BREAKING NEWS – 5 top stories 11/02/2021

Estate Agent Networking Breaking News

GOVERNMENT FUDGE CLADDING ISSUE

3.5BN into the war chest to help the cladding problem for high rise properties, leaves a huge swathe of lower lying properties in the mire, with loans to these stakeholders who have to fit the bill; a very partial solution to a huge crisis.

Jenrick the housing secretary has responded to pressure, but like all policies that are done on the hoof it is far too little far too late. There will be a whole grouping of non-saleable properties in limbo for the next decade, putting a squeeze on the housing market which annually does not have enough stock to sell,

HOWSY CONTINUES ON ITS ACQUISTION TRAIL

The Happy Tenant is the latest brand to be absorbed into Howsy, the online letting agency management platform, as reported earlier in January 2021 will be the big year of consolidation, where capital pushes together like-minded businesses seeking to be the dominant player in each vertical.

NUMBER OF TENANCIES IN ARREARS IS PREDICTED TO REACH RECORD LEVELS IN 2021

A recent predictive modelling of the amount of tenancies in arrears is making worrying reading, with the possibility that the private rental sector PRS could see a 300% increase in arrears. The knock-on effect of this will if it happens be sector changing.

Balancing the needs of those unable to pay or unwilling to pay rent and being tenancies with tenants who are anti-social, is three strands, the logistical back log of court cases is another and the amount of landlords facing financial ruin is another.

FOUR-DAYS TO LARGEST ESTATE AGENCY IN THE UK BEING FORMED – WHAT IS ITS NAME?

On the 15th of February, the vote on Countrywide PLC will take place, if it is a yes – the creation of the largest agency in the UK will have happened, and Connells (Skipton) will be the proud owners in the driving seat – maybe the first question will be – what will it be called?

DIGITAL ID FOR THE PROPERTY SECTOR MOVES A STEP FORWARD

A digital framework for pushing on the concept of a digital ID for those doing property (and other tasks) is moving forward, Stuart Young of Etive Technologies, ‘This framework is key to developing a trusted digital identity market that will make people’s lives easier and save businesses time and money. We look forward to contributing further to these plans to help make sure the final framework works for everyone in the home buying and selling sector.’

For those readers wanting to know more the full statement on the project is on the government website –

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-new-plans-to-help-build-trust-in-use-of-digital-identities

Andrew Stanton

CEO & Founder Proptech-PR. Proptech Real Estate Influencer, Executive Editor of Estate Agent Networking. Leading PR consultancy in Proptech & Real Estate.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Breaking Property News 21/11/25

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   VE+ the new procurement engine cutting developers costs without compromise Finishes packages are specification sensitive and expensive components of any build – VE+ fixes this  As construction costs continue to climb and procurement timelines tighten, developers and contractors are being pushed harder than ever…
Read More
Breaking News

Inheritance Tax Receipts raise £5.2 billion in seven months

Inheritance tax (IHT) receipts hit £5.2 billion in the first seven months of the 2025/26 tax year, according to data released by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) this morning. This is £0.2 billion higher than same period of the previous tax year and continues an upward trend over the last two decades. Nicholas Hyett, Investment…
Read More
Breaking News

FMB calls on Reeves to scrap housing tax threat

The Chancellor needs to scrap the Government’s proposed landfill tax quarry exemption which will add up to £28,000 to the cost of homes on small sites in next week’s Autumn Budget, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “At a time when the Government is failing to…
Read More
Breaking News

Full Steam Ahead! UK Construction to return to growth in 2026

Construction intelligence specialists predict renewed activity following false-start over the summer. Revised figures will see UK construction sector grow 21% over the next two years Private housebuilding remains on course to grow significantly, with activity still predicted to rise by almost a fifth in 2027 Commercial office starts set to continue their ascent, and increasing…
Read More
Breaking News

Winter is Coming: Douglas & Gordon Warns Landlords and Tenants to Take Action Before Disputes Occur

Mould, damp, burst pipes and boilers on the blink? With temperatures set to plummet in London this week, real-estate agent Douglas & Gordon is advising landlords and tenants to take action before issues occur. With 45% of landlords experiencing arrears or disputes, often linked to property condition or delayed maintenance* the agent’s expert lettings team…
Read More
Breaking News

Home sellers slashing asking prices amid Budget speculation

The latest research from Property DriveBuy reveals that homesellers are slashing asking prices across the country in an attempt to attract buyers in a stagnant pre-Budget housing market. The latest asking price data* shows that the average asking price in Britain (£364,833) fell by -1.8% between October and November 2025, contributing to an overall annual…
Read More