Estate agency has changed. No longer is it required to sit in a high street office working the old way. Provide a...
Archive
![Property Natter - why housing must always have a seat at the top table](/upload/images/Site%20logos/PropertyNatter-2019-400x310.png)
First off, my own quick tribute to the Queen, who died on Thursday afternoon aged 96. Despite her age and declining...
10 September 2022
From: Features
![Former Housing Secretary dies at the age of 53](/upload/images/library/JamesBrokenshire-400x310%20(2).jpg)
Former Housing Secretary James Brokenshire has died at the age of 53. The Conservative ex-Cabinet minister, who was diagnosed with lung cancer...
08 October 2021
From: Breaking News
![Ministry of Housing rebrands but it’s still a bit of a mouthful](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/Parliament-Summer-400x310.jpg)
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has changed its name to reflect the government’s levelling up agenda. The department’s...
20 September 2021
From: Breaking News
![Pincher survives as ruthless Johnson reshuffle concludes](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/BorisJohnson-4-400x310.jpg)
Boris Johnson's sudden and unexpectedly ruthless Cabinet reshuffle, which drew comparisons with Margaret Thatcher's 'purge of the wets' in 1981, ended...
17 September 2021
From: Breaking News
![Reshuffle - Gove replaces Jenrick, but will Pincher survive?](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/Parliament-Summer-400x310.jpg)
In a day of unexpected drama, Boris Johnson carried out a surprisingly brutal and widespread Cabinet reshuffle which saw a number...
16 September 2021
From: Breaking News
![Robert Jenrick sacked as Housing Secretary; Michael Gove replaces him](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/RobertJenrick-400x310.jpg)
Robert Jenrick has been sacked from his post as Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary. He was the third major name to...
15 September 2021
From: Breaking News
![Mandatory housebuilding targets set for the scrapheap - reports](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/ParliamentView-400x310.jpg)
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
21 August 2021
From: Features
![EPC figure show new build homes more energy efficient says Jenrick](/upload/images/Energy%20and%20Green%20Homes/EnergyEfficiency-2-400x310.jpg)
The number of Energy Performance Certificates issued for new build homes in England rose 16 per cent in the year to...
03 August 2021
From: Breaking News
![Agents back First Homes - but should government do more to boost supply?](/img/default/eat.png)
Agents have given their backing to the government’s First Homes initiative, offering discounted houses for local people and key workers and...
07 June 2021
From: Breaking News
![The Cladding Scandal – what do you need to know?](/img/default/eat.png)
The Grenfell Tower disaster in June 2017 exposed the dangers of inflammable cladding on residential tower blocks, and what has come...
05 June 2021
From: Features
![Ministry of Housing’s new headquarters is in … Wolverhampton](/img/default/eat.png)
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has revealed that what it calls its “second HQ” will be in Wolverhampton,...
02 June 2021
From: Breaking News
![Government unveils new bid to push forward ‘commonhold’ concept](/img/default/eat.png)
The government has set up a committee to push forward ideas on the collective form of homeownership known as commonhold. Housing Secretary...
14 May 2021
From: Breaking News
![Covid-19 testing for agents available within days - government](/img/default/eat.png)
A trade body says it’s been contacted by the government explaining how agencies can get Coronavirus asymptomatic testing for staff. The Guild of...
23 February 2021
From: Breaking News
![Why automation could improve enforcement of PRS regulation](/img/default/eat.png)
It’s now more than a year since the government offered an additional £4 million to councils to combat rogue landlords. At the...
13 February 2021
From: Features
![Two new property taxes announced by Housing Secretary](/img/default/eat.png)
The government has given details of two new taxes to provide funds to address the cladding problem on high rise tower blocks...
11 February 2021
From: Breaking News
![Unsellable: Thousands of flats remain impossible to mortgage or sell](/img/default/eat.png)
Agents and a wide range of property experts have demanded yet more government funds to end the cladding crisis that is...
