Articles
Owner reunited with guitar after 13 years
The 46-year-old is strumming away again after the treasured instrument turned up on the auction website last week.
It had disappeared in 2000 in a burglary at his then home in...
The proms at St Judes - music & literary festival
Now in its 21st year!
• Tickets for our 2013 Festival are on sale to everyone on this website from 29 April. We have...
A celebration of Irish music
A celebration of Irish music, culture and heritage with Seanachie Og and supporting acts including Saoirse Irish Band, Round the Corner, Champion Irish Dancer Amy Lahiff and Ivan Rodrigues.
Seanachie Og is...
Mortgage Update:
As more and more business becomes global and employers can work from anywhere with a phone & computer, there is becoming a greater need for banks to help.
If you are a UK national whose company has sent...
Lettings Update: Renting: The new London fashion
The rental market in London is heating up more than ever as around 50 per cent of people living in the capital are renting properties rather than buying. The last ten years have seen a massive increase in the number of renters...
Sales Update: Location, Location, Location.
New figures released last week have suggested that the average house price, in London, has increased by 0.4% meaning the average house price in London has gone through the £500,000 threshold. London continues to be...
Market Update - Facts & Figures
Property sales are up, running at about 5% higher each month this year than the average monthly level in 2012. The number of approved mortgages has also picked up since the start of the year.
Simultaneously,...
Making the right choices - Mortgage Update
One of the most common questions when discussing Mortgage Rates with clients, is how long should I fix the rate for?
Currently, fixed rate mortgages are very competitive and on the whole much better value...
Ex England defender Razor Ruddock tackles Golders Green fire
Neil Ruddock with firefighters next to the bin which caught fire outside Gold's Factory Outlet in Golders Green.
Golders Green toddler read and rhyme (Thursdays)
Golders Green toddler read and rhyme (Thursdays)
Date: Thursday 9 May 2013
Location: Golders Green library
A special library activity for toddlers who have learnt to walk.
Sessions...
Hampstead Heath Croquet Club
Hampstead Heath Croquet Club
Lawns will be opening for the 2013 season on Saturday 20 April
First club session at Golders Hill Park on Sunday 5 May 2-4pm
All welcome to the Open Day on...
Market Update - Lettings
Lettings
Following a change of mind from the coalition, MPs have just approved rules designed to protect consumers from rogue letting agents.
The Government is to introduce an amendment to...
Market Update - Sales
Sales
‘Housing market activity will surge in 2013.’ (Office of Budget Responsibility)
Through out 2013, confidence in the housing market has been increasing and this is set to continue through out...
Moreland lead by example - estate agents obliged to reveal "everything"
Moreland lead by example:
Finally estate agents obliged to reveal property problems, rather than keep quiet.
The days of estate agents singing a property’s praises without mentioning...
Market Update - facts and figures
Facts & Figures
Reading this month’s encouraging financial press, it is easy to be upbeat about the near future for the UK housing market. Just consider the following two pieces of news: -
Last...
Outdoor Fitness Classes
Every Monday
Outdoor Fitness Classes
Location: Friary Road. Town, Friern Barnet. Postal Code, N12.
Time: 10:00 - 11:00
Cost: £1.50
Age UK Barnet has...
Once, in Golders Green – Book signing at Waterstones in Hampstead NW3
An insomniac realises that he cannot escape his heritage after he begins to live as Jewish people whilst asleep.
An elderly man carries out Pulkhan haTik, the ritual of the suitcase. A horologist...
What’s going on in and around Golders Green - Henrietta Barnett School
According to the Evening Standard, the head teacher of one of the country’s best state schools is stepping down to take the reins at a leading independent school.
Oliver Blond, who has been head of Henrietta...
Easter market update - Mortgages
The first quarter of 2013 has ended in a flurry of activity. The Budget announcement has produced some encouraging signs that The Government wants to help stimulate the property market and the banks are still keen...
Easter market updaet - Lettings
We experienced a great start to the year, and conducted a lot of valuations in January that have since converted into instructions.
Despite an increased supply of rental properties in the area prices are...
Easter market update - Sales
Despite the rather mixed predictions for the market in the press, we at Moreland are finding interest is increasing every week from people wanting to buy our area. Many of our buyers looking for their next property have...
Easter 2013 Market Update - the facts and figures
Research out this month (from LSL Property Services) claims that UK property prices are at their highest levels since February 2008 – or put another way, since before the economic crisis.
Prices have risen...
Market Update
February saw the property market move into a higher gear as the weather, whilst still wintery, was milder than January and this made it easier for people to attend viewings and get their home moving plans underway.
The...
Average rental yield remains high
Landlords achieved an average rental yield of 6.3% in 2012 research released by Paragon Mortgages has revealed.
The landlord survey which was carried out by BDRC Continental found that landlords achieved...
Mortgages account for 30% of total spending
Monthly mortgage expenditure accounts for 30% of an average household’s total outgoings, latest analysis from Castle Trust reveals.
The research also revealed that there is now a 10% gap between the...
Buy to let lending in 2012 reaches highest level in four years
Buy to let lending accounted for 11.5 per cent of total gross mortgage lending in 2012, up from 9.8 per cent in 2011, according to full-year data released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).
At £16.4 billion,...
Repossessions lowest since 2007
The Council of Mortgage Lenders has reported a fall in the number of properties taken into possession by first-charge residential mortgage lenders maintaining a repossession rate of 0.07%.
Repossessions fell...
Expected tenant demand to fuel buy to let investment
Private landlords look set to continue investing in the private rental sector with 41% of landlords expecting tenant demand to increase in 2013, research from Paragon Mortgages has revealed.
Over the next...
