London uk house prices

BUYING a property is a big commitment and timing could be everything. As house prices reach record highs and mortgage rates increase, is now the time to buy your first home? Samantha Bickford, mortgage specialist at Clarity Wealth Management, says there's never a perfect time to buy a house - but if you're trying to get on the ladder, you might not want to wait. According to the Office for National Statistics, house prices soared a whopping 10.9% over the past year to an average of £277,000. As a result, some buyers are scrambling to secure a home before prices go up any further. Add to the mix the fact that interest rates are rising, and buying now means you will still be able to lock in a cheap mortgage deal . Bickford said: "While interest rates are starting to creep up, and have been slowly for some time now, they are still historically very low." Read more in property WRONG MOVE I’m an interiors expert - three things that … [Read more...] about I’m a property expert – is NOW the time to buy as house prices and mortgage rates go up?

The housing market continues to astonish. A recent survey of surveyors showed sales volumes and price balances strengthening. Over the last year, average house prices have risen by 12pc. This follows nine years of increasing prices. Can the market continue to be this strong or is there trouble ahead? One key metric that is flashing red is the ratio of average house prices to average earnings (HPE). It currently stands at 7.7, having recently surpassed the previous peak of 7.5, registered in 2007, just before the global financial crash. This crisis was followed by a fall in average house prices of 18pc. The long-term average value for the HPE, going back to 1970, is 5.1. As is usually the case at the peak of the market, valuations currently look particularly stretched in London and the South East . Although the HPE ratio is a useful guide to the underlying valuation of the housing market, it has proved pretty useless as a short-term forecasting tool. This is partly because … [Read more...] about Don’t be surprised if house prices drop 20pc

Evening briefing: Today's essential headlines Wagatha Christie | Coleen Rooney said Rebekah Vardy has a "desire to be famous" as she took to the stand for the first time in the "Wagatha Christie" case. When questioned about her remarks by Mrs Vardy's lawyer, Mrs Rooney said: "My view was she wants to be kept relevant within the press, within the public eye." Read the latest summary . Zaghari-Ratcliffe meets PM | 'I lived in the shadow of your words' Keir Starmer | Rebellion as local candidates snubbed for Remainers Bear attack | Paratrooper mauled to death during military training Joy for Queen | Pony takes first prize on first outing since March Jeremy Clarkson | 'I can’t get planning permission for anything' The big story: Covid civil service jobs first to face axe They have faced Brexit, a pandemic and a cost of living crisis. Perhaps it is little surprise to civil servants that there is another major challenge ahead - only this time it is … [Read more...] about Friday evening UK news briefing: Covid jobs in line of fire in civil service cuts

Crossrail: Sadiq Khan grilled over Grant Shapps' election claims How to keep your lawn lush, borders beautiful and more with our FREE email SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The Elizabeth Line - also known as Crossrail - is due to open later this month. The opening of the new line will make commuting easier for those living in the outer London boroughs and counties just outside of the capital. The new rail line brings with it an opportunity for buyers to invest in property . Related articles Cleaning: How to keep bath towels soft - ‘cheap and amazing’ way Easy ways to get rid of garden pests including rats and caterpillars While some areas around Elizabeth Line stations have seen strong house … [Read more...] about Top locations to invest in property on the Elizabeth Line: Where-to-buy guide

A tiny studio flat has caused quite a stir with its enormous monthly rental cost. The humble abode, in Linden Gardens, London, was first listed on property web site Rightmove three months ago. Despite having no room to swing a cat, prospective tenants would need to fork out a whopping £2,578 per month to live in the property. Described online as 'a stunning luxury studio with high ceilings and a boasting a modern design set on the first floor of a recently renovated period building', photos show an all-in-one living space comprising a lounge/dining area that converts into a bedroom and a miniscule kitchenette. The bathroom squeezes a power shower, wash basin and toilet very close together ( Image: Rightmove) An adjoining bathroom, meanwhile, consists of a narrow power shower, wash basin and toilet. There's no space for appliances such as a washing machine, which would force tenants to incur additional costs for laundry services. And with little to no storage … [Read more...] about Inside tiny £2,578/month studio flat so small you can cook your dinner from the bed

