A week-long race to be the next Conservative Party leader and the Prime Minister kicks off this week, or may already...
Archive
![Housing Secretary ‘backs Boris’ to return as PM](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/BorisJohnson-3-400x310.png)
Levelling Up and Housing Secretary Simon Clarke has given his backing for a return of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister. Clarke was...
21 October 2022
From: Breaking News
![PropTech Today – PropTech shows Britain can still be a leader on the world stage](/upload/images/Site%20logos/ProptechToday-1-400x310.png)
The last week has been dramatic even by the standards of UK politics, with a Cabinet and junior minister rebellion bringing...
13 July 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
![Income Tax cut and VAT scrapped on home energy efficiency measures](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/RishiSunak-400x310.jpg)
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a dramatic future income tax cut, changes to National Insurance thresholds and scrapping VAT on more...
23 March 2022
From: Breaking News
![HMRC rakes it in as stamp duty receipts surge to record high](/upload/images/library/StampDuty1-400x310.jpg)
Figures just released by HM Revenue & Customs show the Treasury enjoying a bumper year for stamp duty, with record receipts...
23 March 2022
From: Breaking News
![Agents back stamp duty incentives to drive energy efficiency](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/StampDuty1-400x310.jpg)
Propertymark has backed a call for stamp duty incentives to be introduced to drive forward domestic energy efficiency. The trade body’s policy...
28 February 2022
From: Breaking News
![Stamp duty rebates for buyers of homes with good EPCs - call](/upload/images/library/EnergyEfficientHome-400x310.png)
A stamp duty cut would provide a long-term to improve energy efficiency on homes, the Chancellor has been told by an...
31 January 2022
From: Breaking News
![High Street Endorsement - agencies celebrate new branch openings](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/OpeningHours400x310.jpg)
The concept of the High Street estate agency branch has been given an endorsement by two companies announcing new offices. Fine &...
08 November 2021
From: Breaking News
![Budget 2021 aftermath - did the chancellor target property for tax revenue?](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/Tax-400x310.png)
In the Autumn Budget on Wednesday 27 October, very few impending tax hikes were revealed by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak –...
06 November 2021
From: Features
![Lies, Damned Lies, and House Building Targets](/upload/images/BTR%2C%20PBSA%2C%20Co-living/build-to-rent400x310.png)
We’ve probably all learned to be a little less cynical about politicians in recent weeks, given the tragic events. We perhaps...
30 October 2021
From: Features
![Tax Shock: 1% stamp duty rise was considered for Budget](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/RishiSunak-400x310.jpg)
It’s been revealed that the government did consider a stamp duty RISE which would have been announced in this week’s Budget. The...
29 October 2021
From: Breaking News
![Agent Alert: Capital Gains Tax rules change kicked in at midnight](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/RishiSunak-400x310.jpg)
Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget did not ignore Capital Gains Tax after all. For those selling UK residential property the deadline to file...
28 October 2021
From: Breaking News
![Cladding Tax on Developers - not everyone is in favour](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/CladdingScandal2-400x310.png)
There has been criticism of the new Residential Development Tax, levied to fund remedial work on dangerous cladding on high rise blocks. The tax...
28 October 2021
From: Breaking News
![Portals hit out at lack of details over pledges for new homes](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/HousesofParliament-3-400x310.jpg)
There’s been some cynicism amongst the industry in response to new homes promises made by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in yesterday’s Budget. Sunak...
28 October 2021
From: Breaking News
![Budget: Details of business rate changes and new development tax](/upload/images/library/house-prices-rise400x310.png)
The Budget has proven more generous than many expected - and with most property taxation left unchanged. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has made...
27 October 2021
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter: are estate agents paid enough?](/upload/images/Site%20logos/PropertyNatter-2019-400x310.png)
Agent wages have been in the news this week, with boastful claims from a number of self-employed businesses about the sums...
09 October 2021
From: Features
![Stamp Duty: should it change to promote much more downsizing?](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/RishiSunak-400x310.jpg)
An interesting demand has been made of Chancellor Rishi Sunak - to consider reforming stamp duty with thresholds revised to reflect...
06 October 2021
From: Breaking News
![HMRC probe into suspicious property deals revealed in leaked files](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/RishiSunak-400x310.jpg)
Chancellor Rishi Sunak says HM Revenue & Customs will probe any alleged wrongdoing in property purchases included in the so-called Pandora...