Broadband speed a factor for 30% of buyers
Nearly a third of people (30%) say that broadband speeds are likely to affect their decision on whether or not they buy a home in a particular area, research from Halifax has revealed.
The research also...
33% of people plan to buy in next 5 years
A third of people (33%) plan to buy a property in the next 5 years according to Post Office’s annual House Buying Habits mortgage report.
Of those who plan to buy almost half (49%) are second-time buyers...
Buy to let market benefits from improved rates and loan to values (LTVs)
TBMC’s Landlord Profile Tracking Index shows the buy-to-let market saw a fall in fixed rates, a rise in average LTVs and an increase in rental yields in Q4 2012.
Andy Young, chief executive of TBMC, said:...
Buy to let investment to increase say Rightmove
The number of landlords looking to invest in the buy-to-let sector is set to increase as investors look to take advantage of the sustained demand and strong yields in the rental market.
This is the verdict...
Property industry welcomes offices to homes plan
The British Property Federation has welcomed government plans to introduce new permitted development rights to convert offices to homes without planning permission.
In a statement from the secretary of state...
Landlords smarten up over EPC ratings
Landlords have smartened up their act over energy inefficient properties as fewer homes were reported as receiving an EPC rating of F or G, research from the Association of Residential Letting Agents shows.
In...
The Green Deal: Do the numbers stack up?
The government scheme to make homes more energy efficient started on 28th January, though for many the savings don’t appear to cover the cost of the work
This major scheme is a new way for people to improve...
Market Update
January saw 2013 start in a very positive fashion with high levels of enquiries for both sales and lettings followed by some immediate commitment on arranging transactions.
Our office in Golders...
Loans for first time buyers up 11% in 2012
Lending to first-time buyers increased 11% in 2012 as lending to borrowers with small deposits reached its highest level since the financial crisis, a detailed analysis of the 2012 mortgage market by e.surv chartered...
UK property market increased £57 billion in 2012
The total value of all homes in Britain grew £57 billion during 2012, bringing the combined value of Britain’s residential property stock to £5.963 trillion at the end of December, up 0.97 per cent from £5.906 trillion...
London homeowners pay a significant transport premium
London homebuyers pay a significant premium to live close to a tube or train station according to research from Nationwide Building Society.
The research showed:
Londoners pay,...
Buy-to-let market set to expand in first half of 2013
Around 55% of landlords are planning to expand their portfolios in the next six months according to research by Mortgages for Business.
Of these the research shows that two-thirds will need to refinance....
Housing benefit reform will cause private rents to rise
The government must address the conflicts in its housing benefit reform policy or it will face an increased benefit bill and rising private rents, the Public Accounts Committee have warned.
The Committee...
Positive news as severe tenant arrears fall to annual low
The number of tenants in severe arrears fell by 15.6% on a quarterly basis - the first decline in over a year, the latest tenant arrears tracker by Templeton LPA reveals.
This reversed the trend in the...
First-time buyer numbers at highest since 2007
First-time buyer numbers at highest since 2007
There was an estimated 12% increase in the number of first-time buyers in 2012 according to this year's annual Halifax First-Time Buyer Review.
There...
The truth about house price surveys and reports
You may have seen an interview over the Christmas period with Alan Kirkman of Tudor Estates in Southend. He was being interviewed by the BBC who were following up a report by the Halifax that house prices had risen by...
Market Update - New Year
We enter 2013 with cautious optimism for the property market which, contrary to many predictions, held up strongly during 2012 despite challenging economic conditions, and particularly the effects of issues in the Eurozone....
Income and a boost to pension provisions are our priority, say investors
A stable income and a boost to insufficient pension provision are the two top priorities of buy-to-let investors wishing to make a new investment over the next 12 months.
Buy-to-let firm Assetz says in its annual...
Buyers and lenders are adjusting to the housing market
More than one in four wannabe first time buyers say that it will take them ten years or more to raise the necessary deposit to buy a property say the Building Societies Association.
But...
Buying cheaper than renting in nine out of ten towns, says Zoopla
Buying is cheaper than renting in 90% of 50 towns in Britain. On average, renting in Britain costs £1,080 per year more than buying.
The research by Zoopla shows that in York, Peterborough and Reading,...
Surge in planning permissions could put homes at risk
Planning permission has been granted for 400,000 new homes which have yet to built, claims a report for homebuyers and solicitors from SearchFlow.
In partnership with DevAssist the report revealed 98,020...
Landlords have high hopes for buy to let in 2013
The majority of property investors remain positive about the outlook for the private rental sector in 2013, the latest landlord survey from CHL Mortgages reveals.
Nearly 71% of landlords are upbeat about...
MP tables motion for regulation of all letting agents
An Early Day Motion has been tabled by Lib Dem MP Annette Brooke calling for a new regulatory framework for letting agents.
The motion, which is very unlikely to get as far as the statutory books, although it...
Young couples and families are top tenant types
Young couples and families are the most prolific tenant type for landlords and terraced properties is the preferred rental property, research commissioned by Paragon Mortgages reveals.
The BDRC Continental...
Mortgages - Make use of a professional mortgage adviser
With the New Year upon us, there is great hope for 2013. The Mortgage Lenders finished 2012 with a flurry of rate reductions partly due to the “cheap” lending provided by the government and also having not hit lending...
Rightmove report says rents set to rise circa 2% in 2013
Rents are set to rise an average of 2% in 2013, tempered by majority of landlords planning a ‘rent freeze’.
Some 61% of existing landlords are planning a ‘rent freeze’ for 2013, the clearest indicator yet...
Happy holidays
They say it is a sign of getting old when time passes quickly but 2012 seems to have flown by in a frenzy of activity at Moreland.
2012 has been an excellent year at Moreland and a big thank you to all...
