Lenders believe that a new requirement – coming into effect next April – for
people to assemble a home information pack (HIP) before marketing a property is
unhelpful in current market conditions. Currently, sellers are able to market a
property for 28 days before a HIP is required.
From 6 April next year, HIPs are also being expanded to include a new
property information questionnaire (PIQ). The questionnaire, which will be
completed by the seller, will provide additional information to help potential
buyers decide whether to view and purchase the property.
The PIQ will include information about flood risk, gas and electricity
safety, service charges, structural damage and parking arrangements. It will
also provide a summary of the leasehold arrangements, replacing a requirement to
obtain separate documents.
We believe that, in current market conditions, making requirements for HIPs
more onerous adds unnecessarily to costs and difficulties for sellers and will
further deter speculative sellers.
In some cases, those marketing properties will be doing so because they can
longer maintain their mortgage payments. In others, the property may have been
taken into possession by a lender, who is now trying to obtain the best price
possible in the hope that this allows the borrower to clear their outstanding
mortgage debt.
In difficult market conditions for sellers, we believe that the government
should be trying to make it easier for forced property sales. We would like to
see people in these circumstances being able to market their property to
prospective buyers with minimal cost and delay.
Whilst most of us are either struggling to get a mortgage or finding
ourselves trapped in negative equity, the owners of homes on these streets are
unlikely to have such worries.
Millionaires looking for their dream home will pay staggering amounts to have
a view of the seafront (see above photo of Poole in Dorset) or to share their
local pub with premiership footballers.
Here is the list of the 10 most expensive streets in regions of
England and Wales.
North: Runnymede Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Average price:
£1,135,625
Rod Matthews of Rook Matthews Sayer, the estate agent, said: “This is
undoubtedly one of the top three addresses in the north east. Footballers such
as Alan Shearer and Kieron Dyer have lived here.
“There used to be a lot of old houses set in large grounds, but these have
been mainly knocked down and replaced with individually designed mansions. Last
year I sold a property in less than an acre for £3.46 million.”
Yorkshire & the Humber: Kent Road, Harrogate. Average Price:
£1,173,373
Kent Road is within walking distance of Harrogate town centre and attracts
wealthy families as well as premiership footballers.
Philippa Faith of Strutt & Parker, the estate agent, said: “Kent Road is
on the Duchy estate, a very desirable area of Harrogate formerly owned by the
Duchy of Lancaster. The houses are very handsome, mainly Victorian stone builds,
with lots of original features such as high ceilings and period fireplaces. They
commonly have around a third of an acre for gardens, which is a good size for a
townhouse. Buyers will wait years for the right house on this road to come up
for sale.”
North West: Congleton Road, Alderley Edge. Average price:
£1,684,166
Alderley Edge is a village south of Manchester crammed with
multi-millionaires. Home to Cristiano Ronaldo and Peter Crouch, it is the haunt
of many premiership football players, pop stars and Coronation Street actors.
David and Victoria Beckham also lived here until they moved to Madrid and then
Los Angeles.
Crispin Harris of Jackson-Stopps & Staff, the estate agent, said:
“Alderley Edge is very convenient for access to Manchester and the village
itself has lovely restaurants and shops. The houses are mainly large Victorian
villas with big gardens, although there are also a lot of new-builds now as well
with modern facilities and technology such as swimming pools and under floor
heating.”
East Midlands: Beeston Fields Drive, Nottingham. Average price:
£972,214
This wide and varied road features a thatched cottage, a Spanish villa and
new build mansions. Robert Bilson of Savills, the estate agent, in Nottingham
said: “It backs onto the Beeston Fields golf club, one of the most exclusive in
Nottingham, and is close to good independent schools. Owners tend to be
entrepreneurs, sport agents and CEOs. Jane Torvill, the ice skater, bought a
house here after winning her Olympic gold medal.”
West Midlands: Wellington Road, Birmingham. Average price:
£945,500
Close to Birmingham city centre but set on a quiet residential turning,
Wellington Road has the Edgbaston golf club, the Priory tennis club and good
independent schools all within a stone’s throw. James Bowkett of Knight
Frank, the estate agent, said: “This is a beautiful wide road with large period
houses with deep frontages. The plot sizes are good with each house having about
half an acre.”
East Anglia: Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge. Average price:
£940,714
Richard Hatch of Carter Jonas, the estate agent, said: “This road is on the
biggest site of redevelopment in the city, with new builds ranging from 2
bedroom flats to five bedroom houses. It is close to Cambridge station, the city
centre and the university botanical gardens.
“However, I would not say it is regarded as the most desirable road in
Cambridge. Chaucer Road and Latham Road, which feature turn of the century
houses, are more sought after.”
South West: Panorama Road, Poole. Average price:
£4,158,333
This is a road of two halves – on one side lie mansions with a harbour view,
whilst the other side has smaller houses and apartments with no view. Harry
Redknapp, manager of Tottenham Hotspur football club, has lived here.
Keith Fensom of Savills said: “The houses on the waterfront can go for
anything between £4 million and £10 million. A few are retirement or holiday
homes but we are seeing increasing numbers of families here as well.
