News and Updates

Crossrail rental premiums - how much more is charged, and where?

May, 2022

Crossrail rental values have climbed by 15 per cent on average in the last year alone - before this week’s opening of the much-delayed cross-London service. Rental platform Rentd...

The London boroughs with the highest homebuyer demand for a garden

May, 2022

The 'race for space' has seen demand for gardens bloom over the past couple of years and no more so than in our cities. New research by London lettings and estate agents, Benham and Reeves, has...

Revealed! The regional hotspots where agents are using virtual tours

May, 2022

Adoption of virtual tours among estate agents remains low but new data suggests they could boost sales. Industry analysis shows just 4% of listings are being marketed with the option to have a...

Royal Residences: Live like a King or Queen

May, 2022

This year, Her Majesty the Queen is marking her 70th year on the throne. With Platinum Jubilee celebrations being held across the UK, and indeed the world, at The Guild we have scoured the country...

Transaction figures ‘remain robust’ despite fall – industry reaction

May, 2022

Residential property transactions totalled 97,970 in April, 13.9% lower than April 2021 and 10.5% lower than March 2022, according to the latest figures from HMRC. On a seasonally adjusted...

Platinum property prices

May, 2022

As the nation prepares to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, we’ve looked back at changes in the housing market during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. In 1952, the average price...

Credit Rating - Tenants have little understanding of how it works

May, 2022

Many private renters are misguided on what actually contributes to their credit score and thus may not be taking the correct measures to improve it, a lettings industry PropTech firm claims. ...

Buy To Lets with poor EPCs falling out of favour fast - new study

May, 2022

A new survey gives an indication of how quickly properties with poor Energy performance Certificates are falling out of favour in the private rental sector. A quarter of landlords say they are...

Home movers back replacing stamp duty with capital gains tax charge

May, 2022

A survey among home movers has revealed support for making first-time buyers fully exempt from stamp duty and replacing the stamp duty tax with a capital gainst charge on sales. The Anthony...

Feature: The Top Spring/Summer Interior Trends for 2022

May, 2022

With the first flicker of sunshine and warmth comes a world of interior inspiration sure to spark our imaginations and have our homes looking show-stopping in no time. With searches for...

Top hiring hotspots for remote workers

May, 2022

The government's 'levelling up' agenda played a significant role in the recent Queen's Speech. New research indicates that changing employment patterns may well be providing a kickstart. 22...

Capital appreciation still strong despite flurry of interest rate rises

May, 2022

Analysis by Rightmove suggests that capital appreciation remains strong for landlords and owner-occupiers alike, despite the recent flurry of interest rate rises. The portal says the price of...

Property market remains active despite economic headwinds

May, 2022

Despite mounting financial pressures and a rise in the cost of living and interest rates, for the most part, the first quarter of this year has been as busy as ever. Members of The Guild of...

Cost-of-living crisis to halt surge in house prices

May, 2022

Asking prices have risen again but the cost-of-living crisis coupled with increasing mortgage rates ‘will filter through to the market’ and keep the pace of house price growth in...

More than £23bn set to be invested in residential property market this year

May, 2022

Investment in the residential property market is expected to hit a record £16.5bn in 2022, a sharp side rise on the £10.2bn invested into the asset class last year, according to...

Top 10 Questions to Ask Your New Estate Agent

Renting set to prosper as FTBs face “frightening” price rise

May, 2022

The house price inflation facing first-time buyers is “frankly frightening” according to a new analysis which suggests typical FTB house prices are soaring. Direct Line Home...

City rental properties a good investment again, say ex-pats

May, 2022

A mortgage lender specialising in working with ex-pat and foreign buy to let investors says the city apartment and house remain popular, despite the ‘race for space’ during Covid....

New home registrations up 25% in first quarter, reports NHBC

May, 2022

New data released by NHBC shows that UK new home registrations increased by 25% in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same period last year. A total of 45,991 new homes were registered to...

Scrapping ‘no fault evictions’ could lead to a surge in evictions, warns lawyer

May, 2022

The abolishment of Section 21 eviction notices could lead to a surge in evictions by private landlords anxious to sell their portfolios before restrictions come into force, lawyers fear. The...

Agents advised against cutting fees to attract stock

May, 2022

Estate agents are being urged to reassess their fee structure and not be afraid to reflect the time and level of work they are undertaking to see a transaction through. A report by property...

How will the Renters’ Reform Bill change the sector?

May, 2022

With the Renters’ Reform Bill back on the government’s agenda, Sean Hooker, head of redress at the Property Redress Scheme, will discuss the latest proposals and answer letting...

Feature: The Great British Home Renovation of 2022

May, 2022

Over the pandemic, we all spent more time than normal inside. For many people, that gave us the chance to really appreciate our home, and fall in love with our inside space all over again. As a...

Google is the battleground for vendor instructions - claim

May, 2022

Google rather than the portals is the starting point for sellers finding an estate agent, a survey claims. A survey among 2,000 property sellers by agency website and lead generation software...

Sellers 'snubbing' upfront agency fees

May, 2022

Homeowners may have become less willing to pay upfront fees to sell their home. Despite efforts by online-only brands such as Purplebricks and Doorsteps to change how people pay for estate...

Start of the slowdown? Land Registry records first dip in price growth in 2022

May, 2022

Agents have heralded the beginning of the house price slowdown. The latest Land Registry House Price Index yesterday showed values increased by 9.8% annually in March 2022 to...

House Prices Rising by £24 Every Day for First Time Buyers

May, 2022

While celebrities can often be seen splashing millions of pounds on their first homes, with a whopping £4 million spent by Molly-Mae Hague on her Cheshire pad, the average First Time Buyer...

How does your garden grow?

May, 2022

UK households are spending more on gardens, plants and flowers than ever before. At £7.6 billion, expenditure in 2021 was up by over £1 billion on 2020, and up 39% on five years...

How to Create a Home Fit for Entertaining

May, 2022

From family gatherings to dinner parties, home entertaining is a priority for many. Here are a few ways to make your home an inviting and enjoyable space for guests, whatever the occasion. A...

London lets recovering but many rents still below pre-Covid levels

May, 2022

New figures show that post-pandemic rental prices are on the rise across the majority of the capital but that some rents are still at pre-Covid lows. The research, by rental platform Rentd,...

First-time buyers ‘don’t know enough about mortgages’

May, 2022

A lack of mortgage knowledge could be holding buyers back, research claims. A survey of more than 1,000 consumers by Nottingham Building Society found gaps in awareness about how much of a...

Buyers ‘willing to pay more’ for most energy efficient homes

May, 2022

Almost half of buyers would be willing to pay more for a property with a high energy efficiency rating, research suggests. It is the latest evidence of the greater role that energy ratings are...

Right on track – Crossrail house prices up by as much as 215%

May, 2022

Postcodes with stations due to benefit from Crossrail (CR) have seen house prices increase by 79% since the project was first announced, research by a London agent has found. Benham and...

The UK's most valuable house numbers

May, 2022

The UK has its fair share of famous house numbers, and addresses that are synonymous with their residents. 10 Downing St, 221B Baker St, and 4 Privet Drive just to name a few. New research looks...

Mortgage data suggests buyer demand is waning - claim

May, 2022

A property lender claims to have identified signs that the property market is slowing. Analysis of Bank of England mortgage approval data by Octane Capital suggests the level of buyers may have...

Industry data suggests spring supply boost but fewer sales agreed

May, 2022

Supply is slowly increasing but there are signs that buyers are now biding their time. Analysis by property data company TwentyCi shows the number of new instructions is growing but the...

Don’t delay Renters Reform Bill again - agents warn government

May, 2022

ARLA Propertymark is warning the government that it should not delay further on its long-awaited Renters Reform Bill, because of the uncertainty it’s causing the lettings sector. The Bill...

Which places in England have the most affordable rental rates?

May, 2022

Data analysis also reveals least affordable areas for renting a home Copeland, Ribble Valley, and Staffordshire Moorlands were the most affordable places in which to privately rent in England...

Rental growth hits 14-year high but current levels will soon ‘start to ease’

May, 2022

Average UK annual rental growth has reached a 14-year high, with rents increasing to £995 in Q1 2021, an extra £88 a month compared to the start of the pandemic, new Zoopla research...

Sales slowdown? Portal data suggests transactions are taking longer

May, 2022

There are signs that properties are starting to take longer to sell. A lack of stock in recent months has meant agents have often been able to get homes sold subject to contract (SSTC) at a...

Over 40% annual rent rises reported in pockets of UK

May, 2022

A new market snapshot puts the average rental rise across the UK at a remarkable 18 per cent over the past year. The website Home says a major contributor to the high UK-wide figure is the...

London rents rising at a record pace as demand soars

May, 2022

Rents in London are increasing at a record level with growth being fuelled by renters returning from outside the capital, new research shows. Over the last 12 months, rents in London have risen...

Tips for Settling In

May, 2022

How do you become a local when settling into a new area? When you attend a new school as a child, go to university for the first time, even start a new job – there is almost always someone...

Top ways to make your home eco-friendlier this summer

May, 2022

With energy bills reaching record heights from 1 April for approximately 22 million UK customers, those on default tariffs paying by direct debit will see an increase of £693 i . It is...

Is now the perfect time to convert a property into residential?

May, 2022

The UK property market is moving faster than ever. With housing construction at an all-time low and property prices soaring, now is the perfect time to take advantage and purchase a commercial...

Average commute rises for private renters

May, 2022

Traditionally, those living in private rented homes have tended to live close to their place of work. This is often a lifestyle choice to minimise commute times/cost and to enjoy city living....

Tenants staying for longer to avoid being faced with higher rents

May, 2022

Tenants are looking to stay in their existing rental property for longer as they look to avoid higher rents elsewhere, new insight from Rightmove reveals. A fresh study among almost 1,300...

Do tenants want to rent 'bills-inclusive' properties?

May, 2022

The cost of living crisis may be changing tenants’ preferences to such a degree that bills-inclusive properties are becoming increasingly popular. That’s the suggestion of...

Most landlords ‘behind’ on energy efficiency improvements - claim

May, 2022

A survey of over 600 landlords by a business insurance service has found that 55 per cent have still to make improvements to their properties to enhance their energy efficiency. As most...

Over half of available land plots snapped up by developers

May, 2022

Approximately 54% of all available land plots listed for sale across England have already been snapped up by developers, research from property purchasing specialist, HBB Solutions, shows. HBB...

High buyer demand continues to put ‘more upward pressure’ on house prices

May, 2022

The pandemic trends that emerged at the end of the first lockdown in the early summer of 2020 – the search for space, movers looking to move to a different location – are still being...

Drivers & Norris achieves ‘Standard of Excellence’ to make The ESTAS shortlist for 2022

May, 2022

Drivers & Norris has been recognised for delivering outstanding customer service to its clients, making the shortlist of The ESTAS - the biggest award scheme in the UK residential property...

RICS: No signs of a slowdown in house price growth yet

May, 2022

The limited amount of property stock continues to push up house prices despite the cost of living concerns, surveyors claim. The latest RICS Residential Market Survey for April found new buyer...

Here is all you need to know about the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill

May, 2022

The government has revealed further details on its Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which was given its first reading yesterday. The policy paper released yesterday explains how, through the...

Going up: rents rise in all regions

May, 2022

The average rent in the UK at the end of April 2022 was £1,091 pcm (per calendar month), up 9.5% on the same time last year and up 1.2% from March. Positive annual and monthly change...

Revealed! The London boroughs with the most million-pound sales

May, 2022

London accounted for almost half of million-pound plus property sales over the past 12 months but the most active borough at this price point may surprise you. Analysis of Land Registry data in...

Revealed - UK cities that student landlords should invest in

May, 2022

Letting to students can be an excellent opportunity for landlords and investors. Landlords and investors who are aware of yearly revenue from student rentals, rental costs, and the population...

Speedy sales adding fraud risks for estate agents – warning

May, 2022

Speedy property sales may not be as good as they seem, an industry figure has warned. Recent figures released by Rightmove indicate that the time taken to sell a property has halved over the...

Renters Reform Bill - in the government’s own words

May, 2022

This is the entirety of the detail given by the government about the Renters’ Reform Bill, confirmed in yesterday’s Queen’s Speech. --- Renters Reform Bill ...

Agents need ‘clarity’ after government commits to scrapping Section 21

May, 2022

Boris Johnson’s government has once again pledged to reform renters’ rights by scrapping no-fault evictions in England. Proposals designed to overturn Section 21 of the 1988 Housing...

Queen’s Speech 2022: Rental reform will see scrapping of section 21

May, 2022

The Queen’s Speech has included plans for legislation that should radically reform the rental sector within the next parliament. The speech, which was read out for the first time by...

Average two-year mortgage surpasses 3% for first time in over seven years

May, 2022

Mortgage rates continue to increase, with the average overall two-year fixed rate rising above 3% for the first time in over seven years, the latest data provided by Moneyfacts shows. April saw...

Easy Ways to Update Your Home Ready to Sell

May, 2022

When preparing to sell your home, a few small enhancements can have a considerable impact on that first make-or-break impression. Here are a few tips to help you hook a buyer right away and set...

Bye Bye Buy To Let? Big investors want to take over rental sector

May, 2022

The strong fundamentals of a rental market with a chronic undersupply are attracting a growing amount of institutional capital says Knight Frank. More than £1.4 billion worth of deals...

Cost of AML compliance hits £6m for estate agents

May, 2022

The estate agency sector is now paying almost £6m for anti-money laundering (AML) supervision. Businesses are legally required to register for AML supervision with HMRC, costing...

Tax Take - Second home owners who don’t let out must pay more

May, 2022

Leaks from government ahead of this morning’s Queen’s Speech suggest that second homes which are not let out are likely to face higher council tax bills. The leaks say that the...

What to expect in today’s Queen’s Speech when it comes to housing

May, 2022

The Queen will miss today’s State Opening of Parliament for the first time in almost 60 years, with the Prince of Wales reading the Queen’s Speech for the first time. Prince...

Rental properties become more energy efficient, say tenants

May, 2022

A survey conducted by financial institutions has found the first suggestion that rental properties are slowly becoming more energy efficient. A study by the NatWest and the ratings agency...

Capital appreciation roars ahead but won’t last much longer - warning

May, 2022

Landlords have enjoyed more capital appreciation with the average UK house price rising again in April, up by 1.1 per cent or £3,078, in the month, according to the Halifax house price...

Prime London lettings market back with a bang insists agency

May, 2022

Rents in prime areas of London are nine per cent higher today than before the pandemic according to Knight Frank. The high end agency says the number of market valuation appraisals it...

On the house! Prime buyers continue to snub flats

May, 2022

Houses continued to be the preferred property type for prime London buyers last month as flat sales continue to struggle amid the ‘race for space.’ Data from prime London property...

Housing market approaching a crossroads as economic pressure intesifies

May, 2022

Across all areas of the UK demand for property continues to outpace available supply, with asking prices hitting new record highs for the third month in succession. Despite this, due to increased...

The Bank of Mum and Dad continues to support buyers

May, 2022

In March, borrowers continued to rely on their loved ones to boost their borrowing power, according to new research from Legal & General Mortgage Club’s SmartrCriteria tool. Searches...

