slowed in September, to 9.5%

Overall, 10 of the UK’s 13 regions recorded slower annual price growth in the third quarter of the year as the housing market cooled. The only regions to show an increase in annual house prices in September were the east Midlands, West Midlands and London.

“Headwinds are growing stronger, suggesting the market will slow further in the months ahead,” said Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s chief economist. “High inflation is exerting significant pressure on household budgets, with consumer confidence declining to all-time lows. Housing affordability is becoming more stretched.”

Gardner said a 10% deposit on a typical first-time buyer property was now equivalent to almost 60% of annual gross earnings – an all-time high.

Some commentators are expecting UK house prices could fall by at least 10% next year as the economy sinks into recession and mortgage rates rise sharply, making house moves unaffordable for many.

“As interest rates are increasing and lenders are adjusting their affordability calculations, buyers who have not yet found a property may be facing a change in what they can afford,” said Matthew Thompson, the head of sales at Chesterton.

“As a result, many house hunters will be required to review their initial budget, whereby rising utility costs play yet another important factor to take into account. Many of London’s house hunters will see no other option but to compromise on property location and size.”

Avinav Nigam, a co-founder of the property investment platform IMMO, said in some parts of the UK the number of properties listed for sale had slumped by 15-20%.

Nationwide said the south-west of England remained the strongest performing region, with the average house price up 12.5% to £321,725 in the quarter to the end of September compared with a year ago. However, the rate of growth had slowed from 14.5% in the second quarter.

London remained the weakest performing region of the UK with growth of 6.7% in the third quarter, though this was an increase on the 6% growth recorded in the previous quarter. The average price of a property in London is £534,545, almost double the UK average of £273,135.

“Buyers can no longer match the inflated pandemic price expectations of many sellers and it is only a matter of time before this adjustment causes house prices to decline,” said Chris Hodgkinson, the managing director of the property investment firm HBB Solutions.

“Those currently looking to sell are advised to do so quickly because it won’t be long before their home is commanding considerably less, or failing to sell altogether due to an unrealistic asking price expectation.”

To view this articles at its original source on The Guardian's website click here.

A Guide To Luxury Property Investment In Bristol, One Of The UK’s Leading Cities

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 22:06:25 GMT

A Guide To Luxury Property Investment In Bristol, One Of The UK’s Leading Cities

The Somerset city of Bristol boasts one of the most thriving economies in the UK and is widely considered one of the most desirable places in the country to live for quality of life. So, if you’re thinking of investing in the city’s thriving real estate market, you may well be on the right track to wealth creation and growth – as even amidst the current surge in property prices, now is a great time to buy.

Many people are now considering living in Bristol over other cities in the UK for a number of reasons, from its enticing cultural scene to its excellent connectivity, with Bristol Airport right on its doorstep. This, in turn, has seen house prices spike dramatically, particularly since the pandemic, and it’s a pattern that industry experts predict is only set to continue over the coming months and years.

There are a number of exclusive luxury properties currently on the market in Bristol – from exquisite townhouses to traditional country manors – so if you’re eager to relocate to the city then for a few million pounds or more, you’ll be in with a good chance of finding the perfect home. Similarly, if you’re looking for investment properties to rent out long-term and create an additional stream of income, or to renovate with a view to turning a tidy profit later on, then the possibilities here are seemingly endless.

Those who can afford to buy a home in this part of the UK are in a privileged position, and if you’re prepared to play the long game, you could stand to make some considerable returns later on. We asked the experts at AVRillo property lawyers in Bristol , which aims to make conveyancing work easier for its customers, to break down all you need to know about capitalising on the property market in the city this year.

The thriving housing market

Bristol is currently enjoying one of the UK’s most booming housing markets, with its strong economic growth and the excellent quality of life it supports making it one of the most desirable places to live and work. The popularity of Bristol hasn’t just caused an increase in house prices in the city, but has done so at a faster rate compared to other locations in the country. In 2011, the average property price in Bristol was £189,06, while today, house prices in the city have increased by more than 60 percent.

