It’s often fashionable to criticise trade bodies and official groups, but right now I think that’s absolutely inappropriate. In well over 20...
Archive

The interim chairman of the RICS governing council has vowed to get the beleaguered body in a “good position” for reforms...
22 June 2022
From: Breaking News

A high-profile review of the governance and purpose of the RICS has said the need for change at the institution is...
21 June 2022
From: Breaking News
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A group of mortgage advisers has proposed a range of reforms to reduce barriers to home ownership for first time buyers. The...
20 June 2022
From: Breaking News

The government’s Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper has initially caused some consternation and a strong adverse reaction from some within...
18 June 2022
From: Features
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The government’s new Right to Buy policy for housing association tenants appeared to unravel last night after the Housing Secretary said...
14 June 2022
From: Breaking News

Agency trade body Propertymark has called for the government’s housing market reforms to go further and has even suggested targeted stamp...
13 June 2022
From: Breaking News
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Property professionals and MPs were left wanting more after Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s much-anticipated housing announcements yesterday. Johnson yesterday promised a review...
10 June 2022
From: Breaking News

Anti-money laundering (AML) platform Credas is hosting a free lunch and learn session for estate agents in south Wales and south-west...
06 June 2022
From: Breaking News

House price growth is set to slow but talk of a correction is overstated, Savills claims. The latest house price forecasts from...
01 June 2022
From: Breaking News

Why the urgency? Because the appetite is strong. Research by the Conveyancing Association reports that 98% of consumers are overwhelmingly in...
01 June 2022
From: Breaking News

House price growth may be slowing but there is still plenty of movement in the property jobs market. Here are some of...
31 May 2022
From: Breaking News

The government is being urged to expand and make the Treasury’s mortgage guarantee scheme permanent and compulsory on home loans above...
30 May 2022
From: Breaking News

MPs have called for carbon emissions to be considered when it comes to house building. A report released this week by the Environmental Audit...
27 May 2022
From: Breaking News

Data reforms announced in the Queen’s Speech earlier this month could speed-up property sales, an anti-money laundering (AML) expert claims. While property...
25 May 2022
From: Breaking News
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In retrospect, it was perhaps inevitable that the infamous dead cat would come into the debate over government housing targets and...
21 May 2022
From: Features
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The issue of agency qualifications has finally been mentioned in the Houses of Parliament, almost three years since the landmark Regulation...
20 May 2022
From: Breaking News
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After years of delays and upheaval, the Renters' Reform Bill finally appears to be back on the agenda, in an effort...
14 May 2022
From: Features

Agents have pledged to keep a close eye on planning reforms amid a proposed overhaul announced in the Queen’s Speech yesterday. Prince...
11 May 2022
From: Breaking News
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The Queen’s Speech has unveiled proposed overhauls on planning, consumer and economic crime laws that could all have an effect on...
10 May 2022
From: Breaking News
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The government’s legislative agenda will be set out this morning in the Queen’s Speech and there are plenty of potential laws that...
10 May 2022
From: Breaking News

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) has long been the bugbear of many property transactions. Even the very wealthy will lose interest...
07 May 2022
From: Features

The property industry is fortunate in including many great people, doing great work across a range of businesses – from traditional agency...
30 April 2022
From: Features

You will hopefully have seen that the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 has now received its Royal Assent, meaning it...
30 April 2022
From: Features

Propertymark has given its backing to the ban on ground rents for new leasehold properties and has reminded agents of their...
25 April 2022
From: Breaking News

It’s easy to overestimate the importance of something in one’s own industry or work, but there seems good reason for believing...
23 April 2022
From: Features

Although Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement did not include many announcements regarding housing, it did provide a good...
23 April 2022
From: Features

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

In this weekend feature, inventory expert and chair of the AIIC, Daniel Evans, sets out why rental reform changes will make...
02 April 2022
From: Features

The introduction of a register of land owners has triggered concern from the agents’ trade body Propertymark. A Register of Persons Holding...
31 March 2022
From: Breaking News

The government has failed to take the opportunity of the Spring Statement to provide clarity on its business rates reform agenda,...
24 March 2022
From: Breaking News
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If you want to sex-up the Chancellor’s financial statement scheduled for lunchtime on Wednesday, you’d call it a Budget or a...
19 March 2022
From: Features

A shift is occurring in the rental market across the UK. The Government is planning to reform the sector with increased...
16 March 2022
From: Features

Those aficionados of the Sound of Music will recognise the tag line above. It came to my mind when thinking about...
12 March 2022
From: Features

PropTech supplier tmgroup is to hold a six-part webinar series called Achieving Change: Think tomorrow, act today. The webinars - from linked...
25 February 2022
From: Breaking News

Industry figures have come out in favour of the long-term programme of new compulsory information to be contained on property listings. From...
22 February 2022
From: Breaking News

