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

Local residents are to be given the final say on changes to the name of their street under new government plans. The...
19 April 2022
From: Breaking News

PayProp’s recent Rental Confidence Index survey polled property professionals about their biggest concerns for 2022. Unsurprisingly, new regulations were a top...
09 April 2022
From: Features

There’s still one part of the UK where agents enjoy almost unfettered freedom without legislation or redress - and this has...
15 March 2022
From: Breaking News

Propertymark is urging agents to respond to a consultation exercise being conducted by the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agents...
14 March 2022
From: Breaking News

The Bank of England has issued a consultation on changing the affordability tests for large mortgages introduced in the wake of...
01 March 2022
From: Breaking News

A bid to regulate second home ownership in part of the UK through changes to planning policy will add complexity and...
25 February 2022
From: Breaking News

An estate agency has announced what it calls a ‘Global Citizenship Division’ to take advantage of a surge in interest for...
17 February 2022
From: Breaking News

A consultation exercise on government proposals for its business rates review is totally “underwhelming” according to property agency Colliers. The consultation ends...
16 February 2022
From: Breaking News

A famous environmental campaigner has sold his home to a local - because he feels second homes are “obscene and grotesque.” Green...
14 February 2022
From: Breaking News
22 January 2022
From: Features

Owners of second homes who abuse a tax loophole by claiming their often-empty properties are holiday lets will be forced to...
14 January 2022
From: Breaking News

Leasehold, quite rightly, remains not just an emotive topic given what has happened over the past decade, but it’s very much...
18 December 2021
From: Features

Estate agents, and indeed all professionals, should be offered the option of flexible working when they are appointed to the job. That’s...
08 December 2021
From: Breaking News

HM Revenue & Customs is consulting on how it can clamp down on property professionals and buyers who allegedly try to...
03 December 2021
From: Breaking News

A pilot scheme has been announced to test ways of limiting second home ownership and reducing the impact additional properties have...
25 November 2021
From: Breaking News

Disclaimer: This article is intended for information only and does not constitute legal advice. As part of its 2020 budget, the UK...
23 October 2021
From: Features

Controversial London agency Foxtons is to review its policy on top management bonuses. This follows a shareholder revolt at the agency's AGM...
29 September 2021
From: Breaking News

In this guest editorial, experienced property solicitor Lorraine Richardson argues that reservation agreements - designed to reduce the number of fall-throughs in...
25 September 2021
From: Features
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The government is reportedly planning to abandon its next stage of planning reforms. The proposals, previously under consultation, would have given councils...
13 September 2021
From: Breaking News

A nationalist party has blasted a Labour government in one national region of the UK for its lack of intervention in...
18 August 2021
From: Breaking News

The estate agents’ trade body has set out three ways conveyancers can further help the sales process. Propertymark has made the suggestions...
16 August 2021
From: Breaking News

Here’s a new way to encourage house moves - pay the potential vendor £50,000. The Scottish Government is launching an official consultation...
04 August 2021
From: Breaking News

Ben Ridgway gives his views on the current market, material information and PropTech for agents. What is your current view of the...
21 July 2021
From: Features

A call has gone out for Property Logbooks to receive official recognition as “digital assets” by the Law Commission: the move...
16 July 2021
From: Breaking News

The race to complete home sales before the stamp duty holiday came to an end on June 30 has created what...
03 July 2021
From: Features

A consultation into the draft New Homes Quality Code has been published with a consultation period for the industry ending on...
22 June 2021
From: Breaking News

The Oxfordshire-based PropTech founders and software developers of Openview, today announced they have welcomed Pattinson Estate Agents to their list of clients. Peter Grant, Managing...
21 June 2021
From: Features

Agents’ views are being sought by Propertymark on how best to improve the housing supply in Northern Ireland. The province’s Department for...
25 May 2021
From: Breaking News
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In an industry which is faced with constant changes in day-to-day practices and even more so given the Covid terrain which agents...
22 May 2021
From: Features

A report by the Office of Tax Simplification on Capital Gains Tax has called for a series of changes. They include extending...
21 May 2021
From: Breaking News

The Trading Standards agency team has outlined to Estate Agent Today the process it will follow to improve what it calls...
18 May 2021
From: Breaking News

The controversial demands of Trading Standards for more “material information” to be provided upfront in property details have been criticised by...
17 May 2021
From: Breaking News

The government has launched a formal consultation process on a new residential property developer tax which is to contribute towards cladding...
30 April 2021
From: Breaking News

Controversial Foxtons chief executive Nic Budden is to pocket a bonus package of around £1m - despite a huge shareholder rebellion at...
23 April 2021
From: Breaking News

It’s costing taxpayers £750,000 just for the government to update its IT systems to handle the stamp duty holiday. In a document...
29 March 2021
From: Breaking News