According to Zoopla, the average house price in Bristol is currently at £361,837 for the last year. Flats are the cheapest properties in Bristol, going for as low as £253,575, while detached houses sell for a minimum of £534,939 and semi-detached for £370,583. The all-time average sold price in this city is £194,147.

A high employment rate

Bristol has one of the highest employment rates in the UK, and with the great selection of jobs on offer, it’s perhaps little wonder it has become seen as one of the most popular cities to live in. Students graduating from university and who are seeking professional jobs make up a proportion of those relocating to the city, but we’re also seeing plenty of people moving out of London in search of a quieter life, and settling in the rural areas outside of the inner city.

The higher employment rate in Bristol means that it’s in high demand. According to a recent survey, at least 77.1 per cent of Bristol’s population is in employment, and the high demand amongst tenants seeking homes means it’s a great place to invest in real estate.

Improved quality of life

Many of those relocating from London are looking for an improved quality of life, and Bristol is increasingly becoming one of the top places they find it. While there’s no denying that many are moving to coastal and countryside regions like Devon and Cornwall, for others, they’re too remote – whereas Bristol, with its great food scene, community spirit, and plethora of cultural attractions, offers the best of both worlds.

The waterfront area in Bristol is home to numerous restaurants, shops, and bars, with historic attractions including the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Clifton Observatory found across the city. But it’s also surrounded by vast swathes of green fields, rolling hills and breathtaking countryside, making it one of the few locations that ticks all the right boxes when it comes to quality of life.

The thriving business and industries

Bristol boasts one of the most thriving global professional service sectors in the country, and is a leader in engineering and technology. In recent years, a growing number of firms have been setting up their offices and headquarters in the city to increase their visibility in the UK, with most of the big players in the tech market investing heavily in infrastructure to support the different industries.

Bristol is, as a result, one of the best places in the UK to start and run a business. The city has a heritage for filmmaking and the creative industry, which makes it an ideal place to invest in property.

Great transport links

Bristol is strategically positioned in the South West, which makes it a great place for all kinds of people to live. The excellent rail connections mean you can take the shortest time, 1 hour 35 minutes, to access the capital via Temple Meads, and with an international airport located right on its doorsteps, it’s a hub for travel for both business and leisure.

The bottom line

Investing in real estate always comes with its challenges, but if you’re looking to grow your portfolio in 2022 then Bristol is the perfect place in which to do it. Be sure to invest in the services of an estate agent or a conveyancing solicitor to help you. A conveyancer can facilitate property searches and surveys, and ensure that due diligence is done to lower any potential risks, putting you in the best position to profit from your investment later on.

To read this article at its original source at Luxury Lifestyle Magazine please click here.

House prices poised to start falling as property boom meets end

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 08:18:13 GMT

'The market has turned' House prices poised to start falling as property boom meets end.

PROPERTY BUYERS' inquiries fell in June at the steepest rate since Covid shut down the housing market in 2020.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) said today (July 14) some 27 percent of professionals reported a fall in interest for potential house hunters. It is the third month in a row where interest from new buyers slipped back in a sign the property market boom is ending.

Mark Wiggin, of the eponymously named Shropshire estate agents, told The Telegraph: "The market has definitely turned. Fall-throughs and renegotiations are now taking place."

London appeared to be more resilient with seven percent of professionals in the capital reporting an uptick in inquiries in the past month. Despite demand in the housing market cooling, the direction of house prices was upwards, with 65 percent of professionals reporting an increase.

It adds survey participants also say market appraisals are broadly unchanged compared to 12 months ago, suggesting the tight supply backdrop is unlikely to shift drastically in the near future. The 65 percent of professionals seeing prices rising is lower than April's high of 78 percent, but remains comfortably above the 13 percent long-term average, according to Rics.

Looking further out, 37 percent foresee prices continuing to climb over the next 12 months, although this is down compared with the high of 78 percent seen in February. For properties priced between £500,000 and £1million, 39 percent are seeing the sales price beat the asking price while for those listed at more than £1 million, selling prices are typically coming in slightly below the asking price on balance, Rics' report says.

