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Purplebricks: another complaint prompts watchdog to intervene

Purplebricks has changed the wording of an advertisement on its website after a watchdog stepped in following a complaint. According to the...

22 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Countrywide: who will be the next leader of ailing company?

The hunt is on for a new boss of Countrywide according to news reports. Sky News says the company has recruited professional...

22 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Going Up: two-storey extensions allowed without full consent

Home owners in England will be entitled to add up to two storeys to the height of their home via a...

22 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Is the housing market really storming ahead as some say?

Agents have almost unanimously been reporting a big surge in business since the reopening of the housing market, but new figures...

22 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Leading trainer launches range of online modules spanning industry

One of the industry’s leading trainers and consultants has launched a range of 15 new online training modules covering sales skills,...

22 July 2020

From: Breaking News

990-year lease extensions could help end leasehold scandal

The long-awaited proposals for leasehold reform produced by the Law Commission suggests giving owners the right to extend their lease for...

22 July 2020

From: Breaking News

“Busy Bodies!” - agent slams industry leaders writing code of conduct

The new code of conduct for estate agents has been dismissed as “a waste of time” - and the senior industry...

21 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Capital Gains Tax Threat: new warning it could hurt housing market

Large scale increases in and changes to the Capital Gains Tax regime could seriously hurt the housing market, a senior figure...

21 July 2020

From: Breaking News

New guidance for agents on how to spot domestic abuse

Propertymark is working with an organisation called the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance to inform agents how to sport signs and respond...

21 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Portal says mortgage applications much faster with new software

The mortgage arm of a regional property portal has launched pre-approval software which it claims will significantly speed up the initial...

21 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Big day for Leasehold reform as Law Commission issues reports

It’s a big day for leasehold reform today with the Law Commission due to publish three residential leasehold and commonhold reports. They...

21 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Leading online agency Housesimple rebrands with immediate effect

The online agency Housesimple has rebranded to become 'Strike' with immediate effect. The news comes as a surprise given the apparent success...

20 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Regulation of Agents: consultation opens on new Code of Conduct

Agents now have a chance to say what they think should be in a new Code of Conduct being discussed following...

20 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Capital Gains Tax - could it be applied to first homes over £500,000?

Speculation is mounting that Capital Gains Tax could for the first time be applied to gains made when owners sell first...

20 July 2020

From: Breaking News

See you in court! Business Interruption Insurance scandal case begins

An eight day court hearing kicks off this morning as the Financial Conduct Authority begins a test case regarding Business Interruption...

20 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Rightmove says no to massive windfall from taxpayers

Rightmove says it’s going to reject over £150,000 in payouts from the government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The portal furloughed 160 employees...

20 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Property Jobs Today - more new appointments in our industry

Hello and welcome to another week. We’re more than aware that it’s a challenging time for our industry as for most...

20 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Sales volumes turbocharged by stamp duty holiday, says Rightmove

Rightmove is reporting a mini-boom that was existing even before the stamp duty holiday - enough to propel average asking prices...

20 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Agents Boards: Labour council wins government help for stiff controls

A London Labour council has won draconian powers to effectively ban For Sale and To Let boards in several parts of...

17 July 2020

From: Breaking News

 Tragedy of young estate agent’s death - open verdict returned

An open verdict has been returned on the death of an estate agent whose body was spotted just 10 metres away...

17 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Record after record! Agency sees activity surge but doubts remain

Knight Frank has reported a remarkable set of figures for June showing how the housing market has bounced back with a...

17 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Streamlined completions promised by latest PropTech platform

Another new PropTech platform claims it can streamline the completion process - this time by coordinating the work of estate agents...

17 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Agents Do Charity - and you really are a generous lot!

Hello and welcome to the end of the week and the prospect of a sunny weekend. We appreciate fund-raising is difficult with...

17 July 2020

From: Breaking News

What next for Purplebricks after latest international sell-off?

Purplebricks’ sale of its Canadian operation for some £35m begs the question - where can it now recoup some of its losses...

16 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Agents slammed for failing to protect staff and clients in virus crisis

The estate agency industry has been sharply criticised for its record on protecting staff and customers during the Coronavirus crisis. The compliance...

16 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Boom for mortgage searches indicates strong housing market

Tuesday of this week was the busiest day of the year so far for searches for mortgages - widely seen as...

