BREAKING NEWS – top 5 stories 04/05/2021

Estate Agent Networking Breaking News

MORTGAGE BORROWING IN MARCH LARGEST UPTICK IN 28 YEARS

According to analysis in The Times, March was a record month for the amount of mortgage business arranged, being nearly £12BN above the previous record, in April 1993. Whilst this may seem an encouraging sign, can this huge amount of borrowing and the juggernaut of property sales continue its forward trajectory? We will all know by Q4 for sure.

HAYFIELD NATIONAL HOME BUILDERS HAVE NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR

Hayfield have internally promoted Andy Morris to the position of MD, with the current incumbent taking up position as the Chair. Knowing the quality and the high-end locations that Hayfield tend to develop in, including Woburn Sands a former up market village I used to sell property in, I feel that this appointment given their balance sheet is well deserved.

AGENT & HOMES ON THE HUNT FOR ENTREPERENURIAL EXPERIENCED AGENTS

Based in Notting Hill Gate, and fronted by Rollo Miles, Agent & Homes are looking for more high-quality agents to join under their banner. With a model that allows extrovert agents to be ‘rock stars’ with the red tape and administration covered by a core team who allows agents to list and sell and let.

Having met Rollo Miles, and understanding the mission that he is on and the success of the company in recent years, anyone who wants more control, less KPI’s and more fun and a bigger slice of the revenue, this is a modern agency based on traditional skills.

POSSIBLY 40% OF HOMEBUYERS ARE NOW LOOKING TO MOVE

According to recent analysis, around 40% are looking to move, with a large proportion looking to rural or country locations, this comes off the back of being locked down during Covid. The same analysis says that WFH was also a factor, with many realising that their current home was not suitable for their needs.

VIRGIN WILL BE PROVIDING 95% MORTGAGES FOR ‘GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE SCHEME’

Virgin Money has set out the lending criteria under which it will lend to those requiring mortgages underwritten by the Government – the so-called Government Mortgage Guarantee scheme. Three other large lenders are already offering mortgages, Virgin is yet to give a date for when it will start the scheme.

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

Volume doubles as property market sees strong return of new applicants

Foxtons Lettings Market Index – January 2026 Demand rebounded sharply from December, with registrations up 93% month on month and new renters per instruction up 11% compared to December, reflecting a seasonal uplift in activity at the start of the year. New renters per new instruction fell 12% year on year, indicating that competitive pressure…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Property valuation leads to agents up 50% on last year

The launch of a new valuation product and AI optimisations to the existing product suite led to a significant uplift in valuation leads for agents from Rightmove in January. Valuation leads grew by 50% in January 2026 compared to the same period last year. The launch of Online Agent Valuation towards the end of 2025 helps connect…
Read More
Breaking News

Worst areas for landlord eviction waiting times

The latest research industry insight from LegalforLandlords has highlighted where the longest and shortest wait times are when it comes to court hearing dates for landlords who are trying to repossess their properties, with the most overstretched courts found in the likes of Birmingham, Croydon, and Slough. Having analysed internal data on wait times for…
Read More
Breaking News

726,000 rented homes could remain non-decent by 2035

And that’s without holding them to the updated standard outlined in the recent DHS consultation A new consultation on the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) has suggested that all rented homes, private and social, must meet an updated, more stringent standard by 2035. However, new research from Inventory Base reveals that if the current rate of…
Read More
Breaking News

UK House Price Index for December 2025

The latest UK House Price Index shows that: The average monthly rate of house price growth in December was -0.7%. Average UK house price annual inflation was 2.4% in the 12 months to December 2025. As a result, the average UK house price currently sits at £270,000.   Here are some thoughts from the Industry.…
Read More
Cozy Pet Cat Tree Grey
Breaking News

10 things all tenants need to know when renting now

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 27th October 2025 and will introduce major reforms to private renting in England. The first raft of measures affecting tenants will come into force on 1st May this year. So, whether you currently have a tenancy agreement or are planning to rent this year, here are…
Read More