Market Update December 2012
As we move towards the holiday period the property market is naturally beginning to show some signs of slowing although activity levels amongst those that are really committed to moving remain strong.
November...
Homeowners advised to avoid damage to their homes this Winter
Less than 50% of homeowners say they will be undertaking special checks or doing work on their home to ensure it is adequately prepared for the cold snap, research from Paymentshield reveals.
Homeowners...
Gardens at the heart of first time buyers
However, the findings reveal that the importance of some other features lessens once people settle in, suggesting compromise could pay off in the long-term for potential first time buyers.
For example, while...
Half London landlords want to add more properties
According to lettings and property investment group Young, almost half of investors (46.8%) quizzed in the third quarter of this year are considering adding to their London portfolios over the next year.
In comparison,...
Rental returns continue to rise
This represents an average return of £10,819 with rental income of £7,926 and a capital gain of £2,892, according to the latest Buy to Let Index from LSL Property Services plc.
If rental property prices maintain...
Major developers say NewBuy scheme helping stimulate sales
While access to mortgages remain restricted, Redrow told the City that the introduction of initiatives such as NewBuy had helped to stimulate demand for new homes.
The government-backed NewBuy scheme, launched...
One in four buyers will be FTBs
More than a third (36%) of prospective first time buyers cite raising enough of a deposit as their single biggest concern and a fifth (22%) will only have managed to raise a deposit of less than 10% by the time they are...
Energy Performance Certificates to be linked to Council Tax?
The Government is currently considering linking Council Tax bands to energy efficiency, meaning that the Council Tax level could be reduced for domestic properties where energy saving measures identified...
Mark Prisk: Industry needs to wake up to self-build
Speaking at the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ annual conference, Prisk said that historically the appetite for building our own homes in the UK had been lacklustre.
Prisk said only one in 10 people would consider...
1.57 million mortgage applications rejected since 2007
The average value of a rejected mortgage was £144,600.
London has been the worst affected area where 450,000 applications – 29 per cent of the national total – were rejected. This is followed by the North West where...
Inflation to include housing costs
The new measure of consumer price inflation, which will initially be known as CPIH, will measure owner occupier housing costs using the rental equivalence method.
This method uses changes in rental prices...
SDLT hits million pound properties says Lloyds TSB
The number of million pound home sales has declined to its lowest level since 2009 with the rise in stamp duty being blamed for the slowdown.
Research from Lloyds TSB claimed there were 3,043...
100,000 over-65s still paying mortgages
Its analysis showed up to 103,000 over-65 households are still repaying mortgage debt - 81,000 households fell within the 65-74 age group and 22,000 were aged over 75.
The high number of mortgagors aged over...
November Update
With Halloween and Guy Fawkes signalling the end of October and beginning of November, and with the shops beginning to look like Santa’s Grotto, you could be forgiven for thinking that 2012 was nearing its end.
Of...
Housing market at the point of no return
Years of not building enough homes have led to rising rental and house prices, leaving millions of families struggling to pay for their home.
The result is an unsustainable housing market which could...
UK Housing Market to end the year positively
Helped by the prospect of greater mortgage availability on the back of recent government initiatives, chartered surveyors' expectations for future sales reached their highest level since May 2010. During September, a...
First Time Buyers want to “nest and invest”
While 85% of those who bought in the last year said setting up home with their partner was their primary goal, at a time of national financial instability, people are also looking at their homes as an opportunity to improve...
Tenant arrears at highest level in four years and show need for vigilance
The figures are from Templeton LPA, a specialist practice of LPA Receivers and part of LSL.
Tenants in severe arrears represent 2.5% of tenancies in England and Wales.
Although severe arrears cases climbed...
Mortgage choice improves
Analysis by moneysupermarket claims rates on 2-year fixed mortgages have fallen from 4.21% in April to 4.05% compared to rates on 2-year tracker mortgages which have risen from 3.58% to 3.74%.
But the average...
Third year of council tax freeze announced
The Government will set aside an extra £450m to help freeze council tax bills in England.
The support for local authorities means that taxpayers living in an average Band D home in England could save up...
UK must build more homes for rent
The calls have come from Sir John Banham, chairman of the Future Homes Commission, speaking at a Housing Market Intelligence conference.
He said that in a generation’s time, Britain needs to be building three...
Flooding and mortgages
Flooding and being prepared for flooding is a key challenge facing homeowners across the UK. Earlier this summer, extensive flash flooding affected many parts of England and Wales and during a three-week period alone,...
Tenant demand remains strong
When asked about tenant demand levels in the third quarter nine out of ten landlords said they thought that demand was stable or growing. Just 6% of landlords said that, in their opinion, demand was declining.
John...
Mortgage availability at 5-year high
However, applications for these home loans were largely restricted to those who could offer a hefty deposit.
Peter Williams, executive director of IMLA, said: “The outlook for the rest of the year looks...
Landlords will benefit from Green deal says “scheme pioneer”
That is the opinion of energy efficiency specialist Enact Energy, which was named in April by the Department of Energy and Climate Change as one of the Green Deal Pioneers.
The company, which will be one of the...
Market Update - October 2012
The property market in Golders Green during September showed a significant uplift from the summer months of July and August with a considerable increase in enquiries from both buyers and tenants and a subsequent healthy...
Rightmove say asking prices across UK are at same level as five years ago (although London is higher)
The average asking price of a property new to the market is now £234,858, down from August’s £236,260. Property coming to the market is £11,000 cheaper than it was three months ago.
Despite the 0.6% monthly drop,...
MPs call for new laws to govern private rental sector
In particular, the MPs are calling for guaranteed minimum standards for tenants, including safeguards against high rents and increased security of tenure – suggesting twenty four months, not six.
