New research reveals extreme measures some Brits take to squeeze into their homes and highlights what people really want and need from their homes.

Some homeowners are not just in need of storage space for seasonal or nostalgic possessions, such as an artificial Christmas tree or their old wedding dress, but their homes lack space to store very basic household items, which means ironing boards, recycling bins and even food are being stored in surprisingly inventive ways.

More storage space is one of eight key features that people need when choosing a home as revealed in a new Ipsos MORI research report published for the RIBA. The report, The Way we live now: What people need and expect from their homes is a ground-breaking piece of research that provides the only national evidence base setting out how people are using their homes now, what they look for when choosing a home and what they think needs to happen to improve the home-buying experience.

The report, the first of its kind for over 50 years, will be used as evidence by the Future Homes Commission, a national inquiry that is currently developing recommendations for how houses should be designed and delivered in future. It will provide policy makers, house designers and builders much-needed consumer evidence to ensure that new homes are good quality and fit for modern households.

The research also reveals how people choose a home and how they think the house buying experience should be improved.

People find it challenging choosing a home and find it difficult to understand and compare space between homes. Emotional considerations - such as the 'feel' of a home - and the desperation to get on the housing ladder can overrule practical considerations such as 'where can I store the vacuum cleaner?' or 'where will the rubbish bin go?'

Harry Rich, RIBA Chief Executive said: "It has been over half a century since a government-tasked committee researched how households live, yet the size and designs of homes being built now are still defined by that great but out-of-date report - from a time when we had sewing boxes in our living rooms and indoor toilets needed regulating.

"Until today there has been no evidence base that sets out how we are living now and what we want from our homes. This new research provides important evidence on which we can base some changes to the way our homes are designed, delivered, marketed and sold to us."

www.architecture.com

Living in today's new homes could create annual savings of around 55% on gas and electricity spending - that's over £1,300 in today's market, according to the NHBC Foundation and Zero Carbon Hub.

Following its UK-wide research project into consumer attitudes towards zero carbon homes, NHBC Foundation has worked with the Zero Carbon Hub to chart the energy savings that could potentially be achieved by living in different types of energy efficient new homes.

Comparing the indicative energy consumption of today's 'upgraded' Victorian homes against new homes built to 2010 requirements; it concludes the following annual savings could be made: a 4-bed detached new home could be 55% cheaper to run (saving £1,312); 3-bed end terrace could be 52% cheaper to run (saving £840); 3-bed mid terrace could be 46% cheaper to run (saving £642); and 1-bed ground floor flat could be 47% cheaper to run (saving £426).

And, looking to the future, annual savings could be around £1,875 (79%) in 2016, when further Government zero carbon home construction targets come into effect.

Neil Jefferson, Director at NHBC Foundation and Chief Executive of the Hub, said: "Household energy usage is still one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions in the UK but the design of new homes means they are much more energy efficient than older housing stock.

"The NHBC Foundation's report looked at what people think about energy efficient homes, and what the influencing factors are in terms of deciding to live in one. One of the clear findings was that consumers need far more information about the cost savings they could make by living in an energy efficient home, before they will commit to living in one.

"The cost data we have produced, while not guaranteed, gives an indication of the kind of monetary savings that could be made in the long term. We believe this kind of data could be useful for people making the decision to buy a new home."

Encouragingly for the country's sustainability agenda, findings from NHBC Foundation's report also reveal that 70% of people think a home described as 'energy efficient' would be an attractive purchase4. This increased to 86% of 16-24 year olds. Some 69% of consumers - and 96% of younger people - also agreed that they would be willing to pay a premium for energy efficient homes.

Younger people also showed the greatest enthusiasm for renewable technologies in the home, with 60% of 16-24year olds saying they would be interested or very interested in buying or renting a home with renewable technologies such as photovoltaic (solar electric panels).

www.nhbc.co.uk

Criminal landlords trapping vulnerable people in 'suburban shanty-towns' will get the justice they deserve, Housing Minister, Grant Shapps has pledged.

He allocated a £1.8 million fund to areas blighted by so-called 'beds in sheds', to tackle the problem head-on and end this growing practice by ruthless landlords.

Mr Shapps appealed to councils who may have turned a blind eye in the past to 'beds in sheds', to use this funding and the range of powers at their disposal, to tackle the issue. 'Beds in sheds' are often rented to migrants, including some with no right to be in the UK, at extortionate rates.

