" f s '3 2 Clitheroe A d ve r t ise r & T im e s , Thursday, March 4th, 2010 www.cIitheroeadvertIser.co.uk ■ ■ Ciithenoe 422324 (Editoriai), 01282 426161 (Adverfising),Bumiey 01282422331 (Ciassified) J ! U t ­ i l


UK house prices rose again in Jan­ uary as confidence increased despite the bad weather hitting the industry, according to the lat­ est RIGS national Housing Mar­ ket Survey. The survey is based on reports from


Prices rise again as confidence returns


The RIGS spokesman on the North-


West housing market, Mr John Halman, said the start of the year had not been too bad for his Cheshire-based estate agency. “J a n u ^ saw an upturn in activity


chartered surveyors across the country, with the majority feeling the fall in activity levels was temporary due to the bad weather. In the North-West, they are optimistic


about the future with sales expectations rising in January to 55% from 45% in December. Looking ahead for the next three


months, regional surveyors were positive, with more expecting prices to rise than fall. The figures show that, in the last three months, 19% saw prices rises, only 7% saw falls while 74% said prices were unchanged.


and viewings, despite a slow start due to bad weather. Agreed s ales show a 27% ■ improvement on 2009 which is a good sign for the spring market,” he said. However, the bad weather had an .


effect on the market overall, as new . ■ buyer inquiries fell to 7% from 37% and newly agreed sales decreased to 6% from 16% as people put off travelling and con­ ducting business during the January ' snow.


.. ' Across the UK in January, 32% more


chartered surveyors reported a rise rather than a fall in house prices, up from 30% in December. However, the net bal­ ance of surveyors reported that buyer inquiries fell for the first time in 14


months, while new instructions dropped for the first time in seven months. , Around 20% more chartered survey­


ors reported a fall than a rise in new buyer inquiries, down from a positive reading of 18%, while a net balance of 5% of surveyors saw a decline in new instructions, which compares with a pos­ itive balance of 15% in December. The bad weather clearly had a nega­


tive affect upon business across the coun­ try, with newly apeed sales also falling for the first time in 10 months. . Surveyors are optimistic that these


negative signs are a reflection of the extreme weather conditions experienced in the early part of the month. The number of surveyors expecting


house prices to rise increased from 12% to 24%, while the number of surveyors expecting sales to pick up over the next three months rose from 7% to 24% in January.


Transaction levels fell slightly in Janu­


ary. The number of sales per survesdng firm fell from 19 to 18, while the closely watched sales to stock ratio - a measure of market slack and a lead indicator of future prices -


fell for the second succes­


sive month. RIGS national spokesman Mr Ian


Perry, who is based in the North-West, said: “The cold snap in January clearly had a h u p impact upon both supply and demand in the housing market, with activity coming to a halt amid the sea­ sonal chaos. Activity and interest is like­ ly to pick up in the coming months as the market experiences a spring bounce.


“House prices are likely to rise in the


short-term, but if more supply continues to come onto the market it is possible that the market will run out of steam in the latter part of the year.”


&)id ^11 mil Help for rent-paying SttrJfortotl R'bble Valley parents


TH E Met O f f ic e is warning of more co ld weather to come - and it looks like the plung­ ing temperatures will fre e z e . our b a n k accounts, too. New research has


revealed that repair bills will exceed £343 million, with approxi­ mately one million households suffering costly home emergen­ cies as.a result of the wintery weather con­ ditions.


The new figures,


released by UK home emergency and repair body HomeServe, are likely to send a chill down most people's spines as they grapple with the cold weather and lingering effects of the credit crunch. Over the next week