Article by Jon King / 14/07/2022

To read in full an at its original source please click the link below

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1640635/house-prices-property-boom-end

House prices in Bristol have more than tripled since the Golden Jubilee

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 04:57:40 GMT

House prices in Bristol have more than tripled since the Golden Jubilee

House prices in Bristol have more than tripled since the Queen’s Golden Jubilee 20 years ago. Back in March 2002, as the Queen was celebrating 50 years on the throne, the average home in Bristol was worth £98,967.

By the time she hit her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the average price had risen to £173,261. In time for the Platinum Jubilee, the latest house price data from the Land Registry shows average prices in the area were £338,582 in March this year - that’s a 242% rise in 20 years.

In Bristol, a detached home is now £662,780 on average, compared to £189,120 in 2002, while semi-detached homes have risen from £114,104 to £425,610. The average price of a terraced home in March this year was £352,331, compared to £94,775 in 2002, while flats have seen a smaller rise, although they have still seen average prices go from £89,110 to £256,514.

House prices have soared across the country while the Queen has been on the throne. According to Nationwide, the average price of a home was £1,891 in 1952 when Elizabeth was crowned.

That would be the equivalent of £38,255 in today’s money, adjusted for inflation. The index, which is based on the building society’s mortgage lending, says the average price of homes in the UK was £260,771 at the start of this year.

By 1992, prices across the UK had hit £56,504. At the time of the Golden Jubilee in 2002, they were £104,705, before rising to £165,457 in 2012, hitting £278,436 in March this year.

Earlier this week Rightmove revealed that four of the ten places in Britain that have seen the biggest increase in house prices in the last ten years are in Bristol. Brislington was in second place behind Margate, St George fourth, Patchway seventh and Bedminster ninth.

To read this article at its original source on the Bristol Post website please click here.

Spring is the best time to sell your home

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 20:12:51 GMT

British summer time is here, and the Spring is considered the best time to sell your home.

This spring is the best time to sell as house prices

hit a new record.

Rightmove reveals why now is an opportune moment

The average price of a house coming onto the market has jumped by 1.7% (+£5,760) this month to £354,564, in the biggest month-on-month increase since the mid-noughties. This is a record high, with the average house price in the UK now surpassing 350,000.

If you are looking to sell your house , Rightmove says this spring is the best time to sell a house. This is due to ‘a hat-trick of reasons’ for sellers to put their homes on the market this spring.

Reasons why this spring is the best time to sell a house

Record prices
A significant imbalance between demand and supply
The chance of finding a buyer in the first week it’s on the market

As well as these record prices, there’s currently the biggest mismatch ever between supply and demand on Rightmove for this time of year. There are twice as many buyers as sellers.

To read this article at its original source please click here

Houses Prices Are Predicted To Rise Again During 2022

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 14:45:12 GMT

Strong buyer demand set to see rise in house prices as low level of available homes continues

An estate agent is warning house prices will rise next year.

Rightmove predicts that the national average price of property coming to market will rise by five per cent next year, as strong buyer demand and a historically low level of available property continue to push up prices in 2022.

As always there will be sector and regional market variations. Currently the most competitive markets are in Scotland, the West Midlands, the South West and Yorkshire and the Humber, and Rightmove predicts these areas are likely to see price growth at a higher rate of upwards of seven per cent next year.

Rightmove also forecasts that the London market will continue to improve, albeit from a lower base of activity and price rises than the rest of the country, with a more muted rate of three per cent growth. Rightmove’s price forecast is based on a house price predictive model that uses millions of supply, demand and pricing data points across the property market, along with insights from a panel of Rightmove experts.

Rightmove’s Director of Property Data Tim Bannister said: “It’s been a hectic 18 months for the property market since the end of the first lockdown with changed housing needs driven by the pandemic inspiring many moves, and the stamp duty holiday encouraging some movers to bring their plans forward.

