Bill-free homes up for grabs

Barratt Homes and the company's subsidiary, David Wilson, are giving buyers the chance to purchase homes within developments in Derbyshire and Lincolnshire where the electricity, gas and water are supplied completely free of charge for 18 months. The company will even pay buyers' council tax bills until the summer of 2010.

James Poynor of Barratt North Midlands, said: "Paying utility bills is one of the biggest variables in most household's disposable income. When gas and electricity prices are as high as they are now everyone feels the strain."

The move looks set to be welcomed by house buyers since, according to uSwitch.com, the average household's yearly electricity and gas bill stands at £1,293 (although this figure can be lower in the case of new-build homes), while the average annual water bill is said to be £330.

In a similar move to attract buyers, the private housing section of the Notting Hill Housing Group - Notting Hill London - is offering to include furniture, such as a bed, wardrobe and sofa, in several of the apartments within one of its gated developments in north London.

These incentives appear to be the latest in a line of offers by property developers to tempt buyers back into the housing market. Indeed, last year saw Persimmon making a similar move to Barratt in offering to pay purchasers' bills, while other house builders offered a free car with some purchases.

With some market analysts predicting that house prices will drop further in 2009, it is anticipated that developers could well be devising more inventive deals for buyers to enjoy.

Source: guardian.co.uk | Last updated: 6th January 2009

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