Government urged to scrap stamp duty surcharge for landlords

May, 2022

The government should aim to boost the supply of much-needed housing stock in the private rented sector by scrapping the 3% stamp duty surcharge for buy-to-let landlords acquiring additional...

Interest rate rise

May, 2022

UK interest rates were raised for the fourth time since December (on 5th May 2022), by a quarter of a percentage point to 1%. This is the fastest increase in borrowing costs in 25 years....

Property industry reacts to latest Bank of England interest rate hike

May, 2022

Interest rates have increased again for the fourth time in just a matter of months. Mortgage holders, house hunters and savers will be affected by the Bank of England’s decision to...

Bank of England increases base rate to 1%

May, 2022

The Bank of England (BoE) has increased the base rate by 25 basis points to 1%, the highest level since 2009. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 6-3 to increase the bank...

UK house prices soar – property industry reaction to latest Halifax HPI

May, 2022

Average house prices in the UK have hit another record high, despite an interest rate rise and Britons facing a mounting cost of living crisis. Monthly house prices grew 1.1% in April pushing...

Revealed! Where agents sold homes above asking price last year

May, 2022

Agents helped vendors sell homes at 97.9% of asking price on average last year, research claims. Analysis of portal and Land Registry data by agency comparison website GetAgent found just one...

‘Price on application’ in property listings deemed unlawful

May, 2022

The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) has set out its position that the use of ‘POA’ or ‘price on application’ in property listings is...

Up! Up! Up! Rents leap further to yet another new record

May, 2022

The average rent in the UK has hit another record high of £1,091 after a 1.2 per cent increase in the past month. The figure - provided by HomeLet - shows that when London is excluded the...

Industry reacts as mortgage approvals dip

May, 2022

Gross lending rose to £26.5bn in March from £26bn in February, while gross repayments dropped to £19.7bn down £1.3bn from February, the Bank of England’s March Money...

Bank of England poised to hike interest rates to 13-year high

May, 2022

The Bank of England is today expected to raise interest rates to their highest level since 2009, as the central bank looks to tackle soaring inflation, while not exacerbating the UK economic...

The Gift that Grows: Enter the Guild Garden Competition

May, 2022

Picture the scene... the sun is shining, the bees are buzzing and your garden is thriving! The Guild wants to help make that a reality for one lucky person. We are giving away a prize perfect for...

We Told You! Propertymark warns on impact of government policy

May, 2022

The chief executive of Propertymark says a warning from agents about rents rising and stock diminishing as a result of a “hostile market” against landlords is now coming true. Data...

New project announced to modernise the home energy rating scheme

May, 2022

Building Research Establishment has announced that it will develop a new methodology to better measure the energy performance of UK homes and to be more suited to decarbonise technology, such as...

More than half of homes fail to meet modern insulation standards

May, 2022

More than half of properties across England and Wales only meet insulation standards of 1976 or older. The startling figures, based on Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) statistics held by...

On the move

May, 2022

More than 1 in 3 are in the process of, or are considering moving home, according to a survey of 3,000 respondents conducted by Nationwide in April. Housing market activity remains buoyant,...

Agency stock shortage 'slowly easing' - Zoopla

May, 2022

The property supply shortage may be easing but Zoopla has warned it will still take some time for stock to be restored. Analysis by the portal found that the supply of homes newly listed for...

Millions of homes pushed into higher stamp duty brackets

May, 2022

A sharp rise in house prices have pushed more than four million homes into higher stamp duty or equivalent tax brackets during the coronavirus pandemic, according to new estimates from Zoopla....

Insight: Why investors should set their sights on Liverpool

May, 2022

Liverpool has become the hotspot for property investors and homebuyers alike, with property price growth over the last year higher in Merseyside than in any other major city. With the property...

Government considers giving more tenants the Right To Buy

May, 2022

The government is reported to be considering extending the Right To Buy from just council tenants in England to housing association renters as well - and a former Housing Secretary says he wants...

House price growth slows as cost of living crisis starts to hits the market

May, 2022

House price growth is expected to hit single digits by the end of the year as the cost of living crisis continues to bite and property supply starts to slowly recover. It comes as Nationwide...

Fall in first-time buyers could adversely affect transactions as cost-of-living crisis bites

May, 2022

With the cost of living crisis continuing to bite, a number of first-time buyers across the UK have been forced to review their budgets, according to a new report. Savills says that the impact...

Homes for sale remain in short supply

May, 2022

The number of homes listed for sale is still 9% lower than this time last year according to latest research*. Low stock levels, combined with relatively high demand, create log-jams for...

Rents rise again in April

May, 2022

Rents in England increased further during April, although this was matched by another rise in tenant incomes – with the month setting a new record for take home pay, the latest Goodlord...

Tenants stay for longer in rented properties

May, 2022

Tenants are looking to stay in their rented properties for increasingly longer periods of time, according to Propertymark. Given the increase in rental prices and lack of stock available, more...

Top city price hotspots unveiled

April, 2022

Bath is the top city price hotspot across Great Britain, with asking prices rising 15% over the last year, more than any other city, new figures show. Truro in Cornwall is the second city...

The Building Safety Bill becomes law

April, 2022

The Building Safety Bill has become law after receiving Royal Assent yesterday. The 262-page act is intended to “create lasting generational change” to the way residential...

Are rising rents enough to tempt landlords back into the market?

April, 2022

Despite headlines over the last few years being largely dominated by record house prices, in some cases, the rental market has outpaced the sales market, a fact not missed by would-be landlords,...

Pets - momentum builds for more animal-friendly lettings

April, 2022

New research appears to be adding to the momentum to have more flexibility over pets in private rental accommodation. Nearly one in five tenants say that permission to keep pets is one of...

Revealed - best capital appreciation areas of prime London

April, 2022

Landlords seeking capital appreciation from a recovering prime London market have been provided with a league table by a debt advisory service. The Henry Dannell company say that while prime...

Five top tips for property investors this year and beyond

April, 2022

With bricks and mortar proving ever-popular and house prices continuing to rise, the opportunities for first-time and seasoned property investors are endless. That is according to Kirsty...

New research reveals renters priorities

April, 2022

A new report which surveyed over 1300 renters has highlighted how 18% of tenants place the permission to keep pets in the top three priorities for their rented home, according to Paragon Bank....

Market Boom - forecast rents could rise by up to £1,500 next year

April, 2022

A rental platform forecasts that within 12 months the average UK tenant could be paying £800 more a year in rent - and in some regions, much more. Following a turbulent pandemic period,...

Buy To Let loans fall over long term despite recent sector resurgence

April, 2022

Buy To Let may have had a resurgence in the past year but long-term lending patterns suggest landlords have been hit by government changes to tax and regulation. An analysis by lending service...

Down valuations hit almost half pandemic property purchases

April, 2022

Down valuations occur when a surveyor acting on behalf of a mortgage lender considers a property to be worth less than the price already agreed by the buyer and seller. This means that they will...

Gear up for your next home

April, 2022

The ongoing energy crisis has not only sparked concerns about the energy efficiency of our homes, it has also made us consider the type of vehicle we drive. A recent survey by the Home...

Fixer-Uppers may cost landlords more than pre-modernised homes

April, 2022

Are fixer-uppers really the cheap and cost-effective investment many believe? They are popular amongst landlords but research by lettings agency Benham and Reeves has analysed the current cost...

A large number of agents are putting their businesses at risk – The Guild

April, 2022

The Guild of Property Professionals has expressed grave concern that many property professionals, including estate agents, are openly worried about their own Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance...

Investors: hedge against rising inflation with property

April, 2022

In this guest piece, Judith Tan, head of capital markets at EstateGuru, looks at how investors can hedge their bets against rising inflation by investing in property. Less than two...

Buyers 'happy to pay' for upfront sales information

April, 2022

Buyers are happy and ready to pay for more upfront material information when it comes to purchasing a property. It comes as agents prepare to comply with new rules from next month that all...

Rising house prices help boost HMRC’s tax take

April, 2022

Rising house prices boosted HMRC’s coffers during the previous tax year. Analysts suggest the booming housing market has meant HMRC has attracted more funds from stamp duty payments as...

Increase in housing supply leads to rise in agreed sales

April, 2022

Although estate agents’ stock is still historically low, there was an increase in the number of new properties coming to the market last month resulting in a rise in sales being agreed,...

Comment: Urban buy-to-let deals soar

April, 2022

As has been well documented, buy-to-let (BTL) activity was up strongly last year, but a particular quirk of 2021 was the rise in purchase activity in urban centres. Many predicted that a...

Almost a third of adults struggling to pay for housing: ONS

April, 2022

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that 30% of adults currently paying off a mortgage or facing rent bills find it very or somewhat difficult to afford housing costs. The...

Rents rising with more tenants paying above going rate to secure property

April, 2022

Average UK rents have increased for the sixth consecutive quarter, according to The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS), with some tenants paying above the going rate to secure a property. The...

Record numbers of homes are being purchased chain-free

April, 2022

Record numbers of buyers are now purchasing homes chain-free research suggests. Analysis by Hamptons has found that an increase in the share of homes being purchased by first-time buyers and...

Remote working to remain a factor for property purchases - Rightmove

April, 2022

The trend for remote working could continue to influence the property market into next year, Rightmove claims. The portal’s data shows there has been an increase in potential buyers...

Property industry reacts to Rightmove House Price Index

April, 2022

The average price of property coming to market this month has added 1.6%, or £5,537, to the average price of a property, which has hit £360,101, according to Rightmove. Despite...

Properties selling at record pace as Rightmove predicts gradual house price slowdown

April, 2022

Properties are selling faster than ever either at or above asking price, Rightmove claims. It comes as the portal revealed that the price of property coming to market hit record highs for the...

Sustainability on minds of home movers

April, 2022

Almost three-quarters of people are worried about the energy efficiency of their homes given the ongoing energy crisis, according to a recent survey by the Home Builders Federation (HBF)....

Buyers demand energy-efficient homes

April, 2022

The majority of property buyers are prepared to pay more for properties that primarily use renewable energy, a new study shows, while a third of buyers think EPC ratings are more important now...

Ground rent charges to be banned on new residential leases

April, 2022

The government has confirmed that, from 30th June 2022, ground rent charges will be banned on most new residential leases in a move that forms the first part of a reform package that will make...

Check your property’s EPC rating, homeowners are told

April, 2022

It could save them hundreds of pounds An online mortgage company has advised homeowners to check their properties’ Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings to potentially unlock...

Property sales ‘continue to inhabit a parallel world to all the economic indicators’

April, 2022

Residential property sales fell by more than a third in March compared with the same month a year earlier, according to the latest data provided by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). An estimated...

Landlords’ market strengthens in prime London - rents up, voids down

April, 2022

The number of properties available for let in prime central parts of the capital has consistently trended down from the peak of available stock in July 2021 according to the investment...

Government plans to bring in new laws to combat fake reviews

April, 2022

The government has announced that it plans to clampdown on fake reviews in a bid to protect businesses and people from false comments. Proposals include making it “clearly illegal”...

A Guide To Green Mortgages

April, 2022

With a keen interest in sustainability becoming a growing trend for homeowners and the broader community, many Brits are open to a 'green mortgage' - but what is it? What is a green...

Georgian properties commanding huge price premiums

April, 2022

The ongoing popularity of Downton Abbey and more recently, Bridgerton, have kept Georgian era property firmly at the top of the nation's property wishlist for over a decade. However, if you're...

Yields dip but forecast remains for strong demand through 2022

April, 2022

Annual rental yields in England and Wales have dipped but tenant demand is set to stay strong for the rest of 2022, says buy to let lender Fleet Mortgages. Its latest market snapshot shows...

Tenant demand hits all-time high – research

April, 2022

It almost quadruples since pandemic started The proportion of landlords who have reported increasing tenant demand has reached an all-time high at 62%, according to research released by...

Supply and demand disparity pushes prime country house prices to new high

April, 2022

The pandemic fuelled 'race for space' has seen prime regional house prices grow at their strongest annual rate since Q3 2009 in March, taking average values to a new high, according to the latest...

House prices set to rise further based on transactions currently underway

April, 2022

UK house prices look set for new record highs in the coming months despite the cost of living squeeze. Residential property prices have continued soaring in recent months despite 30-year high...

More choice for buyers and renters

April, 2022

More choice is returning to the housing market, with agents reporting a rise in new instructions in both the sales and lettings markets. The net balance of respondents reporting a rise in...

Aspiring holiday let landlords – top tips from a lending expert

April, 2022

With new research finding over 10 million UK adults are considering becoming a holiday let landlord and the volume and total value of completions for new holiday let purchases doubling...

London records strong price growth as City workers return to their desks

April, 2022

The UK’s prime residential markets saw further price growth in the first quarter of 2022 underpinned by high levels of buyer demand and continued low levels of properties for sale, according...

Britain’s most expensive seaside towns: Which location tops the list?

April, 2022

Sandbanks in Dorset is Britain’s most expensive seaside town with average prices of £929,187, up 10% in 2020, according to new research from Halifax. Salcombe, Devon, 2020’s...

Top Tips for First-Time Landlords

April, 2022

If you’re contemplating becoming a landlord for the first time, there are lots to consider. Here are some important ways you can prepare your home and ease your mind when taking the leap....

The Buy v Rent equation

April, 2022

For a buyer with a 25% deposit, the monthly mortgage payment in all areas remains lower than the equivalent monthly rent for a 2-bed flat (2-year fixed rate mortgage, over 25 years)....

Buyers 'returning to London' as offers surpass pre-pandemic levels

April, 2022

London’s prime sales market is set to underperform compared with 2021 but is still looking to be better than the pre-pandemic three-year average, analysis suggests. Research by property...

UK Build-to-Rent homes increase by a fifth year-on-year

April, 2022

Analysis published today by the British Property Federation (BPF) shows the Build-to-Rent (BTR) sector continues to grow at pace, with the number of completed homes increasing by a fifth in the...

Rent to rise this year and the long term - latest market info

April, 2022

The latest market sentiment survey of the lettings market from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors suggests that rent rises will continue all the way through summer and into future years...

Number of homes coming to market rises for first time in 12 months

April, 2022

The number of new homes listed for sale has increased for the first time in 12 months, potentially taking some of the heat out of a surge in house prices, according to the latest RICS...

Go green and invest in the planet this Earth Day

April, 2022

Earth Day 2022 falls on Friday 22nd April and celebrates it’s 52nd year this year. The worldwide initiative encourages businesses, governments and individuals to act boldly, innovate...

House price growth at five-month high but agents warned change is coming

April, 2022

House price growth hit a five-month high in February, according to Land Registry data but there are warnings that this will be short-lived. The Land Registry’s latest House Price Index...

Investor bargains to be had in parts of London, admits agent

April, 2022

Prime central London may not seem to most obvious part of the UK for buy to let investors but a leading lettings agent admits there are bargains to be had. Research by Benham and Reeves has...

Top end of the London property market ‘looks set to outperform’ – LonRes

April, 2022

LonRes, which holds a definitive database of historical data from the London sales and rental markets (and which, since 2017 has extended the data to the country market), has published its latest...

Property supply rises for first time in 12 months - RICS

April, 2022

The supply shortage may be coming to an end. That is the view from the latest RICS Residential Market Survey. The research among surveyors and agents found that the number of new homes...

