BREAKING NEWS – top 5 stories 31/03/2021

Estate Agent Networking Breaking News

OVER 10% OF SALES AGREED IN FEBRUARY ACHIEVED MORE THAN ASKING PRICE

According to recent figures – some key properties in key areas and price brackets are being fiercely fought over, leading to selling prices in excess of the marketing price. This re-enforces the message that at present the market is very much a sellers’ market.

BAILIFF EVICTIONS TO COMMENCE ON JUNE 1ST – CAN THE SYSTEM COPE?

Annually nearly 30,000 evictions are processed in England & Wales; due to the pandemic last year and until now that have taken place is around only 500.

According to Paul Shamplina – well known tv celebrity and with a day job of being at the heart of the bailiff process (and lead of Landlord Action), the government has shuttered the whole eviction process, but,

“When this package of measures comes to an end, and without government support to help tenants pay back accumulated arrears, I fear we could be heading for an eviction avalanche.”

At present the starting gun date for this to unravel is only two months away

JASON TEBB CEO OF OTM MASTERMINDS TIE UP WITH REACH PUBLISHING GROUP

OTM has just announced that it has a commercial partnership with the Reach group which has a stable of well-known publications, the strategy is to give OTM agents a better connection to the general public, I however am scratching my head at what this means?

As estate agents turned away from giving the press publications its cash a long time ago, it seems curious that agents will now be paying a property portal and supporting the coffers of Reach, you could not make this up. I am a little lost on why this would be of benefit to anyone apart from the account managers at reach?

To me all it seems is that Reach now have access to the details of all OTM agents who will be badgered for an extra spend on top of their usual digital spend. Having dealt with a few of my own clients recently who had been looking at Reach as a way of targeting their market, the proposed spend was eye watering.

My thoughts would be that if agents want to go back and support a press publication – they are better off setting up a collective, and using this buying power to get a favourable and reduced rate. But maybe OTM has agreed such terms. The devil as they say is always in the detail.

BOOMIN – GOOD THINGS HAPPEN – ESPECIALLY ON GOOD FRIDAY

Boomin’s advertising campaign hits the screens in just two days and as usual the creative juices of the marketing and PR teams will no doubt serve up something alternative. Adoption by the general public is of course key, and for sure Boomin will be filling column inches of many publications in the coming days. As they are a start-up, we will reserve any judgement for a while to see how all of this develops.

COVENTRY BUILDING SOCIETY ALSO UNVEILS 95% MORTGAGE LENDING AGAIN

The Coventry building society are via an intermediary, are now allowing 95% loans on properties, they join a select band of mortgagees who have come back into this marketplace.

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

Homebuyers face longer buying timelines

The latest research from Lyons Bowe suggests the homebuying process could become even slower in 2026: as the number of conveyancers operating across the UK is thought to have fallen by almost -13% while transaction volumes rise, placing further pressure on completion timelines. Lyons Bowe has analysed data on the number of active conveyancers in…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 1/4/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Winning the AI Era: A Playbook for UK Estate Agencies The AI-Driven Rewiring of UK Estate Agency Thought Leadership by Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR Real estate has historically been conservative, fragmented, and inefficient. A surge of startups, is introducing automation, data-driven decision-making, and better customer experiences. This…
Read More
Breaking News

What renters and landlords need to know ahead of major rental law changes

With just one month to go until the first phase of the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force, the leading professional body, Propertymark, is urging renters and landlords across England to understand how the changes could affect them. From 1 May 2026, the legislation will introduce some of the biggest changes to the private rented…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Tackling Empty Properties

A UK Perspective on Best Practice and Recommendations for Reform Propertymark, the UK’s leading professional body for property agents, has today published a comprehensive new position paper highlighting the urgent need for coordinated, practical and properly resourced action to bring long-term empty properties back into use. With over 359,000 homes sitting empty for more than…
Read More
Breaking News

Pet-friendly rentals plunge 39%

New research from Inventory Base reveals that the number of pet-friendly rental homes in England has fallen by -39% since the start of 2026, as landlords appear to be reducing the number of homes openly marketed as allowing pets ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act taking effect from 1st May. The Renters’ Rights Act (RRA)…
Read More
Breaking News

Latest Nationwide house price data showing a 2.2% increase

Industry reaction to Nationwide house price data showing UK annual house price growth picked up to 2.2% in March, from 1.0% in February. Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, comments: “An uplift in house prices will be welcomed by the market and suggests that buyer demand remains resilient despite ongoing economic headwinds. Improved sentiment, coupled with…
Read More