News
New guidance for lenders on treating pregnant women fairly
5 June, 2013
New guidance is being issued to lenders to ensure they are not treating pregnant women or women on maternity unfairly when they apply for a mortgage. This will be published by the end of the year and will include guidance on “permissible areas of inquiry” and issues for consideration in relation to mortgage applications from these… Read more »
Property prices 1.1% higher than a year ago
31 May, 2013
According to The Nationwide, property prices in the UK are 1.1% higher than they were a year ago. This is just the latest report showing that confidence is starting to return to the housing market as buyers find it easier to access mortgage finance. Their chief economist said the rise was down to a number… Read more »
British house prices said to be 31% too high
30 May, 2013
According to a new report by the OECD suggests that British house prices are 31% too high compared to rents and 21% over-priced against incomes. The report goes on to say that while prices in the UK fell 20% in the initial phase of the recent economic crisis they mounted a recovery in 2010 which means… Read more »
New report urges failed shops to be turned into homes
29 May, 2013
As more and more high street shops continue to close, a new report out this week says that many of these failed retail units should instead be turned into homes, offices or entertainment venues. The Centre for Retail Research predicts that in five years, there will be a 22% reduction in the amount of stores… Read more »
According to Hometrack, house prices are rising at their fastest rate since 2007
28 May, 2013
Hometrack, the property information firm, say that house prices in the UK are rising at their fastest since 2007. Much of this is down to the scarcity of homes in London and the South East. Their monthly national house price survey also shows that homes are also selling quicker, with sellers achieving prices closer to their… Read more »
Nationwide confirms it is preparing to enter Help to Buy
23 May, 2013
More news on the Help to Buy front with the announcement that Nationwide will be joining Halifax, NatWest and Woolwich in signing up to the shared equity element of the scheme. The Building Society confirmed this week that it intends to support the scheme going forwards and will release more information in the coming weeks.
Record number of millionaire properties in London
22 May, 2013
It has been reported this week in the Evening Standard that there are now a record number of millionaire properties – households with total assets valued at more than £1 million. Most of this is down to an increase in property prices. A study by the London School of Economics shows that property values are… Read more »
Busy few weeks for the Censeo team
21 May, 2013
We’ve had a busy few months here at Censeo. As well as sorting out affordable mortgages for our clients, our senior team have also been attending a number of housing events. We attended the Great Housing Debate organised by the PR consultancy Wriglesworth where Censeo MD Rupi Hunjan asked the panel whether the Government was doing… Read more »
First time buyer activity remains strong
17 May, 2013
According to a new report by the Council of Mortgage Lenders, first-time buyer activity remained strong in March. Over 19,000 loans (worth some £2.4 billion) were advanced to first-time buyers in March, up from 15,900 loans in February but down on the 24,400 loans advanced in March last year. However, March 2012 marked the end… Read more »
Free service launched to help social tenants
16 May, 2013
Some of the biggest housing associations in England are planning to hand over rental payment data to a credit ratings giant in order to build their tenants’ credit history and help them access more affordable finance. Later this month Big Issue Invest, the social investment arm of The Big Issue, is launching a national scheme with… Read more »