Archive

Shortly after the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act was granted Royal Assent in May, we surveyed members of the Association of...

The latest Greener Homes Attitudes Tracker from NatWest and S&P Global, reveals that younger homeowners are more in favour of policies...

The expected dip in mortgage rates following the Bank of England’s base rate cut continued this week with NatWest’s lowest price...

One key point of difference in the parties’ housing policies during the recent general election campaign was that the Conservative Party...

The ‘UK Seniors Housing Market Update Q2 2024’ from Knight Frank brings positive news that the supply of new seniors housing...

A new study by Barclays Bank suggests that despite most Brits either owning a home or aspiring to be future homeowners,...

The latest RICS Residential Property Survey found the UK's residential property sector brightened slightly in July.  Average mortgage rates lowered slightly during...

Most households in England today are ‘under-occupying’ their homes, according to the think tank the Resolution Foundation. And it says there doesn’t...

New figures from Connells suggest the company remains Britain’s biggest estate agent, handling one in 10 transactions. And in its latest report...

Throughout the general election campaign, the Green Belt was central to the debate about the housing crisis. The new Labour government...

A recent appeal decision which allowed housing development on the Hertfordshire Green Belt highlights the need for greater flexibility on locational...

Views are sought from all heritage destinations with listed buildings across the UK to find out how much they pay on...

Higher mortgage rates will push more people than expected into poverty, research warns. Analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) highlights...

Mortgage rates are dropping faster than many expected, Rightmove claims. Nationwide unveiled a 3.99% five-year fix for home purchases this week –...

The new Government’s plan to ‘Get Britain Building’ is ambitious, to say the least.    And it is central to their mission, not...

The Chancellor’s plans to ‘get Britain building again’ are very significant for the property sector and property investment, specifically.  The plans...

Just a week after Labour’s landslide election victory and already their top team is coming under scrutiny and being asked to...

The new Labour Government will set out its legislative agenda today with the King’s Speech set to reveal its policy priorities. Agents...

Propertymark has called for an end to instability over Wales’ housing policy. It comes after Welsh Labour leader and First Minister Vaughan...

Reforms to the UK’s planning system must move from a one size fits all approach to boost development, the Government has...

Just a week after Labour’s landslide election victory and already their top team is coming under scrutiny and being asked to...

While housing is a devolved matter, ESPC hopes that the promises made by Labour in the recent general election might help...

The Law Society has launched a consultation for conveyancers and legal groups on how its latest TA6 property information form should...

Propertymark is holding a webinar today covering the likely impact of the General Election on the housing market. Timothy Douglas, head of...

New Chancellor Rachel Reeves has used her first speech to reinstate housebuilding targets and pledge to build one and a half...

Property professionals have called for cross-party support and stability when it comes to housing policy under the new Labour Government after...

So it’s a Labour landslide but it’s not like 1997. I remember the last time as if it were yesterday. May 1st, 1997....

With a historic majority for Keir Starmer and the Labour Party, there can be no doubt over which party will be...

An industry expert has called on agents to actively lobby new MPs to influence housing policy – whoever wins the election. Neil...

It’s all over bar the voting, so let’s cut to the chase. Labour will win on July 4, big time. Even a...

The recent dip in inflation to 2% for the first time in three years brings a glimmer of optimism in the...

The manifestos of all major parties tell us little about their true tax and public service plans, a respected financial think...

Interest rates were held for the sixth consecutive Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting yesterday, as agents expressed hope of a cut...

You have to wonder who is advising Rishi Sunak these days. Months ago, Silverstone must have seemed a terrific venue to hold...

After much anticipation, the Labour Manifesto for ‘Change’ was launched this week. Held in Manchester the launch event included personal reflections...

There’s been a broadly warm response from much of the property industry to Labour’s manifesto, but a call for more detail...

The Conservatives appear to have abandoned plans to reverse Stamp Duty thresholds for first-time buyers if the party returns to power...

Stamp Duty reform and first-time buyer support tops the list of what Foxtons would like to see from the next Government. The...

In a week when the election campaign descended into claim and counterclaim of lies over tax plans and Nigel Farage was...

You may not have realised, but yesterday, the new government’s housing policy was agreed. No, I’m not talking about the new ‘Freedom...

Housing has finally made it onto the General Election campaign, albeit with a familiar policy. Labour has unveiled plans for a Freedom...

Rightmove has criticised the lack of focus on housing policy during the first General Election TV debate this week. Housing was rarely...

Political parties have been pretty quiet on housing policy during the General Election campaign and industry groups are hopeful that tonight’s...

And so we wait. The election, still only a week old and with almost five left to go, has served up main...

With election day looming, in the first of a series of articles, experts from property services organisation, Leaders Romans Group, offer...

So we’ve been sent the ‘Save The Date’ card - it’s July 4. Now all we need is the invitation to the...

Could it be that a politician has finally done the property market a favour? Rishi Sunak’s decision to call the general election...

The Government’s controversial Renters (Reform) Bill has fallen victim to Rishi Sunak’s election announcement and has been shelved. The legislation – which...

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak yesterday confirmed a date for the General Election. Voters will go the polls on 4 July, meaning the...

