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JONATHAN ROLANDE: Buying and selling is too stressful – here is how agents can ease the burden

Lots of things change in the property sector - but one thing always seems to stay the same. For buyers and sellers, the process is incredibly stressful. And,...

Douglas & Gordon administrator waiting on HMRC for preferential payouts

Agency staff owed money from the collapse of Douglas & Gordon last year will be repaid, the brand’s administrator has said, but it is waiting for...

Zoopla: Asking price discounts narrow as market mood improves

Asking price discounts have hit their lowest levels since last summer as market activity improves across the board, Zoopla claims. The portal’s latest House Price Index found...

Rightmove: Time on the market hits five-year high

Time on the market for property listings has hit a five-year high, according to Rightmove. Data from the portal shows it is currently taking 71 days on...

A game changer? Yorkshire Building Society launches 99% loan-to-value mortgage for first-time buyers

The Government may have backtracked on plans for 100% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages but Yorkshire Building Society has come up with its own support scheme for first-time...

Agents Do Charity - an 'egg-cellent' week for fundraising

A variety of charities have received support from the property industry this week. If there are charitable endeavours you think the rest of the industry should know...

Zoopla secures new long-term deal with Dexters

Zoopla has sealed a new long-term contract with London estate agent Dexters, which encompasses 156 offices across the capital.  The the agency will use Zoopla’s Valuation Booster...

MPs launch inquiry into home buying and selling process

MPs have launched an inquiry on improving the home buying and selling process in England. The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee announced yesterday that it would...

High mortgage rates close gap between buying and renting costs - Halifax

The gap between the costs of home ownership and renting has reached its smallest level since 2019, according to the latest Halifax Owning vs Renting Review. The...

Agency software provider launches embedded Property Information Questionnaires

Estate agency software provider Street.co.uk has launched a fully automated and integrated Property Information Questionnaire (PIQs)  that can be accessed directly within its platform. It claims this...

Spicerhaart honours top-performing agents

Spicerhaart's top performers have been honoured at an awards ceremony showcasing the agency brand’s culture. The 2024 Elevate Awards were hosted by comedian and former Britain’s Got...

'Paying more for less' – report reveals state of UK housing

The UK’s housing stock offers the worst value for money of any advanced economy, new research suggests. Analysis by the Resolution Foundation suggests that while the UK...

Guild honours top agents at Sharing Success conference

The Guild of Property Professionals honoured its top agents last week. The network held its annual conference and awards at the QEII Centre in Westminster, London. Under the...

Housing affordability ratio remains high but are second steppers worse-off?

Housing affordability ratios have fallen back to pre-pandemic levels but remain high, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows. The latest figures from the ONS show that...

Vendors warned to not risk waiting for General Election to list their homes

Waiting for a General Election is risky for sellers after the so-called Boris bounce in the property market failed to deliver after the previous national poll,...

Ground rent reform set for scrapheap - reports

Plans to set ground rents at a ‘peppercorn rate’ are reported to have been dropped amid opposition from freehold campaigners and pension funds. The Sunday Times reported...


JONATHAN ROLANDE: Five things to remember when using AI in the property sector


Everyone seems to be talking about artificial intelligence (AI) right now. It is an issue which has been bubbling under since Covid - but AI is now a...

OnTheMarket surpasses 15,000 advertisers

OnTheMarket (OTM) has surpassed 15,000 advertisers for the first time in its history. The milestone comes in the first 60 days since the portal was acquired by...

Century 21 opens global listings site to UK estate agents

UK-based estate agencies are being given the opportunity to list their properties on Century 21 Global, the brand’s global listings site. This new offering is driven in...

Lord Best: ROPA reforms won't break the bank for agents

Further estate agency regulation won’t be too expensive for the industry, Lord Best has said. Lord Best, who led the Regulation of Property Agents (ROPA) working group,...

Revealed! The property hotspots for London leavers

Epsom and Ewell, Epping Forest and Dartford have been named as the top London leaver hotspots as buyers continue to move away from the high prices...

Julie James returns as Welsh Housing Minister

Propertymark has welcomed the reappointment of Julie James as the new Welsh Housing Minister. Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, said the agency trade...

Olympic champion and business guru to speak at eXp conference

Olympic gold medallist Victoria Pendleton and Dragon’s Den investor Steven Bartlett are the latest speakers scheduled to appear at this summer’s eXp conference. Taking place on 2nd...

Safety warning issued after female agents suffer phone harassment

A safety alert has been issued after several female agents warned of being harassed on phone calls. The Women In Estate Agency (WIEA) group has raised concern...

Government urged to stop ‘sitting on its hands’ over agency regulations

The architect of the Regulation of Property Agents (ROPA) reforms has expressed frustration that the recommendations have failed to materialise as they approach their fifth anniversary. Lord...

Interest rates remain frozen – what does it mean for agent activity?

Interest rates were held for the fifth consecutive time after the latest Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting yesterday. The cost of borrowing has now...

Agents Do Charity - reaching for the sky

A variety of charities have received support from the property industry this week. If there are charitable endeavours you think the rest of the industry should know...

Material information rules set to cost sellers ‘hundreds of pounds’ - warning

Vendors could end up spending hundreds of pounds more when selling their home due to Trading Standards material information rules guidance, a conveyancing solicitor has warned. The...

Rightmove: Detached properties are leading rise in home sales

The number of sales agreed is on the rise and the Somerset town of Chard has become a new hotspot, Rightmove claims. Figures from the portal show...

Land Registry HPI: Annual house price declines star to slow

Annual house price declines slowed in January and values returned to growth on a monthly basis, Land Registry data shows. The latest Land Registry House Price Index...

‘Ideal time’ for interest rate cut as inflation slows - claim

Inflation has hit a new two-year low as the cost of living measure slowed to 3.4% in February. The figure is down from 4% in January, helped...

Agents failing to do AML checks on business contacts - warning

Regulated firms, particularly estate agents, who take on new business clients are leaving themselves exposed to serious red flags by not completing critical verification checks, new...

Property portal unveils AI assistant to help homebuyers

Northern Ireland property portal Propertynews.com has launched a bespoke artificial intelligence assistant to improve the homebuying process for both buyers and agents. The AI assistant, known as...

Martin & Co branches move to new ownership

Two of national sales and lettings agency Martin & Co’s Oxfordshire branches are under new ownership. Experienced international property professional David Rebe has taken on the Oxford...

EweMove partners with View Agents

Kerfuffle-owned View Agents has launched a new partnership with EweMove. Ewemove agents will be able to use the reviews platform to highlight their customer service. Nick Neill, managing...

PropTech Today - Spring clean to avoid 'malicious hacks'

SPRING cleaning is an annual ritual for many households, but firms in the property sector would do well to spend some time sprucing up their security too. A...

Think tank calls for Oz-inspired housing ‘sin taxes’

The UK Government should make better use of property taxes to deter foreign buyers, boost property supply and raise tax revenue, a thinktank claims. In a report,...

Buyer demand rises as sellers become ‘more realistic’ - research

Buyer demand shot up in February, helped by a surge in ‘realistically priced’ property supply, research suggests. Data from TwentyEA shows the number of listings marked as...

Newborns face paying £500,000 for homes when they hit first-time buyer age

A baby born today will need to earn £95,121 to get on the property ladder, research suggests. The analysis forecasts that the average first-time buyer house price...

Material information raises professional indemnity risks - warning

The increased focus on upfront material information could push up estate agency professional indemnity (PI) requirements, an industry trainer has warned. Michael Day of Integra Property Services...

Price expectation gap risks widening – claim

The gap between the price a seller wants and what a buyer is willing to pay is at risk of widening, Knight Frank has warned. Tom Bill,...

Prime London sold prices hit decade low but agents ‘remain busy’ - research

Average sold prices in prime London have returned to 2014 levels, research suggests. The latest market data from LonRes shows the prime London sales market recorded both...

Upmarket agency launches second radio ad campaign

Fine & Country has launched its second radio advert campaign.  The premium estate agent’s latest adverts will focus on its ‘Dare To Be Iconic’ marketing slogan.  Radio adverts...

Government orders London Mayor to build more homes

The Government has taken the unusual step of intervening in the London Plan to boost housebuilding in the capital.   Housing Secretary Michael Gove has criticised Mayor of...

Downsizing incentives needed as homeowners stay put for longer - research

Homeowners, particularly those in larger homes are staying put for longer, research shows. Analysis of Land Registry data between 2019 and 2022 by quick-buy firm Spring and...

Knight Frank wins customer service award

The UK Residential division of agency and property brand Knight Frank has won the ‘Best Customer Satisfaction Strategy Award’ at the UK Customer Satisfaction Awards 2024. Last Tuesday, Knight...

Spring Budget missed the mark, estate agents claim

The Spring Budget missed the mark when it comes to boosting current market conditions, agents have claimed. A survey of 833 UK property professionals, commissioned by agency...

Estate agency complaints and payouts on the rise

Agents faced more complaints and paid out higher levels of redress last year, industry data shows. Annual figures from the Property Redress Scheme (PRS) show complaint enquiries...

Seller sentiment improves – OnTheMarket

Seller confidence has improved in anticipation of the traditionally busier Spring market and interest rate cuts in the months ahead, research suggests. OnTheMarket’s latest Property Sentiment Index...

Propertymark welcomes new First Minister for Wales

Propertymark has welcomed the appointment of the new leader of Welsh Labour and subsequently First Minister for Wales Vaughan Gething. The agency trade body has urged him...

Best places to live revealed! Is your patch on the list?

North Berwick in East Lothian, has been named the best place to live in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.  The Scottish seaside town tops...

Rightmove: Asking prices hit 10-month high but market remains sensitive

Average asking prices have increased at their highest rate for 10 months during March but the property market remains sensitive, Rightmove suggests. The latest House Price Index...

AI-powered portal continues UK rollout

Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered property portal Jitty has now expanded to Bristol and the surrounding areas. The app said it clocked over 3,000 users across Bath in just...

Jonathan Rolande: Times to ask serious questions about the UK's social housing crisis

Last week the Government published new housing data which has largely gone unreported.  The vacuum was probably linked to the Budget, and the fact journalists have been...

Savills: Property market appears to be past “peak uncertainty”

Savills has claimed most of the property markets It operates in are past “peak uncertainty” after posting lower revenues and profits for 2023. The agency and property...

Agents Do Charity - strong support

A variety of charities have received support from the property industry this week. If there are charitable endeavours you think the rest of the industry should know...

First-time buyers face six-year savings wait - research

Single first-time buyers need to save for almost 6.5 years or 76 months to raise a 10% deposit and cover moving costs including conveyancing, surveying and...

Auction firms merge to boost estate agent services

My Auction has merged with Bamboo Auctions to form one of the largest online auction providers in the UK. Rocket Auctions, a newly formed subsidiary of the Bamboo...

Major mortgage lender reduces upper age limit

One of the UK’s largest mortgage lenders has reduced its upper age limit in a blow for home buyers . Halifax is imposing a new 70-year age...

Investigation launched into snagging rights

The Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA) has announced an investigation to uncover the tensions between developers and surveyors on snagging. The trade body has warned that too...

Competition watchdog frees 500 households from doubling ground rents

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has secured agreements from eight freeholders to remove “problematic ground rent” terms from leases. The competition watchdog said this would help...

The ValPal Network marks a decade of lead generation

The ValPal Network (TVPN) is celebrating generating 8.7m leads for agents in a decade of business. It comes as TVPN said it has noticed a percentage of...

Well-known agent joins eXp brand

Simon Bradbury has returned to estate agency with self-employed brand eXp. Bradbury, who quit as managing director of Thomas Morris in January, has announced that he will...

RICS: Agency stock has hit a three-year high but short-term price falls remain likely

Estate agency stock has hit the highest level since February 2021, new figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has revealed. The latest RICS Residential...

Major house builder warns of subdued property market

Property market conditions in the new-build sector are likely to remain subdued this year. Persimmon has claimed. An outlook in the house builder’s annual report warned that...

Councils granted extra powers in empty homes clampdown

The Government has given local authorities powers to double the council tax charged on long-term empty homes after 12 months. The time period is up from one...

The Evolution of Estate Agency Software: Transactions down, profit margins up

In this latest article from the team at Iceberg Digital, they discuss the evolution of  Estate Agency Software. For a long time, UK estate agencies have...

Homebuyers facing more mortgage choice but shorter shelf life

The mortgage price war appears to have eased and the shelf life on home loans has hit a six-month low, Moneyfacts data shows. Figures from the comparison...

Women in Estate Agency hails successful conference

The Women in Estate Agency (WiEA) committee hosted its highly anticipated second annual conference last week. Held at The IET, Savoy Place in London, the event attracted...

Fine & Country honours top performers

Forget the Oscars, the biggest even in town last week was the Fine & Country International Annual Conference and Awards Gala. The agency network honoured its top...

Hamptons executive returns to lead new department 

Hamptons has launched a residential investment department led by Ashley Mason, who has returned to the brand after 12 years. Mason will be responsible for providing the...

Rettie agrees listings deal with OnTheMarket

OnTheMarket (OTM) has signed a listing agreement with Rettie, one of the UK's largest independent property services firms operating in Scotland and the North of England. It...

‘Legal liability’ concerns raised over Propertymark questionnaire

The Law Society is exploring concerns that Propertymark's Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) puts agents at risk of legal issues, Estate Agent Today has learned. Propertymark launched its...

Knight Frank: Prime London market has made ‘hesitant’ start to 2024

The prime London sales market has made a hesitant start to 2024, Knight Frank has said. Despite the agent and property brand revising its house price expectations...

UK’s largest mortgage lender vows to help speed-up home sales

Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) has become the latest member of the Open Property Data Association (OPDA), committing to help speed up and simplify the homebuying process...

Hunters franchisee marks 'easy' first acquisition

Hunters franchisee Lester Hurst has bolstered his branch’s managed portfolio with a maiden independent acquisition. Lester, who has owned the Otley and Ilkley branches of Hunters since...

Alto reveals ViewMyChain integration

Alto has unveiled its latest integration with sales progression tool ViewMyChain. The partnership means agents using Alto’s software will get direct access to ViewMyChain’s tools, hopefully to...

Consumers ‘unaware’ about the role of a conveyancer - research

Only two out of five UK adults are aware of what conveyancing is, while the number for those who are already homeowners is still only just...

GoTo Group announced as key partner for agent network

Home-moving platform the GoTo Group has been announced as a key partner of the Relocation Agent Network (RAN). RAN agents will gain access to a variety of...

OneDome adds surveying to HomeBuyer Service product

OneDome is expanding its flagship product HomeBuyer Service to include surveying.  The property platform said it now provides a full suite of services to homebuyers—including mortgages, conveyancing,...

TPFG boss: The Belvoir deal was 'inevitable'

The landmark deal between The Property Franchise Group (TPFG) and Belvoir was ‘inevitable’ and more acquisitions could be on the card, Gareth Samples has said. Speaking exclusively...

Jonathan Rolande: A Budget that could see the Chancellor moving out of Number 11

When the Chancellor stood up to deliver the Spring Budget on Wednesday, those of us in the property business could be forgiven for hoping, even assuming,...

Halifax: Housing market has started strong but a slowdown is still possible

Average house prices rose for the fourth consecutive month during February, figures from Halifax show, but it is unclear how long the market recovery will last. The...

Only one in 10 homes sold at a loss last year - Zoopla

House price growth may have slowed last year but homeowners who sold their property still made an average gain of £74,000 in 2023, Zoopla claims. The portal...

International Women’s Day: The barriers and benefits for estate agents

Female agents have shared their view on representation and opportunities in the sector to mark International Women’s Day. Industry data shows while there are plenty of women...

TPFG and Belvoir merger completes

Belvoir’s shares were temporarily suspended yesterday after the high court approved its high profile merger with The Property Franchise Group. This paved the way for the deal...

Agents Do Charity - breaking the budget for good causes

Much of the focus may have been on the Spring Budget this week but a variety of charities have received support from the property industry. If there are...

OnTheMarket launches new town hall tour dates

OnTheMarket is set to bring back its popular town hall meetings with agents. It will be the first since its acquisition by CoStar. Jason Tebb, president of OnTheMarket, will...

Keller Williams UK faces new restructure

The Keller Williams UK (KWUK) brand is facing yet another restructure with its leadership in the country effectively removed. KWUK spent much of last year rearranging and...

Spring Budget disappoints but OBR revises housing forecasts

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has almost halved its house price forecasts after another relatively quiet fiscal update for the property market. Aside from extra funding...

LSL agency franchisees benefiting from ‘reduced volatility’

LSL has hailed the benefits of switching to a franchise model for its estate agency brand. A trading update from the company ahead of its full-year results,...

eXp announces two-day conference to replace roadshows

Self-employed agency brand eXp UK has launched its first ever two-day conference, set to take place in July 2024. It replaces the previous line up of UK...

Agent dismisses branch manager over offensive anti-Zionist posts 

A branch manager who appeared to celebrate the death of Jewish financier and philanthropist Lord Rothschild and call for other Zionists to die has been removed...

The Property Ombudsman: ‘Multiple redress schemes cause consumer confusion’

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has questioned if allowing agents to choose their own redress scheme damages consumer trust. Speaking to the House of Lords Industry and Regulators...

Spring Budget: Will there be help for housing?

Agents are hopeful of support for the property market in today’s Spring Budget. It could be the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s final fiscal update before a General Election...

Propertymark: 'Agents are willing to pay for industry regulation'

Agents would be happy to pay for regulation but the sector should be wary of costs, a Propertymark executive has told parliament. Speaking to the the House...

Foxtons: 'We have returned as London's top agent'

Foxtons has recorded a 31% annual increase in the value of its under offer pipeline during the first couple of months of 2024 as the market...

Agency CRM provider personalises AI tool

Estate agency software and CRM provider Street.co.uk has unveiled new features on its built-in artificial intelligence (AI) Content Writing Model. Revealed among 20 new features at the...

Complete ASAP launches material information pack for agents

Complete ASAP has launched a new package to help agents provide material information on listings. Agents already using the Complete or Instruct ASAP services will be given...

Martyn Gerrard celebrates Hampstead office opening

London agent Martyn Gerrard has launched a new flagship office in Hampstead, expanding its presence across the capital. It follows the launch of the agency’s Winchmore Hill...

Premium agency network welcomes two new licensees

A premium agency network launched by former Fine & Country boss David Lindley has appointed two new licensees. The network now operates in 16 locations. Simon Cowie, after several...

Home mover mortgage lending hit 50-year low in 2023

The level of mortgage approvals for home-movers hit the lowest level since the 1970s amid the cost of living crisis in 2023, new data shows. UK Finance’s...

Increasing numbers of sellers are searching for ‘cheap agents’ - warning

Seller search interest for high street agents has dropped, while there has been a significant spike in searches for cheap fee agents, research suggests. Agency comparison website...

House of Lords committee set to consider agency regulation

The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee has set out the key questions it could ask agency representatives as its inquiry into industry regulation continues...

On the house! Former pub landlord takes on Winkworth franchise

A former pub landlord has been appointed a new franchisee to take over Winkworth’s Worthing office on the South Coast. Nathan Wright has joined the Winkworth network...

Propertymark updates Property Information Questionnaire

Propertymark updates Property Information QuestionnairePropertymark has updated its Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) in light of the latest part B and C guidance for agents from the...

Ethical agent network officially launches

A network uniting ethical estate agents has officially launched today with 25 members. The Ethical Agent Network (EAN) is led by industry figure Jerry Lyons. The EAN has...

Rightmove can’t “rest on its laurels” to attract agents - warning

Analysts have given their backing to Rightmove’s stock market prospects but there are warnings that it can’t “rest on its laurels” in the face of emerging...

Government intervention needed on property transaction times – claim

Property professionals have called for the Government to allocate its promised £3m towards improving the home buying and selling process to intervention on how long sales...

Winkworth boss warns Chancellor against scrapping non-dom status

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is reported to be considering scrapping non-dom status in the latest rumour ahead of this week’s Budget. It comes as agents are hopeful of...

The Guild names property presenter to host awards

TV presenter and property expert Laura Hamilton is set to host this year’s Guild Awards. The presentation will take place at the Annual Guild Conference and Awards...

Annual house price growth returns to ‘positive territory’ – but for how long?

House prices are growing annually for the first time since January 2023, Nationwide claims. The latest Nationwide House Price Index found average property values were up 1.2%...

Rightmove results: Revenues rise but agency numbers drop

Rightmove has reported a 7% rise in operating profit despite losing agents last year. The portal’s latest annual report released this morning shows profits of £258m off...

Agency groups to discuss industry regulation in House of Lords

Representatives from Propertymark, Trading Standards and The Property Ombudsman (TPO) are set to discuss estate agency regulation in the House of Lords next week. The House of...

OnTheMarket: 'We can still become the number one portal'

OnTheMarket (OTM) has hailed the progress made since its acquisition by CoStar Group and believes it can displace Rightmove. The US-owned real estate portal giant acquired OTM...

Revealed! The areas where new-builds are cheaper than second-hand homes

New-build homes may typically command a premium compared with the second-hand market but new research has revealed areas where this isn’t the case. Property portal Zoopla has...

JONATHAN ROLANDE: Is it time to accept the Government can’t build the houses we need

There are often very grim snapshots of the current property crisis.  But one of the most shocking I’ve read in a long time was a report this...

Mortgage approvals rise again but sales hit a decade low in January

Mortgage approvals increased for the fourth consecutive month in a row during January but that hasn’t fed into official sales yet, data shows. The Bank of England revealed...

PropTech Today - Technology can enhance the performance of the rental market

Renting a flat or house in the UK has never been more difficult. The market is tight, supply is limited and demand overwhelming. Demonstrated via the...

Agents Do Charity - up for a challenge

A variety of charities have received support from the property industry over the past week. If there are charitable endeavours you think the rest of the industry...

Property staging firm secures £250,000 investment to grow agency partnerships

A home staging firm that partners with estate agents to present properties has secured financial backing. Lemon and Lime Interiors has received £250,000 of funding from MEIF...

Zoopla: Property market is improving but buyers remain price-sensitive

Lower mortgage rates gave the housing market a boost in February with supply and sales all moving higher, Zoopla claims. The portal’s latest House Price Index shows...

Labour fails in latest attempt to get ROPA rules introduced

Attempts to get the long-awaited Regulation of Property Agents (ROPA) rules introduced into the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill have failed. The Government has previously said it...

Agency trade body reveals Spring Budget wishlist

Propertymark has added its name to calls for Stamp Duty reform and has also urged lenders to develop more affordable mortgage products to boost the housing...

Viewber marks 500,000th appointment

Outsourced property viewings and inspections provider Viewber is celebrating completing more than half a million appointments. Launched at the end of 2016 by ex agent Ed Mead...