"The net result as we approach the start of the 2022 market is the lowest ever available stock of property for sale per estate agency branch, yet with ongoing high buyer demand.

"This imbalance between supply and demand has resulted in buyer demand per available property being at near record highs, suggesting that the 2021 scenario of multiple buyer bids on a high proportion of properties when they come to market is set to continue in the new year.

“We do, however, expect the pace of rises in 2022 to be slower than in 2021 due to increasingly stretched buyer affordability following this year’s rapid rises in average prices. Slowing in the pace of price rises and activity is likely to be more evident in the second half of the year as base rate rises, higher inflation, and higher taxes begin to weigh more heavily on buyer sentiment.

"Therefore if sellers are too optimistic on their asking price in the first half of the year, they risk missing the most active part of the market. While local markets vary considerably in their supply demand imbalance, Rightmove’s unique access to this detail and scale of data underpins our forecast for overall continued upwards price pressure in 2022 despite the prospect of base rate rises.”

To read this article in its entirety and original source on the Bristol Post website please click here.

Budget 2021: Surge in house prices predicted to slow

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 13:30:15 GMT

Budget 2021: Surge in house prices predicted to slow

By Kevin Peachey
Personal finance correspondent, BBC News

The UK's pandemic house price boom is forecast to come to an end, but property prices are still expected to rise in each of the next five years.

Some surveys have recorded house prices rising at a rate of more than 10% a year but the government's official, independent, forecasters have said this will drop to 3.5% by 2026.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) also said that mortgage rates are likely to rise from record lows.

Rent for tenants will also go up.

It means potential first-time buyers are facing another period of difficulty if they wish to buy a home.

The Covid outbreak and the resulting lockdowns led many homeowners to reconsider where they live, despite a limited number of homes on the market.

The OBR said that the "race" for indoor and outdoor space, as well as stamp duty holidays, led to a huge increase in demand, sales and prices.

Although the surge in values was expected to slow, prices would be higher over the next five years than the OBR forecast before the Budget in March, it said.

To read this article in full at its original source on the BBC New website - please click here

Stamp duty holiday: Success or failure?

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 21:13:58 GMT

Stamp duty holiday: Success or failure?

Home buyers have benefitted from lower or no stamp duty, a tax paid on property purchases, in some parts of the UK, for more than a year.

The tax holidays on stamp duty or its equivalent taxes, were introduced by ministers to stimulate the housing market as the country emerged from the first national Covid lockdown last summer.

Since then, the market has been buoyant - immune to the economic shock created by the pandemic. Sales reached record levels, as did house prices. Official data show the average cost of a residential property in the UK rose by 8% in a year. Some areas saw increases of more than 20%.

Stamp duty rates in England and Northern Ireland have now returned to their pre-pandemic levels. Similar taxes in Scotland and Wales are already back to normal.

How much stamp duty will I have to pay now?

Yet, debate continues over whether the tax break policy was a success, or unnecessary.

Two experts, representing both sides of the argument, have shared their views.

'The stamp duty holiday should continue'

Mark Bogard, chief executive of The Family Building Society, says that the pandemic meant ministers could use stamp duty holidays to change problems with the UK housing stock.

"Stamp duty is a very significant tax, but it is extremely easy to avoid by just not moving home," he says.

People have generally been living in the same home for longer than in the past. That is especially true of potential 'downsizers', who have been put off moving because they would normally have to pay stamp duty, he says.

To read the full article please click here to go to the BBC website

Stamp Duty Holiday in the UK

Sat, 07 Aug 2021 20:49:12 GMT

UK Stamp Duty Holiday Update

On July 1st 2021, the threshold will be reduced to £250,000 until September 30th 2021 and then from 1st October 2021, the threshold will revert to £125,000.

Stamp duty rate ranges from 2% to 12% of the purchase price, depending on the value of the property bought, the purchase date and whether you are a multiple home owner.

