Welcome to this week’s Agents Do Charity, our chance to salute those who do so much to help others. If your agency...
Archive
![Building sites and battlegrounds - will Labour’s 1.5m new homes plan collapse?](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Developments/ConstructionWorkers-400x310.png)
The new Government’s plan to ‘Get Britain Building’ is ambitious, to say the least. And it is central to their mission, not...
20 July 2024
From: Features
![What is needed to create genuine communities?](/upload/images/shutterstock_277549817.jpg)
We all know what defines a successful community: not just a range of homes to address a range of requirements, but...
20 July 2024
From: Features
![PropTech Today: Addressing the housing crisis through technology](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Special%20Logo's/PropTech%20.jpg)
Under the strain of a housing crisis, the UK faces a severe shortage of affordable homes. This is further emphasised by...
10 July 2024
From: Breaking News
![For profit providers set to treble affordable housing portfolios by 2028](/upload/images/2%20shutterstock_270470528.jpg)
Institutional investors and "for-profit" registered providers are set to play an increasingly vital role in tackling the UK's affordable housing crisis,...
29 June 2024
From: Features
![Addressing the Local Authority Development Impasse](/upload/images/6%20--%20PROOFED%20--%20Addressing%20the%20Local%20Authority%20Development%20Impasse%20By%20Adelle%20Okei%2C%20Surveyor%2C%20Carter%20Jonas%20(Birmingham).jpg)
Building and development plans Recently, Carter Jonas has marketed development sites which have attracted multiple bids, higher offers than had been anticipated...
15 June 2024
From: Features
![Agents’ Verdict - We Need More Details in Labour Manifesto](/upload/images/shutterstock_581378308.jpg)
There’s been a broadly warm response from much of the property industry to Labour’s manifesto, but a call for more detail...
14 June 2024
From: Breaking News
![Industry Views - Labour Agrees New Housing Policies](/upload/images/2%20--%20Proofed%20--%20EAT%20-%20IndustryViews%20(007)%20Labour's%20housing%20pledges.png)
You may not have realised, but yesterday, the new government’s housing policy was agreed. No, I’m not talking about the new ‘Freedom...
08 June 2024
From: Features
![Labour unveils plans for new towns](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/_RentalHousingUK-400x310.png)
The Labour Party has committed to building 1.5m new homes across the country over the next parliament. Shadow Housing Secretary Angela Rayner...
22 May 2024
From: Breaking News
![Labour - The Housing Policies Coming Our Way Soon](/upload/images/2%20--%20Proofed%20--%20EAT%20-%20IndustryViews.png)
You don’t have to be a mind-reader to believe there will be a large majority Labour government by the end of...
04 May 2024
From: Features
![Huge survey to assess housing problems in ‘crunch county’](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyStats-400x310.png)
Thousands of people will be invited to take part in new research to help provide information on why one particularly badly...
26 April 2024
From: Breaking News
![House prices fall for 15 months in Wales - now transactions down too](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/HousePriceDrop-400x310.png)
The average price of a home in Wales fell to £229,263 in the first quarter of 2024, making this the fifth...
25 April 2024
From: Breaking News
![Radical reform of Right To Buy demanded by industry group](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/Will%20the%20post%20Christmas%20boom%20materialise%20this%20year%20CoupleMakingOffer-400x310.png)
A property industry group has called for a reduction in the discounts available for council tenants buying their own home, after...
24 April 2024
From: Breaking News
![Green Belt and Labour - broad industry support for new approach](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/Acquisition-400x310.png)
There’s been broad support from within the agency and wider property sectors for Labour’s proposal to build on selected parts of...
22 April 2024
From: Breaking News
![Connells Group boosts affordable housing offering](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/Property%20Budget.jpg)
Connells Group has boosted its affordable housing offering after appoint Roy Hind as a director. Hind has been named affordable housing director...
04 April 2024
From: Breaking News
![A Property Tale For Our Times - and it doesn't end well](/upload/images/1%20--%20Proofed%20--%20EAT%20-%20IndustryViews%20(005)%20A%20property%20tale%20for%20our%20times.png)
If you want to hear of a tale for our industry’s times - featuring housing shortages, planning disputes, rampant inflation and...
