LesDawson

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9820129/Estate-agents-charge-potential-buyers-30-just-VIEW-property.html Blimey

When the pandemic was starting up in February 2020, One thing I definitely did not forsee was a huge house price boom. It's absolutely bonkers.

Not even being mentioned on the news, instead we hear about Boris's flat and Matt Hancock getting the jab...this is a major scandal.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/29/leaseholders-horrified-after-final-vote-on-10bn-fire-safety-costs I see this was added to the long thread on Grenfell and Cladding, but with the vote in, and that disgraceful result I think this deserves it own thread. Unbelievable, disgusting.

It's incredibly depressing if you are looking for a place to live.

A whole generation screwed.

The housing market has been mad for 20 years, but the last year has gone completely Certified nsane. This time 18 months ago I was looking at entry level houses on the south coast... Nowadays I am looking at 2 bed flats at the same price...(which I won't do...I am still going for a house, just not near the south coast).

https://www.ft.com/content/c8959502-7dae-43b1-b993-3bf85fb4325a

I thought it was an excellent program showing a number of issues Shared Ownership 'owners' face in 30 minutes. I lived / was trapped in a S.O. flat for 11 years, horrific really...I really came close to suicide, and seems they are only getting worse. It's legal gangsterism to me. Was surprised to see they were still claiming to be 'charitable' organisations, I thought they had given up saying that years ago. I wouldn't trust any of them.

I do like this....you can get a bit mind screwed by his nonsense in the middle, but the bitter sweet ending is spot on.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/house-prices/soaring-property-market-wont-last-estate-agents-warn-boom-followed/ Behind paywall, but the headline pretty much says what I think has been happening the last 6 weeks or so, and hopefully is correct in its general thoughts on the near future . I have been keeping an eye on an area in the south coast, and went on a few viewings just after the No Stamp.Duty thing was announced... I saw 7 houses in 3 days, 4 of which were Sold STC within a few days...I put in one offer on the only house I thought was worth close to what they were asking, (I actually offered about 12% off asking price though)... And the EA said nothing was going for less than a few per cent off asking price at the moment. But this week I have been in the same area and noticed 2 of those properties are now back on sale, one of which has had 5% knocked off, and also seen a few new properties to market at a lower price than they would have been just a month ago. I think the falls are just starting to begin, hopefully.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/house-prices-lowered-30-first-22476000 How long would such a bill take to pass ? And is it yet another way to mess up the housing market, and in a way an emittance that house prices need to fall 30% to make them affordable anyway.

Thanks for the replies. (Well most of you ? )

Oh that's HMO, sorry. Yeah, so I had been looking at houses up North or flats down the coast, and don't drive, so would be getting trains to get around.

I know you are only supposed to be traveling on public transport for essential reasons, but for somebody like me who is living in a rented MHO flatshare (and it's been awful under lockdown) that was looking for a while at getting a decent place to live... Wouldn't that be essenitial travel ? Finding a decent home to live in is pretty essential I would say, but i feel that the authorities would not agree... Maybe if you have proof that you are going to some viewings (emails from estate agents, etc), maybe that might help. All I know is I really don't recommend living in small bedroom with 6 people sharing a shower (as the other one broke) and a kitchen and that's it, been very tough couple of months.