Agents ‘confident’ about housing market despite buyer caution - survey

Around half of agents remain confident about the housing market’s prospects this year, research suggests. A survey of almost 600 estate agents, commissioned by GetAgent.co.uk, found that...

Agent working in Jewish area suspended after ‘hoping’ Zionists die

An estate agency based in the heart of one of the UK’s largest Jewish communities has faced backlash after one of its staff members posted comments on...

A quarter of buyers ‘bribed’ seller to secure a purchase  - claim

A quarter of homebuyers have attempted to bribe sellers with everything from cash to kindness when trying to secure a property, research suggests. A survey of more...

Deadline approaches to complete Voice of the Agent survey

The closing bell is ringing for estate and letting agents across the UK to participate in this year's Voice of the Agent survey.  Agents have until this...

LSL chairman departs after just 11 months

LSL non-executive chairman David Barral has left the estate agency and property brand’s board after just 11 months in the role. Barral had been appointed to replace...

Rightmove calls for regional Stamp Duty thresholds

Rightmove has joined growing calls for Stamp Duty reform ahead of the Spring Budget next week. The property portal has outlined three reforms it would like to...

Property platform offers agents free AML checks

OneDome is offering free digital know-your-customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) checks for estate agents using its various home buying services.  The service, encompassing identity verification, document...

Just one estate agent has signed up to verify overseas property owners

Just one estate agency has signed up to become a UK-regulated agent to verify overseas entities for property ownership. The Register of Overseas Entities (ROE) came into...

Angels Media boss among guests in new industry podcast

Nat Daniels, chief executive of Estate Agent Today publisher Angels Media is among guests to appear on a new industry podcast launched by The Estate Agency...

Mortgaged homeowners ‘worst-hit’ by higher interest rates

Homeowners with mortgages have seen the highest increase in household costs over recent months, official data suggests. The latest Household Costs Index from the Office for National...

Searches soar for Tuscany after popular renovation TV show

Searches on Rightmove for the region of Tuscany and the city of Lucca have soared recently, the portal suggests. It coincides with the airing of season two...

Competition watchdog: ‘Significant intervention’ needed in housebuilding market

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into the UK’s largest housebuilders as it warns of “fundamental concerns” in the housebuilder market, which...

Agency trade body launches project to explore LGBTQ+ inclusion

Propertymark has launched a project to boost LGBTQ+ inclusion in the estate agency sector. The trade body conducted a series of workshops last year with the University...

Luxury agent boosts country offering

United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty is ramping up its offering with a new countryside office situated just outside of Cobham in Downside, Surrey.  It becomes the fifth...

Agent aims to make his mark on Mayfair

Fine & Country agent Luke Hammond is looking to make his mark on Mayfair after 13 years covering central London. Hammond established his career in the capital...

House of Lords launches agency regulation inquiry

Peers in the House of Lords have launched an inquiry into agency regulation. The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee will start a short inquiry this...

Douglas & Gordon administration extended

The administration of collapsed agency brand Douglas & Gordon has been extended by a year. Douglas & Gordon called in Grant Thornton as administrator in April 2023...

Millions of young people ‘unlikely’ to follow parents on property ladder

Almost 2m aspiring homeowners do not think they will be able to follow in the footsteps of their parents by owning a property, research suggests. The figures...

Relocation Agent Network referrals hit record high

Referrals within the Relocation Agent Network (RAN) reached a four-year high for both the months of December and January, the brand has revealed. Richard Durrant, managing director...

Chancellor finalising ‘high-risk’ 1% mortgage scheme - reports

Rumours of the launch of a 1% mortgage deposit scheme have re-emerged with just weeks to go until the Spring Budget  Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is reported to...

Down-valuations on the rise - warning

Down-valuations appear to be on the rise and it is shocking agents and mortgage brokers. Property professionals have seen an uptick in valuations for banks coming in...

Lloyds Bank: House prices set for ‘modest fall’

Lloyds Bank is predicting a “more modest” fall in house prices during 2024. The lender had predicted in September that average prices would fall by 2.4% this...

Jonathan Rolande: How I would rescue the buy-to-let sector

Every year the media writes a lot about house price crashes, and often pose the question whether this is the year for property owners to be...

Zoopla marks record month for vendor leads

Zoopla is rolling out more branded taxis as it recorded a record January for unique vendor leads, the portal claims. The property website said the number of...

Agents Do Charity - time to show your talent

A variety of charities have received support from the property industry over the past week. If there are charitable endeavours you think the rest of the industry...

Zoopla: First-time buyer homes selling at 8% below local average

Properties favoured by first-time buyers are typically selling for an average of 8% or £20,300 below the local market average, Zoopla analysis suggests. Research suggests the average...

Propertymark joins calls for interest rate cut

Propertymark has joined growing calls for the Bank of England to cut interest rates. Interest rates have been held at 5.25% since August 2023 but as the...

Agents losing Facebook leads to competitors - warning

Almost one if five leads generated by Facebook ads go on to instruct an agent, research suggests, but many are missing out. New research gathered by TwentyCi...

Fine & Country partners with international marketplace to boost global presence

Fine & Country has partnered with James Edition, a marketplace for international luxury real estate.  This strategic collaboration will help Fine & Country agents showcase their listings...

Revealed! The areas where downsizers could earn the most (and free-up housing stock)

Downsizers across England and Wales could unlock an average £305,090 by moving from a four bed to a two-bed home, according to the latest analysis from...

Rate cut needed ‘sooner rather than later’ as mortgage pricing rises - warning

Increasing numbers of mortgage lenders are pulling decent deals as swap rates rise. Santander has become the latest high street lender to raise mortgage pricing this week...

PropTech Today - AI and Big Data to be major gamechangers, says survey

Industry leaders in both real estate and PropTech view AI/Automation and Big Data as the two major gamechangers in the next three to five years, with...

Auction market ‘shattered records’ in January

January 2024 has shattered records to become the busiest ever for UK property auctions, data suggests. Auction data provider Essential Information Group said the market has experienced...

North East agent adds new acquisition

Pattinson Estate Agency has announced its second acquisition in as many months. The North East brand has acquired Browns Estate Agents.  The news comes just two months after...

Alto unveils ‘flexible’ training options

Alto has unveiled a range of changes to its training offering to make it more flexible for agents. The agency software provider said agents can now auto-enrol...

Gazundering is becoming ‘more prevalent’ – warning

A quarter of sellers have been gazundered in the past 12 months, research has revealed. Analysis by quick-buy firm Open Property Group, found a third have been...

UK home sale times are ‘embarrassing’ - claim

The UK timeframe for selling a property has been branded as “embarrassing.” New research shows the UK ranks as the slowest country for selling a home. Upfront information...

Greater London homes taking up to 147 days to sell – research

It’s taking an average of 17.61 weeks to sell a property across Greater London, with some parts taking up to 147 days on average. Quick-buy firm Property Solvers’ speed of sale tool,...

Mortgages to older borrowers drop 37.1% amid higher rates - data

Older borrowers were deterred by high mortgage rates last year, bank data suggests. Quarter four figures from UK Finance show a 37.1% drop in mortgages advanced to...

Government’s ‘laughable’ planning reforms overshadow ‘real-time property market’

A senior estate agent has described the Government’s pledge to compel councils to cut red tape in favour of development as laughable. Simon Gerrard, managing direct of...

Fine & Country unveils ‘iconic’ themed annual conference

Fine & Country is gearing up to host its International Annual Conference and Awards Gala titled ‘Dare to be Iconic’.  The event is scheduled for 8 March 2024 at...

Agent turns proptech founder to tackle poor prospecting

An estate agency founder and industry coach has launched a new artificial intelligence-powered prospecting tool. John Paul, who built an 11-branch agency in the northeast from scratch...

Spring Budget provides opportunity to support buyers - survey

More than a third of property professionals view the Spring Budget as an opportunity to boost new build and the first-time buyer markets. A survey by Countrywide...

Hamptons expands into Andorra with new partnership

Hamptons expands into Andorra with new partnership Hamptons has launched a partnership with Roc Propietats Estate Agents in Andorra that will include brand usage, ‘in association with...

Rightmove: Asking prices rise but sellers are waiting 16 days longer to find a buyer

Average asking prices have grown on an annual basis for the first time in six months but properties are taking longer to go under offer, Rightmove...

And the winners are… Kerfuffle names suppliers of the year

Kerfuffle has revealed the winners of its Supplier of the Year awards The awards are based on agent reviews and net promoter scores of products and services...

Proptech firm launches recruitment drive to support agents

Proptech platform iamproperty has launched a recruitment campaign to boost its 575-strong team. There are more than 10 tech roles currently live, from senior test engineers, business analysts to...

JONATHAN ROLANDE: A week is a lifetime in the property market

If a week is a long time in politics, then I’d say it’s a lifetime for anyone working in the property market. That’s why the very welcome...

Zoopla: New estate agency sale stock has hit a four-year high

New Year momentum in the property market has carried into February and new listings are at a four-year high, Zoopla claims. The portal reported last month that...

TwentyEA goes mobile with lead generation

TwentyEA has unveiled a suite of new marketing solutions combining its data tools, giving estate agents greater flexibility over their prospecting options and access to performance...

Agents Do Charity - get your boxing gloves ready!

A variety of charities have received support from the property industry over the past week. If there are charitable endeavours you think the rest of the industry...

Belvoir shareholders back TPFG merger

Belvoir shareholders have backed the agency brand's merger with The Property Franchise Group (TPFG), paving the way for the high-profile deal to complete. TPFG and Belvoir announced...

Prime London prices drop at fastest level for five years - LonRes

The number of properties going under offer and new instructions are on the rise but this has yet to translate into sales and hasn’t stopped prices...

Law Society building safety guide clarifies agent and conveyancer responsibilities

Conveyancers shouldn’t give buyers and sellers assurances about building safety remediations unless they are confident doing so, the Law Society has said. The professional body has released...

The Guild secures new homes referral arrangement for members

The Guild of Property Professionals has launched a referral arrangement for its members with The Land & New Homes Network.  New home companies will be linked with...

Propertymark partners with Belvoir to boost agent standards

Propertymark has launched a new working relationship with the Belvoir Group to help further improve standards and enhance financial protection for consumers. Propertymark works closely with its...

Land Registry reveals 1.4% house price drop in 2023

Average house prices fell 1.4% during 2023, Land Registry data has revealed. The latest Land Registry House Price Index for December 2023 property prices ended the year...

Inflation rate remains steady in ‘silver lining’ for property market

The rate of inflation remained at 4% in the 12 months to January, but housing costs remain high, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data has revealed. The...

Agency training platform launches in Scotland

Industry training platform The Able Agent has launched in Scotland. First to launch is the ABBE Ofqual regulated Level 3 Certificate in Lettings Advice and Practice (Scotland),...

Inspirational speaker named for Propertymark One conference

Author and broadcaster Katie Piper is set to take to the stage at the Propertymark One Conference at the ExCel London on 14 June this year.  The...

Hamptons: Housing market has “firmly turned the page” as activity improves

The housing market is "turning a page" with fewer price reductions and higher achieved prices, Hamptons claims. A January market activity update from the agent said falling...

Brownfield building sites ‘not silver bullet’ to solve housing crisis - warning

Building on brownfield sites may not be the silver bullet it is made out to be, the government has been warned. Housing Secretary Michael Gove excitedly announced...

UK housing stock value dips for first time since 2012

The total value of all homes across the UK has dropped for the first time since 2012. Research by Savills shows the value of the UK’s housing...

Nominations open for Midlands property awards

The search for the very best of the property industry is officially on for The Midlands PROPS Awards 2024. The awards is a midlands-focused version of the...

Estate agency services provider recruits ‘ingenious’ director

Estate agency services provider Agent and Homes has appointed a professional investor and former asset manager as a non-executive director. Guy Bowles founded and ran Ingenious Asset...

Winkworth unveils board appointment

Winkworth has appointment its former general counsel to join the board. Tara Tan has become an executive director of the agency franchise brand. Tan, a qualified solicitor with...

University launches landmark estate agency degree course

A first-of-its-kind degree has launched that focuses on residential estate agency. The Swindon campus of the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) has launched the foundation course. It is now...

Kerfuffle unveils major acquisition and is keen for more

Kerfuffle has finalised the acquisition of agency reviews platform View Agents. With the acquisition of Kerfuffle founder Simon Whale said the brand’s proposition now has a business-to-business...

Homeowners mistaking common garden plants for Japanese knotweed - warning

Concerned homeowners and gardeners are frequently mistaking common garden plants such as bindweed, dogwood and lilac for highly invasive Japanese knotweed, research claims. Analysis of data from...

Eddisons unveils proptech partnership

Eddisons has signed a partnership deal with proptech firm Valos in a collaboration which is designed to streamline the property consultancy’s valuation process and boost the...

Zoopla: Southern England will be worst hit by house price decline

Zoopla is holding onto its predictions of a 2% average house price drop this year and said high- value regions in the South of England will...

Agents back upfront information but feel legislation is needed

Most agents agree that providing upfront information at the very start of the homebuying process would improve the buying and selling experience, but only 30% have...

Housing Secretary suggests homebuyer support is coming

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has given the strongest hint yet that housing measures could be included in the Spring Budget. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is set to deliver...

Yopa accounts shed light on restructure

Yopa’s latest accounts for 2022 have revealed a “material uncertainty” that the business could continue ahead of a restructure in 2023. The online agent has published its...

TPFG shareholders back Belvoir deal

The majority of shareholders of The Property Franchise Group (TPFG) have backed a merger of the brand with Belvoir. TPFG and Belvoir announced last month that their...

Martin & Co franchisee adds fifth office

Martin & Co in South West London’s long-standing franchisee Michael van de Vyver has added a fifth branch to his growing portfolio. It comes just four months...

Winkworth expands country house operation

Winkworth is expanding its country house operation to capitalise on demand from UK and international buyers. The operation will work from Winkworth’s head office in London’s St...

Information Works acquired by iamproperty

Proptech firm iamproperty has acquired data and prospecting firm Information Works for an undisclosed sum. It will help the platform’s partner agents access mailing concepts and highly...

JONATHAN ROLANDE: Fall in new home registrations is creating crisis for the sector

With the exception of lockdown, new home registrations have bumped along consistently for the last 15 years. But things are changing - and we should be...

Propertymark: Interest rate cut needed as mortgage arrears rise

Propertymark has urged the Bank of England to cut interest rates “as soon as practically possible” after the trade body noted a rise in mortgage arrears. Data...

Analyst: Don’t assume the housing market will be healthy throughout 2024

A drop in house prices remains likely for 2024 despite recent rises and improving sentiment. The latest Halifax house price index showed annual price growth has hit...

Fresh property sale stock rises 80% - research

There has been an 80% annual increase in the number of homes entering the market in the past two weeks across Britain as seller confidence continues...

Family business marks 70 years in estate agency

Nottinghamshire estate agency Gascoines is marking 70 years of serving the property market in Southwell and surrounding areas. Founded by Doug Gascoine on 7 February 1954, the...

Knight Frank unveils customer portal to improve buyer and seller journey

Knight Frank has launched a bespoke customer portal after 18 months of development. Coined ‘My Knight Frank,’ the firm says it is a digital customer experience platform, accessible 24/7, which will allow its...

Agents Do Charity - on the (bug) house

A variety of charities have received support from the property industry over the past week. If there are charitable endeavours you think the rest of the industry...

Bob Dylan Was Right About Changing Times!

The times, they are indeed a-changin’. But what Dylan may not have appreciated, however, was how fast that change would be happening. Almost every time I check...

Savills: UK housing costs hit record high of £200bn

UK housing costs hit £200bn for the first time in 2023, according to the latest research by Savills.  The analysis of private and social rents plus owner-occupier...

Agent appraisal requests hit record levels in January - Rightmove

Record numbers of future vendors sent a request for an estate agent to come and provide a market appraisal of their home in January, new figures...

RICS: Property market is turning positive

Homebuyer and seller activity has finally started to turn positive, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) suggests. The latest RICS Residential Market Survey shows...

Barratt seals £2.5bn takeover of Redrow

The UK’s largest housebuilder has agreed a deal to acquire its rival Redrow. The £2.5bn deal, backed by both company boards, would see Barratt take a 67.2%...

Experienced property professionals launch new estate agency

A team of seasoned industry professionals with a combined experience of more than 140 years is set to launch a new estate agency in Ilkley. Spearheaded by...

Halifax: House price growth hits 12-month high but risks remain

Annual house price growth hit a 12-month high last month as values rose for the fourth consecutive month but future drops can’t be ruled out, according...

Independent agent signs listings deal with OnTheMarket

An independent agency brand has become the latest firm to sign a listings agreement with CoStar-backed OnTheMarket. Edward Mellor, one of the UK's largest independent property services...

First Industry-Specific AI Tool Flooded with Requests in Just 3 Days

In this latest article from the team at Iceberg Digital, they discuss Uzair, an industry-specific artificial intelligence (AI). Iceberg Digital, the creators of Lifesycle have released Uzair,...

Agency app launches material information report

HOP (the Home Owner’s Passport) has released its upgraded material information report to support agents with Trading Standards compliance. The list of Material Information minimum requirements was...

Conveyancers launch upfront information provider to cut sale times

A new upfront information provider has launched, promising to shorten the homebuying and conveyancing process. Home Sale Pack has said it will slash timeframes by providing buyers...

Agents urged to help ‘normalise’ self-build for buyers

Potential self-builders are struggling to find suitable plots and many are planning to turn to estate agents for support. A survey by Suffolk Building Society has found...

ESTAS launches Big Postcode Reveal event

The ESTAS Group has scheduled a Big Postcode Reveal event in April to detail winners of its latest award category. The Best in Postcode category was launched...

UK should follow Norway to speed-up property sales - claim

UK property professionals should look to Norway when assessing how to improve the home buying process, a housing minister has claimed. Speaking to the Council for Licensed...

ESPC: Homebuyers picked up bargains at the end of 2023

Buyers in Scotland took advantage of the high levels of competition in the market between November January, research suggests. Analysis by Scottish property portal ESPC has identified...

Reapit trials chatbot as it shows its artificial intelligence

Reapit has unveiled a range of artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives to support agents. The agency software provider has launched an AI-powered property descriptions tool and a support...

Secure share product aims to boost agency referrals and speed up sales

Client compliance platform Thirdfort has launched its updated Secure share product to help estate agents boost referrals through the secure sharing of ID and anti-money laundering...

Real estate dubbed most distressed sector - warning

The European property market is the most distressed sector, new research suggests. The latest Distress Index, from restructuring firm Weil, has warned that high interest rates, falling...

London agent reveals new acquisition

London agent Martyn Gerrard has acquired Palmers Green-based estate and lettings agent Range Homes.   The deal, worth almost £1m, will see the services offered by Range Homes,...

LSL completes TenetLime acquisition

LSL Property Services yesterday announced the completion of its acquisition of TenetLime  The property brand announced in August that it had acquired the mortgage network, and began integrating its...

House prices to drop 3.6% in first quarter of 2024 – research

Average house prices will fall 3.6% in the first quarter of the year, according to forecasts by reallymoving.com. The research is based on analysis of approximately 115,000...

Guild conference to share how agents can charge higher fees

The Guild of Property Professionals has set a date for its Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony on 22 March 2024. It will be held at the QEII...

CRM provider launches showcase event to unveil new features

CRM provider Street.co.uk is inviting agents to a virtual showcase event this month to unveil its latest features. Scheduled for 28 February at 4pm, the event will...

Knight Frank: Property market activity is lagging positive sentiment

Prime market activity hasn’t caught up with more positive sentiment, Knight Frank claims. It comes as figures from the agency brand showed the number of market valuation...

Jonathan Rolande: So how was January for you?

Did you manage to make it through the month without reaching for the bottle to console yourself.  No, I’m not enquiring if you managed to navigate Dry...

Irish estate agency unveils major acquisition

Irish estate agent Sherry FitzGerald Group has acquired Simon Brien Residential (SBR), described as of Northern Ireland’s leading estate agents. SBR will continue to trade under the...

Agents Do Charity - get your coat!

A variety of charities have received support from the property industry over the past week. If there are charitable endeavours you think the rest of the industry...

Interest rate freeze: ‘Buyers and sellers will welcome Bank inaction'

Agents are becoming more confident about a busy Spring market after the Bank of England held interest rates for the fourth consecutive time at 5.25%.  The cost...

LSL ‘on track’ for profit increase in 2024

LSL’s estate agency network has performed ahead of its plans since shifting to a franchised model last year. The LSL estate agency network was shifted to a...

Architecture and interior designer launches pre-offer advice service for prime buyers

A new service has launched to provide buyers of prime and super-prime residential properties with an appraisal of the property’s suitability, pre-offer, for their renovation or...

Propertymark to host Ivory Act forum

Propertymark is encouraging auctioneers to attend its upcoming open forum on the 2018 Ivory Act to make sure they are complying with this important law.   The Ivory Act stops commercial activities regarding...

Labour pledges to boost mortgage choice for first-time buyers

The Labour Party has committed to working on ways to offer longer-term fixed rate mortgages to support first-time buyers. Outlining its plan for financial services, a report...

‘Uneventful’ interest rate update could boost property market – claim

Rightmove has recorded its busiest month since launching its mortgage in principle service in 2022 and predicts an interest rate hold could bring further good news...

Conveyancing fees rose 6% in 2023 - research

Conveyancing fees increased by around 6% last year, analysis suggests. Property Solvers’ annual research of legal practices in England and Wales has revealed that average residential conveyancing...

Agents urged to help tackle digital divide for home movers

A digital divide has emerged when it comes to moving home.  Research by anti-money laundering (AML) platform Thirdfort has found that 46%) of those working in professional...

Revealed! The cities with the 'busiest' estate agents

Estate agents in Liverpool and Portsmouth have had the busiest start to the year, new analysis suggests. Self-employed agency brand eXp UK calculated the number of residential...

HMRC records December dip in property sales

Property sales fell for the fourth consecutive month in December and ended the year at 1.02m, HMRC data suggests. The latest property transaction data from the taxman...

Nationwide: House prices rose in January but ‘rapid rebound’ is unlikely

Average house prices rose between December and January but a rapid rebound is unlikely, Nationwide has warned. The latest Nationwide House Price Index for January shows average...

High mortgage payments force Government minister to quit - claim

It usually takes a scandal or a reshuffle to remove a Government minister so it came as a bit of a surprise yesterday when Tory MP...

Connells agency acquisition expands Lincolnshire footprint

Connells-owned brand Sharman Quinney has acquired Quentin Marks Estate Agents in Lincolnshire. Under the deal, Quentin Marks will retain its brand in Bourne and director Quentin Rigby...

