Latest news with #surveyors
The Sun
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Sun
New map reveals Japanese Knotweed hotspots in UK wiping thousands off house prices – is your town on the list?
JAPANESE Knotweed is the UK's most invasive plant, and it wreaks havoc on homes across the country. With over 100,000 infestations every year, the pesky plant can damage buildings and knock thousands off properties. An interactive online map has been revealed and lifts the lid on where this fast-spreading menace is causing the most destruction. Leading the charge in England is Bristol, officially crowned the knotweed capital with a jaw-dropping 33.91 infestations per square mile. Hot on its heels are Merseyside (11.87), Greater London (7.74), and Lancashire (7.25), making it clear this isn't just a rural issue – it's a national one. Wales isn't spared either. Newport tops the 2025 list with a staggering 1,747 known cases, closely followed by Cardiff (1,208) and Bridgend (1,209). And while cities are bearing the brunt, rural areas like Gwynedd, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil aren't far behind. The Environet map isn't just for nosy neighbours – it's a vital tool for homeowners, buyers and surveyors. Just pop in a postcode and see your area's risk level at a glance: yellow for low, orange for moderate and red for high. And if you spot a fresh outbreak? You can upload a photo using the 'Add Sighting' feature and help grow the UK's biggest knotweed database. Japanese knotweed isn't just ugly – it can damage buildings, knock thousands off property values and even derail mortgage applications. 'It causes severe damage and can be as bad a Japanese knotweed,' gardeners warned over plant that can devalue your home Knowing what you're dealing with is essential, especially if you're buying, selling or developing. And for those wanting a deeper dive, Environet's KnotSure service combines expert insight with the power of the heatmap. The country saw a growth spurt in June after heavy rainfall after a long dry spell. Sold property expert Terry Fisher warned: "These conditions can result in "growth spurts" for the invasive plant which can cause a plethora of problems for homeowners. Mr Fisher continued: 'We've been basking in the glorious sunshine, but now the rain has made an epic return. 'This combination of wet and warm creates the ideal conditions for Japanese knotweed to thrive and even go into a super growth. "Meaning homeowners might unearth a beast in their gardens this spring," reported The Argus. What does Japanese Knotweed look like? Japanese Knotweed can grow at up to 10cm a day in the summer and reach up to 7ft high. Gardening expert, Kendal Platt, who runs Adventures with Flowers, said: "The shoots look similar to bamboo shoots growing 2- 3metres tall. "They are hollow and coloured red in the Spring and turn green in the summer. "Their leaves which appear in Spring are shield or heart-shaped with a pointed tip and grow at staggered intervals along the length of the shoots. "They can grow up to 20cm long and die back in winter leaving just the brown dead looking canes above ground. They further explained that the flowers appear in late summer as bunches of creamy white flowers growing in amongst the leaves. How to spot a Japanese Knotweed HOW to spot Japanese Knotweed and what to do if you find it. GARDENING expert, Kendal Platt, who runs Adventures with Flowers, said: "Japanese knotweed shoots look similar to bamboo shoots growing 2- 3metres tall". They are hollow and coloured red in the Spring and turn green in the summer. Their leaves which appear in Spring are shield or heart-shaped with a pointed tip and grow at staggered intervals along the length of the shoots. They can grow up to 20cm long and die back in winter leaving just the brown dead looking canes above ground. The flowers appear in late summer as bunches of creamy white flowers growing in amongst the leaves. It spreads through its rhizomes (underground root system) which are dark brown on the outside and orange on the inside. They can burrow up to 3 metres under ground causing damage to buildings and break easily, so can be hard to remove completely. If you find it in your garden it's important to call in a specialist Japanese Knotweed removal company. They use a glyphosate based herbicide which when injected into the plant at the right time of year can kill it. It may take a few years of repeated application to eradicate the plant completely from your property which is why many removal companies recommend a glyphosate treatment programme over a number of years.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK house prices expected to rise but market continues to face uncertainty
UK house prices are expected to rise over the coming year, according to a survey of professionals in the sector, though the market continues to face uncertainty. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) June residential market survey, released on Thursday, found that respondents expected a slightly negative trend in house prices to continue in the short term. However, over the next 12 months, a net balance of +24% expected house prices to rise. The latest Halifax house price index, published on Monday, showed that the average cost of a UK home was little changed month-on-month in June. This stagnation in prices, with the average UK home in June costing £296,665, followed a 0.3% dip in May. As for the lettings market, the RICS survey found that a net balance of +24% of respondents expected rents to rise in the next three months, though this was lower than the +43% who thought this last month. Tenant demand remained largely flat in June, although the survey indicated that landlords continued to leave the sector. Overall, the survey's findings suggested that the UK house sales market showed signs of stabilisation. Its indicator of buyer demand turned positive for the first time since December 2024. It found the net balance for new buyer enquiries rose to +3% in June, which marked a noticeable improvement on the -22% reported in May. However, RICS said that this figure still indicated a period of stabilisation, rather than strong recovery. Read more: 3.5 million on