05 October 2021
From: Breaking News
![Platform - proof of funds vitally important as stamp duty holiday end nears](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/Millennial-PayingCard-400x310.jpg)
Being able to show proof of funds in a quick, transparent and simple way is more crucial than ever to keep fall-throughs...
16 September 2021
From: Breaking News
![Stamp duty boost for first-time buyers? Not a bit of it, claims research](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/MillennialTenants-Tablet-400x310.jpg)
First-time buyers are £25,000 worse off thanks to the stamp duty holiday, according to estate agent comparison site GetAgent. The website revealed...
16 September 2021
From: Breaking News
![Property tax threat returns as government sets Budget date](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/RishiSunak-400x310.jpg)
Lost in the noise of yesterday’s social care announcements, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has named October 27 as his next Budget Day...
08 September 2021
From: Breaking News
![Stamp Duty Holiday slammed for not helping “levelling up”](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/RishiSunak-400x310.jpg)
The Guardian has sharply criticised Chancellor Rishi Sunak for introducing and then extending the stamp duty holiday - because helping estate...
25 August 2021
From: Breaking News
21 August 2021
From: Features
![Capital Gains Tax threat returns - property “disposals” warning](/upload/images/library/House-Tax-400x310.jpg)
A leading tax expert is advising investors to “plan your disposals” after new Capital Gains Tax figures have raised speculation of...
06 August 2021
From: Breaking News
![Is This The Alternative To Stamp Duty?](/img/default/eat.png)
There’s gathering momentum to do ‘something’ about the unfairness of council tax and stamp duty. This isn’t new in principle. Agents have...
24 July 2021
From: Features
![Capital Gains Tax threat to homes put on back burner](/img/default/eat.png)
The possible introduction of higher levels of Capital Gains Tax for the sale of buy to let, holiday homes or even...
21 June 2021
From: Breaking News
![Anti-stamp duty campaigner fined … for stamp duty avoidance](/img/default/eat.png)
One of the most outspoken campaigners against stamp duty has been fined for avoiding tens of thousands of pounds in … stamp...
07 April 2021
From: Breaking News
![Stamp Duty deadline - here’s the last date to market a property in time](/img/default/eat.png)
Agents in England are told that sellers should market their homes by March 23 - only 18 days from now - if...
05 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![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
![Stamp Duty: new cliff edge or cause for delight?](/img/default/eat.png)
Rarely do Budgets produce positive sentiments from the agency industry but Chancellor Rishi Sunak appears to have won widespread support for...
04 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![Stamp Duty: government clarifies Budget announcement](/img/default/eat.png)
The government has issued an official note to detail the announcement made yesterday by Chancellor Rishi Sunak regarding stamp duty holiday...
04 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![Stamp Duty extension revealed by Chancellor Sunak](/img/default/eat.png)
Chancellor Rishi Sunak says the stamp duty holiday on properties up to £500,000 will be extended from March 31 to June 30; from...
03 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![Budget Briefing: Four things to watch for in today’s Budget](/img/default/eat.png)
Today’s Budget is the most eagerly-anticipated for many years, as it juggles to shore up the economy with the longer-term issue...
03 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![Should stamp duty holiday extension be for ALL buyers, or just current ones?](/img/default/eat.png)
No fewer than 79 per cent of people want the stamp duty holiday extended according to a survey conducted by an...
02 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![Stand by for Capital Gains Tax changes later this year - experts](/img/default/eat.png)
Tax experts suggest the widely expected reform of Capital Gains Tax is unlikely to be announced in tomorrow’s Budget - at...
02 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![Labour anger at low-deposit mortgages plan in Budget](/img/default/eat.png)
Labour has accused the government of promoting “sky high mortgages” instead of providing stable accommodation for younger households. A new mortgage guarantee...
02 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![Radical end to stamp duty holiday suggested by legal bodies](/img/default/eat.png)
A radical way to end the current stamp duty holiday has been suggested by three different legal bodies. The Society of Licensed...
01 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![Phil Spencer: Budget rumours - pros and cons for agents](/img/default/eat.png)
With just two days to go, it's fair to say the property industry is eagerly awaiting Chancellor Rishi Sunak's Budget statement...