23 March 2024
From: Features
![Agents Do Charity - breaking the budget for good causes](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Special%20Logo's/AgentsDoCharity.png)
Much of the focus may have been on the Spring Budget this week but a variety of charities have received support from...
08 March 2024
From: Breaking News
![The need to fill the void in the aftermath of Help to Buy](/upload/images/4%20The%20need%20to%20fill%20the%20void%20-%20weekend%20features.jpg)
As the Budget approaches and the housing crisis intensifies, it is important to consider what the Chancellor could – and should...
02 March 2024
From: Features
![The Unrealised Potential of Shared Ownership](/upload/images/4%20--%20Proofed%20--%20Weekend%20feature%20-%20The%20need%20for%20more%20shared%20ownership%20by%20Adrian%20Plant.jpg)
In the current challenging market, housebuilders are increasingly looking for novel and engaging means of marketing to achieve the necessary supply/demand...
13 January 2024
From: Features
![Troubled town halls face even tougher times](/upload/images/3%20---%20Proofed%20by%20Peter%20---%20Weekend%20feature%20Troubled%20town%20halls%20face%20even%20tougher%20times%20by%20Mark%20Edgerley.jpg)
The news in September that Birmingham City Council (‘Europe’s largest local authority’) had been forced to issue a Section 114 notice...
06 January 2024
From: Features
![Will cities see an urban renaissance through 'gentle density'](/upload/images/4%20--%20EAT%20weekend%20features%20-%20Will%20cities%20seen%20an%20urban%20renaissance%20by%20Grant%20Leggett.jpg)
The debate over the Green Belt, and the newly branded ‘grey belt’, has made the headlines a lot recently and will...
30 December 2023
From: Features
![New developments look set to catch election fever](/upload/images/5%20--%20Proofed%20--%20Weelkend%20feature%20-New%20developments%20look%20set%20to%20catch%20election%20fever%20by%20Ian%20Barnett.jpg)
Landowners seeking to sell their land for development will have to adjust their expectations as the market, the planning system and...
30 December 2023
From: Features
The private rental landscape has been undergoing a profound transformation, with technology playing a pivotal role in shaping the way tenancies...
13 December 2023
From: Features
![Landlords offered alternative to selling-up amid market clampdown](/upload/images/shutterstock_360072527.jpg)
Landlords considering selling up are being urged to lease their homes to a trust catering for homeless people instead. With fears that...
01 August 2023
From: Breaking News
![Can public private partnerships help address the shortage of rental homes?](/upload/images/4%20RentOnlineSearch-400x310.png)
A recent poll of 11,000 private renters by SpareRooom reveals that 81% spend more than 30% of their take-home pay on...
22 July 2023
From: Features
![No evidence that scrapping housing targets will boost housebuilding, MPs warn](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Developments/Construction-400x310.png)
MPs have cast doubt on the Government’s ability to achieve its target of 300,000 new homes per year by the mid-2020s...
14 July 2023
From: Breaking News
![Turn empty shops and offices into homes - MPs demand action](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews-400x310.png)
Two all-party groups of MPs and Peers have called on the government to act to turn empty buildings into good quality,...
10 July 2023
From: Breaking News
![Slowdown in housebuilding will lead to chronic lack of supply, warns RSM UK](/upload/images/3%20Builders-400x310.png)
The UK is heading for a further drop in housebuilding, according to the latest Purchasing Managers Index data by S&P and...
08 July 2023
From: Features
![Government slammed by public over housing failures](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/DamagedProperty-400x310.png)
A new survey suggests the overwhelming majority of the public are critical of the government’s apparent housing failures. A study of 1,323...
01 June 2023
From: Breaking News
![PropTech Today - Building a fairer future through technology](/upload/images/PropTech%20.jpg)
As a property market expert, I have been closely monitoring the challenges faced by the housing market, particularly the issue of...
