News from the Residential Property Investor, the bi-monthly magazine for RLA members other artilces from the January / February 2003 issue RPI news archive

In brief - January / February 2003

Maps identifying potential geological risks to property are being made available by the British Geological Survey. Besides pointing to potential flood risk areas, BGS's maps highlight areas where Radon gas ­ the second largest cause of lung cancer ­ can be a problem. Radon can only be detected by special equipment. All types of soil give it off, and under local authority and law society guidelines a Radon enquiry must now be made as part of all property searches. Other lurking hazards marked out include unstable ground and shallow workings which are often old and less than 150ft underground.

A guide to entitlements to drive over common land to reach a property has been published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Property Act 1925 and Road Traffic Act 1988 combined to forbid gaining access to property by driving over 'common land' without the owner's permission ­ the right could not be acquired by dint of long use. Some landowners had been holding property owners to ransom before granting an 'easement' but new regulations that came into effect last July allow certain owners to acquire a statutory easement allowing vehicular access to their property at a fixed cost. Owners of premises built before 1906 will have to pay 0.25 per cent, those between then and 1930 0.5 per cent and all others 2 per cent of the property value.

Letting agents who are not currentyl members of one of the main industry professional bodies may now join the National Approved Letting Scheme - the Government-backed voluntary accreditation scheme for letting and management agents in the private rented sector. NALS now claims almost 550 member agents, with aproaching 1,000 offices.

Some 6 per cent of householders want to move before next April, according to the latest Sainsbury's Bank Home Moving Index. The East Midlands and Wales were the regions where people were most settled with 4 per cent wanting pastures new. The most restless regions were the South West and the West Midlands where 8 per cent and 7 per cent of people respectively said they intended to move.

For £100, solicitors in the North and Midlands can now use Onesearch Direct to obtain local search information in less than five days. There is no charge in instances where sales fall through. The service has already been running in London and the Home Counties, Sussex, Yorkshire, Oxfordshire and Manchester.
 

other artilces from the January / February 2003 issue

• Damned either way
• Deposit scheme looks set to become mandatory
• RLA tenancy agreement wins backing
• 'Sustainable housing' a Pre-Budget aim
• Appeal Court upholds gay rights
• In brief