Full planning applications will not be required to demolish and rebuild unused buildings as homes. New laws laid in Parliament today (21 July 2020) will deliver much-needed new homes and revitalise town centres across England, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced. The new rules, which will come into effect by September, will mean full planning applications will not be required to demolish and rebuild unused buildings as homes and commercial and retail properties can be quickly repurposed to help revive our high streets and town centres. This will help our high streets and town centres to provide more space for new businesses and help them to adapt quickly to what consumers and businesses need. Homeowners will also be able to add up to 2…

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Q - what’s happening in the housing market right now? A. The answer to this question depends on where you’re based in the UK. In England, the reopening of the market on 13 March led to a staggering 88% surge in pent-up demand. Homebuyers and tenants (who could not progress their next move during lockdown), contacted agents to restart moving plans as soon as the market reopened. We’re seeing similar demand building in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, where the housing markets are still closed. You should expect a similar surge once agents in these countries can operate fully. This may only be weeks away for the Scottish market, as Nicola Sturgeon has announced that the market in Scotland will reopen in June.…

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Housing experts reveal how 2020 has shifted search priorities, offering advice to those looking to sell So much has changed already this year, including property search trends. According to Rightmove almost half of renters, 49 per cent, and 39 per cent of buyers in the market claim lockdown has had an impact on what they’re looking for from future properties. The things it has impacted most are wanting bigger gardens or at least access to one. Wanting to live in a bigger home with a better home workspace. Wanting to live closer to parks and green spaces and wanting access to a parking space or a garage. Searches by potential buyers for homes with gardens are up 42 per cent in May, compared…

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Online agent says pent-up demand is firming up asking prices but data shows London market has failed to rebound Property sales in most of England have swiftly rebounded to the same levels they were just before the lockdown, although London lags behind the rest of the country and markets in Scotland and Wales remain closed, according to website Zoopla. Pent-up demand has also meant firmer prices, said Zoopla, with the average asking price of sales agreed in the last week 6% higher than the same week in June last year. Its figures are in sharp contrast with those from Nationwide, which last week said house prices across the UK were falling at the fastest rate since the financial crisis. “Lower asking prices for…

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GETTING on the property ladder can feel like a daunting task but there are schemes out there to help first-time buyers have their own home. Help to Buy Isa - It's a tax-free savings account where for every £200 you save, the Government will add an extra £50. But there's a maximum limit of £3,000 which is paid to your solicitor when you move. Help to Buy equity loan - The Government will lend you up to 20 per cent of the home's value - or 40 per cent in London - after you've put down a five per cent deposit. The loan is on top of a normal mortgage but it can only be used to buy a new build property. Lifetime…

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