11 February 2021
From: Breaking News
![New tax and billions more for cladding - but is it enough?](/img/default/eat.png)
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced “an exceptional intervention” promising that leaseholders in high-rise buildings above 18 metres will bear no...
10 February 2021
From: Breaking News
![Agent closes branches and demands stricter Coronavirus controls](/img/default/eat.png)
An estate agent has shut both branches of his business for safety reasons and wants tighter Coronavirus restrictions on the industry. ITV...
20 January 2021
From: Breaking News
![Agents can work in Tier 4 as government publishes guidelines](/img/default/eat.png)
The Westminster government has published extensive guidance on the operation of the new Tier 4 Coronavirus restrictions in England. This includes a...
21 December 2020
From: Breaking News
![“Deplorable” government slammed for years of housing problems](/img/default/eat.png)
A scathing document produced by MPs slams the government for its “deplorable” housing policies which are "invented, abandoned and reinvented" -...
09 December 2020
From: Breaking News
![Corona Update: Agents seeking urgent guidance from government](/img/default/eat.png)
Propertymark is in touch with the government to see how the new Tier structure being introduced on December 3 will affect...
24 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![Mortgage holiday set to be extended as housing market stays open](/img/default/eat.png)
There’s one key takeaway for agents from the weekend’s announcements on the next England-wide lockdown - the housing market is staying...
02 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![Property Logbooks: New bid to make them part of sales process](/img/default/eat.png)
Another attempt is being made to introduce property logbooks to the selling and buying process, and agents are invited to play a...
26 October 2020
From: Breaking News
![New sleaze allegation against Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick](/img/default/eat.png)
The Times has revealed new allegations concerning the behaviour of Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick. The Cabinet member has been under the spotlight...
25 September 2020
From: Breaking News
![Explained for agents - Electrical Safety Standards Regulations](/img/default/eat.png)
Since June 1, under The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, landlords in England have been...
26 August 2020
From: Features
![Face Coverings in Branches - agents given new guidance](/img/default/eat.png)
New guidance on face coverings for agents working in branches, and for those dealing directly with visitors, was issued last evening. A statement...
24 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Going Up: two-storey extensions allowed without full consent](/img/default/eat.png)
Home owners in England will be entitled to add up to two storeys to the height of their home via a...
22 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agents Boards: Labour council wins government help for stiff controls](/img/default/eat.png)
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
![Electrical checks - clarity and efficiency are crucial for compliance](/img/default/eat.png)
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 - which require increased electrical testing in rental properties...
15 July 2020
From: Features
![Facemasks: Propertymark hints that agents may have to wear them](/img/default/eat.png)
More than 24 hours after the government's announcement about the compulsory wearing of facemasks by shoppers in England, and there is...
15 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![First-ever transaction with chain using Reservation Agreements](/img/default/eat.png)
A PropTech supplier claims that an agency has secured the first ever transaction where the complete chain used Reservation Agreements. Harrison Residential,...
08 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agents stay open in future local lockdowns but auction houses shut](/img/default/eat.png)
Government guidelines regarding future Leicester-style local lockdowns suggest that branches can remain open and viewings can continue. However auction houses must shut. So...
07 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Jenrick - Why his scandals matter to agents](/img/default/eat.png)
It may be that by the time you read this it’s all over for Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for...
27 June 2020
From: Features
![Second politician named in Jenrick ‘cash for favours’ controversy](/img/default/eat.png)
Housing minister Chris Pincher has now been named in media investigations into allegations concerning his political boss, Robert Jenrick, and the...
15 June 2020
From: Breaking News
![Virtual viewings here to stay, government urges in new guidance](/img/default/eat.png)
Guidance issued by the government explicitly advises agents, buyers and sellers that more activity should be done online if possible. “The process...
14 May 2020
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter - what will agent offices look like post-lockdown?](/img/default/eat.png)
There has been much speculation about when agents will be allowed back to work, and what the new office working environment...
09 May 2020
From: Features
![Fury over agent breaching government rules on opening to public](/img/default/eat.png)
There’s been a furious response to the agent who appears to have breached government rules by opening his branch to the...
