There are calls from the Society of Chartered Surveyors for the introduction of a property tax.

CONSTRUCTION tender prices have fallen by 11% over the last 12months as the sector continues to decline, new figures from the Society of Chartered Surveyors show.

REBUILDING costs for houses have fallen by 7.75% across the country and by 9% in Dublin, which results in cheaper house insurance.

BUILDERS cut staffing levels again in February as figures show construction tender prices fell by 17.2% over the last 12 months.

HOUSEOWNERS are over-insuring their houses because they are unaware that premiums are calculated on rebuilding costs, not the market value.

IRELAND could avoid the loss of 40,000 construction jobs this year by building roads, schools and hospitals with a proposed €5bn Government stimulus package.

NEW legislation banning upwards-only commercial rent reviews for leases has received a mixed reaction, as it will not apply to current leases and may adversely affect pensions.

PROPERTY landlords are adopting a flexible, realistic and fair approach to tenants when it comes to rent reductions and deferrals, according to the Society of Chartered Surveyors (SCS).

THE SOCIETY of Chartered Surveyors (SCS) has warned the Government’s planned eco grading system — due to come into force on January 1 for all buildings being rented or sold — will not be ready in time.

CONSTRUCTION tender prices are continuing to fall, according to Ireland’s largest construction and property industry body, the Society of Chartered Surveyors (SCS).

UK sofa chain ScS Upholstery is set to slump to an annual loss after it today revealed worse-than-expected trading over the crucial bank holiday weekend.

A new report addressing Ireland’s population growth and the challenges it poses will be launched today by professionals in the construction sector.

The London market broke a three-day losing streak today after property and retail stocks enjoyed a return to investor favour.

Property and retail shares rallied today as investors clung to much-needed positive news from both sectors.

Furniture chain ScS Upholstery said today it was scrapping the launch of four new stores and not paying a dividend after a slump in Christmas trading.

UK sofa retailer ScS Upholstery today warned interim results would take a significant hit as nervous consumers shunned “big ticket” items.

HOUSE rebuilding costs have risen marginally again over the past 12 months, according to a new survey published by Ireland’s largest construction and property industry body, the Society of Chartered Surveyors.

The London market stormed ahead to finish the week at its highest level for nearly six-and-a-half years, closing 46 points up at 6462.4 on Friday.

Specialist sofa retailer ScS Upholstery today blamed the warm weather for “very disappointing” sales over the Easter weekend.

UK furniture retailer ScS Upholstery warned today that tough trading conditions had been compounded by problems at a regional distribution operation.

A new body should be created to control planning in the Dublin region after a report highlighted continuing urban sprawl and unstable housing development, it was claimed today.

The Irish Software Association (ISA), today welcomed the announcement that the Business Expansion Scheme (BES) and Seed Capital Scheme (SCS) will be continued for another seven years to 2013.

Investors kicked off a new year of trading in style today by sending the FTSE 100 Index soaring to a new four-year high.

The Society of Chartered Surveyors (SCS) has called for independent cost managers to be appointed on all State-funded infrastructural projects.

The Small Firms Association (SFA) has welcomed the decision by the European Commission to allow the arrangements a to have the necessary legislation necessary to give effect to the BES and Seed capital schemes announced in last year's Budget.

THE decentralisation of eight Government departments will alleviate pressure on the Dublin housing market and spark economic growth throughout the country, it was claimed last night.

THE Irish Software Association (ISA) wants the Government to make a commitment to buy 20% of its technology requirements from small to medium-sized enterprises.

FIRST-time buyers are now opting for 30 and even 35 year mortgages, according to Real Estate Alliance chairman, Thomas Potterton.

LEVIES on property development have been proposed by two of the country’s stronger property representative bodies, the Society of Chartered Surveyors and the Irish Auctioneers and Valuers Institute.

NEW house buyers have been hit by the Government as the 1% increase in VAT may add up to €2,000 to the cost of an average home, experts warned last night.