Petra Ecclestone, FOrmula One heiress, drives neighbours up the wall!!

Petra Ecclestone, daughter of the Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, has upset the Chelsea locals with her renovations plans to demolish a 200-year-old lodge. Her outraged neighbours accused her of being responsible for “Botox” architecture.

Daughter of the Australian impresario Sir Frank Tait, Isla Baring said that “The noise is a nightmare at eight every morning, on the dot, and Saturday mornings as well...They are drilling down three or four blocks. They will probably hit the Thames.” 

She tells Mandrake that the previous owner of the Grade II-listed house, the JCB boss Sir Anthony Bamford, had invited neighbours to see his plans for the property when he wanted to renovate it, but she heard nothing from Ecclestone.


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RBS chief gives wife £8m mansion in divorce then rents £4m apartment.....

Stephen Hester's fortune has taken a large blow after not only having his annual bonus cut to just under £1 million, but his recent divorce from his wife has set him back an £8million mansion as well as £4million on renting an apartment for himself.

The Royal Bank of Scotland chief and Barbara, his Canadian-born wife, separated in 2010 after 20 years of marriage and raising two children together. Mr Hester's name has now been removed from the ownership documents of their majestic mansion worth £8.6million.

The couple purchased the five-bedroom, four-bathroom mansion in one of the London’s most exclusive areas in 1995 for £1.78million.


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eBay has no limits!! You can bid on clothes, homeware, gadgets and a 700 year old mill!!

Its official! You can get absolutely anything on eBay!

The owner of a mill has been forced to put his 700-year-old home up for auction on eBay after falling on difficult times.

Mike Kilgannon, from Rossett in north Wales, has put up the historic mill for sale at a decreased price of £1.25million with the hope of sealing a quick deal.

After being informed that his historic home would be the subject of a repossession order if he failed to make a quick sale, 68-year-old Mr Kilgannon placed it on the auction site with the tag 'buy it now'.


if you are in need of conveyancing, visit us and compare conveyancing prices with your free quote today!! www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

House prices and plummeting mortgage charges mean you could save £1,400 a year by owning a house instead of renting!!

A recent study has revealed that by owning your own home rather than renting, you could be saving nearly £1,400 a year! Recent mortgage deals mean that you can now pay roughly £600 per month for a standard house with three bedrooms. This is £116 cheaper than the average rent expected for such a property, which is usually around £716. In contrast to this, homeowners in 2008 paid an average of £928 a month, which is a massive 29% more than the then typical rent. For your conveyancing solutions visit us! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Lowest house sales on record in 2011...

According to HM Revenue and Customs, UK house sales fell by 11,000 last year totalling one of the lowest figures on record to date. The figures released by HMRC show that last year only 869,000 residential properties in the UK were sold in 2011. This means that sales figures are coming dangerously close to the lowest since modern records began in 1978 that was experienced in 2009, when only 848,000 homes were sold. The figures reveal that the property market has been in a three-year slump as sales remain at almost half the levels recorded in the run-up to the financial crisis in 2007. Need conveyancing? Visit us! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Cheap loans are destroying first time buyers hopes of owning first home....

Experts have warned that 2012 will be a tough year for first-time buyers trying to get a mortgage, despite the promise banks made to try to increase the number of cheap deals that are available. Mortgage brokers have estimated that even if a person has a 10% deposit, around half of all buyers will be refused a loan. This is taking into consideration the rapid rise recently In the amount of mortgage deals around specifically aimed at first-time buyers. moving home? Need conveyancing? Visit us for your free quote on the best deals around! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

After a tough year in the UK, Gordon Ramsey buys LA home for £4.3 million!

Despite suffering multiple restaurant closures and falling revenues last year, Gordon Ramsey's bank balance remains considerably more sturdy than most! The 45-year-old TV chef has recently paid out £4.3million for a luxury home in Los Angeles as he tries to put a tough year in the UK behind him. Moving home? Compare conveyancing with us! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Couple exchange their home in return for: a bridge?

Grahame Penny and Maggie Taylor have sold both their business and their home, in order to allow them to buy a rural toll bridge that will allow them to earn an income by charging motorists and avoid paying business or income Taxes. The couple brought the bridge, that os situated in Whitmey-on-Wye, between Hay-on-Wye and Hereford, for £403,000. Now you may think that £403,000 is an awful lot to pay for a bridge after selling your home, but the crossing also comes with a two-bedroom cottage and 1.1 acres!! The bridge was originally built in 1779 and was granted exemption from tax by an Act of Parliament due to the fact that it was privately funded. The couple will be liable for annual maintenance and any staff costs however they will be making around £2,000 per month! Are you moving home? Need conveyancing? Compare conveyancing with us! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Children forced to pay the price while families forced to rent...

The Smith family are forced to live in insecure rented accommodation while their daughter Jasmine has had to move schools 3 times at only 9 years old.

