Refinance Home – Bad Credit Loans

Empty properties ‘grow by 12,000′

The number of empty properties in England has risen by nearly 12,000 over a year, prompting calls for action.

Figures from Halifax show a 1.8% increase, as 662,105 homes stood empty in April.

And although the number of long-term empty private homes in England has fallen to its lowest level since 2008 – to 292,313 in April – this figure still accounts for 1.6% of all private homes in England.

The North West has the highest number of long-term empty homes (63,696), accounting for over a fifth (22%) of the total across England.

The lender explained this has a “significant impact” on the UK property market, and hinders first-time buyers from getting onto the property ladder.

Mortgage director at Halifax, Stephen Noakes, said: “At a time when first-time buyers are still facing numerous obstacles to getting on the ladder, it is imperative we look further at the issue as an industry.”

Copyright Press Association 2011

East London properties ‘need improvement’ to maximise price boost

Those who own properties in the east of London may need to carry out some work to improve their interiors if they want to cash in on rising price in the area, an expert has said.

Speaking two years before the Olympic games takes place in the capital, franchisee of the Stratford office at estate agency Winkworth Richard Everitt said those who wanted to get a good price for their properties may need to invest in them first.

“You will probably find a lot of people thinking that they are on the gravy train and realistically their properties will not be of a high enough standard,” he noted.

Since the games were awarded to London in 2005, prices in the east of the city have risen by 26 per cent, a Lloyds TSB study revealed this week.

However, while Homerton saw prices rise by 69 per cent and Shoreditch by 53 per cent in that time, Stratford –