Profits fall at Foxtons following downturn in London property market

July 27, 2017

Foxtons Group PLC today announced interim results for the half year ended 30 JUNE 2017.

Lettings revenue £32.1m down 2% versus prior year; Volumes up 1% with several growth initiatives underway, offset by fall in rental rates. Remains a resilient, recurring revenue stream.

Sales revenue £22.2m down 29% in the half; mainly driven by the Q1 surge in the prior year. Q2 sales revenue down 3% overall versus prior year and impacted by increased political uncertainty towards the end of the period.

Commenting on today’s statement, Nic Budden, Chief Executive Officer said:

“Our performance has been resilient in the context of a London property market that has been further impacted by unprecedented economic and political uncertainty. Whilst sales commissions in the second quarter as a whole were down 3% versus prior year, sales exchanges and our under offer pipeline weakened through June and the early part of July. The growth in our lettings portfolio was encouraging, up 2% to c.19,800 tenancies and now accounts for 55% of group revenues, delivering a steady and recurring income stream.

 “During the last six months we have maintained our relentless focus on delivering a market leading service for our customers and that remains our priority. We recently launched MyFoxtons for tenants and buyers, a sophisticated online portal to complement the equivalent for landlords and vendors launched last year, and early feedback has been encouraging. We have several new and exciting initiatives underway designed to build our lettings portfolio and strengthen our customer offer further. While conditions remain challenging, we are confident that these initiatives, together with the strength of our network, our balance sheet and our brand will support long term growth for our shareholders.”

Read  Foxtons interim results for the half year ended 30 JUNE 2017 in full 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

Upfront information: homebuyers want confidence as much as speed

What movers want from upfront information, and it isn’t only speed Having a survey, legal pack and chain details before making an offer would help more than eight in ten respondents, according to LRG’s latest sales report Of the 553 who answered the question, 41% said they would offer with more confidence, although not necessarily…
Read More →
Estate Agents should not all look the same
Estate Agent Talk

How Financial Anxiety Drains Entrepreneurial Energy

Financial anxiety can consume the attention and stamina that business owners need for planning, problem-solving and leading a team. A late payment, an unexpected tax bill or a weak sales month may trigger worry long after working hours have ended. Over time, that mental strain affects sleep, concentration and confidence. The answer starts with creating…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

How to future-proof a rental property for changing tenant expectations

Over the past decade or so, tenants have become far more discerning. For more and more people, renting is a long-term prospect and today’s tenants expect their homes to be as safe and comfortable as any home they would own themselves. And as legislation around standards and health and safety in the private rented sector…
Read More →
Breaking News

More than a third of homes undergo price reduction

The latest research from GetAgent.co.uk has revealed that more than a third (34.4%) of homes sold subject to contract (SSTC) across Britain’s major cities have undergone an asking price reduction, with this figure climbing to more than half in Bournemouth, raising questions over whether sellers, and their agents, are pricing their properties realistically when first…
Read More →
Breaking News

‘Explosion’ in e-signature use at Land Registry spells progress for homebuying reform

The number of e-signatures used at Land Registry has exploded in the latest quarter — jumping more than ten times in just three months to 643, Novus Strategy can reveal. Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) are a central plank of the revolution unfolding in homebuying because they reduce friction and save time. It’s a combination of…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

The Flats Above the Shop Problem

Why residential property hidden inside commercial ownership keeps causing trouble By Adam Hills, Client Services Director, LRG Living Markets Somewhere in many commercial property portfolios sits a small collection of front doors that was never really part of the plan. Many large and small retailers inherit residential property portfolios by default as part of mixed-use…
Read More →