IN A BID to help house-buyers beat the credit crunch, Bellway is promising to double savings of up to ten per cent of the price of one of its homes.

It works like this: you save ten per cent and Bellway matches your deposit by giving you ten per cent.

Simply choose one of Bellway’s new homes, then all you need is proof of your savings.

The scheme is only open to people buying a place for themselves or a very near relative to occupy.

When you have proved that you have your share (up to 10%) of the deposit, you then pay to reserve your new home and you could move within weeks and Bellway will match whatever the percentage is that you have saved.

There is a wide range of homes from which to choose across the North-East.

Simply visit www.bellway.co.uk and use the search engine to find a place that suits you.

■ A new ‘credit crunch’ generation of tenants, who are renting property instead of buying, is discovering the biggest single thing that can settle an argument with their landlords – an inventory.

In the wake of new tenancy deposit legislation the humble inventory has taken on giant-killing proportions when it comes to settling disputes – for tenants, who argue that furnishings weren’t that good to begin with, and for landlords, who sometimes find that household items, which don’t appear on an inventory can disappear.

“A clear description of the rented property and a proper record of furnishings, fittings and contents, as well as dated photographs showing their condition, has never been more important as it is today,” said Alan Ward, of the Residential Landlords Association.

“Without this there is no real evidence of initial condition or of any change beyond normal wear and tear.”