Some 30 tax documents have been released by HM Treasury this afternoon - a mix of responses to past consultations, proposals...
23 March 2021
From: Breaking News

The events of the last 12 months have potentially shaped the future of our sector for years to come. There has been...
20 March 2021
From: Features

There is growing speculation that a raft of tax proposals to be unveiled next week will include reform of Capital Gains...
19 March 2021
From: Breaking News

As a property agent, fancy marketing terminology such as ‘omnichannel’ might not hold too much interest for you right now. We’re in...
06 March 2021
From: Features
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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

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

It’s been revealed that some far reaching changes to property taxes may not be unveiled at Wednesday’s Budget and may wait...
01 March 2021
From: Breaking News

Propertymark has slammed government energy efficiency proposals as being “unrealistic, too simplistic and could deter people from moving home.” A formal consultation...
19 February 2021
From: Breaking News

A new body which says it will “champion better outcomes for buyers” is described as independent but is to be chaired...
09 February 2021
From: Breaking News

Almost a year ago the government announced that estate and lettings agencies were to be included in the business rates relief...
02 February 2021
From: Breaking News

A property industry body representing developers wants the government to think again about making it easier for redundant High Street shops...
02 February 2021
From: Breaking News

It now looks likely that Hunters will be taken over by The Property Franchise Group after several months of talks, subject...
28 January 2021
From: Breaking News

In a wide-ranging video interview for his Move iQ service, Phil Spencer speaks to buying agent and TV property pundit Henry...
23 January 2021
From: Features

In the not-too-distant future, it will be possible to order a driverless car to collect you and then drive you to...
13 January 2021
From: Features

An estate agency group has launched new franchise business models to help those in the industry impacted by Covid-19. Century 21 UK...
04 January 2021
From: Breaking News

In a dramatic New Year’s Eve statement on the London Stock Exchange, Countrywide has agreed the terms of a recommended offer...
31 December 2020
From: Breaking News

Propertymark has told the government that it needs to introduce overarching regulation of agents now, because existing piecemeal provisions are unmanageable...
24 December 2020
From: Breaking News

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

Foxtons has announced that its remuneration policy for senior management is to stay unchanged - and it says a voting problem...
09 November 2020
From: Breaking News

One of the country’s major regional agencies has unveiled a ‘super hub’ structure which began life as a lockdown measure but...
29 September 2020
From: Breaking News

OnTheMarket has confirmed it is “considering” making redundancies - the second of the large portals to be in this position. Rumours have been...
03 August 2020
From: Breaking News

If a week is a long time in politics (an old phrase, for younger readers), then a year is a very long...
25 July 2020
From: Features

Earlier this month, it was revealed that property industry bodies have joined a new Code of Practice Steering Group to enact...
25 July 2020
From: Features

The new code of conduct for estate agents has been dismissed as “a waste of time” - and the senior industry...
21 July 2020
From: Breaking News

Agents now have a chance to say what they think should be in a new Code of Conduct being discussed following...
20 July 2020
From: Breaking News

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

A London Labour council has won draconian powers to effectively ban For Sale and To Let boards in several parts of...
17 July 2020
From: Breaking News

Propertymark is calling in the government for agents to be trained in the use of software operating the Unique Property Reference...
02 July 2020
From: Breaking News

A new estate agency Code of Practice is to be written by a group set up by the Royal Institution of Chartered...
01 July 2020
From: Breaking News

Back in the day, party politics and the private rental sector used to be straightforward. Conservatives were pro-landlord, Labour were pro-tenant, while...
13 June 2020
From: Features

A taxation institute is urging the government to delay Capital Gains Tax changes relating to housing transactions until the virus crisis...
03 June 2020
From: Breaking News

Foxtons - which has recently closed branches and furloughed staff - has described a shareholder rebellion over senior management bonuses and pay...
14 May 2020
From: Breaking News

First details of the government’s programme to allow businesses to reopen have begun to emerge - with little comfort for estate...
11 May 2020
From: Breaking News

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

The government has launched a competition to attract what it calls “the best and brightest talents of the housing industry” to...
03 March 2020
From: Breaking News

When Wolverhampton estate agency Thomas Harvey opened its doors more than 50 years ago, mortgages weren’t really part of the equation...
28 February 2020
From: Sponsored Content

It’s been revealed that the branch closure programme by Your Move and Reeds Rains last year resulted in 460 lost jobs...
20 February 2020
From: Breaking News

The new housing minister is Christopher Pincher, who for the past decade has been Conservative MP for Tamworth having had a...
14 February 2020
From: Breaking News

The HomeOwners Alliance, a leading property consumer group, has now suggested it has some concerns about the government’s First Homes scheme. This...
11 February 2020
From: Breaking News

One of the leading consumer groups has backed the government’s controversial First Homes policy, which aims to give 30 per cent...
10 February 2020
From: Breaking News