The majority of homeowners and homebuyers believe Stamp Duty Land Tax is outdated and needs reform. The mortgage lender Butterfield commissioned an...
09 February 2022
From: Breaking News

Rightmove is running a series of webinars this month focused on legislation affecting agents. Tomorrow the former ARLA Propertymark supreme David Cox...
07 February 2022
From: Breaking News
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The government’s Levelling Up White Paper, released today, contains an unexpected and shock commitment - to create a new 'lite' version...
02 February 2022
From: Breaking News

The government’s new Levelling Up White Paper, revealed this morning includes a radical reshaping of the private rental sector. Section 21 eviction...
02 February 2022
From: Breaking News
22 January 2022
From: Features

The lettings sector looks set to steam ahead in 2022 after a record-breaking 2021, despite the financial and mobility challenges of...
22 January 2022
From: Features

In this guest feature, James Dilgul, Head of Marketing at Fixflo, the market-leading repairs and maintenance management software provider, looks at how...
22 January 2022
From: Features

As this is the first Natter back since the Christmas break, I should like to first wish all our readers a...
15 January 2022
From: Features
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Estate Agent Today understands that the civil servant who has been at the heart of plans to reform the house buying...
13 January 2022
From: Breaking News

The past two years have been a whirlwind of change, challenges and chance. The main catalyst has clearly been the pandemic...
08 January 2022
From: Features

Planning delays, labour shortages and the surging price of building materials are combining to sharply cut the number of new homes...
05 January 2022
From: Breaking News
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Government regulation and reform of house buying should see the process made faster and easier in 2022, it’s been predicted. Lloyd Davies - managing...
30 December 2021
From: Breaking News

House and apartment sales are still being hit by confusion and worry over ground rents on existing second-hand leasehold properties. This is...
24 December 2021
From: Breaking News

As we slide into Christmas, with the busiest levels of house buying since 2006 and activity still buoyant, I don’t think...
22 December 2021
From: Features

It really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas – just a week to go now. Presents all wrapped and...
18 December 2021
From: Features

We all know what did happen in 2021 - Covid and more Covid, the stamp duty holiday frenzy, a soaring rental...
11 December 2021
From: Features

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

Despite the progress made in so many areas, particularly in terms of leasehold reform – although we are calling upon the...
27 November 2021
From: Features

It’s been a busy and arguably fruitful year for the property market, with an eager consumer base pushing forwards with their...
17 November 2021
From: Features

Fears are growing that large estate agency groups may have to pay a mandatory levy towards the cost of anti-money laundering...
11 November 2021
From: Breaking News

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

There’s been a very low expression of interest in Commonhold, despite the government pushing the new tenure as an alternative to...
04 November 2021
From: Breaking News
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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

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

With soaring property prices, supply continuing to be outstripped by demand and overworked and overtired industry professionals; we’re seeing the sector...
23 October 2021
From: Features

The government has given more details of its bid to change the energy efficiency of existing and new homes to meet...
20 October 2021
From: Breaking News
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A part of the Connells Group is telling the new Housing Secretary that he and his government “must do more” to...
18 October 2021
From: Breaking News

Within weeks the focus of the industry will be on the White Paper to be issued on rental reform before Christmas. Let’s...
16 October 2021
From: Features

Propertymark’s chief executive - officially still in post on just an interim basis - is to face questions from a past...
14 October 2021
From: Breaking News
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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
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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
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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

Propertymark has spoken out over the Pandora Papers leak scandal, which reveals many elite and super-rich buyers of properties in London...
05 October 2021
From: Breaking News
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By the time I next write this column, we’ll be just days before the next Budget and Autumn Statement. So I’ll...
02 October 2021
From: Features

One of the leading figures in trade body Propertymark wants stamp duty to be reformed, and claims that the success of...
30 September 2021
From: Breaking News
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There’s good news and bad news from the shake-up in government ministers and ministries that was presented to the nation last...
25 September 2021
From: Features

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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Labour is to reveal a raft of new housing policies at its party conference this weekend - and it claims it’s...
24 September 2021
From: Breaking News

Affordability has always been a hot topic when it comes to the property market, and this is doubly true for first-time...
22 September 2021
From: Features

The government has been warned that its much-talked about levelling up agenda is ‘doomed to fail’ without major reform of the...
22 September 2021
From: Breaking News
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New Housing Secretary Michael Gove is reported to be set to press ahead with plans to pause controversial planning reforms. It came...
20 September 2021
From: Breaking News
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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

The Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) has become the latest body to welcome the decision by Countryside Properties to scrap the requirement to pay...
17 September 2021
From: Breaking News
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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

One of the biggest campaign groups calling for leasehold reform has welcomed the action taken by the Competition and Markets Authority...
16 September 2021
From: Breaking News
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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
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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 surprise statement from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors says the stamp duty holiday, which goes on until the end...
09 September 2021
From: Breaking News
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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
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Media reports over the weekend suggest the government is preparing a triple whammy - three measures which may reduce the number...
06 September 2021
From: Breaking News

