Budget offers benefits to small businesses
Today\'s Budget provides some welcome tax measures for small businesses, with chancellor Alistair Darling\'s announcement of capital gains tax relief for entrepreneurs and an increase in funding through the small firms\' loans scheme.
Green Budget measures \"a drop in the ocean,\" warn industry leaders
Chancellor Alistair Darling’s new target to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 must go further, industry has warned, following the Budget announcement.
Budget focused on “stability” misses stamp duty reform opportunity
Chancellor Alistair Darling has delivered his first Budget, missing a key opportunity to give the housing market a much needed injection by reforming stamp duty to make first time buyers exempt, or at least to raise the threshold.
CML reports 34% slump in mortgage lending in January
Latest data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders shows the continuing impact of the credit crunch, as mortgage lending in January slumped by 34% on the same period last year. The January figures, showing 50,300 loans were provided for house purchases that month, were down 19% on December.
Stamp duty must be cut to aid first time buyers – HBF
HBF has called for the stamp duty threshold to be increased to £250,000 ahead of tomorrow’s Budget announcements.
RICS survey shows near historic high in house price fall reports
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors\' latest monthly survey reveals that the proportion of surveyors reporting house price falls across the country rose to a near historic high of 64.1% in February. This was an increase from the balance of 54.7% of surveyors who reported price falls in January, suggesting the situation is deteriorating.
Liberal Democrats propose hike in social housebuilding
The Liberal Democrats have used their spring conference to add their voice to calls for a major increase in social housebuilding, backing measures to build 1.3 million new social homes over the next ten years.
Bovis warns of 20% drop in volumes if tough market continues
Bovis is the last volume housebuilder to post results for 2007, and it saw turnover drop 6% during the year to £555.7 million, and a 6% reduction in pre-tax profits to £123.6 million.
Mixed reactions to HIPs trials
The public is happy with home information packs (HIPs) but agents could do more to push them through, CLG has claimed.
Concern over MPC’s interest rate decision
Industry has expressed concern over the monetary policy committee’s decision to hold interest rates at 5.25%.
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