The first half year is expected to end better than anticipated according to Hunters

May 22, 2017

Hunters, one of the UK’s largest national sales and lettings estate agency and franchise businesses, held  their 2017 Annual General Meeting  on Friday 19th May 2017.

The Chairman, Kevin Hollinrake, made the following statement: “In the four months to April this year we have opened six new Hunters branches through organic growth and a further 15 branches with the March acquisition of Bristol-based Besley Hill, bringing our network to 204 branches as at 30 April 2017 (April 2016: 172). The Group has a strong pipeline of agreed sales and has increased instructions in the four months to April against the same period last year, laying the ground for a comparatively strong second half performance.

“The first half year is expected to end better than anticipated considering the distortionary effect of the changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax for second homes which took place in March 2016, and we have confidence in the full year outcome for the Group. The government consultation on its proposed ban on tenant fees has begun although our exposure is expected to be less significant than other lettings only based participants given our strong sales profile. The period of anticipation for a General Election is shorter than is usual so therefore so is the expected level of associated uncertainty.

“Finally I am delighted to announce our Customer Service Rating this year is for the third year running achieving 96% across both sales and lettings and we retain a healthy pipeline of parties looking to join the network.

“I look forward to updating you further as the year progresses.”

Source of information Hunters.com

 

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

Breaking News

FMB calls on Reeves to scrap housing tax threat

The Chancellor needs to scrap the Government’s proposed landfill tax quarry exemption which will add up to £28,000 to the cost of homes on small sites in next week’s Autumn Budget, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “At a time when the Government is failing to…
Read More →
Breaking News

Full Steam Ahead! UK Construction to return to growth in 2026

Construction intelligence specialists predict renewed activity following false-start over the summer. Revised figures will see UK construction sector grow 21% over the next two years Private housebuilding remains on course to grow significantly, with activity still predicted to rise by almost a fifth in 2027 Commercial office starts set to continue their ascent, and increasing…
Read More →
Breaking News

Winter is Coming: Douglas & Gordon Warns Landlords and Tenants to Take Action Before Disputes Occur

Mould, damp, burst pipes and boilers on the blink? With temperatures set to plummet in London this week, real-estate agent Douglas & Gordon is advising landlords and tenants to take action before issues occur. With 45% of landlords experiencing arrears or disputes, often linked to property condition or delayed maintenance* the agent’s expert lettings team…
Read More →
Breaking News

Home sellers slashing asking prices amid Budget speculation

The latest research from Property DriveBuy reveals that homesellers are slashing asking prices across the country in an attempt to attract buyers in a stagnant pre-Budget housing market. The latest asking price data* shows that the average asking price in Britain (£364,833) fell by -1.8% between October and November 2025, contributing to an overall annual…
Read More →
Breaking News

Mansion tax would hit London hardest

Mansion tax would hit London hardest, as capital accounts for 66% of all homes sold above £2m so far this year The latest data insight from Enness Global has revealed that, should the Chancellor introduce a 1% annual mansion tax on properties valued over £2 million, the measure would overwhelmingly target London homeowners, with two-thirds…
Read More →
Breaking News

Share of first-time buyers opting for low-deposit deals rose 8.6% in October

Barclays mortgage data shows deposits under £20,000 made up 22.1 per cent of first-time buyer completions in October 60 per cent of renters say they would require financial incentives or homebuying support schemes to get onto the property ladder Confidence in the housing market dipped three percentage points to 24 per cent month-on-month, although sentiment…
Read More →