Their foreign 'tenants' often find it difficult to return home quickly after destroying their passports to avoid removal. With few other options, they will put up with cramped conditions, dodgy wiring and poor sanitation as an alternative to life on the streets.

Mr Shapps said that the £1.8 million fund would help the worst affected councils flush out those who exploit migrants at their most vulnerable. They are: Brent, Ealing, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Newham, Peterborough, Redbridge, Slough, and Southwark.

Shapps said: "I'm determined to flush out criminal landlords who think they can make an easy buck from cramped, cockroach-ridden outhouses. The scandal of 'beds in sheds' must come to an end.

"In the 21st century it simply isn't acceptable that people should be forced to live in such squalid and unsanitary conditions. That's why I've allocated £1.8 million to help councils in the worst affected areas crack down on this cruel exploitation.

"But this is just the start. Our national taskforce, including the police, councils, the UK Border Agency and HM Revenue and Customs are pooling their resources to bring the so-called landlords of 'beds in sheds' to justice. I want anyone stuck in these suburban shanty towns to know that help is at hand and they will not be abandoned."

www.communities.gov.uk

The number of repossessions in the first quarter of 2012 was 9,600, the same as in the first quarter of 2011 - breaking the recent trend of year-on-year increases in repossessions.

Repossessions in the first quarter were higher than the 8,700 that took place in the fourth quarter of 2011, but this represents a normal seasonal pattern. Overall, the repossessions landscape appears stable for the time being, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

Through the first quarter of the year, there was a modest improvement in the total number of mortgages in arrears. The number of mortgages with arrears of 2.5 per cent or more of the outstanding balance fell to 157,800 (1.4 per cent of all loans), down from 160,300 at the end of December 2011 and 170,500 at the end of the first quarter of 2011.

Within the total number of arrears cases, the largest improvements were in the middle arrears bands. Year-on-year, the number of loans in the 5-7.5 per cent arrears band fell by 12 per cent, and reached its lowest number since the fourth quarter of 2008, while the number in the 7.5-10 per cent band fell by 13 per cent to its lowest since the third quarter of 2008. The only arrears band to show a year-on-year increase was the group of loans with arrears of 10 per cent and over, with the 28,000 loans in this category, 300 higher than a year earlier, representing the highest number since June 2000.

The 45,000 central forecast for repossessions in 2012 may be revised down when the CML publishes revised housing market forecasts later in the summer. However, continuing pressures on household finances, changes to welfare benefits, and an upward drift in mortgage rates all have the potential to disrupt the current stable picture.

Paul Smee, CML director general, said: "Combined efforts by borrowers, lenders and money advisers are ensuring that payment difficulties are being managed effectively, with the result that the number of repossessions remains relatively low.

"Repossession really is a last resort, as the numbers show. Anyone worried about their mortgage should be assured that lenders will try to help them get back on track, as long as this is a realistic prospect."

www.cml.org.uk

The Landlord Syndicate, a network of companies providing a complete support centre for landlords, are relieved by the news that squatting is to become a criminal offence as of September.

Homeowners, and particularly landlords whose properties are not always occupied, can breathe a sigh of relief as reports have revealed the act of squatting, which is currently only a civil offence, will be made a criminal offence from 1st September 2012.

One member of The Landlord Syndicate who has fought for some time to enforce this law, even supporting a campaign presented to Parliament in April 2011, is Paul Shamplina, also founder of Landlord Action.

He comments:

"Squatting cases have been on the rise for some time now, many by organised gangs whom have travelled thousands of miles to engage in squatting knowing they will be protected by the law. It was only when some high profile cases hit the headlines that people sat up and took notice of the growing injustice on homeowners."

Squatters will now face up to a £5000 fine and a six month prison sentence if they take up residence in another person's property.

In light of this news, The Landlord Syndicate are warning landlords not to be complacent, "Enforcing a law does not mean that the activity of squatting will be eradicated, it just means there are tougher measures to deal with it which should prevent landlords and homeowners having to enter into lengthy and expensive legal battles" adds Paul. That means landlords still need to avoid void periods and ensure they invest in good preventative security measures.

Ministers will now be able to fine benefit cheats up to £2,000, with a minimum penalty of £350 without having to take them to court.

