Archive

A new survey suggests that despite many lenders increasing their rates, most mainstream mortgages are down compared to the start of...

The scores are in and the results announced for the 2018 ESTAS Awards - and the winner of the coveted Grand...

It’s London Marathon weekend and it’s set to be hot, hot, hot for those agents and other brave industry folk running...

Average house prices in the UK have increased 4.4 per cent in the year to February according to the latest official...

The UK’s largest property auctioneer says its first quarter’s sales figures for 2018 are ahead of those for the same period...

There has been a big rise in activity in the equity release market based on data from the first quarter of...

Estate agent licensing will reduce competition, make buying and selling homes more expensive, and add another layer of red tape to...

I’m writing this a week into my instruction decision. It has been a fascinating journey to date. As I discussed last week,...

Property purchases for buyers requiring mortgages reached 50,000 in February, the highest level for the month since 2007.  The data, from mortgage...

Franchise giant Hunters says independent agencies which joined the firm in recent years have typically beaten the performance of the housing market. Chief...

Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s Agents Do Charity - it’s a bumper edition with plenty of fantastic fund-raising going...

Demand is down for the 12th successive month according to the latest market survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. New...

There were 43 per cent more new properties listed for sale than in the same month last year according to online...

Who are you and what does it say on your business card? Awais Ahmad - Founder and CEO of Hystreet (I don’t...

Purplebricks has issued a provocative response to the government’s new measures to promote a more professional and transparent house buying process.  The...

To say I had a lot of reaction to last week's column about selling my flat would be an understatement. I've never...

The number of house sales falling through pre-completion during the first quarter of 2018 reached its highest level for this time...

The latest house price index figures from the Halifax gives just the spur the market may need as the spring sales...

Agents and representatives from other property sectors have reacted enthusiastically to proposals to professionalise the industry. As we reported yesterday, the government...

It’s under two weeks to The ESTAS 2018 held in London on Friday April 20. It’s the biggest and best bash in...

Just like that, the Easter Bank Holiday has come and gone and I find myself now looking ahead to the Summer.  The...

Average prices dropped another 1.1 per cent in prime central London in the year to March according to new figures released...

Buying a property at an auction in Britain used to be regarded as a risky business but the whole process is...

As always seems to be the case with Purplebricks, the hybrid agency has had a good week...and a bad one. Undeniably impressive...

At any given moment it’s difficult to say which issue dominates our marketplace, but I think it’s fair to acknowledge during...

Last week, a story was published by CNBC about a couple who sold their home, for above the asking price, without...

As noted in Estate Agent Today’s news pages, OnTheMarket’s (OTM) recent dire share performance (at time of writing the price is...

Purplebricks has given details of how it intends to use some of its new investment, and in particular is spelling out...

House price growth in London has hit a seven year low according to Hometrack, with prices actually down across 42 per...

Countrywide’s attempt to rebuild its expertise pool following the Alison Platt era continues apace with the announcement today that John Hards...

For part two of the 'Day in the life of' series, I spoke to Peter Kavanagh, who first joined Romans in...

Three weeks has flown by (I missed an early deadline last week - apologies) and I find myself writing the next...

One of the most important aspects of running a successful estate or letting agency is being able to generate new business...

Countrywide’s 132-page annual report, released today, has given details of the management and restructuring costs incurred by the company during its...

A magazine claims its investigations into the sales tactics of Countrywide and Connells suggest the two agency are “harming consumers, stopping them from...

House prices started 2018 with a modest 0.3 per cent drop across the UK as a whole, including 0.5 per cent...

Average asking price of newly-marketed property have jumped 1.5 per cent - or over £4,500 - in the past month, says...

Have you noticed a new turf war going on on the fringes of the agency world? It’s not a high-profile battle like...

Market analysts at Swiss bank UBS are warning that Purplebricks’ meteoric growth in the UK may be slowing. The bank has cut...

