Archive

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

What a waste. Islington council announced in recent days that it will buy back 310 ex-council houses this winter, to add to...

The process from a Local Plan allocation to a digger on site typically stretches beyond the length of a five-year political...

It’s not a sentence that I thought I would be writing, but Housing Secretary Michael Gove has indeed finally done something...

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson is believed to have snapped up the historic Brightwell Manor as his new home. Johnson, who was...

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and ex-Home Secretary Priti Patel had around three years in Government to sort out housing but...

A former adviser to Boris Johnson who is running to be the Tory candidate for London Mayor has promised to put...

And…breathe. For a while back there, the only certainty for the housing market was uncertainty. That isn’t to say the election of Rishi...

Recent political changes – and there have been quite a few in recent weeks – have brought about something of a...

Auctioneers claim they are benefiting from a sales market slowdown as buyers rush to make use of mortgage offers and sellers...

Michael Gove has returned to frontline politics and his previous role as Levelling Up and Housing Secretary. He is among the new...

Housing Secretary Simon Clarke has left Cabinet after Rishi Sunak officially entered Downing Street as Prime Minister this morning. Clarke cited his...

Rishi Sunak has been confirmed as the new Conservative Party leader and will become the next UK Prime Minister. He will replace...

A week-long race to be the next Conservative Party leader and the Prime Minister kicks off this week, or may already...

Levelling Up and Housing Secretary Simon Clarke has given his backing for a return of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister. Clarke was...

Liz Truss became the shortest serving UK Prime Minister yesterday, resigning after just 45 days and prompting a new Conservative Party...

How did the housing market transform from incredibly strong - almost too strong - early in the year, to a situation...

Time is up for Boris Johnson's tenure as Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party, serving 3 years and 44...

First off, my own quick tribute to the Queen, who died on Thursday afternoon aged 96. Despite her age and declining...

Marcus Jones has left the housing brief. He was appointed as housing minister just two months ago in Boris Johnson’s reshuffle but appears...

Simon Clarke has been confirmed as the new Housing Secretary in the Cabinet of new Prime Minister Liz Truss this evening. He...

Double-think, for those who have not read George Orwell, is when people are expected to accept two conflicting beliefs as truth,...

The cost-of-living crisis has been dominating the news headlines for some months now, but new research has revealed the extent to...

When it comes to housing policy, the Conservative MPs have given their party a choice between Tweedle Dum and Tweedle DumDum. Rishi...

The last week has been dramatic even by the standards of UK politics, with a Cabinet and junior minister rebellion bringing...

Marcus Jones has been appointed as housing minister. The appointment came late last night after a tumultuous day in Westminster that saw...

Estate agency trade body Propertymark is hoping to “maintain momentum” with newly appointed Housing Secretary Greg Clark. He replaces Michael Gove, who...

The housing market appears almost as stubborn as now caretaker Prime Minister Boris Johnson as it continues to defy predictions of...

Greg Clark has been named as the new Housing Secretary. Clark will replace Michael Gove who was sacked by Prime Minister Boris...

Independent agent Barrows and Forrester has called for the appointment of a housing tsar for a fixed term as yet another...

Michael Gove has been sacked as Housing Secretary as Prime Minister Boris Johnson continues to reject calls to resign. Johnson was hit...

Housing minister Stuart Andrew has become the latest minister to resign from the government. More than 15 government ministers and officials have...

Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid sensationally quit as Chancellor and Health Secretary respectively this evening but Housing Secretary Michael Gove is...

Long-term 50-year mortgages that can be passed on by parents to their children appear to be the latest idea from the...

Anyone working in the property market should have at least one eye on supply. Of course, it’s a constant issue for...

Agency trade body Propertymark has called for the government’s housing market reforms to go further and has even suggested targeted stamp...

Housing Secretary Michael Gove and minister Stuart Andrew are set to be grilled by MPs on their property market plans today. The...

This question is not as flippant as it sounds because over recent years the status of the private landlord has taken...

Property professionals and MPs were left wanting more after Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s much-anticipated housing announcements yesterday. Johnson yesterday promised a review...

Boris Johnson has promised a review of the mortgage market and housing benefit rules to help more people to get on...

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to unveil a flagship policy today to help more people onto the property ladder. It is...

A significant housing announcement has been promised by Prime Minister Boris Johnson as a part of a sweetener that saw him...

The Prime Minister has tonight won a confidence vote in his leadership and hung on to his premiership. After a dramatic day at...

In retrospect, it was perhaps inevitable that the infamous dead cat would come into the debate over government housing targets and...

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...

The government’s legislative agenda will be set out this morning in the Queen’s Speech and there are plenty of potential laws that...

It’s easy to overestimate the importance of something in one’s own industry or work, but there seems good reason for believing...

The government is considering seizing British property owned by Russian oligarchs on the sanctions list without paying compensation. The Financial Times says Housing...

Estate agents and other property businesses need to ensure their customer screening processes are robust and up to date following extensive...

The outcome of the Ukraine crisis is far from certain, but one thing has become abundantly clear. The long-overdue Economic Crime...