House prices up 8.5% in 2020 amid tax holiday

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 01:07:37 GMT

House prices up 8.5% in 2020 amid tax holiday

UK house prices climbed 8.5% in 2020, the highest annual growth rate since October 2014, according to official figures. The average UK house price reached a record high of £252,000 in December 2020, the Office for National Statistics said.

The North West had the highest growth of 11.2%, while London rose just 3.5%.

The stamp duty holiday due to end this March contributed to the rise, the ONS said.

Spending more time at home in the pandemic meant some people also decided they needed more space.

That was reflected in the average price of detached properties climbing by twice as much as flats and maisonettes during 2020, up 10% and 5% respectively.

Meanwhile Wales experienced the fastest price growth, with property values rising 10.7% to £184,000.

In England, prices climbed 8.5% to £269,000, in Scotland, 8.4% to £163,000 and in Northern Ireland 5.3% to £148,000.

"Recent price increases may reflect a range of factors including pent-up demand, some possible changes in housing preferences since the pandemic and a response to the changes made to property transaction taxes across the nations," the ONS said.

Regional variations

The UK housing market is made up of lots of local markets, with different factors affecting property prices such as the performance of schools and the availability of jobs. The ONS figures are based on sale completions.

Although average London prices were up by 3.5%, over last year, prices fell in the capital by £5,000 between November and December, despite a UK-wide price increase of 1.2% over the month.

Stamp duty holiday extended to end of June

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 22:20:15 GMT

Stamp duty holiday extended to end of June

The stamp duty holiday on house purchases has been extended for a further three months, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced in his Budget. The property purchase tax has been suspended on the first £500,000 of all sales in England and Northern Ireland since July. The tax break for will now continue until the end of June. After that the nil rate band will be set at £250,000 - double its standard level - until the end of September.

Rishi Sunak told MPs the extra move was "to smooth the transition back to normal - and we will only return to the usual level of £125,000 from October 1".

The stamp duty holiday was introduced to help buyers who might have taken a financial hit because of Covid. It was also intended to boost a property market hit by lockdown.

During the stamp duty holiday there has also been some relief from the equivalent taxes for property buyers in Scotland and Wales - which is set to end on 31 March.

To read this article in full please click here which will take you to the BBC's website.

UK Vaccine Roll Out

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 23:37:26 GMT

Covid-19: Novavax vaccine shows 89% efficacy in UK trials

A new coronavirus vaccine has been shown to be 89% effective in large-scale UK trials.

The Novavax jab is the first to show in trials that it is effective against the new virus variant found in the UK, the BBC's medical editor Fergus Walsh said.

The UK has secured 60 million doses of the jab, which will be made in Stockton-on-Tees in north-east England. Meanwhile, a single-dose vaccine developed by Janssen is 66% effective, trial results have shown.

Janssen, a company owned by Johnson & Johnson, is also investigating whether giving two doses will give either stronger or longer-lasting protection.

The company said its initial findings showed one dose prevented 85% of severe cases. Both the Novavax and Janssen jabs will need to be reviewed by regulators before they can be used.

The PM welcomed the "good news", with doses of the Novavax jab expected to be delivered in the second half of this year if approved for use by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the government said.

The UK has so far approved three coronavirus vaccines for emergency use - one from Oxford University and AstraZeneca, another by Pfizer and BioNTech, and a third from drug firm Moderna.

The Novavax jab, which is given in two doses, was shown to be 89.3% effective at preventing Covid-19 in participants in its Phase 3 clinical trial in the UK, and around 86% effective at protecting against the new UK variant. The jab's efficacy against the original Covid-19 strain was calculated to be 95.6%.

The Phase 3 trials - the final stage before a vaccine is looked at by a regulator - enrolled more than 15,000 people aged between 18-84, of whom 27% were older than 65, US firm Novavax said.

In the South African part of the trial, where most of the cases were the South African variant of the virus, the vaccine was 60% effective among those without HIV. Stan Erck, chief executive of Novavax, said the results from the UK trial were "spectacular" and "as good as we could have hoped", while the efficacy in South Africa was "above people's expectations".

