New measures laid out by the government in the Consumer White Paper to protect tenants when their landlord is in arrears are not correct, according to the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA).

The new rules will see tenants receive up to seven weeks notice of the date of their landlord's repossession hearing.

House prices will increase by 17 per cent by the end of 2009, according to economists at property agent Assetz.

The prediction is at odds with the recent gloom in the property market, which has seen prices tumble as the recession has taken hold of the UK.