16 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Biggest monthly asking price rise for six years, says latest index

The latest monthly index suggests that the average asking price in England and Wales has jumped 1.5 per cent in the...

16 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty holiday ends ‘one of few advantages for young buyers’

A think tank says the stamp duty holiday introduced a week ago is understandable and may be helpful to the housing...

16 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Purplebricks sells its Canadian business for £35m

Purplebricks is selling its Canadian business. The sale comes little over a year after the troubled agency closed both its failed Australian and...

15 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Zoopla to promote online Modern Method of Auction to agents

Zoopla has entered into a partnership with an online platform to promote the so-called Modern Method of Auction option to estate...

15 July 2020

From: Breaking News

PropTech Today: We need long-term visions, not short-term fixes

With stamp duty cuts and 90% mortgages on their way back, anyone could think the housing market was about to go...

15 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Agent breaks ranks and calls stamp duty holiday “cowardly”

A London estate agent has broken ranks with much of the industry and instead of welcoming the stamp duty holiday has...

15 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Facemasks: Propertymark hints that agents may have to wear them

More than 24 hours after the government's announcement about the compulsory wearing of facemasks by shoppers in England, and there is...

15 July 2020

From: Breaking News

New home sales duty takes effect today north of the border

The new thresholds for the Scottish equivalent of stamp duty come into effect today - a week after the SDLT holiday...

15 July 2020

From: Breaking News

A new portal? Purplebricks founder launches project with ex-Reapit boss

The founder of Purplebricks, Michael Bruce, has this morning revealed his new project to be called Launch B - and he...

14 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Purplebricks’ brand boost from Olympics TV ads campaign

The advertising and sponsorship links between Purplebricks and Team GB have won the agency a silver medal according to a leading...

14 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Will agents and clients have to wear facemasks in branches?

Wearing a face covering in shops and supermarkets is to be made mandatory in England.  Anyone failing to comply with the order...

14 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty Holiday should lead to council tax reform, says agency

A major agency is warning that the current stamp duty holiday could leave the housing market in a state of lethargy...

14 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Rightmove endorses new 90% first time buyer mortgage

Britain’s second largest lender is to offer 90 per cent loan to value mortgages once again from next Monday - a...

14 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Property scam firms selling 'parking spaces' are shut down

Two companies that persuaded property investors to pay as much as £25,000 for a parking space have been wound up in...

14 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty equivalent in Wales expected to be changed this week

The Welsh First Minister, Mark Drakeford, has suggested that there will be further housing market lockdown easing later this month. His announcement...

14 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Big Rightmove losses predicted, but it's recovering fast - bank

The investment bank UBS says it’s forecasting that Rightmove revenues will be down £53m in the first half of this year. “The...

13 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Stamp duty holiday should be backdated, demands law firm

A property law firm is calling on the government to backdate the stamp duty holiday to include those buyers who completed...

13 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Online firm says rival agents could use new digital auction service

An online agency that describes itself as the fifth largest in the sector has announced it’s launching a digital auction service. 99home...

13 July 2020

From: Breaking News

ESTAS combine agents, conveyancers and mortgage awards in 2021

The ESTAS Group says it will combine its awards events for agents, conveyancers and mortgage brokers in one ceremony in May...

13 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Independent Agents group links up with recruitment specialists

The Federation of Independent Agents has announced its latest partnership offering exclusive services for members - it property recruitment firm The...

13 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Scotland caves in and relaxes its stamp duty equivalent

The threshold at which Scotland’s Land and Buildings Transaction Tax is paid by purchasers is to be raised from £145,000 to...

13 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Countrywide “may not survive” warns one of its biggest investors

An investment manager who has a 7.8 per cent stake in Countrywide, is warning that the agency group may not survive...

12 July 2020

From: Breaking News

SDLT Bonanza! Mortgage enquiries and property portal visits soar

Evidence is pouring in that the stamp duty holiday introduced 48 hours ago has already produced huge levels of interest from...

10 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Prime central London prices to fall this year despite recent boost

Savills has revised its market forecast for the enclaves of prime central London and now says prices will fall by 2.0...

10 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Good news on mortgages - another rise in product choice

There’s been another increase in the number of mortgage products available to buyers and landlords - a sign of all aspects...