He told the BBC the manufacturing plant in Stockton-on-Tees should be up and running by March or April, with the company hoping to get approval for the vaccine from the MHRA around the same time.

To find out more information and to read the original source of this post, please click here which will take you to the BBC's website.

Bristol's Harbourside Voted As The Best Place To Live In The UK

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 15:27:00 GMT

Bristol's harbourside is one of the best places to live in the UK

An area of Bristol has been named as one of the best places to live in the UK in 2020 by the Sunday Times.

The harbourside came in at number three in the South West region in the newspaper's annual round-up, behind Cheltenham in top spot and Bear Flat in Bath at number two.

In recent years Bristol's harbourside has been subject to a massive regeneration project, with the likes of Wapping Wharf transforming the old dockside into one of the most popular spots in the city.

It is now seen as a top foodie destination which attracts diners far and wide thanks to top restaurants like Box-E, Woky Ko and Tare, as well as being one of Bristol's most sought after places to live. Although, of course, we can't eat out at the moment.

To read more and see this article's original source please click here.

Help speed up the sale of your house

Sat, 02 Jan 2021 10:07:58 GMT

How To Reduce The Time It Takes To Move House During the Coronavirus Pandemic

How a ground-breaking industry pledge can help support home movers to achieve a successful purchase and sale in 2020 and 2021

When moving home, property professionals know you can only move as fast as the slowest person in the chain of transactions. We also know the faster you can purchase or sell a home, the more likely your sale or purchase will go through.

If there was ever a time to do everything you can to make sure your move goes through it’s now. Pre-Covid, moving home on average took around 20 weeks – that’s five months – and, perhaps even more worryingly, even after an offer has been agreed, 34% of purchases and sales failed. Covid-19 brings extra risks and delays for home movers – and industry professionals. Getting legally prepared and putting everything you can in place as fast as possible can help reduce the risk of Covid-19 affecting your move.

The Home Buying and Selling Group has been working hard to agree a more streamlined home moving process across the industry so that each step of the process can be carried out as quickly and smoothly as possible. Many have signed a pledge to make the process more transparent for all but for this to work, we also need home movers to support this initiative.

The potential upside to the whole home moving process is huge. Just a few changes to the way home movers buy and sell their home could reduce both the stress on you and the current pressure on industry resources. In addition, it means the chances of you being able to take advantage of the Government’s Stamp Duty Land Tax holiday by the deadline of 31st March 2021 increase.

To read this article in full and look at the original source please click here to go to the RICS website.

Stamp Duty Holiday Comes To An End 31st March 2021

Sat, 02 Jan 2021 09:53:05 GMT

Stamp Duty Land Tax: temporary reduced rates comes to and end on 31st March 2021.

Reduced rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) will apply for residential properties purchased from 8 July 2020 until 31 March 2021 inclusive.

Property or lease premium or transfer value SDLT rate

Up to £500,000 Zero

The next £425,000 (the portion from £500,001 to £925,000) 5%

The next £575,000 (the portion from £925,001 to £1.5 million) 10%

The remaining amount (the portion above £1.5 million)

For more information regarding the current Stamp Duty Holiday please visit the Government website, please click here to read the full article.

Brexit: New era for the UK has begun.

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 22:52:54 GMT

A new era for the UK has begun.

A new era has begun for the United Kingdom after it completed its formal separation from the European Union.

The UK stopped following EU rules at 23:00 GMT, as replacement arrangements for travel, trade, immigration and security co-operation came into force.

Boris Johnson said the UK had "freedom in our hands" and the ability to do things "differently and better" now the long Brexit process was over.

To read the full article please click here which will take you to the BBC's website.

Brexit: 'Narrow path' in view for trade deal - EU chief

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 10:25:20 GMT

Brexit: 'Narrow path' in view for trade deal - EU chief

A "narrow path" has opened up for the UK and EU to strike a post-Brexit trade deal, the president of the European Commission has said.