Property industry reaction to news that house prices went up 10.9% in the year to February

April, 2022

The industry has been reacting to two price indexes released yesterday by the Office for National Statistics. They were published on the day it was announced that inflation has taken hold in...

The Five Best Questions to Ask During a Viewing

April, 2022

Purchasing property is a huge decision and when you’re viewing houses, it’s important you’re armed with the best information to help you decide by asking questions. With...

Easter addresses

April, 2022

Nearly 1,700 property sales have taken place on Easter- related addresses over the past 12 months. At £731 million, their sales value is significantly more than the £415 million set...

Eco-friendly homes ready to move in

April, 2022

There are many upgrades you can make to your home to increase its efficiency rating including installing solar panels , upgrading your insulation and changing to a green...

Room Rents hit record highs across most of urban Britain

April, 2022

Room rents in most major UK urban locations are now at a record high according to flatshare service SpareRoom. Some 41 out of the 50 largest towns and cities hit record levels in the...

Going Up! Five year rental forecast makes happy reading…

April, 2022

The latest forecast for the UK lettings market this year is that there will be a four per cent rise in rent on average and, over the next five years, a substantial 17.1 per cent increase....

Leading agent signals the end for double digit house price growth

April, 2022

Knight Frank has issued a stark warning that house price growth is set to slow. House price indices from lenders such as Nationwide and Halifax have registered double-digit growth in property...

NRLA reaction to the report on the regulation of the PRS

April, 2022

Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, who provided oral evidence, responds to the Public Accounts Committee’s report on the regulation of the private...

Private rental property conditions and enforcement slammed by MPs

April, 2022

Private rental property conditions and the enforcement of regulations by councils and government have all been in the firing line from a group of MPs. The all-party Public Accounts Committee of...

Massive leap in rents in prime central London, agency claims

April, 2022

There’s been a remarkable 15 per cent leap in average rents achieved in prime central London over the past year, according to the JLL agency. The figure, as of the end of the first...

Criteria restrictions see Help to Buy continue to decline

April, 2022

The impact of the Help to Buy scheme within the new-build sector has been in slow decline, despite Help to Buy transactions still accounting for a sizable proportion of homes delivered by the...

Collapsed sales may rise as mortgage lenders toughen up - warning

April, 2022

Increasingly cautious mortgage lending could dampen the property market and cause more sales to fall-through, it has been warned. Recent house price data has shown record property values but...

Poor credit score responsible for 1 in 10 giving up getting a mortgage

April, 2022

As a growing number of Britons say their credit score has worsened since the pandemic, new research by The Mortgage Lender has revealed that poor credit scores have deterred one in 10 from...

Top Tips for Finding Your Forever Home

April, 2022

Buying a home to get onto the property ladder is one thing, but when you’re finally in a position to purchase your forever home, you want to get it right. A ‘forever home’ is...

What to ask a landlord when looking around a potential new home

April, 2022

Cost The first question on everyone’s mind: the cost. Start by double-checking how much rent will cost, the deposit amount, and if any bills (such as water or electricity) are...

For the first time since 2016, investors bought more properties than they sold

April, 2022

Hamptons monthly letting index for March 2022 shows that the appetite to invest in property is on the rise again as the share of homes bought by landlords across Great Britain rose from 12.0% in...

Landlords feel they should help tenants offset energy bills, claims suppler

April, 2022

Growing concerns over inflation and the cost of living are changing the way landlords interact with their tenants, it’s being claimed. A recent study of some 600 landlords by buy-to-let...

Rental market set to stay strong as first time buyer deposits soar

April, 2022

A new analysis of prospective first-time buyers suggests that the cost of their initial deposit has soared in the past decade - suggesting demand for rental property will stay strong. Finance...

Landlords buying in high-yield areas as hedge against inflation - claim

April, 2022

Buy to let landlords are increasingly looking to the highest yielding areas of the country as a way to maximise their returns and hedge against inflation. That’s the view of...

Rent levels hit new high - but there’s a warning they won’t stay there

April, 2022

New data from Connells-owned brand Hamptons shows that the average cost of a new let in Britain rose to £1,115 pcm, up 9.1 per cent from its 2021 low in March last year. But the agency...

Mortgage mayhem! Technology platform predicts 1m home loan searches this month

April, 2022

Mortgage search platform Twenty7Tec is predicting there could be one million searches for home loans this month. The technology company, which lets users such as brokers search and apply for...

Revealed: Here are the best places to live in London and across the UK

April, 2022

The best place in the UK to live is…. Ilkley in West Yorkshire. The town tops a list of 70 locations to be named the UK’s best place to live by the Sunday Times. It was...

Stuck in a chain? Three ideas to help you get moving

April, 2022

Property chains are common, but the frustration of being stuck in a slow one can add additional anxiety to an already stressful time. Scott Clay has some advice to help speed things up A...

Easy Spring-Cleaning Tips

April, 2022

The arrival of spring typically signals that it is time to give your home a good cleaning. After a long winter indoors, spring cleaning helps your home feel fresh and ready for the coming season....

Government’s new energy strategy comes in for criticism

April, 2022

If the government thought that its headline-grabbing Energy Strategy would receive a comfortingly warm reception it may have been disappointed. Headlined in its press release as a...

Mind The Gap! Here’s the rent gap between London and the suburbs

April, 2022

New research claims to show the rent gap between lets in London and those in suburbs up to an hour from the capital’s centre. PropTech platform Rentd, which conducted the study, says...

Mortgage rates rise but remain low

April, 2022

Since the start of 2022 interest rates have risen by 0.5%, however for those looking to purchase a home many mortgage rates remain attractive. It is estimated over 1 in 4 households are on...

House prices hit record high but analyst questions if now is a good time to buy

April, 2022

Homeowners are now earning almost as much from their property as they are from their salary after prices hit new highs. The latest Halifax House Price Index for March shows property...

The fastest and slowest areas of England's property market

April, 2022

Much the same as prices and supply, disparity can also be found when looking a completion times in England, with newly released data revealing that both rural and city locations are subject to...

Capital appreciation - new league table shows unexpected winner

April, 2022

New research has produced a league table of locations where capital appreciation in the past year has exceeded the average wage of £31,620. GetAgent’s analysis shows that the...

OPINION: Anti money-laundering – why are housebuilders treated differently to estate agents?

April, 2022

Tim Barnett is CEO of Credas – an anti-money laundering technology platform – and he asks a very relevant question. Why don’t housebuilders have the same obligations as estate...

Are you up to speed with UPRNs?

April, 2022

Unique Property Reference Numbers, or UPRNs, are increasingly being used in property sales transactions, and estate agents need to be aware of the importance of their use in the process. As of...

Regional Property Market Update Spring 2021: London

April, 2022

Standing firm 2022 has started strongly. Sales volumes in January are predicted to be 10% higher than their long- term (2012–2021) average and, except for a year ago, are the strongest...

Eco-friendly to boost capital appreciation identified by agent

April, 2022

Letting agent Barrows and Forrester has identified how eco-improvements can add value to properties. Insulation - Upgrading a home’s insulation, specifically solid wall...

Older renters of the future

April, 2022

More than one in four private rental households could be headed by a person over the age of 55 by 2035 according to a new report by the Social Market Foundation. A greater proportion of...

Average rents hit record high of £1078

April, 2022

The average rent in the UK has reached another record high of £1078, up 0.8% on last month, according to the latest market analysis from HomeLet. The data shows that when London is...

Advertising watchdog open to considering SSTC listing complaints

April, 2022

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has said it may consider complaints about ‘misleading SSTC listings’ on portals but suggests it may be more of an issue for Trading Standards...

Right to rent – new Home Office code of practice comes into force today

April, 2022

A new Home Office Code of Practice came into force today making changes to what letting agents in England need to do to carry out Right to Rent checks. Timothy Douglas, Head of...

Cost of living crisis for landlords and tenants set to worsen

April, 2022

There’s a new warning that the cost of living crisis facing landlords and tenants could get sizeably worse thanks to yet another energy price rise this coming winter. The Cornwall Insight...

Cost of renting rising across the regions – Goodlord

April, 2022

The latest Rental Index from Goodlord has recorded a sizeable increase in the cost of rent during March – taking averages to their highest levels since August 2021. This has been...

Prime London landlords rejoice - rent rises highest for over a decade

April, 2022

Annual rental growth in prime London reached 11.1 per cent in the first quarter of this year, following a 3.4 increase in the first three months of 2022, according to Savills. This is the...

Leashold reform – Act comes into force in June

April, 2022

The Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) has welcomed confirmation that the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 will come into force on 30 June 2022, but has warned...

Where is the best UK city for renters in 2022?

April, 2022

The cost of living is on the rise, and people around the world are struggling more than ever to make their monthly salary cover their bills. But which city offers the most financial security for...

Feature: How to Buy a Buy-to-Let Property

April, 2022

Thinking of investing in property? On the surface, buying a property to rent seems like a surefire way to generate extra income and build financial security. However, the reality is that it has...

Top Things to Consider when Choosing a New Conservatory

April, 2022

With the clocks going forward once again, the summer months suddenly feel rather close! Perhaps you’re already thinking ahead to how you can best make the most of those long evenings from...

How to Inject Colour into Your Home This Spring

April, 2022

Spring has officially sprung! This means it’s time to get rid of the heavy fabrics, dark colours and fluffy blankets and embrace natural materials, lighter fabrics and brighter shades in...

Search digitisation speeds up after sluggish start, claims Land Registry

April, 2022

A government aim to improve the home buying process by making Local Land Charge search results instantly available is well underway, it’s been claimed. Alison Bradbury - the head of the...

Housing minister consults with activists over rental reforms

April, 2022

Housing minister Eddie Hughes MP has met with activists to discuss the government’s reform proposals for the private rental sector. They were part of the Renters Reform Coalition....

Home Information Packs - are they making a comeback?

April, 2022

Agents and conveyancers have signed up to a new buyers’s and seller’s property information form that is described as having been inspired by the old Home Information Park. ...

Activity picks up in prime central London

April, 2022

Q1 figures have revealed that, after a largely muted two years, activity in prime central London has begun to stir and is now stronger than the rest of the country. According to the latest...

How to Find the Right Tenant for Your Property

April, 2022

If you’re thinking of becoming a landlord, finding the right tenant for your property is crucial. Here are our top 10 tips to find the right tenant for you. 1. Make...

Rightmove’s hotspot league table - are you here?

April, 2022

Rightmove has created a league table to identify where new buyer competition is the hottest across the UK housing market. Across the country, there are now more than twice as many buyers as...

Property buyers reveal their biggest regrets

April, 2022

Property management, parking and gardens top the list of things homebuyers wish they had thought about before purchasing their home, according to a new survey. More than 7,000 buyers who bought...

City centres bounce back to life

April, 2022

Total footfall averaged across the UK's 63 largest city centres for February is as high as it has been for two years, according to Centre for Cities/Locomizer. Weekend footfall is back to...

London exodus reverses as rental demand climbs in Q1

April, 2022

With tenants returning to the capital in 2022, research by rental portal Rentd has revealed that the London rental market has seen a quarterly increase in rental demand in the first quarter of the...

Elevated buyer demand drives faster-moving market

April, 2022

Buyer demand has remained unseasonably strong throughout the first three months of the year. As the chart below shows, buyers’ appetite for homes is competing with levels seen last year when...

Soaring energy costs see tenants braced for rent hikes

April, 2022

With the energy cap set to increase from today, new data from flat-sharing site SpareRoom has revealed the most pressing concerns for tenants, with 96% worried about spiralling living costs....

Supply drought continues - with rents rising as a consequence

April, 2022

The great imbalance between tenant demand and available stock continues, according to the latest market snapshot from the letting agencies’ trade body Propertymark. In February,...

Government decision to freeze housing benefit rates ‘is simply absurd’

March, 2022

The National Association of Residential Landlords (NRLA) has slammed the government for continuing with its freeze on housing benefit rates, despite the growing cost-of-living crisis. The...

Tenancy Disputes - new insights into a common problem

March, 2022

A study by the Tenancy Deposit Service has found that garden maintenance remains one of the most common reasons behind deposit disputes. Over 2,000 property agents and landlords responded...

Going Green - buyers demand more eco features in their next home

March, 2022

Buyers are focusing increasingly on green fixtures and fittings according to a new study. Insurance firm Aviva says the most in-demand features listed by people considering buying a new home...

Homebuyer demand falls in Q1

March, 2022

Across England, average homebuyer demand for Q1, 2022, sat at 64.3%, down -1.4% on the previous quarter when the stamp duty holiday finally finished, according to the latest market analysis from...

House price growth soars to 18 year high

March, 2022

Annual house price growth increased to 14.3%, from 12.6% in February - the strongest pace of increase since November 2004, according to this morning's data released by Nationwide. Regionally,...

Rental Reform White Paper - has it been delayed AGAIN?

March, 2022

The government appears to have admitted that the long-awaited Rental Reform White Paper has now been delayed yet again, this time until the autumn. In a civil servant job description the...

Fitzrovia – is Prime Central London’s hidden gem getting ready to shine?

March, 2022

When most people think of Prime Central London, they likely think first of Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Chelsea, Kensington, Belgravia, Holland Park and, more recently, Marylebone. But Fitzrovia, the...

Build to Rent is part of the solution to London’s housing crisis, says research

March, 2022

Build to Rent (BTR) homes could help more Londoners find affordable, high-quality accommodation with additional amenities, playing its part in solving London's long-term housing crisis. That's...

Grants available for Electric Vehicle chargers on rental properties

March, 2022

Owners of some rental properties, and agents acting on their behalf, can now apply for grants to contribute towards the cost of installing Electric Vehicle chargers. To access the grant, a...

Is this what the UK’s dream home looks like?

March, 2022

Despite a recent slip in buyer demand ahead of the usual annual spring bounce of activity, the UK housing market remains incredibly challenging for both buyers and sellers, with average house...

Solar savings: 0% VAT on solar panels, heat pumps and insulation

March, 2022

In his Spring Statement on 23 March 2022, the Chancellor announced the scrapping of VAT on materials and installation of energy efficiency equipment for homes. Energy efficiency is becoming...

London is currently the most challenging market for agents, says Homesearch

March, 2022

London is currently home to the most challenging housing market conditions for estate agents, owed in large part to the shortage of new homes coming onto the market in the capital, new research...

Long term capital appreciation - where performs best over 25 years?

March, 2022

For investors who keep their buy to lets for substantial periods - up to 25 years in some cases - a new analysis shows where capital appreciation has been strongest. Financial consultancy Henry...

Spring Market Report

March, 2022

SPRING CHEER The desire to move remains on the agenda for many, with little sign at the moment that economic headwinds are impacting the property barometer dial. So far, 2022 has started...

Average house prices up 8.1% in February: Zoopla

March, 2022

UK house prices rose by 8.1% in the year to February, a slight dip from 8.4% in January, but up from 4.2% in February last year, according to the latest data released by Zoopla. While buyer...

Pets In Lets: Another agency reports growing pet-friendly demand

March, 2022

A leading lettings agency says increasing numbers of tenants are seeking pet-friendly homes to rent. Chestertons claims up to 35 per cent of tenants currently looking for rental properties in...