This measure, part of the Welfare Reform Act, is expected to save the taxpayer an estimated £42 million over the next three years.

Low level fraudsters will now face these additional financial penalties alongside paying back any money they have stolen. Cautions will no longer be an option, meaning no fraudster escapes without punishment.

Welfare Reform Minister, Lord Freud said: "We always push for the strongest possible punishment for benefit thieves who are stealing money from the people who need it the most.

"When it makes financial sense to do so, we will prosecute through the courts but where very little or no money has been stolen we will fine people as well as recover any overpayment, hitting fraudsters where it hurts the most.

"We are getting tougher and no one will escape justice with a mere slap on the wrists."

Last year around 7,300 administrative penalties were issued to benefit fraudsters. The tougher administrative penalties are the first of a range of new powers in the Welfare Reform Act designed to deter fraudsters. Other penalties coming into effect in the future to cut down on fraud and error.

www.dwp.gov.uk

Despite the housing slump of the last three years, the long term home-owning aspirations of first time buyers are higher than at any time since the 1970s.

New research carried out for the AA Home Emergency Response service reveals that of those who have bought their first home in the period since the 2008 housing peak, 37% say they feel they can realistically aspire to owning a detached home. The equivalent figure for those buying in the 1970s is 39%, falling to 33% for first time buyers in the 80s, and 32% for those entering the housing market in the 1990s.

Aspirations for the size of home have increased - while the percentage expecting to progress to a detached home with two to three bedrooms fell slightly from 13% in the 1980s to 12% for those buying since 2008, the proportion of first time buyers with expectations of a four or five bedroom house have risen from 19% to 22% over the same period.

The political debate about mansion taxes has not dissuaded people from thinking ownership of a very large home will be feasible for them - 3% of those buying their first home since 2008 expect to eventually own a home with six or more bedrooms, three times the proportion of those getting their first mortgage in the 1980s.

Both men and women are equally bullish in their belief that a detached home will be within their reach, but it's the younger generation who are most likely to feel this will be at the larger end of the market. 7% of 18-24 year olds believe they will end up owning a detached home with six or more bedrooms.

The 80s is remembered as the decade in which Margaret Thatcher's Government heavily promoted the benefits of home ownership. However, for a quarter (24%) of those buying in that decade, a terraced home was the limit of their home owning ambitions. Only 15% of those buying for the first time since 2008 believe their ultimate home will be a terraced one.

While people's aspirations have stretched beyond the terraces, over the same period the expectations for apartment living have almost doubled. In the 1980s 6% of first time buyers believed that a flat would be the pinnacle of their home ownership, a figure which has risen to 11% for those buying in the post 2008 housing market slump.

Although 37% of first time buyers may feel they will achieve ownership of a detached home, detached properties only make up 17% of the housing stock, as seen in the table below:

Tom Stringer, Head of AA Home Emergency Response, said: "This research has revealed that the troubles in the housing market over the last three years have not dented the aspirations of recent first time buyers. In fact, new entrants to the market are more positive about their long term prospects than those entering in the last thirty years - something which could bode well for recovery in the market. Just as car owners are likely to have breakdown cover for emergencies, we believe it is important for home owners to be adequately covered in the event of emergencies. "

www.theaa.com

Over 90,000 people have started to hear how they will be affected by the new benefits cap - with thousands set to lose their homes.

The Department of Work and Pensions is writing to more than 90,000 adults (over 67,000 households) in danger of losing benefits when the overall benefit cap is introduced in April 2013. The letters will be the first time households discover they could be at risk. With 44% of those set to be hit living in social housing, many are already struggling to make ends meet.

National Housing Federation chief executive, David Orr said: "The letters will come as a shock to many vulnerable families. The overall benefit cap is a crude measure that fails to reflect the stark differences in housing costs across the country, caused by the desperate shortage of affordable housing.

"Housing associations want to do everything to help minimise the brutal effects of the cap. But they can only do this when they know who will be affected. We're calling on councils to share their information soon so housing associations can identify who will need support. With under a year to go before many people start losing their homes, there's no time to lose."

The Federation is calling for local authorities - who will know which families may be affected - to share the data sooner rather than later, as social landlords like housing associations have less than a year to prepare tenants for the changes by helping them find work, get financial advice or a new affordable home on their new benefits.