- it is predicted that over 381,000 boilers will break, 213,000 central heating sys- • terns will fail and 170,000 pipes will burst. Many households do


not have sufficient funds set aside in


case of a household emergency and it is


. estimated that 81,000 householders will not be able to afford repairs to their proper­


ties damaged by the c o ld . " " ' ' '^ " ’ ■ Jon Florsheim, CEO


of HomeServe Mem­ bership, said: “The expected cold snap will potentially cause many householders ' great distress, as a result of not only dam­ age to their properties but also the financial cost of paying for repairs. “Househoiders


should take proactive steps to help ensure their property is pro­ tected against the cold, ensuring pipes are-lagged and boilers regularly serviced. “It is crucial that if


householders do not ' have home emergency ) insurance that they have sufficient funds to pay for repairs, oth­ erwise they cpuld find - themselves exposed without heating or hot water.” he added. -


m m


of life changing advice


NEW help is available for Kib­ ble Valley parents paying rent. K a ty M a r sh a ll, manager of


th e lo c a l C i t iz e n s A d v ic e B ur eau , w a n t s anyone w i th ch i ld r en Moving in r en ted - accommodation and not receiv­ ing housing bene f it to contact her. ■ She said: “I would urge any ­


one who g e ts child benefit and rents their home to check again if they can get Housing Benefit payments.. And_ these days, you get this paid straight to you to pass on to your landlord so they don’t have to know that you’re “on bene f it” which is a private matter. • “The extra support can make


a difference if a family is star t - - ing to fe el th e effect of higher


advice bureau


heating b i l ls or a reduction of hours at work.” '


. She has calculated that a sin­ g le p a r en t :w ith two child ren who previously just missed get­ t in g help tow a rd s th e ir r en t could now be entitled to housing benefit of up to £21.58 a week. Some parents who are already


receiving housing b ene f it will- autom a t ica lly see the amount they are ent it led to go up, and more people will also become eli­


gible for he lp in pa y in g their council tax bills. . The extra money will be avail­


able to h e lp a l l te n a n t s w ith - children, wheth er - they liv e in council housing, housing associ­ ation property or private r en ted. accommodation. ; The a d d i t io n a l m o n e y has


been m ade ,a v a ilable b e c a u se income from child benefit is no


; longer taken into account when ’ i t comes to calculating en t it le ­ m en t to hou sing b en e f i t an d . council tax benefit. ■


■ ' . -


All parents who are in rented * accommodation and are n o t a t


; present getting any housing ben­ e f it can contact Ribble V a lley


. Citizens Advice; Bureau^ or th e ' Ribble Valley Borough Council’s . housing benefit department on


' 01200 414453, to find out if they • . qualify for this extra help.; -v


• T h e CAB offices in Wes-


J e y a n Row, Parson L a n e in Clitheroe is open from 10 a.m.


to. 4 p.m. every week day except '


: Wednesday. ,The Ad /numb er is 01200 428966 and the . appointment line is 427316: ^ '


today news isioyep


.co.uk


THEJGoundl ofiAfortj| in’Jm i i^ ;


mortage Imding^^^pri^f! ih^ y 'du e to the end of' the stamp duly holida^j which prompted a nish to buy homes'in Decern-;


In auhuim'2008/ th e | Government o p t^ to t


increase the stamp'dutyl thr^old from £125,000 to £175,000 in a bid^to C revive the hou^g'mar-* lffit;whi(*/was su f fe r at the time from pluhft:g meting ho&'piricK ^ d the lack of m p r t^ ^ /p s availability;:;^ SiCpnsequmtly propel


tiKimderjE175,000,w^ e } ^ p t fromjhe tax:5i § However, this ended dhS DeMmbff 3 1 s ^ © f Accoidmg to the J


CML,'UKm"ortg^';A lending d i ^ by 32% to £9.1 billion in January}£ compiared with the pre-f viousmonth.'*,


. The hgure also r e p ^ l


sented afall of 21% compart with Januay/- 2009, arid the lowest;--■ monthly, total for 10 years.’ '


•' Commenting on the /j


figures, CML economist* Paul Samter, said:, -.-C, | 'Tlecent de\^opmehts .v.i have been influenced by the end of the stamp duty holid^, and are likely to foreshadow a larger than usual seasoh-i al drop off in activity in; the early part of this SSsSi?! year” __i w;; He add^: “The' inai^ ket certanly imprb\^ ^ 3 over the second half o f® I lk y&-'and stated 2010 ill bet^shape^/-’? thanihost.WDuld haTC^^l predicted 12 'months i%.^The Bai^ of Ehig-^% la id is lik^.to keepTSs®^ r a ^ ldw,’'whidi‘^ouid^- TOntinue to mitigafeS^f/*" mortga^p’