Mortgage approvals hit six-month high – has the market come alive?

The number of mortgage approvals hit a six-month high in December as falling mortgage pricing and renewed buyer confidence “breathed new life” into the property market. Bank...

Agency brothers launch social network for property professionals

Two brothers who previously worked as estate agents have launched a new networking platform for property professionals in the UK. Chris Tremlett, who worked for Pointons Estate...

Fine & Country expands in Wales

Fine & Country has boosted its Welsh presence with a new North Wales license. The territory has been founded by former partners at McCartneys Estate Agents, Tom...

Downsizer enquiries back to pre-pandemic levels but dropped last year – research

Downsizers could free up an estimated £209,215 worth of equity, according to research from national estate agency Jackson-Stops. Its annual research on the ‘downsizer gap’ – the money left...

Savills boosts country house team

Savills has kicked off 2024 with two key external hires and an internal move into its country house team. James Toogood has joined from Knight Frank to lead...

Zoopla: ‘The best first-time buyer policy is to build more homes’

Building more homes is a better solution than mortgage schemes to support first-time buyers, a Zoopla executive has claimed. Richard Donnell, executive director at the portal, has...

Halifax: First-time buyers are teaming up as sales fall

The number of first-time buyers fell by a fifth last year but this cohort still made up the largest proportion of purchasers amid the slowing housing...

Wealthy buyers hit by tougher lending criteria

Mortgage rates may be falling but tougher lending criteria is stifling many borrowers, including high earners. Research by Investec has found the vast majority of high net...

Housebuilders back Labour to get Britain building

Housebuilders have indicated that they would prefer a Labour government is formed after the next General Election. The latest Land Index and Housebuilder Survey from Knight Frank...

Tyron Ash launches ‘Million Agent’ webinar series

High-end estate agent Tryon Ash is looking to share the secrets of his success with other agents and property professionals. The agent, who featured in Channel 4’s...

Zoopla: Home sales rising but buyers’ market prevails

Property supply and demand have rebounded since the start of the year amid falling mortgage rates but sellers are still making large price reductions to attract...

Agents mark record year for auction sales

Estate agents sold a record-breaking number of properties via online auction in 2023, research suggests. The latest Online Auction Index from iamproperty shows partner agents outperformed during...

Propertymark: 'Asking prices are still too high'

Further adjustments in house prices are needed to match valuations with market expectations, Propertymark has warned. It comes as the agency trade body’s housing report for December...

Hamptons boost prime central London offering

Hamptons has made three strategic appointments aimed at fortifying its prime central London offering.  Craig Tonkin, Mark Cullen, and Mark Breffit have joined the team in key...

Foxtons aims for £3m savings from branch closures as total revenue rises

Foxtons is set to close and consolidate some Ludlow Thompson branches as part of plans to save £3m this year. A trading update from the agent yesterday...

Jonathan Rolande: Four General Election housing ideas that would get my vote

Whether a General Election is held in May, November or in January one thing is guaranteed -  we can expect to hear endless announcements of proposed...

Analyst raises house price expectations but warns correction isn’t over

The UK and Europe’s “house price correction” isn’t over yet but the market will perform better than expected, a ratings agency claims. S&P Global Ratings has revised...

Agents Do Charity - cleaning up

A variety of charities have received support from the property industry over the past week. If there are charitable endeavours you think the rest of the industry...

Agency recruitment veteran joins property data firm

Estate agency recruitment expert and mentor Ian Dobrin has joined property data firm Addland. He will initially focus on further building the platform’s growth in the residential...

Bargain Hunt expert joins agency

Nick Hall, one of the antiques experts appearing on the BBC's Bargain Hunt, has joined south coast agency, Henry Adams. He has taken on the role of director...

Auction brand approved as Propertymark supplier

Pattinson Auction has been approved as an industry supplier for Propertymark. As an industry supplier, the auction brand will provide resources, support and insights to Propertymark members,...

AI-powered property portal launches in Bath

A new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered property portal has launched its app with an initial focus on Bath. The brand, called Jitty, aims to use artificial intelligence to...

Industry veteran calls for code of practice for sole agency agreements

Former agency founder and property marketing veteran John Durrant has challenged Propertymark and RICS to take a leadership on the contentious issue of sole agency agreements. Durrant...

Rightmove reveals best time to list a home for quick sale

Most agents may argue that every month is the best time to list but Rightmove has identified February as the optimum point when homes have the...

Mortgage lenders ‘treading fine line’ on competitive homebuyer deals

Mortgage lenders are “treading a fine line” between offering attractive rates for homebuyers and getting caught out by rising swap rates, Rightmove warns. It comes after Santander...

Fall-throughs cost agents £63m in remarketing - research

Fall-throughs are costing estate agents an estimated £63m purely based on the cost of having to remarket a property and host another round of viewings, research...

Estate agency businesses on the rise despite branch closures - research

Branches may be closing but the number of estate agency businesses has increased by 2% across the UK over the past year alone and by 20%...

PropTech Today - The loneliness of the long-distance entrepreneur

"Property is in the blood," my dad frequently reminds me, albeit for two generations—his and mine. During the property boom of the 80s, he worked for...

Leaders Romans Group unveils high-profile acquisitions

Leaders Romans Group (LRG) has acquired Stirling Ackroyd, Alexander & Co and Peter Ball in the latest high profile industry acquisition. All branches will remain under their...

Fine & Country expands Luxury Homes Tour Series with new host

London based presenter and property expert Elizabeth Warburton has partnered with Fine & Country as one of the hosts of the brand’s Luxury Homes Tour Series...

TwentyCi: 'Negative effects of rates were overestimated in 2023'

The negative effects of higher mortgage rates on affordability were overestimated throughout 2023, TwentyCi claims. The property data firm highlights that house prices dropped 1-2% last year...

French fancies! Luxury agent opens new offices in south of France

Beauchamp Estates has opened two new offices in the south of France. The prime luxury agent is now located in the luxury resorts of Mougins and St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat,...

Sprift unveils material information solution for agents

Sprift has unveiled its solution to help agents cope with material information requirements and collate the property-specific details required prior to marketing a property. Users of the...

Propertymark backs end of HS2 land safeguarding

Propertymark has welcomed a move by the Government to lift restrictions on development along the abandoned HS2 route. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak scrapped the Birmingham to Manchester...

More than 60,000 property firms at risk of insolvency - warning

More than 60,000 property and real estate businesses have started the year in ‘financial distress,’ a professional services and insolvency firm warns. Begbies Traynor Red Flat Alert...

Buyers reject period properties to reduce housing costs - research

Homebuyers are snubbing period properties, new analysis suggests. Research by Shawbrook suggests UK buyers are now prioritising sustainability and efficiency over style, meaning more and more are...

Number of property millionaires has dropped from pandemic peak – claim

The total number of property millionaires fell last year as the ‘race for space’ reversed, research suggests. Analysis by Savills has revealed an 8.3% annual drop in...

Treasury ‘considering’ 1% deposit mortgages for first-time buyers - report

The Government’s latest attempt to bolster the property appears to be 1% deposit mortgages. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is reported to be considering introducing 99% loan-to-value mortgages as...

Jonathan Rolande: What agents can learn from the Post Office Horizon scandal

Like millions of others, I watched in open-mouthed astonishment as details emerged about the Post Office scandal. I knew a little bit about it. But it was the...

Zoopla: ‘We are locked in a buyers’ market’

The housing sector remains locked in a buyers’ market and prices are unlikely to rise nationally this year, Zoopla claims. While some analysts are revising their housing...

OnTheMarket has ‘puncher’s chance” of overtaking Rightmove

OnTheMarket has a “puncher’s chance” of displacing Rightmove after the challenger portal was taken over by CoStar but needs to persuade the public as well as...

Average home sale profits drop 9% - which region performed the best?

The average household in England and Wales who purchased in the past 20 years and sold last year achieved profits of £102,650, research suggests. The figure is...

OnTheMarket: Seller confidence dipped in December

Buyer confidence remained flat – or consistent depending on your view of the property market in December – while seller sentiment has taken a slight dip,...

Dorset agent expands with local acquisition

Dorset-based Oliver Miles Estate Agents has been acquired by another local brand. Its founder Oliver Miles has retired and sold the business to Matt Gregg, who runs...

Could ROPA rules finally materialise in leasehold reforms?

Estate agency regulations and minimum standards may finally see the light of day after Labour put forward amendments to the Government’s Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill...

LonRes: Prime London market slowed in 2023 but remains up over the long-term

Prime London prices fell 6% annually over 2023 but remain higher over the long term, LonRes claims. Analysis by the data company said 2023 may have been...

Housing analyst: I’m happy to be wrong on house prices

A housing market analyst has admitted he is “happy being wrong” after predicting house prices would fall between 8% and 10% last year. Depending which house price...

Agents Do Charity - grassroot causes

Welcome to this week’s Agents Do Charity, our chance to salute those who do so much to help others. If your agency is doing a little charitable...

Auction market ‘off to strong start’ - claim

More residential properties went under the hammer last year but a smaller proportion sold, industry figures show. Data from the Essential Information Group (EIG) shows a 3.3%...

Foxtons records new year ‘sales and viewings uplift’

Foxtons has recorded a jump in sales applicants and booked viewings. The London agent claims that over the 30 days to 4 January, it saw a 46%...

Savills recruits senior London agent for new region

Savills has recruited Cory Askew to head up its newly established South West London Parks region. Askew joins from Chestertons having worked throughout London and rising to become...

Savills: £5m-plus market slowed in 2023

Momentum within London’s £5m-plus residential market slowed in 2023, according to Savills, but sales remain well above the pre-pandemic average. Research across the whole property market by...

Rightmove schedules AML webinar

Rightmove and FCS Compliance have launched the latest in their series of anti-money laundering (AML) webinars. The events are free for Rightmove members and take place in...

RICS: Lower mortgage rates are reducing housing market negativity

Negative outlooks appear to be reducing amid property professionals as falling mortgage rates filter through to the housing market, according to the latest RICS (RICS) Residential...

Inflation rate rises but will it hit the property market?

Inflation rose unexpectedly in the 12 months to December 2023, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data has revealed. The latest ONS figures showed alcohol and tobacco prices...

Two high street agencies among first to join eXp brokerage model

Two estate agency businesses have already signed up to self-employed agency brand eXp’s new brokerage model just weeks after launch. Mackays, a single office agency in Sawbridgeworth,...

Land Registry: House prices dropping at fastest rate since 2011

House prices fell at their fastest rate since 2011 during November 2023, the Land Registry has revealed. The latest Land Registry House Price Index shows average prices...

Leasehold reform bill returns to Parliament – will it be improved?

Parliamentary news may have been dominated by the fallout from the Rwanda Bill yesterday but another important piece of legislation also returned to the commons –...

Training platform unveils property structure course

The Able Agent has launched the first ever general course about the structure of property – aimed at all types of property professionals. It aims to help...

Navigating economic shifts in estate agency

In this latest article from the team at Iceberg Digital, they discuss a beacon of hope for agencies looking to thrive amidst a challenging economic environment.  In...

Flying start! Hybrid agency attracts 16 franchisees to travel brand

The Good Estate Agent has attracted 16 franchisees to its new travel brand, with almost half even combining it with their existing property business. Rob Bryer, founder of...

Belvoir and TPFG set to outline merger benefits

Shareholders of Belvoir and The Property Franchise Group (TPFG) have been invited to a presentation this week where they can ask questions about the proposed merger...

Best Estate Agent Guide campaign reaches 5m homeowners

More than 5.4m UK consumers were reached by the Best Estate Agent Guide’s Boxing Day social media campaign, it has been claimed. The social media campaign during...

Manchester luxury agent names first managing director

Manchester-based premium agency Settio Property Experience has unveiled expansion plans including appointing its first managing director as well as launching an Asia desk to attract Chinese...

Falconer to return as Properytmark One host

Broadcast personality and presenter Jenni Falconer has been confirmed to return as the host of this year’s Propertymark One conference. She hosted last year’s debut event and...

The ValPal Network: Record property leads generated despite slower 2023

A record 1.6m leads were generated through The ValPal Network (TVPN) last year, the proptech firm has revealed. The housing market may have been slower in 2023,...

OnTheMarket seals high-profile agency listing agreement

OnTheMarket has signed a multiyear listing agreement with Leaders Romans Group (LRG). The CoStar-backed portal has been selected as one of just two platforms that LRG will be...

Thousands of agency branches shut amid self-employed shift

A shift towards self-employed estate agency models has contributed to a decline in estate agency branches, research suggests. Analysis by property data firm TwentyCi has revealed that...

Labour proposes longer-term fixed rate mortgages

The Labour Party has proposed introducing 25-year fixed term mortgages should it win the next General Election. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves suggested longer fixed-rate deals would help...

Dates for your diary: Propertymark client money and material information webinars

Propertymark is hosting two important webinars this week to keep agents informed of important industry regulations. The agency trade body is hosting a client money security webinar...

Agency acquirer boosts Midlands presence

Lomond has strengthened its foothold in the Midlands with its 50th acquisition since launching just three years ago. Through its John Shepherd brand, whose offices span the...

Knight Frank: House prices will rise this year

Knight Frank has revised its house price forecasts and said it now expects average values to rise this year rather than fall. A new forecast from the...

Asking prices rise as sellers start 2024 with 'confident pricing'

Buyers and sellers, along with their agents, appear to have started the new year with renewed confidence as Rightmove data shows average prices rose by the...

Jonathan Rolande: 'Whatever makes you and your business unique – aim to maximise it this year'

After a difficult 2023, the property market has been buoyed by a triple-boost in the early days of 2024.  According to the most recent data released by...

Savills: ‘The market is passing peak uncertainty’

Most markets appear to be either at, or past, the moment of peak uncertainty, Savills claims. A trading update from the agency and property brand said while...

Buckle Up! It's Going To Be A Busy 2024

Happy New Year and welcome to what’s looking like a busy - perhaps even hectic - 2024! I thought it worth running through what we know is...

Zoopla: Buyer demand already ahead of early 2023

Buyer demand and new sales at the start of 2024 are already ahead of equivalent 2023 levels, Zoopla. Figures from the portal have revealed that buyer demand...

Agents Do Charity - positive partnerships

Welcome to this week’s Agents Do Charity, our chance to salute those who do so much to help others. If your agency is doing a little charitable...

Fintech firm joins Open Property Data Association

Fintech firm Phoebus has joined UK trade body the Open Property Data Association (OPDA) as an associate member. The brand provides systems and services for residential and commercial...

Agent hails success of conveyancing referral partnership

A joint venture between Sheldon Bosley Knight (SBK) and conveyancing firm Jephson Legal (JL) that aimed to rationalise the residential sales process is marking its first...

Property chains 'harder to fix' as 35% of sales collapsed last year - research

More than a third of property sales fell through last year, with buyers to blame in most cases. A survey by QuickMoveNow found 35% of property sales...

Buying agent recruits former Strutt & Parker director

Specialist buying agency Recoco Property Search has appointed former director of Strutt & Parker’s country house department Andrew Cronan to strengthen its team around Bath and...

Winkworth: ‘Why we are more optimistic about 2024'

Winkworth's network completed sales for the year fell by some 19% in 2023, the agency franchise brand has revealed but it remains more optimistic for 2024. A...

Belvoir boss set to lose job in TPFG merger

The chief executive and chief financial officer of Belvoir will lose their jobs if the brand’s merger with The Property Franchise Group (TPFG) goes ahead. TPFG and...

Self-employed agency brand reaches 500 agents

Self-employed agency brand eXp UK is celebrating surpassing the 500 agent milestone. The latest announcement comes less than a year after the firm reached 400 member agents...

Boomin liquidation: ‘Insufficient funds to repay creditors’

The liquidator of collapsed portal Boomin is investigating a sale of the portal's intellectual property to My Bespoke Room as its latest update revealed there would...

TPFG and Belvoir agree merger deal

Two major agency brands have agreed to merge in the latest high-profile industry deal. An update from The Property Franchise Group (TPFG) this morning said it has...

In the doghouse! Agent listing features furry friend

As property listings go, this one may be more barking than beautiful. Zoopla has revealed an interesting listing that has appeared on its portal, with at least...

Mortgage price war continues as Santander reveals market leading rates

Mortgage rates have continued to fall this morning, with Santander releasing a new market leading deal below 4%. The lender has unveiled a five-year fixed rate at...

Majority of first-time buyers received help to climb property ladder - research

Only a tenth of first-time buyers have managed to get on the property ladder without additional support, a survey has revealed. Comparison website Uswitch mortgages conducted a...

Hamptons: Record number of homes sold at a discount in 2023

A record 50% of homes sold in England & Wales last year were purchased following a price reduction, Hamptons analysis has revealed. The figure rose from 32% in...

Material information rules have ‘passed agents by’ - claim

Some agents still appear unaware about their material information responsibilities, conveyancers claim. The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) published its long-awaited Parts B...

Luxury agent hires former Knight Frank and Savills executives

United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty has appointed two new consultant senior directors of sales.  Katya Zenkovich brings with her two decades of experience in luxury real estate,...

Doorsteps assets sold for just £3,000

The intellectual property of collapsed online agency brand Doorsteps has sold for just £3,666. Begbies Traynor, the liquidator for Doorsteps, sought offers for the failed company’s intellectual...

General election and legislation driving agency sales - claim

Extra tax and rising costs drove agency acquisitions last year and more are expected in 2024. Agency broker Atomic Consultancy has said it has more than 7,000...

Building society backs Stamp Duty cut for downsizers

Housing policy should focus on making better use of existing stock as well building more homes, a new report claims. A report by the London School of...

Developer searches for longest-standing homeowner

Redrow has today launched a nationwide quest to find the longest standing owner of one of its homes. As it celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024, the...

Savills names new boss for Norwich office

Savills has promoted its residential sales director Natalie Howlett-Clarke to head of its Norwich office. Effective from the start of this year, Natalie takes over the reins...

London agent unveils expansion plans

London agent Maskells has expanded further into the capital. Having opened its second office in Kensington and Notting Hill in 2021 to complement its Walton Street headquarters,...

Mortgage pricing hits six-month low – will this boost buyer interest?

Average mortgage rates have hit a six-month low, giving new hope to buyers looking to climb on or up the property ladder. New figures from Moneyfacts show...

Agent negotiation skills will become more essential this year - claim

Negotiating is set to come back into fashion this year as the buyers’ market grows, an industry trainer has claimed. Charlotte Jeffrey-Campbell, founder and director of The...

NAVA Propertymark calls for hospitality VAT cut

NAVA Propertymark members are predicting another challenging year for the hospital sector. Chris Platts, NAVA advisory panel member, said 2023 was a year of intense challenges for...

Yopa restructures as Grenville Turner departs

Yopa has detailed a restructure of its business after chairman Grenville Turner mysteriously stepped down as a director. Companies House documents last week showed that Turner, former...

NatWest boss: 'It isn’t difficult to get on the property ladder'

NatWest chairman Sir Howard Davies sparked fury on social media last week after claiming it isn’t difficult to get on the property ladder. Asked on BBC Radio...

Savills expands ski offering

Savills has strengthened its European residential network with the acquisition of Verbier Hospitality SA, which trades as Verbier Location. Founded by Jürgen Taudien in 1991, Verbier Location...

Halifax records shock rise in house prices for 2023 - were values really up?

House prices ended 2023 up 1.7%, Halifax has claimed. The lender’s latest House Price Index for December 2023 suggests the price of a typical home ended the...

Jonatha Rolande: A New Year and early signs of optimism

There will be many of us working in the property sector who will have raised a glass and toasted seeing the back of 2023.  The hangover from...

Agents urged to prepare for ‘first-time buyer boom’

Forget the Boxing Day boost, next Monday could be the start of the “first-time buyer boom.” Mortgage technology company Twenty7tec has identified 8 January as the day...

Mortgage approvals hit four-month high – will activity keep rising?

The level of mortgage approvals hit a four-month high in November, Bank of England data reveals. There were 50,067 mortgage approvals in November, the latest figures show,...

Agents Do Charity - strong appeals

Welcome to this week’s Agents Do Charity, our chance to salute those who do so much to help others. If your agency is doing a little charitable...

Agency acquirer doubles South Coast presence

Lomond has more than doubled its footprint spanning the South Coast after sealing a new deal for Hampshire agent Beal’s. The brand employs 80 people and operates...

Regional agent hits 100-year milestone

Webbers Estate Agents is marking its 100th anniversary this year. The South West-based agent, an exclusive Guild of Property Professionals member in the area, is marking the...

Mortgage borrowers given ‘belated Christmas present” as pricing drops

Home movers have been given a “belated Christmas present” as mortgage rates continue to drop, it has been claimed. It comes as HSBC today became the first...

KWUK expands Dataloft partnership

Keller Williams has expanded its content and insights partnership with Dataloft after a successful trial period. The brand said 20 agents have been trialling the use of...

Agents urged to take GDPR more seriously

Estate and letting agents are being urged to take data protection rules more seriously. It comes as the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) issued fresh advice concerning compliance...

Rightmove reveals record Boxing Day bounce - will it move the market?

Record number of sellers came to market on Boxing Day, according to Rightmove. The portal said it recorded a 26% increase in new sellers, beating the previous...

Fall-throughs continued to rise in 2023 - claim

Fall-throughs are estimated to have cost UK buyers and sellers £270m during the third of last year, research suggests. It marks the second consecutive quarterly increase in...

eXp UK launches brokerage model for ‘traditional agents’

Self-employed agency brand eXp has launched a brokerage model for the UK market. Such a system is already common in the US where so-called ‘bricks & mortar’...

Four countries drove ultra-prime 2023 sales

London’s ultra-prime housing market for multi-millionaire and billionaire buyers rose by 10% in unit sales and 25% by value of property sold during 2023, new data...

CTS restores systems following cyber incident

Legal infrastructure provider CTS has managed to restore its services after a cyber-attack halted its conveyancing tools and delayed transactions at the end of last year. CTS...

Bond Wolfe celebrates strong year for auctions

Property brand and auctioneer Bond Wolfe has recorded total sales revenues of more than £178 million for 2023. The auctions division raised an impressive £150,642,410 in sales...

Property demand dropped in 2023 but is it set to rebound?

Buyer demand across England crept up during the final months of 2023 but remains down annually, research has revealed. Analysis has revealed that demand rose 0.3% in...

Women in property list aims to improve female panel presence

Female representation at estate agency conferences and awards was a big theme of 2023 and now there is a chance to address the imbalance. Angharad Trueman, a...

Overseas property ownership register hits 30,000 milestone

The Register of Overseas Entities has hit the 30,000 registration milestone. The register, which is administered by Companies House, came into force in the UK on 1...

