Breaking News
Fairer deal for renters
Haringay Council is now set to offer a new non profit making letting agency service which is aiming to give tenants a “fairer deal” whilst offering landlords reliability and affordability. Move 51 North, the not for profits letting agency was set up by the council housing management company Homes for Haringey, it is pitched as…
Allen Walkey
LANDLORDS EXEMPTED FROM CAPITAL GAINS CUTS.
Responding to the Chancellor’s Budget announcement to exempt residential property sales from cuts to the rate of capital gains tax (CGT), Richard Lambert, Chief Executive Officer, National landlords Association (NLA), said: “The Chancellor said that this government would tax the things it wants to reduce not the things it wants to encourage. “On that basis,…
Christopher Walkey
Stay Ibiza tackles Ibiza’s growing demand for luxury with new business to business focused service, Privadia.
One of Ibiza’s leading luxury lifestyle groups is expanding its Balearic presence with the launch of a new B2B centric arm catering exclusively to agencies worldwide along with Ibiza’s luxury property owners. Using innovative tools and years of insider knowledge, Privadia’s focus is to streamline working relationships. For villa proprietors, it’s a new opportunity to access…
Christopher Walkey
Ahead of the Budget, Andrew Ellinas, Director of Sandfords comments on what he would like to see the Chancellor announce today.
“Unlikely to happen, but Mr Osborne needs to start reversing the stamp duty changes he has made. Over the last four years there has been an unfair amount of tax changes including stamp duty, land tax and capital gains. Landlords and homeowners have been completely restricted with these additional tax charges, all of which have been…
Christopher Walkey
SNP vote for rent controls north of the border.
Delegates at the Scottish National Party Spring Conference have voted in favour of introducing national rent controls for all Scottish tenants, this would be quite a shake up to the buy-to-let market north of the border. The SNP would need to win a majority in the forthcoming Scottish general election to implement these plans, if…
Allen Walkey
Surge in Scottish home purchases
Highest January home sales in eight years according to the Your Move & Acadata Scotland House Price Index report. Scotland sees highest January sales since 2008, up 24% year-on-year with rush to avoid Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) surcharge. Biggest uplift in Midlothian, rising 38% on January 2015, as flats and terraced houses are…
Allen Walkey
Design Week Chelsea Harbour
Spring has finally sprung and what better way to get inspired by the new colourful interior trends for Spring than to visit Design Week at Chelsea Harbour. For anyone who has never been to the Design Centre its a mecca for beautiful fabrics and high end exquisite furniture. All this week and next the centre’s…
Alex Evans
Landlords and tomorrow’s budget
Buy-to-let lender Paragon has reportedly put it to the Chancellor George Osborne not to make further changes to tax on landlords ahead of the budget that will be announced tomorrow. Landlords in the UK feel increasingly under attack especially over the last 12 months, with legislation such as the EU Mortgage Credit Directive and increase…
Allen Walkey
Private rented sector rents continue to rise.
Homelet Rental Index February 2016 The cost of taking on a new tenancy in the private rentals market continues to rise, with the average rental agreement signed in the UK outside of London during the three months to February 2016 costing 4.8% more than in the same period a year ago, new data from the…
Allen Walkey
Conservative candidate for London Mayor
Last week we had a brief look at both the Labour and Libdem candidates for London Mayor, today we take a look at Zac Goldsmith, the Conservative candidate, with the vote taking place in around 50 days Zac is trailing Labour’s Sadiq Khan at the moment in the polls but that could all change as…
Allen Walkey
Spending cuts expected in this years budget
The spring budget will be delivered by George Osborne this wednesday, he will set out the Government’s plans for the economy based on the latest forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) plus tax change proposals for the following financial year. According to the BBC the the Treasury said it would not comment on…
Allen Walkey
Haringey Council vs Letting Agencies.
“Hate estate agents? Yes, you probably do — and if you rent, the fees you have to pay for every tiny little thing probably make you hate them the most.” Is what is quoted via the Londonist website which reported on this news story. Maybe a little harsh in my eyes as this industry is…
Christopher Walkey
Substantial increase in remortgage lending
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) data shows on an unadjusted basis, lending in January. Home-owners borrowed £8.4bn for house purchase, down 25% month-on-month but up 12% year-on-year. They took out 46,200 loans, down 27% on December but up 5% on January 2015. First-time buyers borrowed £3.3bn in January, down 27% on December but up 14% on January…
Allen Walkey
Over 150,000 completions under Help-to-Buy
Over 150,000 people have achieved their aspiration of home ownership thanks to the government’s flagship housing scheme Help to Buy, according to a recent announcement from the Department for Communities and Local Government. Since the launch of the Help to Buy equity loan and mortgage guarantee schemes: Over 150,000 completions under the scheme have taken…
Allen Walkey
Increased activity due to stamp duty deadline
UK property prices are expected to slow in the coming months due to concerns about the June 23 European Union referendum and global economic uncertainty, February saw strong growth in property prices across the UK except for London, the rush to buy before the stamp duty hike in April will probably see strong figures continue …
Allen Walkey