In...
Return of the high Loan to Value mortgage
Research from Moneyfacts reveals there were 36 new mortgage deals in the 85% LTV tiers and above in August 2012, a complete reversal from the drop of 26 products the previous month.
In a breakdown...
Research shows that the number of aspiring first time buyers is increasing
The proportion is up from 23% a year ago, but is still well below the 40% seen pre-credit crunch, says Rightmove.
Of those intending to become first-time buyers, seven in ten are university educated – 39% have...
Community Neighbourhood Planning Fund announced.
Neighbourhood planning gives people a major say in shaping development in their area. It gives communities the power to help decide where development should go and the type and design of development that can be granted...
Squatting becomes a criminal offence
The maximum penalty will be six months’ prison and/or a £5,000 fine.
Trespassing will be where someone knowingly enters a residential building as a trespasser, and is either living there or planning to live there...
Market Update - September 2012
September signals the end of the traditional summer holiday period and, with children returning to school, it is a time when many turn their heads towards moving home.
The property market in London is showing...
Private rental sector is vital for UK housing future
Katja Hall, CBI chief policy director, said the government must support the findings of the Montague Review as it strives to boost housing supply and kick start the UK economy.
One of the recommendations...
Housing starts barely a third of what's needed
Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist, said the figures demonstrate the widening scale of the problem in delivering sufficient new housing.
This decline in activity was visible both amongst private sector...
UK housing worth 63% of UK plc
The value of dwellings belonging to households and non-profit organisations was £4.1 trillion, 95% of the total value of dwellings.
The latest data published by the Office for National Statistics today shows...
Rental yields continue to climb
The increase has been primarily driven by a 5.3% growth in average rental income across Britain over the past year.
Regionally rental yields vary with the highest returns in the North (7.0%) and the lowest...
Tenants putting down “roots”
The average length of tenancy in the UK has now increased to a record high of 20 months*. The increase has been attributed to the strong competition for new properties - 58% of ARLA member offices state that there are...
Rating agency scores UK buy-to-let industry strongly
Looking at the three months up to May, it said repossessions remained stable and that it expected performance in the buy-to-let sector to remain steady.
Moody’s said: “Performance in this sector has been stable...
More landlords taking out mortgages to expand portfolios
The Paragon Mortgages quarterly FACT survey asks intermediaries for their feedback on the mortgage market but also for their views on landlord demand, buy-to-let application levels and the availability of buy-to-let mortgage...
Amateur landlords struggling with arrears
The latest research from BDRC Continental’s independent Landlords’ Panel survey reveals the proportion making either a small or large loss has doubled from 8% in Q1 2012 to 16% in Q2.
Those with more properties...
Market Update
Despite one of the wettest summers on record, there has been little if no dampening effect on the property market in London and the South East.
The Diamond Jubilee, European Football Championships, WImbledon,...
Six out of ten landlords want more
Just 3% of investors are planning to reduce their portfolios over the next six months, down from 6% last quarter.
David Whittaker, managing director at Mortgages for Business, said: “Landlord appetite...
Nearly half of home owners buy near Mum and Dad
Tracie Pearce, Nationwide’s head of mortgages, said: “Our research suggests that it’s often more emotional issues that keep us tied to our familiar surroundings and affect our decisions about moving home. It shows that...
Keep on running . . .
The Royal Parks Half Marathon is one of the most scenic city runs in the world and has quickly become one of the UK’s most popular half marathons.
It starts and finishes in London's Hyde Park and takes in landmarks...
Tenth of tenants “have no tenancy agreements” claims study
A study carried out by Total Landlord Insurance involving landlords and tenants across the country found that 21% of tenants say they’ve had a bad level of communication with their landlord.
One in four (25%)...
Noisy Homes a Major Turn-off for House Hunters
Noisy Homes a Major Turn-off for House Hunters
• 87% of house hunters say noise levels are important in purchasing decisions; 43% say they're very important;
• The trend towards wooden floors and open...
The return of the first time buyer?
It said there are more prospective first-time buyers than at any time for three years, and that while the biggest concern for 33% is about raising a deposit, the proportion is down from 42% a year ago.
Almost...
Yields on the rise for landlords
The Private Rented Sector Trends Survey, commissioned by specialist buy-to-let mortgage lender Paragon Mortgages, revealed that landlords achieved an average yield of 6.5%. This is an increase on Q1 where the average...
North-South divide emerges in housing repossessions
e.surv’s analysis of court-ordered repossessions in the second half of 2011, broken down by post code, found the north-east and the M62 corridor were the regions where repossessions were highest.
With public...
Market Update
June was an interesting month.
It started with the excitement and “feel good” factor created by the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations and ended with England’s traditional penalty shoot-out exit...
Landlords adding to their portfolios
This time a year ago, the average portfolio size was 12.5 properties.
A fifth (21%) of landlords who took part in Paragon’s quarterly Private Rented Sector Trends Survey said that they were planning to add to...
Renting to be 'the only game in town', says housing expert
An additional half a million young people will be forced to stay with their parents into their thirties, taking the total number of young people still at home to 3.7 million by 2020.
The influential Joseph Rowntree...
Housing planning consents increase
Figures released in the House Builders Federation's (HBF) latest Housing Pipeline report reveal that approvals for 36,761 new homes were given in England in the first quarter of this year, a 10% increase year on year...
North-South house price gap to widen
The policy institute has forecast that property in London would increase in value by 2.4% this year and would rise by another 2.3% in 2013.
In comparison the CEBR has forecast falls totalling 3.1%...
UK homes worth a total of £5.6 trillion
The wealthiest county for property is Surrey where homes are worth £288 billion, or 5.1% of the UK’s overall property wealth.
