UK house prices remain on the slide as demand for homes continues to weaken, experts have said. The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) says 95 per cent of surveyors are now reporting a fall rather than a rise in house prices, compared to a figure of 79 per cent it released in March.

Regionally, all surveyors in East Anglia, the North and the North West agree house prices are going down. RICS spokesman Ian Perry said:

“Although most surveyors are now seeing price declines, the extent of the fall, is at this stage, quite modest. The real issue is the collapse in the number of housing transactions.”

Mr Perry called on the bank of England to cut interest rates when its monetary policy committee next convenes. He also said sellers of ‘white goods’, such as washing machines and fridges, could soon end up being hit if the slump in the market continued for much longer.

The stats indicate would-be property buyers could be struggling to raise the necessary finances while some real estate investment professionals could be holding out due to the UK’s current climate of economic uncertainty.

RICS members offer advice on land, property, construction and environmental issues. The organisation has 140,000 members who operate out of 146 countries, supported by an extensive network of regional offices.

Real estate rentals in central Delhi, India, have rocketed by up to 13 per cent in the first three months of 2008, a report says. Indian Realty News reports demand in Delhi continues to increase despite the city undergoing a massive development boom which has seen new homes spring up in large numbers.

The site says information from real estate investment consultant Cushman and Wakefield shows the rate of rental growth in central locations is rising by between seven and 13 per cent. Quoted by the site, a Cushman and Wakefield report said:

“The majority of the south Delhi locations registered an increase in the range of seven to 11 per cent primarily due to limited scope of development and buoyant demand.”

Information also suggests capital values of the south Delhi locations are also up, to the tune of around ten to 34 per cent over the quarter, with a healthy demand and limited supply contributing to the figures. The Delhi Development Authority has played a vital role in the rapid development of the city since the organisation was founded in 1957.

The city is now home to 11 million people and counting, with the authority overseeing the ongoing construction of new homes, schools, and commercial developments.

An award-winning UK new homes developer is offering financial assistance to first-time buyers by paying deposits and even initial mortgage payments. Redrow is hoping to help out young house buyers interested in its new Solihull development with a new programme called ‘re:assure’.

It is even offering to pay a five per cent deposit and £500 worth of mortgage payments on behalf of some applicants. Redrow’s group marketing director Simon Bennett said:

“It’s all about being flexible and treating each first time buyer as the individual they are, with their own set of individual needs.”

The new homes developer says it could match whatever parents or family members of homeowners are contributing towards the purchase of a new apartment at its Aquatude development, in Dickens Heath. Mr Bennett added:

“Getting help from parents is another stepping stone to home ownership. Parents can act as a guarantor, come in on the mortgage, or simply help out with the costs of moving.

“At Redrow we may be able to match whatever parents are contributing - up to five per cent of the purchase price on selected plots.”

Redrow builds new homes and commercial property across England, Scotland and Wales and runs a UK-wide network of regional offices.