The growing number of lettings sector rules is a hotly debated issue, while the sales sector has been seeing its own...
01 September 2021
From: Breaking News

There are some parts of the world, including in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, where estate agent isn’t seen as...
28 August 2021
From: Features

Proposals to resuscitate the self-build housing sector have been welcomed by the government. Conservative MP Richard Bacon has published an independent report...
24 August 2021
From: Breaking News
21 August 2021
From: Features

Every so often it comes around – the argument that stamp duty should be reformed/removed/replaced (delete as appropriate). But why? Where’s the...
21 August 2021
From: Features

The lack of progress on the much-anticipated government reforms of the leasehold system is leaving thousands of homeowners stranded, according to...
20 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

Referral revenues shared between agents in a major industry trade group has hit over £1.35m. Daniel Pepperell, regional director at The Guild...
12 August 2021
From: Breaking News

A prominent advocate of a reformed transaction process says more secure moving systems can help agents maintain high business levels when...
02 August 2021
From: Breaking News

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
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A group of MPs has suggested the government consider a “proportional property tax” to replace the current council tax, in a...
20 July 2021
From: Breaking News

The government and property industry have been talking about it for a long time, and there have been numerous initiatives introduced...
07 July 2021
From: Breaking News

NAEA Propertymark says the news that two major players in the leasehold sector have reformed their activities must be just the...
24 June 2021
From: Breaking News

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

The government has dismissed a call for reform of the stamp duty system, which would have meant the tax would apply...
11 June 2021
From: Breaking News

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

It’s been quite a week for the rental sector. Lettings agents and landlords have had such a torrid time in recent years...
15 May 2021
From: Features

On 28 April 2021, Fixflo ran the first in a series of quarterly legal update webinars with David Smith, Partner at...
12 May 2021
From: Features
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Government leaks ahead of today’s Queen’s Speech suggest a major planning shake-up is set to stop NIMBY objectors to new homes. News...
11 May 2021
From: Breaking News

Local elections rarely set the pulse racing and this year’s poll on Thursday faces a similar problem. But this time, it’s a...
01 May 2021
From: Features

Propertymark is staging a webinar today tackling the challenging issue of conveyancing - just as the market is at its busiest...
29 April 2021
From: Breaking News

The biggest news story in town this last week – which has brought people who don’t usually like or watch football...
24 April 2021
From: Features

The UK government has been told it should make the stamp duty cut permanent to encourage investment and make it easier...
16 April 2021
From: Breaking News

The MP leading a new parliamentary committee on the housing market says a radical reform of tax would help more people move...
06 April 2021
From: Breaking News

Earlier this month, Fixflo held a webinar with David Cox, legal and compliance director of Rightmove, to discuss key government policies...
31 March 2021
From: Features

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

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

There’s a warning this morning that possible tax reforms to be unveiled next Monday could wreak huge damage on the property...
17 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

Much of the agency industry has reacted with delight at the extension of the stamp duty holiday deadline until June. Rightmove estimates...
25 February 2021
From: Breaking News

Propertymark has named a veteran industry figure as interim chief executive - and says it has a "new strategy." Nathan Emerson has some...
24 February 2021
From: Breaking News

You can always tell when Budget day is approaching. There’s lots of comment from every imaginable quarter about what the Chancellor of...
13 February 2021
From: Features

An MP demanding a root and branch reform of property taxation, including scrapping stamp duty, says the chance of fundamental reform is...
11 February 2021
From: Breaking News

A leading agency chief suggests there will have to be substantial bargaining between buyers and sellers as the stamp duty holiday cliff...
10 February 2021
From: Breaking News

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

Labour and Conservative MPs have expressed a unanimous view on their desire to see an extension of the stamp duty holiday...
01 February 2021
From: Breaking News
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Today’s the day when Parliament debates a possible extension to the stamp duty holiday beyond its March 31 cliff edge deadline...
01 February 2021
From: Breaking News

An online petition has been started by an independent estate agent seeking a radical overhaul of how homes are sold in...
01 February 2021
From: Breaking News

Housing minister Kelly Tolhurst has resigned from the government for personal reasons. Tolhurst had formal responsibility for the government’s policies to combat...
16 January 2021
From: Breaking News

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

Leading leasehold experts have sharply criticised the much-hyped reforms announced by the government last week. The Leasehold Group of Companies - formerly led by...
11 January 2021
From: Breaking News

Millions of leaseholders will be given the right to extend their lease by a maximum term of 990 years at zero...
07 January 2021
From: Breaking News

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

Here’s hoping you managed to have as good a Christmas and New Year as Covid rules allowed. Journalism in early January is...
02 January 2021
From: Features
02 January 2021
From: Features

Recent debate about urgent need for reform and better collaboration within the property industry, has once again come under the spotlight...
04 December 2020
From: Sponsored Content