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

After a challenging period for the UK property market, recovery is very much on the cards and the end to uncertainty...
01 February 2020
From: Features

It is possible that agents and their business partners in the conveyancing, mortgage and survey industries could be obliged to have...
29 January 2020
From: Breaking News

HM Land Registry appears to be making painfully slow progress on digitising land charge search data - contrary to its earlier...
17 January 2020
From: Breaking News

A new buying agency has launched, aimed at well-heeled purchasers and sellers. Called Xander Prime it says it is “acting on behalf...
14 January 2020
From: Breaking News

As part of its commitment to promoting and enforcing high standards, RICS has launched its Home Survey Standard, which will become...
14 December 2019
From: Features

A London council wants government backing for a borough-wide Section 7 direction - effectively banning all agents’ boards being erected without...
06 November 2019
From: Breaking News

The National Audit Office, a spending watchdog, has exposed the government’s Starter Homes policy with a damning critique of its failure The...
05 November 2019
From: Breaking News

Being a market leader means staying on top of industry trends. The more aware you are of what's happening in the...
02 November 2019
From: Features

In recent months, we’ve seen headlines dominated by changes to tenancy rules, government consultations and more than a few scare stories. Landlords...
30 October 2019
From: Features

Upad, the national online letting agent set up by entrepreneur James Davis has announced that it is “closed to new business”...
15 October 2019
From: Sponsored Content

There’s a clear change of mood music in the country now regarding environmental issues. You don’t need to be old to remember...
28 September 2019
From: Features

If you thought - perhaps hoped - that five weeks of prorogued Parliament meant a break from politics, think again: the...
14 September 2019
From: Features

A former Foxtons estate agent has set up a property finding service which is exclusively for first time buyers - believed...
13 September 2019
From: Breaking News

The National Association of Estate Agents has told the government that it wants one single Ombudsman to provide redress across all...
29 August 2019
From: Breaking News

Is this the ultimate in accountability or a desperate bid to win back public support for a company damaged by the...
14 August 2019
From: Breaking News

With Boris Johnson winning the Conservative leadership election and becoming Prime Minister, he has spent his first few days in office...
03 August 2019
From: Features

All new-build homes could soon be fitted with an electric car charging point. The government has issued a consultation on the move,...
17 July 2019
From: Breaking News

In the second part of my exploration of startups, I talk to a number of people with lived experience of creating...
29 June 2019
From: Features

PropTech company Landmark has thrown its weight behind the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ new Home Survey Standard, which is now out...
06 June 2019
From: Breaking News

It may well seem that the government is pre-occupied with one issue, and one issue alone. While preparations for Brexit take up a...
01 June 2019
From: Features

New figures released to Estate Agent Today show that a net total of 284 agents’ offices closed down in 2018. This number -...
29 May 2019
From: Breaking News

The Property Ombudsman says its members must in future disclose referral fees in a bid to make previously-hidden costs open and...
24 May 2019
From: Breaking News

As we move closer to the halfway point of 2019, property market conditions for agents and their clients remain challenging. Brexit may...
22 May 2019
From: Features

In recent weeks our campaign to replace leasehold with commonhold has continued to gather momentum both in the press and across...
02 May 2019
From: Breaking News

Consultation closes today on a Law Commission proposal to radically reshape leasehold and the Right To Manage. Right To Manage was introduced...
30 April 2019
From: Breaking News

The leasehold scandal continues to generate plenty of column inches, with fresh stories emerging almost daily of people living in unsellable...
18 April 2019
From: Breaking News

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

The leasehold scandal has received plenty of press coverage, with horror stories of people living in homes that are impossible to...
06 April 2019
From: Features
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The government has revealed that it’s to ‘test’ the workings of the New Homes Ombudsman before the scheme formally launches. Housing Secretary...
01 April 2019
From: Breaking News

Local media in the east Midlands report that four estate agency offices operated by the Nottingham building society are to close...
29 March 2019
From: Breaking News

Mortgage prisoners - borrowers unable to switch lenders despite being up-to-date with payments - may have an escape route in sight...
27 March 2019
From: Breaking News

Over the last few years, there have a number of changes to the stamp duty land tax (SDLT) regime, which have...
23 March 2019
From: Features

When it comes to major issues confronting housing, and in particular the direction that the government would like to take the...
23 March 2019
From: Features

Thinking about the state of communication across residential property chains is enough to induce a severe migraine. We work in a world...
20 March 2019
From: Features

The Money Laundering Regulations require estate agents to risk assess their business relationships and apply an appropriate level of investigation to...
11 March 2019
From: Sponsored Content

The Money Laundering Regulations require estate agents to risk assess their business relationships and apply an appropriate level of investigation to...
25 February 2019
From: Sponsored Content