10 July 2020

From: Breaking News

NAEA Propertymark in PropTech deal to promote start-ups

NAEA Propertymark is partnering with a service called REACH UK, to promote selected PropTech start ups to agents who may need...

10 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Agents Do Charity - no holiday for industry fund-raisers…

There are high hopes that the new stamp duty holiday will make an already busy market even busier - but not...

10 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Branch closures announced as franchise agency links with building society

Six agency branches are being closed as a result of a partnership between franchise giant Belvoir and the Nottingham Building Society. Under...

09 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty mayhem? Conveyancers may not cope, warn agents

An estate agency is warning that the likely rush of transactions when the new stamp duty holiday ends next spring will...

09 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Is Rightmove the biggest winner from the stamp duty holiday?

Chancellor Rishi Sunak - and the agency industry - will no doubt be delighted to know that visits to Rightmove soared...

09 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty holiday unlikely to be replicated in Scotland

It looks like the stamp duty holiday for England and Northern Ireland, already in effect following yesterday’s announcement, is unlikely to...

09 July 2020

From: Breaking News

RICS figures confirm short-term bounce but supply is very low

There’s more confirmation this morning that the housing market is enjoying a short-term bounce - and that’s before the effect of...

09 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Vendors on HS2 route must accept offers at 85% of asking price

The latest guidance from the government on the next phase of the HS2 high-speed railway confirms the previous demand that vendors...

09 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Prices and sales volumes both improving in London - agency

The number of offers agreed on homes priced below £1m since mid-May is a healthy 41 per cent higher than the...

09 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty changes and Furlough Bonus scheme announced by Sunak

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has announced that there will be no stamp duty on homes selling for £500,000 or...

08 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty cuts WON’T help the market - a contrary view

An industry analyst is challenging the long-established agents’ view that reducing or temporarily scrapping stamp duty would help the market. On the...

08 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Challenger portal offers agents free access to data on all UK homes

One of the many free-to-list portals now vying for attention is offering agents six months free access to a platform boasting...

08 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Agents give better treatment to buyers with British accents - claim

A new study of British agents suggests that buyers with accents from most of the rest of the world receive less...

08 July 2020

From: Breaking News

PropTech Today: Software and portals destroyed the personal touch of agency

Have you ever wondered how industry-specific software and property portals have influenced the typical estate agency of today? A new book, which...

08 July 2020

From: Breaking News

First-ever transaction with chain using Reservation Agreements

A PropTech supplier claims that an agency has secured the first ever transaction where the complete chain used Reservation Agreements.  Harrison Residential,...

08 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Mortgage enquiries surge as prices dip slightly in latest index

Mortgage enquiries in June surged to double the rate of the previous month according to the latest halifax house price index. Although...

08 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty dithering could kill the market, warn angry agents

Agents have spoken out angrily against any uncertainty in the market caused by government leaks about future stamp duty changes. In recent...

07 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Almost 90% of sales could have zero stamp duty says Zoopla

One of the possible stamp duty options floated by Chancellor Rishi Sunak could mean 89 per cent of sales would be...

07 July 2020

From: Breaking News

“What I hate about corporate agencies” - hybrid chief tells all

The chief executive of a hybrid agency in London has revealed why he deserted big corporates to create his own company. Rollo...

07 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Agency losing over 50 jobs says its brand is “very much alive”

The Andrew Grant regional estate agency brand is “very much alive” despite the firm which bore the name losing 54 jobs...

07 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Agencies announce expansions despite Coronavirus crisis

Hunters has launched two additional franchise branches in Tower Bridge, London and Middleton, North Manchester, taking the company total to over...

07 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Agents stay open in future local lockdowns but auction houses shut

Government guidelines regarding future Leicester-style local lockdowns suggest that branches can remain open and viewings can continue. However auction houses must shut. So...

07 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty changes being considered by Sunak - but when?

Unnamed government sources quoted in many newspapers today suggest stamp duty reforms may be announced later this year. Chancellor Rishi Sunak is to...

06 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Phil Spencer: How can agents help sellers overcome unsettled buyer market?

The property market has been reopen for almost eight weeks now and during that time demand from prospective buyers has soared. Rightmove...

06 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Top agencies shut branches as industry adapts to 'new normal'

There are various reports of estate agencies closing branches - or not reopening them after lockdown - as they reduce the...

06 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Should ‘Master' bedroom be dropped from property descriptions?