Councils are being urged to share crucial data on which families may face benefit cuts as warning letters hit doormats.

www.housing.org.uk
www.dwp.gov.uk

2 double bedrooms for rent in Sutton-In-Ashfield.
This is an ideally situated property, close to all amenities, and short walking distance to Sutton town centre and easy access to the A38.
The property comprises of 4 bedrooms, lounge and a large kitchen.There is currently 1 shower room and 2 toilets. There are 2 rooms available, the smaller room upstairs at £70 per week,and the downstairs room at £75 per week.There is a patio area round the back and plenty of room at the front and side for parking.
There is a £50 administration fee, not a bond and is therefore non refundable.Bills are included apart from the gas and electricity
There is currently a welsh contractor and an English care worker living in the property The tenants are friendly and very sociable.

Over a million consumers will face a £300m hike in mortgage repayments over the next year as lenders increase Standard Variable Rates (SVR) and variable rates on home loans, according to new research from Which?.

The consumer champion found that 70% of mortgage-holders are concerned about an increase in interest rates, while some 14% say they are already struggling with repayments. The greatest impact of these latest rises will be felt by 'mortgage prisoners' who are unable to move to another provider.

Some 75% of mortgage-holders told Which? that they would be affected if their repayments increased by £50 a month, with 41% saying they would need to cut back on regular spending, 20% would need to reduce savings and 11% would not have enough for essentials.

An increase of £100 a month would see 20% of mortgage-holders not having enough for daily essentials like food and 11% being unable to pay their mortgage. Consumers also highlighted the emotional impact of increases in mortgage repayments, describing them as 'devastating' and 'a disaster'.

Five lenders have announced increases to SVRs and variable rate mortgage products. The Cooperative Bank, Halifax, Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank increases in SVRs will take effect on 1 May 2012. Bank of Ireland has announced an increase in its SVR which will take effect in two stages on 1st June and 1st September. NatWest/RBS increased its variable rates for its offset mortgage customers on 1st March and will be increasing variable rates for its One Account customers on 1st May.

Which? chief executive, Peter Vicary-Smith said: "Our advice to anyone struggling with their mortgage repayments is speak to your lender straight away. It is encouraging that a third of people we spoke to had approached their lender, but, worryingly, in one in five cases, they said their lenders offered no help at all.

"This is just not good enough and we want to see banks do more to help their customers who are struggling. These SVR rises are the consequence of the lack of competition in the market and the failure of the Government to take action to promote competition. This is why the new financial regulator, the FCA, needs to be a watchdog not a lapdog. It must stand up for consumers and stand up to the banks."

Which? wants lenders and the Financial Services Authority to do more to protect consumers against unjustified interest rate rises and ensure that consumers are offered the ability to fix their payments at a reasonable level. Lenders must not be allowed to take advantage of borrowers who are unable to move lender.

www.which.co.uk

Analysis of data from the leading UK house price indices in the first quarter of 2012 reveals that the market has had a strong start to the year despite continued economic gloom, with a three per cent rise in house prices since the end of last year.

The average price of a home is now £202,017, an increase of £5,864 since December. This is the highest average house price recorded by House Price Watch since July 2008.

The annualised average rate of growth now stands at 10.3%while the three and six month annualised rates of growth are 12.17% and 3.73%respectively.

Stuart Law, Chief Executive of Assetz, said: "The year has got off to a strong start, with a 3% rise in average house prices in the first quarter as an average of all of the main indices. Whilst there were a number of factors driving the market upwards, such as a rush to complete purchases ahead of the stamp duty holiday being withdrawn, there were also a number of negative factors such as rising mortgage rates that failed to quell the rise in transactions.

"In fact, HMRC figures showed a large surge in completed sales in March, up 17% in a month, as house buying demand continued to grow.

"Mortgage lending was also up 30% month on month in February. Nonetheless we still have the 'new normal' level of transactions, only around half of those in 2007, and we have no expectation that transaction levels will reach those peaks again for many, many years as we move towards becoming a rental society in the UK.

"We feel that our estimate of a 3% rise in UK house prices for the whole year of 2012, which was at the top of the range of forecasts, could be comfortably achieved, regardless of the initial version of the GDP figures released today indicating that the economy is falling slightly again.

