Online House Hunter: Housing myths | Alan Cleaver | Independent Editor's choice Blogs

Online House Hunter: Housing myths | Alan Cleaver | Independent Editor's choice Blogs

HAVE you heard the one about… spiders being found in Yucca plants, dead grandmothers being brought home from abroad in a rolled up carpet on the car roof and similar tales? They are all urban myths of course – and even the property market has its fair share of folk tales.

Here’s a few with the truth behind them and links to help you sort out fact from fiction in the house-buying world.

Myth One: If I carry out home improvements I’ll have to pay more council tax.

Not so says the Valuation Office Agency: “Home improvements carried out after council tax was introduced in April 1993, which lead to an increase in the value of a property would not lead to an increase in a council tax banding until the property is sold”.

Myth Two: Under the snooper’s charter, council tax valuation staff can enter your home.

No says the Valuation Office Agency. “The VOA has no powers which allow its staff to force their way into people’s homes. It does not need or want these powers. Press reports of a “snoopers’ charter” are completely without foundation, and have caused unnecessary anxiety to many householders, particularly the old and vulnerable”.

Myth Three: Energy Performance Certificates were dropped at the time of Home Information Packs being dropped.

Incorrect. EPCs are still needed. Directgov says the Energy Performance Certificate (a smaller and less expensive element of the HIPs) have been retained. This ranks the energy efficiency of a home with A to G ratings. It costs about £60. Sellers have to produce an EPC within 28 days of putting a home on the market. ....