High-end international estate agency company Savills claims Yopa, in which it has invested substantial sums, is now the UK’s 10th largest...

So here’s another week’s great work being done by colleagues in our industry - and we’re very pleased to salute them. Everybody...

The switchback of house price indices and other data on the state of the market has taken a turn for the...

Ombudsman Services, which recently announced it was quitting its role as one of three approved redress schemes for estate and lettings...

The Ernst & Young ITEM Club - a group of economists highly regarded by politicians and some sectors of the property...

Jefferies - the City consultancy which has in the past worked with Countrywide - has cuts its forecasts for the troubled...

Thanks very much to everyone getting in touch to publicise their efforts for good causes: we’re always delighted to help. Just let...

In an exclusive and candid interview with Estate Agent Today, Countrywide chairman Peter Long has admitted that the company had been...

The troubled Countrywide group has this morning revealed its recovery plan to get - in its words - ‘back to basics’...

One of the world’s leading property technology analysts has compiled a major report on estate agents’ business models - an exercise...

It is thought likely that there will be no new update on the investigation into agents’ alleged infringement of the Competitions...

Coming into force on May 25, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - which replaces the Data Protection Act 1998 -...

HM Land Registry has taken another step towards its aim to “make conveyancing simpler, faster and cheaper” for the general public. The...

The operation of ‘online estate agencies’ has changed substantially in the relatively short few years of their existence: I have spotted...

Firstly, a huge thanks to everyone who shared and commented on my first blog and for all those that emailed me...

When it comes to property, ‘Japanese knotweed’ are the two words most homeowners and prospective buyers do not want to hear.  With...

New figures released by ZPG suggest increasing numbers of agents are listing on three portals. Amongst the latest agencies to renew long...

House prices fell unexpectedly in February with the Nationwide Building Society reporting a drop of 0.3 per cent. This ended some analysts’...

The ESTAS Group has revealed the agencies, suppliers and other property companies shortlisted for its 2018 Estate & Letting Agent Awards. The...

One of the country’s leading PropTech entrepreneurs has responded to recent criticism of online estate agencies and their allegedly-poor record of...

Organisers of the MIPIM conference - primarily for commercial property but with a growing residential presence - are under pressure to clean up...

Foxtons has reported its 2017 figures to shareholders and the City this morning and as expected they show sharp falls in...

London estate agency chain Dexters is expanding its brand once again thanks to a new partnership with Stirling Ackroyd New Homes.  Dexters...

The National Association of Estate Agents says the year has started with a boom as demand from prospective house-hunters increased by...

Coming into force on May 25, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - which replaces the Data Protection Act 1998 -...

The death of traditional TV – where viewers sit down together to watch shows at defined times – has been much...

In the great swathe of housing market data which is delivered each month, conveyancers’ case volumes often get overlooked, however the...

The UK property sector has been a hotbed for financial crime in recent years, with many criminals seeing it as an...

A forecast suggests HM Revenue & Customs will rake in no less than £8.8 billion in Capital Gains Tax in 2018...

An online agency says it knows exactly when a home should be marketed in order to sell in the optimum timeframe.  And...

Agents have welcomed more data suggesting the 2018 market is enjoying a robust start. Last week Rightmove reported a record number of...

Having built over 1,800 websites for estate and lettings agents in the last 20 years, it will come as no surprise...

National franchise giant Hunters has delivered a strong trading update, despite what it describes as 'challenging conditions'. Earlier this week, it was...

Over the last few weeks, mortgage lenders have started to adjust their pricing in anticipation of a further interest rate rise...

Rightmove says it has enjoyed its highest ever monthly number of visitors - 141 million in January. They spent a total of...

Hello and welcome to the latest Property Jobs Today, our round-up each Monday of key job moves within estate and letting...

Thanks once again for your contributions to this weekly round-up of agents’ good works; we love covering these stories which show...

City broker Jefferies is warning that Countrywide’s earnings as calculated through the EBITDA measure could drop to as little as £50m -...