"The UK buy to let community is still one of the main beneficiaries of this double dip recession, with the overall depressed mortgage market driving the private rented sector onwards and upwards. We continue to see strong demand from both experienced and first time investors looking to buy in this strong market."

www.assetz.co.uk

A new national taskforce will be set up to tackle the issue of "beds in sheds" by taking action against criminal landlords and removing illegal immigrants.

Housing Minister, Grant Shapps and Immigration Minister, Damian Green have held the first in a series of cross-Whitehall summits with representatives from the police, the UK Border Agency and local government.

The meetings will find ways to close down thousands of sheds and outbuildings being rented out illegally to migrants, including some with no right to be in the UK. These 'tenants' are being exploited by ruthless landlords who charge them extortionate rents to live in cramped conditions.

These modern day shanty towns, often visible on websites such as Google Earth, can be plagued with rats and cockroaches - and are potential death traps with dodgy wiring and poor sanitation.

Some foreign 'tenants' wish to return home but, after destroying their passports to avoid removal, find it difficult to do so quickly.

Mr Shapps and Mr Green discussed encouraging councils to make greater use of legal powers across planning, fire safety, housing and environmental health; how to better measure the extent and nature of the problem, drawing on information collected by Whitehall and Town Halls; and how best to ensure councils and the police share the intelligence available and enforcement activity.

They also looked at closer working with organisations such as the Indian High Commission to help those wanting to return home; and steps to prevent more "beds in sheds" from being created.

Grant Shapps said: "It is a scandal that these back garden slums exist to exploit people, many of whom are prepared to return voluntarily to their home country but instead find themselves trapped into paying extortionate rents to live in these cramped conditions.

"I want to see a crackdown on these criminal landlords. So today we are launching a national taskforce, made up of the police, local councils, the UK Border Agency and HM Revenue and Customs to close down these 'beds in sheds', help those living there to be reunited with their families and ensure their so-called landlords feel the full force of the law."

Damian Green said: "Those with no right to be in the UK must leave the country. If they volunteer to leave, we will help. If they refuse, we will enforce their removal.

"The UK Border Agency will do whatever is necessary, working with local authorities and the police, to clear up this problem and enforce our laws against those who are in the UK illegally and the employers who exploit them. This work is well under way - many individuals have already been removed from the UK and further enforcement visits will follow."

www.communities.gov.uk

Around 12% of people are hopeful of buying their first home during the next five years, research has shown.

The Post Office revealed that almost a quarter (22%) of those asked are planning to get on to the property ladder for the first time next year, while 14% expect to buy this year.

While this study appears to be good news for youngsters just getting started, activity at the bottom end of the housing market can filter upwards and fuel activity right through to people looking at retirement properties for sale .

Results also showed that many people looking to become first-time buyers are planning to save for an average deposit of 16%.

These figures have been backed up by the Post Office's customer data, which showed that during 2011 first-time buyers put down an average deposit of just over 15%.

Mike Cook, head of mortgages at the Post Office, said: "First-time buyers are the life blood of the property market and our research shows that challenging stories about first-time buyers and wider economic issues have not dampened aspirations to get on the housing ladder."

www.postoffice.co.uk

The boxed-in generation - people unable to upsize their home but who have also outgrown their first property - will for the first time benefit from support to help them move up the housing ladder, Housing Minister, Grant Shapps has said.

In a speech to housebuilders, he argued that a generation of first time buyers and families with children are unable to do what their parents did and move homes as their needs grow. A survey from Findaproperty.com found that almost a third of parents find their current home is too small to accommodate their family - rising to 40% for younger families where the parents are aged between 18 and 34.

Mr Shapps said that for the first time, these overlooked owners will now get the help they need to move from their current abode to a new address - through the NewBuy Guarantee - while also freeing up properties suitable for aspiring first time buyers.

The NewBuy Guarantee is not confined to first-time buyers but is designed to help anyone looking to buy a newly-built property - and is expected to help up to 100,000 prospective and current homeowners.

Through this innovative new scheme, instead of a typical buyer requiring a £40,000 deposit to buy a £200,000 home, they will now only need £10,000. The scheme - which had its first sale this week - is available for homes of up to £500,000.

Grant Shapps said: "For years increasing numbers of people have outgrown their homes but been unable to move, and first-time buyers have been unable to buy.

"They know who they are. Hardworking people who bought their home when they were single, maybe met someone, fell in love and now have a couple of kids. They expected to trade up - because that's what their parents were able to do. But now they're boxed-in, home outgrown. Stuck in a flat, when really want they want is a family home.