Nationwide: Average prices fell in 2023 and rebound unlikely in 2024

Average house prices ended 2023 down 1.8%, according to Nationwide. The lender’s December House Price Index, based on its own mortgage lending activity, showed typical values were...

Budget date set but will it including housing support?

Agency trade body Propertymark has expressed hope that housing will be a key part of the Spring Budget after the Treasury confirmed the date of its...

2024 Voice of the Agent Survey launched

Agents are being invited to respond to a new survey on the state of the industry.  Former Fine & Country boss Simon Leadbetter has launched the 2024...

Gascoigne Halman founder marks 50-year milestone

Gascoigne Halman founder John Halman is marking 50 years in estate agency. Halman entered estate agency in 1973 and, demonstrating a natural flair for property sales, swiftly...

Thomas Morris boss quits agency brand

Simon Bradbury has quit his role as managing director of Thomas Morris. An announcement from the brand has revealed that Bradbury, who joined the agency in 1992,...

PropTech Today - Will Artificial Intelligence take my job?

As the landscape of the property industry changes, as it has done in line with all new technologies over the decades, there are continued concerns raised...

Revealed! The areas where house prices grew in 2023

House prices may have slumped for most of the year but some areas have bucked the trend. Analysis by Halifax shows that Huddersfield weathered the UK’s house...

Zoopla: Sales recovering but houses still too expensive

The final weeks of 2023 have recorded above average levels of new sales with a 17% increase compared to the same time last year, according to...

Two thirds of buyers deterred if property lacks kerb appeal - survey

Kerb appeal is often cited as an important factor if agents and sellers want to impress buyers and now research suggests 60% of property viewers make...

Merry Christmas to all our readers!

T'was three nights before Christmas, when all through the site, We’ve delivered thousands of stories to bring you delight. We’ve had Strike turn purple and OnTheMarket blue and...

Revealed! The regions where homeowners are at most risk of property fraud

Homeowners in the East Midlands, North East, North West and Scotland may be at higher risk of property fraud, research suggests. Anti-money laundering (AML) platform Thirdfort has...

Agents Do Charity - hitting the right note

Welcome to this week’s Agents Do Charity, our chance to salute those who do so much to help others. If your agency is doing a little charitable...

Jonathan Rolande: Five questions everyone is asking about the 2024 property market

What will happen to house prices? Should I rent or buy? Will a Labour or Tory Government be better for homeowners. And have we finally seen...

Agents anticipate house price drops and slower sales in 2024 - survey

A third of Jackson-Stops agents are expecting a “modest decrease” in house prices next year with some offices expecting drops of as much as 5%. The agency...

More training needed for agents as sales market slows - claim

The property market is heading for around 23% fewer sales this year and some agents may need better training to deal with the different market, agency...

Social media campaign aims to promote benefits of using best agents

The Best Estate Agent Guide is hoping to take advantage of the Boxing Day bounce by launching a marketing campaign promoting the benefits of using a...

Agent celebrates eight-day contract exchange

Redbrik Estate Agents is celebrating exchanging on a transaction in just eight days. The milestone was achieved using its SecureMove service, which gets buyers to pay a...

Will lower inflation boost the property market in 2024?

Inflation fell to its lowest level in two years during November, raising hopes that interest rate cuts and lower mortgage pricing could arrive sooner than expected...

House prices fall again but agents remain resilient

Average house prices fell annually for the second consecutive month during October, Land Registry figures show. The data may only reflect activity from earlier in the year...

Record numbers of first-time buyers leave London to get on property ladder

The number of Londoners leaving the capital to move elsewhere in Great Britain has fallen back this year but first-time buyers are increasingly looking beyond the...

Scottish Budget was a ‘missed opportunity’ for property market - claim

The Scottish Government’s Budget has been described as a “missed opportunity.” The update yesterday from Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison, outlined a £550m investment in the supply...

Property brands lagging on web presence - claim

The property and construction sector is falling behind most other industries in website performance, analysis suggests. CMS provider Zengenti analysed the performance of all FTSE 100 and...

Government publishes new housing policy but will it get Britain building?

The Government has published long-awaited reforms to its National Planning Policy Framework, confirming that local housebuilding targets will be advisory rather than compulsory. Housing Secretary Michael Gove...

Moneypenny partners with CRM provider to boost agency leads

Moneypenny has partnered with CRM provider Street.co.uk to help simplify lead management for estate agents. The integration means calls answered by the outsourced communications service can be...

Festive feelings! Independent agent unveils sleigh-themed window display

A Newbury estate agent is looking to sleigh the competition with its festive-themed branch window display this Christmas. Hillier & Wilson has decorated its branch on Bartholomew...

Housebuilding could hit decade low in 2024 - warning

The supply of new homes could reach the lowest level since 2014, builders have warned. It comes as the Government is due to publish its much-anticipated National...

Half of sellers would recommend using their estate agent - research

Around half of sellers would highly recommend their estate agent, new research suggests. Coaching platform the Property Academy’s latest Home Moving trends Survey shows 49% of sellers...

Agents warned to prepare for ‘zombie threat’ of Purplebricks

Agents have been warned to be wary about the resurgence of Purplebricks. It comes after the online brand was taken over by its rival Strike earlier this...

PropTech Today - Cyber security - who holds the keys?

The recent cyber attack on CTS left around 80 conveyancing firms across the country commercially paralysed as the harm to their shared IT provider brought property...

Upstix hires head of growth to boost expansion

Quick buy firm Upstix has appointed a head of growth to take charge of boosting acquisitions, enhancing the firm's visibility and refining its services for homeowners...

What market crash? Super-prime sales hit record high

Home sales and house prices may have struggled in 2023 but more affluent buyers and sellers may not have noticed. Analysis by Beauchamp Estates shows Mayfair super-prime...

PCL market rises after ‘unseasonably busy’ November

The prime central London market is set for a rebound, analysis claims. Research by Strutt & Parker reveals the PCL market was “unseasonably busy,” with its prime...

Revealed! The best month for completions and what buyers wanted in 2023

March was the most popular month for completions this year as sales took longer and buyers focused on affordability, analysis has revealed. Zoopla’s annual review for 2023...

Agents urged to be more choosy about 2024 listings

Agents should be more picky about their listings during 2024 and focus on sellers that will help speed up sales by providing upfront information, an industry...

Government hits back at media claims about housebuilding targets

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLHUC) has hit back at media claims about its housebuilding targets. The Times newspaper published an article last week...

PropertyBox unveils AI marketing assistant for agents

Agency media brand PropertyBox has launched an all-in-one artificial intelligence (AI) property marketing assistant for estate agents. The proptech company is now offering AI property descriptions and...

Agency training platform launches new consumer regulation course

The Able Agent has launched a Consumer Protection Regulations (CPR) guidance short course to support agents amid new Trading Standards material information rules. The course covers all...

ESPC hails 100% pass rate for first SPC Property Practice graduates

Scottish property portal ESPC has announced the inaugural graduation of its first qualification, with a 100% pass rate. EPSC revealed that 55 students have passed its SPC...

‘Affordability pressures’ set to push house prices down again in 2024 - reports

House prices are set to fall further next year, two major lenders claim. The house prices indices of Halifax and Nationwide have recorded annual price drops for...

Estate agents remain among least trusted professions

Estate agents remain among the least trusted professions, the latest Ipsos Veracity Index has revealed – but there is a silver lining. The annual index, which reveals...

Good for movers? Bank of England holds interest rates again

The Bank of England maintained interest rates at 5.25% yesterday, raising hope among agents that this would boost buyer confidence and help the housing market. The cost...

OTM: Buyer and seller confidence is ‘surprisingly good’

Almost three quarters of buyers are still confident about purchasing a property in the new year, while sellers are a bit more cautious, research suggests. OnTheMarket’s (OTM)...

Zoopla to launch ‘buyers’ market’ ad campaign on Christmas Day

Forget the King’s Speech, Zoopla is hoping for a Christmas Day boost with the launch of its new marketing campaign. The portal will go live with a...

Agents hope for property tax review in Scottish Budget

Agents are hoping for further support for the housing market north of the border as the Scottish Government prepares to set its 2024/2025 Budget. A draft Budget...

Jonathan Rolande: What we learned about the property market in 2023

There is rarely a quiet year in the property market. And 2023 has felt like the usual rollercoaster at times. On the plus side we’ve not...

Agents Do Charity - warm fundraising feelings

Welcome to this week’s Agents Do Charity, our chance to salute those who do so much to help others. If your agency is doing a little charitable...

Agency trade body backs latest brownfield housebuilding fund

Propertymark has backed the launch of the Government’s £80m brownfield regeneration scheme. Councils across England can now bid for a share of the final round of the...

More ‘commisery?’ Purplebricks appoints media agency to boost brand

A media agency that has worked with brands such as Toyota and TalkTalk has been appointed to revive Purplebricks' fortunes. Purplebricks has appointed mSix&Partners as its media...

TPO expels two property firms

Two London firms have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) for failing to pay compensation to consumers. This brings the total number expelled this year to...

Self-employed models ‘driving growth’ of agency brands

Self-employed agency models are helping drive growth in the estate agency sector, while larger firms struggle to maintain positive momentum, research suggests. Agency brand eXp UK has...

Rightmove urges agents to prepare for Boxing Day bounce

Rightmove is forecasting a Boxing Day bounce this festive period. Analysis by the portal suggests that the number of new properties coming to market on Boxing Day...

RICS: Property professionals are becoming ‘cautiously’ positive

Agents and surveyors are at their most positive about the housing market for the first time since January 2022. The November 2023 RICS UK Residential Survey results...

Elevating Estate Agency: Iceberg Digital's Dual Focus on AI Tools and Human Business Development

In this latest article from the team at Iceberg Digital, they discuss their series of ground-breaking innovations announced at their annual Iceberg Summit. Iceberg Digital, a...

Mortgage commitments drop as homebuyers hold back - research

The value of gross mortgage advances increased during the third quarter but future lending commitments have dropped, Bank of England data shows. Figures from the Bank of...

Estate agency unveils green pledges

Agency brand Lodestone Property has made a series of green pledges in the run up to Christmas. The Bruton and Wells-based agency has launched Lodestone Green, higlighting...

OnTheMarket can still meet original aims of founders - claim

OnTheMarket (OTM) can still pursue its original aims of challenging the duopoly in the property portal market, its chief executive Jason Tebb has claimed. Tebb suggested the...

Agents highlight main gripes after ‘difficult’ 2023 - research

More than half of agents have cited 2023 as a difficult financial year, research has revealed. Analysis by data firm Landmark Estate Agency Services, asked property professionals...

Leasehold reform legislation still has ‘missing parts’ - warning

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill is falling short of its own objectives, an industry executive has claimed. Linz Darlington, founder of leasehold extension specialists Homehold, warned...

Hampshire agent unveils new independent brand

A former director of Southampton-based property brand White & Guard has launched his own estate agency in Hampshire. Rob Rowe has unveiled Rowe & Co Homes, with its...

Purplebricks replaces Strike brand

Purplebricks has shifted to a free pricing model and will replace the Strike brand. It follows Strike’s acquisition of Purplebricks earlier this year. As predicted by many, the...

Leasehold reform bill passes second reading

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill passed its second reading in Parliament last night. Housing minister Lee Rowley pledged that the legislation would offer comprehensive reform and...

Agents set for busy month of Christmas completions - research

The property market could be in for a strong end to the year based on typical seasonal trends, research suggests, New research has found that the number...

TwentyCi: Property supply dips but is it festive or fiasco?

Exchanges are on the rise but the amount of stock and level of properties going through conveyancing has dipped, new figures show. Analysis from data company TwentyCi...

Boost for buyers as average mortgage rates drop below 6%

Average mortgage rates have fallen for the fourth consecutive month and borrowers can now get a two-year fix below 6%. The latest data from comparison website Moneyfacts...

Agents urged to tackle gender jaws

The estate agency industry is being urged to do more to tackle the issue of gender jaws, it has been warned. The gender jaws term, coined by...

Primelocation founder launches AI home search tool for agents

Property industry veteran Mal McCallion has helped launch a new artificial intelligence (AI) property search tool that agents can embed in their own website. His latest business,...

Experts in Property names new chairman

South West estate agency network the Experts in Property has announced a change of chairmanship and appointed new directors to its board. Cornwall-based Steve Moir has stepped...

OTM founder: Agents have lost chance to control their own industry

The chance for estate agents to control their own industry has been lost for good, OnTheMarket founder Trevor Abrahmsohn has claimed. Writing in The Times last weekend...

Mortgage lending to remain weak in 2024

Mortgage lenders are expecting a quieter year for home loans in 2024. Forecasts from banking trade body UK Finance suggest lending for house purchase will fall by...

Hamptons: Lower rates will bring some buyers back to the market in 2024

Lower interest rates and real wage growth will halt price falls next year but sales will remain lower, Hamptons has predicted  Forecasts from the agent suggest that...

Buying agent boosted by increased cash sales

Prime buying agency Black Brick has seen cash buyers double this year. Data from the buying agent shows 66% of clients have bought with cash this year,...

Off-market platform set for 1,000 listings milestone

Off-market property platform Invisible Homes is confident of hitting its target of 1,000 listings by the end of this year. Originally launched in 2018 by former prime...

Vendors must be ‘more realistic’ about auction sales - warning

Increasing numbers of auction sales are at risk of failing in 2024 if vendors don’t adjust their expectations, an auctioneer claims. Stuart Collar Brown, director of online...

Property brand launches hiring spree for 2024

Fisher German is aiming to grow its Midlands agency team following continued success in residential sales during the year. The agency and property brand, headquartered in Ashby...

Consumers willing to pay for faster property transactions - research

Consumer willingness to pay to speed up transaction timeframes is on the rise, research suggests. A survey by iamproperty has found 88% of consumers would pay for...

Rightmove: Asking prices fall more than usual for December

Average asking prices in December have fallen more than usual for the seasonal slowdown, Rightmove claims. The portal’s latest House Price Index shows average new seller asking...

Winkworth backs young racing driver on fast track to Formula 1

Winkworth is revving up its backing for young racing driver Zak O’Sullivan. At 18-years old he is already on the fast track to racing stardom. He was handpicked...

Transaction niggles and EPCs set to dominate 2024 market - predictions

Energy efficiency and “transaction niggles” are predicted to be key themes of 2024 for agents, buyers and sellers. Buying agent Stacks Property Search has made some bold...

High court approves CoStar takeover of OnTheMarket

CoStar’s takeover of OnTheMarket was sanctioned by the high court yesterday, paving way for the portal’s shares to be delisted by the end of next week. US-owned...

Phil Spencer: Good deeds are for all year, not just Christmas!

One of the most heart-warming parts of my job is having the privilege to be the patron of Agents Giving, the industry’s charity. Therefore, I see at...

Agents should still prepare for festive leads - claim

It’s a myth that the property market slows over the festive period, The ValPal Network (TVPN) claims. Data from the lead generation technology provider shows lead levels...

Michael Day: A business plan will be crucial to navigate 2024

Business plans will be key for agents looking to successfully navigate 2024, an industry consultant and trainer has said. Michael Day, a former partner at Connells and...

Jonathan Rolande: Green shoots are on the horizon

After months of doom and gloom about the property market, it finally feels like there are green shoots on the horizon. I’m not just basing that on...

Agents Do Charity - on the cards

Welcome to this week’s Agents Do Charity, our chance to salute those who do so much to help others. If your agency is doing a little charitable...

AML platform adds material information tools

Anti-money laundering platform (AML) Credas Technologies has launched a material information function, helping estate agents to get ahead of the latest rule changes announced by Trading...

Stock shortage or increased demand? House prices rise again

House prices increased for the second consecutive month in November, according to Halifax. The lender’s latest House Price Index recorded monthly growth of 0.5% but said average...

Propertymark One event moves from Wembley to Excel London

Next year’s Properymark One conference will be held at Excel London. It comes after the first landmark event from the agency trade body was held at Wembley...

Bank of England: Interest rate rises haven't fully hit UK yet - warning

Household finances remain stretched and the full impact of higher interest rates and mortgage pricing has yet to fully hit the UK, the Bank of England...

Cluttons partners complete management buyout

The partners of Cluttons have completed a management buyout of the agency and property consultancy brand. James Gray continues as chief executive alongside Nicholas Potter as chief...

New app launches to tackle property fraud

A new product has launched that protects homeowners from the growing threat of property-related frauds. Title Guardian is an app that monitors digital sources such as property...

Asking prices cut on hundreds of listings per day - research

Hundreds of properties are having their asking prices cut each day, new analysis reveals as agents and sellers continue to try to entice buyers amid cooler...

Reapit hires industry veteran to manage home market

Reapit has appointed Steve Richmond as general manager in charge of operations in its home market of the UK and Ireland. He joins from LSL, where he...

Agents feeling ‘more positive’ despite listings drop

Agents are feeling more positive about the next 12 months after reporting higher prices and fewer abortive sales. The Federation of Independent Agents (FIA) said members have...

New Fall Through game highlights benefits of upfront material information

Home-moving platform MoveReady has launched a new game to raise awareness of new material information rules and help agents, buyers and sellers learn about the benefits...

Leasehold activists: Peppercorn ground rents are best reform option

Leasehold campaigners are urging anyone responding to the Government’s consultation on ground rents reform to boycott all options but capping them at a peppercorn rate. The Government...

Ad watchdog upholds ‘misleading marketing’ complaint against GetAgent

GetAgent has been ordered to make its marketing claims clearer following a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The advertising watchdog revealed today that it has...

The Guild unveils learning platform to boost industry standards

The Guild of Property Professionals has launched a new learning platform to help boost agent knowledge and skills.  It includes the Guild's Associate Scheme training course, which...

AllAgents Awards reveal top rated estate agencies

The winners of the AllAgents Customer Experience Awards have been revealed. A ceremony was held at the Crowne Plaza, Glasgow last week to honour the winners of...

Revealed! The happiest place to live in Great Britain

The borough of Richmond upon Thames in London has been crowned the happiest place to live in Great Britain, according to the latest Happy at Home...

OnTheMarket boss: 'Our time is now'

OnTheMarket (OTM) chief executive Jason Tebb has declared “our time is now” after shareholders backed a takeover of the portal by US property giant CoStar. It brings...

OnTheMarket shareholders vote for CoStar takeover

OnTheMarket shareholders have backed a takeover of the portal by US-owned property brand CoStar UK. It will bring an end to the agent-owned portal model. A shareholder vote...

Alto to showcase 2023 product improvements

Agency software provider Alto is set to share an update with agents on what it has delivered in 2023 in a special edition of its Alto...

Agents invited to material information webinar

Proptech firm iamproperty is inviting estate agents to a webinar about the latest Trading Standards’ material information guidance.   It will be hosted by iamproperty’s co-founder Ben...

And the winners are... Propertymark honours top students

Propertymark Qualifications has honoured the crème de la crème of its students at the London Stadium. Learners, apprentices, employers, training providers, and stakeholders gathered last week to...

Propertymark: Asking prices are too high

The number of agents reporting listings selling for under asking price has hit its highest level this year as Propertymark warns of a mismatch in the...

Takeover Panel rejects OTM critic's review request

OnTheMarket (OTM) critic Brett Stone has failed to get the Takeover Panel to intervene in the acquisition of the portal by CoStar. It comes as OTM shareholders...

Gazeal unveils conveyancing partnership

Reservation agreement provider Gazeal has partnered with Optimus, Landmark’s panel of conveyancers to offer its services as an option for home movers.  The collaboration aims to ensure...

Rightmove predicts 1% asking price drop in 2024

Rightmove is anticipating a 1% average drop in national asking prices by the end of next year. The latest forecasts from the portal suggests motivated sellers are...

UK property portal visits drop amid slowing market - claim

Visits to Rightmove have fallen by 18% in the past year as high mortgage rates hit the national market from the very earliest stages of the...

New family takes on Hunters’ flagship office

One of Hunters’ flagship North East offices is under new family ownership. Experienced landlord Thom Swalwell is Hunters’ new franchisee in Sunderland, alongside sister-in-law Leila Chen, having...

Jonathan Rolande: How to maximise success in the property market this December

As the temperature drops outside, it can be tempting to think activity in the market is likely to freeze out entirely. And, of course, there’s little doubt...

A turning point? House prices rise for third successive month

House prices increased for the third month in a row during November but are still down annually, Nationwide data shows. The lender’s latest House Price Index shows...

CTS in final phase of tackling cyber incident

Legal infrastructure provider CTS has said it is on the last phase of tackling a cyber-attack. CTS said last week that it is “urgently investigating” a cyberattack...

OTM critic targets asset manager in latest CoStar takeover attack

OnTheMarket (OTM) critic Brett Stone is still making last-ditch attempts to stifle a takeover of the portal by CoStar UK. Stone, a partner at private investment partnership...

Agents Do Charity - popping up for good causes

Welcome to this week’s Agents Do Charity, our chance to salute those who do so much to help others. If your agency is doing a little charitable...

HMRC: October property market activity hits two-year low

HMRC recorded the slowest October for property sales since 2021 last month. The latest property transaction figures from the taxman estimates that there were is 82,910 home...

Trading Standards unveils latest material information guidance, but how will it be policed?

Long-awaited guidance on material information in property listings was revealed yesterday but policing of the rules won’t be any different, it can be revealed. The National Trading...

Material information rules: Rightmove and The Guild launch agency webinars

A series of webinars have been unveiled to help agents prepare for new material information rules. Rightmove said it is providing a range of resources to help...

Trading Standards unveils latest material information rules for agents

The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) has published the long-awaited Parts B and C of material information rules. New guidance has been issued...

Former eBay boss named chairman of iamproperty

Proptech firm iamproperty has named a former eBay and MoneySupermarket executive as group chairman. Mark Lewis is the latest high profile recruit following investment in the brand...

LRG poaches Alexander Hall boss to new role

Leaders Romans Group (LRG) has poached former Alexander Hall boss Tom Davies to the newly created position of group financial services managing director. Davies has already resigned...

Homebuyers postpone purchase plans after ‘disappointing’ Autumn Statement

Around half of homebuyers will continue to postpone plans to purchase a property after the Autumn Statement failed to provide sufficient housing market support, research suggests. A...

Mortgage approvals hit three-month high but buyer caution remains

The number of mortgage approvals for house purchase has hit a three-month high, Bank of England data shows. Figures from the Bank reveal there were 47,383 mortgage...

Rightmove mortgages brings ‘significant implications’ for agents – warning

Rightmove’s entry into the mortgage market presents a threat to financial services leads, agents have been warned. The portal said in a trading update this week that...

Winkworth launches franchisee talent drive

Winkworth has launched a talent drive to find rising stars to build a career and a business within the franchise network.  The brand said it is searching...