07 May 2020
From: Breaking News
![New plea to help self-employed agents missed by Corona schemes](/img/default/eat.png)
NAEA Propertymark has made a series of demands on the government in the light of the Coronavirus crisis. In a formal written...
07 May 2020
From: Breaking News
![Business rates boost for agencies as revaluation is deferred a year](/img/default/eat.png)
Agencies, many of which campaigned vigorously to be included in the business rates holiday announced in March by the government, have...
07 May 2020
From: Breaking News
![Searches: councils slammed as dangerous over face-to-face visits](/img/default/eat.png)
A trade body has reported some council search departments to the government for refusing to provide email details and forcing search...
16 April 2020
From: Breaking News
![Housing market could be ‘frozen’ to avoid Coronavirus crash](/img/default/eat.png)
It’s been reported that the government is talking with banks and building societies about putting the housing market ‘on ice’ during the...
27 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agents Beware: definitive government guidance on buying and selling](/img/default/eat.png)
The government has at last issued extensive advice on home moving and the activities of estate agents during the continuing Coronavirus crisis. This...
27 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![Government tells agents to shut offices immediately](/img/default/eat.png)
Propertymark has been told the agents should shut their offices immediately - they are not “essential businesses” under the new Coronavirus...
24 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![Property Log Books - PropTech expert wants cross-industry support](/img/default/eat.png)
The head of a firm that has been creating digital property log books for well over a decade says the house-moving...
06 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![Housing Minister launches 'home of the future' competition](/img/default/eat.png)
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
![Referral Fees: No change “for a while” but reform coming](/img/default/eat.png)
The Trading Standards report on the future of referral fees is almost completed and will be sent to government next week. However, James...
28 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![Reservation Agreement trials delayed until late spring](/img/default/eat.png)
Trials of reservation agreements for buyers and sellers have been delayed until the late spring. Statements last year from the Ministry of Housing, Communities...
28 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![New Homes Ombudsman announced (again) with banning powers](/img/default/eat.png)
The government has - once again - announced the introduction of a New Homes Ombudsman. The news came yesterday when Housing Secretary...
25 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![A new Housing Minister - what does it mean for the PRS?](/img/default/eat.png)
Earlier this month, Boris Johnson carried out a reshuffle of his cabinet, telling ministers they must 'repay the trust of those...
22 February 2020
From: Features
![Housing minister Esther McVey sacked by Boris Johnson](/img/default/eat.png)
Esther McVey has been sacked as housing minister; she was the ninth housing minister in as many years. Her successor is the...
13 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![Consumer group concerned over 30% cut price First Home scheme](/img/default/eat.png)
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
![Consumer champion backs 30% discount scheme for local first timers](/img/default/eat.png)
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
![It's time for agents and politicians to get behind Reservation Agreements trial](/img/default/eat.png)
Now we’re well into the second month of the year, we have reached a crucial point in the ongoing plans to...
08 February 2020
From: Features
![Discounted homes for first time buyers scheme unveiled by government](/img/default/eat.png)
The government has announced its First Homes scheme - a policy under which it says some new homes will see their...
07 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agents Beware: Mandatory disclosure of referral fees still a possibility](/img/default/eat.png)
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
![Reservation Agreements: industry and public split on whether they work](/img/default/eat.png)
The group charged with pioneering Reservation Agreements in the house buying process admits both the industry and the public are split...
27 January 2020
From: Breaking News
![More reforms on their way as government ponders leasehold changes](/img/default/eat.png)
The Law Commission has set out three ways to cut the cost that leaseholders have to pay to buy the freehold...
10 January 2020
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter: let’s talk about conveyancing](/img/default/eat.png)
It’s one of the most crucial aspects of the homebuying and selling process but is too often bogged down by frustrating...
21 December 2019
From: Features
![Details of 30% discounts for 'First Home' local buyers revealed](/img/default/eat.png)
The government has given details of a scheme allowing 30 per cent reductions for what it calls ‘local first time buyers’...