“The council are trying to protect some 1920s properties to ensure they are
not destroyed to make way for new-build mansions. A five-year old house has just
been bought for £5 million by a Russian billionaire and he is knocking it down
to build another.”
South East: East Road, Weybridge. Average price:
£2,805,000
Gary Collins of Hamptons International, the estate agent, said: “East Road is
within a private estate called St George’s Hill, a 930 acre site with its own
secure entrance. John Lennon, Cliff Richard and Tom Jones have all lived here,
and it has its own tennis and golf club. An acre plot could easily go for £3
million, just for the land alone.”
Greater London: The Vale, Kensington and Chelsea. Average price:
£4,677,500
Nicholas Leeming of propertyfinder.co.uk, the property search website, said:
“The Vale is situated in one of the best residential areas of Kensington and
Chelsea and so, not surprisingly, has shown up as one of the highest valued
locations. Limited transaction numbers underline the premium that some buyers
will pay for position, even in the current market.”
Wales: Llantrithyd Road, Vale of Glamorgan. Average price:
£752,083
David Birt of David Birt & Co, the estate agent, said: “The Vale of
Glamorgan is one of the most popular areas for people working in Cardiff. There
are some very rural parts but it is only half an hour away from the city centre.
Llantrithyd is actually a hamlet with Llantrithyd Road running through it. There
are good local pubs, junior schools and a real ‘community feel’ to these places
within the Vale.”
Young people today, huh? They are all into knives, drink and drugs, aren’t
they? Well, no they are not. You get quite a different view of the younger
generation if you talk to Angela Atkins or Billy Bass, who are two of seven 18-
to 25-year-olds moving into flats they helped to build in a pioneering scheme in
east London.
“Building your own place is a great experience and very hard work. To realise
it’s your own blood, sweat and tears that’s produced it is terrific. I keep
saying ‘I did that’. It makes you respect the place and look after it more than
you would anywhere else,” says Billy, 20.
“We worked from architect’s drawings so we couldn’t make major changes to the
design but we started off by doing a bit of everything - measuring up with a
surveyor, bricklaying, roofing, helping fit the beams and painting. Then I ended
up specialising in brickwork, carpentry and decorating,” explains Angela, also
20.
The pair were at school together less than a mile from the development they
have now co-built. There were over 70 applicants in total and eight were chosen.
They spent almost 18 months alongside professional builders to construct eight
one-bedroom flats and five four-bedroom houses at Harold Hill, in a project run
by Havering council, the Family Mosaic housing association and the Community
Self-Build Agency.
Most of the young people were either unemployed or had no construction
experience. They all had difficult personal histories. Some had been homeless or
in care; others were in shelters or faced extraordinarily long waits for council
housing.
Angela was living with her parents, had been on a local authority waiting
list for 12 months and was told it could be as long as 30 years before she would
get a council flat of her own. Billy had been sleeping on sofas at friends’
homes in the months leading up to his selection for the scheme.
The pair speak of other benefits from the project. They won formal
qualifications because they split their time between working on site and
studying building, decorating and carpentry at a local college. Billy - who now
has four NVQs earned during his work on the properties - is launching a building
firm and is on the waiting list for a business course run by the Prince’s Trust.
Angela intends to become a full-time decorator. More young people look set to
follow their example as the Government last week announced the creation of 7,000
apprenticeships in construction.
“It’s completely changed my life,” says Angela. “This project has given me a
fabulous home, skills, friendships and the prospect of a career. What more can I
ask for?”
The Miele 5000 series
ovens offer an increased 660-litre interior capacity with fingerprint-resistant
clean steel finish exterior. The inspired design uses the latest technology
including steam cooking, with automatic programmes and pyrolytic cleaning, as well as a two-year
guarantee.
Telegraph Offer: Buyers & Sellers is offering a 5 per cent discount when you buy
three or more units from the new Miele range. Call 0845 658 3319 mentioning
“Telegraph offer.”www.buyersandsellersonline.co.uk
Whatafind: what a saving
A unique online interiors concept, www.whatafind.com allows consumers to purchase high-quality, seasonal overstock at amazing
prices. With discounts of up to 70 per cent on a range of partners including
Feather & Black, the Cotswold Company and Sweet Home London, www.whatafind.com
provides the perfect solution to furnishing the home without spending a fortune.
As well as the appeal of hugely reduced prices and readily available stock, the
convenience factor of not having to trawl the high street for your shopping is
another plus point.
Fondue forever
Once blighted by its naff 1970s image, fondue sets are officially in again.
Get a few friends over, crack open a bottle of wine or two and prepare for some
serious cheese-dipping. And best of all, no one is left chained to the stove all
night preparing an elaborate meal.
Amaroni is offering readers a 15 per cent discount on the Fongale
fondue set, usual price £110, now £93.50. Just quote ‘AMA5553’ when ordering.
For more information, visit www.amaroni.com.
