Almost three million homes could be released into the housing market if better incentives and information were offered to older home-owners, encouraging them to downsize into smaller properties, according to The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
The RICS Residential Policy Review published last week, sets out a number of recommendations on how Government could do more to tackle the UK’s housing crisis, including incentivising home owners to sell or rent out under-occupied family homes.
Jeremy Blackburn, Head of Policy at RICS said: “Britain’s older home-...
East Devon District Council says it is keen to play its part in the national programme to relocate refugees says East Devon A spokesman told the Daily: "The process of assisting refugees is led by Governmental policy, and, in the case of Devon, normally co-ordinated locally by the County Council. Devon County Council is the relevant social services authority and it is anticipated that they will play a key part in any local offer of support. "It would appear that government are looking to build on the existing Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme to target assistance to 20,000...
An Exeter man has been sentenced at Plymouth magistrates after illegally subletting his Local authority council flat when he was living somewhere else.
David Mukanirwa, 31, of Darwin Court was prosecuted under S1(2) of the prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 for subletting his Exeter flat on two occasions whilst he lived in Swindon after advertising it for rent on Gumtree.
Mr Mukanirwa pleaded guilty and said that he told the council that one of the subtenants was his girlfriend so that he could get permission from them for her to stay there. However, she said that...
The RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) is calling for more to be done to help young first time buyers better understand the process of buying a property, starting with increasing their access to knowledge of the local housing market.
This news comes after a survey conducted by NatWest revealed that while optimistic about getting on to the property ladder; many ‘millennials’ (young adults aged 22-30) do not have a good understanding of the core buying matters. These include how much deposit is needed, the mortgage process - including the strict lending requirements -...
With more people choosing to grow their finances in buy-to-let properties, one of the country’s leading housebuilders says getting mortgage fit will help potential investors sail through the buying process.
Barratt is providing information and advice that is designed to help investors secure specialist mortgages, allowing them to let their new assets for potential medium and long term profit.
The five star housebuilder currently has a number of homes in the Exeter area suitable for investors. Developments locally include Rydon Place and Hillside Gardens.
The team behind a new health & wellbeing hub aimed at some of Exeter’s most disadvantaged communities has this week been selected by the prestigious King’s Fund to address a national conference on Public Health and Housing.
Exeter Council for Voluntary Service is developing former Exeter City Council offices at Wat Tyler House in King William Street into a multi-agency wellbeing hub aimed at supporting people with multiple and complex needs in their recovery, and to play a fuller part in their communities. The hub will feature a specialist GP practice, a mental health outreach...
Landlords in Devon will need to carry out thorough immigration status checks on their prospective tenants before granting tenancies in the future – or face stiff penalties including the possibility of imprisonment, warns leading law firm Stephens Scown LLP.
The government is expected to include a new penalty of up to five years in prison for landlords who fail to carry out the necessary ‘right to rent’ checks on their tenants, while a fine of up to £3,000 per tenant is also possible. The changes are likely to be included in the Immigration Bill this autumn.
Government proposals for a 1% reduction in council house rents each year for the next four years means East Devon District Council faces a £7 million cut in its income by 2019/20.
The council is now asking to meet with its MPs Hugo Swire and Neil Parish to discuss the compulsory 1% rent cut which was announced in the Budget in June.
East Devon is landlord of 4,245 council homes, and its social rents, at less than £82 a week, are already well below equivalent affordable rents charged by most Registered Housing Providers.
A new survey carried out by Reeds Rains estate agents has found that in Britain, 47% of people take between 1-5 minutes to form an impression of a property which they are viewing while others take less than 30 seconds. The study of 244 people looked at the ways they judge a person’s house when first entering and found cleanliness, smell and fresh flowers are crucial in forming a good impression. The study also revealed that ‘how modern and bright the kitchen is’, ‘tidiness’ and ‘the state of decorations (paintwork and wallpaper) are also evident in the minds of people judging a home. John...
Leading local advice charity, Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau, is welcoming an overall 39% decrease in repossession cases listed at Exeter County Court in the 3-month period ending 30th June 2015. This is in comparison with the same period last year.
Across all housing sectors, where a CAB adviser has assisted clients facing repossession, clients have avoided repossession in over 90% of cases.
Exeter City Council has provided financial support for this essential service.
Steve Barriball, Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau Chief Executive, said: “We have at least one...