17 May 2023
From: Breaking News
![Buyers building homes and communities using 'sweat equity'](/upload/images/__thumbs/Buyers%20building%20homes%20and%20communities%20using%20sweat%20equity%20St%20Williams.jpg/Buyers%20building%20homes%20and%20communities%20using%20sweat%20equity%20St%20Williams__400x300.jpg)
An award-winning charity will cut the cost of homeownership in Wigan by up to £10,000, by offering buyers the chance to...
22 April 2023
From: Features
![Property Jobs Today - the movers, shakers and people in the news](/upload/images/PtopertyJobs%20Today.png)
It has been a busy start to the year for job moves. If you want your jobs or appointments news to feature...
31 January 2023
From: Breaking News
![The Energy Performance Certificate – is it here to stay?](/upload/images/adv-2021/sponsored-content/Sava/360x280px%20image.png)
The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is the direct result of European Legislation. They were introduced because of the Energy Performance of...
30 January 2023
From: Sponsored Content
![Affordable homes preaching to the converted](/upload/images/Site%20logos/EAT%20IndustryViews%20Construction-400x310.png)
Should commercial properties be converted into homes? I think so. I don’t mean the upscale barns becoming large houses, or the fashionable...
28 January 2023
From: Features
![Ex-PM and Home Secretary raise housing issues in Parliament](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/BuildToRent1-400x310.png)
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and ex-Home Secretary Priti Patel had around three years in Government to sort out housing but...
11 January 2023
From: Breaking News
![Agents urged to play greater role in housebuilding demand](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/BuildToRent1-400x310.png)
Agents should use their market position to advise town halls about local housing needs, a senior MP has suggested. Labour and Co-op...
08 December 2022
From: Breaking News
![Government set to miss affordable housing targets - warning](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/NewBuild-2-400x310.png)
The Government has been urged to revise its plans for affordable housing as MPs warn it is set to fall short...
07 December 2022
From: Breaking News
![Affordable housing-focused portal trials accessible sales ads](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/PropTech/PropTech1-400x310.png)
A portal that has historically focused on affordable housing and accessible rental listings is trailing a move into sales. MovingSoon, which provides...
21 October 2022
From: Breaking News
Analysis: What did Boris Johnson do for the UK property market during his 3 years as Prime Minister?
![Analysis: What did Boris Johnson do for the UK property market during his 3 years as Prime Minister?](/upload/images/library/BorisJohnson-4-400x310.jpg)
Time is up for Boris Johnson's tenure as Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party, serving 3 years and 44...
17 September 2022
From: Features
![Connells Midlands Launches Shared Ownership Hub](/upload/images/library/HousingPuzzle-5-400x310.jpg)
Connells Midlands has launched a new Shared Ownership Hub to help deliver affordable housing in the region. It will provide an end-to-end...
02 September 2022
From: Breaking News
![More housebuilding clarity needed in levelling up law, MPs warn](/upload/images/library/Housebuilders-400x310.jpg)
MPs have criticised the lack of detail in the government’s flagship Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill when it comes to housebuilding...
25 August 2022
From: Breaking News
![New Zoopla charity partnership tackles homelessness and affordable housing](/upload/images/library/zoopla_new_logo400x310.png)
Zoopla has teamed up with homelessness charity Crisis to help campaign for reform of housing benefits and to tackle the affordable...
25 August 2022
From: Breaking News
![Property market questions pace and funding of PM's housing reforms](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/Boris%20Johnson01.png)
Property professionals and MPs were left wanting more after Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s much-anticipated housing announcements yesterday. Johnson yesterday promised a review...
10 June 2022
From: Breaking News
![Extending Right to Buy won’t fix the housing shortage](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/BorisJohnson-4-400x310.jpg)
Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently announced that he is considering extending Margaret Thatcher’s Right-to-Buy scheme, that gives council tenants the chance to...
14 May 2022
From: Features
![Queen’s Speech: How proposed laws may help or hinder estate agents](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/house%20of%20lords_jpg%20400%20x%20310.png)
The Queen’s Speech has unveiled proposed overhauls on planning, consumer and economic crime laws that could all have an effect on...
