Breaking Property News – 08/09/2023

September 8, 2023

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.

 

NRLA acquires James Kent’s Safe2

Apologies James, I definitely owe you a pizza for my tardiness in getting this good news story out there. For anyone who has not heard in these difficult times, that great businesses still get to the winning post, here is your case study. Founder of Safe2 James Kent at a very tender age has managed to get from MVP to exit. Well he still will be very much be welded to that driving seat, and with the added help of Ben Beadle CEO of NARLA and the supporting team no doubt will be scaling things up at speed.

Set out below is the official NARLA press release, and I am sure that everyone who knows both Ben & James will see that this a strategic tie up that is a true win for both.

PRESS RELEASE – London September 2023.

‘Private landlords will find it easier to ensure rental properties meet all required standards thanks to investment in new services by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA). The NRLA has purchased Safe2, a provider of all forms of property safety certification. It provides landlords with a single service to ensure gas, electrical safety and energy performance certificates are up to date.

When a safety check determines that a property has not met legal minimum standards, Safe2 can provide a quote for whatever remedial work might need to be undertaken to address any outstanding issues. Where they rectify the problem, they will re-test the relevant system free of charge. Aside from these benefits, NRLA members will also be entitled to a five per cent discount when using any of Safe2’s services.

Read the article in full

Five ways to secure your first home

With rent prices skyrocketing to the highest rates seen in a decade, it’s no surprise that many around the country will be crunching the numbers to find out whether they can afford to buy their own home. Buying a home has clear fiscal benefits – Halifax’s latest Owning vs Renting review found out that homeowners are on average £500 better off annually than renters.

For many young homeowners, setting foot on the ladder can be a daunting task. Navigating the housing market for the first time, saving for a deposit and securing a mortgage can all feel overwhelming, but with the right advice, it can pay dividends.

Tzana Webster, Director of Property Sales at Watermans, Edinburgh property valuation experts, explores the different options available to first-time buyers to take some of the pressure off when securing your first home. border.

‘100% Mortgages One recent development taking the market by storm is the arrival of the no deposit mortgage. This allows buyers to put pen-to-paper without having to save for years provided they meet the following criteria:

Read the article in full

Zoopla and Alto partners with Ventrica improving customer support

Following the launch in May of a strategic partnership with Ventrica – an award-winning, omnichannel customer service and support expert – to transform its customer support function, Zoopla today reveals that 100% of their outstanding customer support tickets have been resolved in the last 90 days.

Maximising Ventrica’s world-class systems, technology, and expertise, the partnership has reduced call abandonment by 75% and increased tickets resolved within five hours by 50% benefiting a wide range of software customers (Alto, Jupix, CFP Winman), agents, and housebuilders, as well as consumers who are looking for their next home. With clear progress made on key metrics in the last three months, the partnership remains laser-focused on delivering added benefits to all software and Zoopla customers by the end of 2023.

This includes: Sharing customer-centric KPIs with all customers next month (October) focused on improved response times and satisfaction to ensure it remains a high priority. Maintaining a zero backlog of customer support tickets, leading to faster resolution times for all customers.

Read the article in full

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

Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove’s weekly mortgage tracker 30/05/25

Average rates for 2-year and 5-year fixed-rate mortgages   Term Average rate Weekly change Yearly change 2-year fixed 4.64% +0.03% -0.78% 5-year fixed 4.61% +0.03% -0.45%   Lowest rates for 2-year and 5-year fixed-rate mortgages   Term Lowest rate Weekly change Yearly change 2-year fixed 3.82% +0.02% -0.93% 5-year fixed 3.88% +0.09% -0.55%   Average…
Read More →
Home and Living

Carpet Cleaning Specials in Stanton: Save on Your Next Service

Sure, the carpeting in your Stanton home is inviting and adds warmth and comfort, but it can also store harmful dirt, allergens, and bacteria that can affect your family’s health. This makes regular carpet cleaning not only better for your health, but also your wallet. With Carpet Cleaning Stanton specials, you can save on the professional services…
Read More →
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Seven in ten branches now using Rightmove’s insights and training platform

New figures from Rightmove, the UK’s largest property platform, show that seven in ten estate and letting agency branches are making use of its insights and training platform, the Rightmove Hub. This is up from 56% of branches back in 2023. The Hub, first launched ten years ago and recently revamped, has expanded in response…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

From Fixer-Upper to Profitable Asset: Strategic Renovations for Landlords

Did you buy a fixer-upper? Or maybe you inherited one. Either way, you’re standing in a place with peeling linoleum, a questionable smell, and wallpaper that could file for social security. The big question: Do you patch things up, go full HGTV, or just torch it for the insurance (don’t do that)? First, take a…
Read More →
Breaking News

Household Costs Indices for UK household groups: January to March 2025

Household Costs Indices, 12-month growth rates, expenditure shares and contributions for UK household groups and all-households. These are official statistics in development. Main points Overall UK household costs, as measured by the Household Costs Index (HCI), rose by 2.6% in the year to March 2025; this is a fall from 2.9% in the year to…
Read More →
Surge in country and seaside property values
Breaking News

Why Rural House Prices Are Surging Faster Than Cities

New analysis from Open Property Group reveals that rural England is facing an affordability crunch, as house prices in the countryside outpace urban growth, despite lower average wages and higher living costs in remote areas. These shifting dynamics are challenging the long-standing assumption that rural life offers a more affordable and sustainable alternative to the…
Read More →