^ment'prplte


lems and help cushioh^i' bbiTOTCis from theworail


O n a 'p b s i t iT C n o ^ ^ ® Brim-Mu^ly h eadp f*


lending at M o r t^ g e^ S A d w r e B i ^ ^ s a d i r ^ . u a t y T ^ t i^ i p h a l y a ' f e qinet^'inonffiand arguK not to read to o ^ g much into'the data^ft^y-


sik Mr Miirplyadds that; mortga^ availability is at a 12;month lugh; so'


thm^'shduld start to'W5§ i m p r o v a - ^ A ^ ^ ^


H-


It'inity Cottage^ 2 Park Gate Row Copster Greea


' lous stone cottage,, which’is oh the | market for £339,950. - .Full of nos^gic warmthidt has a porch, cloakroom, dining hall, liv-


Honeywell


15 Waddington Road, ilitheroe


PHIS bay-fronted semi-detached home in a


sought-after location is offered at £229,950. Spacious living accommodation is provided an the ground floor, with a porch and hallway,


[lounge with feature bay window, dining room Tith patio doors to the rear garden, kitchen nth range of cupboards and a separate utility room, as well as a cloakroom. Access to the


attic is via a drop-down ladder on the landing. Of the three bedrooms, the first has a cos­


metic fireplace in a feature surround and the second benefits from fitted wardrobes to one wall. The bathroom has a three-piece suite,


including a panelled bath and corner shower enclosure, together with a separate toilet. Off-road parking for one car is provided on


the driveway. A path from the low mainte­ nance stone-paved front garden leads to the enclosed rear garden, which is mainly paved with separate patio and timber storage shed. For full details visit: www.honeywell.co.uk


/ ■


Manor Rarn l^stpn


Q i j x> '< ^


'■ • THIS barn conversion is oh the market ' for £765,000. In an idyllic rural setting, " ^enjoying idews of the'countryside, the -'


Kffiye-bedroqmediprp’perty has an adjoining paddock and detached garage block.


kx4^hehpacious haUway/dining room has a' a silarge.underateirs storage room and leads «stO ;the lounge with stone minster fireplace.


French doors lead,to the rear patio area and there are also a breakfast kitchen, ' utility, inner hallway and cloakroom.' A timber staircase leads to the first


floor, where the'open landing has the orig- / inal stone barn arch; a walk-round min-'


/Jstrels gallery,and separate seating area. The first bedroom has exposed stone fea­ tures and a foim-piece en-suite bathroom. ‘ The second bedroom also has an en-


/ ; suite shower room and there are three fur­ ther bedrooms and a house bathroom. For details visit: www.athertons.uk:com


, ing room, conservatory, breakfast


‘ kitchen and utility room. A stone spiral staircase leads to


. .-two.dbuble bedrooms - and there is > - potential to split one of them. The ; cottage also has a house bathroom . and en-suite shower room.


■TOTALLY imique, full of ch^ac- * ; ter and oozing quality is this fabuf


. ; -Overlooking a green to the front . and farmland to the rear, there is a ; • rooftop decked balcony and


/delightful stone terraced garden. -. Ring 01200 428691 or visit:, www.andertonbossonet.co.uk ■ .


aitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 01282 426161 (Advertising), Burnley 01282 422331 (Classified) www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk Cl itheroe Ad vert iser & T im e s , Thursday, March 4th, 2010 33 This W66k’s hot proporliosi propertyEi^


Mortimers Ihurch Gates


h4 Sawley Road bhatburn


R N attractive stone-built detached family home is for sale with Mortimers i t £475,000.: This property offers multi-flexible


pitemal living accommodation. It comprises a lounge, sitting room.


dining kitchen, utility room and one- piece cloakroom.


There are four bedrooms, together


with a house bathroom and en-suite facilities.


This property benefits from a


detached annexe, which would be suit­ able for elderly relatives or teenagers or as a work from home unit.


An attractive walled garden can be


found to the rear, and the property enjoys driveway.parking and the benefit of a detached double garage.


(www.mortimers-property.co.uk) ? ' t


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