01 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![House buying bonanza as Budget helps low deposit purchasers](/img/default/eat.png)
A new mortgage guarantee scheme to help buyers with small deposits will be revealed on Wednesday at the Budget. Chancellor Rishi Sunak...
01 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![Stamp Duty Holiday extension agreed - but is it a new cliff edge?](/img/default/eat.png)
Chancellor Rishi Sunak will extend the stamp duty holiday deadline until the end of June - a three month extension. The lead...
24 February 2021
From: Breaking News
![One in eight sellers will pull out if they miss stamp duty holiday](/img/default/eat.png)
Some 12 per cent of buyers will pull out of their transaction if it does not complete in time for their stamp...
22 February 2021
From: Breaking News
![Six week stamp duty holiday extension would help 160,000](/img/default/eat.png)
The Chancellor’s rumoured six week extension to the stamp duty holiday has been backed by Rightmove. Over last weekend the Daily Telegraph,...
17 February 2021
From: Breaking News
![Agencies with Bounce Back loans have more time to repay](/img/default/eat.png)
Smaller independent agencies that took out government Bounce Back loans to help them through the Coronavirus crisis now have more time...
08 February 2021
From: Breaking News
![Calls grow to reform ALL property taxes, not just stamp duty](/img/default/eat.png)
Pressure is building for widespread property tax reform beyond short term issues regarding stamp duty. Many MPs in this week’s 65-minute special...
05 February 2021
From: Breaking News
![Stamp Duty Offset Mortgage launched for borrowers who miss deadline](/img/default/eat.png)
A mortgage has been launched targeting borrowers who believe they are unlikely to complete their purchase before the stamp duty holiday’s...
05 February 2021
From: Breaking News
![Extending Stamp Duty Holiday is top demand for Budget 2021](/img/default/eat.png)
A 10-point ’must have’ list of demands for Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget on March 3 has been issued by NAEA Propertymark. It’s...
04 February 2021
From: Breaking News
![New Property Tax Grab: Wealth tax supporters repeat call for levy](/img/default/eat.png)
A group that last year floated the concept of a one-off wealth tax - which would include taxing main homes as...
03 February 2021
From: Breaking News
![Market to slow sharply if stamp duty holiday ends March 31 - warning](/img/default/eat.png)
The Nationwide has pulled no punches with Chancellor Rishi Sunak - it’s made it clear that if the stamp duty holiday...
03 February 2021
From: Breaking News
![Lockdown means viewings and sales will fall, says Phil Spencer](/img/default/eat.png)
Property commentator Phil Spencer says lockdown - which we know will now last for another six weeks at least, and possibly...
28 January 2021
From: Breaking News
![MPs to debate stamp duty as Chancellor considers extension](/img/default/eat.png)
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is considering an extension to the current stamp duty holiday according to media reports today - and the...
17 January 2021
From: Breaking News
![Campaign to extend SDLT holiday nears landmark total](/img/default/eat.png)
The online petition calling for an extension to the stamp duty holiday is set to pass 100,000 signatures today. This means the...
15 January 2021
From: Breaking News
![Agents accused of “feigning hysterics” over stamp duty cliff-edge](/img/default/eat.png)
Two of the most outspoken agents in the industry have criticised those calling for an extension to the stamp duty holiday...
14 January 2021
From: Breaking News
![Stamp Out The Duty - new campaign launched by newspaper](/img/default/eat.png)
A national newspaper is today launching a campaign for the stamp duty holiday to be extended. The Daily Telegraph says its campaign...
13 January 2021
From: Breaking News
![Stamp Duty Holiday - Do The Right Thing Rishi!](/img/default/eat.png)
There’s growing optimism that an extension to the stamp duty holiday - thought to be off the agenda just days ago...
07 January 2021
From: Breaking News
![Stamp duty cliff-edge could throw away market growth - warning](/img/default/eat.png)
The sudden end of the stamp duty holiday at the end of March could throw away the market gains achieved in...
06 January 2021
From: Breaking News
![Chancellor announces help for businesses until spring](/img/default/eat.png)
The Chancellor has announced new measures to help businesses in the light of the lockdown announced in the past 24 hours. The...
05 January 2021
From: Breaking News
![Stamp Duty increase - could it happen across the UK?](/img/default/eat.png)
The shock and almost immediate increase in stamp duty on additional homes in Wales has prompted one question in the industry...