Mulling it over
This fabulous ‘Punch’ drinks dispenser from the Garden Trading Company holds
a vast 7.7 litres of festive cheer. For use on or off the stove, its levered tap
will ensure everyone’s glass stays full all night long.
For the festive period only, the Punch dispenser is available with a 50cl
bottle of award-winning, locally made Selsley Herb & Spice Co gourmet
mulling syrup (£60). In true Christmas spirit, the Garden Trading company is
offering readers 20 per cent off all orders placed between now and
December 31. Simply quote ‘TPBH20’ at the check-out.
New website www.yourfloors.co.uk is offering one lucky reader
the perfect start to 2009, with the chance to win £1,000 worth of floor
covering.
The winner can chose from carpet, vinyl, wood, laminates, rugs, ceramics or
tiles.
To enter, text ‘FLOOR’ to 87233 before December 31 (texts cost 50p plus
standard rate). If you want to find out more, visit www.yourfloors.co.uk . With thousands of products
available online you can’t fail to find exactly what you’re looking for. There
is a simple guide to flooring as well as some interior inspiration for readers’
perusal.
A whole lot of bottle
Christmas lunch is definitely the time to break out a good bottle of wine but this year we are all after wine that tastes great but doesn't break the budget.
To go with the turkey try a delicious full bodied, creamy yet fruity white from the South African winemaker Bellingham. The Maverick Chenin Blanc 2007 is a joy to drink on its own or with food and if you've never tried chenin blanc before its one not to be missed. Especially as its now only £5.99 at www.sawinesonline.co.uk. Waitrose charge £8.99! NB the 2007 is yummier than the 2006.
If a viognier is your favourite then its worth seeking out Riverpoint Viognier from Millton. The organic specialists Vintage Roots www.vintageroots.co.uk have it at a reduced £9.99.
For anyone who isn't normally a fan of the tannins in many red wines then try the incredibly soft and fruity Pillastro. An Italian cooperative venture that produces a wine which is exceptionally easy to drink even without food. Made from the Primitivo grape which is the same as the posh Zinfandel from the US it is not to be missed this Christmas. £7.99 a bottle from www.laithwaites.co.uk
Christmas Shopping Heaven
Far from being a joy, finding Christmas gifts for friends, relatives and kids
can be stressful and costly. But Little Blue Sheep Gifts seems to have come up
with a solution for unusual and affordable gifts, minus the petrol, parking or
train fares.
Some of the great ideas online include the Driver’s Glovebox, a useful gift
for any car owner. At £9.95 the kit includes items such as an ice- scraper and
hand-warmer, and is small enough to slip into the glove compartment.
The ribbon watch from Two’s Company is also a favourite and ideal for teens
and even adults. It’s priced at just £15 and comes beautifully boxed with lots
of ribbon straps to match any outfit or look.
The winter temperatures may be low and the economic climate positively
frosty, but that is all the more reason to make your home a haven of warmth,
luxury and comfort over the festive season — especially if you can do it for the
prices offered by www.jhtrousseau.com . After a warm bath, wrap
yourself in one of its super-snug towels (from £3), curl up at night under
500-thread count satin cotton bed sheets (from £20) and shed the perfect light
on any room with one of these elegant mirror lamps. And there are plenty of
super gift ideas too, from terry-lined cotton bathrobes to feather- and
down-filled cushions in a range of fabrics and colours. Everything is designed
to be as sumptuous to the eye as it is to touch, and prices are carefully
pitched to make a world of luxury affordable.
As a special offer to readers, Josephine Home is offering 25 per
cent off listed prices in the run up to Christmas. Just quote ACDEC08 when
ordering online before December 23.
A very
Merry Christmas from all the staff at Streetwise Maps and best wishes for 2009.
Thank you for using us.
Our final improvements for this year to the website
include a black and white option for our planning maps for those that want to
print using a laser printer or just save on ink!
We are
also implementing dual MasterMap datasets so you can toggle between a historic
map and the up-to-date one. This means that you can not only monitor how things
have changed but still get information such as benchmarks which have been
removed from newer datasets.
We are
working on some other products, enhancements and tools for launch early in the
New Year too.
QUICK CONTENTS
HIPS Change is Unhelpful Lenders believe that a new requirement – coming into effect next April – for
people to assemble a home information pack (HIP) before marketing a property is
unhelpful in current market conditions. Currently, sellers are able to market a
property for 28 days before a HIP is required.More
10 Most Expensive Streets in England and Wales Whilst most of us are either struggling to get a mortgage or finding
ourselves trapped in negative equity, the owners of homes on these streets are
unlikely to have such worries...More
Build Your Own Flat - a new scheme for young people Young people today, huh? They are all into knives, drink and drugs, aren’t
they? Well, no they are not. You get quite a different view of the younger
generation if you talk to Angela Atkins or Billy Bass, who are two of seven 18-
to 25-year-olds moving into flats they helped to build in a pioneering scheme in
east London... More
Must Have Interior Products With a Christmas theme...More
Streetwise A very Merry Christmas from all the staff at Streetwise Maps and best wishes for 2009.
Our final improvements for this year to the website include a black and white option for our planning maps for... More