Back in September, Westminster Council launched a new strategy to help 'protect tenants' and 'ensure they live in good-quality and well-managed...
28 November 2020
From: Features

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

The agency industry’s new leaders for the coming year have expressed strong support for reform recommendations promoted by the Regulation of...
24 November 2020
From: Breaking News

A leasehold group has written to Housing Minister Chris Pincher pressing for an update on the government’s approach to reform for...
19 November 2020
From: Breaking News

Connells has issued a counter statement to this morning’s announcement by Countrywide that a possible takeover is underway. At 7am Countrywide revealed...
09 November 2020
From: Breaking News

Hunters chairman and Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake has hit out at allegedly false claims made by Donald Trump and Nigel Farage. Trump’s...
05 November 2020
From: Breaking News

Housing Minister Christopher Pincher announced that the introduction of the Renters' Reform Bill will be delayed for an indefinite period due...
31 October 2020
From: Features

The announcement of the Renters’ Reform Bill in the Queen’s speech last December caused a collective groan across the country from...
27 October 2020
From: Legislation & Compliance

I had a wry smile when I read the article on Monday from the conveyancers complaining about people getting off their...
21 October 2020
From: Breaking News

A new paper from a think tank warns that many low income owner occupiers risk losing their homes when the mortgage...
07 October 2020
From: Breaking News

The cross-sector group looking at reforming the sales process has agreed a new pledge which it says introduces greater transparency for...
25 September 2020
From: Breaking News

Propertymark, which will from later this year combine both the National Association of Estate Agents and the Association of Residential Letting...
24 September 2020
From: Breaking News

It’s fair to say that UK estate agents don’t have the best of reputations, often featuring in the lists of the...
29 August 2020
From: Features

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed that the First Homes scheme will provide newly built homes at a 30 per cent...
07 August 2020
From: Breaking News

Wholesale reform of leasehold issues is still some years away, despite recent proposals by the Law Commission and pledges by the...
06 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 long-awaited proposals for leasehold reform produced by the Law Commission suggests giving owners the right to extend their lease for...
22 July 2020
From: Breaking News

It’s a big day for leasehold reform today with the Law Commission due to publish three residential leasehold and commonhold reports. They...
21 July 2020
From: Breaking News

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

At a recent Conveyancing Association webinar focused on the provision of upfront information in the property sale process, there was a...
11 July 2020
From: Features

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

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

A company promoting a Blockchain platform with promises to speed up the buying and selling process claims the pandemic has proved...
18 June 2020
From: Breaking News

Online sector veterans Russell Quirk and Kenny Bruce have used social media to call for a temporary scrapping of all stamp...
16 June 2020
From: Breaking News

The Say No To Rightmove campaign is to release a set of options for member agents to consider if the portal...
29 May 2020
From: Breaking News

The industry should continue to prepare for large-scale reforms such as mandatory agency training, the licensing of agents and a new...
21 May 2020
From: Breaking News

One of the most important aspects of being a successful and profitable agent is selecting the right tenants. The industry manages this...
22 April 2020
From: Features

The stamp duty surcharge for non-resident investment buyers announced in yesterday’s Budget is dwarfed by discounts they receive thanks to the...
12 March 2020
From: Breaking News

The Bank of England has announced an emergency cut in the base interest rate to shore up the economy during the Coronavirus...
11 March 2020
From: Breaking News

The author of dramatic reform proposals for estate agents has given a clear message to ministers - Get On With It! Lord...
09 March 2020
From: Breaking News

There’s been a broad welcome from agents and other industry organisations for the latest report from the Competition and Markets Authority...
02 March 2020
From: Breaking News

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

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

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

The government has dismissed a request from the NAEA and ARLA Propertymark to review business rates for agency offices on High...
18 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

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

The government has been told that raising the stamp duty threshold would both trigger more house moves, and bring the tax...
13 February 2020
From: Breaking News

Unsourced stories in a number of newspapers over the weekend - all likely to have come from government off-the-record briefings -...
10 February 2020
From: Breaking News

Boris Johnson is considering introducing a mansion tax for high value homes according to a Sunday newspaper. The Telegraph - citing two...
08 February 2020
From: Breaking News

Last November, as part of the Conservatives’ general election campaign, Boris Johnson made a surprise announcement that his party would introduce...
01 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

Rightmove and Zoopla have been working with key figures from government and the agency and conveyancing industries on how to reform...
29 January 2020
From: Breaking News

Logbooks about properties must be made available up-front at the point of marketing and not later in the buying process if...
28 January 2020
From: Breaking News

The hugely-respected Phil Spencer is to write a regular column for the industry on Estate Agent Today under the auspices of...
24 January 2020
From: Breaking News

A leasehold reform campaigner claims estate agents face “growing calls to be held accountable for mis-selling leasehold properties.” Louie Burns, managing director...
21 January 2020
From: Breaking News

