theRatandMouse http://www.theratandmouse.co.uk/weblog/ en-us 2010-03-10T15:18:01+00:00 Bolton masses against Gary Neville Teletubby home http://www.theRatandMouse.co.uk/weblog/archives/2010/03/bolton_masses_a.html Residents of Bolton are getting het up by Manchester United footballer Gary Neville's plans for a flower shaped eco-home on green belt land. Quotes - here - from a meeting in a Methodist church hall show how the message... Celebrity homes Ben 2010-03-10T15:18:01+00:00 Agents told, don't panic about iSold http://www.theRatandMouse.co.uk/weblog/archives/2010/03/agents_told_don.html The new, cut-price estate agenting deal offered by Spicerhaart and Tesco has been creating waves within the industry, but Bushells boss, Eric Walker, quoted in Estate Agent Today, urges his colleagues to stay cool. The good guys, apparently, will... Estate agents Ben 2010-03-10T08:27:37+00:00 Tuesday afternoon linkage - all the excitement, captured in pictures http://www.theRatandMouse.co.uk/weblog/archives/2010/03/tuesday_afterno_39.html Google StreetView goes national this Thursday [FindaProperty] Cameron's secret family fortunes [Daily Mirror] House prices to plunge in Chelsea, on news of likely Susan Boyle move [The Sun] Those lousy capital pig nuns [Telegraph] How to start an estate... Linkage Ben 2010-03-09T17:21:35+00:00 Shocking statistics from Govt study into London housing affordability http://www.theRatandMouse.co.uk/weblog/archives/2010/03/shocking_statis.html According to the National House and Planning Advice Unit, 90% of couples under 40 with children can't afford to own a home in London. In the south east as a whole, the figure is 76.2%... hardly cause for a... House prices Ben 2010-03-09T14:45:28+00:00 Market report - RICS predicts beginning of the end of the supply problems http://www.theRatandMouse.co.uk/weblog/archives/2010/03/market_report_r_31.html Remember, it's been a truth pretty much universally acknowledged, that it's not been the number of renters with good fortunes but the lack of available properties that's been supporting the property market recovery in recent months. February - according... House prices Ben 2010-03-09T07:36:41+00:00 Monday afternoon linkage - Foxtons... fXXXed or fabulous? http://www.theRatandMouse.co.uk/weblog/archives/2010/03/monday_afternoo_54.html Foxtons' losses hurt [Citywire] And yet... they plan to expand [Times] A decade of stagnation to look forward to [Observer] iSold.com [Independent on Sunday] Housing policy and the parties [Observer] The Rat and Mouse - London's property blog Technorati... Linkage Ben 2010-03-08T18:05:55+00:00 Phil Spencer advises sell and rent http://www.theRatandMouse.co.uk/weblog/archives/2010/03/phil_spencer_ad.html Somewhat bravely - we believe - Phil Spencer is advising homeowners to sell now, buy again later. Clinch a sale at today’s prices, but buy after the election, when values might dip and you can get more for your... House prices Ben 2010-03-08T15:00:01+00:00 Chester Square... it's still a bit rich http://www.theRatandMouse.co.uk/weblog/archives/2010/03/chester_square.html According to Mouseprice.com, Belgravia's Chester Square remains on top if the UK house price league, with an average property value of £6.6m, proving a vision of a property-owning democracy worked out well for Margaret Thatcher. Technorati Tags: London, property,... House prices Ben 2010-03-08T07:55:13+00:00 Thanks to Primelocation http://www.theRatandMouse.co.uk/weblog/archives/2010/03/thanks_to_prime.html It's time to say a bit "thank you" to our sponsor, Primelocation.com, for both continuing to support this labour of love, and providing a very useful property search function to the Rat and Mouse. We're hope you're using the... About Ben 2010-03-05T16:59:22+00:00 Tales from the front line... "a buy-to-let dream" http://www.theRatandMouse.co.uk/weblog/archives/2010/03/tales_from_the_2.html I was out with the pickiest rental client in the world today, seeing a peach of a bachelor pad on the banks of the Thames. He was late of course, him being a very important person and me being... Letting Ben 2010-03-05T09:19:28+00:00 Will the house of cards topple after the election? http://www.theRatandMouse.co.uk/weblog/archives/2010/03/will_the_house.html Everywhere else you look, extraordinary, temporary measures look like becoming standards on which the house price recovery’s being built. A bank base rate of 0.5%? Fine. It would still be historically extremely low at, say 3.5%, but many believe... House prices Ben 2010-03-05T09:10:42+00:00 FinderMonkey finds errant tenants http://www.theRatandMouse.co.uk/weblog/archives/2010/03/findermonkey_fi.html They're, like, gumshoes for landlords. FinderMonkey finds your fleet-footed tenants if they're left without paying their rent or after damaging your property. They also work on a no-find-no-fee basis; £35 after a successful result. More here. [via PropertyHawk] Technorati... Letting Ben 2010-03-04T07:40:45+00:00 Thursday linkage - furniture for Posh and Becks http://www.theRatandMouse.co.uk/weblog/archives/2010/03/thursday_linkag_12.html Four sentenced after £3m mortgage fraud investigation [Herts Police] Giant landlord unimpressed by current house prices [Business Week] Interview with Greene & Co's David Pollock (the one off the telly) [Digital Property Group] Furniture for Posh and Becks [Trendir]... Linkage Ben 2010-03-04T07:39:06+00:00 Outlook: RICS vs Investors' Chronicle http://www.theRatandMouse.co.uk/weblog/archives/2010/03/outlook_rics_vs.html "It seems unlikely prices will dip again" this year, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, who point to limited supply and continuing low interest rates as reasons for faith in UK residential property prices. But - according... House prices Ben 2010-03-04T07:38:44+00:00 Wednesday linkage - key workers fear property fire sale http://www.theRatandMouse.co.uk/weblog/archives/2010/03/wednesday_linka_9.html Lonton property tycoon in massive fraud case [Guardian] Amy Winehouse buys Camden mansion [Digital Spy] London key workers fail crown property fire-sale [Guardian] Knight Frank shows price bump for prime London, driven by foreign buyers [International Property Journal] The... Linkage Ben 2010-03-03T08:20:02+00:00