The Money Laundering Regulations require estate agents to risk assess their business relationships and apply an appropriate level of investigation to...
20 February 2019
From: Sponsored Content

With the home buying and selling process firmly on the news agenda of late – everything from a possible ban on...
16 February 2019
From: Features

The government has launched an official consultation about a new stamp duty surcharge - the long-awaited additional one per cent for...
12 February 2019
From: Breaking News

To a sales-focused agency, having a lettings department can sometimes feel like losing control of the business. Recent cases of property management...
07 February 2019
From: Sponsored Content

The beleaguered Your Move estate agency insists there was no breach of customer privacy after an ex-employee reportedly took confidential data...
07 February 2019
From: Breaking News

The Property Ombudsman’s annual conference is to hear from the chair of the government’s ‘Property Agents Working Group’ - just days...
07 February 2019
From: Breaking News

Formal consultations have started concerning the job losses and branch closures for Your Move and Reeds Rains, revealed yesterday by their...
06 February 2019
From: Breaking News

Kit Malthouse has been making headlines this week, but – in keeping with his tenure as Housing Minister so far -...
02 February 2019
From: Features

When it comes to letting a property, it is important that landlords and renters have faith in their agent. The more...
26 January 2019
From: Features

A review of the housing market at present, particularly when it comes to purchase transactions, might not necessarily feel overly positive. The...
26 January 2019
From: Features

The National Association of Estate Agents and the Association of Residential Lettings Agents have thrown their weight behind the government’s latest...
25 January 2019
From: Breaking News

The government says it will be releasing details of its ideas to revamp redress systems concerning agents and new homes “in...
02 January 2019
From: Breaking News

Developers have continued to sell thousands of new-build houses with leaseholds, despite a government pledge to ban the “unscrupulous” practice a...
24 December 2018
From: Breaking News

The title may be unfamiliar but most agents know by now that in the corridors of Whitehall a working party exists...
24 November 2018
From: Features

A business rates tax break which benefits holiday home owners is to be reviewed by ministers, who have now launched a formal...
08 November 2018
From: Breaking News

The troubled Emoov hybrid estate agency, currently up for sale, has removed an advertisement after a complaint to a watchdog over...
07 November 2018
From: Breaking News

On the face of it, this year’s Budget was not what you could describe as ‘housing heavy’ in terms of the...
03 November 2018
From: Features

Experts suggest that overseas buyers are likely to act quickly to take advantage of a delay in any stamp duty surcharge on...
01 November 2018
From: Breaking News

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

Stamp duty relief for first time buyers of full-priced houses and apartments is to be extended to first time buyers of...
29 October 2018
From: Breaking News

Perhaps it’s been our pre-occupation with Brexit, or on the other hand maybe we’re bored with politics, but this year’s Budget...
27 October 2018
From: Features

A leading London estate agency is reporting a surge in overseas buyers sealing deals ahead of the government’s new stamp duty...
18 October 2018
From: Breaking News

An estate agency is moving from its traditional branch to new city centre serviced offices as it expands. East of Exe -...
16 October 2018
From: Breaking News

The cost of new-build leasehold properties has surged 16 times faster than freeholds according to research from property investment platform. The revelation...
16 October 2018
From: Breaking News

The National Association of Estate Agents has welcomed the government’s move to ensure most future new-build houses are sold as freehold...
15 October 2018
From: Breaking News

The vast majority of new-build houses are to be sold as freehold with ground rents for new leases capped at £10...
14 October 2018
From: Breaking News

A series of leasehold roadshows beginning next month in Manchester aims to throw a spotlight on problems associated with the tenure,...
08 October 2018
From: Breaking News

The head of a leading Chinese property portal has taken the unusual step of commenting on a British tax policy -...
05 October 2018
From: Breaking News

An accountancy trade body has revealed that last year it briefed MPs - including the Prime Minister and Housing Minister of...
04 October 2018
From: Breaking News

Experts suggest that overseas buyers are likely to act quickly to take advantage of the delay in any stamp duty surcharge...
01 October 2018
From: Breaking News

The government has used this week’s Conservative party conference to announce a new stamp duty tax of one per cent to three...
30 September 2018
From: Breaking News

Emoov has agreed to change the wording of a Google search advertisement after a complaint was made to the Advertising Standards...
26 September 2018
From: Breaking News

The National Association of Estate Agents has given broad support for radical proposals from the Law Commission to end leasehold abuse...
21 September 2018
From: Breaking News

The Property Ombudsman has urged the government to bring the new homes build sector under consumer redress. New builds are not currently...
10 September 2018
From: Breaking News

In our previous 2 blogs we have covered the definitions of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (CPRs) and what the practical...
29 August 2018
From: Sponsored Content

The Swiss investment bank Credit Suisse has slashed its target share price for the company from 77p to only 17.2p. The reason...
09 August 2018
From: Breaking News