The Black Lives Matter debate has reached the property industry with some agents dropping the term ‘Master bedroom’ from descriptions. The Times...

06 July 2020

From: Breaking News

London-based hub agency triples in size during lockdown

A London agency says it’s seen over 30 new agents join its hub franchise operation during the lockdown, taking the total...

06 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Property Jobs Today - latest movers into and across our industry

It’s a tough time for agents and our stories show a disturbingly high number of  branches closing - but there are...

06 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Congratulations! ESTAS 2020 winners celebrate ‘virtual’ victories

The industry’s first virtual awards event has taken place with hundreds of agents participating courtesy of YouTube. Winners of the prestigious ESTAS...

06 July 2020

From: Breaking News

NAEA Propertymark chief executive to quit at the end of 2020

The chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents, Mark Hayward, is to retire at the end of this year.  The...

03 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Agency closes 23 branches and employs 'Partners' working from home

Haart - one of the brands owned by Spicerhaart, which laid off staff in the first hours of the pandemic -...

03 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Purplebricks' latest TV advertising campaign starts today

Purplebricks is starting a new wave of TV advertisements today, continuing its theme from earlier this year as a sponsor of...

03 July 2020

From: Breaking News

How much do you earn? A personnel company wants to know

A personnel company wants agents to tell them how much they earn in another anonymous online survey. Rayner Personnel - which recently...

03 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Younger buyers’ moving plans hit by mortgage changes - Zoopla

A survey of 2,000 prospective movers by Zoopla shows the vast majority still intent on buying - but younger purchasers’ plans...

03 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Agents Do Charity - and the fund-raising goes on virtually...

Hello and welcome to our latest ADC, with more evidence that fund-raising goes on even with communal activity at a premium...

03 July 2020

From: Breaking News

‘Property licence plates’ launched - agents should use them says Propertymark

Propertymark is calling in the government for agents to be trained in the use of software operating the Unique Property Reference...

02 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Revealed - the top three trends in the housing market right now

With the UK housing market now largely open - there are still restrictions in some areas on home moves to occupied properties...

02 July 2020

From: Breaking News

OnTheMarket bags another 500 branches with ‘welcome shares’

OnTheMarket says almost 500 branches have signed up in recent months, entitling their business owners to ‘welcome shares’. Of those branches signing...

02 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty cut would NOT help the market, claims tax specialist

A prominent tax specialist has suggested that stamp duty cuts would not help improve the housing market, despite many agents suggesting...

02 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Say No To Rightmove campaign chief signs up to new free-to-list portal

The estate agency group spearheading the Say No To Rightmove campaign has signed its 36 branches up to new portal Homesearch. The...

02 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Agents remain calm in the light of latest house price dip

Agents have remained calm in the light of Nationwide’s house price index which shows the first annual fall for eight years...

02 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Code of Practice for Estate Agents set to change industry forever

A new estate agency Code of Practice is to be written by a group set up by the Royal Institution of Chartered...

01 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Homesearch portal launches with two-week feedback period for agents

Homesearch, the long-awaited new free-to-list portal, launches today with a string of testimonials from supportive estate agents. The new portal announced at...

01 July 2020

From: Breaking News

PropTech Today: another attempt at solving a problem that doesn't exist?

"New property website launches. Not immediately sure what it does differently, what its USP is or who will use it, but...

01 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Leicester lockdown is warning to agents to abide by ‘new normal’

The return of non-essential businesses to lockdown in Leicester as a result of a localised spike in Coronavirus cases is a...

01 July 2020

From: Breaking News

New-build market bouncing back quicker than second-hand market

Buyer demand for new-build property has bounced back 66 per cent in the six weeks since the resumption of the housing...

01 July 2020

From: Breaking News

Purplebricks critic launches “agent-friendly” PropTech platform

A former City analyst best known for his scathing criticisms of Purplebricks has launched a PropTech platform that he describes as...

30 June 2020

From: Breaking News

Shareholder ‘mini-revolt’ over Countrywide’s top brass pay

There appears to have been a small shareholder rebellion at Countrywide’s annual general meeting over the company’s remuneration of senior management. No...

30 June 2020

From: Breaking News

Agency regulation: still no government action, one year on

The recommendations to regulate and train the estate agency industry put forward a year ago remain on the Housing Secretary’s desk...

30 June 2020

From: Breaking News

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