10 May 2022
From: Breaking News
![Tax Hike - agents warn against more taxes on second homes](/upload/images/library/House-Tax-400x310.jpg)
Propertymark is urging restraint on the part of the Welsh Government as it moves to tackle what it sees as the...
29 March 2022
From: Breaking News
![Sigh of relief that Sunak avoids hurting housing market](/upload/images/library/RishiSunak-400x310.jpg)
The industry has reacted to the Spring Statement by breathing a sigh of relief that nothing was likely to cause damage...
24 March 2022
From: Breaking News
![Second Homes Taxes will backfire on wider economy - warning](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/PropertyMarket-1-400x310.jpg)
A rural body in Wales has hit out at the Welsh Government’s proposals for draconian new taxes on second homes. Earlier this...
14 March 2022
From: Breaking News
![Second home buyers hit with 300% tax rise in part of UK](/upload/images/library/House-Tax-400x310.jpg)
The Welsh Government has announced an increase to the maximum level of council tax premiums for second homes, as well as...
03 March 2022
From: Breaking News
![Too Many Second Homes? Campaigning MP to meet minister](/upload/images/library/LandlordHouses-400x310.jpg)
A campaigning MP is to meet with a government minister to discuss controls and disincentives for second homes. Former Liberal Democrat MP...
15 February 2022
From: Breaking News
![Autumn Budget: will Sunak’s pledges create opportunities for agents in the new-build sector?](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/RishiSunak-400x310.jpg)
At first glance, Rishi Sunak’s Budget speech earlier this week didn’t offer much from a property perspective. But digging down a little...
30 October 2021
From: Features
![Property Quango will pay £25k a year for maximum 36 days work](/img/default/eat.png)
A property quango wants industry experts to join its board - and will pay £25,000 a year for what it calls...
22 July 2021
From: Breaking News
![“Increase stamp duty immediately” urges senior MP](/img/default/eat.png)
The MP who chairs one of the most important committees in the House of Commons has urged the government to increase...
03 June 2021
From: Breaking News
![What could the Planning Bill mean for the property market?](/img/default/eat.png)
The Planning Bill, which will introduce changes to the planning system in England, was announced last week in the Queen’s Speech....
22 May 2021
From: Features
![Labour attacks stamp duty break as “a half billion pounds giveaway”](/img/default/eat.png)
Labour says Chancellor Rishi Sunak “will give away half a billion pounds to second homeowners and landlords through the stamp duty...
05 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![Property Jobs Today - the New Year shakers and movers…](/img/default/eat.png)
Hello and welcome to the first Property Jobs Today of 2021 - we’re less than a fortnight into the New Year...
11 January 2021
From: Breaking News
![Exclusive - Agents' training and licensing latest from the chair of RoPA](/img/default/eat.png)
First off, hello and welcome to this new series – appearing in Estate Agent Today’s Breaking News section each month –...
10 December 2020
From: Breaking News
![“Deplorable” government slammed for years of housing problems](/img/default/eat.png)
A scathing document produced by MPs slams the government for its “deplorable” housing policies which are "invented, abandoned and reinvented" -...
09 December 2020
From: Breaking News
![New stamp duty surcharge may push up house prices - claim](/img/default/eat.png)
The new two per cent stamp duty surcharge applying to non-resident buyers may cause a wide range of properties to be...
27 October 2020
From: Breaking News
![Labour to spend two years debating property and housing issues](/img/default/eat.png)
Labour’s shadow housing minister has revealed that it will be two years at least before the party sets out its long-term...
28 August 2020
From: Breaking News
![London Labour council opposes 30% discount for first time buyers](/img/default/eat.png)
A Labour council in London has come out against the government’s plan to offer 30 per cent discounts to first time...
06 May 2020
From: Breaking News
![Ban on new-build holiday homes likely in another tourist hotspot](/img/default/eat.png)
Another west country tourist hotspot looks set to ban any future new-build home being sold as a holiday or additional property. Bigbury...