19 December 2019
From: Breaking News
![Reservation Agreements: two key problems that must be overcome](/img/default/eat.png)
A law firm has spoken out about two possible problems in the government’s much-publicised idea of considering Reservation Agreements as a...
17 December 2019
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter: what has the last decade meant for the property industry?](/img/default/eat.png)
Yes, believe it or not, we’ve nearly reached the end of a whole decade. And what an eventful decade it’s been. We’ve...
14 December 2019
From: Features
![The government’s PropTech plans have the potential to be good news for agents](/img/default/eat.png)
In the firmest sign yet that PropTech has entered the mainstream, Housing Minister Esther McVey recently launched an expert advisory council...
14 December 2019
From: Features
![Is this how Reservation Agreements will work?](/img/default/eat.png)
Reservation Agreements are the subject of the moment in the agency industry. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is to...
09 November 2019
From: Features
![Ban all boards! Council wants government backing for blanket ban](/img/default/eat.png)
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
![PropTech to digitally transform house-buying pledges housing minister](/img/default/eat.png)
Housing Minister Esther McVey has launched an expert advisory council that the government says is “dedicated to the digital transformation of...
06 November 2019
From: Breaking News
![Fall Throughs: more support revealed for Reservation Agreements](/img/default/eat.png)
Buyers and sellers changing their minds lie behind almost a third of fall-throughs - the single biggest reason why transactions collapse,...
05 November 2019
From: Breaking News
![Reservation Agreements may need bigger penalties says Reapit chief](/img/default/eat.png)
Reservation Agreements may require bigger financial penalties than the £500 to £1,000 currently envisaged if they are to work. That’s the view...
01 November 2019
From: Breaking News
![Another agency backs Reservation Agreements to cut fall-throughs](/img/default/eat.png)
Another estate agency has come out in favour of reservation agreements. High-end agency Chestertons says transactions currently fall through too frequently and the...
29 October 2019
From: Breaking News
![Boris and the house moving process - O Lucky Man!](/img/default/eat.png)
There are many adjectives that can be applied to Boris Johnson, probably very few of them complimentary, but there’s one that...
26 October 2019
From: Features
![Reservation Agreements: Agency asks buyers for £5,000 - and it works](/img/default/eat.png)
A London agency has told Estate Agent Today that it makes some of its buyers pay upwards of £5,000 in Reservation...
23 October 2019
From: Breaking News
![PropTech Today: The government and its attitude towards PropTech](/img/default/eat.png)
It was in this very column, back in July, when I wrote about how the British government was starting to take...
23 October 2019
From: Breaking News
![Leading agent backs reservation agreements ahead of pilot project](/img/default/eat.png)
One of the country’s most prominent estate agents has given renewed backing to a pilot project on reservation agreements, being tested...
22 October 2019
From: Breaking News
![Huge shake-up of sellers’ information being considered](/img/default/eat.png)
First details have emerged of the information vendors may have to provide up-front In future transactions if government house buying reforms...
21 October 2019
From: Breaking News
![Reservation Agreements: more details emerge of New Year trial](/img/default/eat.png)
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has given more details of the trial of reservation agreements likely to take...
21 October 2019
From: Breaking News
![Reservation Agreements to be trialled in the New Year](/img/default/eat.png)
Reservation agreements locking in buyers and sellers could be trailed with some agencies and conveyancers early in 2020, a government official...
15 October 2019
From: Breaking News
![House buying reform is centre stage at special ESTAS conference](/img/default/eat.png)
The reform of the buying process is to take centre stage at a special conference called Bold Legal LIVE! taking place...
30 September 2019
From: Breaking News
![Referral Fees: Guild backs tighter rules and is checking members for compliance](/img/default/eat.png)
The Guild of Property Professionals has welcomed government steps to provide buyers and sellers with greater transparency in transactions - and...
11 September 2019
From: Breaking News
![Agents urged to work with businesses on urban regeneration proposals](/img/default/eat.png)
A £3.6 billion Towns Fund to support towns across England to build prosperous futures through innovative regeneration is a perfect chance...
