Useful Links
Below you will find links to websites that you may find useful. Inclusion of a link on this page is not necessarily an indication of our approval of the contents.
Government sites
Waverley Borough Council, Surrey, UK. - Waverley Borough Council, Surrey, England - an administrative area covering mainly wooded and rural area in the South East - between London and Portsmouth.
Rushmoor Borough Council - Rushmoor Borough Council encompasses Aldershot (the Home of the British Army) and Farnborough (where aviation was pioneered)
Home Information Packs - The Government site dedicated to the new legislation.
Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)- Background and FAQs about the Housing Act 2004, Home Information Packs and other pieces of legislation.
The Land Registry- the organization that holds records for land ownership and interests in England and Wales.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ - The Home Office is the government department responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales.
http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/ - Providing information and resources for people working to reduce crime in their local area.
http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk - Trading Standards Agency
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk
We are the leading public body for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales. It's our job to make sure that air, land and water are looked after by everyone in today's society, so that tomorrow's generations inherit a cleaner, healthier world." We say Provides useful information on land and air quality and flood maps.
Professional institutes, associations and trade bodies
www.oea.co.uk – Ombudsman for Estate Agents, afree, fair and independent service for buyers and sellers of residential property in the UK.
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)- the professional institute for over 110,000 surveyors and property professionals worldwide.
Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)- the leading professional body for managers in construction with over 40,000 members worldwide, including surveyors.
Independent Surveyors Association- an association of independent surveying and valuation practices with members throughout England and Wales able to offer independent advice to property buyers and lenders.
National Association of Estate Agents- representing nearly 10,000 high street estate agents in the UK.
The Law Society - the regulatory and representative body for solicitors in England and Wales.
Council for Licensed Conveyancers- the regulatory body for Licensed Conveyancers who are qualified specialist property lawyers.
Council of Mortgage Lenders- the trade association for mortgage lenders in the UK.
Federation of Authorised Energy Rating Organisations (FAERO)- promotes the use of authorised and quality assured SAP energy ratings in all areas of the domestic housing market.
http://www.niceic.org.uk/- The National Inspection Council for Electrical InstallationContracting is the industry's independent, non profit-making, voluntary regulatory body covering the whole of the United Kingdom.
http://www.oftec.co.uk/news/oftec_faces_challenges_2005.htm- OFTEC looks after the oil heating and cooking industry throughout the UK and Ireland.
Ordnance Survey – the National mapping agency of Great Britain.
Technical organisations
BRE- a good source of technical information for property, construction and environment professionals.
NHBC- sets the technical standards for new homes and provides insurance on new homes.
RICS Books- the property professionals' bookshop.
NHER - provides information, software and training on the energy rating of buildings.
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/- The BGS provides expert services and impartial advice in all areas of geoscience.
http://calculator.bcis.co.uk/- BCIS House Rebuilding Costs Checking Your Sum Insured – Calculator.
http://www.est.org.uk/- A non profit making organization funded by the government and the private sector, set up to achieve the sustainable use of energy.
Commercial and Consumer organisations
Free UK change of address service www.iammoving.com
The Citizens Advice Bureau. its Advice Guide website provides up-to-date, independent advice on a range of consumer issues.
Consumers' Association - information on the Which? campaign to regulate estate agents.
Ombudsman for Estate Agents- a free, fair and independent service for buyers and sellers of residential property in the UK.
Consumer Direct- a telephone and online advice and information service for consumers in Great Britain, supported by the DTI.
Credit Reports Online since March 2000 consumer access to their credit file onlineHomecheck.co.uk - The ultimate FREE guide to flooding, subsidence, pollution, landfill sites, schools, crime rates and planning information in your neighbourhood.
Southern Electric – Supplier of electricity, gas, insurance, telephony and broadband and internet. Service information, FAQ and order.
National Grid - is a gas transporter. It transports and stores gas for its customers through a transportation network across the UK.
South East Water Limited - South East Water supplies quality drinking water in the south east of England every day.
British Telecommunication plc - National telecommunications provider. Details on products and services, plus user area.
Please note: Castles are not responsible for any of the above websites and cannot be held liable for the information on external sites. If you find any broken links, please let us know as soon as possible. farnham@castles.co.uk
