BREAKING NEWS – 5 top stories 22/01/2021

Estate Agent Networking Breaking News

RICS AT LAST IS FORCED TO ACCOUNT FOR ITSELF

As we have been reporting for some time RICS has been torn apart by allegations that its governance has been opaque and there are big questions over its handling of financial matters, which as yet unproved may be a serious breach.

There is now to be an independent review and the top three executives of RICS, have issued finally the following statement,

We welcome this important decision taken by governing council and lend our wholehearted support to the implementation of an independent review … we have listened to our members carefully, and we are confident that decisions agreed by governing council today are in the best interests of RICS and its members.’

Given that it has taken a huge amount of pressure and time and a campaign via the Times to get RICS to take any action, it is very telling that organisations that hold such power are so slow to look inward when clearly there are problems, especially as they hold such sway within the real estate community and have such strong ties to the government.

SKIPTON BUILDING SOCIETY WILL LEND ON PROPERTIES WITHOUT A SEARCH

Again you read it here first, a few days ago it was reported that an intermediary lender was now allowing mortgages to be approved without a local authority search, as long as an indemnity/insurance policy to cover any problems was put in place.

Now Skipton Building society (who own Connells and Sequence) have said they will lend on the same terms. The inniative is to help with the log jam of sales where searches will not be arriving in time for home buyers, giving buyers the option to switch their mortgage product to Skipton to circumvent the lack of a search, other lenders may follow.

WILL HUNTERS BE SOLD TO THE PROPERTY FRANCHISE GROUP?

By 5pm today it will be known if TPFG are indeed going to attempt to gobble up the Hunters group, as they have to make firm an intention to purchase or as LSL did with Countrywide last year, withdraw.

The TPFG share price had an uptick in the first week of January, and it has tailed off slightly in recent days, so it will be down to the wire which way this goes.

COUNTRYWIDE CHAIR DAVID WATSON SUPPORTS CONNELLS TAKEOVER

The momentum for the Skipton Building society via its estate agency arm Connells to buy Countrywide PLC and potentially have an 8% chunk of the whole of estate agency pie, continues. The present Chair has just made the following statement, to reassure everyone in his company that they will not soon have a P45.

Whilst the Countrywide Board recognises that Connells has identified certain duplicated costs across some head office and/or centralised administration functions, which could result in some headcount reductions, the Countrywide Board is pleased to note that Connells intends to maintain and enhance Countrywide’s current service offering.

and does not anticipate making any material changes to the locations or functions of Countrywide’s branch network.

following the completion of the Acquisition, the existing contractual and statutory employment rights, including in relation to pensions, of all Countrywide employees will be fully safeguarded in accordance with applicable laws.’

Maybe the big question now is what will the agency be called Connells Countrywide? Connells Country? or just plain Connells?

MORE PRESSURE ON TOTAL VIEWINGS BAN FOR ESTATE AGENTS

As the pandemic seems to not be at its peak, and infection and fatality rates climb, the call to stop physical viewings and help contain the disease are becoming either louder, it is expected that in the coming days more guidance may come forward regarding this.

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

Popping the Asking Price Bubble

Where in the Uk Can Buyers Snap Up Property Bargains and Where Properties Go for a Premium Above Asking Price   New research from fast selling property company, Upstix has uncovered the UK’s most surprising postcodes for snapping up a property at bargain prices this year, highlighting a widening gap between sellers’ expectations and the…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Highest demand to lease office space since pre-pandemic

The latest insights from the UK’s number one commercial property website Rightmove, reveals that the number of unique enquiries to lease office space is at its highest point since pre-pandemic, as businesses look for spaces that meet modern requirements. Demand to lease office space is 19% higher than the same period a year ago and…
Read More
Planning disputes on new build land
Estate Agent Talk

Planning consultations for major infrastructure to be streamlined

Robert Bruce, a planning and infrastructure partner at law firm Freeths LLP, said he: “Welcomed the change as a significant step to speeding up the DCO process and the focus on the quality and effectiveness of the consultation, rather than box ticking and a risk averse approach to pre-application consultation due to the current legal…
Read More
Breaking News

‘The property ladder pulls further away’ warns Open Property Group

For many first-time buyers across England, the dream of homeownership continues to slip further out of reach. Despite rising wages, soaring house prices are making it harder than ever to get on the property ladder. A leading UK professional house buying company ‘Open Property Group’ based in Buckinghamshire UK, has raised concerns over the ongoing…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

How Long It Takes to Buy a House in the UK: 5 Common Delays That Can Slow Down Your Home Purchase

Wondering how long it takes to buy a house in the UK? The average timeline ranges from 8 to 22 weeks, but even that can stretch significantly due to unexpected delays, especially if you’re a first-time buyer or caught in a chain. That’s why working with experienced professionals like Belvoir — one of the UK’s…
Read More
Love or Hate Rightmove
Breaking News

Rightmove to host Renters’ Rights Bill webinar with Guild of Lettings

Rightmove is hosting a live and interactive webinar session with the Guild of Lettings to help agents get Renters’ Rights Ready. The webinar will take place from 10:00am – 11:00am on Wednesday 23rd April. Susie Crolla, Managing Director for the Guild of Lettings, will be joining Rightmove to help agents with questions they may have about…
Read More