News Trading Standards Institute (TSI) warns of 'freezing weather' cons
21/01/2010
The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) is urging residents to beware of rogues offering to check the house for frozen pipes.
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Flooding: what you can do about it
Flooding has long been a reality in our country - but now we have climate change making major incidents far more frequent, while more and more houses are being built in low lying areas. So, if your home is at risk, what can be done? We asked Ronnie Jones of the Environment Agency to explain what practical steps you can take - and what help is on hand.
Are you paying too much for your water?
Could you cut your water bill? Many households will now have received the second water bill of the year, and the Consumer Council for Water is recommending that customers take ten minutes to look through what they are paying for and that charges for water and sewerage services are correct.
Heating helpline helps reduce bills
With the nights drawing in and the weather finally becoming autumnal, you might be interested in the new Heating Helpline. It’s a completely free, impartial advice service
Join a property webchat with Sarah Beeny on Thursday 9th July at 1p.m.
Falling house prices and a shortage of mortgages have scuppered the plans of many first-time buyers, homeowners and property developers. Whether you’re struggling to get onto the housing ladder, can’t decide if now is a good time to sell, or are wondering what improvements will add most value to your home, property expert Sarah Beeny, together with moneysupermarket.com is here to help.
South Hampshire launches PUSH 4 Safer Homes
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Grants and Loans totalling £8million are available across the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) area to make homes safer, warmer and more accessible.
Learn how to restore your period property this summer
Caring for a period property can be rewarding and fascinating - but owners often experience real difficulties trying to find the right information about maintenance and repair. For this reason, The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) is bringing its highly respected Weekend Homeowners’ Courses to Wales at the Ty Mawr, Lime Centre, Brecon June 28th and 29th and then on 13th and 14th September in Somerset.
"Provide homes for older homeless too"
Help the Aged has welcomed the announcement by Housing Minister Yvette Cooper, that a homelessness scheme will receive a £70 million expansion to fund more than 100 new or upgraded hostels with training facilities - and asked for assurance that the needs of older homeless people will be considered.
Inheritance bills to grow as house prices rise
The average house price will rise by 40% over the next five years to reach £302,400, according to new research - which would put the "average" houseowner close to inheritance tax liability, even if allowances do rise in the interim.
"Prioritise housing for older people," Brown urged
In response to Gordon Brown putting housing at the centre of his parliamentary programme, Help the Aged is urging the Government to prioritise the needs of older people.
Helping older people on the move
Although moving can be an unsettling event at any time of life, as one gets older it can seem like an insurmountable problem. A new organisation called Seamless Relocation, which has just won a Business In The Community award and been featured on BBC 2's Working Lunch, can step in to help.
EDF Energy cuts prices “but only reveals loose change”
The energy giant EDF Energy has announced that it is cutting its gas prices by 10.2% with effect from 15 June 2007, but electricity customers will see no price cut, the company saying that it will remain second cheapest for electricity without making a cut.
Get help with your Council Tax
More than 40 percent of pensioners are missing out on help with their Council Tax bills. As a result up to £1.36 billion is going unclaimed by pensioners. What’s more, it’s thought that around half of those missing out are in the poorest fifth of the population.
Property assets on the rise
British pensioners have, between them, benefited in property price rises to the tune of £103.09 billion over the past 12 months, according to the latest figures from HomeWise Retirement Properties' Pensioners Property Equity Index.
Network for Dorset newcomers
In August 2006 dorsetnetwork.com was born, with the aim of helping people to settle and to introduce existing businesses to Dorset’s newest inhabitants.