Ursula von der Leyen said the "next few days are going to be decisive", with just two weeks left before the UK quits EU trading rules.

She said differences over enforcing a deal are "largely being resolved," but talks over fishing remain "difficult".

PM Boris Johnson told MPs there was "every opportunity" to reach a deal.

Officials from both sides are continuing talks in Brussels, as they race to strike a deal before the UK's post-Brexit transition period ends on 31 December.

Despite weeks of intensive talks, they have remained stuck over fishing rights and how far the UK should be able to depart from EU rules.

The information for this blog entry was taken from the BBC website to read the full article please click here

Latest UK Lockdown period details

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 04:35:53 GMT

Latest Lockdown restrictions 5th November till 2nd December 2020.

Information on the new national restrictions, including what they mean for working from home and business closures, why they are being introduced and the financial support available.

COVID-19 case numbers are rising rapidly across the whole of the UK and in other countries. We must act now to control the spread of the virus. The single most important action we can all take, in fighting coronavirus, is to stay at home, to protect the NHS and save lives.

When we reduce our day-to-day contact with other people, we will reduce the spread of the infection. That is why, from Thursday 5 November until Wednesday 2 December, the Government is taking the following action:

Requiring people to stay at home, except for specific purposes.

Preventing gathering with people you do not live with, except for specific purposes.

Closing certain businesses and venues.

These new measures have been carefully judged to achieve the maximum reduction in growth in the number of cases, preventing the NHS from being overwhelmed, whilst ensuring that schools, colleges and universities stay open and that as many people as possible continue to work.

Until Thursday 5 November, the relevant Local Covid Alert Level measures will continue to apply in the area where you live. From Thursday the national restrictions replace the local restrictions in your area. No new areas will move in the LCAL Very High restrictions between now and Thursday.

The new measures will apply nationally for four weeks up to Wednesday 2 December. At the end of the period, we will look to return to a regional approach, based on the latest data.

Complying with the new measures will help limit the spread of coronavirus, reduce the impact on the NHS and save lives. They will be underpinned by law which will make clear about what you must and must not do from 5 November. The relevant authorities, including the police, will have powers to enforce the law – including through fines and dispersing gatherings.

Protect your loved ones. Download the App.

Please download the NHS App to keep updated on the latest guidance from Thursday 5 November.

For more information please visit the Government's website please click here.

UK Housing Market Post Lockdown

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 09:36:01 GMT

Recent newspaper articles in the UK suggest the housing market is currenly experiencing a Boom in demand.

There have been several newspaper articles recently indicating the UK housing market has rebounded quickly from the Lockdown period which began on the 23rd March 2020.

During the lockdown period, there was a widespread fear amongst experts that the house sales could collapse, fortunately the opposite seems to have take place and the market is experiencing a boom.

House prices in the UK hit a record high last month, according to the building society Nationwide. Factors that have helped to underpin the good performance are as follows:

Ultra-low interest rates. The Bank of England cut its base rate to 0.1% at the start of the Covid crisis. In May the UK Government announced a Stamp Duty Freeze on property transactions of £500,000.

Once the market was allowed to open up again, and operate with new more Covid secure operating practices, pent up demand from the Lockdown period was released.

It of course remains to be seen what will happen as we move through Autumn and Winter, but fingers and everything else is certainly crossed that the growth in house sales continues for the latter parts of 2020.

The Most Important Reasons for Having a Survey when Buying a New Home

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 16:52:54 GMT

Four Very Good Reasons to have a Building Survey Prior to Buying a House.

1.) Mortgage valuations aren't for your benefit.

It is a popular myth that simply because a mortgage provider is conducting a valuation of a property. The main purpose of such a valuation is to get a price for the property for their own lending criteria. As a result a mortgage valuation should not be confused with a survey which would assess the condition of the property concerned.

The mortgage valuation is not a detailed survey report, unlike a survey it won't highlight potential repairs and maintenance work that you may need to do on the property once you have purchased it. A building survey instead provides a detailed report of the building.