A survey of readers of Estate Agent Today suggest that the majority believe the Chancellor will fail to honour a pledge...
14 January 2020
From: Breaking News

The Property Ombudsman role is being advertised. The current Ombudsman, Katrine Sporle, is giving up the role in November after five years in...
13 January 2020
From: Breaking News

Almost exactly one quarter of house sales in England and Wales fell through prior to completion according to new figures. In the...
10 January 2020
From: Breaking News

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

The new government has announced that its first Budget is to be held on Wednesday March 11 - and it’s giving...
08 January 2020
From: Breaking News

A veteran agent says the new government’s Budget, expected in the next few weeks, should not provide too much help to...
06 January 2020
From: Breaking News

After a year dogged by Brexit deadlock, political turmoil, and slow growth, estate agents’ confidence in the property market hit a...
04 January 2020
From: Features

A new year dawns - but will 2020 bring new change for the agency industry now that the market appears to...
28 December 2019
From: Features

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

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

It’s a substantial Tory government for the next five years: what does this mean for estate agents, property and the market? We have...
13 December 2019
From: Breaking News

With Brexit still unresolved, the domestic agenda has been pushed from the headlines by the seemingly overwhelming public and political discord...
07 December 2019
From: Features

[Estate Agent Today was ‘off air’ for some of Wednesday and most of Thursday thanks to technical problems - we apologise...
06 December 2019
From: Breaking News

It’s been clear for a while that the additional regulation landlords and agents are facing has helped professionalise the private rental...
30 November 2019
From: Features

In just over two weeks, the UK population will head to the polls for the fourth general election since 2010. Of course,...
27 November 2019
From: Features

The chief of an online auction service says the Conservatives’ controversial proposal for a three per cent stamp duty surcharge on...
26 November 2019
From: Breaking News

Agents have reacted angrily to General Election proposals by all three main political parties to hike stamp duty for foreign buyers. The...
25 November 2019
From: Breaking News

Pressure is building on the Conservative party to honour its previous commitment to reform stamp duty for British buyers and sellers...
22 November 2019
From: Breaking News

Data from HM Revenue & Customs has revealed that residential property transactions have increased by 4.3 per cent year-on-year. In October 2019...
22 November 2019
From: Breaking News

A conveyancing company has thrown its weight behind reforms to surveys outlined by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. As Estate Agent Today...
22 November 2019
From: Breaking News

A new survey suggests that an overwhelming majority of householders want a legal ban on gazumping. The result is likely to be...
21 November 2019
From: Breaking News

Rightmove is this morning reporting a huge fall in the number of new sellers coming to the market - a drop...
18 November 2019
From: Breaking News

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

A London estate agency says a new scheme of apartments being launched for sale this weekend will be the first ever...
07 November 2019
From: Breaking News

Until now General Election pledges of stamp duty reforms were restricted to the Conservatives - but now a tax consultancy says...
06 November 2019
From: Breaking News

A 10 point manifesto to drive forward leasehold reform has been published by prominent campaigner Louie Burns, of The Leasehold Solutions Group. The 10...
06 November 2019
From: Breaking News

The National Association of Estate Agents and the Association of Residential Letting Agents have issued their manifesto for next month’s General...
05 November 2019
From: Breaking News

A survey undertaken for estate agency Jackson-Stops reveals that 55 per cent of people do not believe housing is a priority...
04 November 2019
From: Breaking News

Hello there and welcome along to the latest PJT, your weekly catch-up on who’s moving where in agency, amongst suppliers and...
04 November 2019
From: Breaking News

It’s on - although judging by the early lack of enthusiasm amongst the British public, you might be forgiven for thinking...
01 November 2019
From: Breaking News

A former 10 Downing Street adviser says stamp duty on house sales should be scrapped or at least slashed in order...
29 October 2019
From: Breaking News

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

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

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 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

November 6 has been declared Budget Day - at least if there is a Brexit deal agreed in principle in the...
15 October 2019
From: Breaking News

We know that the tenant fee ban has cost letting agents dearly, with an estimated loss of £300 million paid to...
02 October 2019
From: Features

Purplebricks - which is at the centre of a string of controversies - has joined the growing campaign for stamp duty...
30 September 2019
From: Breaking News

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

Briefings from the Conservative Party to The Sun newspaper suggest that the party will this week announce further relaxation in planning...
30 September 2019
From: Breaking News

In recent years, governments and local councils have sought to change the private rented sector (PRS) to make it more appealing...
28 September 2019
From: Features

Stamp duty won’t take centre stage at the Conservative Party conference - that’ll be Brexit, quelle surprise. But if the government...
27 September 2019
From: Breaking News

The Conservative Party conference agenda, now published, gives the housing issue several bites of the cherry in Manchester next week. Housing minister...
24 September 2019
From: Breaking News

An estate agent is linking a drop in transactions of as much as 20 per cent with the stamp duty increases...
19 September 2019
From: Breaking News