The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled on another complaint lodged about Purplebricks. Although the latest appears minor it adds to a lengthy list...

Readers of a certain age may remember the spoon-bending eccentric Uri Geller, self-proclaimed friend of Michael Jackson and an almost permanent...

Why I won’t buy Purplebricks shares and why if I had any, I’d sell fast… In its latest adverts, Purplebricks attempts to...

The bank Morgan Stanley says OnTheMarket’s listings have fallen 19 per cent in the past year. In a note to investors issued...

Traditional solicitor estate agents north of the border have a higher success rate than any other estate agency model. The claim comes, perhaps...

This week I carry out a question and answer session with one of the most high-profile names in property. Isobel Thomson has...

Estate Agent Today can exclusively reveal that well known London estate agent Patricia Farley has joined the new ‘freelance’ agency Harding...

All eyes are on Agents’ Mutual’s first day of trading on the London stock exchange - just over five years after...

A range of factors - including fierce competition under the supplied housing market, rising property prices and political uncertainty – have...

The housing market has started 2018 as it ended 2017 according to the RICS, with new buyer enquiries, instructions and sales...

One of the three government-approved redress schemes for estate and letting agents says it’s quitting the sector this year - but...

Leading independent property expert Kate Faulkner says the current row regarding the accuracy of Purplebricks’ sales figures should be the trigger...

The Charter for Independent Estate and Letting Agents says Purplebricks is still not complying with a ruling made by the Advertising...

This year is going to be “challenging” for the housing market according to the influential Ernst & Young ITEM Club, a...

Pressure continues to mount on Purplebricks to reveal its sales data after a weekend during which claims about its effectiveness continued...

Countrywide has made a brief announcement to shareholders about amending its credit facility with lenders to help it turn the business...

Hello and welcome to our latest Property Jobs Today; if you missed the launch last week, each Monday we will provide...

Q. How did you get in to the property industry? My career in the property industry actually started out as a holiday...

House price indices provided each month by Halifax and the Nationwide have been branded as “misguiding” and “out of date” and...

The ESTAS Group has announced that it now accepts Feefo reviews as part of its agency awards process.  The ESTAS Group’s Estate...

I have high expectations for this year’s PropTech events and property conferences.  Those that I attended in 2017 demonstrated a real step...

Homes for sale in some parts of inner London are seeing price discounts of up to 10 per cent says Hometrack...

ZPG says it anticipates a strong 2018 according to a trading statement ahead of the company’s annual general meeting today. The firm...

Analysts have given a frosty reception to the announcement by Agents’ Mutual that it is going to float shares priced at...

A former director at London agency Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward has taken a swipe at agencies that have made knee-jerk changes...

PropTech firm Iceberg Digital has revealed an expansion of its marketing deal with franchise agency giant Hunters.  This will involve local content...

In recent years January has become the month of detoxes, fad diets, health kicks such as Dry January and Veganuary, and...

The story of this week - the ousting of Countrywide chief executive Alison Platt - prompts two key questions. Firstly, who takes...

A senior figure at the UK arm of American agency Keller Williams has suggested that Purplebricks won’t succeed in the New...

Oh we do love a busy Agents Do Charity page, and this week’s is busy indeed - thanks to everyone for...

If Countrywide thought its fortunes would immediately improve following the departure of chief executive Alison Platt, it has to think again...

The ESTAS Group has announced record entries for its 2018 estate and letting agents awards.  The national award scheme - which recognises...

Here’s how the LetsBid Property team is helping them do it. A new property platform called LetsBid has launched in the...

What do you need to know if you are considering selling your sales or lettings business?  Here’s ten top tips to think...

There was confirmation this morning, as expected, that Countrywide chief executive Alison Platt has quit - but so far there is no...

Purplebricks has this morning announced it’s to launch in New York. A statement to the London Stock Exchange this morning read: The...

