Posts with tag: Bristol

House Price Growth in Bristol Surpasses London

Published On: June 29, 2016 at 9:35 am

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Bristol has become the first city outside of the South East to record greater house price growth than London for more than six years, according to the latest UK Cities House Price Index from Hometrack.

House Price Growth in Bristol Surpasses London

House Price Growth in Bristol Surpasses London

Annual house price growth in Bristol reached 14.1% in May, surpassing London (13.8%) and Cambridge (13.4) to top the chart.

Hometrack reports that this trend has seen large regional cities experiencing the highest growth rates over the past three months, led by Liverpool (5.4%), Bristol (4.2%), Manchester (3.9%) and Leeds (3.7%), driven by an improving economic outlook and strong demand from landlords ahead of the 1st April Stamp Duty deadline. Overall, city level house price growth rose from 10.8% in April to 11.2% in May.

However, London was one of eight cities to record slower annual house price growth, down from 14.2% in April to 13.8% in May.

House price growth across UK cities

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Hometrack expects to see a rapid deceleration in house price growth over the next six months, particularly in the capital, as buyers approach a wait-and-see approach to assess the short-term impact of the Brexit.

The Insight Director at Hometrack, Richard Donnell, comments: “House price inflation in major cities outside of London and the South East, such as Bristol and Liverpool, has been accelerating, but it is now expected to slow towards low single digits in the coming months, as demand cools on the back of the EU referendum result. At present, we expect housing market turnover to bear the brunt of increased uncertainty rather than house prices.

“Standing back from the immediate turmoil in financial markets, the reality is that the fundamentals of the housing market remain unchanged, with record low mortgage rates and a wide imbalance between supply and demand. The UK doesn’t have a problem with housing demand – the more important question is how many buyers and sellers feel confident to participate in the market in the near term.”

He adds: “Market sentiment can change quickly, and the sooner a clear picture emerges over the likely impact on the economy and the outlook for jobs and mortgage rates, the sooner transaction volumes should stabilise and more buyers return to the market.”

Police Hunt for Rental Conman in Bristol

Published On: December 28, 2015 at 11:44 am

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Categories: Landlord News

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A conman who pretended to be a landlord and tricked several hopeful tenants into paying him thousands of pounds is being tracked down by police.

Four individuals each paid around £1,100 in rent and deposits to Arkadiusz Sylwester Nader for the same studio flat in Bedminster, Bristol.

However, when they came to move into the property, the so-called landlord had disappeared with their money. The flat on North Street is owned by someone else entirely.

Police are trying to locate the Polish national, who secured the flat through an intermediary, as he does not speak English.

Nader owes one month’s rent on the flat, which is empty apart from a few belongings.

All of the victims are originally from Eastern Europe and were targeted online by Nader, who told them they could move in on 3rd December.

However, none of them have heard from him since.

One victim, Damian Nartowski, is a forklift truck operator. He says that the money he paid was his “full monthly wage”.

He adds: “It [had] a big impact on me because I was struggling to get to the end of the month because I have no money or anything.”1 

Joanna Kedziora, another victim, works as a cleaner in a bank and has lost all of her savings thanks to Nader.

Through a translator, she says: “He harmed a lot of people just before Christmas and he made himself a Christmas present out of some other people’s misery.”1 

She had planned to move into the flat with her daughter.

Avon and Somerset Police is currently investigating allegations of fraud and urges anyone who thinks they may have been a victim to come forward.

1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-35105838

Britain’s Most Festive Home?

Published On: December 10, 2015 at 3:07 pm

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It could be in any town or city around the UK, but this Christmas lights switch-on is held at a family home in Bristol.

Hundreds of people gathered to watch as more than 50,000 lights illuminated an end-of-terrace house in the suburb of Brentry.

Lee and Paul Brailsford have been decorating their mother Rosemary’s home since 1994, raising thousands of pounds for charity along the way. They have donated more than £30,000 to The Grand Appeal over the years, the charity for Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

The £10,000 display takes six weeks to put up and three days to take down. It features a huge 70 light-up figures, including Santas and snowmen.

The lights are turned on for six hours a day for 31 days over the festive season.

Visitors may not notice the 200,000 metres of cabling, but are sure to spot the largest attraction – a rare life-sized nativity set from the USA.

Lee explains how it began: “We started decorating the house more than 20 years ago and each year it’s got bigger and bigger.

“We wanted to raise money for The Grand Appeal as Paul and I both have young children and we realised how lucky we are to have such a fantastic hospital right on our doorstep if ever we needed it.

“We raised more than £8,000 last year alone and would love to do even better this Christmas.”

He continues: “The switch-on is a lot of work, but it’s also really exciting. All our friends and family come along to help and the whole community turns out to see the lights go on.

“The reaction when we press the button for the first time makes it all worthwhile.

“We are really proud that it has become such an important part of people’s Christmases, as well as having raised so much money for such a brilliant cause.”1

The family’s first decoration was a small light-up Christmas tree, but their collection now includes 15 Santas, ten reindeer and ten snowmen.

Additionally, there are 30 sets of rope lights, ten sets of twinkling icicles, 50 rope-light shapes, trains, elves, soldiers and the nativity set on a purpose-built stage.

Most of the lights are supplied by local businesses, with the pair stocking up in the January sales every year.

Last year, the display raised £8,100 for The Grand Appeal – its most successful year so far.

This year, after Bristol was named as the European Green Capital, the brothers began converting all of the 50,000 bulbs to LEDs.

The display costs around £600 to run, and 19 local firms have sponsored this year’s spectacle to help cover costs and provide equipment for the switch-on.

Director of The Grand Appeal, Nicola Masters, says: “The Brailsford family has been supporting The Grand Appeal with their amazing lights display for many years and we’re so grateful for their incredible support.

“The switch-on has become something people from all over the region really look forward to and the event that really gets people into the Christmas spirit.

“As well as bringing so much Christmas spirit to the community, the money raised has helped our charity to support countless sick children at Bristol Children’s Hospital and their families.

“Every penny raised will help Bristol Children’s Hospital to continue to provide them with the very best care and make their Christmas that little bit brighter.”1 

1 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/12028373/Britains-most-festive-house-50000-Christmas-lights-illuminate-Bristol-home.html