Breaking News
Housing construction slows
A recent poll by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) reportedly found that the level of construction work in the private housing sector is rising at the slowest pace since 2013, this comes despite the huge commitment to the sector by the government. A shortage of skilled labour in the building sector, in particular ‘bricklayers’ along…
Allen Walkey
Two out of three for ‘Shelter’
Following the Fix Renting Campaign launched in January by the Housing Charity Shelter, which focused on 3 ways to make renting safer, they have now announced that thanks to the work of Shelter and their amazing supporters, the first two of them should now become law, along with strong measures tackling rogue landlords! Changes to…
Allen Walkey
“Airbnb phenomenon is a growing issue for landlords” says Landlord Action
Leading tenant eviction firm, Landlord Action, says the Airbnb model poses a growing threat to landlords. Over the last 12 months, the number of cases Landlord Action has received, where tenants have sub-let properties without their landlord’s permission, has trebled. Aside from breach of tenancy agreement and additional wear and tear to the property, landlords…
Christopher Walkey
Metro Bank lending more than doubles.
Shares in Metro Bank edged higher early today, the Bristish lender which listed on the London Stock Exchange in March and opened the first branch of Metro Bank in Holborn in central London, revealed its first quarter loss narrowed on the back of solid growth in commercial lending and residential mortgages. Metro Bank said its…
Allen Walkey
(LCCI) London Mayoral Election 2016
The agenda from London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) identifies new ways in which it believes the new mayor can tackle London’s housing crisis. London’s chronic housing undersupply impacts on employees and employers. Liberating more land and empowering more builders is required. To fix the housing crisis the new Mayor or London should: 1….
Allen Walkey
Zoopla Property Group to aquire PSG
Zoopla Property Group has conditionally agreed to acquire Property Software Holdings Limited for GB75m on a cash-free, debt-free basis. Established in 2007, PSG is the UK’s market-leading provider of software solutions to property professionals, used in over 8,000 agency branches. PSG provides workflow tools to over 40,000 estate and lettings agents across the UK through…
Allen Walkey
Letting agents ran drugs factory
Two men who ran a lettings agency in south London, Aidan Lynch, 51, and Jason Smart 47, were both jailed for a total of eight years last Friday at Woolwich Crown Court, an accomplice Patrick McArdle, 37, was jailed for five years and six months for conspiracy to produce cannabis and another seperate charge. The estate…
Allen Walkey
Average asking price hits record high
According to the most recent Rightmove House Price Index, buy-to-let ignites chain reaction, driving prices to record high Average price of property coming to market up by 1.3% (+£3,843) to set a record high of £307,033 A last minute rush from investors to buy before April 1st helped to ignite an onward chain reaction: Stamp…
Allen Walkey
Deciding what to believe as the referendum approaches.
The in’s and out’s have now begun their campaigns in earnest leading up to the referendum in June, hopefully the multitudes of questions that voters are worried about will get answered, or will it just make everyone more confused? The vote to decide whether we stay in or leave the European Union is probably one…
Allen Walkey
The ESTAS Awards
Regional and National winners were announced at the 13th annual ESTAS ceremony on Friday 15th April at the Grosvenor House London. The mission at The ESTAS is to highlight the great service provided by different firms involved in the residential property sector. Here are some of the awards from the long list of Regional and…
Allen Walkey
Tyne and Wear rents vary by £76 from Metro station to station
Moving just one Metro stop saves you an average £76 every month – and could save you as much as £579. Jesmond is most expensive place to rent outside of central Newcastle – Byker is still cheapest. This month’s Tyne and Wear Rent Map from property firm KIS – which shows what the Metro Map…
Rail Network and House Building
In a recent press release from the Gov.Uk website on the subject of Rail Network and Housebuilding it headlines ‘Regeneration of stations set to deliver thousands of new properties and jobs’ A massive programme of development of railway stations and surrounding land will deliver thousands of new homes and jobs and significantly boost local growth….
Allen Walkey
Kensington raises maximum loan size amid mortgage criteria changes
Kensington Mortgages has announced it will be increasing its maximum loan limit for both first time buyers and buy to let mortgages. Having raised the maximum loan on buy to let mortgages to £1.5 million from £1 million, first time buyer loan values have also now increased to a maximum of £1 million – up…
Enness Private
Record first quarter and 14% growth for Auction House
Auction House – the UK’s biggest auctioneer in terms of lots sold – has recorded its highest performing first quarter in the nine year history of the company. Between January and March this year, the award-winning auctioneer sold an impressive 729 lots from 939 offered – a figure which is over 14% up (14.3%) on…
Christopher Walkey
“Granny Flats” now not to be included
The controversial new tax for buy-to-let and second homes introduced from 1st of April will not now include homeowners with self-contained “granny flats”, the government will table an amendment to correct the error and ensure fair treatment for annexes. The problem was the changes would have meant anyone buying a home with a granny flat…
Allen Walkey