Parents Paul and Joanna, and their two daughters Jasmine and Enya, have spent four years living in short-term rented accommodation. Every time a tenancy ended and the landlord wanted the property back, Jasmine was forced to switch schools.

Jasmine's father, an IT engineer, says the frequent changes have affected her more than her younger sister, who was at nursery during the moves: "Jasmine is traumatised. We're settled now and she's got a group of friends, but she is terrified of losing them."


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British countryside is losing historic agricultural buildings....

Our British countryside is losing the once integral parts of its rural landscape. A worryingly increasing number of historic barns and other agricultural barns are disappearing according to a comparison of new and old maps.

According to English Heritage, the comparison showed that over 70% of English field barns have vanished since the mid-19th century.

Stables, fine barns and granaries, already dilapidated when the listing process was introduced in 1947, were not listed and allowed to subside into the mud.

moving home? need conveyancing? visit us!! www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Those living in flood-risk areas are given repossession warning!

Due to a stand off between insurers and the government, over 200,000 people who own homes that are at risk of flooding are facing a threat of repossession of their homes. Thousands of homes that are situated in flood plains could be left uninsured because an agreement protecting them will not be renewed. This deal means insurers will provide cover for homes in flood areas, as long as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs continues to spend money on flood defences. Need conveyancing? Visit us today for your free quote!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

'Master plan' to ease housing shortage causes outrage!!!

A 'master plan' that has been proposed to ease the current housing shortage has caused outrage, with pensioner groups lining up to attack these awful proposals to force elderly people out of their properties and instead, move into homes that are 'more suitable' than their current properties. Grant Shapps, housing minister, has proposed that councils encourage older people give up their homes in exchange for smaller houses so that their homes may be rented out to young families. Any profit made from the houses would, of course, go to their elderly owner, but the local authorities would be responsible for renting the properties and maintaining them, while putting them on the rental Market for affordable prices for new and young families. Need conveyancing? Visit us to compare conveyancing prices NOW and get your free quote!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Government reports show that house prices are still at a standstill

New government figures have revealed that over the past year, house prices have fallen by 0.3%, and remained at a stand still in November after being down by 0.2% over the quarter leading up to November.

According to the Department for Communities and Local Government, Northern Ireland witnessed the biggest fall in house prices, which were down by 11.7% in comparison to 2010, which falls two months behind other house price indices.

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Cheapest EVER mortgage deals on the horizon!!

Recent research has shown that due to the rock bottom interest rates that we have seen as of late, mortgage lenders are now able to offer some of the best deals EVER seen! We have seen some mortgage repayments drop to as low as £494 per month!! Some of the lowest figures in mortgage history. However, a warning to those wh may be seduced by this notion! Lending criteria this year is said to be much more strict this year! If you plan on moving house in the new year and need conveyancing, visit us to compare conveyancing prices TODAY! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

As house supply runs dry, searches for new homes increase....

Property website, Rightmove has received record highs in searches over the new year, but u fortunately is coinciding with the lowest number of new homes on the Market for over ten years. Rightmove have predicted a "challenging" year, while buy to let investors will Come out on top in the rapidly booming rental sector. The report showed that in the first ten days of 2012, there were over 44million searches! This is a 27% increase on last year!! While the report also shows record lows in supply as people grow ever more wary of sellin in such an unfruitful climate. need conveyancing? Visit us today!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Shortage of 1 million homes by 2015 in Britain!!

According to a statement released yesterday by Barratt Developments, Britain is facing a housing shortage due to the inability for construction to keep up with the ever growing demand and rapidly increasing population that will amount to a shortage of 1 million homes by 2015.

Mark Clare, who is chief executive of the company has said that: ‘There is a large amount of pent-up demand. We are building, as an industry, 120,000 homes a year, but the requirement is for well over 200,000.
‘So there is a supply and demand gap opening up quite quickly. We are well short of the number of homes required.’


if you are moving home and need conveyancing, visit us for your FREE quote today and find the cheapest deal for you!! www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Cotswolds named A-list capital of UK!!

Far away from the bright lights and hustle and bustle of the big city, lie the cosy countryside pubs and honey stone cottages of the Cotswolds. Perhaps these are just a few reasons why the Cotswolds are luring so many celebrities away from the London life and instead seeking a rural retreat. In fact, a study has found that the region is home to more stars per acre than anywhere outside the capital. There are around 50 celebrities with bolt-holes in the Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire countryside. Need conveyancing? For the best conveyancing solutions for you at the BEST prices, contact us!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Introducing the 'approved solicitors panel' for conveyancing... brought to you by HSBC

After a change in the lenders rules regarding HSBC's mortgage policy, homebuyers who take a mortgage from HSBC will be forced to use one of a panel of 43 firms chosen by the bank to do their legal work, or face paying more for their conveyancing.

Prior to this announcement, customers were able to choose their own legal representation and their chosen firm would also act for HSBC. However, after receiving warnings over mortgage fraud from the National Fraud Authority and an instruction from the Financial Services Authority telling lenders they need to know the firms they work with better, HSBC has announced this will not be an option.

