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Homeowners in new quake alert

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Posted by James Mace at 10:14 on 29 Feb 2008
Category: 
News & Updates

Following today’s earthquake, the biggest in the UK for nearly 25 years which has shaken homes across large parts of the country, Allied Surveyors has issued a warning to homeowners of the potential damage the recent quake could have done to their home...

With the earthquake reaching 5.2 on the Richter Scale, householders near the epicentre of the quake have already noticed cracks or slight structural damage and, are being war

No 'affordable' housing markets in the UK

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Posted by James Mace at 14:33 on 28 Feb 2008
Category: 
News & Updates

The UK has no ‘affordable’ housing markets, claims a new survey…

After examining the housing affordability situation of 227 urban markets, the 2008 Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey ranked the UK as the third most unaffordable market in the English-speaking world.

Some 25 of the 28 markets in the UK are ‘severely unaffordable’ and three markets are ‘seriously unaffordable’.

House prices in ‘5 month slide’

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Posted by James Mace at 16:46 on 27 Feb 2008
Category: 
News & Updates

House prices fell for the fifth month in a row during February but there were signs demand is beginning to increase on the back of lower interest rates, figures show...

The average cost of a home in England and Wales fell by 0.2% during the month to £174,400, according to property information group Hometrack. At the same time the annual rate of house price inflation continued its downward trend to stand at just 1.4%, its lowest level since April 2006.

Richard Donnell, director of research at Hometrack, said: “Despite the continued weakness in underlying prices.

Eco friendly ratings for all new homes

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Posted by James Mace at 14:02 on 27 Feb 2008
Category: 
News & Updates

The Government's drive towards zero carbon housing took a major step forward today with the announcement that all new homes are to be rated on their green credentials from May 1st.

A rating against the Code for Sustainable Homes, which measures nine categories of sustainable design including energy, water and waste, will be required for all new homes. Homes which exceed the sustainable standards in existing Building Regulations will be awarded up to six stars.

Building for the future

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Posted by James Mace at 10:26 on 25 Feb 2008
Category: 
News & Updates

Government proposals published today (25 February) would require Lifetime Homes for all new homes by 2013 to “future proof” them and meet the needs and aspirations of Britain’s ageing population.

But professionals from HBF’s Retirement Housing Group (RHG) say that this exclusive focus on a “bricks and mortar” solution is misconceived.

The provision of support and companionship is a critical element in the quality of life of many older people.

Beer on tap

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Posted by James Mace at 17:01 on 22 Feb 2008
Category: 
News & Updates

A woman said she thought she was in heaven when she turned on the kitchen tap to find a plentiful supply of beer.
Haldis Gundersen was planning to do the washing up when she made the unusual discovery at her apartment in Kristiansund, west Norway.
But two flights below, workers in a bar faced the more disappointing realisation that water was flowing from their beer taps.
A worker had connected a beer barrel to the apartment water pipe by mistake.




Journalists predict a grim future for house prices in 2008

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Posted by James Mace at 10:43 on 22 Feb 2008
Category: 
News & Updates

In the first of a series of exclusive Stunning Views polls carried out by the headlineproperty website, a resounding 79 per cent of property journalists said they believed UK house prices would continue to fall in 2008.

Journalists who believed that prices would continue to fall this year were asked to estimate by how much figures would drop going forward. While individual responses differed sharply, the average decline was projected to be between five and six per cent.

Climate targets set to change?

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Posted by James Mace at 15:14 on 20 Feb 2008
Category: 
News & Updates

A review of the target to reduce the UK’s CO2 emissions by at least 60 per cent by 2050 will become a statutory duty under the Climate Change Bill, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said today.

Mr Benn announced the decision alongside other amendments to strengthen the Bill as it moves towards completing its passage through the House of Lords.

The Government has committed to ask the independent Committee on Climate Change, headed by Adair Turner, to consider whether the 2050 target should be tightened up to 80 per cent, as the Committee considers its advice on the first three

Nice to meet you

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Posted by James Mace at 09:33 on 19 Feb 2008
Category: 
News & Updates

Hi, I’m James. I’d like to introduce myself as the newest addition to the ProblemSolved team. I’m really looking forward to working on the site and all the exciting challenges that it will bring.

There are some really interesting projects over the coming weeks and months, and I can’t wait to get stuck in. Watch this space…


Climate change warning for UK homeowners

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Posted by Samee Mohammad at 16:10 on 14 Feb 2008
Category: 
News & Updates

Climate change could be dealing a blow to properties across the UK according to a leading UK trade body.

The Property Care Association (PCA) has been investigating how global warming could cause an increase in the cases of dry rot and wood-boring insects in homes across the country. 

They’ve revealed woodworm could become more prevalent without professional treatment – and timbers could come under attack due to bursts of heavy rain followed by periods of dry, warm weather.

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