22 December 2020
From: Breaking News
![Budget date is in time for U-turn on stamp duty holiday extension...](/img/default/eat.png)
The next Budget will be held on March 3 next year - in time for Chancellor Rishi Sunak to change his...
18 December 2020
From: Breaking News
![UK’s property taxes highest in world according to official figures](/img/default/eat.png)
The UK has topped the rankings for the highest property taxes as a percentage of overall taxation in the developed world...
09 December 2020
From: Breaking News
![If you want a stamp duty holiday extension, sign here…](/img/default/eat.png)
A petition has been launched demanding a stamp duty holiday extension. The online petition is the idea of Jonathan Steel - a layperson...
07 December 2020
From: Breaking News
![Property tax rises and falling house prices coming in 2021](/img/default/eat.png)
Property tax rises and falling house prices look as if they are on the way according to the small print accompanying...
26 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![Sunak pledges new homes but does not hike property tax - yet](/img/default/eat.png)
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has resisted changing any property taxes in the short term, but has used his Spending Review statement to...
25 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![Sunak’s Big Day: “Don’t make knee-jerk property tax rises” he’s told](/img/default/eat.png)
Today sees the government’s Spending Review, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak taking centre stage as he presents a 12 month spending plan to...
25 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![Capital Gains Tax hike is GOOD news for agents, insists top analyst](/img/default/eat.png)
One of the industry’s leading commentators says an unintended consequence of a possible Capital Gains Tax increase could be a bonus...
13 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![Tax Bombshell: CGT could double under new proposals](/img/default/eat.png)
A report commissioned by the government suggests a doubling of Capital Gains Tax on profits from the sale of second homes. The government -...
12 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![Conveyancing firm to tell buyers they will miss stamp duty holiday](/img/default/eat.png)
A leading firm of conveyancers will this week tell new clients that their property purchases are likely to miss the stamp...
09 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![Will extended furlough help struggling agents and suppliers?](/img/default/eat.png)
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has extended the furlough scheme until the end of March. It will continue under the current rules, with the...
06 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![Interest rate unchanged despite unusual early announcement](/img/default/eat.png)
The Bank of England’s monthly interest rate decision was made today - but instead of it being announced at 12 noon,...
05 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![Too Late! Third of England set to miss stamp duty holiday deadline](/img/default/eat.png)
Buyers in around 30 per cent of English cities are almost certainly already too late to complete a purchase by March 31...
04 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![Phil Spencer: Conveyancing - don't battle what you can't control](/img/default/eat.png)
We can all agree that the recovery of the property market since May has been outstanding. The latest data from Zoopla...
02 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![Stamp Duty Holiday Mayhem - Sunak urged to avoid 'cliff-edge'](/img/default/eat.png)
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been told to avoid a stamp duty holiday cliff-edge next March at any price - because it...
29 October 2020
From: Breaking News
![SDLT holiday could be tapered or restricted to first timers - top agent](/img/default/eat.png)
One of Britain’s most respected agents is suggesting Chancellor Rishi Sunak could ‘taper’ the stamp duty holiday to avoid a cliff-edge...
28 October 2020
From: Breaking News
![Sunak tells estate agents: I'm helping to keep you in a job](/img/default/eat.png)
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is taking credit for saving thousands of agency jobs through increased transactions prompted by the stamp duty holiday. A...
23 October 2020
From: Breaking News
![How will the end of the furlough scheme affect the rental market?](/img/default/eat.png)
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, better known as the furlough scheme, was introduced by the chancellor Rishi Sunak in March to...
26 September 2020
From: Features
![Agencies and businesses offered new tax and jobs schemes](/img/default/eat.png)
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has outlined his measures to help agencies and other businesses survive Coronavirus. His announcements - endorsed by both the...
24 September 2020
From: Breaking News
![Will agencies benefit from Sunak’s new ‘after-furlough’ measures?](/img/default/eat.png)
Chancellor Rishi Sunak today reveals his latest measures to help businesses - including agencies, suppliers and other parts of the property...
24 September 2020
From: Breaking News
![Government claims credit for housing market boom](/img/default/eat.png)
The government claims its stamp duty holiday has supported nearly 750,000 jobs thanks to the ripple effect in the economy. A statement from HM...