track to pay higher mortgages by 2028 Meanwhile, the national net balance for agreed sales improved significantly from previous months, decreasing to -3% from previous readings of -25% and -28% in earlier surveys. However, RICS said that sales momentum is expected to remain subdued in the near term, despite this improvement. Expectations for sales volumes in the near term turned marginally positive in the June survey, with a net balance of +6% compared to -2% in May. However, RICS found that respondents foresee a broadly flat landscape for sales volumes over the next year, with a net balance of +5%. The survey found that new instructions to sell had declined slightly, with the net balance in June dipping to +3% from +7% in May. While RICS said that this signalled a slowdown in the flow of new listings onto the market, 16% of respondents reported an increase in market appraisals compared to the same period last year, suggesting that supply levels remained relatively healthy. Tarrant Parsons, head of market research and analysis for RICS, said: "The UK residential market appears to be entering a more settled phase, with demand showing signs of stabilising following a period of volatility. The earlier distortion caused by transactions being brought forward ahead of the stamp duty changes now appears to have largely dissipated, allowing underlying trends to re-emerge." He added: "Encouragingly, near-term sales expectations have begun to edge higher, pointing to a modest shift in sentiment. That said, confidence in the market remains somewhat delicate, with economic uncertainty at both the domestic and global level still seen as a potential headwind." Read more: Longest 0% balance transfer credit card deals of the week What are branded residences and who's buying them? UK economy faces severe risks as Trump tariffs threaten annual £10bn bill
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Home buyer inquiries increase overall for first time this year
New home buyer inquiries rose overall in June – marking the first month to see an increase this year so far – according to surveyors. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics), which released the report, said the figures point to a period of stabilisation rather than a strong recovery. Its report for the month of June found that a net balance of 3% of property professionals saw new buyer inquiries rise rather than fall. This was the first time since December 2024 that buyer demand has moved out of negative territory, the report said. It is also a noticeable improvement compared with May, when a balance of 22% of professionals reported a fall in new buyer inquiries, the report said. Despite the positive trend, surveyors expect sales momentum to remain subdued in the near-term, with a broadly flat outlook for sales volumes over the next 12 months. New instructions to sell have seen a slight decline, with a net balance of 3% of professionals seeing a rise in June, down from 7% in May. While this signals a slowdown in the flow of new listings, 16% of professionals reported an increase in market appraisals compared to the same period last year, indicating that supply levels remain relatively healthy. House prices continued to follow a flat or slightly negative trend in June, with a net balance of 7% of professionals seeing price falls rather than increases. The South East, East Anglia and London have seen a more pronounced decline in prices, while Northern Ireland, the North West, Scotland, and the East Midlands experienced clear growth, Rics said. Looking ahead, professionals expect the slightly negative trend at the UK-wide level to continue in the short-term. But when asked about the 12-month outlook, 24% of survey participants expect to see house price increases. Stamp duty changes from April caused some sales to be bunched up earlier in the year as buyers rushed to beat the deadline. Stamp duty applies in England and Northern Ireland. In the lettings market, tenant demand remained largely flat, with a net balance of 2% of professionals seeing a fall rather than an increase. Landlord instructions continued to decline, with a net balance of 24% of professionals seeing a fall. Tarrant Parsons, Rics head of market research and analysis, said: 'The UK residential market appears to be entering a more settled phase, with demand showing signs of stabilising following a period of volatility. 'The earlier distortion caused by transactions being brought forward ahead of the stamp duty changes now appears to have largely dissipated, allowing underlying trends to re-emerge. 'Encouragingly, near-term sales expectations have begun to edge higher, pointing to a modest shift in sentiment. That said, confidence in the market remains somewhat delicate, with economic uncertainty at both the domestic and global level still seen as a potential headwind.' Tom Bill, head of UK residential research at Knight Frank said: 'Demand is recovering after the March stamp duty deadline meant transactions were pulled forward into the first quarter of the year. 'However, as buyers return, they have a lot of stock to choose from, which is putting downwards pressure on prices. Rate cut expectations have grown over the last six weeks due to weak UK economic data, which should support demand over the second half of the year and produce modest single-digit price growth in 2025. A re-run of last year's game of 'guess the tax rise' ahead of the Budget is the biggest risk for sentiment.' Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown said: 'The number of renters looking for a home has remained stable, but landlords continue to pack up and leave the business, so there's still real competition for properties, rents continue to rise and they're expected to keep climbing. 'This is the last thing tenants want to hear, because their finances are already so stretched. The HL (Hargreaves Lansdown) savings and resilience barometer shows on average they only have enough savings to cover two-and-a-half months of essentials – falling short of the amount they need to withstand any nasty surprises. 'Meanwhile, those with a mortgage have enough for more than six months on average, so they have somewhere to turn when times are tough.'