10 September 2019
From: Breaking News
![Referral Fees: government amends guide for buyers and sellers](/img/default/eat.png)
The government has issued a revised version of its official How To Buy and How To Sell documents, aimed at consumers...
09 September 2019
From: Breaking News
![“Unworkable” government housing tweaks widely criticised by industry](/img/default/eat.png)
There has been a sceptical response by agents and others in the property industry to the government’s latest headline-grabbing tweaks to...
29 August 2019
From: Breaking News
![NAEA wants a single Ombudsman to cover all housing issues](/img/default/eat.png)
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
![Housing starts and completions still below pre-recession levels](/img/default/eat.png)
A briefing note for MPs prepared from government statistics shows that housing starts and completions have increased from the lows observed...
20 August 2019
From: Breaking News
![Regulation of agents: government still pondering next steps](/img/default/eat.png)
There’s been only a vague government response to the recommendations for an estate and lettings agency regulator. Last month the Regulation of...
12 August 2019
From: Breaking News
![MHCLG gets a makeover – three key tasks for the new ministers to consider](/img/default/eat.png)
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
![High profile housing minister named - but how long will she last?](/img/default/eat.png)
Esther McVey is to be the new housing minister - one of the most seasoned politicians to take the job in...
25 July 2019
From: Breaking News
![Esther McVey is Housing Minister; Robert Jenrick is Housing Secretary](/img/default/eat.png)
The new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government is the relatively unknown Robert Jenrick - but his new housing...
24 July 2019
From: Breaking News
![All Change: new regulator, licensing and qualifications proposed for agents](/img/default/eat.png)
The government has published proposals for far-reaching changes to the way estate and letting agents are regulated, trained and licensed. The proposals...
18 July 2019
From: Breaking News
![Radical reform for agency industry to be signed off by minister today](/img/default/eat.png)
Some of the most radical reforms ever proposed for estate and letting agents are expected to be signed off today by...
15 July 2019
From: Breaking News
![New industry regulator and qualifications ‘in place within two years’](/img/default/eat.png)
A new industry regulator is likely to be in place within two years according to the chair of the government’s Regulation...
11 July 2019
From: Breaking News
![Following Scotland’s lead – what next for England’s PRS regulation?](/img/default/eat.png)
Increasing legislation and regulation has arguably been the biggest talking point in the private rented sector (PRS) over the last few...
29 June 2019
From: Features
![Housing minister in racism row apologises for “inappropriate” words](/img/default/eat.png)
The minister at the centre of reforms to the estate and lettings industry sector has apologised for what she calls “inappropriate...
24 June 2019
From: Breaking News
![Damning report says Help To Buy helped many who didn’t need it at all](/img/default/eat.png)
The National Audit Office says many users of Help To Buy would have been able to purchase a home anyway, without...
13 June 2019
From: Breaking News
![Housing minister mocked over bid to become Prime Minister](/img/default/eat.png)
Housing minister Kit Malthouse appears to have some difficulty being taken seriously as a candidate for Conservative party leader and Prime...
04 June 2019
From: Breaking News
![Flurry of new laws and regulations to come, whoever is Prime Minister](/img/default/eat.png)
The head of the Property Redress Scheme is urging agents to prepare for yet more regulation and legislation changes likely to...
28 May 2019
From: Breaking News
![Easier extensions - mixed response from industry and planners](/img/default/eat.png)
There’s been a mixed response to the government’s surprise announcement that it would make permanent the right of home owners to...
28 May 2019
From: Breaking News
![Agents welcome CMA probe into 'mis-selling' of leasehold properties](/img/default/eat.png)
The National Association of Estate Agents has welcomed the commitment by the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate the mis-selling of...
17 May 2019
From: Breaking News
![Buying reform could slash transaction time by almost 30% - claim](/img/default/eat.png)
Reforms to the house buying process in England and Wales to bring it more into line with Scotland could slash the...