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 blog for the British Property Federation has come up with three radically different proposals for stamp duty, providing food for...
13 September 2019
From: Breaking News

It’s been six years since the Help to Buy scheme was launched, with the honourable intentions of helping more people onto...
07 September 2019
From: Features

A London estate agency says one of its buyers wants to delay completion until November 1 “just in case stamp duty...
02 September 2019
From: Breaking News

It’s been quite a week for news so you might have missed this story - there is yet another boost for...
31 August 2019
From: Features

A well-respected agent who was president of the NAEA just five years ago has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson asking...
28 August 2019
From: Breaking News

One of the country’s leading estate agents is leading the calls on Chancellor Sajid Javid to sort out the government’s stamp...
21 August 2019
From: Breaking News

If anyone thought a Boris Johnson government would be more decisive than Theresa May's when it came to housing policies, the last...
19 August 2019
From: Breaking News

A new house price index that in June predicted big house price rises over the summer has now repeated its claim,...
08 August 2019
From: Breaking News

Speculation surrounding whether Boris Johnson will honour his pledge to reduce stamp duty risks bringing the housing market “to a grinding...
07 August 2019
From: Breaking News

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been urged to go further with property tax reform and not just stop at reducing stamp...
06 August 2019
From: Breaking News

Countrywide has thrown its weight behind the proposals for a new single industry-wide regulator taking on the roles of Trading Standards...
05 August 2019
From: Breaking News

If you’d asked me at the start of the year how I thought the political landscape might look now, I wouldn’t...
03 August 2019
From: Features

Housing experts have expressed their concerns that speculation about a radical stamp duty reduction to be introduced by Boris Johnson’s government...
30 July 2019
From: Breaking News

Countrywide is now “beyond salvation” according to former chief executive Harry Hill. The industry veteran, who also founded Rightmove, made the remark...
29 July 2019
From: Breaking News

Transactions in the troubled prime London market have actually increased year on year according to Knight Frank’s latest market snapshot. The agency...
25 July 2019
From: Breaking News

One of the country’s most respected agents has advised the agency industry to treat Boris Johnson’s pledges with real caution. Black Brick buying...
24 July 2019
From: Breaking News

Our own industry’s upheaval over recent years has been no less dramatic than the turmoil at Westminster. The political earthquake has seen...
23 July 2019
From: Breaking News

This may be the final full day in office for Kit Malthouse, the latest politician to occupy the short-term position of housing...
23 July 2019
From: Breaking News

Trade bodies and property firms have strongly welcomed the recommendations for root and branch reform of the agency industry - and...
19 July 2019
From: Breaking News

One of the country’s leading estate agents says shifting the burden of stamp duty away from the buyer - which is...
19 July 2019
From: Breaking News

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

A leading agent has suggested that some parts of the UK would face “a property exodus” if Boris Johnson’s proposals for...
15 July 2019
From: Breaking News

Conservative leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson's plans to reverse stamp duty changes could help to kickstart the prime property market, according to...
09 July 2019
From: Breaking News

Theresa May arrived in Downing Street some three years ago - but her premiership has not been a smooth ride. As she...
06 July 2019
From: Features
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A leasehold reform campaigner says government proposals risk creating a two-tier market and do nothing to assist leaseholders already hit by...
02 July 2019
From: Breaking News

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

In a surprising announcement overnight, housing minister Kit Malthouse says he is standing to become the Conservative party leader and next...
28 May 2019
From: Breaking News

Homeowners will be able to extend properties more easily instead of moving home. In a surprise announcement this morning - less than...
25 May 2019
From: Breaking News

While media attention has been on Theresa May, Brexit and the Tories, chatter in the agency industry has been about what...
25 May 2019
From: Features

A firm supporting leaseholders across the UK says the ongoing Competition and Markets Authority probe should “punish” what it calls “rip off...
24 May 2019
From: Breaking News

So far in our contribution to the campaign to replace leasehold with commonhold we have outlined the stories of some of...
18 May 2019
From: Features

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

Reforms to the house buying process in England and Wales to bring it more into line with Scotland could slash the...
16 May 2019
From: Breaking News

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

It’s clear that some agents are not fans of Trading Standards officers, described in the comments sections of the trade press...
27 April 2019
From: Features

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

An ex-housing minister and ex-Brexit secretary says he wants to radically change taxes on buy to let capital appreciation to help...
16 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

Agents boasting qualifications could generate higher fees and more clients, especially if they are ‘ahead of the game’ and improve their...
10 April 2019
From: Breaking News

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

The chairman of franchise giant Hunters says his company’s purchasing power is such that it secures 60 per cent discounts from...
05 April 2019
From: Breaking News

Hello, welcome to a new week and to PJT, your regular Monday round-up of jobs news in the industry. Do please let...
01 April 2019
From: Breaking News