"The NewBuy Guarantee will give our second-time buyers a second chance, as this is the first scheme of its kind not confined to first time buyers, but available to anyone looking to buy a newly-built home. We don't want Britain to be a place of housing have nots, we want people to have room to grow. The NewBuy Guarantee will do just that."

Home Builders Federation Executive Chairman, Stewart Baseley said: "Reducing the deposit needed for a new home to an affordable level is a fantastic opportunity for many people who have been for too long frustrated. It will also open up the market, creating work for house building companies large and small and boost the economy as a whole."

www.communities.gov.uk

Nearly 20% of British people are finding it increasingly hard to afford essentials such as food and energy bills, according to new research.

The survey carried out for independent think tank, Resolution Foundation, shows that with the recovery remaining highly fragile and new cuts to tax credits starting to bite, the number of those expecting their financial situation to get worse in the next year has risen to more than one in four (27%).

The results of the poll, carried out by Ipsos MORI, suggest household spending - which makes up two thirds of GDP - will remain under great pressure, and chimes with the recent unexpected upward tick in inflation, driven by increases in the costs of food and clothing, and fall in earnings growth.

The poll also finds that people are more pessimistic about their financial situation than six months ago - the proportion of adults expecting things to get worse has risen to 27%, up from less than one in six (15%) in October 2011, and 23% in January 2012.

Nearly a third (32%) of adults in the very poorest households are struggling to afford essentials, compared to 18% of those on low to middle incomes and 6% of higher income households. Around a third of those on below average incomes expect their financial situation to worsen, compared to 16% of people living in high income households.

Gavin Kelly, Chief Executive of the Foundation said: "This news is especially worrying as it suggests consumers are still under great strain as inflation remains stubbornly high and earnings growth is on the floor.

"Many low to middle income households are already struggling just to stay afloat and will see yet another fall in their real wages this year alongside big cuts to tax credits."

www.resolutionfoundation.org

Positive signals have emerged for the housing market in the first quarter of 2012 with a rise in the number of British homeowners who expect house prices to climb over the next six months.

According to the latest Zoopla.co.uk Housing Market Sentiment Survey, 67% of British homeowners are confident of house prices rising by the autumn. This is the highest proportion of homeowners predicting property price growth since the first half of 2010 and in stark contrast to sentiment at the end of 2011 when only 55% of owners were predicting prices to climb.

In addition to the rise in overall confidence, homeowners are also more bullish now about how much they expect average house prices to rise over the next six months. At the end of 2011, owners expected prices in their local area to increase 2.2% on average. Over the last quarter this has risen to 3.9% - again, the highest price growth expectation in almost two years.

Confidence amongst homeowners in London is at a near all-time high with 82% of property owners in the capital now confident of property price rises over the next six months. And owners in the capital are predicting that house prices in London will grow 5.5% by October.

There has also been an improvement in sentiment towards mortgage financing with an increase in the number of property owners reporting that it is now easier to secure a mortgage than it was at the end of 2011. 17%of respondents believe mortgage availability has improved, up from 11% last quarter.

Nicholas Leeming ofZoopla.co.uk, said: "The property market has been in need of some positive news of late as many indicators have pointed toward stagnant prices. These results show that homeowners now feel a lot more positive than at the end of last year and this confidence could bolster transaction and activity levels as we move further into the year."

www.zoopla.co.uk

Experian has revealed that fraudulent applications for mortgages increased by eight per cent in 2011.

This was the fifth year in a row in which the rate of mortgage fraud has increased. 34 in every 10,000 applications for mortgages were found to be fraudulent in 2011, compared to just 15 in every 10,000 in 2006.

The overall rate of fraud at point of application across the UK's financial services sector increased by four per cent in 2011, to just over 17 in every 10,000 applications. In addition to record mortgage fraud figures, this overall increase was also driven by growth in insurance and current account fraud.
93% of attempted mortgage fraud in 2011 was down to individuals misrepresenting their personal information on applications. Typically these first party frauds involved falsifying employment status or financial information, and - most commonly - attempting to hide an adverse credit history.