Tenants getting older - dramatic demographic changes on the way

March, 2022

Homes headed by a person over the age of 45 will account for at least half of all privately renting households by 2035. A report by the Social Market Foundation and sponsored by the...

How to avoid delays during a property transaction

March, 2022

There's no denying that today’s housing market is a seller’s market. Demand for property is through the roof and homes are selling at a record pace, often for money well above the...

Economic growth forecast lowered to 3.8%

March, 2022

The Chancellor warned that the global economic outlook is 'challenging' in his Spring Statement. The OBR has lowered its economic growth forecast to 3.8% this year, down from the 6% forecast in...

Green mortgages - huge rise in number aimed at buy to let landlords

March, 2022

There’s been a large rise in the number of buy to let green mortgages as the push for greater energy efficiency continues. The broker Mortgages for Business says there are now 353 green...

Time for action? Two-thirds of rental homes not green enough

March, 2022

With energy bills due to increase by 54% next month, research from specialist property lending experts Octane Capital has revealed that just a third of rental properties currently have an energy...

Rental growth set to slow as affordability pressures bite

March, 2022

The cost-of-living crisis has hit the country hard, with rental growth set to slow over the next few months. Last year, record-breaking rental growth saw the average household in Great Britain...

London’s ‘thrilling’ housing market recovery as people return to the capital

March, 2022

There has been a sharp rise in demand for property in London, as the housing market in the capital continues to recover from the impact of the pandemic. A new report from Foxtons explores the...

Property tax alternative to stamp duty wins support of MPs

March, 2022

At least 18 MPs have come out in favour of a new annual Proportional Property Tax which would be levied on the current values of homes. The PPT, advocated by a campaign group called...

Blooming Lovely: top spring gardens

March, 2022

Spring has arrived, and with summer just around the corner, flowers are blooming, and the focus is turning to gardens. In celebration, we discover homes with spectacular spring gardens guaranteed...

Has Your Property Been Under or Overvalued? How to Ensure Your Estate Agent has got the Asking Price Right

March, 2022

When you put your property on the market, you put your trust in us – the experts you have chosen. We have the details, we know your expectations, and our aim is to get you moving as soon as...

How to Decorate Your Rental Home in Islington

March, 2022

Moved into a rental property in Islington and not quite sure how to approach the decor and design of it? The good news is that there’s plenty you can do to spruce up your rental home...

Stamp duty bills far higher since end of SDLT holiday - claim

March, 2022

Typical stamp duty paid by property purchasers now is actually 84 per cent more than before the pandemic and the SDLT holiday introduced to help the housing market. In June 2020, just before...

Homebuyers would like to see gazumping made illegal

March, 2022

The majority of UK homebuyers unsurprisingly want to see the practice of gazumping made illegal, according to a new survey. as one in 10 fell foul of the backhanded practice during their last...

It is ‘impossible’ to achieve net zero emissions, new analysis finds

March, 2022

Most local authorities have ambitious climate targets – but national planning policy is not fit for purpose, leaving council leaders without the tools to hit their legally-binding targets,...

Outdoor Entertaining in Islington : 7 of the Best Ideas

March, 2022

As the warmer months approach, many of us are eager to make the most from our beautiful outside spaces. Entertaining outside is a wonderful option for the warmer evenings that spring and summer...

EPC Upgrades - Government slammed over costs of improvements

March, 2022

A property finance company says increased taxes and regulations for the private rental sector mean that energy efficiency improvements to raise EPC ratings are often put on the back burner....

Top tips to get your outdoor space ready for Spring

March, 2022

With warmer weather on the horizon and the clocks going forward on Sunday 27th giving us all an extra hour of daylight, the next few weeks are the perfect time to get your garden ready for Spring....

Will landlords take up £5,000 heat pumps grant?

March, 2022

A question mark has been raised over the suitability of a scheme starting next month to encourage the switch from gas boilers to carbon-neutral heat pumps. £5,000 is being offered to...

Energy Efficiency - is Sunak's VAT initiative enough for landlords?

March, 2022

Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement was something - but not enough. That’s the view of Ben Beadle - chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association - who...

Sigh of relief that Sunak avoids hurting housing market

March, 2022

The industry has reacted to the Spring Statement by breathing a sigh of relief that nothing was likely to cause damage to the housing market, beyond the general surge in the cost of living. ...

Property industry reacts to Sunak’s 2022 Spring Statement

March, 2022

Property industry leaders have broadly welcomed measures announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak yesterday, designed to help reduce the increasing cost of living amid reports that inflation could...

Pressure mounts in the PRS

March, 2022

Last month, Propertymark members revealed that an average letting agent branch had 142 applicants registered on their books - a record high for the month of February and a 73% rise against...

Feature: How to Better Manage your Property Portfolio in 2022

March, 2022

Property investment continues to be a sought-after market into 2022, with recent research by Shawbrook Bank finding that 34% of landlords are looking to expand their portfolios in the next year....

Income Tax cut and VAT scrapped on home energy efficiency measures

March, 2022

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a dramatic future income tax cut, changes to National Insurance thresholds and scrapping VAT on more energy efficiency improvements. His Spring...

Prepare Your Home for Spring: Home Décor Tips

March, 2022

Spring is here! With the new season comes longer, brighter days after a cold and gloomy winter, prompting many people to start thinking about selling their homes. Statistics and many of...

First sign of a slowdown? Transactions drop sharply says HMRC

March, 2022

House sales in February were around a fifth lower than the same month in 2021, according to HM Revenue and Customs figures. Some 112,240 transactions took place in February across the UK, which...

How could growing economic challenges affect the Spring market?

March, 2022

With 2022 at full pace and the traditionally busiest period in the year for transactions only a few weeks away, you could be forgiven for thinking that it's plain sailing for the UK property...

25% of Generation Rent have moved home 10 or more times since they left their family house

March, 2022

Gen Z and millennials have been classified as Generation Rent for years due to being priced out of the housing market – unable to buy and having to pay a high percentage of...

1 in 5 deals are snapped up

March, 2022

Newly-marketed properties are being snapped up fast, with Rightmove reporting that 22% of deals are agreed within the first week of being listed. This is more than double what was seen at...

What will today’s Spring Statement have in store for the property market?

March, 2022

The chancellor Rishi Sunak is due to deliver his Spring Statement later today, which could include some surprise announcements ahead of the new tax year in April. The Spring Statement is often...

HMRC tax receipts are up £80bn on pre-pandemic level

March, 2022

Government statistics issued yesterday show that HMRC tax receipts are £80bn higher than they were before the pandemic. Growth in tax returns was fuelled in part by a 35% year-on-year...

Stamp duty receipts hit record high

March, 2022

New data released by HMRC shows that property buyers in the UK paid a record £16.9bn in stamp duty tax between April 2021 and February 2022, up £6.1bn on the previous tax year. The...

House prices forecast to rise based on transactions currently underway

March, 2022

The housing market looks set to brush off the cost-of-living squeeze with property prices expected to hit a new record high in May, new data shows. Despite signs of a slowdown earlier in the...

15 Cleaning Tips to Make Your Home Move-In Ready

March, 2022

Your new home is the perfect opportunity for a fresh, clean start! There are plenty of services available for you to have your home professionally cleaned, however, it may not be...

The domino effect: if the cost of living is linked to interest rates, what does that mean for mortgages?

March, 2022

As far as the UK Government is concerned, the threat from COVID is over. In its wake, a new battle, the cost-of-living crisis, has hit headlines and become the centre of many debates. The rise...

Cheaper to buy than rent IF you can afford the deposit

March, 2022

The monthly costs for a first time buyer are some 13 per cent lower than that of a similar renter - but the purchaser needs to have found the deposit to buy. Data from Halifax, based on a three...

London house prices: boomerang buyers push property prices up at fastest rate since before Brexit vote

March, 2022

A sking prices rose in all but one London boroughs this month, hitting an average of £667,000 at the highest rate of growth in the six years since the Brexit vote. The capital saw the...

Sentiment for pricing over the next 3 months is positive

March, 2022

House prices and rental values are expected to rise across most of the UK over the next three months, based on the latest RICS sentiment survey. All surveyors in the North and West Midlands...

Demand for energy efficiency at the forefront of home-moving decisions

March, 2022

Concerns regarding the energy crisis and a growing desire for more sustainable living are now guiding the way Brits are making home-moving decisions, according to new research carried out by the...

Rate rise signals another step closer to normality for the UK property market

March, 2022

While demand remains at record levels and supply tight, the Bank of England's decision last week to raise the base rate to 0.755 is a step closer to normality for the UK housing market, according...

Inflation looks set to outstrip house prices – NAPB

March, 2022

The annual growth in UK house prices has gone up much faster than the general cost of living in recent years, but that could soon be about to to change. There are growing signs that residential...

Property industry reaction to Rightmove House Price Index

March, 2022

Average price tag on a home in Britain has topped £350,000, says Rightmove Sellers were typically asking £354,564 for a property in March, which is 1.7% or £5,760 more than in...

Best ever spring market for vendors as prices hit new record

March, 2022

There’s been a remarkable 1.7 per cent increase in the average asking price of homes coming to the market in just one month, according to Rightmove. The national average is now...

Spring into action

March, 2022

Over the past five years (excluding 2020), the number of buyer enquiries per property for sale has been highest during March, April and May (Rightmove). Currently around 75% of properties...

Bank Rate increased to 0.75% - March 2022

March, 2022

The Bank of England condemns Russia’s unprovoked invasion and the suffering inflicted on Ukraine. The Bank is working closely with the UK Government to support its response in coordination...

The Irish property market hotspots in England and Wales

March, 2022

Today is St Patrick’s Day, celebrated in some form as far back as the ninth century and as far afield as Australia and even the International Space Station. In modern times the day has...

The nation's most expensive St. Patrick themed street names

March, 2022

St. Patrick’s Day is here again and countless celebrations will be held throughout the British Isles and beyond, so much so that it’s estimated that 13 million pints of Guinness are...

Virtual Tours here to stay for renters, even post-pandemic

March, 2022

The growing importance of virtual tours for properties to let and for sale during the pandemic shows little sign of easing, despite the relaxation of Covid restrictions. That’s the...

PropTech Today: The barriers of non-communicating PropTech

March, 2022

PropTech solutions have continued to ingratiate themselves in both the forefront of an agency within advertising mediums and in the backend CRM and sales progression elements. As more and more...

Top tips to boost your home's spring time buying appeal

March, 2022

Spring is undoubtedly the most popular time of year to buy a home. And with the property market already booming, this spring is expected to be one of the busiest yet. If you're looking to sell...

Planning permissions hit record high

March, 2022

Fresh analysis of the latest official planning statistics by Savills shows that a record number of planning permissions for home improvements and extensions were granted in the year to September...

Buyer demand soars for chain-free homes

March, 2022

Despite a booming housing market demand for chain-free homes has gone through the roof as buyers are clearly happy to pay a significant premium for a fast, efficient purchase, according to HBB...

Over 400 members attend Guild Conference and Awards

March, 2022

The Guild of Property Professionals recently held our first in-person conference and awards ceremony since the pandemic started in 2020. Over 400 attended the conference, which was held at the...

IT’S GOING TO BE A BUSY SPRING!

March, 2022

Prepare Now for a Successful Property Sale Rightmove, (righmove.co.uk) a leading UK property website, reports* that “the number of new listings coming to market is also historically at...

Cost of home improvement surges by 17%

March, 2022

The price of home improvement skyrocketed by 17% in January, with the average person paying an extra £379 for home improvements last month, versus prices paid in 2021, according to the...

Monthly mortgage approvals mount

March, 2022

Mortgage approvals, which surged in 2021 on the back of demand from home-movers, have sustained a high level into 2022, continuing to outpace any period since 2008. Meanwhile, the Bank of...

Rents predicted to rise due to EPC improvement costs

March, 2022

With landlords having to make improvements to their properties ahead of the proposed EPC 2025 deadline, new research has revealed that over half of landlords surveyed said that they will pass on...

London rents see biggest monthly rise since before the pandemic

March, 2022

Every UK region saw a rise in annual room rent during February, with Northern Ireland seeing the biggest rise -up 14% and London seeing rent increases on a scale not seen since pre-pandemic times....

Will UK house price boom continue amid cost of living squeeze?

March, 2022

House price growth hit nearly 8% in January, according to the latest Zoopla House Price Index. The average value of a home in the UK rose by nearly 1%, or around £2,000, between October and...

85% say that a garden is top of their house hunting wishlist

March, 2022

It would appear that the frustrations of three lockdowns have catapulted gardens and outdoor spaces to the top of wish lists for today's homebuyers. Back in 2018, research by property company...

Housing market remains resilient ahead of predicted Bank of England rate rise

March, 2022

With the Bank of England expected to raise interest rates this week for the third time in three months, the signals from the property market remain positive. An increase to 0.75% will return us...

Buyer enquiries continue to rise in February

March, 2022

A lack of supply is still constraining housing market activity, and pushing up prices New buyer enquiries increased in February as supply slowly returned to the housing market. According...

Government must increase Levelling Up fund – claim

March, 2022

The government’s Levelling Up Home Building Fund is unlikely to provide enough funding to supply loans to all of the nation’s small and medium-sized (SME) developers, claims debt...

What percentage of household income goes to rent payments?

March, 2022

The average household in Great Britain spent 42% of their post-tax income on rent in 2021, the highest proportion since property services company Hamptons began recording this data more than a...

Feature: The Generational Divide Behind Housing

March, 2022

Over the past decade, unmortgaged house prices in the UK have grown by 67%. This significant overhaul of the market has made clear winners and losers, polarising the country not just...

Tips to lower costs for holiday homeowners amid cost-of-living crisis

March, 2022

We’re currently in a cost-of-living crisis. Living costs are rising at their fastest rate in 30 years ; a typical domestic energy bill will rise by about £700 a year...

We’re Still Buying! Sentiment high despite inflation, interest rates and war

March, 2022

Despite a backdrop of the Ukraine crisis, soaring fuel bills, rising interest rates and high inflation, buyer sentiment remains strong according to the latest snapshot from OnTheMarket. Its new...

Are we on the cusp of a housebuilding boom?

March, 2022

Lee Martin, Head of UK for property development optimisation platform, Unlatch, suggests that we are, with the sector already showing signs that it’s set to rebound from a...

Where to buy a home if you're really into trees

March, 2022

Who doesn't love a good tree? Across England, it is estimated that 15.1 million trees were planted between 2010-2018, with the areas where more trees have been planted actually home to far more...

Feature: Who’s Searching for Garden Improvements in the UK?

March, 2022

Home decorating is a popular pastime for many across the UK, with countless Brits taking special care to ensure that their home is in tip-top condition. While home design is important, looking...

Does your rental property hit the energy performance mark?

March, 2022

Government targets state that by the end of 2025 new lets will require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of band C or above. Just over half (51%) of all rental properties let...

The best commuter town for investment? Watford, research says

March, 2022

Watford is the best commuter town for investment, according to an exclusive research report carried out by developer London Square. The town has achieved top ranking...

Short lease hotspots - what are the pros and cons for investors?