Almost as soon as the government yesterday made its latest announcement to outlaw rogue leasehold deals, the measure was branded “pathetic. More...
29 March 2019
From: Breaking News

A large-scale survey by a consumer group has revealed that over half of home owners regard stamp duty as a growing...
26 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

The Law Society claims that the unforeseen charges faced by some purchasers of leasehold properties could be addressed “if developers and...
20 March 2019
From: Breaking News

Estate agents have been warned that if new guidance over referral fees is not taken seriously, they could be faced with...
20 March 2019
From: Breaking News

An industry provider of reservation agreements says its services can “entirely eliminate” fall throughs and reduce failed transactions “to almost zero.” PropTech...
19 March 2019
From: Breaking News

There’s more fuel added to the current debate about reform of the house purchasing process, as new data reveals one buyer...
15 March 2019
From: Breaking News

Estate agents have responded cynically to the small-fry property sector announcements made by Chancellor Phillip Hammond in yesterday’s spring statement mini-Budget. Overshadowed...
14 March 2019
From: Breaking News

Countrywide’s executive chairman and group managing director have spoken to Estate Agent Today about the impact of Brexit on the company,...
07 March 2019
From: Breaking News

A working party of NAEA Propertymark is to conduct a pilot of a new Property Information Questionnaire - part of a...
04 March 2019
From: Breaking News

More details are emerging of the first-ever ESTAS conference for conveyancers - the Bold Legal Conference - taking place on the...
26 February 2019
From: Breaking News

One of the country’s leading conveyancing chiefs has given his support to reforms to the house buying process. But Rob Hailstone -...
15 February 2019
From: Breaking News

The Guild of Property Professionals is seeking views from member agents on the government’s reform agenda. The Regulation of Property Agents working...
13 February 2019
From: Breaking News

The dust may have settled on the government’s recent announcement regarding housing and property complaints, but opinion is still split on...
09 February 2019
From: Features
08 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

If former Chancellor George Osborne thought his 2014 stamp duty reform would produce more income for the government, it appears he...
04 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

With far-reaching reforms of conveyancing and other aspects of house buying high on the government’s agenda, a trade body has revealed...
30 January 2019
From: Breaking News

There’s been a dramatic improvement in the speed of searches being completed and returned by local authorities, the government claims. Housing minister...
28 January 2019
From: Breaking News

In what promises to be a transformative year for conveyancing in the UK, the ESTAS is joining forces with the well-known...
28 January 2019
From: Breaking News

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

A think tank is suggesting that micro-homes could be the answer to London’s shortage of available homes for first time buyers. The...
22 January 2019
From: Breaking News

The civil servant leading work to reform the house buying has revealed key areas of government thinking - with a ban on...
18 January 2019
From: Breaking News

It’s the word on everyone’s lips: after two and a half years of debate, and months before that leading up to...
11 January 2019
From: Breaking News

The man who is leading the government’s efforts to reform the house buying process will be one of the speaker at...
08 January 2019
From: Breaking News

Phil Spencer is on the warpath against “constant tinkering” by government in housing matters - and instead, he wants the problems...
02 January 2019
From: Breaking News

Hello and welcome to 2019. These are less predictions and more expectations - developments following on from what’s happened in the past...
31 December 2018
From: Features

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

Conveyancing regularly adds unnecessary and costly delays to the home buying process and improvement could be far quicker than any efforts...
17 November 2018
From: Features

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

It’s Budget day and the government is once again on the receiving end of a blast from one of the country’s...
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

An open rental market, where neither landlord nor tenant is in a dominant position, enables rents to rise and fall, which...
27 October 2018
From: Features

The government says mobile home residents are to receive greater protection from dishonest site owners seeking to make a profit at...
23 October 2018
From: Breaking News

A London buying agent has called for a second referendum on Britain’s EU membership, suggesting that it would give more certainty...
22 October 2018
From: Breaking News

Few things anger the industry more than the effect of stamp duty and other costs on property transactions (well, maybe Purplebricks...
19 October 2018
From: Breaking News

Is Help To Buy going to remain in existence for much longer? Question marks over the scheme’s future are being raised through...
16 October 2018
From: Breaking News

I’ve spoken many times before of my desire to see government take property more seriously. For more than just lip service...
13 October 2018
From: Features

The government has unveiled a new body which, it claims, will raise agency standards. There is a long-standing commitment from the government...
12 October 2018
From: Breaking News

Savills is warning that heightened uncertainty around Brexit negotiations will delay recovery in the prime central London housing market for up...
12 October 2018
From: Breaking News

A government minister has told the estate agency industry that it must be more transparent over the issue of referral fees. In...
09 October 2018
From: Breaking News

Knight Frank appears to have shrugged off the problems hitting the high end of the housing market, reporting a 14 per...
09 October 2018
From: Breaking News

Foxtons is shutting its Park Lane office - the flagship of the agency in prime central London’s Mayfair. Estate Agent Today was...
08 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