21 April 2020
From: Breaking News
![30% Discounts: good idea but...er…how will they work?](/img/default/eat.png)
Not for the first time, a government policy on housing ends up begging more questions than it provides answers - but...
08 February 2020
From: Features
![What next for property in 2020?](/img/default/eat.png)
After a year dogged by Brexit deadlock, political turmoil, and slow growth, estate agents’ confidence in the property market hit a...
04 January 2020
From: Features
![Labour pledges ‘revolution’ based on revamped council housing](/img/default/eat.png)
Labour is pledging a “housing revolution” with the biggest council house building programme for decades Its manifesto being launched today will include new...
21 November 2019
From: Breaking News
![PropTech Today: Is property management real estate's most undervalued area?](/img/default/eat.png)
Last week, it was announced that Plentific, the London-based tenant experience, has raised $32 million in Series B funding. Plentific’s model sees...
20 November 2019
From: Breaking News
![Leading agent slams “pitiful” government record on affordable housing](/img/default/eat.png)
One of London’s leading estate and lettings agents has criticised the government over what he calls its “pitiful” record on affordable...
07 November 2019
From: Breaking News
![Good News: Agents’ fees not considered a key worry for consumers](/img/default/eat.png)
One of the largest surveys of housing concerns amongst consumers suggests that agents fees - once a major issue - is...
08 August 2019
From: Breaking News
![What now for the agency industry as Boris Johnson takes over?](/img/default/eat.png)
Our own industry’s upheaval over recent years has been no less dramatic than the turmoil at Westminster. The political earthquake has seen...
23 July 2019
From: Breaking News
![Nationwide building society goes into house-building](/img/default/eat.png)
The Nationwide building society is to go into house building. It has received planning permission to build 239 new homes for sale...
15 July 2019
From: Breaking News
![Back to the future? A home ownership crisis](/img/default/eat.png)
With this summer marking forty years since Margaret Thatcher came to power, her legacy continues to invoke both celebration and consternation...
06 July 2019
From: Features
![So farewell Theresa May and thanks for...well, not much](/img/default/eat.png)
No, this isn’t about Brexit. But as the saga of leaving the EU is likely to bring about the downfall of...
13 April 2019
From: Features
![Rent controls won’t solve London’s shortage of affordable housing stock](/img/default/eat.png)
The topic of introducing rent controls in London crops up time and time again in our industry. But it’s been hitting...
16 March 2019
From: Features
![Agency warns: high house prices and housing shortage hurting business](/img/default/eat.png)
Strutt & Parker says the housing crisis - in the shape of too few homes and their stubbornly high prices -...
05 February 2019
From: Breaking News
![Offices converted to housing are denying affordable homes - claim](/img/default/eat.png)
Communities have missed out on more than 10,000 affordable homes in the past three years as a result of government rules...
29 November 2018
From: Breaking News
![Property Jobs Today - the latest moves in and out of our industry](/img/default/eat.png)
It’s not just the Cabinet and the government where jobs are in flux - there are plenty of moves to announce...
19 November 2018
From: Breaking News
![Is that it? Industry downbeat after lacklustre Budget for housing](/img/default/eat.png)
The agency industry has reacted in a broadly downbeat way at the relatively few housing-related proposals that were announced in yesterday’s...
30 October 2018
From: Breaking News
![Gentle house price rise welcomed as good news by leading agent](/img/default/eat.png)
House prices grew two per cent year on year for September according to new figures - and a senior agency chief...
03 October 2018
From: Breaking News
!['Desperate' stamp duty surcharge will hurt London market - warning](/img/default/eat.png)
Agents have continued to express their shock and opposition to the announcement by the government that it wants a stamp duty...
02 October 2018
From: Breaking News
![Dominic Raab - another one bites the dust](/img/default/eat.png)
Another day, another housing minister – at least that’s what it feels like! The resignation of the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson...
21 July 2018
From: Features
![Three-year tenancies will have biggest impact when things go wrong](/img/default/eat.png)
Amid the headline-grabbing political manoeuvring over Brexit, a policy proposal which could have serious ramifications for private landlords, and those who...