There was an excellent article, published last week, based around an interview with Chandra Dhandapani, CBRE’s chief digital and technology officer.  The...

The number of transactions last year dropped to 1.22m - a minor 0.8 per cent drop on the year before and...

London’s prime central market is turning around at last according to the chief executive of Belgravia estate agency Henry & James. James...

Countrywide appears to be in turmoil with Sky News reports that board members are discussing trying to get rid of controversial...

It is now an industry truism to say that Alison Platt has transformed Countrywide - but recent evidence, and now doubt...

A set of figures produced by Haart suggests the market has had a difficult past 12 months - but the firm...

Sky News is this evening reporting that Alison Platt, the chief executive of the troubled Countrywide agency, may soon be leaving...

Andrews & Robertson, one of the UK’s highest profile auction houses, has been taken over by Ireland’s BidX1 and is set...

Shares in troubled agency group Countrywide have fallen to their lowest-ever level of 106.40p in trading this morning. Yesterday shares fell a...

Connells Group’s estate agency business increased its market share of new instructions in 2017 by almost four per cent, despite a...

With the year in full swing we have some more heroic fund-raising and grant-giving stories to tell this week. Thanks so much...

Franchise giant Winkworth has told its shareholders that its revenues for 2017 are likely to be less than five per cent...

Fall-through rates have long been a problem for the UK residential property market, the issue is nothing new. Today, however, the...

Rightmove says its visits so far in January are running over nine per cent higher than the same period a year...

After the fun and over-indulgence of the festivities, most of us are now back to the world of work. And, with...

Only two weeks into the new year and we’re already in full swing with a wide range of fund-raising - well...

Two UK online estate agencies have been named in a list of the world’s top 50 real estate start-ups to watch...

Humberts has made two internal promotions to the leadership of its sales and franchising divisions.   Tim Simmons has been appointed Head...

In last week’s column, I asked 14 industry leaders to give their predictions for the year ahead. Well, it seems a handful of...

Arun Estates has launched what it describes as “a major new departure” - a fully-staffed High Street office but covering a...

A new property portal called Linktosale aims to launch in the UK at the start of March following what appears to...

A chain tracking platform claims a trial by Leaders Group during 2017 shows its sales progression tool improving completion times by...

A senior figure in another regional estate agency group has expressed scepticism about the popularity of online choices for vendors. Last week...

Welcome to 2018 and if your charitable activities are an indicator, it’s going to be a busy year with plenty happening...

Franchise giant Winkworth says three new offices are set to open early in 2018 to build upon its seven new branches...

Cotswold property and land agency Butler Sherborn has changed its business status to become a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). The agency currently...

Well, I don’t know about you but after the holidays I've got an imprint just below my navel where my belt...

We would like to take this opportunity to provide a clarification to a newsflash sent by Property Industry Eye on January 1.  The...

In 2018, Google will introduce changes to the way it ranks websites, meaning sites will be ranked on the quality of...

HM Land Registry says it’s consulting with the legal industry on a proposal to publish a league table of conveyancers who...

What a year it’s been! Back in 2016 we had Brexit, a new prime minister, Donald Trump’s election, and so when...

One of the world’s leading property technology analysts says Purplebricks-style disruptive agencies will be a trend to look out for in...

The last of the leading agency analysts and business consultancies have now given their predictions for the UK housing market in...

A Happy New Year to all our readers and their families - and all the very best for a successful, profitable...

The property consultancy Hometrack says London is facing “a drawn-out period during which there will be a slow re-alignment of house...

House price growth will come to a halt next year as the number of transactions reduces, according to the RICS forecast...

It’s traditional before Christmas to either review the year past or anticipate the one ahead - but I’m intrigued about what...

Another new year is nearly upon us and, once we’ve got the season of mince pies, mulled wine, pigs in blankets,...

Keller Williams UK is launching its third office in the UK. It’s in Glasgow and the new market centre - the term...