It’s holiday time: schools have broken up, quite a few estate agents are taking time off, and the MPs are in...
28 July 2018
From: Features

We are currently engaged in consultations with our members to help to find a practical solution to the concern of the...
21 July 2018
From: Features

One of three schemes with government backing to offer redress for complaints about estate and letting agents has reignited the debate...
18 July 2018
From: Breaking News

There’s a new twist in the row between a Cornish agent and the Advertising Standards Authority. The row revolves around a tweet...
16 July 2018
From: Breaking News

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

The Advertising Standards Authority says its compliance team is considering its next steps following the refusal of estate agency PDQ Estates...
12 July 2018
From: Breaking News

Industry groups have welcomed Kit Malthouse as housing minister - but make little effort to hide their frustrations, disappointment and disillusionment. Malthouse was announced...
10 July 2018
From: Breaking News

National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team and two of the three industry redress organisations have launched a survey to measure the...
19 June 2018
From: Breaking News

As the process of making buying and selling more transparent continues to gather pace, the body that regulates conveyancers says it...
05 June 2018
From: Breaking News

Any letting agent appreciates the effort, dedication, and sometimes heartache, that comes with running a business yet equally knows that when...
30 May 2018
From: Features

Coming into force on May 25, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - which replaces the Data Protection Act 1998 -...
15 May 2018
From: Breaking News

Ever wondered what it’s like to be on the frontline of property journalism? Well, wonder no more, as our very own...
05 May 2018
From: Features

A leasehold reform campaigner has called on the government to ensure it publishes its report on leasehold reform before the summer recess at...
04 May 2018
From: Breaking News

One of the three official redress bodies serving the estate and lettings agency industry has conducted a survey of complaints across...
02 May 2018
From: Breaking News

Estate agent licensing will reduce competition, make buying and selling homes more expensive, and add another layer of red tape to...
18 April 2018
From: Breaking News

A proposal by HMRC to speed up HMRC Capital Gains Tax payments for residential property sales could create a “compliance nightmare.” The...
13 April 2018
From: Breaking News

More details have emerged of the government’s proposals to enhance estate agency regulation, regulate referral fees, offer guides for buyers and...
09 April 2018
From: Breaking News

The Property Ombudsman, Katrine Sporle, is to hold a briefing on the government’s redress reform on Wednesday - five days before...
09 April 2018
From: Breaking News

Have you noticed a new turf war going on on the fringes of the agency world? It’s not a high-profile battle like...
17 March 2018
From: Features

Ombudsman Services, which recently announced it was quitting its role as one of three approved redress schemes for estate and lettings...
12 March 2018
From: Breaking News

HM Land Registry has taken another step towards its aim to “make conveyancing simpler, faster and cheaper” for the general public. The...
05 March 2018
From: Breaking News

Scotland is considering giving first time buyers relief or exemption from Land and Buildings Transaction Tax - the replacement for stamp...
19 February 2018
From: Breaking News

The government has launched a surprise consultation on the creation of a new redress system for customers of agents and others...
18 February 2018
From: Breaking News

This week I carry out a question and answer session with one of the most high-profile names in property. Isobel Thomson has...
10 February 2018
From: Features

Last week’s news that the lettings fee ban is unlikely to materialise before next spring was perhaps to be expected. Ever since...
20 January 2018
From: Features

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

A specialist leasehold enfranchisement firm has branded government leasehold reforms as "incredibly weak". In an announcement lost in the noise following Damian Green’s sacking,...
22 December 2017
From: Breaking News

A conveyancers’ trade body has told the government that it wants the house buying process to be modernised by having estate...
18 December 2017
From: Breaking News

It’s traditional before Christmas to either review the year past or anticipate the one ahead - but I’m intrigued about what...
16 December 2017
From: Features

Another new year is nearly upon us and, once we’ve got the season of mince pies, mulled wine, pigs in blankets,...
16 December 2017
From: Features

The government says it is going to look at “bold options” to improve consumer redress across all aspects of housing -...
30 November 2017
From: Breaking News

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...
25 November 2017
From: Features

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

A round table will take place tomorrow between some of the country’s leading PropTech experts and the British Property Foundation to...
21 November 2017
From: Breaking News

A large part of the DCLG’s Call for Evidence on the home buying and selling process focuses on the role of...
18 November 2017
From: Features

It’s something of an understatement to say it’s been a busy fortnight for the industry in terms of announcements, consultations and...
04 November 2017
From: Features

An influential consumer group has responded to the government’s commitment to reform the house buying process by advocating legally-binding reservation agreements...
01 November 2017
From: Breaking News

A survey conducted by the National Association of Estate Agents reveals that 79 per cent of agents regard the current home-buying...
31 October 2017
From: Breaking News

