Chris Giles Chris Giles from COMMENT May 24, 2013

Risk of creating another housing bubble

A builder is seen silhouetted as he works on the roof timbers of a new house at a Persimmon Plc construction site for residential housing in Salisbury, U.K., on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. Persimmon, the U.K.'s largest homebuilder by market value, widened its operating margin to 12.2 percent in the first half from 9 percent a year earlier. ©Bloomberg

The chancellor should be working to build homes, not push prices up further

To Let Signs UK ©PA May 24, 2013

Call for better rental protection

Check your letting agent has client money protection

A pedestrian passes a branch of the Bank of Ireland Plc. in Dublin, Ireland ©Bloomberg May 24, 2013

Borrowers urged to complain to BoI

Bank announces mortgage rise reprieve for 1,200

The morning sun reflects on the sea beyond the chimney pots on rooftops of houses in St Ives on May 28, 2010 in Cornwall, England. A recent report has shown that in some parts of the town, over 35 percent of the houses are classed as second homes and overall the population of St Ives has dropped 13 percent since 2001 as a result. The coalition government is widely expected to increase non-business capital gains tax (CGT) in the next few weeks - which could see second home sales taxed at a rate of 40 percent or 50 percent from the existing level of 18 percent. Critics have claimed the increase is a tax on the middle class and punishes long-term investors and savers and will lead to a fire sale of property before the tax is introduced. Supporters claim it will bring fairness to the tax system and will possibly mean more affordable properties being available to local and first time buyers ©Getty From UK May 24, 2013

Mortgage approvals edge up in April

Banks optimistic about schemes to help first-time buyers

A customer leaves after using an ATM machine outside a branch of the Bank of Ireland in Belfast ©EPA May 21, 2013

Bank of Ireland U-turn on mortgage rise

About 1,200 customers will no longer face increase

A sign hangs above a branch of the Co-operative Bank ©Getty From SAVINGS May 17, 2013

Q&A: What next for Co-op Bank

Collapse of Lloyds deal preceded credit rating cut

Generic pictures of workers on a building site. ©Charlie Bibby May 17, 2013

Build it yourself – the market moves on

Government encourages ‘custom build’

May 17, 2013

A fifth property tenure?

A new way to alleviate the current housing shortage

David Nutley, an estate agent, is seen placing a "For Sale" advert in the window of the estate agents office in this arranged photograph in Folkestone, U.K., on Tuesday, April 9, 2013. An index of U.K. house prices rose in March as transactions picked up and the outlook improved, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said ©Bloomberg May 10, 2013

Landlords ‘face more red tape’

New immigration checks announced by government

May 10, 2013

Building societies target first-timers

39 out of 54 loan products are from mutuals

May 9, 2013

Lending to landlords falls in first quarter

33,500 buy-to-let loans advanced

May 3, 2013

Interest-only repayment shock

1.3m may struggle to repay mortgage

May 3, 2013

Nervous wait for Harlequin investors

Company says it cannot currently refund deposits

Your Questions from ADVICE & COMMENT May 3, 2013

Your questions: Can I challenge mother’s will?

Am I entitled to half her house?

Merryn Somerset Webb from ADVICE & COMMENT May 3, 2013

Merryn Somerset Webb: Interest-only, a big problem?

Look at the numbers and the mortgages aren’t so bad

May 3, 2013

Rate increases for BoI borrowers

13,500 hit by rise in mortgage costs this week

Apr 26, 2013

Lowest-rate five-year fixed loans

HSBC launches five-year deal at 2.49%

Apr 26, 2013

Mortgage rates likely to stay low

BoE announces extension of Funding for Lending

Apr 26, 2013

Energy suppliers tout long-term deals

Energy suppliers offer fixes, but with exit penalties

From COMPANIES Apr 24, 2013

BoE opens FLS door to landlords

State-backed fillip to the property market