Property prices are being slashed due to a combination of unscrupulous estate agents, money grabbing sellers and nervous buyers.

Aside from gilt-edge areas, Kensington and Chelsea, discounting is now rife in the capital as initial asking prices are being recklessly inflated despite assumptions of selling prices falling.

TrustMark is advising homeowners to deal with post-winter repairs sooner rather than later and to begin spring-proofing their homes to prevent additional damage.

Specialist lender aqua card has released a graphic which will help home-movers understand the impact that moving house might have on their credit rating, and the steps they can take to minimise the damage.

With approximately 534,000 people moving house each year1 and only half arranging for their mail to be redirected2, 267,000 new homeowners are at risk of having their credit rating damaged by identity-stealing fraudsters.

Do you work in the UK construction, building or housing industry? If you do, you could be in with a chance of winning a 16GB Apple iPad 2 sponsored by Morar Consulting.  To be entered into the competition all you need to do is participate in a short survey asking your opinion of different brands in the construction industry.  The survey is interactive and easy to complete, and should take no longer than about 10 minutes.

Millions of homes built in the post-war construction era are now reaching the end of their natural life and may need replacing. In fact, the CLG English Housing Survey shows as many as one in five roofs across the country, around 4.8 million, are in need of attention.

You can check your roof for potential problems yourself by simply looking at the roof from a distance and then scanning it with a pair of binoculars.

An online plumbing and heating business is on track to record sales of £16million – an increase of more than 30 per cent on last year.

Wirral-based PlumbNation says massive demand among customers for new boilers, radiators and underfloor heating had resulted in exceptional sales growth.

It said that it was also seeing a surge in interest among customers wanting to give their kitchens and bathrooms a fresh new look, with wet rooms a big favourite.

The National Landlords Association (NLA) has published guidelines for homeowners who are considering becoming a landlord and letting out their home.
 
With the possibility of UK property prices falling by up to 5% in 2012*, many homeowners may consider letting their property as an alternative to selling. A recent NLA survey of landlords found average rental yields are now 6.7%**.
 
David Salusbury, Chairman, National Landlords Association, commented:
 

Christmas certainly costs enough between the décor, the gifts and of course the food. No one wants a burst pipe or a busted boiler swiping hundreds of pounds from their already-stretched budget.

This winter is predicted to be colder than average in the UK, and heating bills are simultaneously skyrocketing. Don’t let your warmth slip through the cracks; make sure your home is properly insulated.

Home improvement retailer Wickes is offering some great deals on insulation to help your home tackle the cold, including cavity wall insulation installation (from £179), loft insulation installation (from £199), and buy one get four free on loft insulation rolls.