Crowdfunding is nothing new. As I pointed out in a previous Natter, it dates back centuries, playing a part in the...
28 October 2017
From: Features

Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has launched a consultation on proposals to reform the house buying...
28 October 2017
From: Features

The government should take a close look at gazundering as well as gazumping in its review of the house sales process,...
27 October 2017
From: Breaking News

The Conveyancing Association says some of its members are piloting HIPs-style Digital Home Reports in a bid to reduce fall-throughs and...
24 October 2017
From: Breaking News

Conveyancers and the speed of local council searches have come in for criticism as details have emerged of the government’s consultation...
23 October 2017
From: Breaking News

There has been a wide range of views from trade bodies and individual agents on the government’s surprise ‘call for evidence’...
23 October 2017
From: Breaking News

The government has launched a consultation this weekend calling for evidence on how to make the home buying process “cheaper, faster...
22 October 2017
From: Breaking News

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

It’s been a big week for property news - controversies surrounding Purplebricks, merger discussions between big franchise operators, and another government...
20 October 2017
From: Breaking News

The long-running saga of whether independent agents’ group CIELA is ever going to launch appears to be nearing its end game...
03 October 2017
From: Breaking News

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Leasehold and Commonhold Reform has made a hard-hitting submission to formal government consultations on the...
25 September 2017
From: Breaking News

Even so close to the event, I don’t think anyone will be deeming 2017 as the ‘summer of love’. The summer of...
16 September 2017
From: Features

An early Gold member of OnTheMarket is making a last-ditch bid to stop its parent company, Agents’ Mutual, from floating on...
11 September 2017
From: Breaking News

Parliament is sitting again and the entire lettings industry is waiting with bated breath for more detail on the government’s proposal...
09 September 2017
From: Features

In this week’s Natter I’m going to get all political. Don’t worry, I won’t be giving my opinions on Brexit, Trump...
02 September 2017
From: Features

Jackson-Stops & Staff is undergoing a rebrand including the creation of a snappier title - it’s just Jackson-Stops now - as...
01 September 2017
From: Breaking News

MPL Interiors has not one but two brilliant things to give away this summer. We want to encourage as many estate...
03 August 2017
From: Sponsored Content

Without wishing to blow our own trumpet at this time, we did say at the start of the year that 2017...
28 July 2017
From: Features

There has been general support from the industry for the government’s apparent intention to ban new homes in England being sold...
26 July 2017
From: Breaking News

The government says it wants to ban “unfair” leasehold charges imposed on buyers of new-build homes in England. Under the measure, subject to...
25 July 2017
From: Breaking News

The government wants the views of estate agents and other professionals affected by anti-money laundering legislation, in a new consultation launched...
24 July 2017
From: Breaking News

The troubled trade group Charter for Independent Estate and Letting Agents - which has suggested it may not have enough support...
03 July 2017
From: Breaking News

The Queen’s speech to the British parliament this week was a scaled-back affair, which was unsurprising given the Grenfell Tower fire,...
23 June 2017
From: Features

A cluster of conveyancing and legal experts, known as the Legal Sector Group, has published a raft of proposals on leasehold...
21 June 2017
From: Breaking News

In years to come, students of political history might come to look at the 2017 General Election campaign with some interest....
03 June 2017
From: Features

In November 2016 when the Autumn Statement was delivered by Chancellor Philip Hammond, the announcement was made to ban letting agent...
20 May 2017
From: Features

I wrote last month about how the Government, in introducing a 3% stamp duty surcharge on second homes, had scored an...
22 April 2017
From: Features

The National Association of Estate Agents has thrown its weight behind a government move to create a register of overseas companies...
07 April 2017
From: Breaking News

The Competitions and Markets Authority has released more details of its ‘calling-in’ of the acquisition of Expert Agent by Zoopla Property...
03 April 2017
From: Breaking News

The Competitions and Markets Authority is reviewing the acquisition of Expert Agent by ZPG, parent company of Zoopla and PrimeLocation. A statement...
31 March 2017
From: Breaking News

We’re almost nine months on from the EU Referendum and yet the issue remains the big divide across the nation: an...
18 March 2017
From: Features

Ministry of Justice probate fee changes coming into effect this spring will affect all individuals inheriting an estate worth more than...
03 March 2017
From: Breaking News

Over the past two decades, investing in buy-to-let has been a relatively easy way to make money, which is why so...
25 February 2017
From: Features

Welcome to February! It means that 2017 is well under way and we’re edging closer to Spring – a time when...
04 February 2017
From: Features

The government appears to have slipped back on two deadlines concerning measures key to the property industry. Firstly the consultation on the...
20 January 2017
From: Breaking News

2016 was quite a year – eventful, dramatic, shocking and impossible to predict. In no particular order, we saw Leicester winning...
18 January 2017
From: Sponsored Content