The housing market remains flat as it heads towards 2018 according to the latest snapshot survey by the Royal Institution of...

Purplebricks’ latest trading statement for the six months ending October 31 claims a large rise in revenue, its number of UK...

The UK’s largest property franchise group, Belvoir, says it is reaping rewards from its acquisition of Brook Financial Services and its...

The investment service arm of international ratings agency Moody's is warning that affordability issues are likely to lead to a slowdown...

Rightmove is warning that the asking price of property coming to market has fallen by 2.6 per cent in the past...

One of the last major estate agencies to give its forecast for 2018 says London prices will drop another 0.5 per...

allAgents, the specialist review website which has had a bitter dispute with Purplebricks, has poured cold water on the hybrid agency’s...

Purplebricks is to work with respected review website Feefo - in addition to keeping its controversial existing link with Trustpilot which...

Today’s the big day when we make our draw for two lucky Estate Agent Today readers to attend the prestigious Agents’...

ZPG has revealed its 2017 annual report this morning with a stream of records - 648 million visits to portals, revenue...

Hands up if you’ve read all of the property reports that have been published in the past week or so? Forever...

Figures from the independent Office for Budget Responsibility suggest that house prices across the UK will rise by 3.1 per cent...

As we hurtle towards the end of 2017, it’s time to reflect on the year that’s just been.   Even better, this property-based...

Earlier this week, Chancellor Philip Hammond delivered the Autumn Budget with a strong focus on housing.  The decision to cut stamp duty...

Coldwell Banker, the huge US-based international estate agency business, is warning that Brexit is beginning to damage the market and the...

Another Budget, another pledge of new house building: it appears from statements made over the weekend by Chancellor Phillip Hammond that...

Jackson-Stops predicts that average UK house prices will remain flat in 2018, with stamp duty, Brexit and political uncertainties taking their...

The Guild of Property Professionals is partnering with the ESTAS to introduce greater customer service elements into its 2018 awards. Gold and...

Fine & Country is to offer auction sales options to vendors in its 200 offices from next year. “The modern method of...

Strutt & Parker is warning that Prime Central London prices could drop as much as five per cent in 2018 -...

It’s something of an understatement to say it’s been a busy fortnight for the industry in terms of announcements, consultations and...

The first of the major estate agency research teams to offer a forecast for the 2018 market has kicked off the...

Two of the leading lights in the growing Proptech sector are now working with a company which has a product it...

An industry analyst says some agents may find it tough to survive in 2018 if they’re hit by a double whammy...

The UK estate agency and construction industries are not ready for the huge workload and responsibilities involved in the General Data...

Last week was MIPIM PropTech Summit 2017 in New York, and it was the most oversubscribed to date - proof of the...

ZPG has announced that Connells is the latest major agency chain to sign a long-term deal with its portals Zoopla and...

A man dubbed as Theresa May’s ‘brain’ when he worked in Downing Street has been invited to speak at the annual...

There’s a particularly heart-warming theme to Agents Do Charity this week...several of our heroic industry figures are raising funds for children and...

Speculation that OnTheMarket was courting Countrywide to list on its website after flotation may have suffered a setback following an announcement...

The agent behind a new online service covering off-market homes in part of prime central London says his service will expand...

It used to be so easy. Around 20 years ago there were what we now call full-service estate and letting agencies, and...

Nested, the chain-breaking estate agency that offers vendors a guaranteed sale of their property within 90 days, is to expand beyond...

Sky News says the online estate agent eMoov is drawing up plans to float on the stock market.  Sky has been well-informed...

Some good news is here for landlords and letting agents worried about the energy efficiency rating of their property – the...

Jackson-Stops & Staff is undergoing a rebrand including the creation of a snappier title - it’s just Jackson-Stops now - as...

Countrywide has issued forecasts for the housing market over the next two years amidst a warning that Brexit volatility is the...