It appears that new controls on property ownership may feature in future sanctions against Russia in response to its aggression in Ukraine. Prime...

The coming annual conference of Fine & Country, being held next month, is to have Boris Johnson’s brother as a keynote...

A new housing minister has been named this afternoon, to replace Chris Pincher. Stuart Andrew has been confirmed by Downing Street as...

Housing ministers have lined up in recent days to support beleaguered Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Housing minister Chris Pincher, upon hearing of new...

Without doubt, 2021 was an exceptional year in the property market, with the stamp duty holiday and favourable market conditions helping...

The government’s Levelling Up White Paper, released today, contains an unexpected and shock commitment - to create a new 'lite' version...

Will he stay or will he go? You don’t need me to say who ‘he’ is - it’s the only story...

As this is the first Natter back since the Christmas break, I should like to first wish all our readers a...

The Budget has proven more generous than many expected - and with most property taxation left unchanged. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has made...

The government has given more details of its bid to change the energy efficiency of existing and new homes to meet...

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has given a ringing endorsement to home ownership as a central part of the government’s levelling up...

By the time I next write this column, we’ll be just days before the next Budget and Autumn Statement. So I’ll...

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has changed its name to reflect the government’s levelling up agenda. The department’s...

Boris Johnson's sudden and unexpectedly ruthless Cabinet reshuffle, which drew comparisons with Margaret Thatcher's 'purge of the wets' in 1981, ended...

In a day of unexpected drama, Boris Johnson carried out a surprisingly brutal and widespread Cabinet reshuffle which saw a number...

Robert Jenrick has been sacked from his post as Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary. He was the third major name to...

Media reports suggest the government is considering offering grants to local authorities to purchase private family houses which are larger than...

The Crown Prosecution Service has joined in the criticism of unemployed estate agent Lewis Hughes, who last week admitted a count...

From July 19 it is likely that business owners, including agencies and industry suppliers, will no longer have to ask staff...

An estate agent has been sacked after being identified as one of two people accosting England's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty. A...

Propertymark has thrown its weight behind the government’s First Homes initiative, describing it as “creative” and saying it’s a sign of...

London agency Benham and Reeves says a new analysis it’s conducted of the capital’s property market since last summer shows a...

Local elections rarely set the pulse racing and this year’s poll on Thursday faces a similar problem. But this time, it’s a...

The biggest news story in town this last week – which has brought people who don’t usually like or watch football...

The last property event I attended in person – and I think the last physical property event held all told –...

Some 30 tax documents have been released by HM Treasury this afternoon - a mix of responses to past consultations, proposals...

With just two days to go, it's fair to say the property industry is eagerly awaiting Chancellor Rishi Sunak's Budget statement...

A new mortgage guarantee scheme to help buyers with small deposits will be revealed on Wednesday at the Budget. Chancellor Rishi Sunak...

One of the chief figures behind Brexit and Boris Johnson’s role as London Mayor is now advising that stamp duty should be...

Property commentator Phil Spencer says lockdown - which we know will now last for another six weeks at least, and possibly...

The Prime Minister this afternoon stated that lockdown will remain in effect until early March at the earliest. He told the House...

London mayor Sadiq Khan is reported to be asking the Prime Minister to review the status of ‘essential retail’ which can...

One of the most respected figures in the industry, trainer and consultant Richard Rawlings, is suggesting that stamp duty should be...

A national newspaper is today launching a campaign for the stamp duty holiday to be extended. The Daily Telegraph says its campaign...

The government is considering stricter tier structures for the coming weeks as the number of Coronavirus infections continues to rise. There is...

The Bank of England is to review the affordability tests imposed on  borrowers, opening the door to a possible relaxation of...

A scathing document produced by MPs slams the government for its “deplorable” housing policies which are "invented, abandoned and reinvented" -...

Agents should know in the next 36 hours how new Coronavirus restrictions will affect how they work. The Prime Minister is announcing...

With a new President elected and the old one reluctant to move out, this is a good time to see how...

High end agents usually keep their powder dry when it comes to party politics, to avoid upsetting customers. However Knight Frank has...

The housing market is to remain open in the four week lockdown in England. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government...

There is no doubting that 2020 has been a challenging year for all industries, with the lettings market being no exception. Following...

A Bank of England survey suggests it may be more difficult for prospective buyers to get a mortgage later this year. In...

A right wing magazine once edited by Boris Johnson has called estate agents “spivs with tape measures” who conceal information from...

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he wants to create a ‘Generation Buy’ to help young people purchase homes with low-deposit mortgages. In...

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that all retail staff will be obliged to wear masks when working - and it's now...

The stamp duty holiday running until March next year has triggered a surge in interest in UK property from Hong Kong...

The number of Hong Kong buyers looking at property in London has doubled in just five weeks according to an agency...

Conferences, events and awards dinners are a hugely important part of the property calendar, bringing the great and the good of...

A London estate agent has broken ranks with much of the industry and instead of welcoming the stamp duty holiday has...