Breaking News
Savills announce that they have acquired Independent Estate Agent Granville Residential
Savills announced yesterday 11th April 2017 that it has acquired Granville Residential, one of the best known independent estate agents covering the Marlow, Maidenhead, Bourne End and Cookham area in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. Savills stated that Granville Residential joins their network of 89 residential offices across the UK and an international network of over 700…
Allen Walkey
More loans taken out in first 2 months of 2017 than any year since 2007 says CML
News release yesterday 11th April 2017 from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) Monthly Lendng Trends for February 2017 headlined ‘Home buying activity up 7% in February’. The CML data revealed house purchase activity increased month-on-month and year-on-year, driven by first-time buyer activity. Remortgage activity continued year-on-year growth while buy-to-let declined. Home buyers borrowed £8.9bn,…
Allen Walkey
Average house prices in the UK have increased by 5.8% in the year to February 2017
Statistical Bulletin monthly house price inflation released today from Office for National Statistics (ONS) House Price Index (HPI) UK: Feb 2017. The UK HPI is a joint production by HM Land Registry, Land and Property Services Northern Ireland, Office for National Statistics and Registers of Scotland. Average house prices in the UK have increased by…
Allen Walkey
Substantial increase in the number of sales of million pound appartments over last decade.
Latest news release from Lloyds Bank Media Resource Centre 8th April 2017 headlined ‘The ‘High’ Rise Of The Million Pound Appartment’. According to the latest research by Lloyds Private Banking, the number of million pound apartment sales in England & Wales has grown nearly threefold over the past decade, exclusive apartments now account for nearly…
Allen Walkey
ASHFIELD LANDLORDS TO RECEIVE DISCOUNTS IN PROPERTY LICENSING SCHEME
The National Landlords Association (NLA) is encouraging landlords in Ashfield to become accredited to take advantage of discounted property licensing fees. From May 1, landlords in Ashfield will require a licence for every property they let, or they could be subject to a £20,000 fine. The scheme, which is being introduced in Sutton-in-Ashfield and Stanton…
EAN Content
Confusion as to what new tax changes for landlords will mean says AXA
A recent News & Media release 6th April 2017 from AXA headlined ‘Landlords feel unfairly targeted by tax changes’. In their latest study of UK landlords, AXA reveals that far more believe they will be affected than Government estimates suggest, and almost half plan to quit the rental market by 2020, fearing they are being…
Allen Walkey
Government consultation on banning letting agent fees paid by tenants.
The Department for Communities and Local Government last week 7 April 2017 published a consultation seeking views on the implementation of a ban on letting agent fees paid by tenants. The government announced at the 2016 Autumn Statement that it would consult on introducing a ban on letting agent fees paid by tenants, to improve…
Allen Walkey
12% jump in number of available rental properties leads to slowest annual rate of increase since 2014
Over-hang of last year’s buy-to-let surge leads to more choice for tenants and slower annual rate of increase in rents: Number of available rental properties on Rightmove up 12% compared to the same period last year Annual asking rent growth of 1.8% is the lowest since Q4 2014, and less than half the annual growth…
Rightmove
Private rented sector finely balanced says Paragon Mortgages
The latest Paragon Mortgages Private Rented Sector (PRS) Trends report for Q1 headlines ‘A Long Road Ahead’. The highlights in the Paragon Mortgages Q1 2017 PRS Trend report are: Average portfolio size stable at 13 properties, despite tax changes and rising stamp duty. Landlords expect little change in portfolio size over the next 12 months….
Allen Walkey
CIELA challenges the validity and reliability of PurpleBricks
The Charter for Independent Estate and Letting Agents (CIELA) would like to express its outrage to the grossly misleading and misrepresentative portrayal of high street estate and letting agents by Purplebricks. The wildly inaccurate claims issued by the company’s recent press release cite that high street estate agents are lazy, outdated and are a rip…
EAN Content
BARBON INSURANCE GROUP STRENGTHENS BOARD WITH NEW APPOINTMENT
Barbon Insurance Group Ltd (Barbon), the UK’s leading provider of risk solutions to the residential lettings sector, via its HomeLet and Rentshield Direct brands, has appointed Mark Witherspoon as non-executive director, subject to the usual regulatory approval. Mark brings extensive experience across retail financial services and property sectors. He is currently Data Services Director at…
EAN Content
Local authorities given more powers when dealing with rogue landlords
Announcement today from Department for Communities and Local Government and Gavin Barwell MP. New rules which come into force from today (6 April 2017) will help crackdown on rogue landlords that flout the rules and improve safety and affordability for renters. Announcing the measures, Housing Minister Gavin Barwell confirmed the powers will give local authorities…
Allen Walkey
HSBC signed one year contract extension with Hometrack according to ZPG
News item released yesterday from ZPG stated: HSBC has signed a one-year contract extension with property analytics business Hometrack, securing the delivery of valuation and risk services for a twelfth consecutive year. Hometrack is part of ZPG plc and currently partners with 15 of the top 20 mortgage lenders in the UK as well as…
Allen Walkey
Telford Homes expects to report record revenues and profit.
Telford Homes Plc, the residential property developer focused on non-prime London, has today 5th April 2017 given an update on trading ahead of its final results for the year ended 31 March 2017, which will be released on Wednesday, 31 May 2017. Telford Homes expects to report record revenues and profit for the year to…
Allen Walkey
A new tax year begins tomorrow along with changes for buy-to-let landlords
Tomorrow the 6th April is a new tax year, it is when buy-to-let landlords will begin to feel the direct effects of the next tightening of taxation of the sector. The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) in a recent news release headlined ‘Tax changes put more pressure on buy-to-let landlords’ point out that, from the…
Allen Walkey