By Hannah Makepeace & Samantha Jagger Published 25 minutes ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing The possibility of the House of Lords moving to Burnley while the Palace of Westminster is refurbished has been welcomed by many in the town. The government has said peers cannot move to a building near Parliament while work is carried out and should move away from London instead . Burnley was one of the places suggested by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove. Residents in the town said it would be "absolutely fantastic", though one said it might end up being "a big let down". Peers had wanted to use the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster, but Mr Gove said he "cannot endorse" a plan for peers to "decamp to a temporary home a mere 200 yards from the Palace of Westminster". The secretary of state told the Lord Speaker Lord McFall it was "clear" to him that … [Read more...] about House of Lords move to Burnley would be fantastic, locals say

By Joshua Nevett Published 2 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Peers have criticised Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove for proposing a temporary move out of London for the House of Lords. Parliament's upper house could relocate while extensive renovation work on the Palace of Westminster is carried out. Mr Gove has said he would welcome the idea, naming Stoke-on-Trent, Sunderland and Burnley as possible hosts. But the Lord Speaker said separating Parliament's two houses geographically seemed "highly questionable". In a letter to peers, Lord McFall said the Lords' law-making role was "indivisible" from that of the House of Commons, the lower chamber, where MPs sit. "Whilst I agree with the secretary of state that politics can be too London-centric, I don't believe moving locations in and of itself would address these concerns," he wrote. Move … [Read more...] about Parliament must not be divided by relocation, peers argue

After weeks of speculation, Boris Johnson is preparing to approve a law scrapping key parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol. One of the Prime Minister's key arguments is that the agreement is holding back Westminster from helping with the cost of living crisis . Mr Johnson will travel to Belfast today for talks with political leaders and is expected to sign off plans later this week for domestic legislation giving the Government the right to suspend elements of the Brexit deal. In an article ahead of his visit, he argues that the Protocol is "restricting" his ability to help with the province's "post-Covid recovery" and holding back growth. He notes that a UK-wide VAT cut on renewable energy products cannot be implemented in Northern Ireland due to the Protocol. Political editor Ben Riley-Smith says the move comes despite warnings it could collapse talks and cause a trade war with the EU . Meanwhile, Andrew Griffith, director of the No 10 Policy Unit, today argues … [Read more...] about Monday morning news briefing: PM attacks EU on cost of living

I tried out an 89p hack to clean mouldy washing machine drawers - here's what I thought (Image: Sophie Harris) How to keep your lawn lush, borders beautiful and more with our FREE email SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The washing machine drawer sees various types of liquids and powders pass through it on a daily basis. The residue of liquids and fabric softeners are often gunky and thick, meaning it is sometimes difficult to rinse through the compartment fully. This can lead to a build-up of hard residue, providing the perfect environment for black mouldy matter to grow. Related articles Cleaning fans share ‘game-changing’ hack to remove marker stains Japanese knotweed hotspots for 2022 unveiled - is your area affected? … [Read more...] about I tried out an 89p hack to clean mouldy washing machine drawers – here’s what I thought

Dennis Waterman and John Thaw in The Sweeney The Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad was formed 90 years ago this month. No police department has ever captured the public’s imagination nor raised as much controversy. Following the First World War, crime in London went through the roof. It was considered essential that a mobile group of detectives be formed to move quickly from one area to another wherever there was an outbreak of crime. Mobility was provided by two horse-drawn wagons leased from the Great Western Railway and with the detectives hidden in the back, the Mobile Patrol Experiment got under way. It was an unqualified success. Smash-and-grabbers, pickpockets and car thieves were astonished to be plucked out of thin air and after 12 months the experiment became permanent. The wagons were replaced by Crossley Tenders – big, ungainly vehicles with a top speed of 25mph. In the years that followed radio was added and faster, sleeker cars – Lagondas, Invictas and Bentleys … [Read more...] about The real Sweeney