A quick look back over 2015

As 2015 comes to an end I thought it might be interesting to just look back at some  items of news  that stood out during the  year for those of us involved in the Property Industry, if anyone has anymore to add please do so in the reply section.

Month by month 2015

January.  Analysts were suggesting slower growth in 2015 than was the case in the year just gone. Somewhat rarely, there was near consensus among them on what that growth in property prices would be – about 4%………OnTheMarket launched in January and sparked intense controversy by forcing agents who use it to choose between the other two instead of listing on all three.

February. UK house prices fell in February for the first time in five months, according to research by Nationwide.

March.  Chancellor George Osborne set out his tax and spending plans in his last Budget of the Parliament. He announced tax cuts for first-time home buyers, workers and savers and claimed that Britain is “walking tall again.” Labour leader Ed Miliband said Mr Osborne had “failed working families” and claimed people would not believe the budget.

April. Political parties were  busy publicising their party manifestos in readiness for the General election. The labour party wanted to introduce rent controls for the PRS and  The Conservatives’ key housing policy was the extension of the Right to Buy scheme to housing association tenants.

May. The General Election was held on the 7th May with a win for the Conservative Party with an unexpected overall majority,  this was music to the ears of all those in the property industry. London’s housing market is set to soar following the Conservative election victory, putting an end to months of pre-ballot jitters and concerns over Mansion Tax.

June. Two of Britains best known landlords Fergus and Judith Wilson begin to sell off part of their huge portfolio of properties as they begin to dismantle their property empire. Deposit protection legislation  came into force Under the Deregulation Act,  from June 23, tenancy deposits taken before April 6 2007 now fall under deposit protection law Landlords must ensure that these long-term deposits are protected with one of the three government-approved tenancy deposit protection schemes or face a hefty penalty.

July. Rent Smart Wales aims to raise standards in the private rented sector in Wales with the introduction of a new law requiring the registration and licensing of landlords and agents.

August. Rogue landlords and letting agents face higher fines, being potentially blacklisted from the property industry and being forced to repay rent taken since the start of a tenancy under proposals outlined by the government this week.

September. On 18 September 2014 people in Scotland voted in a Referendum to remain in the United Kingdom, the UK government believes that Scotland is better off in the UK and the UK is better off with Scotland in it.

October. It was announced that rents in England and Wales hit an all time high in the previous month, averaging £768, 1.5% higher than the same time last year.

November. Chancellor George Osborne has set out the state of the economy in the Autumn Statement and spending plans for the next four years in the Spending Review.

December. Britains best known landlords finally call it a day with the sale of the final part of their property Empire to a consortium of foreign investors. UK house price growth accelerates to eight month high in December. Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said the central bank will take action to regulate lending for mortgages used by landlords to buy properties. Purplebricks online Estate Agent launched on the stock market.

On a final note let us all give a thought to all those that have and still are being affected by the terrible floods in the UK.

What was your best remembered property news item in 2015? Share it with us in the reply section.

 

 

 

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Stress Test Reform Boosts Buy-to-Let Market as Product Choice and Affordability Improve

The latest research from award-winning mortgage adviser Alexander Hall has found that recent changes to stress testing rules are helping to rejuvenate the buy-to-let borrowing landscape, with product choice, affordability, and rate competitiveness all showing strong signs of improvement. The changes follow an update from the Bank of England in March 2025, which eased the…
Read More
Breaking News

Propertymark outlines how UK Government can help smaller housebuilders meet ambitious 1.5 million new homes target

Property agent professional body, Propertymark, has outlined how the UK Government can assist small to medium-sized homebuilding businesses (SMEs) to build 1.5 million new homes. As part of their ambitious target for boosting England’s supply of new homes, Propertymark has responded to the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government’s (MHCLG) Planning Reform Working Paper…
Read More
Property for sale
Breaking News

Why Vacant Dwellings Should Be Converted Into HMOs

The Hidden Housing Fix: Thousands of Empty Homes Could Become HMOs New research from COHO, the HMO management platform, reveals that England’s stock of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) could grow by nearly 5,000 properties simply by repurposing a small portion of the country’s long-term vacant homes. According to the latest UK Government housing data (2024),…
Read More
Cat Trees and Scratching Posts
Breaking News

New Rules on Pets and Discrimination: What Landlords Need to Know

By Allison Thompson, National Lettings Managing Director, LRG The Renters’ Rights Bill is set to introduce a wave of changes to the private rented sector, including new protections for tenants with pets, children, or those receiving benefits. These reforms aim to prevent blanket bans and create a more inclusive and transparent rental market. Landlords will…
Read More
Seaside Properties UK
Estate Agent Talk

Majority of Agents Plan Summer Holiday

The latest research from eXp UK has found that the majority of UK estate agents intend to take annual leave this summer, despite it being traditionally one of the busiest times of the year in the property market. The survey of UK estate agents, commissioned by eXp UK, revealed that 32% of agents have already…
Read More
Breaking News

Property sector benefits from additional £74M investment in the last year

New research has revealed that private investment in the UK property sector increased by £74.10 million last year – the fourth-highest surge of any UK sector. This comes as the UK Investment Association unveils new recommendations to unlock private market investment in UK businesses, potentially paving the way for future investment going forward. The business…
Read More