A post-Christmas treat this week, as I carry out a Q & A with one of the leading figures in property,...
14 January 2017
From: Features

The government has announced that its next Budget will be on March 8 next year. Until recently, Budgets and their ‘mini-me’ Autumn...
22 December 2016
From: Breaking News

Forecasts are so last year: who anticipated Bowie, Brexit or Balls for example? Quotes, on the other hand, really ARE last year...
17 December 2016
From: Features

Countrywide’s share price closed slightly down again yesterday to finish trading at 176.0 after news emerged that the group was selling...
16 December 2016
From: Breaking News

The government has launched an official consultation process on a package of measures to crack down on what it calls ‘rogue...
14 December 2016
From: Breaking News

Next year is likely to be a challenging time for letting agents, following a raft of changes introduced by the government...
09 December 2016
From: Features

Countrywide says it is unable to comment on speculation that some Bairstow Eves offices in the south of England have been...
08 December 2016
From: Breaking News

A trading update released by Countrywide this morning shows a 29 per cent slump in London exchanges in the third quarter...
24 November 2016
From: Breaking News

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

Phillip Hammond has delivered his first Autumn Statement, tackling amongst other things, what he called “the housing challenge.” The speech made no...
23 November 2016
From: Breaking News
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It may still be too early to start compiling a Christmas wish list, but it is the right time to provide...
19 November 2016
From: Features

The Conveyancers' Association has called for sweeping changes to the house buying and moving system to create a "more certain and...
14 November 2016
From: Breaking News

The Independent Network of Estate Agents is running a survey to collate agents' responses ahead of the closure of the official...
03 November 2016
From: Breaking News

As many northern cities struggled to recover from the 2008 global financial crisis, the north-south divide returned to plague the British...
28 October 2016
From: Features

The Conveyancing Association says new Chancellor Phillip Hammond should use next month’s Autumn Statement as the opportunity to reverse controversial buy...
05 October 2016
From: Breaking News

The Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority has confirmed that tighter regulations will apply to lenders providing mortgages for buy to...
30 September 2016
From: Breaking News

The network of independent estate agents known as the Property Sharing Experts has become the Experts in Property. The change of name...
19 September 2016
From: Breaking News

It’s been a heartening few weeks for those of us who thought that protest was dead – or, more precisely, that...
09 September 2016
From: Features

The government is reported to have yet again delayed a decision on whether to privatise the Land Registry. The Financial Times says...
08 September 2016
From: Breaking News

A campaign has been launched to make Bristol the colour capital of the UK by ensuring that more homes are painted...
02 September 2016
From: Features

Estate Agent Today has received a list of around 60 Countrywide Group estate agency offices expected to close in the next...
02 September 2016
From: Breaking News

MP Bernard Jenkin, the chairman of the public administration committee, is the latest to raise concerns at the possible privatisation of...
01 August 2016
From: Breaking News

The National Association of Estate Agents and the Association of Residential Letting Agents have asked new housing minister Gavin Barwell to...
20 July 2016
From: Breaking News

The timing of Labour’s housing review, which has until now been closely associated with John Healey, appears uncertain following the shadow housing...
28 June 2016
From: Breaking News

The Competition and Markets Authority has reiterated controversial remarks about the government’s proposed privatisation of the Land Registry. Last month it surprised...
24 June 2016
From: Breaking News

Tomorrow, June 8, is the closing date for submissions to the Labour Party’s latest consultation on housing policy: it is seeking...
07 June 2016
From: Breaking News

The government's consultation on the proposed privatisation of the Land Registry closes today. Interested parties have had since March 24 to give...
26 May 2016
From: Breaking News

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has challenged the government over its renewed attempt to privatise the Land Registry. Last week's Queen's...
24 May 2016
From: Breaking News

Operating hours for CHAPS - the payment system used to trasfer funds for property transactions - will be extended by one...
19 May 2016
From: Breaking News

An online petition against the privatisation of the Land Registry now has around 225,000 signatures with just over a week to...
17 May 2016
From: Breaking News

An NHS foundation trust has had to issue a statement to defuse fears that a local hospital was up for sale...
12 May 2016
From: Breaking News

The National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team is urging the industry to comment on a government initiative aimed at cutting red...
09 May 2016
From: Breaking News

The government - which controversially launched consultation on its stamp duty surcharge between Christmas and New Year - has now used...
29 March 2016
From: Breaking News

A group of leading tax experts claims the stamp duty surcharge coming into effect one week from today will hurt the...
25 March 2016
From: Breaking News

Unlikely as it seems, the Treasury has tipped-off the 909 individuals and organisations that responded to formal consultation over the stamp...
24 March 2016
From: Breaking News

The government’s official consultation exercise on the stamp duty surcharge - launched in controversial circumstances over the Christmas holidays - attracted...
22 March 2016
From: Breaking News