Surrey also has the most property wealth per head at £255,125 each with its nearest...
Three million young adults still living at home with mum and dad
Last year, says the Office for National Statistics, nearly three million adults aged from 20-34 were living with their parents – an increase of nearly half a million, or 20%, since 1997. The rise is despite the fact that...
UK mortgage lending up by £1.1bn
The rate of growth was in line with the previous six-month average and both the three-month annualised and 12-month growth rates were broadly unchanged at 1.0 and 0.8% respectively.
Gross lending secured...
86 fold increase in house prices during the Queen’s reign
At the start of the Queen’s reign the average property was priced at £1,891 compared to an average £162,722 today.
By comparison retail prices have risen by a multiple of 25 over the same period meaning that...
Market Update
I am sure that everyone has enjoyed the many hours of coverage as the the media went into overdrive by way of celebration. Up and down the land, communities have been coming together and toasting a...
Key considerations for spring time house sellers
Wendy Evans-Scott, President of the NAEA, said: "Despite the unpredictable weather this month across much of the UK, we are fast approaching summer and many sellers find this period an ideal time to place their property...
Repossession levels may not be as bad as feared
Although the number of mortgage borrowers in the most serious arrears has increased, overall figures are unchanged from a year ago.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders says that the number of repossessions in the...
Home movers expect house prices to rise
House price confidence was strongly influenced by the mortgage market as among price-optimists, 35% reported an improving mortgage market and a further 14% identified continued low interest rates as the main reason for...
Landlords upbeat about buy to let
Just under three-quarters (71%) of respondents to a CHL survey were positive about the prospects for the buy to let market, with only 5% feeling negative.
This percentage of optimists is a fraction down...
CLG lobbies for private rental sector tax breaks
CLG has put forward proposals in an effort to create an environment in which small private landlords are encouraged to expand their portfolios and invest in new build housing.
It said investment by large...
Q: What’s the value of a good neighbour? A: £15,321 says report.
The findings reveal an increasingly isolated Britain in which 9.5 million (19%) people say they wish they had a stronger relationship with their neighbours and only 39% would actually call them a friend.
Some...
Why are so few new houses being built?
According to the Home Builders Federation, only 9 per cent of the England is currently built on. Britain’s population is consistently growing, forecast to reach 70 million by 2079, yet fewer homes are being constructed than...
New homes in Engalnd & Wales shoot up nearly 6% in price
By contrast, the average price of a home in England and Wales is now £160,372, according to the latest Land Registry data, and is 0.6% down on a year ago.
Steven Lees, director of website SmartNewHomes, which...
Edward Gilbert's Marathon Day Blog
Everything has been laid out the night before as it is an early start, especially as it is a Sunday.
The race starts at 9.45am but I’m up at 4.45am s I have to be in St Albans at 6.00am to collect my friend and...
Landlords increase portfolio sizes
The report produced by BDRC Continental showed that the average portfolio size was 10.8 properties accommodating 1.3 tenants per property.
Of those landlords that took part in the survey, a fifth said that...
Market Update
As I write this, the last few days have had a decidedly Autumnal feel and it doesn’t really feel like Spring. Traditional April showers have been lengthy and make stories of water shortages and hosepipe bans seem somewhat...
95% Loan To Value mortgage products double
Deals with a maximum LTV of 90% have also increased to 316 today compared to 228 this time last year, an increase of 43%.
Combined with an increase in product volumes, average rates for high LTV deals have reduced.
Today...
Average mortgage rates rising
The average two-year fixed rate has risen to 4.15% up from 3.82% in October 2011.
The increase means a difference of £327.72 per year for repayments based on a £150,000 mortgage.
Similarly...
New buyer interest edged up in March, says RICS
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said that, during the month, 9% more surveyors reported a rise in inquiries from potential buyers than those reporting a fall.
But prices in all regions...
HSBC survey says home improvements fail to add value
According to HSBC, the only improvements that still add at least some value are new kitchen, bathroom and loft conversion. They, however, will only add around 16,000 pounds, which compares to 21,000 pounds last year.
According...
OFT makes agent’s money laundering register public
Under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007, all estate agents have to be registered with the OFT.
A non-public register has been in place since 2009 but the new public register will allow the public, industry...
ARLA advises homeowners on renting out properties when they cannot be sold
ARLA's Operations Manager, Ian Potter, said: "The rise in this figure suggests that homeowners struggling to sell their homes due to the sluggish market are increasingly looking to the private rented sector to utilize...
ARLA's top tips for 'generation rent'
Figures from letting agents suggest that the UK's need for rental properties continues to grow: Over half (55%) of ARLA members* reported that they had more tenants on their books than available properties to rent.
Ian...
Home affordability hits nine-year high according to Lloyds TSB
The average price for a city home in the UK stands at 5.5 times gross annual average earnings - the lowest ratio since 2003, Lloyds has revealed.
According to the most recent Lloyds TSB affordable cities...
Mortgage fees hit new peak
Initial residential mortgage rates have, however, continued to fall in most cases compared to three years ago.
The average deposit needed for a mortgage currently hovers around the 25% mark down from 40%...
Market Update
We’ve had the Budget, our gardens and the hedgerows are breaking into colour, the clocks have gone forward and Easter is upon us. The warmer weather is greeting what is traditionally a strong time of year for the property...
The home straight
Not long now until I will be running in the London Marathon on April 22nd.
I am running in memory of my mother in law, Pamela Williams. Sadly she passed away on the 27th November 2011 leaving behind...
Void periods hit two year low
Landlords have reported a steady decrease in void periods from Q1 2009 to Q4 2011.
Last year saw the lowest void period figures for the past two years, with the average time a property remained empty being...
