Industry News Update

The Housing Minister, Chris Pincher, has suggested older homeowners are “rattling around” in their homes as they are too big for them. He also said that many British homes are “under-occupied” and could be better used by younger families with children.

Everyone should be doing their bit to help reduce the UK’s carbon footprint on the globe – yet the question is, is that burden being put too much on the shoulders of Norwich landlords with potential bills of £7,600+ in the next four years?

House prices tend to rise with inflation, so with the UK annual inflation hitting 4.2% last week, that’s good news, isn’t it? Yes and no – let me explain what it means for Norwich homeowners. The year-on-year cost of living rose by 4.2% in October, its highest rate in almost a decade. The jump in prices (inflation), pushed mainly by increasing fuel and energy costs, places further pressure on...

The Government’s scheduled publication of their White Paper for the Renter's Reform Bill, which incorporates proposals to forbid Section 21 evictions and introduce ‘Lifetime Deposits’, has been suspended until 2022. The additional time is required to give a chance to create a level playing field to reforms for both landlords and tenants in the private rented sector in England. In this article, I...

In recent articles on the Norwich property market, I have been talking a lot about house prices over the last 12 months and 5 years in Norwich. When it comes to newspapers talking about the property market, the headline most people look at is what is happening to house prices. However, as 2 in 3 (65.1%) of Norwich home sellers are also home buyers, the price is almost irrelevant. Let me explain. If your...

The ‘Buy-To-Let’ (BTL) mortgage is celebrating its Silver Anniversary (25 years) this autumn. Isn’t it fascinating that a decision between a group of letting agents and bankers all that time ago to offer BTL mortgages has changed the face of the Norwich (and national) property market? But has it been a good thing? Or has it ruined the dreams of many 20 somethings wanting to get on to the property...

The stamp duty holiday is over, the furlough finished at the end of September, unemployment is due to rise and inflation is rife … is this the end of the post lockdown Norwich property boom? Surely, we are heading for house price correction? Forecasting what will happen in the Norwich property market this autumn may not be as simple as it first appears. It’s true the Norwich property market is...

A lack of new homes for sale in the UK boosted prices again last month even as the housing market slowed following a partial withdrawal of a pandemic emergency tax break for property purchases. On 1st July 2020, the government announced a year-long cut to help buyers whose finances were affected by Covid. Until June 2021, homebuyers didn't have to pay stamp duty on the first £500,000 of a purchase price....

Property specialists can be very useful to have when you need them. Most people are not experts in anything to do with their property and this can result in some serious issues arising. When you don’t know enough about a topic to make informed decisions, you should bring in an expert. This is exactly what you should do with anything related to property. Watsons will ensure that you don’t make a...

As a first-time buyer, you may be eager to find an amazing property and get moved in as soon as possible. However, it’s also important to manage avoidable problems along the way such as buying a home that’s not as well maintained as your first thought. House surveys are a great solution. By providing a clear assessment of a property’s condition you can avoid unexpected repairs! Here’s all you need...