March, 2022

The regions of England and Wales home to the least time remaining to renew when it comes to properties listed for sale with a short lease have been revealed by Warwick Estates. The market...

Sharp fall in mortgage products as market starts to tighten

March, 2022

There’s been a marked reduction in mortgage product availability for a second consecutive month. Independent mortgage market monitor Moneyfacts says there are 518 fewer products for...

London leads a decline in void costs to landlords

March, 2022

Growing demand for rental properties following the pandemic has seen the costs incurred by landlords due to void periods fall in all but two regions, according to research from Rentd. The...

Quality advice remains key to attracting first-time landlords

March, 2022

When it comes to attracting new landlords into the industry, the sector has had few favours bestowed on it in recent times due to a somewhat heavy-handed government approach to tax, regulation and...

Will the rising cost of living benefit expats and foreigners looking to buy homes in the UK?

March, 2022

The rising cost of living in the UK may increase the availability of homes for UK expats and foreign nationals to buy, a mortgage brokerage has said. “With increasing energy...

Speeding Up - typical time to complete a transaction falls

March, 2022

The time it takes to complete a transaction is beginning to drop according to an analysis by comparison website GetAgent. The average time to sell a home over the last six months currently sits...

Housing market correction looms as property prices rise

March, 2022

UK house prices are growing at their fastest rate since before the global financial crisis, according to Halifax figures, which said prices rose by 0.5% in February, equating to £370 a week....

International Women’s day, a time to celebrate female estate agents

March, 2022

International Women’s day celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. But despite huge strides in gender equality over the last few decades, there...

Indicative gross rental yields

March, 2022

As of the end of February, gross yields for flats ranged from 3.1% in Prime Central London to 9.5% in Sunderland (North East). The spread of gross rental yields for key cities within a...

International Women’s Day: Women in Estate Agency

March, 2022

International Women’s Day is a global annual event, on Tuesday 8th March, celebrating women's achievements, raising awareness against bias and taking action for equality. Together...

International Women’s Day: Why the property industry needs more women

March, 2022

As another year rolls around, we return with our special column celebrating International Women’s Day 2022 , putting a heavy focus on women trailblazers in the property industry....

Rent controls would add to London’s lettings stock shortfall

March, 2022

A new calculation suggests London needs almost 85,000 new private rented homes a year to meet its housing needs. And it adds to the evidence that rent controls, as advocated by London Mayor...

Annual house price growth at fastest pace since 2007: Halifax

March, 2022

House prices are rising at the fastest annual pace of growth since 2007 and reached a new record high of £278,123 in February, according to this morning's data released by Halifax....

Rising interest rates continue to worry UK homebuyers

March, 2022

A new independent survey among 2,001 UK adults has revealed that rising interest rates pose a significant threat to UK renters, with 28% saying increases to the base rate will prevent them from...

Top Reasons to Upgrade to Double Glazing

March, 2022

With energy prices set to rise by £693 for 22 million people in April this year, the gas and electricity price cap is the highest it has ever been – so now is the perfect time to be...

Mortgage searches by advisers surge in February

March, 2022

More than 1.43 million mortgage searches – the highest on record – were conducted by advisers last month on its platform, mortgage technology provider Twenty7Tec announced. ...

Revealed: off plan buyers flock back to London as the WFH guidelines change

March, 2022

The UK housing market has experienced its strongest start to the year for 17 years with annual house price growth accelerating to 11.2%. While spacious off-plan properties or homes with an outside...

Levelling Up must include addressing the rental stock shortage

March, 2022

The government’s much-discussed levelling up agenda must include the provision of more new rental homes in all parts of the country, according to the Association of Independent Inventory...

The Guild partners with Agents Giving

March, 2022

In July 2020, The Guild of Property Professionals started using the size of its network to make a difference by donating £50 to Agents Giving for every successful referral...

Buy To Let benefits quantified - thank goodness for capital appreciation

March, 2022

Agents tasked with persuading possible investors as to the benefit of buy to let have new ammunition, in the shape of figures showing profit margins for landlords. Research by rental portal...

Kirsty Gallacher to host The Guild of Property Professionals Awards

March, 2022

The Guild of Property Professionals has announced that TV presenter, broadcaster and former Sky Sports News anchor Kirsty Gallacher will host the awards at their annual conference next week....

House price boom despite inflation concerns

March, 2022

Residential property prices rose again in February despite higher mortgage rates and a sharp jump in inflation to increase the most in cash terms since 1991. This is the seventh consecutive...

1 in 2 less likely to buy or rent if property information is missing

March, 2022

From the end of May 2022 all property listings for both sales and rental property must include a property’s price, council tax band or rate and for sales, tenure information. The new...

UK rental market now the world’s fourth largest, research claims

March, 2022

The UK’s rental market is now the world’s fourth largest by total volumes of privately rented properties according to research from a lender. Octane Capital says only the United...

No chains mean fast sales - but hefty premiums too

March, 2022

Properties selling without a chain not only sell more quickly, as one might expect, but also appear to attract a substantial premium. Quick buy firm HBB Solutions analysed market data across 10...

Guest Blog: Wellness in the City

March, 2022

In the last two years we have seen an unprecedented rise in counter-urbanisation: Claims of a London exodus including residents leaving other UK cities in search of a more country lifestyle are...

Estate agents take a stand against criminal activity

March, 2022

Fresh analysis of HMRC data has found that UK estate agents are increasingly demonstrating their commitment to anti-money laundering, with more newly AML-registered businesses than any other...

FTB demand drives mortgage search volumes up 80% in January

March, 2022

Overall mortgage search volumes by advisers rose by almost 80% in January, according to the latest data from Legal & General Mortgage Club, with demand amongst new buyers remaining a strong...

What’s behind the rise in homeownership?

March, 2022

The rise in the number of owned properties across England is due to a number of social and economic factors, according to Emily Smith, head of distribution and marketing at Harpenden Building...

Flipping heck! Pancake property premiums at 114%

March, 2022

Homesellers could be left with a particularly sweet taste in their mouth this Shrove Tuesday, should they be looking to sell across one of the nation’s flipping brilliant pancake-related...

Top tips to buy an auction property

March, 2022

With the housing market showing little sign of a slowdown, interest in auction properties also signals a busy year ahead. The latest industry figures report, that while overall the numbers dipped...

Cheap and Simple Ways to Upcycle Your Tarnished Garden Furniture

March, 2022

It’s been a while now since the clocks went back an hour and the evenings suddenly became darker. Unpleasant weather is one of the obvious downsides of the cold, wintery months. Quite...

Agents back stamp duty incentives to drive energy efficiency

February, 2022

Propertymark has backed a call for stamp duty incentives to be introduced to drive forward domestic energy efficiency. The trade body’s policy and campaigns manager Timothy Douglas says:...

Help to Buy boosted sales of new homes

February, 2022

Take-up of the government's Help to Buy scheme has declined since the introduction of lower caps and when limited to first-time buyers from April 2021. At its peak in Q4 2020, the scheme...

Five ways that gardening could devalue your home

February, 2022

As we head to the summer, homeowners across the country will be preparing their gardens for the warmer months. Investing in garden furniture, painting old sheds, and planting new garden shop...

‘Race for space’ overblown as city living remains strong

February, 2022

Although the pandemic raised debate about the ‘race for space’, and a mass exodus from city centres, economist Bob Pannell says the reality is “much more pedestrian,” and...

Top tips for FTBs moving home

February, 2022

Even for seasoned house hunters, moving home tends to be a balancing act that can test your patience. If you're doing it for the first time, however, venturing into the unknown can be incredibly...

Investing in UK property: How to start and what to look for?

February, 2022

When it comes to investing money and making it grow, there are few options that deliver as high returns as property. Due to the huge demand for housing in the UK, as well as the trend of...

6 Things To Look For When Purchasing An Old Property

February, 2022

When it comes to buying residential property, homebuyers divide into two camps: those who prefer the modern comforts of a new-build home and those who adore old houses. Of course,...

Guest Blog: How to Sustainably Save Money in Your New Home

February, 2022

House prices are currently soaring in the United Kingdom. If you’re looking to buy your own home, you can expect to pay more than you would have before the pandemic. The average price...

Agents Giving charity appoints another senior agency figure to board

February, 2022

Agents Giving - widely recognised as the industry’s main charity - has appointed another senior agency figure to its board. It’s Iain McKenzie, chief executive of The Guild of...

Revealed - why Trading Standards wants changes to property listings

February, 2022

The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agent Team has released background information on how it came to make changes to the information required in property listings. ...

More than half of renters have no contents insurance

February, 2022

While there is plenty of industry focus on helping landlords better protect themselves and their property from potential claims from tenants, the majority of renters continue to take major risks...

No let up in sales activity

February, 2022

The property market is busy, with the start of 2022 seeing no slowdown in sales activity. Nearly 107,000 sales were recorded in January. Except for 2021, this is the strongest start to a...

Hammered! Flying start for online auctions in 2022

February, 2022

Auction House London has sold the highest number of lots in one sale in over a year, at its first auction of 2022. A record 1,339 bidders were registered to take part in the livestream sale...

PropTech Today: what does prospecting look like in the current market?

February, 2022

In the first few months of 2022, agents have experienced some of the lowest stock levels in several years. The number of available homes for sale per branch has dropped to a new record low of just...

Good news for London investors as yields bounce back

February, 2022

Research by rental portal Rentd suggests improved London yields this year after being in the doldrums during the pandemic. Rentd analysed the average rental yield based on both rental and house...

Guest Blog: How to capitalize on the growing short-term and flexible rental market in 2022

February, 2022

In the post-pandemic world, workers are being encouraged to go back to the office , but I believe a vast majority will be reluctant to do so. In most countries, including the US...

What do homeowners dread most about the house moving process?

February, 2022

Its often cited along with death, divorce, and getting married as one of life's most stressful events. But what exactly is the cause of stress when you move home? A new study of 2,000 adults...

Reform of properties listings welcomed by industry leaders

February, 2022

Industry figures have come out in favour of the long-term programme of new compulsory information to be contained on property listings. From May a property's council tax band or rate...

What the UK’s Average House Price Gets You Across the Country

February, 2022

The latest house price index released by the Office for National Statistics, noting a rise in average house prices across the UK from £270,000 to £275,000 – a record high. A new...

Number of properties listed for sale with estate agents drops by a fifth

February, 2022

The number of properties listed for sale with estate agents has dropped by a fifth in the last year, new research shows. In January 2021, estate agents across England and Wales had an...

The 10 interior colours that could cost you your house sale

February, 2022

A blank canvass is always ideal for house hunters. Neutral tones are less of a distraction and make it easier to see what the space is actually like. However, owning a home means being able to put...

Home staging expert shares top five tips to selling your home instantly

February, 2022

Thinking of putting your house on the market this year? Then you'll want to read this advice... The home staging industry has boomed in the last few years and with the property market...

Strongest annual house price growth in December since 2002

February, 2022

The UK recorded average house price growth of 10.8% in 2021. This is the strongest annual growth at the year end since 2002. The average price of a UK home now stands at £274,712,...

How Homes In The UK Have Changed Over Time

February, 2022

Our home designs are an identifying aspect of our nation’s culture. Wood panelling, bay windows, and stone bricks are instantly recognisable as a product of British construction when...

Housing market continues to level up but ‘size, as they say, isn’t everything’

February, 2022

House price growth in London has under-performed the rest of the UK for several years due to the affordability squeeze in the capital, and with a growing number of people moving out of the city,...

Rightmove: Property prices hit 20-year record

February, 2022

The Rightmove House Price Index has revealed the biggest monthly jump in the price of property coming to market in more than 20 years, with the average asking price at £348,804 in February...

Property wins Britons’ investment poll as best bet of 2022

February, 2022

Nearly one in three British adults think property will be the best performing investment in 2022, making it the top pick ahead of cash, stocks, and cryptocurrency. Personal finance website...

The most profitable home improvements for sellers

February, 2022

The property market is off to its best start in 17 years and due to low stock levels, high demand and rising house prices, it's certainly biased towards those selling their home. New research...

Excluding landlords will lead to cladding safety problems

February, 2022

Experts are predicting that the exclusion of large scale landlords from cladding relief may lead to significant delays in some safety work being undertaken. The Department of Levelling Up,...

‘Could be tough times ahead for the housing market’ - warning

February, 2022

A financial analyst says there could be tough times ahead for the housing market, despite another upbeat set of figures regarding house prices. Sarah Coles, senior personal finance analyst at...

Garden trends 2022 revealed: key looks and ideas for your garden

February, 2022

We’ve had our first taste of sunshine already this year, filling us with hope of a great summer ahead. In recent years our gardens have become more important than ever, with more of us...

Pandemic drives huge rise in demand for smarter homes

February, 2022

Beyond the obvious, the pandemic has (and continues to have) a profound effect on the way we live our lives and the way we view our homes. From the 'race for space' to hybrid working, our...

Industry reaction to sharp increase in UK house prices

February, 2022

The average UK house price increased by £27,000 last year, ending 2021 on a record high of £275,000, new figures show. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the...

Rents rise at fastest pace in five years

February, 2022

Private rental prices paid by tenants in the UK increased by 2% in the 12 months to January 2022 – representing the sharpest annual growth rate since February 2017. This is the fastest...

New house price data could signal the start of a market slowdown

February, 2022

The house price boom is being pegged back, with completed sale valuations expected to fall in March and April based on deals already agreed between buyers and sellers, suggesting that the ...

Welcome surge in number of ‘much-needed’ homes listed for sale

February, 2022

There was a sharp rise in the number of homes listed for sale with estate agents in January, fresh figures from Propertymark shows. Following three months of decline, the latest data collected...

House prices rise 10.7% at end of 2021: HM Land Registry

February, 2022

UK house prices increased by 10.7% on an annual basis in December 2021, government figures show. This takes the average property across the UK price up to £274,172. In England, the...

Strong demand for homes continues

February, 2022

A net balance in demand of +64% was reported by survey participants for renter demand. This is the strongest result since 1999. In the sales market, participants recorded a net balance of...

Agents Alert - years of legal and regulation changes ahead

February, 2022

A senior figure in an industry trade body says lettings agents are going to have their hands full dealing with legislative changes over the rest of this decade. Paul Offley, compliance...

London’s sharp rent variations laid bare by new research

February, 2022

A rental platform has revealed the wide disparity in rents to the north and south of the Thames in London, and even between neighbouring boroughs. Rentd analysed current London rental...

Huge 22.5 per cent rent rise in prime London, says LonRes

February, 2022

Rents in prime areas of London are rocketing at an annual level of 22.5 per cent according to LonRes. Despite the falls recorded when the pandemic hit, average rents - buoyed by the...

The Electric Revolution: Why New Homes are Being Future-Proofed

February, 2022

As the UK is committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, the Government is looking to property developers and new homeowners to take responsibility for the planet in small, but significant...

The Guild’s annual conference and awards ceremony ‘will be special’

February, 2022

For the first time in two years The Guild of Property Professionals will once again be holding its annual conference and awards ceremony in person. The Guild, which held its last event...

Stamp duty holiday and tax relief significantly boosted sales

February, 2022

44% of home buyers in England were eligible for a Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday (or claimed relief) in 2021, totalling 566,700 sales. Those qualifying in the 5 years preceeding 2020...