Half of borrowers don’t review their mortgage
Around 56% of mortgage holders did not know the rate they paid on their deals.
Of those that did know their rate, fixed rate mortgage holders paid an average rate of 4.63% however around two in five were...
The Guild advises that First time property buyers should to commit to saving
Edward Gilbert of Moreland offers some useful advice on how first time buyers can benefit from the following new schemes which are designed to encourage regular saving for those who want to get on...
Property market to pick up in 2012
New sellers’ average asking prices are up by 1.6% this month and are seeing their strongest start to the year since 2004, fuelled by the continuing shortage of suitable stock and a jump of 16% in search activity...
Consumers positive about buying
The Building Societies Association said consumer sentiment had increased markedly since December when just 33% thought prices would rise.
Across the UK, consumers in the South East are the most bullish with...
Men value themselves more than women
The protection provider said that women were failing to safeguard their families’ financial futures by placing a much lower monetary value on their lives compared to men.
Men take out around 23% more life...
One in four comfortable with renting
Only 54% of people said that purchasing their own home was very important to them.
One in 10 people said they preferred to rent because of the flexibility it offered.
One in five renters said...
Void periods hit two year low
Landlords have reported a steady decrease in void periods from Q1 2009 to Q4 2011.
Last year saw the lowest void period figures for the past two years, with the average time a property remained empty being...
Taxpayer cash boost for Local Housing Allowance tenants
Nearly £6m of it is to go to councils in London.
The funds are to help with the transition to new housing benefit rules until 2015, and are intended help Local Housing Allowance tenants and councils renegotiate...
Fifth of buy to let applications from accidental landlords
The lender said that between early December and the end of January 2012, let-to-buy accounted for 20% of its overall Buy-to-let applications.
Let-to-buy mortgages allow the borrower to retain ownership of...
Market Update
February was a month for lovers. Valentine’s Day with its traditions of Cupids, hearts and flowers and, being a Leap Year, an additional day on which a lady could ask a man to marry her.
At Moreland...
Developers should focus on sector over location
The development finance and bridging lender said that it used to be the case that location, location, location provided a widespread belief that developers could build almost anything if the plot was in a good location...
Buy to let mortgages increased by 84,000 in 2011, according to recent data released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).
The figures are almost identical to volumes for the third quarter of 2011, 34,300 advances with a total value of £4 billion, but considerably higher than the last quarter of 2010, 26,300 advances valued at £2.9 billion.
Buy...
Repossessions lowest since 2007, says CML
The annual total proved to be lower than the Council of Mortgage Lenders' (CML) original forecast of 40,000.
Low levels of interest and forbearance by lenders have kept a lid on the numbers.
Bank of England may cut loan to value levels
The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the Financial Services Bill would give the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee powers to “alter the maximum loan to value ratios in mortgage lending to curb a sharp, unsustainable...
Property shortage hindering first time buyers although signs of more returning to the market in 2012
The proportion of buyers who intend to purchase their first home over the next year has edged up to 24.3%, up 1.4% on last quarter and 1.5% year-on-year.
But Rightmove, which advertises around 90% of...
Valentines Offer for February
For any property Moreland are instructed to sell in the month of February, we will offer a special rate of 1.5% for Sole Agency (usually 1.97%) and 2.25% Multiple Agency (usually 3%).
Showing our romantic side,...
Market Update
The reason appears to be the simple old economic adage of supply and demand. Quite simply, in good markets such as London and the South East, demand continues to outstrip or, at best, match supply. This is having...
Re-think on whether landlords should have to settle tenants' unpaid water bills
Under the Flood and Water Management Act, the Government can make property owners liable for payment of water and sewerage bills if they fail to provide details of their tenants within a specified time.
However,...
There's an App for that!
The App has a number of useful fast features to enable users to browse the Moreland property registers and get information whilst on the move.
Edward Gilbert, Managing Director of Moreland...
Market positive on Buy to Let lending for 2012
Of those who said they expect Buy to let business to rise 19% said that they expect levels to bounce 10% or more.
Only 3% of respondents said they are looking to complete less buy-to-let business in the...
Landlords to have bumper year
The tenant referencing firm said the continuation of low interest rates and the gradual easing of lending restrictions by financial institutions have seen many Buy-to-let investors return to the marketplace to expand...
FTB affordability at 8 year high
The average house price paid by a first-time buyer in November 2011 was affordable for someone on average earnings - based on the ratio of the average house price to earnings being below the long-term average of 4.0 -...
Landlord mortgage arrears set to rise as tenants struggle with rent
According to research by Templeton LPA, a specialist practice of LPA Receivers, the number of court orders to evict tenants is up by 11%.
In the last quarter, 24,966 tenants faced eviction notices...
London Marathon - Breath Of Life Fund
I am running the London Marathon in memory of my mother in law, Pamela Williams. Sadly she passed away on the 27th November 2011 leaving behind four children and three grandchildren with a fourth on the way.
All...
2012 Market Update
As we enter 2012 there are very few people who expect the year to be anything other than a challenging year for everyone within the UK and indeed, across the globe.
Financial issues...
Richard Seymour
Richard Seymour is the latest arrival to the Moreland team and has joined the team as a Lettings Negotiator.
Richard started his career in residential lettings in 2009 and worked with Moreland’s Lettings Manager...
Repossessions set to rise in 2012 but remain low
All UK regions will see modest increases in both the rate and number of repossessions, although Northern Ireland will experience a repossession rate more than four times higher than the South West of England, the data...
Three quarters of FTBs locked out of market
Last year 26% of potential first-time buyers were able to purchase within 12 months. Around 20% and above was the level typically seen pre-credit crunch.
The only region in the UK above that level was London...
Halifax: House prices static in 2012
It also believes the Bank of England Base Rate will still be 0.5% at the end of 2012.