Are you protecting your data right? This may sound like the sort of direct warning you get from cold callers or...

Let’s face it - summer seems to be on holiday itself, if the weather in the UK is anything to go...

The highly-popular FUTURE:PropTech conference, regarded as the leading event for showcasing and debating industry technology, has been confirmed again for next...

The latest market snapshot by high-end agency Strutt & Parker reveals more bad news for London - despite the agency itself...

PwC says the drop in the number of property transactions is the economic indicator where the uncertainty over Brexit is most...

For the second time in two weeks, experts are warning that new data protection laws could seriously disrupt the agency industry...

Estate and letting agents are being urged to prepare for new data protection legislation coming into effect next year - but...

The Council of Mortgage Lenders’s buy to let forecast for 2017 and 2018 has been revised down from previous expectations at...

A distinctive boutique estate agency that describes itself as a hybrid between traditional and online operators, and which set up a...

An audit and tax consultancy is urging estate agencies across the UK to prepare for new EU General Data Protection Regulation...

Scotland already has the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax instead of stamp duty - now Wales is following suit, with a...

Our recent roundtable on the proposed ban on tenant fees generated ten tips for growing a lettings business. We’re exploring each tip in more...

In November 2016 when the Autumn Statement was delivered by Chancellor Philip Hammond, the announcement was made to ban letting agent...

The government has admitted that the three per cent stamp duty surcharge has raked in twice as much as expected. In November...

Looking ahead to the Spring Budget this week, the Chancellor Philip Hammond will be obliged to face up to the implications...

Some of the industry’s leading technical experts are this morning launching a new group, the UK PropTech Association, which has already...

The East of England, which takes in areas from Hertfordshire to Norfolk, has recorded the biggest hike in property prices over...

The government appears to have slipped back on two deadlines concerning measures key to the property industry. Firstly the consultation on the...

The rental market has had to face a raft of changes over the past year, including the introduction of the 3% stamp...

Welsh politicians have called for clarity over the new Land Transaction Tax that will replace stamp duty from April next year. In September...

This is the final Estate Agent Today until Tuesday January 3 2017, so everyone at Angels Media sends all good wishes for...

Following a strong start to 2016, particularly in the lower to middle range of the UK housing market, that lasted up...

Transaction levels are forecast to decline from around 1.22m this year to 1.08m next year as uncertainty causes some households to defer...

It is a tedious fact, but the housing market is underpinned by economic fundamentals. This won’t be a surprise.  However, at a...

The Welsh Government has announced that from April 2018, Stamp Duty Land Tax will be replaced with a Land Transaction Tax.  The...

The Bank of England may cut its base rate again, but probably not until November predicts a survey of 59 leading...

A campaign has been launched to make Bristol the colour capital of the UK by ensuring that more homes are painted...

Brexit is set to weaken the wider economy and will lead to a small house price dip of one per cent...

Several agencies have unveiled expansion plans despite the EU referendum, economic uncertainty and fears of a major downturn in the London...

Never in my lifetime have I seen so much enthusiasm and passion for politics. Brexit awoke the sleeping dog in almost...

Agents have been giving their reaction to the shock Brexit referendum result - and their comments have ranged from the gloomy...

The sense of gathering momentum for the Leave campaign ahead of the upcoming EU referendum is causing high levels of uncertainty...

A poll of economists by the news agency Reuters says UK house prices will rise faster than inflation again this year...

Yesterday George Osborne delivered his eighth budget as chancellor, announcing an extra £3.5 billion in spending cuts by 2019-20. The Office for...

JLL says the stamp duty surcharge on buy to let properties and second homes has obliged it to downgrade its forecast...

In the week that Purplebricks floats on the stock market, rival agency easyProperty says it will not list for two years...

The government recently pulled the plug on financing the Green Deal so you may be wondering what this all means for...

LSL Property Services, owner of Reeds Rains and Your Move amongst other high street chains, says last month’s sales market was the...