PropTech Today - Balancing AI innovation with the human touch

Large language models, machine learning, artificial intelligence, artificial general intelligence, and 'the singularity' change everything, but there again, they change literally nothing.  I love technology and am...

Collapsed portals boost PropertyHeads' growth

Property social network and listings website PropertyHeads has staked a claim as the number four property portal in the UK. While much of the sector focuses on...

New build demand hits record low

Buyer demand for homes in England has hit its lowest recorded levels since 2015, according to the latest House Builders’ Survey from the Federation of Master...

Agents urged to check PI cover amid rise in cyberattacks

The Guild of Property Professionals is urging estate agents across the UK to be on high alert as cyberattacks targeting the property sector continue to surge.  It...

Alto integrates with Bridge AI to reduce agency admin

Alto has unveiled a new integration with Bridge AI – a system designed to streamline communication with applicants through their preferred channels such as WhatsApp or...

OnTheMarket secures Glass Lewis backing for CoStar takeover

OnTheMarket (OTM) has secured more support for a takeover by CoStar UK. Proxy adviser Glass Lewis has given its backing to CoStar’s acquisition of the portal. It comes...

Independent agent acquire rival after owners retire

Pattinson Estate Agency has acquired a rival brand. The independent agency has announced the takeover of Ryedales Estate Agents, a well-established agency in Cramlington. There will be a...

Asking price discounts hit five-year high - Zoopla

Agents and sellers are taking an average 5.5% discount on listings to secure a sale, new Zoopla data shows. The portal’s latest House Price Index shows homebuyers...

Market share of self-employed agents ‘rapidly growing’ – research

The market share of self-employed agents has grown by a third in the past year and by 500% since 2018 even as online brands decline, new...

The Guild hails success of virtual Autumn Tour 

The Guild of Property Professionals successfully hosted its annual Autumn Tour virtually last week, allowing member agents from across the UK to participate in the event. The...

Rightmove signals move into mortgages as agency revenues rise

Rightmove is expecting more money from agents this year and is also looking to grab a slice of the mortgage market. A trading update from the portal...

Agent launches referral app to secure leads from the public

Self-employed estate agency brand iad UK has launched a consumer app that lets anyone earn money through word-of-mouth referrals. Propertips is an automated business referral app, free...

Conveyancers urged to check client files for cyber-attack risks

The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has urged members to check their client files to see if they may have been affected by a cyber-attack that...

Long-awaited leasehold reform laws to be unveiled today

The long-awaited Leasehold and Freehold Bill is set to be unveiled in Parliament today. The Bill aims to make it cheaper and easier for existing leaseholders in...

Street.co.uk and Global 4 partner to boost agency services

CRM provider Street.co.uk has unveiled a new partnership that will see technology firm Global 4’s 8x8 hosted telephony directory made available to agents. The integration means users...

Agency rebrands two years after takeover

Robinsons Tees Valley Estate Agents is changing its business name following a change of ownership that actually took place two years ago. The brand will become Smith...

Proxy share vote adviser backs CoStar OTM deal

Proxy adviser Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has recommended that shareholders back the CoStar UK takeover of OnTheMarket (OTM). The independent advisory firm said shareholders should vote for...

LRG launches employee fertility benefit for staff

Leaders Romans Group (LRG) has launched a new staff benefit to support employees undergoing fertility treatment.  The benefit allows staff time off - unpaid for those with...

Legal tech firm investigating cyberattack that could scupper sales

Legal sector infrastructure specialist CTS has said it is “urgently investigating” a cyberattack on its services that could impact property exchanges and completions. Hundreds of conveyancers and...

Jonathan Rolande: A Prosecco rather than Champagne Autumn Statement

It wasn’t exactly a champagne statement. More like Prosecco.  But, nevertheless, there are reasons to be cheerful in the wake of Jeremy Hunt’s speech in the Commons...

Lack of communication slowing down sale completion times - claim

Estate agents spend almost half their working day chasing or being chased for issues as a new report highlights concerns about communication within the housing sector. The...

Agents Do Charity - strong foundations

Welcome to this week’s Agents Do Charity, our chance to salute those who do so much to help others. If your agency is doing a little charitable...

Rightmove launches consumer compliance course for agents

Rightmove has launched a course for estate and letting agents to help them understand and remain compliant with the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (CPRs). The...

Propertymark unveils 2024 regional conference dates

Propertymark has revealed details of its 2024 regional conference programme. The agency trade body said it will visit 19 regional locations next year and is even promoting...

Agent sacked by eXp after TV allegations

Self-employed agency brand eXp has terminated the contract of agent Ian Wyn-Jones following allegations about his working practices. Wyn-Jones, who joined eXp in January 2021 and previously...

OBR expects 7.6% 'peak to trough' house price dip

House prices will fall 7.6% 'peak to trough' by the end of 2024, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has claimed in its latest economic forecasts. The...

Autumn Statement: Treasury pledges £3m to ‘improve homebuying process'

The Autumn Statement ended up being silent on Stamp Duty reforms and direct housing market stimulus but there were some nuggets hidden in the Treasury’s documents...

Agency sanction screening drops despite rising geopolitical tensions

Estate agents are among falling numbers of regulated firms that aren’t checking sanctions and politically exposed persons (PEP) lists, research suggests. A survey of more than 500...

Agency supplier wins franchising award

Agency Express has won the Franchisor of the Year – Gold award at the 2023 British Franchise Association (BFA) HSBC British Franchise Awards. The agency boards provider...

Property brands back local space design challenge

Agency brands Knight Frank and Savills are among 12 of the largest real estate consultancies in the UK behind a new competition to encourage more young...

Spicerhaart achieves armed forces accolade

Spicerhaart has been awarded the Ministry of Defence’s Silver Award in its Employer Recognition Scheme. The agency brand has achieved the title after positioning itself as an...

Propertymark slams Scottish plans to increase council tax on second homes

Propertymark has expressed its opposition to Scottish Government plans to increase council tax premiums on second homes. Speaking to the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government, Housing and Planning...

Autumn Statement: What can agents expect?

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will deliver his Autumn Statement this afternoon amid rumours of Stamp Duty reforms and support for first-time buyers. The property market has slowed in...

Sellers still suffering from gazundering – claim

Sellers are still being lowballed by their buyer having previously accepted a higher offer, research suggests. A survey of more than 1,000 UK home sellers who have...

Homebuying platform unveils express conveyancing service

OneDome has unveiled a new express conveyancing service following a successful trial period. OneDome Conveyancing Premium Express aims to deliver a swift conveyancing experience for clients with...

Agents set for ‘Christmas lead bonus’ if they keep marketing

Agents are being urged to keep marketing throughout the festive season. The ValPal Network (TVPN) suggests the market is set for a “Christmas bonus” due to pent...

Rightmove: Stamp Duty cut could boost 72% of property listings

Almost three quarters of homes on the market would be exempt from Stamp Duty for home-movers if the Chancellor introduced a similar tax break to the...

Builders back Stamp Duty exemption for greener homes

Builders are calling for Stamp Duty exemptions on more energy efficient properties to help tackle the housing crisis. A new 10-point plan from the Home Builders Federation...

Stamp Duty cut could be bad for first-time buyers -warning

Rumours about tax cuts in this week’s Autumn Statement are continuing but there are warnings that a Stamp Duty cut may not be as beneficial as...

Government urged to bring back Help to Buy-style incentive

A lawyer has called for Help to Buy to be resurrected in the Autumn Statement. Paul Sams, head of property at Dutton Gregory Solicitors, said a lack...

Alto unveils six changes amid agent feedback

Alto has made a range of improvements to its cloud-based agency software based on user feedback. The Houseful-backed brand formed a Software Advisory Board in April 2023...

Shareholders call for Foxtons to be sold

Foxtons shareholders are reportedly putting the board under pressure to put the agency brand up for sale Two shareholders who own a combined 10% of the London...

Major mortgage lender calls for first-time buyer market review

Nationwide has called for an independent review of the first-time buyer market as it urges the Chancellor to boost support for the property market in this...

Knight Frank: Lending outlook improves but risks remain

The lending outlook is improving for the housing market but psychological milestones remain, Knight Frank warns. The latest UK market commentary from the agency and property brand...

HMRC checking agency AML procedures - warning

Estate agents are being reminded of their anti-money laundering (AML) responsibilities. It comes after HMRC has seen a rise in new applications for AML supervision where applicants...

New lawyers action group queries material information rules

A new action group has been formed that is expressing concern about ineffective legal regulation as well as extra responsibilities being imposed on conveyancers such as...

Conveyancing executive joins open property data committee

The Open Property Data Association (OPDA) has expanded its executive committee with the appointment of Nick Chadbourne from conveyancing panel provider LMS. The trade association was launched earlier...

Will Stamp Duty or Inheritance Tax cut be better for the property market?

A buying agent has given his backing to the prospect of a Stamp Duty and Inheritance Tax (IHT) cut during this week’s Autumn Statement. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt...

Jonathan Rolande: Another week, another housing minister 

I read an interesting report the other day about the role AI is set to play in the future of the property market. It left me assured...

Stamp Duty rates should reflect current conditions, claim

Stamp Duty should reflect the current market conditions, an agency boss claims. Speaking exclusively to Estate Agent Today,  Michael Polzler, chief executive of RE/MAX Europe, outlined support...

Number of sub-5% mortgage deals has doubled this month

The number of lenders offering sub-5% mortgage deals has doubled in the past month in a sign that the cost of borrowing may be improving for...

Landmark acquisition expands location-based tools

Landmark Information Group has completed the acquisition of Ordnance Survey’s shares in the PointX location services database. PointX was formed in 2001 as a joint venture between...

Foxtons completes flagship office revamp

Foxtons has reopened its doors on the King’s Road, with the launch of its flagship Sloane Square office. It is the first to benefit from Foxtons digital...

Agents Do Charity - stocking fillers

Welcome to this week’s Agents Do Charity, our chance to salute those who do so much to help others. If your agency is doing a little charitable...

Fine & Country duo boost Essex offering

Fine & Country Chelmsford’s managing directors Ed Casson and Simon Pelling have expanded further into the region, taking on the licence for Brentwood, South Essex. Operating since...

Uzair - First Estate Agency AI Tool Approved by Microsoft

In this latest article from the team at Iceberg Digital, they discuss the first annual Iceberg Summit to be held the end of November. On the...

Auctioneer: Property market hasn’t bottomed out yet

Many property professionals may be getting excited by lower inflation and falling mortgage rates but an auctioneer is warning that there could be more pain to...

CMA seeks feedback on landbanking and planning analysis

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is seeking feedback on two ‘working papers’ that detail its assessment on the use of landbanks and how planning rules...

OTM Property Sentiment Index: Regional differences emerge

Regional differences are emerging when it comes to homebuyer and seller sentiment, research suggests. OnTheMarket’s latest Property Sentiment Index showed 72% of buyers were confident that they’d...

‘Good news for buyers’ as inflation hits two-year low

The rate of inflation has fallen to the lowest level in two years, raising hopes of a boost for the property market. Prices are still rising but...

Land Registry records first annual house price drop for a decade

The Land Registry has recorded the first annual drop in property values for a decade in its house price index. Both the Halifax and Nationwide indices have...

Agency brand on hiring spree as it opens new office

Fisher German is celebrating moving into its new office in the heart of Birmingham as it looks to grow its influence in the city’s property markets.  The...

North East home sales least affected by market slowdown - claim

Homebuyer appetite has abruptly fallen across all regions this year, new data suggests. Property purchasing specialist the House Buyer Bureau measured transactions as a percentage of for-sale...

HSBC and Halifax cut mortgage rates as price war continues

Two more major lenders have cut mortgage rates, prompting hopes that deals could seen come close to 3%. HSBC and Halifax have both announced mortgage rate reductions...

Agency boss: Stamp Duty cut won’t help property sales

Stamp Duty cuts won’t give the property market the boost it needs, an agency chief executive has warned. Dominic Agace, chief executive of agency franchise brand Winkworth,...

Agent marks 50 years in Coventry

The founder of family-run brand Coopers Estate Agents is marking 50 years in the industry. Martin Cooper has recalled his first sale, a modest, run-down property that...

Agency brand acquires London rival

Agency brand Anthony Pepe has announced the acquisition of Chamberlains Estates in Enfield. The former owners of the Chamberlains business, Andrew Ryde and Andrew Standen, will retire...

Sweet 16? Rowley returns as latest housing minister

The Government appears to have gone through so many housing ministers that it is now repeating them. Lee Rowley was appointed as the 16th housing minister since...

Lee Rowley returns as housing minister

Lee Rowley has returned as housing minister. The reappointment comes after Rachel Maclean was sacked this morning and follows reports that the Government was struggling to fill...

Bucking the trend! House prices still rising in local hotspots - claim

More than 70 local authority areas have seen average house prices rise over the last year, bucking the national trend, Halifax says. The analysis – based on...

PM Sunak sacks housing minister

Rachel Maclean has been sacked as housing minister as part of today's Cabinet reshuffle. Maclean had replaced Lucy Frazer as housing minister in February but is the...

Prime prices hit new low but sellers are ‘more motivated’ - LonRes

Achieved prime London sale prices fell by their largest levels since May 2021 last month, research suggests. Analysis by property data firm LonRes reveals achieved prices fell...

Boost for buyers as mortgage choice rises and rates drop

Low deposit home buyers have been given a boost after product choice hit a 14-month high. Data from Moneyfacts shows the number of deals at 95% loan-to-value...

Tickets released for 2024 Women in Estate Agency conference

The Women in Estate Agency support group has unveiled details of its latest conference. The event will take place at The IET Savoy Place in London on...

Propertymark renews calls for agency regulation

Propertymark has written to the Housing Secretary Michael Gove to reiterate its longstanding call for regulation of property agents. The agency trade body claims introducing regulations can...

Knight Frank: Housing market is period of ‘price discovery’

It wouldn’t be sensible to jump to a firm conclusion about the prospects of the housing market this side of Christmas, Knight Frank has warned. New analysis...

Agent switches from home sales to staging

A former Hamptons agent has moved into staging after finding she was spending much of her time helping vendors in this area. Gemma Goulding, who spent a...

Rightmove: Sellers ‘getting serious’ as asking prices drop in Christmas rush

Asking prices for newly listed homes dropped by the largest rate for November in five years, Rightmove has revealed. The portal’s latest House Price Index shows that...

Fine & Country agent joins former CEO’s premium network

Marie Fritz, a top performer for Fine & Country in Northamptonshire has been reunited with the former chief executive of the upmarket agency. Fritz has left to...

CoStar defends track record after open letter from OnTheMarket critic

CoStar has defended its operations after a third open letter from OnTheMarket critic Brett Stone attempted to derail the US property giant’s takeover the portal. Stone issued...

PropTech Today - Three undeniable benefits of utilising integrations within your techstack

Digital transformation is now happening at a monumental pace, and dependence on technology is growing to new heights. In fact, the growth is so expansive that,...

Chancellor urged to introduce Stamp Duty cut for downsizers

Agency brand Chestertons has joined calls for Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to include Stamp Duty reform in his Autumn Statement. Hunt will deliver his Autumn Statement on 22...

Jonathan Rolande: Filling property vacancies is like climbing a mountain

Right now, it feels like we are living in a housing market full of contradictions. Despite the best endeavours of Liz Truss, The Bank of England, even...

Government unveils proposals to reform ground rents

The Government has outlined five proposals to reduce ground rents for existing leaseholders as its latest attempt to reform the sector beings. It comes after the King’s...

‘Financial pressures’ remain as mortgage arrears rise

Mortgage arrears and claims for repossession are on the rise as official data shows how much homeowners are still struggling in the housing market. Figures from banking...

‘Subdued picture’ remains for housing market - claim

House price falls could continue into 2024 as high interest rates continue to make it difficult for homebuyers to transact, an analyst claims. Rob Morgan, chief investment...

‘Watershed moment’ as sub-5% mortgages return

Mortgage brokers have hailed a ‘watershed moment’ as Nationwide became the first lender in months to release a sub-5% home loan deal on a two and...

Short induction periods are bad for agents – warning

Agents should be given longer induction periods to avoid mistakes and retain staff, an industry trainer claims. Charlotte Jeffrey-Campbell, director of The Able Agent training platform, said...

Winkworth expands into Dorset with latest acquisition

Winkworth has expanded further in Dorset with the acquisition of Christopher Batten in Wimborne – its seventh office in the county.  Christopher Batten, long established in the...

Family firm merges to create large independent agency brand

Three firms run by the same family have merged to create one of Derbyshire’s largest independent estate agency brands cope&co. Husband and wife team Daren and Susan...

New platform aims to match buyers with buying agents

A former lawyer has used her own experiences of trying to buy a home to launch a platform that matches homebuyers with a buying agent. Claire Whisker,...

OneDome launches Premier Agent list

OneDome has launched a new service tailored to benefit prospective buyers and sellers. The homebuying platform has launched Premier Agent, an invitation only group of estate agents...

ValPal partnership aims to combat ‘proptech fatigue’

The ValPal Network (TVPN) has partnered with Street.co.uk to combat ‘proptech fatigue’ for agents. Under this collaboration, estate agency users can access their ValPal leads directly through...

Housing market is past ‘peak pain’ - Savills

The UK’s housing market is past ‘peak pain’ and looks set to bottom out in mid-2024, according to Savills. The agency giant’s latest five-year house price forecasts...

Date set for OnTheMarket takeover vote

Agency shareholders of OnTheMarket will vote whether to accept a takeover approach from CoStar UK on 4 December. CoStar, owner of US portals Homes.com and Apartments.com, has...

King’s Speech: ‘Disappointing for existing leaseholders’

Campaigners and commentators have reacted cautiously to leasehold reform proposals put forward in the King’s Speech. The King took part in his first state opening of Parliament...

Foxtons: We are a lettings-focused business

Foxtons has described itself as a “lettings-focused” business after announcing the acquisition of rival London agency Ludlow Thompson. The deal is worth £10m on a cash and...

Halifax: ‘House prices rise but it’s not due to buyer demand’

Houses prices stopped falling on a monthly basis for the first time since in six months during October but are still down annually, according to Halifax. The...

Stamp Duty holiday needed more now than in pandemic - claim

A Stamp Duty holiday would be more beneficial now than at the start of the pandemic, Knight Frank has suggested. The latest market commentary from Tom Bill,...

Propertymark members offered storm grants

The Propertymark Trust is offering grants to agents and family members affect by Storm Ciaran. The Met Office has issued almost 200 flood alerts due to the...

Race for sub-5% mortgage rate heats up - claim

Mortgage rates could be set to finally fall below 5%, brokers claim. The pricing of home loans has rocketed this year amid high inflation and rising interest rates. But...

Bank of England to join Rightmove webinar today

Rightmove has secured guests from the Bank of England to join a live webinar for agents today. The event aims to break down the content of its...

Estate agent insolvencies on the rise - research

Estate agency insolvencies have increased by 11% over the past 12 months, research suggests. Analysis by audit and accountancy firm Mazars found there have been 233 closures...

Date set for 2024 Propertymark One conference

A date has been set for next year’s Propertymark One conference. The landmark conference was launched by the agency trade body at Wembley Arena this year and...

Mr and Mrs Clarke founders leave after ‘lovely’ Belvoir takeover

The founders of Mr and Mrs Clarke, who sold the business to Belvoir last year, have left the franchise brand and paid tribute to its new...

First-time buyers ‘unaware’ of additional homebuying costs - claim

Many first-time buyers are unaware of the upfront costs they need to budget for before applying for a mortgage and purchasing a home, research suggests. Research by...

Agents back material information but seek more guidance

The majority of agents back parts B and C of material information rules but more guidance is needed on where to get it, a survey suggests. Research...

Jonathan Rolande: Why I’m not celebrating house price rises

I’ve always been a half glass full kind of person.  But I’ve got to confess I struggled to get too excited by the news that house prices...

Finders Keepers acquires local agency

Finders Keepers has acquired Flowers Estate Agents in Woodstock bringing the brand’s total number of branches to nine.  The lettings team at Flowers Estate Agents, which was...

Phil Spencer - Take Back Housing Market Forecasting Control!

It’s that time of year already: Halloween’s happened, Bonfire Night’s blown itself out, and there’s now a feast of festivities leading to Christmas. There’s one other tradition...

Interest rates held but will it tempt homebuyers back to the market?

Interest rates were held for a second consecutive month yesterday, giving agents renewed hopes that the cost of borrowing has reached its peak and demand may...

Agents Do Charity - charitable collaborations

Check out some of the latest charitable endeavours from agency and property brands this week. If you have a charitable event or donations you think the rest...

Proptech firm launches auction hiring spree

Residential property auctioneer iamproperty is creating 18 new job opportunities for people to join the fast-growing world of auction, as consumer demand reaches record levels. The proptech...

Single buyers ‘priced out’ of property market - claim

Single first-time buyers with low deposits are priced out of much of the property market, research suggests. New analysis using the latest earnings data from Office for...

Self-employed agency brand unveils property search partnership

Self-employed agency brand eXp Realty has partnered with HomeHunter to help improve the property search process for consumers across its territories in Europe, the Middle East,...

TwentyEA boosts agency insight tool

TwentyEA has added new features to its Insight tool for agents. Users can now access up to five years of market data and there is a new...

Housing market remains weak despite monthly price rises - Nationwide

Nationwide has cautioned property market commentators about being too optimistic as its own house price index showed average prices surprisingly rose between September and October and...

Lawyers are too slow, homebuyers claim

The conveyancing process has been highlighted as a key pain point among buyers in the property transaction process. Research by anti-money laundering (AML) platform Thirdfort found 45%...

PropTech Today - If it's still hurting, see a specialist

Sometimes I think I should have paid more attention to science lessons at school but back then, I never thought I would find myself in the...

Reader poll: Would a Stamp Duty cut help the property market?

More than three quarters of Estate Agent Today readers have backed the prospect of a Stamp Duty cut. The Government is rumoured to be considering including a...

Upmarket agency brand embarks on regional tour

Fine & Country is embarking on its Autumn Regional Tour this month. This events across the UK bring together industry professionals, business owners, and managers for a...

Propertymark backs leasehold reform proposals

Propertymark has given its backing to commitments from the Housing Minister on the long-awaited next steps of leasehold reform. Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at...

Property Jobs Today - the movers, shakers and people in the news

Three major agency brands have unveiled high-profile appointments this week. If you want your jobs or appointments news to feature here, email press@estateagenttoday.co.uk. Leaders Romans Group (LRG) has...

Property sales slump in September as mortgage rates remain high - HMRC

The number of property sales recorded by HMRC is at its lowest level for almost a decade. New HMRC property transactions data from the taxman shows estimates...