Nearly 230,000 private rented homes a year required to meet targets

February, 2022

Almost 230,000 new rented homes would need to be built per year to meet UK government housing targets, according to a report by Capital Economics (CE) and commissioned by the National Residential...

The London boroughs leading the capital's comeback

February, 2022

The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns had a dramatic effect on London's property market as many decided to move away from the city to be closer to friends and family. And while the rest of the...

OnTheMarket insists interest rate rise not weakening buyer sentiment

February, 2022

OnTheMarket says buyer and seller confidence has not been adversely affected by the first base rate rise in more than three years. The latest edition of the portal’s sentiment index...

This spring is ‘shaping up to be a busy one’ for estate agents

February, 2022

Estate agents are being told to prepare for the busy selling season, with March identified as the strongest month of the year for prospective sellers to come to market. Rightmove has analysed...

Government issues revised Right To Rent guidance for landlords

February, 2022

The government has issued new Right To Rent guidance for landlords. It makes only minor modifications to previous versions but the latest 80 page document advises a landlord, letting agent...

Valentine’s themed road names see 20% price rise in the last year

February, 2022

Living on a Valentine’s related road name could cause your heart to skip a beat if you’re looking to sell this year, with house prices sitting above the national average, rising by 20%...

Time-On-Market returns to pre-pandemic level says RICS

February, 2022

Selling a home - the period from listing to completion - is now back to its pre-pandemic levels of 16 weeks according to agents contributing to the latest RICS survey. It reports a net balance...

Prime London buyer demand stands at 72% above the five-year average

February, 2022

The housing market in prime London was once again defined by high demand and low supply in January, new figures show. The number of new prospective buyers was 72% above the five-year average,...

28 areas of London where £1m isn't enough for a home

February, 2022

The London borough of Kensington and Chelsea is synonymous with prime property. In fact, more often than not, when you think about the capital's £1m+ property market only one borough really...

Energy efficiency increasingly vital to buyers - claim

February, 2022

Features often overlooked by agents and buyers now, such as double glazing and insulation, are likely to become high up on buyers’ wish lists as the new energy price cap increases in...

Property hotspots: Top 10 UK areas for 10-year house price growth revealed

February, 2022

Northern towns trails the rest of UK when it comes to growth in property asking prices over the past decade, while Margate has been identified as the number one property hotspot, according to new...

UK rents hit another record high

February, 2022

The average rent in the UK hit another record high in January, edging up by 0.4% on the December figure, the latest data released by HomeLet shows. The figures reveal that the UK monthly rent...

74% of builders increase their costs

February, 2022

The Federation of Master Builders' latest State of Trade Survey reports that 74% of builders have raised prices for their work in Q4 2021. At a time when they are reporting a 19% increase in...

HMRC and Government warned - don’t let Capital Gains Tax kill buy to let

February, 2022

A finance chief is warning that the threat of possible rises in Capital Gains Tax should be dismissed by the government to help the buy to let sector. Jonathan Samuels, the chief executive...

Mortgage Choice Falls - but does it mean housing market in retreat?

February, 2022

After a long period of improvement in the level of product choice for borrowers, February has seen mortgage availability fall for the first time in almost 18 months. There’s been a...

First-time buyers spent £27.3bn more in 2021

February, 2022

Britain's first-time buyers were out in force during 2021, with almost 400,000 entering the market and snapping up £86.1bn worth of property market value - a rise of £27.3bn in a...

Message to HMRC and Government - stamp duty is outdated

February, 2022

The majority of homeowners and homebuyers believe Stamp Duty Land Tax is outdated and needs reform. The mortgage lender Butterfield commissioned an independent survey of 1,125 homeowners and...

Guest Blog: How to Beat the Winter Blues by Reducing Living Costs

February, 2022

Rising fuel costs, soaring taxes, a pre-Christmas interest rate hike and the highest headline rate of inflation in a decade – the UK is facing a cost-of-living crisis. Ongoing hikes in...

Voids drop to five-year lows

February, 2022

The number of void periods occurring across the UK housing market has dropped significantly over the last 18 months, according to the latest research from Paragon Bank, and have now reached their...

Wellness in the city

February, 2022

Wellness is a buzzword in urban regeneration at the moment. There was a growing focus around wellness prior to 2020, but then lockdown accelerated the need to re-evaluate living spaces from a...

Property industry reaction to Halifax House Price Index

February, 2022

The average price of a residential property in the UK hit an all-time high of £276,759 at the start of 2022 after increasing by around £24,500 over the past 12 months, according to...

More stock is key to unlocking chains

February, 2022

New buyer enquiries rose modestly in December (+9%) marking the fourth successive monthly rise in demand. The end of the stamp duty break curtailed demand to some degree but since market...

Lifestyle and Space Continue to Drive Buyer Decisions

February, 2022

Over the past two years Covid restrictions and laws have governed how people have lived their lives. Calls to work from home have had a huge impact on the property market with many people moving...

London property predictions: will the market continue to grow in 2022?

February, 2022

The property market has weathered the COVID storm better than many sectors over the last couple of years. The crisis has seen buyers and renters adapt to virtual viewings and more in a...

Selling a buy to let? Just months left to maximise appreciation

February, 2022

The average capital appreciation is forecast to break the £100,000 barrier this year. Official data revealed those selling up last year received £95,360 more than they’d...

Further Rental Reform White Paper scheduled for the spring

February, 2022

It’s now been made clear that there will be a detailed White Paper in the spring explaining radical changes to the private rental sector. It had originally been thought that the Levelling...

House price growth slowed in January

February, 2022

House price growth slowed in January, according to the latest Halifax House Price Index. Property prices hit another record high last month after edging up by 0.3% – the lowest rise since...

Stamp duty receipts hit all-time high after tax holiday ends

February, 2022

Homebuyers spent almost £3bn on stamp duty in the last three months of 2021, which is more than any other quarter on record, thanks to strong demand for property during the tail end of last...

New record average rent - but increase is below inflation rate

February, 2022

The latest lettings market snapshot from HomeLet suggests another record average UK monthly rent level of £1,064 pcm - up a marginal 0.4 per cent on the December figure. When London is...

Digital changes to Right To Rent - agents urged to prepare

February, 2022

Propertymark is advising agents to prepare for substantial changes to the Right To Rent process arriving in just two months time. As part of the digitisation of elements of the immigration...

Interest rates could rise five fold by the end of 2022 - claim

February, 2022

The Bank of England’s monetary policy committee is set to meet today to consider a possible rise in base rate - which in turn would be likely to trigger mortgage interest rate hikes....

What the increase in interest rates means for house prices and mortgages

February, 2022

UK housing market forecast: mortgages will become unaffordable if interest rates rise to 1.5pc The second rise to the Bank Rate in as many months, from 0.25pc to 0.5pc, which is expected...

Home sellers achieved 98% of asking price in 2021

February, 2022

The average homeowner in England and Wales achieved 98% of asking price in 2021, up from 96% in 2020, according to estate agent comparison site, GetAgent.co.uk. The research shows that...

Homeowners reveal the things every buyer should do before putting in an offer on a property

February, 2022

The process of buying a property can be incredibly stressful. There’s so much to think about on the financial side, in terms of deposits and mortgages , but also...

Five ways you can unwittingly damage your house price when selling in 2022

February, 2022

Bold colours and overly-ambitious asking prices can knock thousands from a property’s value Property prices have soared at a record pace as desperate buyers have...

1 in 6 home movers want a change of scene

February, 2022

Change of scenery/lifestyle remains a key driver behind home moves, as the persistent shortage of supply has held back potential home moves. Change in lifestyle/scenery becomes a more...

12 Turn-Offs That Will Make Home Buyers Turn & Run

February, 2022

People in the market for a new home can easily get discouraged when properties fall short of their expectations. There’s a significant difference, however, between a...

EPCs aren’t the answer to reducing emissions in our homes, poll shows

February, 2022

Almost two-thirds (62%) of residential property professionals don’t believe that Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are the most suitable method to help reduce carbon emissions in our...

How much are London's royal park premiums?

February, 2022

Homes surrounding London’s royal parks command an average house price premium of 30% when compared to the wider boroughs they are located within, according to research from Henry Dannel....

Property industry reaction to planned rental reforms – details released

February, 2022

Plans to end Section 21 repossessions, consult on a national register of landlords and develop plans to better tackle rogue landlords have been announced as part of the levelling up white paper...

Housing Reform proposals to change economy by 2030

February, 2022

The government’s new Levelling Up White Paper, revealed this morning includes a radical reshaping of the private rental sector. Section 21 eviction powers will be removed and...

What to Consider When Choosing New Windows and Doors

February, 2022

Is your home ready for a spruce ahead of the summer months? Have you had enough of tired-looking window frames, that sticky lock on your front door, and the fact that whilst the colour you chose...

New rules for holiday lets

February, 2022

There are over 100,000 official holiday homes in England and Wales registered with the Valuation Office Agency, nearly double the number just four years ago. Two-thirds of officially...

Mandatory register and redress for landlords to be revealed this week

February, 2022

A radical shake up of the private rental sector is expected to be announced tomorrow by Housing Secretary Michael Gove. The main part of tomorrow’s announcement is expected to be a...

Big rise in fall-throughs and fee-loss for agents

February, 2022

Agents are losing tens of thousands of pounds each - in some cases even more - because of the volume of fall-throughs. The first assessment of the 2021 calendar year’s fall throughs...

Strongest January for 17 years as house price growth rises to 11.2%: Nationwide

February, 2022

House price growth has made a strong start to 2022 with demand continuing to outstrip supply, according to this morning's data and market analysis from Nationwide. The figures show that annual...

Red Flags First-Time Buyers Should Look Out For

February, 2022

A new ranking developed by Huddersfield based property specialist Bramleys reveals the biggest red flags for first-time buyers when it comes to booking a viewing or offer on a new...

Agents should act now ahead of Carbon Monoxide alarm laws

January, 2022

Trade body UKALA has cautioned letting agents to act now following the government announcement that it intends to extend the need for carbon monoxide alarms. It is thought that the government...

UK housing market activity expected to see significant dip

January, 2022

Property transactions in the UK will cool by at least 25% compared to last year, according to a conveyancer at Osbornes Law in London. The stamp duty holiday fuelled a boom in house with 47%...

HMRC extends self-assessment deadline – but taxpayers urged to pay today

January, 2022

Many self-employed estate agents who have not yet filed their tax return will be delighted that the traditional 31 January deadline has been extended until 28 February. But taxpayers are being...

Competition heats up in London rental market as demand grows

January, 2022

The oversupply of rental market stock surplus in the capital spurred by pandemic uncertainty has started to subside, with nearly all areas seeing large reductions in available stock. There was...

Tips For Decorating When Faced With a Blank Canvas

January, 2022

You’ve found your ideal home, got the keys and moved in your belongings. Now the fun begins - decorating. But facing a blank canvas can be daunting. How do you know what colours to choose,...

Check EPCs before buying new investment properties - advice

January, 2022

A prominent buy to let mortgage provider is advising landlords to ensure they check EPCs and energy efficiency issues on properties they are considering buying to let out. Emma Cox, sales...

Lettings Favourite - which property is landlords’ most popular?

January, 2022

Semi-detached houses have overtaken terraced homes as the preferred property type landlords plan to buy, reflecting growing tenant demand for larger homes. Paragon Bank research of 800...

Evictions: latest legal decision affects whole industry, say agents

January, 2022

Propertymark has expressed a sigh of relief at a decision this week by the Appeal Court, which ruled in favour of letting agents and landlords. The case was Northwood Solihull v Fearn &...

Quarter of landlords suffer Covid losses: NRLA

January, 2022

Nearly a quarter – 23% – of landlords report having faced income losses because of Covid, says the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA). In a survey of over 1,000...

Lettings Market On Fire - Rental yields now highest for six years

January, 2022

Newly published rental yield from Rightmove reveals that the average yield across Great Britain is 5.5 per cent. This is the highest yield since 2016 when it was 5.6 per cent. The...

Buy To Let investment hotspots revealed by business service

January, 2022

Birmingham, Bristol and Leicester are seeing the fastest growth in Buy To Let investment according to new figures from a business insurance service. The analysis of over 150,000 landlord...

“No market” for some prime London flats without outside space

January, 2022

A leading buying agency says that while prime central London’s property market shows clear signs of recovery, a weak area remains apartments without outside space. Camilla Dell, founder...

465,000 landlords could expand portfolios in next 2 years

January, 2022

Nearly half a million landlords expect to expand their portfolio over the next two years. Just over 17.5% of landlords who responded to the 2021 Landlord Trends Survey stated they expected...

Mortgage lenders battle to win growing holiday let landlord market

January, 2022

Yesterday Landlord Today reported that there was now a 15 year record high in the number of buy to let mortgage products available for current or new landlords after a rise of 222 products in just...

Energy Bills - New EPC targets to cost landlords over £10k per unit

January, 2022

Landlords believe that energy efficiency upgrades required to comply with Net Zero regulations may cost up to £10,400 per property. From 2025 all newly rented properties must have an EPC...

Tenants complain of slow on-boarding process by letting agents

January, 2022

Tenants are complaining that lengthy application processes at lettings agencies contribute to their frustration at missing available properties. The results of a survey by PropTech...

Bill to exempt future leaseholders from ground rent set to become law

January, 2022

A proposal to effectively scrap ground rents for most new long residential leaseholds in England and Wales has moved one step closer to becoming law after passing its third reading in the House of...

Taxing Times - tips for landlords facing self-assessment deadline

January, 2022

A tax consultancy has produced tips for those faced with the self-assessment tax filing deadline of next Monday - and who have yet to complete the task. Lendingexpert.co.uk says the average...

Hammered! Young people moving towards auctions - claim

January, 2022

The UK’s largest property auctioneer says that there is now clear evidence of the impact the pandemic has had on the auction market - and it’s a dramatic shift in its website...

Good News Exclusive - Most agencies plan to expand in 2022

January, 2022

Research based on questioning almost 1,000 estate agents suggests that around 70 per cent are set to expand their business this year through additional staffing or premises. The industry survey...

Revealed – which cities will be the investment hotposts of 2022?

January, 2022

Staying at the forefront of the property investment industry takes a great deal of work, experience and expert knowledge, which is why investors choose to work with Advantage Investment. We source...

Agents and Conveyancers work together? Forum aims to make it happen

January, 2022

The ESTAS Forum scheduled for March says its aim is to encourage agents and conveyancers to work more closely together. “There doesn’t seem to be a week that goes by when we...

Industry reaction to key data – ‘a better measure of property market health’

January, 2022

The number of residential property sales last month fell by a fifth compared with December 2020, but increased from the previous month, according to the latest HM Revenue and Customs figures...

Soaring Market - no end in sight as demand overwhelms supply

January, 2022

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ latest index suggests there’s no end in sight to rent rises in 2022. RICS’ monthly sentiment survey, compiled from members’...

Up! Up! Up! - Rents rise for the fifth consecutive quarter

January, 2022

Average UK rents increased for the fifth consecutive quarter in Q4 2021 according to The Deposit Protection Service, as stock shortages continue. Average rents reached £834 during the...