Experian's demographic insight revealed that Mosaic groups Terraced Melting Pot (young, poorly educated individuals living in small towns) and Suburban Mindsets (predominantly middle aged, middle and skilled working class individuals) were both responsible for around 15% of first party mortgage fraud cases in 2011. The young, well educated professionals of the Liberal Opinions were also prone to attempting first party mortgage fraud, being responsible for 13% of cases.

Nick Mothershaw, UK&I director of identity & fraud at Experian, said: "About 70% of financial services application fraud in the UK fraud is down to first parties misrepresenting their circumstances, and the products such as mortgages and insurance that have seen fraud soar over the last year have a significant first party fraud element to them. This kind of fraud tends to originate from financially stressed segments of society."

www.experian.co.uk

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Experian analysis has revealed the rental market in the UK is flourishing with an additional 58,000 properties being marketed to rent in 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.

By contrast the number of properties for sale dropped by approximately 12,000 in 2011. Using data from its Movers Alert service, Experian has compiled the Movers Index that offers an insight into the habits of the housing market.

The volume of properties put up for rent increased every quarter in 2011 when compared to 2010 with Q3 seeing the most significant increase of 14.46%. A number of seasonal trends were prevalent in both the rental and resale markets with December the least popular time to market a property and the summer months the most common.

May was the busiest month for resale properties added to the market whilst August was most active for rentals, which could be attributed to students preparing for a new term at university.

For the year as a whole, the number of resale properties (769,077) taken to market exceeded those that were let out (692,766). The exception to this was around the Christmas season which was the least popular time to sell a house.

London dominated the rental market with 20% of all UK rentals being based in the Capital. This dropped quite significantly when it came to houses for sale with London only accounting for 10% of appointments. The South West had the highest percentage of For Sale properties at 12.2%.

Wales and the West Midlands saw the biggest increase in houses-to-let with a 20% rise in numbers in 2011 compared to 2010. The West Midlands also highlighted its dynamic property market credentials by bucking the downward trend in the number of resale properties compared to 2010, with 12% more houses put on the market in 2011.

Jonathan Westley, Managing Director of Consumer Information Services at Experian UK & Ireland, said: "This insight shows that homeowners may be using renting as a back-up plan if they are unable to sell or alternatively some may still consider property a long-term investment. Being able to paint a picture of movers and get a unique insight into habits and trends is a valuable tool for companies from financial services to utilities and telcos.

"Moving house can be a catalyst for a consumer to switch to ensure they are getting the best deal from their suppliers. Knowing who these movers are enables organisations to keep in touch with them and maintain and develop relationships at a time when they are most receptive."

www.experian.co.uk

Thirty million homes and small businesses will have smart meters by 2019, enabling all consumers to have access to accurate information and bringing an end to estimated billing.

Energy and Climate Change minister, Charles Hendry said: "In less than three years energy suppliers will begin the mass rollout of smart meters across the country and I am determined that consumers are at the heart of this ambitious programme.

"That is why we are proposing tough guidelines on installation, which will minimise inconvenience and help people to make the most of their smart meters to save energy and save money.

"In addition, I want to be absolutely clear to consumers that they will be in control of their energy consumption data. So apart from where it is required for billing or other regulated purposes, it will be for consumers to decide who can access their data."

Key conclusions include there should be no sales during the installation visit; installers must provide energy efficiency advice as part of the visit; they will need the consumers permission in advance of the visit if they are to talk to them about their own particular products; and; all households will be offered an in-home display allowing them to see what energy is being used and how much it is costing.

Proposals set out in the consultation documents include that consumers will have a choice about who has access to their data, except for data which is needed for billing and meeting other regulatory obligations, typically on a monthly basis; a model for centralised communications activity to help all consumers understand how to use smart meters to better manage their energy consumption and expenditure; and proposals to ensure that vulnerable and low income consumers can benefit from the rollout.

Mike O'Connor, Chief Executive of Consumer Focus said: "We welcome the banning of sales during installation and that marketing will only be allowed if the customer agrees. This shows the Government has listened to consumers. We support the proposals to address consumer concerns around the privacy of information. But, to make this work, people must be aware of their rights and the choices available to them on how much information is passed to suppliers.

"It is also welcome that the Government has recognised the need for a much stronger and better co-ordinated strategy to engage consumers. Smart meters will only help people to become more energy efficient and cut their bills if they are able to easily understand and use the new technology. We hope this move will pave the way for a support scheme for vulnerable customers to ensure everyone gets the benefit of smart meters."

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