House and Home
Smokers forced to lie to find rental accommodation
Filed under: Property, House and Home
A third of smokers lie about their need to light up when seeking a home to rent, according to new research from flatshare website Easyroommate.
And with less than one in 10 landlords allowing tenants to smoke in their properties, it's not hard to see why.
Four energy firms face mis-selling probe
Filed under: House and Home, Families
Ofgem has launched an investigation into four energy companies amid concerns of mis-selling to consumers.The energy regulator said it was prepared to take "strong action" if it found that npower, Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern Energy and EDF Energy were failing to comply with new obligations to prevent mis-selling.
Property prices 'continue to fall'
Filed under: Property, House and Home
Property values fell by 0.9% during August, following a drop of 0.5% in July, the first time house prices have fallen for two consecutive months since February 2009, according to Nationwide.Annual growth was also down, for the fourth month in a row, to 3.9%, the lowest year-on-year rise since November last year.
House prices 'rise £91 a day'
Filed under: Property, House and Home
Homeowners with family properties have seen the value of their houses rise by around £91 a day during the past year, research has indicated.The value of detached homes increased by 13% during the year to the end of June, to stand at an average of £299,295, according to Halifax.
1.2 million customers hit by electricity bill hike
Filed under: House and Home, Families
Utility firm EDF Energy has announced a 2.6% increase in electricity bills for 1.2 million customers.House hunters take sledge hammer approach to create perfect home
Filed under: Property, House and Home
The Bank Holiday provides the perfect opportunity for DIY-ers to get stuck in and give their home a fresh lick of paint or finally build that garden shed, and for househunters to find a new abode.
But how much work are we prepared to take on to achieve the perfect living space? New research from mortgage lender Halifax suggests that the gulf between the type of properties we aspire to and the homes available on the UK market, the answer is often as much as it takes.
Can British Gas solar panels save you £1,000 a year?
Filed under: Saving, House and Home
Now, however, British Gas has become the latest in a bunch of companies to take advantage of a new government scheme that allows you to install solar panels on the roof of your home. And the company claims it could save you as much as £1,000 a year.
Elderly targeted by rogue traders selling mobility aids
Filed under: Retirement, House and Home
Rogue traders are increasingly bullying elderly people into buying overpriced mobility aids and orthopaedic furniture such as scooters, stair lifts and walk-in baths. Sometimes posing as social care workers, they use hard sell tactics to flog their pricey equipment.In one case, a Hampshire man in his 80s was duped into buying a £5,000 motor scooter, even though he already had one. And a cold caller tried to sell an adjustable bed to a 75-year-old couple in Leicestershire for £3,500.
Hopeless kids cost a fortune - and our sanity
Filed under: House and Home, Families
Anyone with kids under the age of 35, brace yourself for some bad news: they are never going to stop asking for your help. A new survey has found they are incapable of the basic skills required to get through every-day life, and still call on their mum and dad for help.So how did we end up with a useless generation, and how much is it costing us?
Find cheap workers - Beckhams take note
Filed under: Celebrity Pockets, House and Home
David and Victoria Beckham have been advised to sack 14 members of their domestic staff. I'm sure we have all had to do that at some point.According to the Sun, the Beckhams made 14 of their 50 employees spread around the globe redundant after their financial adviser told them: "You're pouring money down the drain." If only they had used one of the services for finding reliable workmen we suggest below.