On your bike! Chestertons aims to get Londoners cycling by summer 2024

Chestertons has launched a new initiative with its e-Bike partner Forest that it hopes will get 5,000 of its customers and clients cycling before summer 2024. If...

Ticket sales live for Propertymark Qualifications' awards

A limited number of tickets are still available for this year’s Propertymark Qualifications Awards.  Olympian Roger Black will appear at the awards ceremony at the London Stadium,...

Hat and Home unveils new HQ

Hat and Home has opened its fifth office and a new headquarters in the heart of Sandhurst. The move centralises the agency brand’s entire back-office operations into...

Agency marketing roadshow schedules final 2023 stop

After achieving sell-out success and exceptional feedback in Hertfordshire, London, and Leeds, Simon Leadbetter’s 30 Years of Marketing in a Day workshop is setting its sights...

Agents hit highest quarter for online auction sales - iamproperty

Estate agents sold a record number of properties via online auction between July and September, figures from proptech firm iamproperty have revealed. Data from iamproperty’s third quarter...

Agent unveils spellbinding Halloween window display

A London agent is looking to make Halloween unforgettable with a captivating window display that's sending shivers down spines. Location Location has featured a 7ft tall animated...

Mortgage approvals hit eight-month low

The number of mortgage approvals for home purchase hit an eight-month low during September, Bank of England data shows. Mortgage data from the Bank of England has...

When will parts B and C of upfront info reforms materialise?

Trading Standards has insisted it is still on track to introduce parts B and C of material changes rules for property listings this Autumn. It comes after...

Gove resurrects bid to phase out leasehold system for houses

All new houses in England and Wales will have to be sold as freehold properties under government plans to phase out the leasehold system. Over the weekend...

Ole! High end UK agency opens residential branch in Barcelona

Savills has announced the launch of a residential business in Barcelona covering the sales and lettings markets in the city and surrounding areas. Pablo Balea Vicente, who...

Stamp Duty Cut speculation starts 'election housing market' - claim

The best way to judge the UK housing market is to check on what’s happening in Parliament, not the price indices nor the Bank of England.  That’s...

Warning to agents - more house prices falls expected in 2024

Zoopla is warning that there will be further house price falls in 2024 on top of the 4.5 per cent drop it expects will have happened...

Jail for trio who set fire to estate agency branch with flat above

Three men who set fire to an estate agency branch in Luton while residents of upstairs flat were home have been jailed. Glen Ratcliffe, 36, Darren Smith,...

Online agency’s deal gives buyers home management services

Utility management platform Muuvo has announced a new partnership and technical integration with online agency Yopa. A dashboard has been created exclusively for Yopa with a range...

Jonathan Rolande: How agents can tip the odds in favour of a sale

For almost as long as any of us can remember, we’ve had an unpaid colleague getting sales over the line for us with minimal effort.  It was...

Silverstone housing development nears final lap after strong sales

A unique £90m development of homes trackside at Silverstone is now 85 per cent sold. The development, which is set to open in Spring 2024, comprises 60...

Search company founder to head up key sales office for leading agent

Savills has appointed Mark Redfern to head its Notting Hill sales department. Having worked in the prime central London property market for nearly three decades, Redfern’s new...

Agents Do Charity - and there’s a chill in the air…

Welcome to this week’s Agents Do Charity, our chance to salute those who do so much to help others. If your agency is doing a little charitable...

Social Media boost for agents as OnTheMarket unveils new service

OnTheMarket has partnered with an automated social media service to help agents promote listings on Instagram, X, Facebook and more. Following a successful trial period, all OnTheMarket...

PropTech platform helps agents with Material Information rules

Iamproperty has launched what it calls “a new solution” to help agents deal with new Material Information rules. The supplier’s new Enhanced Property Information Questionnaire is designed...

Auction buyers drop sharply despite more vendors trying their luck

Fewer buyers are purchasing at auctions despite more sellers resorting to them. Quick buying firm House Buyer Bureau analysed auction stock that has sold subject to contract.   The...

Foxtons internal data lifts lid on company’s sales this year

London’s troubled sales market has turned a corner and is set to end the year on a high according to one prominent agency. Foxtons internal data shows...

Pressure mounts for stamp duty cut across UK

A proposed cut in stamp duty by the Westminster government would be a welcome boost to homebuyers and would need to be matched in Scotland according...

Agents’ network welcomes eight new member agents in a month

The Guild of Property Professionals has announced eight new members to its network of independent agents. One is George F White in Durham, which opened its most...

Warren Buffett’s affiliate agency opens prime central London branch

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices London has opened a new office on Sloane Avenue. It will service Knightsbridge, Belgravia, Chelsea and South Kensington. The agency has three other offices located...

Buyer numbers and viewings down as agents become more pessimistic

The latest market snapshot from Propertymark suggests a more pessimistic view of the market. The trade body’s latest Housing Insight report says that there’s been a reduction...

Olympics star to inspire Propertymark Qualifications high-flyers

Athlete Roger Black will join star agents of the future at the Propertymark Qualifications Awards on December 1. The event at the London Stadium will celebrate outstanding...

Chestertons sold to European technology and property giant

Chestertons, one of the UK’s oldest estate agencies, has been sold to a European real estate services and technology group. The buyer is Campions Group Limited, a...

Modern Method of Auction pioneer links with private equity firm

Iamproperty, which champions the so-called Modern Method of Auction, has announced a private equity partner. A statement from the auction service says the partner - Perwyn -...

New boss for property team brings US experience to UK

Outsourced communications business Moneypenny has appointed a new head of its property team.  Moneypenny supports 2,500 businesses in the UK property industry, including estate agents, commercial agents,...

Over fifth of London sales this year hit £1m or over

A fifth of all homes sold so far this year in London have been for over £1m. London estate agency Benham and Reeves analysed sold price data...

Owners and Landlords pay dearly for Sunak’s eco U-turn - claim

The government should reverse some of its latest energy efficiency policies so owners, landlords and tenants can enjoy cheaper fuel bills The Social Market Foundation – a...

Revealed - the best city for First Time Buyers today

A new analysis of the housing market has assessed 50 cities in the UK to establish which is best for first time buyers. Aldermore says its so-called...

Google to answer Artificial Intelligence questions from agents

The latest guests to join Rightmove’s Autumn webinar schedule include a Generative AI expert from Google and representatives from the Bank of England. At a webinar this...

Stamp Duty revenue slumps but IHT soars - new figures

Inheritance Tax receipts for April to September 2023 have soared to £3.9 billion, some £0.4 billion higher than the same period last year. IHT is being pushed...

ESTAS Awards include new categories marking industry excellence

The annual ESTAS Awards have seen 1,000 people from across the industry witness a string of winners, including new categories celebrating excellent service. In agency there were...

New self-employed agency signs 30 recruits in four months

A new self-employed estate agency says it’s signed-up 30 new recruits in four months. iad - which had 20 recruits until recently - signed up another 10...

Women in Estate Agency Award debuts at the ESTAS

The first Women in Estate Agency Award winners were announced at the ESTAS last week. The ESTAS Awards marked its 20th anniversary last Friday with an event sponsored...

Stamp Duty cut rumours return

Stamp Duty reform was back in the news over the weekend amid reports that the Government plans to reform the controversial tax. Just a day after losing...

Jackson-Stops expands Cornish footprint

Jackson-Stops has boosted its presence across the Cornish coast, with the hiring of three new directors, Richard Holder, Dean Lonergan and Daniel Ball. The trio have worked together...

Agents tell Jeremy Hunt what they want in Autumn Statement

Propertymark has urged the Treasury to do more to alleviate the cost of living crisis for those on low-income budgets, reduce costs for landlords and encourage...

Housing market rollercoaster is ‘coming to an end’ – claim

The property market’s 18-month “white-knuckle ride” is coming to an end, Tom Bill claims. Speaking on the Guild of Property Professionals’ The Home Stretch podcast, Bill, head...

Jonathan Rolande: Politicians are pledging a housebuilding revolution but who will build them?

Most weeks there are stories within the property sector that quietly slip under the radar - but which hold huge significance.  Last Wednesday another one emerged via...

Final tickets remain for Agency Excellence Summit

The final tickets are on sale for next month’s Agency Excellence Summit. The event takes place at the Manchester Piccadilly Hotel on Friday 3 November and features...

Fraud pilot investigation launched into Help to Buy loans

It's emerged that Homes England and HMRC have explored possible fraud within the Help to Buy Equity Loan Scheme. This formed part of a wider range of data...

Agency trade body freezes member fees

Propertymark has frozen membership fees for 2024. Acknowledging the impact of ongoing inflationary pressure and high-interest rates, the agency trade body has said membership fees will remain...

Agents Do Charity - worthy aims and causes

Check out some of the latest charitable endeavours from agency and property brands this week. If you have a charitable event or donations you think the rest...

Online market share falls as sellers ‘seek traditional expertise’

The market share of online and hybrid agents for exchanges has fallen again during the third quarter. Figures from property data firm TwentyCi show online market share,...

Property market suffering from ‘prolonged stagnation’ - research

The usual post-summer uplift has failed to materialise for the property market, new figures suggest. Analysis by data company the Landmark Information Group for the third quarter...

Could OnTheMarket takeover finally challenge Rightmove?

The potential takeover of OnTheMarket (OTM) by US property giant CoStar Group could finally provide a viable challenger for Rightmove, it has been claimed. It was revealed...

OnTheMarket accepts £100m takeover bid

OnTheMarket (OTM) has accepted a takeover offer for the business. A stock market announcement this morning, following its interim results, said Co-Star UK has made an offer...

OnTheMarket highlights 'challenging times' amid takeover rumours

OnTheMarket (OTM) has warned of a “challenging backdrop” for agents which may impact the portal’s annual revenue. It comes amid rumours, reported by Sky News, of a...

Buyers turn to demolition to boost property potential - research

The number of homes being demolished and rebuilt from scratch has increased by 3.7% over the past year, research reveals. The analysis by GetAgent suggests homeowners are...

Knight Frank prepares for job cuts

Knight Frank has entered a redundancy consultation process with staff. The agency and property brand has said up to 3% of roles are at risk. Will Beardmore-Gray, senior...

Annual price growth hits new low – Land Registry

House price growth fell to its lowest annual rate since 2012 in August, official data shows. The latest Land Registry House Price Index shows average annual property...

Connells’ David Plumtree celebrates 35 years of service

David Plumtree, group chief executive, estate agency at Connells Group is marking 35 years with the business this week. He joined the company in 1988 starting his...

Prime agent purchases historic Belgravia building

Prime London Residential, which describes itself as London’s largest single branch agency, has acquired 21 Grosvenor Gardens from Grosvenor, securing the business its second office location...

FTSE 100 director joins Harding Green board

Self-employed agency brand Harding Green has appointed recent FTSE 100 director Ian Gascoigne to its board. The former managing director of St James’s Place has been named...

RICS updates Red Book valuation rules

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has published an updated UK supplement of its ‘Red Book’ – its master document for regulating the valuation profession...

Agency sale stock on the rise – research

The level of new for sale stock reaching the market across Britain has surged by 128% since the start of the year, GetAgent claims. The agency comparison...

New marketing resource launched to help agents go upmarket

A group of senior estate agency and property executives have combined to launch a free monthly marketing resource for upmarket agents. Former Fine & Country chief executives...

Off-market property platform adds new locations

Off-market property platform Invisible Homes has added three more boroughs to its tool. Originally launched in 2018 by former prime London estate agent, Mark Wells, Invisible Homes...

Regional agent names former Purplebricks executive as new CEO

A former senior executive for Boomin and Purplebricks has returned to traditional estate agency. Tom Kirk, previously chief product officer for Boomin and sales director at Purplebricks,...

Guy Gittins: ‘How I got Foxtons’ mojo back’

Foxtons has regained its position as London’s number one agent in Guy Gittins’ first year as chief executive. Former Chestertons boss Gittins was recruited to replace Nic...

Proptech veteran launches index showing seller hotspots

London and the Home Counties have topped the list of ‘hotspots’ for potential house sales, according to a new Pre Mover Index. The index has been launched...

Agents are changing the way they work and growing FAST

In this latest article from the team at Iceberg Digital, they discuss the evolving world of Estate Agency and Estate Agents. 2020 started with the world forced...

Guild agents reach reviews milestone

The Guild of Property Professionals is celebrating reaching 13,000 ESTAS reviews. This has given the network an average customer service rating of 96.6%.  Based on these customer reviews, the Guild...

Properties taking longer to sell but ‘motivated buyers’ remain

The proportion of listings going under offer within 30 days has dropped from 53% last year to 37% in September 2023, new data suggests. OnTheMarket’s (OTM) latest...

Agents invited to learn about future of energy efficiency rules

The Property Energy Professionals Association (PEPA) has opened its annual conference in Derby to estate agents and conveyancers for the first time. It wants agents to join...

Keller Williams UK boss unveils new minimum standards for agents

Keller Williams UK’s (KWUK) new chief executive Mark Readings has outlined a new strategy for the self-employed agency brand. Speaking at KWUK’s annual event at the VUE...

‘Price sensitivity’ continues to hit prime markets

September has been ‘underwhelming’ for sales in prime London except for at the high-end £5m price point, figures suggest. Separate analysis from both LonRes and Savills suggests...

Zoopla adds tag to highlight ‘back to market’ listings

Zoopla has added a new ‘Back to Market’ tag to listings that have fallen through. It will show listings that have had their status changed back from...

Rightmove: Autumn bounce has turned into a fall

Average asking prices have increased as usual between September and October but at the slowest rate since 2008, Rightmove has revealed. The portal’s latest House Price Index,...

Jonathan Rolande: Why I fear the long winter period that lies ahead 

A few weeks ago I asked an estate agent friend how the market was treating him. "I feel like I’ve had a health scare and just been...

Propertymark conference series heads for Kent

Propertymark is preparing for its next regional conference. The next destination is Canterbury Cathedral Lodge in Kent on 9 November 2023. Members have had the chance to attend...

UK agents earn lowest fees among largest property markets - research

UK estate agents receive the lowest sales commission across eight of the world’s biggest property markets, new research suggests. The analysis suggests agents in the UK take...

Upmarket agency opens new prime London office

United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty has opened a new residential lettings and sales office in Knightsbridge.   The luxury listings agent said the opening of the Knightsbridge...

Unlucky for some? No. 13 ranks as lowest value door number

Homes with the number 13 typically have the lowest property valuations, Rightmove data suggests. Analysis by the portal, using property valuations from its Automated Valuation Model (AVM),...

Agents Do Charity - reaching for the stars

Check out some of the latest charitable endeavours from agency and property brands this week. If you have a charitable event or donations you think the rest...

Mortgage rates set to drop but lenders expect lower levels of demand

Mortgage lenders are braced for a slower market over the rest of the year. The latest Bank of England Credit Conditions Survey found lenders reported that demand...

Consumers feeling ‘financially worse-off’ but sellers remain positive - survey

UK consumers are feeling financially worse off than they were a year ago but this sentiment isn’t necessarily reflected when it comes to selling property, a...

Countdown begins to ESTAS Awards

The 20th annual ESTAS Awards are set to take place a week from today. Backed by headline sponsor Coadjute, the event will be held at the Grosvenor...

Savills bolsters its south west London residential sales business

Savills has expanded its residential sales teams in south west London with the appointment of two associate directors. Oliver Morley joins as head of department in Richmond...

Boost for mortgage borrowers as average two-year fix drops below 6%

Rightmove is hopeful that mortgage rates will continue to drop. It comes as its latest data shows average two-year fixed rate mortgage pricing has fallen below 6%...

Homeowners ‘unphased’ by cooling house prices - claim

Homeowners are largely unconcerned about cooling house prices, research suggests. Instead, they are more concerned about having their own home than sitting on a profitable investment.  The sentiment...

Labour backs ROPA rules

The Labour Party has committed to introducing the Regulation of Property Agents (ROPA) rules if it wins next year’s General Election. Shadow Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook made...

Agents invited to material information webinar

Proptech firm iamproperty is inviting agents to a webinar to help them get ahead of parts B and C of the impending Trading Standards material information...

RICS: No signs of short-term property market improvements

Property professionals remain negative about the prospects for the housing market over the coming months amid low buyer demand and fewer market appraisals but there is...

Hybrid agency reaches for the sky to diversify business

The Good Estate Agent hybrid agency franchise has taken to the skies by diversifying into travel. While some agents may be looking at other ways to boost...

Labour leader vows to make home ownership a 'privilege for the many'

Home ownership has become a “luxury for the few rather than a privilege for the many”, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has claimed. Sir Keir attempted to...

Guild of Property Professionals launches second streamed seminar

The Guild of Property Professionals has launched a second virtual event this Autumn following its inaugural streamed event earlier this year. Scheduled for Wednesday 8 November at...

Shortlist revealed for Variety North West PROPS awards

More than 20 property organisations and professionals have been named as finalists in the upcoming Variety North West PROPs awards. The winners of seven categories from Agent...

Mortgage rates drop for second month in a row

Average mortgage pricing is falling in a “positive sign” for the market, new analysis suggests. Data from comparison website Moneyfacts shows typical fixed rate mortgages have fallen...

Agency training platform boosts workplace wellbeing course

The Able Agent has added further modules to its Wellbeing in the Workplace course.  The training platform has collaborated with KILN Associates, workplace welfare and counselling specialists,...

Agents invited to give their views on ‘home moving roadmap’

The Home Buying and Selling Group (HBSG) is seeking feedback from agents on proposals that it feels will “revolutionise moving home for all involved.” The Government-backed industry...

Dexters enters Asia with latest acquisition

Dexters has entered the Asian property market with the acquisition of LiFE Residential. The deal strengthens Dexters position in London and also gives it a business footprint...

Former owners expected to get ‘first refusal’ on scrapped HS2 land - claim

Landowners who had their land compulsorily purchased by the government for HS2 are being urged to seek expert advice if they plan on buying their land...

Buyers returning to London but market ‘remains fragile’

Demand for residential property remains fragile despite a pause in interest rate rises, Knight Frank claims. While the number of new prospective buyers in London rose 12%...

Propertymark urges Labour to lead on agency regulation

The Labour Party is being urged to take the lead on estate agency regulation and help driving up standards in the sector. It comes as Labour’s Shadow...

Women in Estate Agency group unveils webinar series

The Women in Estate Agency (WiEA) group is launching a webinar series. The first will go live on Friday 13 October at 11am, hosted by members of...

Warren Buffett-backed agency expands in Italy

The UK affiliated agency of Warren Buffett’s global real estate company has expandede its international presence.  Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has expanded further in Italy with the launch...

Alto adds ‘improved features’ to agency CRM

Alto has rolled out a range of new features to its software for agents. It takes the number of improvements to the CRM to more than 100...

House prices fall again but how long will ‘correction’ last?

House prices fell for the sixth consecutive month in a row during September and dropped at the fastest rate since August 2009, Halifax claims. The latest Halifax...

England ‘behind international peers’ on decent housing - claim

Homes in England are less affordable and in worse condition than those in most other developed nations, new research claims. Analysis from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) – the...

Propertymark calls for clarity for homeowners over HS2

Agents have slammed the scrapping of the northern leg of HS2. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak scrapped the Birmingham to Manchester portion of the high speed rail line...

Jonathan Rolande: A missed opportunity on housing

I listened carefully, and I even played it back afterwards.  But, even now, I remain astonished by what I didn’t hear.  On Wednesday, in his keynote speech at the Conservative...

Agents Do Charity - creatures great and small

Check out some of the latest charitable endeavours from agency and property brands this week. Chestertons: London agent Chestertons has added two new names to the list...

High profile proptech named among ‘most loved workplaces’

Viewber has been named among the most loved workplaces in the UK. It ranked number 48 in Newsweek’s Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces list. Results were determined after...

Self-employed agency brand crosses the pond

Self-employed estate agency platform iad has launched in Florida. The firm described it as another key expansion effort to compliment its recent arrival on the UK market.  iad...

Help to Buy ‘ticking time bomb’ set to explode - warning

The “ticking time bomb” of Help to Buy repayments could be set to explode due to the cost of living crisis, an agent had warned. It comes...

Hunters’ first franchisee sells branch

Hunters’ first ever franchised branch in the North Yorkshire town of Selby is under new ownership after 16 years. James Powell, who joined Hunters Selby six years...

Hamptons: Some sellers still ‘holding out for last year’s prices

Agents are securing sales closer to asking price but properties are taking longer to sell, new data suggests. Analysis by Hamptons, using data from 550 branches in...

Savills: Realistic pricing ‘crucial’ to keeping the market moving

Prime London property values are not falling as far as the rest of the market but realistic pricing will be crucial in the coming months, according...

London agency academy receives Ofsted accreditation

Dexters has become the first estate agent in the UK to gain an Ofsted accreditation for its academy. The agency’s academy invests in coaching and developing all...

Younger borrowers becoming ‘Mort-locked generation’ - claim

One in four mortgages lent to those under 30 now have a term of 35 years or more, new research suggests. This is up from one in...

Agency brand unveils new promotions and partnerships

Fisher German has promoted 39 colleagues across all areas of its business, include making three partners. Ed Moore, part of the agency team in London, and Lara...

Comedian named as host for eXp awards

Comedian Rob Beckett is joining eXp UK, for one night only. He hasn’t decided to segway into the estate agency profession but will be joining the self-employed...

Cost of moving drops but buyers still need £14,000 - research

Falling Stamp Duty and survey fees have pushed down the cost of moving. Comparison website reallymoving analyses the cost of moving home each year, taking account of...

Housing Secretary: We (still) need to do more on home ownership

More families need a home they can call their own, the Housing Secretary Michael Gove has claimed. Speaking at the Tory Party conference in Manchester, Gove delivered...

Haus Properties founder aims to revive agency business

Jamie Lester is set to revive the HAUS Properties brand that he previously founded and quit. Lester, a former contestant on The Apprentice, had setup London agent...

Speakers added to agency success summit line-up

Industry figure Sean Newman has named seven additional speakers for the Estate Agent Success Summit, with 50% of tickets already sold. The event takes place at The...

Agency chief faces allegations of domestic abuse

The managing director of an estate agency has pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault by beating but did not enter a plea to other...

“New era” for high end agency as new head of sales revealed

Prime estate agent John D Wood & Co has named a new Head of Sales and claims this marks “a new era” for the brand. In his...

Bank of Family foot the bill to get young people on housing ladder

There’s growing evidence that wider family members - not just Mum and Dad - are stumping up cash to help younger people get on the property...

Housing Market Weak but cautious optimism from analysts

UK housing market activity "remains weak" according to the Nationwide. Its latest house price index shows that prices declined 5.3 per cent on-year last month - no...

