BREAKING PROPERTY NEWS – 24/08/2022

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

 

TDS backs OpenBrix with strategic partnership and investment

TDS, The Dispute Service, has made an investment in OpenBrix, agreeing a licensing deal for the blockchain-based property portal’s new venture, tlyfe, an app which will launch throughout the UK this year.

Not only has the deposit behemoth invested in the venture, but it has also signed a strategic partnership with the property portal to distribute the tlyfe app to tenants using TDS.

Leading up to the launch, the two companies have worked closely to develop the features set for inclusion in the app.

Adam Pigott, CEO at OpenBrix:

“This is an exciting day for OpenBrix. Our team has worked tirelessly to develop the technology needed to better serve the property sector. We can’t wait to share it with tenants across the UK.

“Having a distribution deal and strategic partnership with TDS will bring tlyfe to potentially millions of tenants. With their expertise in the PRS, and our industry leading technology, we believe we can connect all elements of the property market.”

Steve Harriott, Group CEO at TDS:

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with OpenBrix to help develop tlyfe, an exciting new tenant app to help tenants manage their deposit and their renting experience. The investments we make are all about driving innovation, and ultimately making life easier for our customers.

“We’re really looking forward to working with the team at OpenBrix to put tenants across the UK in control of all their property needs using tlyfe.” 

London is home to 24% of the nation’s HMOs, says new research

According to recent market analysis by Revolution Brokers, almost a quarter of all HMOs in England (24%) are located in London, but it’s in the South East and East Midlands where most of the opportunities lie.

Revolution Brokers looked at the distribution of HMO levels across England, casting a light on the availability of HMO investment opportunities by region.

They say that almost 56,000 HMOs are registered in England. 13,528 are within the capital city.

The East Midlands is host to 10,737 HMOs, accounting for 19% of the national total.

The South West follows with 16% of the national share, with the South East (12%) and the West Midlands (10%) trailing behind.

The North East only accounts for 1% of the country’s HMO stock.

Almas Uddin, founding director of Revolution Brokers, said: “When it comes to the HMO capital of the nation, London continues to dominate the market and it’s easy to see why.”

“As the nation’s capital, there is also a revolving door of tenants, both domestic and international, moving to London to live and work. As a result, void periods are also far lower which again helps to maximise returns.”

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

More tenants enter the rental market

Tenant demand climbs across England in Q1 as rental market pressure builds for letting agents The latest research by The Letting Partnership has found that tenant demand across England remained strong during the first quarter of 2026, with 27.4% of all rental listings already securing a tenant, meaning that the country’s hottest rental markets are…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

7 Ways Estate Agents Can Adapt to a Changing Property Market

The UK property landscape is evolving rapidly, and estate agents are under increasing pressure to implement innovative strategies. With shifting buyer expectations, new technologies, and alternative sales models entering the market, adapting your approach is essential. So, if you’re looking to see success with your agency, here are just seven key ways you can remain…
Read More
Letting Agent Talk

Spring clean drives high maintenance bill for landlord

The latest market insight from property management specialist, Rushbrook & Rathbone, suggests that property maintenance spend is set to surge in April, as the annual ‘spring clean’ by landlords saw the month account for the second highest proportion of total annual maintenance spend in 2025, as well as the largest average spend per work order. Rushbrook…
Read More
Breaking News

65% of homebuyers blame slow process on conveyancers

The latest research from Lyons Bowe reveals that 65% of recent homebuyers say the conveyancing process was the slowest part of their buying process, with a quarter saying the legal back and forth took more than 16 weeks to complete. Lyons Bowe commissioned a survey of 1,000 UK homeowners who made a purchase in the past…
Read More
Breaking News

UK Construction Activity Collapses

Glenigan’s April Construction Index uncovers an industry struggling to cushion the blows from ongoing international conflict and a persistently weak economy. Work starting on-site declined by 17% compared to Q4, remaining 18% below 2025 levels. Residential construction starts dropped by 13% during the Index period and fell by 30% against 2025 figures. Non-residential project-starts dipped…
Read More
Breaking News

Homebuyer demand down in Q1 2026

Buyer demand slips in Q1 2026, with South of England outperformed by North and Midlands The latest Sales Demand Index from eXp UK has revealed that homebuyer demand in England slipped by -1.6% in Q1 2026. The analysis also reveals a clear north-south divide with counties located in the midlands or north of the country recording…
Read More