When conducting a survey on one of clients behalf we inspect all safely accessible parts of the property.

The report will provide comments regarding the condition and state of repair.

2.) Buyers who don't have a survey conducted don't save in the long run.

Whilst there might be a short term temptation to save some money by not having a survey especially if the property you are buying looks visually sound and in good condition. There could be all sorts of hidden defects including issues such as wet or dry rot, structural damage, roof problems. Problems such as these often get worse as time progress, and as a result cost even more in the long run to rectify.

3.) A survey is a useful tool to help you renegotiate the price of the property

Once a survey has been completed if it does find that there are problems, this provides a basis on which to negotiate with the vendor on the price that you are prepared to pay for the property. By having a HomeBuyer Report or Building Survey it could help to save you on costly repairs in the future.

4.) Our RICS Surveys include:

Description of visible defects & potential problems.
Outline: of repairs needed & consequences of no action.
Advice on services, risks & dangerous conditions.
A schedule of photographs of problem areas.

If you would like to arrange a Building Survey please feel free to contact us.

Bristol's Housing Market Bounces Back

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 10:37:20 GMT

Bristol's Property Market is Getting Back on its Feet!

Thankfully it seems the numbers of homes being put up for sale and viewed in Bristol is back to levels at, or even above, they were during lockdown.

Demand has increased again for a several reasons the new Covid Safer Operating Procedures that Estate Agents and prospective buyers are expected to adhere to when viewing properties, combined with the Governments Stamp Duty Holiday, and no doubt some pent up demand that occured when the UK was in lockdown.

According to figures collected by GetAgent.co.uk, there are now more homes being on the market each week in some parts of Bristol than there were before lockdown.

As always it is strongly recommended that anyone buying a property gets a residential survey completed before completing on the sale of the house.

Stamp Duty Holiday

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 15:33:48 GMT

0% Stamp Duty on the first £500,000 of property sales.

8 Jul 2020 - The chancellor has announced a temporary holiday on stamp duty on the first £500,000 of all property sales in England and Northern Ireland. The tax threshold has been temporarily raised until next March 2021 to boost the property market and help buyers struggling because of the coronavirus crisis.

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A Guide To Luxury Property Investment In Bristol, One Of The UK’s Leading Cities

A Guide To Luxury Property Investment In Bristol, One Of The UK’s Leading Cities ﻿

The thriving housing market

A high employment rate

Improved quality of life

The thriving business and industries

Great transport links

The bottom line

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PROPERTY BUYERS' inquiries fell in June at the steepest rate since Covid shut down the housing market in 2020.

House prices in Bristol have more than tripled since the Golden Jubilee

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This spring is the best time to sell as house prices

hit a new record.

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Houses Prices Are Predicted To Rise Again During 2022

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House prices up 8.5% in 2020 amid tax holiday

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Stamp duty holiday extended to end of June

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Help speed up the sale of your house

How To Reduce The Time It Takes To Move House During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Stamp Duty Holiday Comes To An End 31st March 2021

Stamp Duty Land Tax: temporary reduced rates comes to and end on 31st March 2021.

Brexit: New era for the UK has begun.

A new era for the UK has begun.

Brexit: 'Narrow path' in view for trade deal - EU chief

Brexit: 'Narrow path' in view for trade deal - EU chief

Latest UK Lockdown period details

Latest Lockdown restrictions 5th November till 2nd December 2020.

UK Housing Market Post Lockdown

Recent newspaper articles in the UK suggest the housing market is currenly experiencing a Boom in demand.

The Most Important Reasons for Having a Survey when Buying a New Home

Four Very Good Reasons to have a Building Survey Prior to Buying a House.

Bristol's Housing Market Bounces Back

Bristol's Property Market is Getting Back on its Feet!

Stamp Duty Holiday

0% Stamp Duty on the first £500,000 of property sales.

A Guide To Luxury Property Investment In Bristol, One Of The UK’s Leading Cities