Council buys private homes to improve their EPC ratings

A Labour council has revealed that it’s bought 15 open market homes, beefed up  their energy efficiency and will use them for a shared ownership scheme. The...

Phil Spencer - How To Get Real With Vendors On Price

The old adage that estate agency is a people business is rarely more relevant than right now, when the market is relatively fragile and prices easing...

Propertymark aims to put housing on party conference agenda

Propertymark is extending its political engagement and reach by exhibiting at the party conferences this week. The agency trade body will be at the Conservative Party Conference...

Summer slump? Sales and mortgage approvals drop in August

Property sales and mortgage approvals both fell annually in August, official data shows. Figures from HMRC show UK residential transactions were down 16% annually in August at...

Exceptional customer service ‘key to winning instructions’

Customer service has been identified as one of the most important attributes when using an estate agent. A poll of 600 consumers who have sold a property...

Knight Frank lowers house price expectations after ‘volatile summer’

Knight Frank has revised its house price forecasts and now expects a steeper market drop. The agent previously predicted a 5% fall in house prices this year...

Douglas & Gordon unsecured creditors 'unlikely' to be paid

Secured creditors of collapsed agency brand Douglas & Gordon are likely to receive most money owed to them but there is less certainty over unsecured debts,...

Agency social media campaign highlights local business love for their areas

An inventive social media video series launched by Worcestershire estate agency Nicol & Co is showcasing local firms sharing why their locations are great places to...

KWUK prepares for ‘largest ever’ Megacamp

Keller Williams UK (KWUK) is set to hold its largest ever UK event.  The KWUK Megacamp will take place at the VUE cinema in Leicester Square in Central London...

Jonathan Rolande: What to consider if you drop an asking price?

Rising numbers of property owners are dropping the asking price of their homes in a bid to secure a quick sale.  Latest figures reveal average age new...

Connells names interim chief executive

Connells has named group finance director Richard Twigg as interim chief executive. It comes after chief executive David Livesey announced his retirement earlier this year after more...

Property Webmasters unveils social media partnership

Agency website and digital marketing company Property Webmasters has partnered with social media proptech firm Flow. The collaboration will provide clients with the ability to generate targeted...

Agency boss: Government must stop fighting and fix the property market

Winkworth is calling for the Government to take immediate action to fix the property market.  On the eve of the Tory party conference, the agency franchise brand’s...

Spicerhaart names new estate agency managing director

Spicerhaart has boosted its senior team with the appointment of a new managing director within its estate agency division.  Tommy Taylor is now heading up the Orion...

Homeowners ‘considering’ moving to cheaper homes to cut costs

A fifth of homeowners are considering moving somewhere cheaper due to the cost of living crisis, KPMG has revealed. The firms latest, Consumer Pulse survey, which tracks...

Agents Do Charity - aspirational autumn

Check out some of the latest charitable endeavours from agency and property brands this week. If you have a charitable event or donations you think the rest...

LSL hails 'successful shift' to agency franchise model

LSL has described the transfer of its estate agency business to a franchise model as a success and said it expects the division to turn a...

Agents invited to TedTalk-style success summit

Industry figure Sean Newman has launched a new TedTalk-style event called the ‘Estate Agent Success Summit’. Speakers will be given 30 minutes to share their best advice...

Asking price discounts hit four-year high as buyer’s market prevails

The average discount to asking price has hit a four-year high as the market swings in favour of buyers, Zoopla says. The portal’s latest House Price Index...

Agents more likely to sell off-market instructions than switched listings - research

Estate agents are 54% more likely to secure a sale agreed on an off-market instruction than a property switched to them as the second agent, data...

Agency fees give Zoopla a financial boost

Higher agency fees and the end of pandemic support boosted Zoopla’s revenue in 2022. The portal’s annual accounts for the year to December 2022 shows revenue rose...

Percentage of asking price sales achieved drops

The average home seller across England and Wales has achieved 97.3% of asking price, a -2.4% drop versus the previous six months, new analysis suggests. Agency comparison...

Fall-throughs are starting to rise – warning

The number of property transactions estimated to have collapsed across the UK market has started to climb after two quarters in which numbers were reducing, new...

Halifax: First-time buyer sales fall amid market slowdown

The number of first-time buyers has fallen this year but the proportion of sales to this cohort remains the same due to the slower market, research...

Alto adds Bamboo Auctions to marketplace

Bamboo Auctions has been integrated into the Alto Marketplace. The tool will helps agents identify which properties are right for auction and list them directly without the...

Energy efficiency remains important to homebuyers and sellers

Buyers and sellers are still factoring energy efficiency into property valuations despite Prime Minister Rishi Sunak rolling back net-zero reforms. Analysis by the Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB)...

ValPal launches direct mail service to target 'cold leads'

The ValPal Network (TVPN) has launched a new automated direct mail service to ensure agents don’t miss out on ‘bonus leads.' It comes as the lead generation...

First-time buyers and investors flock to fixer-uppers - Rightmove

Fixer-upper homes have become the most in-demand properties, Rightmove claims. The portal has analysed the home features that are driving the most enquiries from home-movers to agents. It...

Agent returns to roots to open new independent operation

An agent with two decades of experience in the industry has returned to the town where it all began. David Bruckert, the owner of new new independent...

Inheritance Tax - more families to be hit in 2023/4

It looks like more families are to be hit with inheritance tax in 2023/4 according to a new forecast.  Research from the investment platform Wealth Club suggests...

City Living veteran agent returns to property world

A pioneer of the so-called City Living movement, trying to create more residential units in city centres, is returning to the fray. Jonathan Morgan, who spent more...

Posh Property Buyers stand back as prime London cools

An index of prime London properties suggests buyers standing back as economic uncertainty reaches the upper levels of the market. The Prime London Demand Index by Benham...

Green Shoots? Early signs of market boost, insists latest survey

We might be at the start of an improving housing market, suggests Propertymark. In its latest market snapshot, concentrating mostly on August, it says that while inflation...

Bruce gives new backing to interior design venture

Former Purplebricks and Boomin boss Michael Bruce has taken part in a new funding round for interior design platform My Bespoke Room. Bruce acquired the firm last year...

Agencies favouring lower offers to get referral fees - claim

Referral fees for estate agents could be back in the sights of industry regulators. It was reported last week that the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting...

One year later: Market remains tough for buyers after mini-Budget mayhem

It is just over one year since former Prime Minister Liz Truss and Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s ill-fated mini-Budget and homeowners and first-time buyers are still facing...

Last call! Entries set to close for northern property awards

Property professionals have one more week to submit their entries for the inaugural North West PROPs Awards. The search for the very best of the property industry...

Agency bosses reveal party conference housing wish list

Stamp Duty changes and planning reform should be high on the party conference season agenda, agency executives have suggested. Leaders Roman Group (LRD) officials have outlined policies...

Jonathan Rolande: Nothing changes, now we live in hope of better days ahead

In his latest column Jonathan Rolande reacts to the shock but much-needed pause in interest rate rises. I suspect you, like me, breathed a huge sigh of...

Self-employed brand to help top agents build their own team

Self-employed agency brand eXp UK has launched a ‘Teams’ initiative designed to help its top performing agents expand their business. It is already proving popular amongst existing...

Government urged to look beyond ‘vocal NIMBY minority’ to boost housebuilding

The majority of the British public believe the Government is responsible for fixing the country’s housing shortage but few believe that politicians understand the challenges. The findings...

PropTech Today - Evolution: Data and personalisation drive the market

Clive Humby of Dunn Humby (the Mega Minds behind the Tesco Clubcard) declared that "Data is the new oil" in 2006. Since then, the property sector...

Interest rates unchanged but it’s not the end for house price drops

The Bank of England has held off on further interest rate rises for now but agents warn that there is still further for house prices to...

Propertymark: Homeowners must be ‘incentivised not penalised’ towards net zero

Propertymark has backed delays to the Government’s net zero policies, claiming the shift to more sustainable and environmentally friendly homes should be ambitious but realistic. The agency...

Agents Do Charity - supportive September

Check out some of the latest charitable endeavours from agency and property brands this week. If you have a charitable event or donations you think the rest...

Buyers looking for homes that can create an income - claim

Homeowners are increasingly looking to properties that can either boost income or to offer a better work/life balance – without the need to downsize, an agent...

‘Welcome news’ for buyers as inflation rate drops

The rate of inflation slowed from 6.8% to 6.7% in August, providing hope for homebuyers when it comes to high mortgage rates. Kate Steere, deputy editor and...

Chestertons: Price reductions declining as buyers return to the capital

Fewer sellers are willing to cut their asking prices, Chestertons claims. The agent said vendors in the capital have already priced in many of the discounts, while...

New Conveyancing Association document highlights digital tools to speed up sales

The Conveyancing Association (CA) has launched a new document to help firms benefit from the range of digital services available to support the home buying and...

Agency brand launches financial services arm

Estate agency group My Property Box has launched a financial services arm to provide clients with a one-stop shop. Having gained the necessary regulatory approval, My Property...

House price growth slows again as agents enter ‘busy autumn’

Annual house price growth has returned to its lowest level since the pandemic, Land Registry data shows. The latest figures from the Land Registry shows property price...

Homeowners facing ‘Christmas mortgage crisis’ - warning

Around half a million mortgage-holders are facing an imminent financial shock as their fixed deals end in the run-up to Christmas or January, the most expensive...

Estate agents missing leads with slow response times - claim

Estate agents are missing out on potential clients by not responding to enquiries promptly, new research suggests. A study by lead generation firm Homeflow revealed that the...

MPs criticise ‘persistent poor performance’ of DLUHC

MPs have expressed “concern and disappointment” at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) for its persistent poor performance in the timeliness of Government...

Free smartphone photography course for agents launches

Agency media brand Made Snappy 360 has launched a free smartphone photography course for estate agents. It claims to bring industry photography training up to date with...

Bank of England urged to ‘stop interest rate attacks’ on homeowners

The Bank of England is facing calls to hold off on raising interest rates this week. Its Monetary Policy Committee is set to meet on Thursday, with...

Who needs experts? AI tool accurately predicts house price growth

The artificial intelligence (AI) platform, Bard, correctly guessed what the UK’s average house price would be in the Land Registry’s monthly House Price Index last month,...

OnTheMarket: Hypersensitive buyers reluctant to view ‘overpriced’ homes

The number of homes going under offer within 30 days of listing has dropped from 54% to 38% as buyers become “hypersensitive to pricing,” OnTheMarket (OTM)...

Knight Frank: Mortgage rate rollercoaster is ending

The mortgage rate rollercoaster is finally winding down but pressure will remain on the property market, Knight Frank claims. New commentary from the agency brand’s head of...

Law firm invests in Scottish brand to boost property presence

Irwin Mitchell has expanded its property practice with an investment in Scotland-based law firm Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie (WJM). The two firms will work together to provide...

Auction House sales rise as it tracks down ‘elusive buyers’

Auction House has sold a fifth more properties this year than the same period in 2022 despite the wider market slowdown. The auctioneer has revealed that between...

Downsizers willing to move but held back by lack of stock - Savills

A lack of stock and emotional attachment are the biggest constraints stopping homeowners from downsizing, research suggests. Analysis by Savills found half of downsizers have owned their...

Alto unveils new training features

Alto has boosted its training offering for estate and letting agents.  Agency users can now access an overview of Alto training via its website, choose from an...

OnTheMarket Software integrates AML offering

OnTheMarket Software has announced an integration with digital ID and source of funds provider Thirdfort. The digital ID, anti-money laundering and source of funds proposition helps clients...

Proptech firm aims to ‘redefine prospecting’ with product launch

Lead generation tool provider Spectre claims it is set to redefine prospecting with a new tool to be launched this week. The details of this brand-new tool...

Reviews platform names TV personality as awards host

Agency reviews platform allAgents.co.uk has named Martin Roberts as the host of this year's highly anticipated 2023 Annual Customer Experience Awards Ceremony.  Roberts, a household name in...

New compliance product aims to spot regulatory gaps for agents

Compliancy expert Legal Eye has launched a new product to help agents ensure they are properly following all rules and regulations. Its new Compliance Gap Analysis product...

Property guru Phil Spencer launches local market updates for agents

Phil Spencer’s property advice website Move iQ has launched a video market solution that shares housing market insights at a local level for agents. Users of the...

Rightmove: Some sellers are still ‘too optimistic’ on pricing

Asking prices have fallen by the largest level since March 2019 and discounts are at their highest in more than a decade as the subdued property...

Jonathan Rolande: Those not already in lettings should look into it urgently

In his latest column Jonathan Rolande explains how those working in the property can best navigate the challenges the market is continuing to throw up. Right now,...

PropTech Today - Is it time to embrace a new era of estate agency?

2023 was coined as the ‘year of AI adoption’ and, after trickling into almost every industry, AI has taken centre stage in estate agency and now...

New south coast agent aims to make waves with sustainable focus

A new estate agency has launched in West Sussex with a focus on sustainability. Pear Properties has been launched by Marcus Farrell, managing director of a local...

Knight Frank: The super-rich can’t escape the property market slump

Even the super-rich don’t seem to be immune from the property market slowdown, Knight Frank’s latest Global Super-Prime Intelligence Report, following sales above $10m, showed transactions fell...

Agents Do Charity - solid foundations

Check out some of the latest charitable endeavours from agency and property brands this week. If you have a charitable event or donations you think the rest...

Crowned kings: Estate Agency X becomes the #1 podcast in the UK

In this latest article from the team at Iceberg Digital, they review the valuable guidance and innovation offered by Estate Agency X to its listeners. Estate Agency...

Agency fees makeup 81% of selling costs but is 'money well spent' - research

Agency fees account for 81% of upfront home selling costs on average, research suggests. Industry comparison website GetAgent has used its My Property Tracker too to calculate...

Revealed! The best areas for sellers to find a chain-free buyer

Almost a third of homes sold across Britain have been purchased by a cash buyer, new research shows. Analysis of the latest Land Registry transaction data between...

Government urged to ‘spell-out’ RAAC residential housing risks

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has been urged to reveal its current assessment of the risk of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in...

Property consultancy hires record number of graduates

Fisher German has welcomed a record number of graduates this year. The property consultancy and agency brand has revealed that it has hired 34 graduates this year,...

LonRes: Quieter property market may continue until Christmas

High mortgage rates and a lack of supply may mean the prime property market misses its typical seasonal boost in the run up to Christmas, LonRes...

Property data firm launches competitor analysis tool for agents

Sprift has launched a new competitor analysis tool for agents using its services. A new market insights dashboard will provide users with hyper-local market information and competitor...

Homeowners losing confidence in value of their property - research

Homeowners are becoming increasingly uncertain about the value of their property, research suggests. A new House Price Confidence Index, launched by marketing consultancy unchained.marketing and using YouGov...

The Property Ombudsman bolsters board

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has welcomed two new non-executive directors to its independent board. Louise Baxter, head of the National Trading Standards scams team, and Nick Samuels,...

OneDome launches school proximity search tool

OneDome has added new functionality to its portal to let users search for properties by their proximity to selected schools. Buyers can now search by the name of...

Boost for buyers as mortgage rates drop and choice rises

Mortgage borrowers now have the greatest choice of home loan products since February 2022, Moneyfacts data suggests. It is a boost for buyers who have been hampered...

Alto partners with Just Move In help to provide free home setup service

Agency software provider Alto has announced a new partnership with home setup provider Just Move In. Customers of the Zoopla-backed firm will be able to offer vendors,...

TPFG boss: Lead generation and lettings will boost our brands

The Property Franchise Group (TPFG) is working on tools to improve its franchisee brand’s use of data and digital marketing capabilities. Gareth Samples, chief executive of TPFG...

TPFG posts record revenue despite sales slump

The Property Franchise Group (TPFG) has posted record revenues for the first half of the year despite the subdued market. An interim update from the listed firm,...

Zoopla parent company unveils rebrand

Zoopla parent company ZPG’s property division, which includes the portal and agency software provider Alto, is to be renamed as Houseful. Business remains as usual for all...

Marketing guru: ‘Why Strike brand must be retired for Purplebricks’

Marketing expert Simon Leadbetter has recommended that Purplebricks absorb its owner’s brand to consolidate its market position.  Leadbetter, former group marketing director of Countrywide and founder of...

Buyers continue to rely on relatives for homebuying support - research

Mortgage searches on behalf of borrowers using gifted equity or making a concessionary purchase from a family member rose by 75% in August, research suggests. Analysis by...

Rugby legend named as property awards host

The inaugural Northwest PROPS Awards will be hosted by England and British Lions rugby legend Martin Bayfield. The two-time Grand Slam winner will host the ceremony taking...

Government ‘capitulation to NIMBYS’ pushing property supply to record lows - warning

The net housing supply in England could be set to fall to decade lows, builders have warned. New analysis by the Home Builders Federation (HBF), based on...

Savills launches ‘emotion-focused’ TV advertising campaign

Savills has launched a new multi-media advertising campaign focusing on the role of emotion in moving home whatever the life stage. The campaign went live over the...

Government to include property logbooks in First Homes scheme

The Government’s First Homes Scheme is set to be the first state-backed initiative to use digital property logbooks. It comes after a year of planning between the...

Hamptons: ‘House prices are correcting not crashing’

House prices won’t fall by as much as the 1990s and 2008 financial crashes but it will take until 2025 for sales to recover to pre-pandemic...

Government urged to resurrect Help to Buy

The Government is facing calls to resurrect the Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme. The housing support scheme, which provided a Government-backed loan worth up to 20%...

Self-employed agency models to hit 50% market share - prediction

A third of agents are expecting the self-employed model to make up 50% of the market in the next decade but there are concerns about the...

TwentyCi: ‘It is a great time to be a buyer’

It’s a great time to be a homebuyer if purchasers can afford it, TwentyCi has claimed. It comes as the property data company’s latest Homemover Pulse blog...

Jonathan Rolande: What do the final 100 days of 2023 hold for estate agents?

As Summer makes way for Autumn, many in the sector are bracing themselves for storm-clouds. But should they be?  Here, in his latest column for Estate Agent...

Six Douglas Allen branches close in shift to ‘super hubs’

Arun Estates has unveiled plans to close six Douglas Allen branches as it moves agents in the East London region to a ‘super hubs’ model. Aldo Sotgiu,...

The only way is ethics! New ethical agent network launches

Industry partner Jerry Lyons is launching a new network to support independent ethical estate agencies. The Ethical Agent Network (EAN) aims to unite the most ethical estate...

Coventry agent secures historic ‘super office’

A long-established Coventry estate agent has created a new “super office” in one of the city’s most historic areas as it looks to continue to grow...

Agents Do Charity - heatwave helpers

Check out some of the latest charitable endeavours from agency and property brands this week. If you have a charitable event or donations you think the rest...

House prices falling at fastest rate since 2009 - Halifax

House prices have fallen at the steepest rate since 2009, Halifax data shows. The latest Halifax House Price Index for August suggests that average property values fell...

Property market woes weigh on listed agency and building brands

The slower sales market has started hitting high-profile agency and property brands. Agency franchise brand Winkworth’s half year results yesterday showed network revenues were down by 5%...

Prime buyers remain ‘unrealistic’ about price cuts - claim

Buyer expectations of price discounts are too high, a prime agent claims. Jo Eccles, founder and managing director of prime London buying agent Eccord, has suggested that...

Upmarket agency network launches masterclass on boosting fees

Fine & Country has launched a new Masterclass Series focused on the art of maximising fees and boosting additional revenue. Set to take place in both London...

Zoopla highlights agency customer support improvement 

Increasing numbers of customer service issues have been resolved since Zoopla outsourced its support department, the portal claims. Zoopla outsourced its customer service operation for agents in...

Spectre hails success of fee recovery tool

Spectre has hailed the success of its recently launched fee recovery tool after helping an agent reclaim £7,000 in owed fees. Launched in March, the prospecting and...

OnTheMarket scores with new radio sponsorship deal

OnTheMarket has extended its sponsorship deal with radio station talkSPORT It will see the portal continue its Premier League airtime partnership with the station for a fourth...

Soccer pundit Dion Dublin is up front for Expo

Former England footballer turned TV pundit and property expert, Dion Dublin, is to headline the South East Property Expo.   The centre forward, who played for Manchester...

Estate agents dinner returns for extra helpings

The EA Directors Club dinner, hosted by the Baldock Brothers returns on September 21st after its summer break. The event, which is held in the Westminster area...

Buyers have the x factor in UK property market

Buyers are now calling the shots and can expect lower bids to secure the house of their dreams, a property expert has said.  Jonathan Rolande, director of...

Top schools boost weary London market

House prices near to the higher ranked schools in the capital are getting a welcome boost, according to research from London agents Bensham and Reeves. The price...

RICS granted observer status for COP28

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has been granted observer status for this year's UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) to be held from 30 November...

Northern cities are UK property hotspots, says new report

The cities of Liverpool, Nottingham and Manchester have enjoyed the biggest house price rises since pre-Covid. Despite interest rates at a 13-year high and a fairly flat...

Spicerhaart's HR Director lands board role

Spicerhaart’s HR director has been promoted to the company’s Board after being credited with helping to foster a high-performance culture and promoting diversity and inclusion across...

Belvoir CEO praises entrepreneurial spirit as half-year profits rise

Property franchise and financial services group, Belvoir plc, has reported increased half-year revenue and pre-tax profits. Revenues grew 3% to £15.9m, management service fees were up 4%...

Cash is king north of the border as viewings surge at Corum

Despite a 15-year peak in interest rates, one of Glasgow’s leading estate agents, Corum, has reported a 10% surge in viewings during the first half of...

Labour appoints Rayner to take on Gove

Labour’s Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner is to add the housing brief to her deputy leader role. She takes over from Lisa Nandy who has been demoted to...

Top agents who keep the customer satisfied - survey

A new survey has scored the top ten national real estate brands in terms of reputation, value and customer satisfaction. Using YouGov data, marketing consultancy, unchained.marketing, analysed...

Purplebricks' Kenny Bruce returns to estate agency

Purplebricks co-founder Kenny Bruce has returned to the estate agency world. Bruce, who helped launch Purplebricks with his brother Michael as well as collapsed-portal Boomin, has been...

Conveyancing Association reveals latest affiliate member

The Conveyancing Association (CA) has announced Post Partner as its latest affiliate member. Post Partner offers a range of document management tools focused on reducing administration. It argues...

Property prices falling at fastest rate since 2009 but 'soft landing' is possible

House prices fell at their fastest rate since July 2009 last month, according to Nationwide.  The lender’s latest House Price Index shows average property values fell 5.3%...

Agency recruiter expands into financial services

Agency recruitment firm Rayner Personnel has launched a financial services division. It will be led by Daniel Clow, who has held senior roles with Sequence brands and...

