Beleaguered estate agency group Countrywide has asked the government to give agents a business rates holiday.
Measures announced in last week’s Budget gave business rate holidays to some High Street companies, depending on their planning consent status.
However, most estate agencies appear not to be included in the initiative, prompting Countrywide’s letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
In it, Paul Creffield - who is described as Countrywide chief executive, although he has previously even referred to as group managing director - says the company has 740 branches and, across its various sections, employs 10,000 people.
Total tax paid by Countrywide in 2018 was £296.4m says Creffield, who admits the agency industry is now being badly hit by the Coronavirus crisis.
He has told Sunak that he wants consistency on the High Street with estate agents being treated in line with cafes and mainstream shops.
Yesterday the government omitted estate agents from a list of High Street businesses to be included in a new range of rates relief measures announced in response to the Coronavirus threat.
Almost a year ago the government announced that estate and lettings...
Agencies, many of which campaigned vigorously to be included in the...
We'd hoped it was good news but in fact it's just...
Estate and lettings agencies that have closed temporarily as a result...
The predictions game can be tricky. Sometimes you just don’t know...
Leading UK property auctioneer Bond Wolfe has broken through the £100...
Uncertainty triggered by the new Labour Government and taxation concerns that...
In today's rapidly evolving property market, the focus on reducing transaction...
.png)
An exciting new collaboration between TVPN, EstateApps and Paul Long is...
By Mike Bilboe, Face For Business Buying or selling a home can...
LSL Estate Agency Franchising is home to one of the UK’s...
.png)
Who are you and what does it say on...
Who are you and what does it say on...
Who are you and what does it say on...
Join the conversation
Jump to latest comment and add your reply
They should go down with Grace like the rest of the uk agents forced to over pay with regulation, overheads and of course on Rightmove, why should business rates be lifted and taxation denied in a time of need when they pay an obscene amount to a private company they created for marketing? Pull off Rightmove a fortune and then crack on! Then other agents will be brave enough to stick the finger up to the shitemove corona defer option. Can’t be a corporate power and lead the market and then beg for hand out coz you can’t get ur 2.2% fees and keep the shareholders happy.
Please login to comment