Favourable affordability, low Bank Rate, low levels of forced selling and the long term supply/demand imbalance were cited...
Winter Property Tips
With temperatures reaching very low levels it is advisable to ensure that properties are kept warm, even if vacant, in order to avoid issues such as frozen pipes. Water in frozen pipes expands and can cause...
Report says a third of people struggling to afford rent
The British Social Attitudes study on housing produced for NatCen Social Research revealed problems are more pronounced in the private sector with 35% struggling to cope with paying their rent compared to 29% of tenants...
Report says tenants face winter rent rises
Landlords said the increased cost of running a property portfolio also has also driven them to increase rents.
At the same time one in five landlords claimed their arrears had increased during Q3 compared...
Government housing plans will boost Buy To Let
Bob Young, managing director of CHL Mortgages, explains his views on what’s in store for UK housing:
“Whatever your feelings about the proposals within the Government’s housing strategy, it is fair to say...
Marketplace December 2011
It seems a long time ago but we entered the year with a fair amount of concern over the state of the economy and the “austerity measures” that the coalition Government was proposing. VAT was increased to 20% and the general...
Christmas and New Year
We shall finish for Christmas and the New Year at close of business on 22nd December, returning at start of business on 3rd January.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish all...
Government sscheme: new build indemnity
The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister said their new plans will give the housing market a shot in the arm by boosting supply, easing financial pressures and helping with demand.
They believe their...
Mortgage Repossessions Remain Low in the UK
The latest report published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders suggests that the number of mortgage arrears and property repossessions remained low in the third quarter of 2011.
As such, only 0.08% of all homes...
More landlords seek to raise funds for more purchases
Specialist lender Paragon says that over four in ten of intermediaries’ landlord customers are now growing their portfolios.
According to Paragon, 42% of brokers said more than half of their buy-to-let cases...
Most homeowners ignore remortgage benefits
The UK is a cost-cutting nation with 92% of homeowners currently trying to reduce their monthly outgoings. Yet the research from Barclays shows that Brits are ignoring how they could cut one of their biggest monthly outgoings...
Number of buy to let mortgage products has doubled
70% of buy to let mortgages were broker only products or available through both intermediaries and providers directly in 2008. The proportion is now 86%.
Over the same period, the number of products...
Market Place
It’s nearly Winter, we’ve put the clocks back an hour and as the weather gets colder, the economic news from around the world is challenging to say the least.
You could be forgiven for thinking that the property...
Sales of £1m plus homes reach pre-crunch levels
There were 3,375 sales of £1m-plus properties in the first six months of this year, an increase of 10% on the same period in 2010 and the highest number since the first half of 2007, when there were 3,680 sales.
The...
Trapped renters now constitute over half of the UK rental sector
Trapped renters, tenants who would like, but cannot afford to, buy, make up 55% of the rental sector, with one in four of them over the age of 40, according to the portal’s latest Consumer Rental Forecast.
Thus,...
Mortgage rates at record low
Countrywide's report revealed that mortgage rates have fallen by 2.41% over the last three years.
It also showed that both fixed rate and tracker mortgages have become significantly...
Tenant demand continues to spiral, say landlords
The Private Rented Sector Trends Report for the third quarter gives a detailed overview of the sector and landlords’ views on performance.
More than four out of ten landlords (44%) said tenant demand...
Rise in tenants seeking help with rent arrears
The increase has been over the last four years and highlights the problems tenants are having in making ends meet as rents, utilities and the general cost of living rise.
Now, nationwide tenant eviction...
Terrace values climb the most
Owners of terraced properties have seen the value of their property rise by an average of £118 a week over the past decade with the typical price of a terraced home increasing by 68 per cent (£61,489) from £89,843 in...
Moreland are finalists in prestigious industry awards
Leading estate agents from across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom have been notified that they have become shortlisted in the region’s most prestigious property competition in association with Google and Bloomberg...
There is always light at the end of the tunnel
The Autumn Equinox is behind us and we now officially will have more hours of darkness and daylight every day until Spring.
As I write, stock markets are suffering and the world is bracing itself for more difficult...
Most young people aspire to buy own home
This is according to the latest quarterly consumer survey published by The Building Societies Association which shows that amongst potential first-time buyers overall, more than nine in ten (94%) respondents say that...
Housing deposits increase tenfold in twenty years
The research found that since 1990, the average housing deposit has risen from £6,793 to an average of £65,9241 in 2011.
A combination of an increase in house prices and a reduction in the amount of mortgage...
Keep on running (again!)
Moreland Managing Director Edward Gilbert was smiling broadly at the end of the Great North Run on Sunday 18th September.
Edward completed the 13.1 miles in 1 hour and 50 minutes and finished in 6,583rd place out...
Cheaper to buy than rent for first time buyers
The latest Halifax Buying vs. Renting Review tracks changes in the cost of buying and renting a typical two bedroom flat for a first-time buyer across the UK over the last three years. Average buying costs include mortgage...
Tenants bracing themselves for higher rents
A new Rightmove survey found that over half (53%) of all tenants expect rents to rise, including 17% that predict rents will be more than 10% higher.
Both figures are the highest Rightmove has recorded in the...
Surge in housing benefit tenants renting privately
The latest RICS quarterly rental survey, covering the quarter to the end of July, says that 13% of all new lets were to housing benefit tenants. The statistic is up from 8% the previous quarter and is the highest since the...
School catchment areas crucial for homebuyers
The findings reveal that for more than one in three (37%) with a child aged 10 or under, this was their top priority with many willing to pay an extra £12,141 to secure the home - and school - of their choice.
The...
Market Update
I trust you had a great Summer and that, if you managed to get a break, that you find yourself suitably refreshed.