Agents’ Market Info: Britain’s Least and Most affordable locations

January, 2022

The Nationwide has released data listing the most and least affordable locations in Britain - background information for agents. Some entries are unsurprising while others will raise some...

How does rising inflation affect house prices?

January, 2022

Consumer price inflation (CPI) has risen to 5.4% in the 12 months to December 2021. This is the highest rate in 30 years, but is expected to fall back after an April peak (ONS). Energy costs...

Cash house sales surge in 2021

January, 2022

Over two-thirds of professional cash house buyers saw business increase last year as Covid led to a surge in the number of people looking for a speedy property move, according to the National...

Upfront Property Info - huge majority of agents want it now

January, 2022

A survey suggests that an overwhelming proportion of estate agents believe the government should make the provision of upfront property information mandatory. The poll found that 91 per...

Working from home not working?

January, 2022

With working from home now necessary for many jobs and industries, post-pandemic households are continuing to revaluate the space they need from their homes. 49% of home buyers feel their...

Insight: Where are we seeing the most new-build stock?

January, 2022

The latest research by Unlatch has revealed how the new-build market looks based on the diversity of stock currently available to buyers and how this differs across the major cities. The...

Leaks and water supply problems plague most landlords - survey

January, 2022

Almost three quarters of landlords have experienced an escape of water incident in their properties over the last five years, according to new research from Direct Line business insurance. On...

Agents use new ID tech for Right To Rent checks from April

January, 2022

The Home Office has confirmed that letting agents, landlords and employers will be able to use certified new technology to digitally carry out Right To Rent checks. The government has announced...

Revealed - London’s busiest housing markets

January, 2022

An estate agency has revealed which London boroughs have been the busiest in terms of the number of homes sold as a percentage of all private dwellings within each borough. In the past 12...

Government pledges to “shift the odds in favour of renters”

January, 2022

A government housing minister says the Boris Johnson administration wants to shift the balance of power in the rental sector favour of tenants. Eddie Hughes, the parliamentary under-secretary...

Revealed: The most profitable places to become a landlord

January, 2022

With savers receiving poor returns from banks and building societies, thousands of people unsurprisingly continue to turn to residential property as a means of supplementing their income,...

Balance between first-time buyer and private rented sectors crucial: IMLA

January, 2022

Government focus on balancing the need for affordable housing for first-time-buyers with the role played by the private rental sector is essential this year, according to an industry trade body....

Up! Up! Up! Rightmove reports more buyers and more competition

January, 2022

Rightmove’s first housing market report of 2022 starts when last year’s ended - on a high. The average price of property coming to market jumps by 0.3 per cent this month to...

£29.4 billion invested in the UK's tech sector in 2021

January, 2022

Last year a record £29.4 billion was invested in the UK's tech sector, more than double the previous year. This is positive news for regional economies and housing demand. A quarter of...

Most expensive roads in our area

January, 2022

London certainly has Britain’s most expensive roads; after all, Zoopla estimates that the Kensington Palace Gardens is the most expensive road with an average property price of...

Top UK agents reveal 2022 property market predictions

January, 2022

Since the pandemic began in 2020, the property sector has experienced immense change and adaption. As we set on our journey into 2022, many might be wondering what this New Year will bring for the...

Inflation wiping out house price growth in many areas - claim

January, 2022

Soaring inflation means that house price growth in much of the country is being wiped out, according to a leading housing market analysis. The latest monthly market report from the Home website...

Revealed - what customers REALLY think of estate agents

January, 2022

A new survey of people who have sold their home in the past six months has given a strong backing to the performance of their estate agents - with a few exceptions. Some 1,159 owners who moved...

Study - Homebuyer demand stands strong during Q4

January, 2022

The latest Homebuyer Hotspots Demand Index by the estate agent comparison site, GetAgent.co.uk, has found where England’s strongest homebuyer demand hotspots were for Q4 2021....

Almost half of FTBs expect to rely on the Bank of Mum and Dad to get on the housing ladder

January, 2022

48% of first-time buyers expect they will be getting assistance from a family member when buying a home, according to new market research by London-based fintech, Tembo. According to the data,...

Estate agents share their property predictions for 2022

January, 2022

What will the property market look like in 2022? With the threat of Omicron looming, and interest rates set to rise further, there are plenty of factors at play. Several estate agents and...

Who is buying now?

January, 2022

The number of first-time buyers grew by 35% in 2021, compared to the pandemic year of 2020, despite the ongoing uncertainty. Close to 60% of agents in the latest Dataloft subscriber poll...

How do you choose your estate agent?

January, 2022

Capability and market knowledge continue to top the list of how prospective home movers choose their agents. Confidence in ability was rated by more home movers than any other quality. Only...

New Beginnings: How to Create Calm in a Crowded Family Home

January, 2022

It’s the New Year, so it’s the perfect time for a fresh start! If your home descended into chaos last year, now’s the time to change that. Make it a resolution to turn your home...

Forecasts for positive price growth over the next five years

January, 2022

Against the backdrop of strong economic growth, particularly in 2021 and 2022, forecasts for property price growth over the coming years are positive. The forecasts, produced by the Office...

Wind it up

December, 2021

Love them or hate them, the Brussels sprout is a quintessential part of a Christmas meal for many. In fact, the British are believed to eat more Brussels than anywhere else in Europe. The...

Happy Xtras

December, 2021

Affordability/rental costs top the renter wish list when it comes to choosing a home, followed by pleasant neighbours and broadband speed. However, in terms of the added extras, most renters...

UK gift spend per head is equivalent to one week's rent

December, 2021

15% of UK Christmas spending in 2021 is predicted to be on gifts, with spend per head expected to be £234, the equivalent of one week’s rent. Total UK spend per head on Christmas...

Over half of £1 million+ sales take place outside the capital

December, 2021

Nearly 20,000 sales have taken place over the past year priced £1 million or more. Over half of these have been outside of the capital, compared to just 41% back in 2018/19. High-value...

2 in every 5 households live within a 15-minute walk of a train station

December, 2021

The week before Christmas is traditionally one of the busiest periods for rail travel. Over 10.7 million households in England and Wales are within a 15-minute walk of their nearest station,...

Over 500 properties with a Christmas address have sold since 1995

December, 2021

457 properties have sold with ‘Christmas’ in their name across England and Wales since 1995* (11 so far in 2021). 83% have the name ‘Christmas Cottage’. Across...

Warm this winter

December, 2021

Just 1 in every 11 properties sold over the past year has achieved the highest energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of ‘A’ or ‘B’. Such properties have commanded...

Mortgage approvals return to 'normal' levels

December, 2021

October saw mortgage approvals return to more 'normal' levels. The Bank of England report 67,199 mortgages were approved in October, just above the long-term monthly average of 66,462 (based...

85% of all properties sold in 2021 were houses

December, 2021

Over 85% of all property sales recorded to date by the Land Registry in 2021 have been houses, the highest proportion since 1996. Undoubtedly a result of the ‘search for space’...

Spending spree

December, 2021

Shoppers across the UK are forecast to spend a staggering £84.7 billion on Christmas 2021, the equivalent to nearly 314,000 average-priced homes. Spending is set to rise above...

Home for Christmas

December, 2021

It is estimated that 1 in every 16 privately-owned homes has changed hands this year (1.5 million households). 2021 has been the busiest year for the property market since 2007. Source: Dataloft,...

Average house prices have risen by over £100,000 since the last widespread White Christmas

December, 2021

The last widespread white Christmas in the UK was in 2010, when 83% of weather stations reported snow on the ground. The average price of a property has risen by just over 60%, the equivalent...

Merry and bright: Staging your home to sell over Christmas

December, 2021

If you are looking for an estate agent who can progress your move over the Christmas period, The Guild is a great place to start. Statistics from Rightmove tell us that the average...

Drivers & Norris won Gold Award for Lettings Agency of the Year (Small)

November, 2021

PRESS RELEASE: 26th November 2021 NOVEMBER 2021 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT GRANT LEONARD, PUBLISHING DIRECTOR: 0844 745 3100 grant@thenegotiator.co.uk The Negotiator Awards 2021...

UK high streets are recovering

November, 2021

The past 18 months have been tough for UK high streets due to Covid-19 restrictions in early 2020 which triggered a hollowing-out of city centres. Footfall and spend analysis from the Centre...

The city never sleeps – Things to consider before leaving the countryside

November, 2021

2020 saw a ‘city exodus’; due to the fact that more and more people were working from home, where many Britons decided to relocate away from the city in favour of more space, cheaper...

25% of home movers will live in their homes for over 20 years

November, 2021

Many people move more often than they expect to. This is a key finding of the 2021 Home Moving Trends Survey, conducted by the Property Academy and analysed by Dataloft. While just 13% of...

Drivers & Norris shortlisted for 'Best in Region Award'

November, 2021

DRIVERS & NORRIS SHORTLISTED FOR ‘BEST IN REGION’ AWARD 23.11.2021 Local estate agent Drivers & Norris from...

3.3% UK house price growth

November, 2021

The rate of house price growth is due to slow in 2022, but remain positive, ranging from 2% (London) to 4.3% (North West). Growth will be highest in northern and Midlands regions, where...

Buying and selling over Christmas

November, 2021

It may seem unusual to some to sell a house over the festive period, however, the property market is very much still active at this time of the year. The number of post-Christmas home...

Residential Values in Creative Clusters Outperform by 4.4%

November, 2021

Research commissioned by the Creative Land Trust illustrates an outperformance of residential values in areas with a cluster of creative industries. Creative industries include all types of...

Nearly 70% of new build owners or renters value sustainable building features

November, 2021

As COP26 continues, research by HomeViews has found nearly 70% of new build owners or renters value sustainable building features. Recycling services, energy saving measures and renewable...

Bigger is better: 5 ways to extend your home without breaking the bank

November, 2021

There is a lot to be said about creating more space in your home in order to increase its value, and there are now a number of ways you can extend your home with actually getting an extension....

Year to date sales volumes are 16% higher than the 5-year average

November, 2021

The property market continues to ride the wave as we head to the end of 2021. Although softening, demand remains stronger than a year ago. Sales volumes to date in 2021 are 16% above the 5-year...

Economy to bounce back 6 months earlier than expected

October, 2021

The Chancellor described the economic picture as “strong” in the short term, with the Office for Budget Responsibility expecting the economy to return to pre-pandemic levels 6...

September 3rd busiest month on record for property sales

October, 2021

September 2021 was the third busiest month for property sales across the UK since records began in 2005 (HMRC). It is estimated close to 161,000 sales took place, compared to 199,000 in June...

£29.7 million spent purchasing pumpkins could have bought over 110 homes

October, 2021

It’s Halloween week. Across the UK it is estimated at least £474 million is spent celebrating All Hallows Eve, the equivalent to 1,794 average priced homes. At £29.7...

49% of renters would choose their rentals quicker if it had green credentials

October, 2021

According to The Property Academy Renter Survey 2021, almost half (49%) of renters would choose their rental property quicker if it had green credentials or a well-being certification. Not...

Brand Refresh

October, 2021

Welcome to the vibrant new look and feel of Relocation Agent Network. As the country’s most connected network, supporting homebuyers from Cornwall to Aberdeen, we’re excited to share a...

How to Unpack

October, 2021

If you are getting ready to complete on a new house, then you’ve no doubt read lots of advice about how to pack for your big move. But what nobody ever seems to tell you...

Relocating but Not Moving Far? We’ve Got You Covered!

October, 2021

The term ‘relocation’ is often associated with a particular notion: someone packing up their family to move cross-country or even internationally for a change in job or career and...

‘Autumn’ is the most lucrative when it comes to property names

October, 2021

Harvest time is upon us and of all the seasons it appears ‘autumn’ is the most lucrative when it comes to property names. Homes bought since the start of 2020 which have included...

Transforming Your Interiors with a Painted Brick Wall

October, 2021

Exposed brick walls are a classic design feature for homes as far apart, style wise, as period barn conversions and industrial loft spaces. But what are your options if the rough and raw look is a...

Keeping Connected: Broadband and Moving Home

October, 2021

If you are planning on moving house, broadband should be prioritised alongside other essentials like utilities. Minimising downtime is vital, especially if you have a family who spend a lot of...

Demand stabilising but prices set to remain firm

October, 2021

Buyer demand is stabilising according to the latest edition of the RICS Residential Survey. At a national level the new buyer enquiries indicator posted a net balance of zero in September, a...

PropQual: The Formal Qualification From The Guild

September, 2021

September marks the eagerly anticipated launch of PropQual, the learning platform The Guild will be using to support an Ofqual-accredited qualification for estate and lettings agents. Registration...

Price Growth Predictions

September, 2021

Property continues to rise in value. An average of independent forecasts predicts prices will end the year 5.8% higher than at the start. Annual price growth has moderated since the...

Later Life Mortgage Lending on the Rise

September, 2021

Mortgage lending in later life is on the rise. The age of first-time buyers, an increase in the length of mortgage terms and an ageing population all causes. UK Finance report over half of...

Buyer demand swells to twice pre-pandemic level

September, 2021

The property market continues to ride the wave as we head into autumn. Buyer demand per property is more than double pre-pandemic levels (Rightmove). Rightmove report a 14% increase in new...

First Impressions Count: 5 tips for improving the entrance to your home

September, 2021

Creating a welcoming atmosphere within the first few steps of your home is important, whether you are looking to sell your property or not. The sense of ‘coming home’ is an ambience...

Price rises hit highest level in nearly a decade

September, 2021

Inflation, the rate at which prices are rising, recorded a record jump in August rising to 3.2% up from 2.0% in July. Food and petrol prices are considerably higher than this time a year...

Energy Efficient Homes Boost Price of Property

September, 2021

Homes sold with an EPC rating A or B over the past years achieved a 10% price premium over properties with an EPC energy efficient rating of D. One in every 12 properties sold achieved an...

Low interest rate environment set to remain but rises forecast

September, 2021

The low interest rate environment the UK has experienced for over the past decade is set to remain, although rates are anticipated to rise. The consensus forecast, based on the expectations...

120% increase in enquiries to lettings agents for pet-friendly rentals

September, 2021

While tenant demand has risen 13% over the past year, demand for pet-friendly rental properties has more than doubled, enquiries to letting agents for pet-friendly rentals up 120% (Rightmove)....

Are stock levels stabilising?

September, 2021

Although still significantly below average, there are signs that stock levels may be beginning to improve. The NAEA Propertymark reported a slight increase in number of properties listed per...

17% of homes have an outstanding primary school as their nearest

September, 2021

Term starts this week for many of the nearly 8.8 million school children across England and Wales. School catchments play an important role for many when choosing a home. Across England and...

City Life vs Country Life

September, 2021

City life vs country life - which is right for you? These two opposites bring with them two different ways of living. When looking at potential properties, it’s vital to consider where...

Sales Market Busiest Since 2007

August, 2021

Over 950,000 sales are estimated to have taken place across the UK in the first 7 months of 2021, making it the UK's busiest housing market since 2007. Sales volumes in 2021 are over 30%...

Record number of first time-buyers benefit from Help to Buy

August, 2021

A record 45,965 Help-to-Buy equity loans were issued to first-time buyers in the year to the end of March 2021, as appetite from first-time buyers (FTBs) continues. Over one third of...