14 July 2018
From: Features
![Eight months to make a difference to UK housing](/img/default/eat.png)
One day, I’ll sit down to write for Estate Agent Today and I won’t express my dismay at the lack of...
24 March 2018
From: Features
![Consultations - Why do so few participate?](/img/default/eat.png)
It’s no surprise that figures don’t always show the results or consequences we expect - even if they are entirely accurate. Look...
06 January 2018
From: Features
![Agency identifies top commuter hot-spots - and the winner is...](/img/default/eat.png)
With an average house price of £252,896 and trains to London taking as little as 24 minutes, Luton has been named...
03 January 2018
From: Breaking News
![Property industry reacts to the Autumn Budget](/img/default/eat.png)
Earlier this week, Chancellor Philip Hammond delivered the Autumn Budget with a strong focus on housing. The decision to cut stamp duty...
25 November 2017
From: Features
![Foreigners banned from buying homes: could it happen here too?](/img/default/eat.png)
New Zealand’s new Labour prime minister elect has banned non-resident foreigners from buying existing homes anywhere in the country in a...
26 October 2017
From: Breaking News
![Consultation isn’t a substitute for action](/img/default/eat.png)
Another week, yet more consultations - the agency industry can’t complain about not being asked for its views recently. The latest were on...
21 October 2017
From: Features
![Dismay as Tories admit extra housing cash means only 25,000 homes](/img/default/eat.png)
The Conservative party, in a press statement released to clarify comments made by Theresa May, says the government’s proposed extra £2...
05 October 2017
From: Breaking News
![Another petition - this time calling for Help To Buy to be scrapped](/img/default/eat.png)
Online petitions appear to be the flavour of the week - the latest is calling for the government’s Help to Buy...
28 September 2017
From: Breaking News
![An inconvenient truth - Help To Buy mostly helps the better off](/img/default/eat.png)
Government schemes like Help To Buy, supposedly assisting more people get on the ladder, have little impact on improving social mobility...
04 July 2017
From: Breaking News
![Housing policy progress will suffer thanks to snap General Election](/img/default/eat.png)
Not only did Theresa May stun everyone with her decision to call a ‘snap election’ but with the campaign now underway...
29 April 2017
From: Features
![Housing shortage 'forces councils to spend £2m a day on B&Bs'](/img/default/eat.png)
A chronic shortage of affordable housing is forcing councils to spend more than £2m a day on temporary accommodation for homeless...
06 March 2017
From: Breaking News
![What next for the rental market in 2017?](/img/default/eat.png)
The rental market has had to face a raft of changes over the past year, including the introduction of the 3% stamp...
14 January 2017
From: Features
![New homes: Sajid and Gavin must do better](/img/default/eat.png)
Now I’m not one to lose sleep over politicians, but it strikes me that Communities Secretary Sajid Javid and Housing Minister...
07 January 2017
From: Features
![Is a long-term housing policy too much to ask for?](/img/default/eat.png)
Just a couple of weeks ago, we waited with anticipation to see what the new Chancellor, Philip Hammond, would say in...
09 December 2016
From: Features
![ICYMI: What agents need to know from the Autumn Statement](/img/default/eat.png)
In case you missed it yesterday, here’s a summary of everything relating to property that was in Chancellor Phillip Hammond’s Autumn...
24 November 2016
From: Breaking News
![Five guesses about the Autumn Statement](/img/default/eat.png)
Forecasts are a tricky business. And as I wrote in a recent Industry Views opinion piece, any prediction in the current...
19 November 2016
From: Features
![The city that never sleeps – London welcomes the Night Tube](/img/default/eat.png)
In the capital, people will pay a premium to live near great transport links, and as we’ve seen from Crossrail and...
02 September 2016
From: Features
![Foxtons pulls out of sale 'after appeal by local community'](/img/default/eat.png)
Foxtons has removed its listing for the sale of a property on an estate in Walthamstow after concerns expressed by nearby...