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Home buyer inquiries increase overall for first time this year
New home buyer inquiries rose overall in June – marking the first month to see an increase this year so far – according to surveyors. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics), which released the report, said the figures point to a period of stabilisation rather than a strong recovery. Its report for the month of June found that a net balance of 3% of property professionals saw new buyer inquiries rise rather than fall. This was the first time since December 2024 that buyer demand has moved out of negative territory, the report said. It is also a noticeable improvement compared with May, when a balance of 22% of professionals reported a fall in new buyer inquiries, the report said. Despite the positive trend, surveyors expect sales momentum to remain subdued in the near-term, with a broadly flat outlook for sales volumes over the next 12 months. New instructions to sell have seen a slight decline, with a net balance of 3% of professionals seeing a rise in June, down from 7% in May. While this signals a slowdown in the flow of new listings, 16% of professionals reported an increase in market appraisals compared to the same period last year, indicating that supply levels remain relatively healthy. House prices continued to follow a flat or slightly negative trend in June, with a net balance of 7% of professionals seeing price falls rather than increases. The South East, East Anglia and London have seen a more pronounced decline in prices, while Northern Ireland, the North West, Scotland, and the East Midlands experienced clear growth, Rics said. Looking ahead, professionals expect the slightly negative trend at the UK-wide level to continue in the short-term. But when asked about the 12-month outlook, 24% of survey participants expect to see house price increases. Stamp duty changes from April caused some sales to be bunched up earlier in the year as buyers rushed to beat the deadline. Stamp duty applies in England and Northern Ireland. In the lettings market, tenant demand remained largely flat, with a net balance of 2% of professionals seeing a fall rather than an increase. Landlord instructions continued to decline, with a net balance of 24% of professionals seeing a fall. Tarrant Parsons, Rics head of market research and analysis, said: 'The UK residential market appears to be entering a more settled phase, with demand showing signs of stabilising following a period of volatility. 'The earlier distortion caused by transactions being brought forward ahead of the stamp duty changes now appears to have largely dissipated, allowing underlying trends to re-emerge. 'Encouragingly, near-term sales expectations have begun to edge higher, pointing to a modest shift in sentiment. That said, confidence in the market remains somewhat delicate, with economic uncertainty at both the domestic and global level still seen as a potential headwind.' Tom Bill, head of UK residential research at Knight Frank said: 'Demand is recovering after the March stamp duty deadline meant transactions were pulled forward into the first quarter of the year. 'However, as buyers return, they have a lot of stock to choose from, which is putting downwards pressure on prices. Rate cut expectations have grown over the last six weeks due to weak UK economic data, which should support demand over the second half of the year and produce modest single-digit price growth in 2025. A re-run of last year's game of 'guess the tax rise' ahead of the Budget is the biggest risk for sentiment.' Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown said: 'The number of renters looking for a home has remained stable, but landlords continue to pack up and leave the business, so there's still real competition for properties, rents continue to rise and they're expected to keep climbing. 'This is the last thing tenants want to hear, because their finances are already so stretched. The HL (Hargreaves Lansdown) savings and resilience barometer shows on average they only have enough savings to cover two-and-a-half months of essentials – falling short of the amount they need to withstand any nasty surprises. 'Meanwhile, those with a mortgage have enough for more than six months on average, so they have somewhere to turn when times are tough.'
The Independent
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Housing market outlook ‘more optimistic' for year ahead
Property professionals' expectations for future sales are becoming more upbeat, although the housing market remains subdued, according to surveyors. Looking ahead, a net balance of 25% of professionals expect the number of house sales to increase over the next year, marking the strongest reading since February, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) said. But its May survey also found that 26% of professionals reported seeing new buyer inquiries falling rather than rising, marking the fifth month in a row of decreases. The figure is slightly less downbeat than seen in March and April, Rics said. A net balance of 28% of professionals reported seeing the number of sales agreed falling. Sales volumes are generally expected to flatten out rather than fall in the three months ahead, the survey indicated. House prices also appeared to be broadly flat, with a net balance of 8% of professionals reporting seeing prices fall rather than rise in May, which was slightly more than the balance of 3% who reported seeing this in April. Over the next year, a balance of 34% of property professionals expect house prices to increase. There were also signs of more choice for buyers. A net balance of 7% of surveyors saw a rise in new listings, marking the eleventh month of growth in a row. Valuation activity also picked up, with 19% noting an increase in appraisals compared with a year ago, indicating a potentially more active summer market. In the lettings sector, tenant demand strengthened in May, while instructions from landlords continued to dwindle. As a result, rents are expected to rise further in the near-term, the report said. Rics chief economist, Simon Rubinsohn, said the Government's affordable housing commitments 'should provide greater certainty and support more strategic delivery'. Rics senior economist, Tarrant Parsons, said: 'Sentiment across the UK residential property market remains somewhat subdued, with ongoing uncertainty around global trade policies and the dampening effect of transactions being brought forward ahead of the stamp duty changes at the end of March continuing to weigh on buyer activity. 'However, near-term sales expectations are showing signs of stabilisation, suggesting that while muted conditions may persist in the short-term, a further deterioration appears unlikely. Looking ahead, the outlook is more optimistic, with respondents anticipating a gradual recovery in sales activity over the next 12 months. 'That said, the pace and extent of any improvement will partly depend on the Bank of England's ability to continue cutting interest rates.'
