URGENT: Planning permission required for renting property with three or more sharers!

Latest news from the government is a ridiculous, classic ‘ivory tower’ legislation that is going to cause chaos for local authorities, landlords and tenants.

The new rules are that from 6th April 2010, any property rented to three or more unrelated sharers, forming two or more households, may well require planning permission which can take up to eight weeks to secure!

Read on to find out my views on this latest regulation.

Housing market predictions and property sold prices - should we be getting excited?

It's not a time to get too excited over property sold prices as the market doesn't appear to be 'doing much' this year at all - apart from London which does appear to be doing well versus 2009 and may even catch up this year to 2007 levels.

For buyers, there may be a bit more choice as the number of properties for sale has increased. Hometrack have reported that "over the last six months of 2009 the supply of homes for sale grew by 1% while sales volumes grew by 20%". However, for sellers excited to see 'house price growth' in the headlines, be realistic, prices aren't going up everywhere, in fact any increases are very regional and prices are still over 10% less, on average than 2007 levels READ MORE.

For the full property market analysis and to find out what's happening locally READ MORE.

10 Ways to Exploit a Buyer's Market

A buyer’s market sounds ideal - lots of properties for sale to choose from and being in a position to make offers below the asking price – so you’ll really get the feeling that you can bag a bargain. But just how do you make the most of it?

10 Ways to Exploit a Buyer's Market

I Can't Pay my Mortgage!

For those who are still fighting to keep your home, it’s important to make sure you aren’t fleeced by some dodgy dealer trying to ‘secure your property for cash’ at a rock bottom price. The idea of getting the lender and the courts off your back might seem great at the time, but you may not need to sell at all as there is a lot of help to try and keep you and your family in your current home. This would give you the chance of holding on for a while. Being able to hold onto your home now may mean if you do eventually need to sell you can do so without owing lots of money and at a time more to suit you than the banks and building societies!

Struggling to pay your mortgage -read on!

Is this one of the best times to buy a new home?

If you have the money - and can get a mortgage for a new property - then the coming months is possibly one of the best times to buy a new home.

Unlike second hand home owners, who don't have to sell their property, developers do and are therefore offering some cracking deals to buyers!

But don't forget that it's not just good deals they offer, they are also typically 'A' rated homes on Energy Performance Certificates, which mean they are extremely energy efficient and should therefore have lower utility bills than an equivalent second hand home, which could save you a fortune at the moment! Deals Developers are Offering.

Property Investment is NOT a Passive Pastime!

I'm not usually downbeat about property investment, but I am concerned at the number and way in which some property investment companies are selling to novice investors.

Having spent over 10 years watching the property investment industry 'flourish' then 'collapse' and 'rise again' I'm sick and tired of the following property investment company claims and marketing spin!

Property Investment is NOT a Passive Pastime!

New Smart Deposit Solution for landlords and agents

New Smart Deposit Solution offers landlords and agents an alternative to Tenancy Deposit Protection Schemes.

FCC Paragon, part of the Paragon Advance group of companies, has launched a system called 'Smart Deposit Solution' which is a warranty product developed in recognition of the growing legislation which landlords have to adhere to and the increasing cost of living which may mean tenants can’t afford the upfront cost of a deposit. It is also very timely with the Tenants Deposit Protection Scheme having put their prices up by up to 1000%, increasing some agents and landlords costs from a few hundred pounds to £5-6k irrespective of how many disputes they have had.

Read on to find out more about the new Smart Deposit Solution.

National Landlords Association calls for TLC For Landlords

It was disappointing that there was nothing to encourage further investment in private residential accommodation in last week's budget. On top of no real incentives for Private Sector Landlords, we're having to deal with the over legislative threats currently hanging over landlords from Labour.

Find out what the NLA recommends for the future and my views .....