Instead, borrowers can opt to have one of the panel do their legal work too, at a fixed cost, or choose to use their own solicitor and pay a separate fee of £192 (£160 plus VAT) for HSBC's lawyer. In most cases that will be more expensive than using the panel.


If you are planning on moving house and are in need of conveyancing, visit us! Our service allows you to compare conveyancing prices to find the best deal for YOU! for your free quote go to www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Long term mortgaged: to take out? or not to take out? now THAT is the question!!

Homeowners who are seeking advice about whether or not to take out a mortgage are being urged away from the more traditional 2 year offers, and encouraged to take out a longer term deal instead.
These longer term deals save homeowners the trouble of switching every two years as the rates available on fixed deals and trackers can me far cheaper, saving hassle AND money! Not only this but they could also avoid sharp rises in interest rates when they do eventually start to go up.


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Britain's Got Talent judge latest member of Chipping Norton Set.....

Chipping Norton is renowned as the rural home of the rich and powerful, where members of high society rub shoulders with celebrity neighbours, including David Cameron. Heavily pregnant Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden is the latest star to join the Chipping Norton set, having just purchased a beautiful 17th Century cottage near the Cotswolds market town. She has brought the house with record producer husband Chris Hughes, 36 for an estimated £860,000. Planning on moving home? Need conveyancing? For the best conveyancing price for you visit us! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Leading property firm reports annual loss of £22million!!!

Killultagh Estates, a company controlled by Frank Boyd, who is one of Northern Ireland's most wealthy property developers, has recently reported an annual loss of £22million.

The firm had an effective trading loss of around £400,000 but the company's total losses were forceded higher by inter-company write-offs and impairment charges.

An unrealised loss on the revaluation of properties means that Killultagh's total recognised loss amounts to nearly £51m for the year.

moving home? need conveyancing? compare conveyancing prices with us today for the BEST deal for YOU!! www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

House smothered with ivy gets a much needed hair cut!!

A house situated in Chelmsford, Essex was put up for sale last year, was covered top to toe, inside and out, with only the chimney left visible has been given a new lease of life with a long over-due haircut! The detached house, with three bedrooms would usually have an asking price of £350,000, however the ivy blanket covering the house meant that agents were asking for as little as £120,000 as a starting price. The previous owner of the property had allowed the ivy to grow and grow for over 20 years, without so much as a trim. This resulted in the home being totally covered, inside and out, windows and all to the point where it was barely recognisable as a house. Moving home? Need conveyancing? Visit us!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Luxury rents in Hong Kong drop due to banking cuts!!!

HSBC have announced plans to cut over 3,000 jobs over the course of the next 3 years, following cutbacks made earlier this year by Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs and Australian bank, Macquarie. The property Market in Hong Kong is feeling the effects of the loss of highly paid bankers an financial services staff, with the luxury accommodation formerly favoured by expats feeling the biggest blow. “On the leasing front, the holding back of the inflow of expatriates, particularly in the banking and finance sector, amid global market uncertainty will slow down the demand of luxury residential leasing. In the next twelve months, luxury residential rents are projected to drop between six and 10 per cent," said Yu Kam-hung, senior managing director of valuation and advisory services in Greater China for CB Richard Ellis. For your conveyancing solutions visit us!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Eurozone banking pressure defied as Bank of England approves more mortgages.....

Figures released today have shown a significant boost for the housing Market today as a surprising rise in the number of mortgages that were approved in November has defied the increasing pressures from eurozone banks. According to the Bank of England, this unexpected surge in mortgage approvals for purchases of new properties is the highest it has been in nearly 2 years!! However, as banks tighten lending conditions economists are warning that deals may become more restricted as the outlook on the future of our economy continues to be somewhat uncertain. Need conveyancing? Compare conveyancing with us TODAY!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

UK's TOP house price performer in 2011: Woking!!

According to a study recently commissioned by Halifax has revealed that Woking, in Surrey, was subject to the vastest rise in house prices among major cities and towns in the UK in 2011. In Woking, which is a town easily commutable from central London by train, the average selling price was 16% higher than in the previous year. The data, based upon the Halifax's own data revealed that prices increased to £299,654 in 2011 from a mere £257,590 in 2010. Planning on moving home? Need conveyancing? For the best conveyancing near you visit us! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

"Subletting council houses could become criminal offence"!!!!

"Council tenants are to be banned from subletting their properties as the government prepares to introduce criminal offences to crack down on the "scandal" of housing tenancy fraud and abuse.

A small number of council tenants who earn more than £100,000 a year will also face eviction if they refuse to pay unsubsidised rents closer to the market rate.

The changes are being championed by Grant Shapps, the housing minister, who is to launch a consultation process in advance of possible legislation. Shapps wants to target the 160,000 tenants who sublet their properties and the 6,000 social housing tenants who earn more than £100,000 a year."


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article by Simon Bayliss, published on 2/1/12