The influential Home Owners’ Alliance pressure group says Britain pulling out of the EU would probably depress house prices. The HOA - a...
22 March 2016
From: Breaking News

Later today chancellor George Osborne will make his latest budget speech. The announcement is expected to confirm the details of the 3%...
16 March 2016
From: Breaking News

The Nationwide is warning that the busy start to 2016 in the housing market is driven at least partly by the...
04 March 2016
From: Breaking News

Banks have approved the highest number of mortgages for almost two years as the rush to purchase buy to let properties...
25 February 2016
From: Breaking News

The Chartered Institute of Taxation has called on government to introduce an exemption from the stamp duty surcharge for parents buying...
24 February 2016
From: Breaking News

Another online petition has been launched against one of Chancellor George Osborne’s fiscal measures seen as an attack on the private...
22 February 2016
From: Breaking News

A letter from the Financial Secretary to the Treasury appears to suggest that the government is set on implementing the three...
12 February 2016
From: Breaking News

A consumer group which supports the principle of a stamp duty surcharge on second homes and buy to let properties has...
01 February 2016
From: Breaking News

There is less than a week to go before formal consultation ends on the introduction of the so-called stamp duty surcharge...
26 January 2016
From: Breaking News

Prime Minister David Cameron has dismissed out of hand appeals and comments from Estate Agent Today readers to reconsider the recent...
25 January 2016
From: Breaking News

In January readers of Estate Agent Today and Letting Agent Today were given the opportunity to give their views on proposed...
25 January 2016
From: Features

My suspicion in my December Industry Views column that the Chancellor, George Osborne, holds certain types of property owners in contempt...
08 January 2016
From: Features

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors wants to make a valuation an optional element of the long-standing Home Buyer Report. This will...
07 January 2016
From: Breaking News

Estate Agent Today readers are being given the rare opportunity to have their concerns about proposed stamp duty increases and recent...
05 January 2016
From: Breaking News

There is just four weeks left for the official consultation period set by the government over its controversial proposal to levy...
04 January 2016
From: Breaking News

The Competition and Markets Authority says one of its priorities for 2016-17 is to pursue a project analysing the accuracy and...
04 January 2016
From: Breaking News

Controversy is growing over the government’s surprise consultation period for its proposal to levy a three per cent stamp duty surcharge...
30 December 2015
From: Breaking News

The government chose Christmas Bank Holiday Monday to launch its formal consultation on the ‘additional properties’ stamp duty surcharge, first announced...
28 December 2015
From: Breaking News

A typical 50-day wait for a buyer to receive a mortgage offer “increases the risk that sales will collapse and puts...
21 December 2015
From: Breaking News

A single definitive ‘official’ government house price index is to be launched by June. During the summer the Office for National Statistics...
16 December 2015
From: Breaking News

The little-publicised extension of the CHAPS settlement day - taking the closure up to 6pm from next summer - has received...
07 December 2015
From: Breaking News

I’m sure I’m not the only estate agent confused by the Government’s approach to residential property ownership. Many of the current ministerial...
04 December 2015
From: Features

After visiting the Fairfield showroom in the Fleet office, Simon Silby at James Griffin Estate Agents decided to meet with a...
30 November 2015
From: Sponsored Content

The government is telling councils to produce local plans for new homes in their area by 2017 – or Whitehall will...
13 October 2015
From: Breaking News

You know you’re doing something right when for the third year running you are shortlisted for the Supplier of the Year...
25 September 2015
From: Sponsored Content

The chief executive of Countrywide, Britain’s largest estate and letting agency group handling around one in 10 of all residential transactions,...
11 September 2015
From: Breaking News

Restructuring turmoil continues within Countrywide, Britain’s largest estate and letting agency group, with several managers reportedly being handed notices referring to...
10 September 2015
From: Breaking News

Unbelievable transformation from start to finish Harper & Woods Estate Agents approached Fairfield Displays with an idea of creating a stylish and...
07 September 2015
From: Sponsored Content

Agents and other property professionals are being invited to a briefing on how new trading standards guidance will affect the industry. The...
30 July 2015
From: Breaking News

It now appears likely that there will be a new government house price index launched in the first half of next...
15 July 2015
From: Breaking News

So spring has sprung and the Hare is on the loose. After a very long gestation period, the Veyo leveret has...
29 May 2015
From: Features

Gareth Styles of Grants Independent Estate Agents, Woking writes: When considering opening a new office in Woking Surrey I met with several...
23 April 2015
From: Sponsored Content

Q: What does it say on your business card? Other than my personal details, the business card carries our logo with our...
22 April 2015
From: 60 Second Interview

Mike Poole was keen to update the window display of his Middlesbrough branch and decided that LED Light Pockets™ were the...