Sentinel, The; Stoke-on-Trent (UK)

In Brief

WARNING ON BROWNFIELD HOMES HALF a million new homes are at risk of flooding or contamination over the next decade, a report has revealed. Insurer LV= says 125 million square metres of exindustrial land, known as brownfield land, which has been earmarked for new homes could cause problems for homeowners and cost thousands of pounds to address. One in 10 new homes built on brownfield sites over the past 10 years have suffered problems because of the state of the land, LV= revealed. FOREIGN BUY...

Mansion Tax to Help 16,000 On Property Ladder ; Findaproperty.Com Expert Nigel Lewis Answers Your Property Questions

HOW will a mansion tax affect the property market? THERE'S been a lot of talk about mansions and tax recently. Think back to last year's Liberal Democrat manifesto and the party now in a Coalition Government with the Tories was advocating in favour of a special tax of 0.5 per cent on homes worth over Pounds 2 million. The idea, of course, is the Robin Hood principle: goldplated citizens must pay the state more than those with less, all in the interests of the common good. And while the curren...

Rural Retreat Offers Moor Than a Home... ; If You're Looking for a House and Business in One, Pay a Visit to Blackshaw Grange. This Impressive Family Home in Blackshaw Moor Comes Complete with Three Holiday Cottages, Writes Laura Naylorlet There Be Light, Charm and History

HOME to the Williams family, Blackshaw Grange is a 200-year-old farmhouse on the edge of the National Peak District Park. You could be forgiven for missing this stone-built property as you're driving along, as it is hidden away off the main route through Blackshaw Moor.

Landlords May Face Web Rating

A CONSUMER watchdog is calling for a ratings website to identify bad landlords and "empower" private sector tenants before they sign up to lettings agreements. A new report from Consumer Focus says private renters often know very little about their landlords before signing an agreement, which may be a factor in the high levels of complaints in the sector. The watchdog has written to some of the largest letting agents and deposit schemes in England, calling on them to explore how online feedba...

Ideal Home for First Time Buyers

IF YOU'RE looking for a spacious three-bedroom terrace property, 63 Chapel Street could be just what you want. This family home benefits from a lawned back garden and uPVC double glazing throughout. The front door opens into the lounge, which has a bay window at the front. There is a gas fire set in an Adams style feature fireplace with a tiled inset and a marble hearth, and the flooring is laminate. The carpeted dining room has French doors to the back garden and an under stairs store cupboa...

Rural Location Is a Real Draw for First-Timers ; an Opportunity to Purchase a Brand New, Affordable Property in a Rural Setting has Been Welcomed with Open Arms by Homeseekers, Writes Laura Naylor

KINGSLEY View is a select development of eight semidetached homes that have been built by Fresh Living Ltd. Benefiting from off-road parking, private gardens and very affordable price tags, it has already seen scores of people through its show home doors since building was completed at the end of last year. And the development, which is on Holt Lane, in Kingsley, is also eligible for the Government's First Buy shared equity scheme, announced in George Osborne's 2011 Budget Speech last week, m...