Agency feedback platform goes mobile

The ESTAS Group has launched an ‘app’ style version of its platform for smartphones. ESTAS Mobile offers all the functionality of the ESTAS Review and ESTAS Insight...

Regional agent launches self-employed partner model

Preston Baker has launched a new partner model to help estate agents start their own business in the property world. The new model sees estate agents onboarding...

Self-employed agency brand offers Jiu-Jitsu lessons

Agents from across the eXp global network are being offered Jiu-Jitsu training sessions. This is not an attempt to help agents fight harder for listings and sales...

Jonathan Rolande: What will ULEZ expansion mean for estate agents?

The roll out of ULEZ has been one of the big stories of the week. The new zones will have implications for the property market. Jonathan...

Marketing expert: House of agency brands strategy is ‘inefficient’

An industry marketing expert has questioned the strategies of ‘house of brand’ agencies. Writing exclusively for Estate Agent Today, Simon Leadbetter, former group marketing director of Countrywide...

Agents unruffled as sales slide again

Agents insist the market is still moving – albeit among cash buyers – after HMRC data shows another dip in sales activity. HMRC’s latest property transactions statistics estimates...

Fine & Country launches marketing campaign to highlight happy customers

Fine & Country has launched a marketing campaign centred around becoming the most recommended national estate agency brand among consumers. The campaign will include a variety of...

Local agent launches with Tata Steel grant

A new estate agency has benefited from a grant scheme run by multinational company Tata Steel. Lincolnshire estate agent Grahame Barratt-Needham has launched into the property world,...

New warnings issued over student property fraud

The National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB) and Gumtree have teamed up to help fightback against fraudsters, particularly when it comes to student accommodation. In a joint...

Mortgage approvals hit three-month low

The number of mortgage approvals for home purchase hit a five-month low in July. Bank of England data shows there were 49,444 mortgage approvals last month. The figure...

Cluttons secures new ‘trophy’ London HQ

Cluttons has moved its London office headquarters to a new prime trophy building in the City as it looks to accelerate its growth.  The property and agency...

‘Bank of Family’ to fund record number of property purchases claim

Record numbers of homebuyers are set to get on the property ladder with the help of the “Bank of Family” this year, research claims. Financial support from...

House prices may be falling but it's getting more expensive to move - claim

Buyers are facing higher costs when moving home, research shows. Analysis by Barrows & Forrester found the costs associated with moving home, such as removal hire, solicitors...

Open Property Data Association welcomes first lender member

United Trust Bank (UTB) has become the first lender to sign up to the Open Property Data (OPDA) Association. Additionally, the bank’s director of mortgages Buster Tolfree...

Propertymark extends conference season

Propertymark has doubled its regional conference programme for 2023. Working in partnership with Rightmove, the agency trade body will now host 10 regional conferences across the country...

Belvoir boosts financial services brand with latest acquisition

Belvoir Group PLC has expanded its financial services network with the acquisition of MAB (South West) Ltd for £1m.   This follows the earlier acquisition of BMA...

Fewer buyers stretching affordability to get on property ladder

Mortgage lending has dropped and buyers are no longer stretching their affordability limits, UK Finance claims. New data from the banking trade body suggests the level of...

Zoopla: House sales set to hit a decade-low

The property market is set for its quietest year for sales since 2012, Zoopla claims. The portal’s latest House Price Index estimates that the market is on...

Prime agent unveils new office location

John D Wood & Co has expanded with a new office in Winchester, Hampshire. The Winchester office occupies a stone-built corner premises in the heart of the...

Recipe for success? Former Deliveroo executives launch property portal

Deliveroo may have revolutionised the way we order takeaways and now three former executives from the delivery app have set their sights on the property market. Rather...

Competition watchdog highlights areas for housing investigation

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has highlighted land banks and planning blockages as potential areas for investigation. It comes as the competition watchdog provided an update...

Spicerhaart maintains turnover but posts 2022 loss after year of investment

Spicerhaart’s shift to a hybrid model and investment in the business and staff has contributed to a £5m loss for 2022, the independent agency brand has...

Hundreds attend sell-out event for new self-employed agency

New self-employed estate agency iad UK hosted its first UK business opportunity presentation (BOP) in Moorgate, London last week at a sell-out event. More than 100 prospective...

Sibling support for first-time buyers doubles - research

Forget the Bank of Mum & Dad, now even siblings are chipping in to help brothers and sisters onto the property ladder. Research by Hamptons using Skipton...

Spicerhaart names joint CEO team

Two directors of Spicerhaart are set to take over as joint chief executive of the independent agency brand. It comes as its founder Paul Smith was promoted...

Jonathan Rolande: Are we set for a day dedicated to home ownership dreams?

Uncertainty over interest rates continues to dominate the thoughts of many working in the property sector.  Here in his latest column property expert Jonathan Rolande predicts what...

Thinktank calls for Stamp Duty to be scrapped

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has repeated calls for Stamp Duty to be scrapped as politicians prepare for party conference season where future policy will...

Lack of digital tools adds to stress of property purchases – claim

UK homebuyers have expressed support for more digital tools to reduce the administrative burden of purchasing a property yet few have actually used any. Research by anti-money...

Agents Do Charity - supporting young Lionesses

Check out some of the latest charitable endeavours from agency and property brands this week. If you have a charitable event or donations you think the rest...

Spicehaart to appoint new boss as Paul Smith becomes executive chairman

Industry stalwart Paul Smith has stepped down as chief executive of Spicerhaart. The company announced yesterday that the 62-year-old is taking on a new role as executive...

Survey reveals demand for downsizing

A third of those opting to move home in the current market are downsizers, research claims. However, it’s not the increased cost of borrowing or living that...

Property expert predicts mortgage rate war in boost for buyers

Homebuyers and borrowers could be set to benefit from a mortgage price war, a property expert claims. Jonathan Rolande, from the National Association of Property Buyers, has...

Halifax predicts further declines in house price to income ratios

Housing affordability is improving but the benefits are being offset by high mortgage rates, Halifax claims. Analysis by the lender found the house price to income ratio...

Families opt for renting to secure top schools – claim

The managing editor of The Good Schools Guide has outlined the measures that some families take to secure a place at a leading school in London.  On...

Zoopla-backed Alto launches proptech Partner Hub

Agency software provider Alto has launched a new Partner Hub for proptech firms. The Zoopla-backed brand said proptech firms will be able to access API documentation, Alto’s test...

Simon Cowell takes a hit on Holland Park home

It seems even celebrity music moguls and TV judges aren’t immune to the housing market slowdown. X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell is believed...

Rightmove: Mortgage rates are moving in a ‘positive direction’

Home-movers are set for a period of stability in the mortgage market, Rightmove claims. The portal’s latest mortgage tracker found average mortgage rates have fallen slightly over...

Upmarket agent celebrates record off-market sale

Oliver Bernard has set a new Mayfair and St James record after an off-market sale. The luxury agent has sold an unmodernised lateral apartment at St James’s...

Conveyancers reveal industry gripes

The majority of conveyancers would advise aspiring lawyers against entering the profession, research has revealed. It comes as a survey by Today’s Conveyancer highlighted issues facing frontline...

Winkworth expands prime north London presence

Winkworth is expanding further in north London, with a new office opening in fashionable West Hampstead. The move by the agency franchise brand will extend its operation...

TwentyEA: Exchanged prices are still rising

Exchanged prices across the UK have grown at an average of 3.8% over the past year despite ‘gloomy headlines’, TwentyEA claims. New analysis from the property data...

New self-employed agency brand names high profile non executive director

Former Homesearch head of training and development Simon Gates has been appointed as a non executive director of Chris Buckler’s new self-employed agency brand The Estate...

PropTech Today - How can regulated open data sharing unlock the property transaction?

The property transaction in England and Wales is a notoriously slow and fraught process, taking typically 150 days to complete, with an average 30% failure rate,...

Foxtons: The London market is still alive 

Foxtons remains confident about the property market despite sliding house price growth. It comes as data from Rightmove revealed that asking prices of new listings have dropped...

LSL boosts financial services business with mortgage acquisition

LSL has grown its mortgage business with another acquisition. The property brand announced yesterday that it has acquired the Tenet Mortgage network, adding 278 advisers working within...

TM Group boss steps down

Joe Pepper has stepped down as chief executive of TM Group. It follows the acquisition of the proptech brand by Aurelius last month. Pepper joined the TM Group...

Federation of Independent Agents announces Dataloft partnership

The Federation of Independent Agents (FIA) has unveiled a new collaboration with Dataloft. The partnership will give FIA members access to Dataloft’s Inform platform.  The tool turns property...

Major housebuilder warns economic uncertainty is deterring buyers

Trading conditions in the housing market have worsened during this summer, Crest Nicholson has warned. A trading update from the housebuilder said while pricing has remained resilient...

Property market shifts to ‘serious buyers and sellers’ as activity dips - claim

The market is shifting to more serious buyers and sellers as the level of stock hits a 12-month high, Propertymark claims. It comes as member data from...

Shock as Phil Spencer’s parents die in 'horrific crash'

Property guru and TV presenter Phil Spencer has paid tribute to his parents after they died in a car crash at their home. Spencer, a regular contributor...

PropTech Today - Is the pace of technological development accelerating?

If we turn the clock back only twenty years, the concept of managing our lives from a handheld device was within the realms of science fiction...

Agents urged to get nominating for new northern awards

Agents are being invited to get involved in the inaugural North West PROPS Awards. The North West PROPS, a northern-focused version of the oldest and most popular...

Rightmove: Asking prices hit summer slump

Asking prices of new listings have dropped 1.9% this month, the largest fall in August since 2018. Data from Rightmove shows asking prices as of mid-Augusts were...

Jonathan Rolande: What agents can learn from Wilko collapse

In his latest column Jonathan Rolande looks at the future of estate agnts on the high street.   You only need to walk down a High Street to see...

Deadline approaches for agency customer experience awards

Time is running out for agents to submit their final customer reviews for consideration in the prestigious 2023 allAgents Customer Experience Awards.  With fewer than 2 weeks...

High EPC ratings don’t boost property sale prices - claim

Energy performance certificates (EPC) make little difference to property sales and the Government should consider replacing them with more effective green tools, agents claim. Analysis by Propertymark...

Logbook trade body welcomes new partners

Two new companies have joined the Residential Logbook Association’s (RLBA)integration programme. Home move tracking platform adoor has integrated with the RLBA register of logbooks as part of...

Agents Do Charity - on your bike

Check out some of the latest charitable endeavours from agency and property brands this week. If you have a charitable event or donations you think the rest...

Auction listings rise but sales revenue declines in ‘challenging market’

The number of properties going under the hammer has increased but there has been a dip in the percentage of lots selling. Figures from auction data company...

Chestertons:  Fewer buyers are in the market but sellers are undeterred

Buyers are waiting for mortgage rates to stabilise before making a move in the property market, Chestertons claims. It comes as the latest analysis from the London...

Street unveils AI tool to create unique property descriptions

Agency software and CRM provider Street.co.uk has launched a new artificial intelligence (AI) to help users write property descriptions. Street AI uses artificial intelligence taught through agent-specific...

LonRes: There isn’t enough buyer urgency to get deals done

A lack of urgency is limited the number of deals being agreed in prime London, LonRes has warned. New analysis from the property data company shows the...

House price growth hits three-year low

House price growth and inflation has continued to slow but there are warnings that further interest rate cuts could still dent buyer budgets and hit the...

Trading Standards: How agents should handle offers

Industry regulator the National Trading Standards & Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) has issued a reminder to agents about their responsibilities when it comes to passing on offers. New...

Trading Standards issues ‘working definitions’ of common agency terms

Trading Standards has issued new guidance for agents to provide “working definitions” of common property marketing terms. The National Trading Standards & Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) said...

Leaders Romans Group unveils new shared ownership offering

Leaders Romans Group has relaunched its specialist shared ownership brand. Previously known as Leaders and Romans Shared Ownership, which has sold more than 2,000 properties in the...

Agent exams boost earns by up to 4k - claim

Propertymark is appealing to school leavers to consider a career in property. As students discover their A level results or Highers in Scotland today, the trade body...

Sellers admit to ‘hiding’ property problems from buyers

A large proportion of sellers have admitted to hiding problematic parts of their property from potential buyers. A survey of more than 1,000 UK homeowners who have...

Rightmove reveals strongest seller and buyer markets

St. George in Bristol has been identified as the UK’s strongest sellers’ market. Analysis by Rightmove found eight in ten homes listed for sale in the area...

Hats off! Independent agent unveils marketing campaign

Independent estate agency Hat and Home has released a sneak peak of its 2023 brand marketing campaign.  Renowned for its distinctive advertising using hat imagery to portray...

Agent reviews platform unveils ‘game-changing’ certified reports

Agency reviews website allAgents.co.uk has revamped its certified reports to help agents secure new business. The documents provide agents with a downloadable reputation report that can be...

Dhe Wertha! Cornish agent turns boards bilingual 

Hunters West Cornwall has announced a new initiative to celebrate the Cornish language. The agency brand has introduced new sales boards that feature Cornish language translations.  Alongside common...

Mastering the Art of Perfect Timing

Do you need help to reach your target audience with the right content at the right time? Do you wish there was a way to make...

Agency trade body asks Government why leaseholders are still being ignored

Propertymark has written to the Government to ask why attempts to protect leaseholders are being ignored. It comes as the Earl of Lytton has been trying to...

TwentyCi: Property market remains ‘stubbornly resistant’ to collapse

There is uncertainty in the market but it is still moving, TwentyCi claims. It comes as figures from the property data company show a dip in new...

Jonathan Rolande: The next two months will dictate how the market finishes 2023

In his latest column Jonathan Rolande explains why estate agents shouldn’t be distracted by the latest house price index figures. Nobody reading last week’s latest bulletin from...

Industry figure reaches halfway point in one million step challenge

Industry figure Michael Day has reached the halfway point of a one million step challenge he has embarked on to raise money for Diabetes UK between...

Big rise in agents registered with HMRC but thousands more to come

Over 20,000 UK agency branches have now registered with HMRC for anti-money laundering supervision. A new analysis from risk management platform Thirdfort shows that 20,059 UK branches...

Quitting landlords have missed top of the sales market says agency

Hamptons is warning landlords disillusioned with buy to let that they may have missed the top of the sales market - and will therefore lose out...

Transactions plummet to 15 year low according to e.surv

Transactions for the first half of 2023 are at their lowest level since the financial crisis of 2007-09 as a result of rising mortgage rates.  That’s the...

New build sales stronger than rest of market - agency’s bold claim

An estate agency with a major new homes department claims new build sales are proving more resilient than the mainstream market. Leaders Romans Group says its Q2...

Good economic news could be bad for housing market - warning

Experts are warning that the weekend’s better than expected economic news could indirectly hurt the housing market. The UK economy grew by 0.2 per cent in the...

At Ease! Agency wins award for being Forces-Friendly

Spicerhaart has received a Silver Award in the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme which acknowledges the agency group’s commitment to being a forces-friendly employer.  The country’s...

“Visionary” agent gets glowing write up after signing new deal

Prominent industry figure Sean Newman has renewed his licence agreement with Fine & Country for five more years.  Newman has licenses in over 30 locations across the...

Sharp rise in arrears and worse to come, mortgage lenders warn

There’s been a sharp rise in mortgage arrears as high interest rates have hit the housing market - and now there’s a warning of worse to...

Housing market still in doldrums despite mortgage rate cuts

Mortgage lenders are at last cutting their rates on some deals, confident that the Bank of England’s base rate may rise little more or perhaps not...

Agency expands after merger of solicitor companies

Kendal’s Arnold Greenwood Estate Agents has expanded with the launch of a new south Cumbria branch. Estate agency services at the new office in Grange-over-Sands are provided...

Property tax grab up 50% in two years - agency chief’s claim

Property taxes collected in Scotland have risen nearly 50 per cent in just two years according to analysis of the latest statistics by a leading property...

Agency beefs up new homes division despite sector worries

London estate agency Chestertons has made another senior appointment for its growing New Homes division. Henry O’Neill, former New Homes Director at Dexters, is joining Chestertons’ North...

Retail guru takes over at Savills as agency’s profits tumble

Retail queen Stacey Cartwright will succeed Nicholas Ferguson as chair of Savills from December 31 - but she inherits a company which has just reported a...

New self-employed agency brand claims international success

A new self employed agency business that launched into the UK market last month claims its success elsewhere in the world proves the efficacy of its...

Mortgage approval totals to fall sharply this year - forecast

It won’t come as a surprise that forecasts show mortgage approvals will fall this year. But a new analysis says the drop could be as much as...

Housing Market Trouble Ahead - gloomy RICS predictions

The latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors housing market snapshot shows the increasing damage being wrought by high interest rates. The RICS snapshot is a sentiment survey...

Bleak outlook for new builds after report of 40 per cent sales slump

Alarm bells are ringing in the new build sales sector after figures have been released by a major house builder. Bellway says that in the financial year...

40 Not Out! Proof that estate agency is a people business

A well-known Yorkshire estate agent is celebrating 40 years working at the same firm - and he’s marking his involvement in no fewer than 10,000 transactions! Ian...

Not all doom and gloom - Market stats show encouraging signs

New data from respected consultancy TwentyEA showed that the market is proving unexpectedly resilient - and in the case of new instructions, running unusually strongly.  In July...

Agency speaks out on lack of LGBTQ+ accommodation

Knight Frank has spoken out over what it claims is a severe lack of appropriate accommodation being marketed exclusively to the over-65 LGBTQ+ community. The agency says...

Most buyers won’t read listings if they dislike photographs

New research from an estate agency attempts to quantify what most of the industry already knows - that prospective buyers won’t shortlist a home to view...

OTM allows ads for agents’ mortgage and conveyancing partners

OnTheMarket has become the first major UK portal to allow agents to promote their own revenue generating partnerships on listing pages. Agents who purchase OTM’s Activator product can...

House price cuts hit their highest level for nine years

Price reductions have reached their highest level in at least nine years according to estate agency Hamptons.   Some 50 per cent of homes in England & Wales...

Revealed - this year’s busiest day for moving (and it’s soon)

A house removal specialist and a consumer property group reckon they’ve discovered the busiest day of the year for moving. It’s Friday August 25 which is set...

Sellers settling for “middle ground” still turn a profit - Propertymark

Propertymark says that sellers who strive to find a “middle ground” in today’s difficult market can still turn a healthy profit on their homes in most...

Share Price plummets after agency group’s profits warning

The share price of LSL Property Services dropped around 16 per cent at one point yesterday following a profits warning given in a gloomy half-year trading...

Warning To Agents - House price falls to continue into 2024

The Halifax is warning that house price falls will continue into 2024. It cautions that price drops will be “gradual, rather than precipitous” but will nonetheless continue...

Jonathan Rolande: Persuasive agents will win in this market

In his latest column Jonathan Rolande explains why estate agents need to ditch selling techniques and brush up on persuasion to ride out a falling market. If...

Keller Williams UK replaces chief executive in latest restructure

Keller Williams UK (KWUK) is set to change its chief executive in the latest restructure of the self-employed agency brand. Ben Taylor will be replaced as chief...

Strike staff escape cuts as Purplebricks employees face restructure

Purplebricks staff are facing job cuts just months after the takeover by Strike. A spokesperson for Purplebricks has confirmed rumours that it is in a period of...

Upmarket agency unveils new southern licensee partnership

Two well-known Fine & Country licensees have partnered to boost their presence in the South West of England. Jonathan Handford and Sean Newman have joined forces with...

New strategic partnership aims to boost agency compliance

Client onboarding and verification tool LandmarkAgent has announce a strategic partnership with CRM provider Street.co.uk. The collaboration will enable agency users to access the benefits of both...

Mortgage rates drive buyers away from London property

Higher mortgage rates have replaced the 'race for space' as the primary reason for buying outside of London this year, research suggests. Analysis by Hamptons found first-time...

PropTech Today - Are open APIs the gateway to mass opportunities?

Whether you realise it or not, APIs have helped make your day possible.  Reflect on everything you’ve done today online. On your trip to work alone, you...

Agency salaries revealed! Are you paid enough?

A new report highlights levels of agency pay across the property sector. The figures, from Rayner Personnel’s latest Property Sector Salary Report, shows pay scales ranging from...

Auction house market is booming – but for how long?

The size of the UK property auction house market hit the highest point in a decade in 2022, approaching half a billion pounds in revenue, research...

Agents urged to show their value by raising fees

Agents are being urged to place more value on their work and to charge higher fees. Richard Palfreeman, advisor at training provider the Property Academy, said agents...

On your e-bike! Chestertons partners with sustainable cycling scheme

Chestertons has become the first corporate partner to sign up to London e-bike operator Forest’s employee scheme in an effort to further reduce its environmental impact. As...

Have Bank of England rate hikes peaked?

Agents and property professionals have expressed hopes that rates have peaked after latest rise Iin the cost of borrowing. The Bank of England yesterday hiked interest rates...

Agents Do Charity - fundraising in the rain

Check out some of the latest charitable endeavours from agency and property brands this week. If you have a charitable event or donations you think the rest...

Cash and needs-based buyers driving prime markets - Savills

Cash purchasers, younger needs-based buyers and relocators are the driving force behind the current prime UK property market, according to research from Savills. Analysis of prospective buyers...

Belvoir trading update: Lettings income offsets sales slump

Belvoir has reported revenue growth for the first half of 2023 despite “challenging market conditions,” with its lettings performance offsetting lower levels of sales activity. A trading...

Rightmove and Propertymark partner to boost agent data and training

Rightmove and Propertymark have unveiled a two-year partnership to provide agents with the latest local market data and easier access to training at events across Great...

Industry executive queries focus of new digital property group

The chairman of the Residential Logbook Association (RLBA) has queried the relevance of a new Government-backed property group focused on digital information. A new Digital Property Market...

TPO: Agents must be wary of appraisal and offer complaints 

Estate agents have been urged to be wary of complaints around market appraisals and the handling of offers. The latest annual review from The Property Ombudsman (TPO)...

How far will interest rates rise today?

Agents and property professionals will be keeping an eye on Threadneedle Street in London today, with the Bank of England expecting to raise interest rates for...

TPFG maintains positive outlook despite sales slump

The Property Franchise Group (TPFG) has said its multiple income streams will help it navigate the uncertain markets after it revealed a dip in sales. A trading...

Conveyancers face ‘too many complaints’ about undertaking breaches

The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has warned it is receiving “too many complaints” about breaches of undertakings by solicitors. The regulator warns these breaches can mean...

OnTheMarket aims to ‘demystify home moving’ with consumer podcast

OnTheMarket is to launch a six-part podcast series aimed at demystifying the home moving process for less experienced property seekers. It comes as the portal and property...
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