“Brexit” Theresa May will formally trigger Article 50 today.

Today 29th March 2017 is the day that Theresa May will formally trigger Article 50, notifying the European Union of the intention of the United Kingdom to withdraw from membership.

This starts the clock running on a process that is supposed to take 2 years, however many believe that it could take longer. The timescale can be extended, but only by the unanimous consent of the European Council.

The terms of exit will be negotiated between Britain’s 27 counterparts, and each will have a veto over the conditions, this means Britain should officially leave the EU no later than April 2019.

It was only a few days ago on March 25, 2017 in Brussels, European leaders marked the sixtieth anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome.

According to the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH)  a ‘hard’ Brexit would disproportionately hit the UK private rented sector if immigration volumes from the rest of the European Union fell. Writing for the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) John Perry CIH policy adviser says: “Migrants are overwhelmingly concentrated in the private rented sector, so the impact of any fall in people coming from the EU will be far greater on this sector than on social housing.”

Read the CML News and Views report ‘Brexit means we need fewer houses – or does it?’ click here

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

Conservatories fall out of fashion

Conservatories fall out of fashion as fewer than one in 10 homes boast the former must-have feature   The latest market analysis from eXp UK has revealed that conservatories appear to have fallen out of favour with England’s homeowners, with fewer than one in 10 properties currently listed for sale offering the once-popular home improvement.…
Read More
Breaking News

95% of estate agents say homebuying reforms could speed up property transactions

The latest survey by GetAgent.co.uk has found overwhelming support from estate agents for the Government’s proposed homebuying reforms, with the vast majority believing the changes will create a faster, more stable and more efficient property market. The proposed reforms are designed to modernise the homebuying process by introducing greater upfront information, earlier legal certainty and measures…
Read More
Breaking News

Private rent and house prices, UK: July 2026

1. Main points Average UK monthly private rent increased by 3.3%, to £1,388, in the 12 months to June 2026 (provisional estimate); this annual growth rate remained unchanged from the 12 months to May 2026. Average rents increased to £1,446 (3.4%) in England, £843 (4.9%) in Wales, and £1,012 (1.3%) in Scotland, in the 12 months…
Read More
what is happening to house prices
Breaking News

Tenant demand continues to strengthen in Q2

The latest research by The Letting Partnership has found that tenant demand across England continued to strengthen during the second quarter of 2026, with 29.7% of all rental listings already securing a tenant. Demand has increased by 2.3% over the quarter and now sits 0.3% higher than the same time last year, demonstrating the continued…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 22/7/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.     More kite flying on capping rents creates new uncertainty for investors Official data undermines rent cap folly as Burnham yo-yoing creates damaging market uncertainty More kite flying on capping rents has created new uncertainty for investors at the worst possible time. Analysis of…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Conveyancing keeps providing stability in uncertain market

New research from Lyons Bowe solicitors has found that conveyancing costs have remained remarkably steady as a proportion of house prices across the UK, providing essential reliability for homebuyers during another year of market and economic uncertainty. Lyons Bowe’s analysis found that the average cost of purchasing a freehold property increased from £1,383 in April 2025…
Read More