Archive

It's been two years since the SDL Group launched its franchise block management business, SDL Property Partners, the first of its...

No one would argue that unfair fees and practices by rogue landlords is a problem that should be ignored, but the...

The Property Franchise Group has issued a trading statement that is upbeat on lettings but warns that the sales market has...

You don’t need to go far to find news about the UK lettings market. From the banning of tenant fees to...

Foxtons' latest trading statement shows another fall in sales revenue - but this time lettings income is down too. In an announcement...

We know that the tenant fee ban has cost letting agents dearly, with an estimated loss of £300 million paid to...

Franchise giant Hunters says its branch network has now hit 200 following a spate of acquisitions in the first half of...

Professional client account solutions for modern letting agents Letting agents will need to come up with new ways to manage client money...

It is now over two months since the introduction of the ban on fees charged to tenants, leaving letting agents with...

Countrywide has thrown its weight behind the proposals for a new single industry-wide regulator taking on the roles of Trading Standards...

Sometimes having prior knowledge of a stressful event can be more stressful than the event itself, just look at Brexit for...

This may be the final full day in office for Kit Malthouse, the latest politician to occupy the short-term position of housing...

Two of the highest profile independent estate agencies in the north of England have merged following a spectacular acquisition. Linley & Simpson...

Increasing legislation and regulation has arguably been the biggest talking point in the private rented sector (PRS) over the last few...

Instant online valuation service The ValPal Network has revealed a conveyancing partner which it says will help agents boost referral fees.  The...

In recent years, estate and letting agents have been faced with a series of tough challenges to absorb and react to. There...

In a surprising announcement overnight, housing minister Kit Malthouse says he is standing to become the Conservative party leader and next...

Earlier this month we celebrated the 16th annual ESTAS Awards, once again hosted by TV property expert Phil Spencer.  The glittering ceremony...

What a great time to be a letting agent. In decades, never has there been so much change. As you’re well aware,...

The Property Ombudsman says its members must in future disclose referral fees in a bid to make previously-hidden costs open and...

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

Whether you love or hate it, Purplebricks has undoubtedly left its mark since arriving on the scene in 2015 – much...

The Guild of Property Professionals' regional roadshow for existing and potential members, resumes its activities next week with a visit to...

It’s clear that some agents are not fans of Trading Standards officers, described in the comments sections of the trade press...

Estate Agent Today has been given details of the new National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agents Team - the body...

The jury appears to be out on whether the new enforcement body for estate and lettings agents will be resourced sufficiently...

A new team has been set up to police all estate and letting agency legislation including the upcoming tenants' fees ban. The...

Low risk letting is everyone’s aim, but unless legitimate guidelines are followed it’s difficult to know if a tenant will prove...

It has been a long time coming, but the tenant fees ban, which forbids landlords and letting agents in England from...

No, this isn’t about Brexit. But as the saga of leaving the EU is likely to bring about the downfall of...

It’s a testing time for the property industry, amid Brexit fears, a slowing market and the looming tenant fees ban.  There’s no...

Four high-profile industry figures have sent an open letter urging agents to think about what they call “smarter marketing” in a...

Countrywide’s senior executives have set out reasons why investors should put their money into the group, despite its troubled recent years. Yesterday...

Countrywide’s executive chairman and group managing director have spoken to Estate Agent Today about the impact of Brexit on the company,...

Competition for landlords will be fiercer than ever this year. Landlords are facing a raft of changes and will likely be...

Nobody likes change. It makes people feel threatened, undermines their confidence, and makes them worry about the future. But regardless of...

In these tougher times, we recognise that helping agents win new inventory is the key to their businesses.  There were more than...

The Property Franchise Group says its online/hybrid agency EweMove traded profitably throughout  last year and will show “a significant improvement” over...

Kit Malthouse has been making headlines this week, but – in keeping with his tenure as Housing Minister so far -...

By thinking outside the box, agents can truly embrace the idea of space-as-a-service and create entirely new, and highly valuable, streams...

When it comes to letting a property, it is important that landlords and renters have faith in their agent. The more...

Alongside hundreds of agents and suppliers, I recently attended the Guild of Property Professionals’ annual conference. As ever, it was a great...

Hello and welcome to 2019. These are less predictions and more expectations - developments following on from what’s happened in the past...

With a new year nearly upon us, it’s always a good idea to be aware of the major events that are...

When renting a property out, letting agents and landlords recognise that it is important to take a deposit from the tenant...

There is a perfect storm brewing in the lettings market, and as the saying goes, “you can’t change the direction of...

I’m spending a lot of time in airport terminals waiting for flights. They’re not the most comfortable of surroundings, but at...

The title may be unfamiliar but most agents know by now that in the corridors of Whitehall a working party exists...

1.             Who are you and what do you do? HeyJuno Property is a business dedicated to empowering estate and letting agents throughout...

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...

Since January 2018, nine of the UK’s biggest banks have allowed competitors direct access to customer data as part of the...

Renting has long been characterised as a stepping stone onto the housing ladder for the younger generations. But in recent years,...

Letting agents are being advised to think seriously about how they can recoup costs to help compensate for the introduction of...

The rise and fall - and perhaps rise again - of Countrywide has been of enduring interest to the agency industry...

Recent void statistics have had me wondering how agents can juggle client and consumer demands in the face of the impending...

In recent months, there’s been a notable move in the rental market towards deposit replacement products in place of traditional security...

Neil Cobbold, COO of PayProp, advises letting agents to act now to beat the upcoming letting agent fee ban and discusses...

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

It’s probably unwise to write too much about politics these days. The most fanciful predictions turn out to be less wild...

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

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

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

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

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...

The housing industry has set out a list of demands in advance of the government’s hotly anticipated Autumn Budget on Wednesday.  Despite...

Crowdfunding is nothing new. As I pointed out in a previous Natter, it dates back centuries, playing a part in the...

Like many of Labour’s recent policy proposals, its call for rent controls leaves more questions than answers.  There has been widespread criticism...

Parliament is sitting again and the entire lettings industry is waiting with bated breath for more detail on the government’s proposal...

Living next to inconsiderate neighbours can be a nightmare, but letting to bad tenants can prove costly, especially when issues, which...

As an agency business, how much are you spending on professional body memberships? Perhaps it’s time to question how much you...

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

Our recent roundtable on the government’s proposed ban on tenant fees generated a selection of tips for growing your business. We’re now...

The Green Party, one of the final political groups to launch their manifesto for the June 8 General Election, wants an end...

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

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

Next year is likely to be a challenging time for letting agents, following a raft of changes introduced by the government...

Carpe diem, seize the day – whatever you call it, it’s something all of us in the property industry should be looking...

Chancellor Philip Hammond caught the lettings industry unaware with an incredulous Autumn Statement.  The buy-to-let sector took a bashing earlier in 2015...

Phillip Hammond has delivered his first Autumn Statement, tackling amongst other things, what he called “the housing challenge.” The speech made no...