10 SIMPLE TIPS FOR IMPROVING YOUR OUTSIDE SPACE

August, 2021

Your garden is more than simply an outside space; it is an extension of your home. So, just like you would any other reception room, why not make it aesthetically attractive, ergonomically...

Make Moving Home Less Stressful

August, 2021

For many, the home moving process is something to be endured, rather than enjoyed. The risk of disappointment due to broken chains, unclear communication, and general confusion can lead many...

Record Breaking House Price Growth

August, 2021

The UK experienced a 13.2% annual increase in house prices in June 2021. This is the largest annual increase recorded since 2004. The average price of a UK house now stands at a record high...

29% of students live in the private rental sector

August, 2021

435,430 first time students have a confirmed place at university in the UK in 2021, this is 5% higher than results day in 2020. During university, 29% of students live in the private rental...

Seven Signs It’s Time to Sell Your Home

August, 2021

Maybe you have been browsing property listings in your spare time and dreaming about buying a new home. But how do you know if it is actually the right time for you to sell your current home?...

Rents Rise in All UK Regions

August, 2021

All regions in the UK saw an annual increase in monthly rent in July. The South West experienced the biggest increase (12.9%), followed by Wales (11.8%) and the East Midlands (10.8%)....

Rents on the rise

August, 2021

The average monthly rent in the UK in now at a record high of £1,029. In the twelve months to July 2021, UK monthly rent increased by 6.6%, rising from £965 to £1,029. In...

Housing Demand 22% higher than a year ago

August, 2021

The Dataloft Demand Index shows housing demand is currently 22% higher than a year ago, as housing market momentum continues to be bouyant. Demand fell 7% following the SDLT and Land...

Property pips gold for return on investment

August, 2021

Team GB are bringing home the medals at Tokyo 2020, but property not gold has proved the best investment proposition in recent years. The average price of residential property has increased...

Rent spent steady 5 years on

July, 2021

At 28.3%, the proportion of gross income private renters in England and Wales spend on their rent is only marginally higher than five years ago. In the North East and South West, renters...

Is it still important to have estate agents on the high street?

July, 2021

With the lifting of all restrictions in England on Monday 19th July, albeit longer in Wales, it is anticipated that footfall on UK high streets will rise. For those selling lower value...

1 in 8 plan to move within 5 years

July, 2021

One in every eight home movers across the UK expects to be in their new home for less than 5 years, over one third for a decade or less. Over half of home buyers aged up to 34...

Priority Changes for Post-COVID Homebuyer – What to consider

July, 2021

After over a year in lockdown, the way many of us live and work has changed drastically. With a change in lifestyle has come a change in needs, especially when it comes to where we spend most of...

Sticking with it 96%

July, 2021

Research by Rightmove indicates the vast majority of sales will continue if buyers miss the June or September SDLT deadlines. A proportion of buyers (25% Rightmove, 42% Dataloft subscriber...

New instructions fall for third consecutive month as sales to stock ratio hits record high

July, 2021

The RICS June survey, gauging the mood of agents, points to an increasing scarcity of stock in the market. The measure tracking new instructions to the market has moved deeper into negative...

On the move – Footloose population

July, 2021

Nearly 1.5 million people changed region in the UK even before the pandemic. Since the pandemic housing market demand has increased significantly, with people making lifestyle decisions,...

What could you buy in the UK with the Wimbledon winnings?

July, 2021

The 134th Wimbledon Championships is underway, a suite of new champions set to be crowned in a glorious weekend of sporting action. While the average price of a property across England and...

As Stamp Duty Holiday price threshold falls 0% taxation is still prospect for many

July, 2021

Nearly half of buyers are still likely to benefit from 0% taxation on their main residence from the 1st July when the Stamp Duty and Land Transaction Tax Holiday price thresholds fall to...

+One million new dwellings in England and Wales in the past 5 years

June, 2021

Over 1.3 million new dwellings have been added to the housing stock across England and Wales over the past 5 years, according to data released this week by the MHCLG and Stats Wales. The...

64% won't buy property without a garden

June, 2021

As summer officially begins this week, gardens and outside space remain priorities on buyer wish lists. Nearly two-thirds of residents wouldn't buy a property in 2021 without outside space...

One fifth of private renters are families

June, 2021

Across the UK, families comprise a fifth (21%) of all privately renting homes with 39% occupied by single people and 40% by sharers or couples. Using Dataloft Rental Market Analytics data,...

Football's coming home? England squad value equal to 4155 homes £1.15 billion

June, 2021

Euro 2020 is underway, the home nations experiencing mixed fortunes in their first matches. The most valuable team in the competition is England, the 26 man squad the equivalent in price terms...

First Home Scheme Launched in England

June, 2021

First-time buyers in England, in particular key workers, will have the chance to buy homes within their local area for a discount under the government's First Home Scheme launched this month....

As demand outstrips supply list your property now

June, 2021

Now is a great time to sell your home as there is a huge shortage of properties available for sale, and house prices are higher than ever. Housing market demand is up 28.6% yet available...

26% increase in buyer demand since the start of 2021

June, 2021

Housing market momentum has been maintained following the original stamp duty deadline in March 2021. The Dataloft Demand Index shows a 26% increase in housing market demand since the start of...

1 in every 8 properties sold in the UK is new build

June, 2021

Attracting a 22% price premium, the average price of a new build home across the UK is nearly £55,500 more than a re-sale property. Nearly half of all homemovers would consider a new...

Renters stay on average 18 months in their homes

May, 2021

Renters stay, on average, 18 months in their rental homes, 6 months longer than the average length of lease that they sign up for (12 months). Older renters are likely to stay in their...

Newly listed properties are flying off the shelves.

May, 2021

Newly listed properties are flying off the shelves. The majority (78%) of agents in the latest Dataloft subscriber poll said that homes, once listed, are selling in less than 28 days. 22% of...

Relocating but Not Moving Far? We’ve Got You Covered!

May, 2021

The term ‘relocation’ is often associated with a particular notion: someone packing up their family to move cross-country or even internationally for a change in job or career and...

Over 265,000 first-time buyers have benefitted from Help to Buy

May, 2021

Over 265,000 first-time buyers (FTBs) in England and Wales have benefitted from government Help-to-Buy Equity Loan schemes since they were introduced in April 2013 and January 2014...

Essential Advice Before Buying a Dream Chocolate Box Cottage

May, 2021

For many people, buying a dream home in the country means falling in love with the classic picture postcard look. Timber-framed thatched cottages may epitomise the quintessential...

Rental market accelerates between July and September

May, 2021

Tenant demand is rising substantially. For agents in the lettings market, the busy season is approaching. Analysis of tenancy start dates based on data from the past 5 years indicates the...

Shortage of supply + growing demand is helping to support rents

May, 2021

Rental values are significantly higher across all regions of the UK, except London, than they were a year ago. Excluding the capital, the average monthly rent is £853, up 6.2%. A...

A Guide to Letting Your Property

May, 2021

Several factors need to be kept in check when you are letting a property. Letting a home involves a lot of preparation and requirements that the landlord must fulfil. We have curated a guide to...

70% of Homeowners don't know the value of their home

May, 2021

Almost half (45%) of UK homeowners undervalue their home, according to new research by Zoopla. On average homes are undervalued by just over £46,000. In comparison, 1 in 4 homeowners...

A guide to moving home in Northern Ireland

May, 2021

Northern Ireland is a beautiful part of the world, offering natural beauty, castles, lively cities, tourist hotspots and a rich history and culture. If you are considering relocating to Northern...

High value homes soar

May, 2021

Data from the HMRC and the Welsh Revenues Authority indicate high value sales rocketed in the final three months of 2020 and into 2021, buyers saving money thanks to the Stamp Duty Holiday....

Average mortgage rate remains historically low

May, 2021

The cost of borrowing remains historically low according to new data released by the Bank of England, the average mortgage rate just 2.09%. This rate has remained unchanged since the start...

SDLT receipts fall but property shows resilience

May, 2021

£8.7 billion was netted by the Chancellor in residential Stamp Duty receipts over the course of 2020–21, the lowest in eight years, however receipts in March 2021 were the 5th...

March 2021 Highest Number of Sales ever recorded

April, 2021

If you're considering making a move, now is the time to act. Demand for property is soaring. Spring sunshine, the extension to the Stamp Duty holiday and the relaxation of restrictions has...

Top 10 Reasons to Live in Belfast

April, 2021

If you are looking for a vibrant city with ‘good craic’ and a popular arts and music scene, Northern Ireland’s capital city, Belfast, may be for you. With an iconic culinary...

New 95% mortgage scheme launched

April, 2021

First-time buyers and current homeowners in England will be helped to secure a mortgage with just a 5% deposit under the new government-backed mortgage scheme launched this week. First...

Consumer confidence bounces back

April, 2021

The PwC consumer confidence index is at its highest level since the index started in 2008. The first quarter of 2021 marks the first time the index has been in positive territory since...

How to Buy a Flat with a Short Lease

April, 2021

Are you looking to buy a flat, either for your own use as a home or as a buy-to-let investment? Flats including apartments and maisonettes are generally sold on a...

How to know when it's time to put your home on the market

April, 2021

Are you thinking about putting your property on the market, but aren’t sure when or how? It can be difficult to know exactly when you should sell your home. However, there are...

£818 is the average rent in England excluding London

April, 2021

The RICS March survey, gauging the mood of agents, showed continued improvement in the lettings market. Tenant demand has continued to increase, with a net balance of +36%. In contrast,...

5 Affordable Common-Sense Tips to Keep Your Home Secure

April, 2021

Whether you live in a city flat, a suburban semi, or a country cottage, your home is your castle. It’s your base camp and your sanctuary, the one place where you and your family feel...

Why Kerb Appeal Matters

April, 2021

First impressions are important. That's why your home must have great kerb appeal when you're selling. The outside of your home is the first thing that potential buyers will see. It can help them...

Monday 12th April marks the opening of outside dining and drinking in England, with the potential to create a European-style café culture.

April, 2021

Monday 12th April marks the opening of outside dining and drinking in England, with the potential to create a European-style café culture. With only 38% of hospitality venues across...

What matters most in rentals?

April, 2021

Running costs and broadband present the biggest gap between tenants and landlords in terms of what they view as important when a property is marketed to rent. 87% of tenants consider running...

Step into Spring 6% Annual House Price Growth

April, 2021

As we enter spring, the average UK house price is £232,134, up 6% on March 2020. Transactions are 49% higher than last year, reflecting a surge in sales agreed in summer and the rush to...

Decorating hacks for tenants

April, 2021

The lockdown rules have left us, quite literally, staring at walls as we adjust to spending more time than ever in our homes, leading to DIY explosion around the UK. Many are feeling compelled to...

Completions at record high, up by 11%

April, 2021

Private new home starts across England rose 17% year on year in the final quarter of 2020, completions up 11% and the highest number ever recorded, according to new data released by the...

£153 million is set to be spent on Easter Eggs across the UK this year, the egg-quivalent to a nest of 574 average priced homes

March, 2021

£153 million is set to be spent on Easter Eggs across the UK this year, the egg-quivalent to a nest of 574 average priced homes Egg-spenditure on Easter eggs this year is egg-spected...

Increased homeworking likely in 1 in 7 businesses

Crossrail rental premiums - how much more is charged, and where?

The London boroughs with the highest homebuyer demand for a garden

Revealed! The regional hotspots where agents are using virtual tours

Royal Residences: Live like a King or Queen

Transaction figures ‘remain robust’ despite fall – industry reaction

Platinum property prices

Credit Rating - Tenants have little understanding of how it works

Buy To Lets with poor EPCs falling out of favour fast - new study

Home movers back replacing stamp duty with capital gains tax charge

Feature: The Top Spring/Summer Interior Trends for 2022

Top hiring hotspots for remote workers

Capital appreciation still strong despite flurry of interest rate rises

Property market remains active despite economic headwinds

Cost-of-living crisis to halt surge in house prices

More than £23bn set to be invested in residential property market this year

Top 10 Questions to Ask Your New Estate Agent

Renting set to prosper as FTBs face “frightening” price rise

City rental properties a good investment again, say ex-pats

New home registrations up 25% in first quarter, reports NHBC

Scrapping ‘no fault evictions’ could lead to a surge in evictions, warns lawyer

Agents advised against cutting fees to attract stock

How will the Renters’ Reform Bill change the sector?

Feature: The Great British Home Renovation of 2022

Google is the battleground for vendor instructions - claim

Sellers 'snubbing' upfront agency fees

Start of the slowdown? Land Registry records first dip in price growth in 2022

House Prices Rising by £24 Every Day for First Time Buyers

How does your garden grow?

How to Create a Home Fit for Entertaining

London lets recovering but many rents still below pre-Covid levels

First-time buyers ‘don’t know enough about mortgages’

Buyers ‘willing to pay more’ for most energy efficient homes

Right on track – Crossrail house prices up by as much as 215%

The UK's most valuable house numbers

Mortgage data suggests buyer demand is waning - claim

Industry data suggests spring supply boost but fewer sales agreed

Don’t delay Renters Reform Bill again - agents warn government

Which places in England have the most affordable rental rates?

Rental growth hits 14-year high but current levels will soon ‘start to ease’

Sales slowdown? Portal data suggests transactions are taking longer

Over 40% annual rent rises reported in pockets of UK

London rents rising at a record pace as demand soars

Tips for Settling In

Top ways to make your home eco-friendlier this summer

Is now the perfect time to convert a property into residential?

Average commute rises for private renters

Tenants staying for longer to avoid being faced with higher rents

Do tenants want to rent 'bills-inclusive' properties?

Most landlords ‘behind’ on energy efficiency improvements - claim

Over half of available land plots snapped up by developers

High buyer demand continues to put ‘more upward pressure’ on house prices

Drivers & Norris achieves ‘Standard of Excellence’ to make The ESTAS shortlist for 2022

RICS: No signs of a slowdown in house price growth yet

Here is all you need to know about the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill

Going up: rents rise in all regions

Revealed! The London boroughs with the most million-pound sales

Revealed - UK cities that student landlords should invest in

Speedy sales adding fraud risks for estate agents – warning

Renters Reform Bill - in the government’s own words

Agents need ‘clarity’ after government commits to scrapping Section 21

Queen’s Speech 2022: Rental reform will see scrapping of section 21

Average two-year mortgage surpasses 3% for first time in over seven years

Easy Ways to Update Your Home Ready to Sell

Bye Bye Buy To Let? Big investors want to take over rental sector

Cost of AML compliance hits £6m for estate agents

Tax Take - Second home owners who don’t let out must pay more

What to expect in today’s Queen’s Speech when it comes to housing

Rental properties become more energy efficient, say tenants

Capital appreciation roars ahead but won’t last much longer - warning

Prime London lettings market back with a bang insists agency

On the house! Prime buyers continue to snub flats

Housing market approaching a crossroads as economic pressure intesifies

The Bank of Mum and Dad continues to support buyers

Government urged to scrap stamp duty surcharge for landlords

Interest rate rise

Property industry reacts to latest Bank of England interest rate hike

Bank of England increases base rate to 1%

UK house prices soar – property industry reaction to latest Halifax HPI

Revealed! Where agents sold homes above asking price last year