23 September 2020
From: Breaking News
![Big rises in property taxes expected to pay for virus spending](/img/default/eat.png)
Hefty increases in taxes on the purchase and sale of holiday homes and buy to let properties are expected in the...
01 September 2020
From: Breaking News
![Why diversifying into auctions can boost post-lockdown cashflow](/img/default/eat.png)
Following the easing of lockdown restrictions on England’s property market in May, NAEA Propertymark reported a sharp increase in business for...
05 August 2020
From: Features
![Purchase tax on some UK prime homes now amongst lowest in Europe](/img/default/eat.png)
Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s stamp duty holiday means prime property in the UK now enjoys lower tax rates than most European countries. Buyers...
30 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Tax grab on house values proposed in new 'Property CGT'](/img/default/eat.png)
Tens of billions of pounds of new taxes should be levied through a Capital Gains Tax imposed on main homes, not...
24 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Capital Gains Tax Threat: new warning it could hurt housing market](/img/default/eat.png)
Large scale increases in and changes to the Capital Gains Tax regime could seriously hurt the housing market, a senior figure...
21 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Capital Gains Tax - could it be applied to first homes over £500,000?](/img/default/eat.png)
Speculation is mounting that Capital Gains Tax could for the first time be applied to gains made when owners sell first...
20 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Rightmove says no to massive windfall from taxpayers](/img/default/eat.png)
Rightmove says it’s going to reject over £150,000 in payouts from the government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The portal furloughed 160 employees...
20 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Stamp Duty holiday ends ‘one of few advantages for young buyers’](/img/default/eat.png)
A think tank says the stamp duty holiday introduced a week ago is understandable and may be helpful to the housing...
16 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agent breaks ranks and calls stamp duty holiday “cowardly”](/img/default/eat.png)
A London estate agent has broken ranks with much of the industry and instead of welcoming the stamp duty holiday has...
15 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Stamp Duty Holiday should lead to council tax reform, says agency](/img/default/eat.png)
A major agency is warning that the current stamp duty holiday could leave the housing market in a state of lethargy...
14 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Stamp duty holiday should be backdated, demands law firm](/img/default/eat.png)
A property law firm is calling on the government to backdate the stamp duty holiday to include those buyers who completed...
13 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Scotland caves in and relaxes its stamp duty equivalent](/img/default/eat.png)
The threshold at which Scotland’s Land and Buildings Transaction Tax is paid by purchasers is to be raised from £145,000 to...
13 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![SDLT Bonanza! Mortgage enquiries and property portal visits soar](/img/default/eat.png)
Evidence is pouring in that the stamp duty holiday introduced 48 hours ago has already produced huge levels of interest from...
10 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Is Rightmove the biggest winner from the stamp duty holiday?](/img/default/eat.png)
Chancellor Rishi Sunak - and the agency industry - will no doubt be delighted to know that visits to Rightmove soared...
09 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Stamp Duty holiday unlikely to be replicated in Scotland](/img/default/eat.png)
It looks like the stamp duty holiday for England and Northern Ireland, already in effect following yesterday’s announcement, is unlikely to...
09 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Stamp Duty changes and Furlough Bonus scheme announced by Sunak](/img/default/eat.png)
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has announced that there will be no stamp duty on homes selling for £500,000 or...
08 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Stamp Duty cuts WON’T help the market - a contrary view](/img/default/eat.png)
An industry analyst is challenging the long-established agents’ view that reducing or temporarily scrapping stamp duty would help the market. On the...
08 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Stamp Duty dithering could kill the market, warn angry agents](/img/default/eat.png)
Agents have spoken out angrily against any uncertainty in the market caused by government leaks about future stamp duty changes. In recent...
07 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Almost 90% of sales could have zero stamp duty says Zoopla](/img/default/eat.png)
One of the possible stamp duty options floated by Chancellor Rishi Sunak could mean 89 per cent of sales would be...
07 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Stamp Duty changes being considered by Sunak - but when?](/img/default/eat.png)
Unnamed government sources quoted in many newspapers today suggest stamp duty reforms may be announced later this year. Chancellor Rishi Sunak is to...
06 July 2020
From: Breaking News
!['Furlough could wreck housing market' - warning to government](/img/default/eat.png)
The government is jeopardising the success of the housing market relaunch through the inflexibility of the furlough scheme, claims a group...