Posts by EAN Breaking News
Demand for qualifications doubles as Rightmove helps agents get ahead of reform
New data reveals a jump in estate and letting agents looking to get qualified, with Rightmove exam bookings more than doubling (+128%) compared to last year Leading property industry body Propertymark has seen a 51% uplift in demand for qualifications since April 2020, highlighting a long-term shift in the industry wanting formal qualifications The insight…
Read MoreMortgage affordability at tightest level since 2008
UK Finance has today published a new Lending Where We Live report, revealing sharp differences in mortgage affordability and buy‑to‑let returns across the UK. Key findings 723,000 house purchase mortgages advanced in 2025, up 17 per cent year-on-year Average borrower spends 21.3 per cent of gross income on repayments Significant regional differences: North Norfolk and Hillingdon top the list with borrowers spending over 25 per cent of gross income Seven…
Read MoreDid landlords frontload rent hikes ahead of the RRA?
The latest insight from Inventory Base suggests that, despite the incoming Renters’ Rights Act limiting rent increases to once per year, only around a quarter of landlords appeared to pre-empt the change by front-loading rent rises ahead of the 1st May deadline. This comes amid wider policy uncertainty in the rental sector, with the UK…
Read MoreThe UK’s best place to be a buy-to-let landlord in 2026 – and it isn’t London
Manchester tops the list with an average property price below the UK average and an annual rental return of 6.4%, beating all 32 London boroughs. Newcastle upon Tyne ranks second and is the only area in the study to deliver an annual return of more than 7%, while Blackpool places third. New research ranks 310…
Read MoreNationwide House Price Index for April 2026 – Thoughts from the Industry
House prices increased by 0.4% between March 2026 and April 2026. This was a weaker rate of monthly growth compared to the previous month (0.9%). Annual growth sat at 3% in April 2026, with this annual rate of growth increasing from 2.2% versus March 2026. The average UK house price now stands at £278,889. …
Read MoreHouse price growth remained resilient in April
UK annual house price growth picked up to 3.0% in April, from 2.2% in March House prices were up 0.4% month on month Headlines Apr-26 Mar-26 Monthly Index* 554.8 552.7 Monthly Change* 0.4% 0.9% Annual Change 3.0% 2.2% Average Price (not seasonally adjusted) £278,880 £277,186 * Seasonally adjusted figure (note that monthly % changes are…
Read MoreHomeowners shift mortgage strategy amid economic uncertainty
Middle East conflict prompts Brits to rethink housing plans 27 per cent of homeowners report overpaying on their mortgage to get ahead of potential future interest rate rises 20 per cent of those remortgaging are looking to lock in a new rate as soon as possible in case of future volatility Barclays Mortgage data shows…
Read MoreToday is the day your rights change: New Renters’ Rights rules now in force for tenants across England
Today marks a major change for tenants across England as the first phase of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 comes into force, significantly strengthening rights and changing how renting works in practice. From today, the long-standing system of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions ends, meaning tenants can no longer be removed without a specific legal reason.…
Read MoreIndustry Response to Bank of England Rate Hold
The Bank of England has just announced its decision to hold the base rate at 3.75%. This decision comes as a result of wider economic uncertainty and inflation (CPI) increasing to 3.3% in March and remaining above the Bank’s 2.0% target. Matt Smith, Rightmove’s mortgage expert “A Bank Rate hold is actually positive news…
Read MoreRenters’ Rights Act – What landlords should do now
On 1st May 2026, the first raft of measures in the Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) come into force in England. Here are the key changes to be aware of and steps landlords need to take: Periodic ‘rolling’ tenancies will replace fixed-term tenancies. The common minimum six or 12-month commitments will disappear, and tenants will…
Read MoreAs RRA Changes Loom, Thoughts from the Industry
Overview of changes due via RRA as of Friday 1st May Abolish section 21 evictions and move to a simpler tenancy structure where all assured tenancies are periodic – providing more security for tenants. Ensure possession grounds are fair to both tenants and landlords – giving tenants more security, while ensuring landlords can reasonably recover…
Read MoreMarket continues to build momentum
Foxtons Lettings Market Index – March 2026 Market continues to build momentum, recovering from winter slowdown as supply strengthens Lettings market continues to build momentum as we move further into the spring period. While renter demand remains below last year’s levels, March performance shows continued recovery from the winter slowdown. Market entering critical period…
Read MoreHomes selling as fast as last year
First time buyers in outer London hit hardest as higher borrowing costs and high stamp duty costs weigh on sales times The average time to sell a home is just 1 day longer than last year at 33 days, despite higher mortgage rates and 2 months of conflict in the Middle East However, areas…
Read More52% of buyers are cash purchasers – and they’re ready to move
New research from LRG reveals that sellers entering the spring market are meeting an unusually large pool of cash-ready buyers, many of whom aren’t constrained by affordability, but by a lack of suitable homes. According to LRG’s Spring 2026 Sales Report, based on a survey of 307 buyers and sellers across England and Wales, more than…
Read MoreLandlords sell up as Renters’ Rights prove final straw
Leading Kent and London law firm Thackray Williams have had a wave of last-minute instructions from landlords looking to sell their portfolios ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force this Friday. The litigation team has been instructed to seek possession by landlords wishing to sell their entire buy-to-let portfolios, as well as last-minute…
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