Multi-award winning property auctioneer Auction House has scooped yet another industry trophy – this time, the Silver Award for Best Franchise at the 2014 Estate Agency of the Year Awards.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the group has won an award at the prestigious event, including a total of two gold medals. This year’s ceremony was held on Friday 5 December at the Lancaster Hotel in London.

Commenting on the success, Auction House Founding Director Roger Lake said: “We’re delighted to have received yet another award in what is becoming a far more competitive arena, with the number

1980s John Lautner-designed home in Hope Springs, owned by Bob Hope, is on the market for HALF the original price, but still an eye-watering $24,999,000!

It is totally mind blowing. This modernist icon, which looks like something out of a OTT sci-fi movie, was designed for golf-loving comedian Hope and his wife in 1980, the largest private residence designed by John Lautner.

It sits in 6.18 acres of picturesque land, offering 23,366 sq. ft, of living space. But that’s only half the story. Just look at those curves, those open spaces, the stunning glazing within.

But it has been controversial

The UK’s new property tax rules are set to provide a boost to both the sales market and buy to let market, it is claimed.

The new rates will give the biggest savings to buyers at the lower and middle end of the market and according to Stephen Ludlow, chairman of lettings age Ludlow Thompson, as buy to let landlords usually invest in properties below £937,500 the changes will give almost all investors in this market a boost. ‘The changes in stamp duty will see the biggest increase in net returns for more modestly investments such as smaller properties in Zone three of London, city centre

The Government has announced on 3rd December 2014 that stamp duty reforms are to be implemented on residential property.

George Osborne has announced a radical overhaul of stamp duty to boost the housing market in this week's Autumn Statement.

The current system of a ‘slab’ single rate stamp duty tax on the entire property price will be replaced with a system of tax bands, like income tax. Osborne said the changes will cut stamp duty for 98% of people who pay it. There will be no stamp duty on the first £125,000 of property value.

This is good news for purchasers of most residential property

Bicester in Oxfordshire has been chosen as the site for the coalition's second new garden city, the government has confirmed.

Up to 13,000 new homes are due to be built on the edge of the town, as part of the coalition's plans to help deal with the UK's housing shortage.

"I can confirm the government is putting its support behind Bicester," a Treasury spokesperson told the BBC.

The measure was announced as part of a National Infrastructure Plan.

"New houses support economic growth and are a crucial element of a fair society, so I've prioritised the investment of almost £2bn to ensure we can

Romans’ final auction of 2014 offers buyers a fantastic selection of residential property, commercial lots, houses with great buy-to-let potential and building plots with planning permission, located across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and North Hampshire.

If you’re looking for a development project, a property on Peel Close in Windsor is just one of the properties being sold at the auction on Tuesday, 9th December at 1.30pm at Blue Mountain Conference Centre in Bracknell, Berkshire.

The semi-detached house, with a guide of £450,000, has planning permission to create two separate, two bedroom

A new record has been set locally with the sale of a 2.71 acre field at Kingsholme, Colyford, sold by Auction for £129,000 (equating to over £47,600 per acre).

The White Hart at Colyford was full to bursting as a huge crowd of bidders gathered for Symonds & Sampson’s Property Auction held on 21st November.

Ross Willmington, who heads the firm’s Axminster office, commented “We were instructed by a local family to sell the field that had been in their ownership for over 30 years.  Many local people will remember Mrs Hollingsworth living at the big house at Kingsholme before it was demolished to

Landlords in the West Midlands who fail to check whether prospective tenants are in the country legally will face a £3,000 fine, under a new rule expected to be rolled out across the UK.

The Birmingham, Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Wolverhampton area is the first where the check must be made.

Landlords now must ask to see evidence of a person's identity and citizenship. In cases where a passport cannot be produced, landlords can request further checks via a government website.

The Home Office said following an evaluation of the implementation in the West Midlands next spring, it expected to

The number of mortgages being granted by Britain's banks has fallen by 16% over the last year - the latest sign of a slowdown in the housing market.

According to the banking industry body the BBA, in October home-buyers had 37,076 mortgages approved - the lowest figure for 17 months.

The value of those mortgages fell 13% over the year to just over £6bn.

Separately the Halifax predicted that house price inflation will moderate to as little as 3% next year.

The figures from the BBA show that mortgage approvals peaked at 48,649 in January this year.

"The BBA data adds to now pretty widespread and

It's important that you view a property before you bid for it at auction. There are so many things to consider and often the most important questions are forgotten.

Ask the relevant questions by taking our helpful checklist with you on your viewing. It may also be useful to take along the property details supplied by the auctioneer to ensure that their information is accurate.

Also check the property for signs of subsidence and confirm that the exterior is in good condition especially the roof and drainage. Double check the boiler, electrics and plumbing in the property and make sure they are