As you read this, the Summer holidays will be largely over and with the kids returning to school,...
House sale volumes fall back as mortgage lending slips
Gross mortgage lending in July dropped to an estimated £12.6bn, and housing transactions also fell.
According to the Council of Mortgage Lenders, the total was 1% lower than June’s £12.68bn and a 6% fall from £13.3bn...
Property at most affordable in 8 years
Halifax research showed the average house price paid by a first-time buyer in June 2011 was affordable for someone on average earnings in 48% of all local authority districts (LADs).
This is the highest proportion...
Landlords vulnerable to rate rises
An interest rate rise of 2% would have a negative impact on 89% of landlords, with 53% concluding that the effect would be significant in a survey by the NLA.
A further 8% would be forced to re-evaluate their...
Pickles: Councils should publish property registers
Communities and Local Government secretary Eric Pickles said he wants councils and public sector organisations to publish the information which will help protect frontline services.
Public sector assets are...
CBI forecasts growth
The UK economy will continue to grow, but at a sluggish rate, in 2011 and pick up modestly in 2012, according to the CBI's latest economic forecast.
Despite the squeeze on household incomes from higher commodity...
Buy to let mortgage rates drop
The research sourced from 754 buy to let applications, revealed the average chosen fixed-rate was 4.82% during the second quarter of 2011, down 0.18% from 5.00% during the first three months of this year.
The average...
Market Update
The summer is now fully upon us and we can look forward to the roads being noticeably quieter as the “school run” traffic disappears for a few weeks.
Whilst some attention may be on holidays, bar-be-ques and keeping...
Number of mortgage products increase again
This is according to figures released from Mortgage Brain’s Monthly Product Analysis.
A 4% increase in product availability during June has taken the total number of live mortgage products listed on its sourcing...
Trading Places
The government’s proposing to empower local authorities to evict council house tenants who earn in excess of £100,000, but what does it mean for the private-rented sector? Lorna Blackwood of the Negotiator magazine investigates.
The...
Distance to work most important factor
The distance between a homebuyer’s new home and their workplace is the biggest priority when it comes to buying a property, according to new research from Santander Mortgages.
Brits would pay an average of...
Terraced houses more likely to be repossessed
Terraces are set to account for four out of ten repossessions across the UK during 2011, according to HML following its analysis of 320,000 live mortgage accounts.
HML has forecast UK repossessions geographically...
Keep on running!
At Moreland we enjoy getting involved in community and charitable events and Managing Director Edward Gilbert certainly leads from the front by taking part in several high profile charitable runs every year.
Edward...
Gardens can sell a property
A survey of 2000 adults by HSBC has revealed that while 72% of us currently have a garden, 96% say outside space is important to us when we are viewing a new property.
Nicholas Leeming, business development...
Average age of a first time buyer set to reach 41
The average age of a first-time buyer will be 41 years by the year 2025, up from today’s average age of 38.
The results from LV='s Delayed Lifestyle report show a big leap from the 1980s when people bought...
New regulations on EPCs delayed at last minute
The Government has abandoned attempts to introduce changes to EPC rules on July 1.
A senior official at Communities and Local Government said that they had run out of time.
It is understood that the Regulatory...
Rise of the mature renter
The figures, compiled from a survey of more than 10,000 flat and house sharers, suggest a growing number of mature adults are choosing, or are forced by financial circumstances, to live in shared accommodation.
Shared...
Ladies first onto the property ladder
The saying ‘Ladies first’ also applies to the property market according to new research by Post Office Mortgages.
The research shows that 1.8 million young women, aged between 18-34 in the UK, are looking...
Moreland appointed as Home Buyer Centre
We are delighted to announce that Moreland have been appointed the Home Buyer Centre agency for the local area. This means that we can now offer prospective buyers a bespoke property search and acquisition service that covers...
Consumers say they expect house prices to rise
Although house prices fell by 1.2% on a quarterly basis in April, one in three of survey respondents actually predicted that average UK house prices will rise this year, whilst 23% expect a fall in prices.
This...
Number of mortgage products at 3-year high
The number of mortgage products available has reached its highest level in three years after the introduction of over 200 products in May 2011, latest figures from Mortgage Brain have revealed.
The Monthly...
Get rid of crooked agents, ARLA tells ministers
ARLA has once again appealed to the Government to exercise more control over both landlords and agents in the private rented sector.
It said in particular that unlicensed agents pose a ‘real threat’ to the sector.
ARLA’s...
Rightmove reports says half of all tenants expect their rents to go up
Half of tenants are expecting rents to rise over the next year, with one in seven expecting the hike to be more than 10%.
According to a new report by Rightmove, their fears are justified.
The site says that...
Confused – you will be?
This headline seems appropriate for an industry that revels in producing reams of monthly reports on what is happening to house prices.
All of the major property portals, lenders and professional bodies produce...
Hidden gas flues in rental properties must be checked
Landlords are being reminded of the need to get gas boiler and flue systems checked yearly, as new guidance comes into force to protect residents from potential carbon monoxide leaks from hidden flues.
All Gas Safe...
Report says consumer confidence in UK property market is strong
A survey carried out by the Worldwide Property Group revealed that consumer confidence in property is high in Great Britain.
The survey was performed in March 2011 and was focused on such sectors of property market...
Report shows average first time buyer deposit is 17% of purchase price
Deposits paid by first-time buyers trying to get on the British housing ladder during the last 12 years have averaged 17% of the overall property value.
This is 2% more than the current average and has taken an average...
Moreland History
Moreland was established in 1988 and has become one of the areas most reputable estate agents. We provide reliability and commitment in all aspects of sales and lettings with highly experienced staff, strong local advertising,...