Hopes of an interest rate cut have been raised after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggested the UK economy is recovering faster...

The Labour Party has committed to building 1.5m new homes across the country over the next parliament. Shadow Housing Secretary Angela Rayner...

If you’re thinking about becoming an Estate Agency franchise or converting your existing estate agency business to a franchise, here we...

Estate agency regulation is needed to help improve the homebuying and selling process, MPs have been told. The first hearing of the...

Agents remain typically optimistic about the property market after interest rates were been held at their 16-year high of 5.25% by...

You don’t have to be a mind-reader to believe there will be a large majority Labour government by the end of...

Prominent housing and mortgage experts are downplaying the chance of an interest rate cut following the Bank of England monetary policy...

A recent announcement by housing giants Persimmon has been heralded as a welcome boost to the property sector. In a trading update they...

Propertymark, the leading membership body for property agents has written to London Mayor candidates highlighting proposals to tackle the unique housing...

Thousands of people will be invited to take part in new research to help provide information on why one particularly badly...

A property industry group has called for a reduction in the discounts available for council tenants buying their own home, after...

There’s been broad support from within the agency and wider property sectors for Labour’s proposal to build on selected parts of...

It’s tempting to think that Michael Gove’s proposed clampdown on Airbnb-style short lets is a uniquely British form of small-mindedness, part...

Keir Starmer set out Labour’s policy for housebuilding this week and targeted ‘ugly’ parts of the Green Belt. It will be a...

Inflation has eased to 3.2% down from 3.4%, official figures from the Office for National Statistics show, the lowest level since...

Propertymark has urged the UK Government to consider other ways of boosting the supply of homes for purchase.  The Government has two...

Propertymark has welcomed the reappointment of Julie James as the new Welsh Housing Minister. Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at...

Both 'beauty' and ‘gentle density’ are central themes of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).. The notes which accompany the NPPF state...

Interest rates were held for the fifth consecutive time after the latest Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting yesterday. The...

The best news for the property sector to come from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget statement came not from any fiscal...

The Government has taken the unusual step of intervening in the London Plan to boost housebuilding in the capital.   Housing Secretary Michael...

Today, I am reflecting on the Chancellor’s surprise Spring budget decision to abolish multiple dwellings relief for Stamp Duty Land Tax...

One of the UK’s largest mortgage lenders has reduced its upper age limit in a blow for home buyers . Halifax is...

Female agents have shared their view on representation and opportunities in the sector to mark International Women’s Day. Industry data shows while...

Agents are hopeful of support for the property market in today’s Spring Budget. It could be the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s final fiscal...

Agents would be happy to pay for regulation but the sector should be wary of costs, a Propertymark executive has told...

Representatives from Propertymark, Trading Standards and The Property Ombudsman (TPO) are set to discuss estate agency regulation in the House of...

Peers in the House of Lords have launched an inquiry into agency regulation. The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee will...

The Government’s proposal to introduce a new 1% deposit mortgage scheme to help young people onto the property ladder is unworkable...

Every year the media writes a lot about house price crashes, and often pose the question whether this is the year...

Last weekend, Levelling Up and Housing Secretary, Michael Gove wrote in the Sunday Times that the nation’s housing crisis was so...

Two brothers who previously worked as estate agents have launched a new networking platform for property professionals in the UK. Chris Tremlett,...

Building more homes is a better solution than mortgage schemes to support first-time buyers, a Zoopla executive has claimed. Richard Donnell, executive...

Sir Simon Clarke’s call for Rishi Sunak to be ousted from Downing Street may well express what many of his MP...

Whether a General Election is held in May, November or in January one thing is guaranteed -  we can expect to...

After months of negative messaging and anti-development sentiment, espoused both nationally by the Government, and locally during May’s local election campaigning,...

As Conveyancers we operate in such a volatile market, where government economic policy can and has repeatedly made our professional lives...

Housing policy should focus on making better use of existing stock as well building more homes, a new report claims. A report...

The debate over the Green Belt, and the newly branded ‘grey belt’, has made the headlines a lot recently and will...

Landowners seeking to sell their land for development will have to adjust their expectations as the market, the planning system and...

New homes – we need more in ‘24 2023 was a year which saw the 'need to moves' active in the housing...

The Government has published long-awaited reforms to its National Planning Policy Framework, confirming that local housebuilding targets will be advisory rather...

The supply of new homes could reach the lowest level since 2014, builders have warned. It comes as the Government is due...

Agents are hoping for further support for the housing market north of the border as the Scottish Government prepares to set...

The factor most likely to influence the housing market next year is entirely outside the industry’s control: the General Election. Knight Frank...

In July the Government committed to ‘a new era of regeneration, inner-city densification and housing delivery across England, with transformational plans...

The Bank of England maintained interest rates at 5.25% yesterday, raising hope among agents that this would boost buyer confidence and...

When almost all agents and developers use the tried and tested formula of floorplan, professional photography  and a well-crafted description, what can be...

There has no doubt been many commenting on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s recent Autumn Statement held a couple of weeks ago. We...

There has no doubt been many commenting on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s recent Autumn Statement held a couple of weeks ago. We...

House prices increased for the third month in a row during November but are still down annually, Nationwide data shows. The lender’s...