It seems a lifetime ago but in fact we’re approaching just the first anniversary since the government triggered its Call for...
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

A website has officially launched this morning, aiming to push the concept of US-style For Sale By Owner online property marketing...
02 October 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

Any day now we’ll hear the date for the Autumn Budget: it may be delayed to wait for a Brexit deal...
15 September 2018
From: Features

A specialist property law firm is calling on the government to speed up changes in the law to avoid abusive leasehold...
23 August 2018
From: Breaking News

There’s been another call for the government to reform stamp duty - and this time the request is that the duty...
15 August 2018
From: Breaking News

Research by Estate Agent Today reveals that there have been 12 different stamp duty regimes in the UK since the Millennium. What’s...
10 August 2018
From: Breaking News

A respected mortgage broker has found that there is widespread public uncertainty amongst the public about the effects of stamp duty...
09 August 2018
From: Breaking News

The former Chancellor George Osborne - architect of drastic stamp duty reform - has come out fighting to defend the tax...
06 August 2018
From: Breaking News

Gazumping is the biggest irritation in the property market to the general public according to a survey of over 2,000 people. Respondents...
02 August 2018
From: Breaking News

It may not be a good idea for a journalist to be personal about a politician, so I write about our...
14 July 2018
From: Features

The new housing minister, Kit Malthouse, has made his first formal statement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. It...
12 July 2018
From: Breaking News

Some of Britain’s top property experts say bureaucracy, lack of cooperation and a dwindling number of smaller builders are the main...
06 July 2018
From: Breaking News

A new website has been set up specifically to help leasehold flat owners who have been served a Section 5 Notice...
04 July 2018
From: Breaking News
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To say this is a turbulent time for UK politics would be something of an understatement. As I write, the Brexit...
23 June 2018
From: Features

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

Estate Agent Today understands several major national agencies and some smaller operators are involved in a project to understand why transaction...
09 May 2018
From: Breaking News

Countrywide’s Group Operations Director Paul Creffield - one of three figures now at the top of the organisation - says he...
08 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

Who are you and what does it say on your business card? Ben Robinson, Director of Agency Services at Landmark What is Landmark...
03 May 2018
From: 60 Second Interview

Theresa May has appointed a controversial former Shelter executive as her new housing policy adviser working in Whitehall. Toby Lloyd was until...
01 May 2018
From: Breaking News

If you want to know whether buy to let, landlords and letting agents will be in the firing line for more...
28 April 2018
From: Features

A leasehold reform campaigning group is warning that “it is likely to be many years” before promised leasehold reform becomes law. Leasehold...
24 April 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

The Conveyancing Association has backed the government’s calls for extensive reform of the buying and selling process, announced at the weekend. The...
12 April 2018
From: Breaking News

Purplebricks has issued a provocative response to the government’s new measures to promote a more professional and transparent house buying process. The...
11 April 2018
From: Breaking News

The number of house sales falling through pre-completion during the first quarter of 2018 reached its highest level for this time...
10 April 2018
From: Breaking News

The conveyancing industry regulator has thrown its weight behind the government’s proposals to improve the buying and selling process. Stephen Ward, director of strategy...
10 April 2018
From: Breaking News

Agents and representatives from other property sectors have reacted enthusiastically to proposals to professionalise the industry. As we reported yesterday, the government...
09 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

The government has announced further measures which will, in its words, “professionalise” house buying and the estate agency business. In yet another Sunday...
08 April 2018
From: Breaking News

If Countrywide thought its fortunes would immediately improve following the departure of chief executive Alison Platt, it has to think again...
25 January 2018
From: Breaking News

One of the most influential select committees in parliament has told the government that it needs to do more - much...
23 January 2018
From: Breaking News

What a year it’s been! Back in 2016 we had Brexit, a new prime minister, Donald Trump’s election, and so when...
30 December 2017
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

Chris Philp, a Conservative MP and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Chancellor Phillip Hammond, says 50 per cent of new homes in...
18 December 2017
From: Breaking News

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

Stamp duty reform for first time buyers has taken pride of place in the Budget speech of Chancellor Phillip Hammond. From today,...
22 November 2017
From: Breaking News

The housing industry has set out a list of demands in advance of the government’s hotly anticipated Autumn Budget on Wednesday. Despite...
18 November 2017
From: Features

British politics is extraordinarily volatile right now and the ongoing battle between austerity and anti-austerity, Leave and Remain, and Conservative and...
18 November 2017
From: Features

A conveyancing body says it wants the government to allocate “a small fund” in next week’s Budget to promote research into...
16 November 2017
From: Breaking News

easyProperty, the online agency, says stamp duty should be paid by sellers and not by first time buyers. The online firm’s head...
16 November 2017
From: Breaking News

Jackson-Stops predicts that average UK house prices will remain flat in 2018, with stamp duty, Brexit and political uncertainties taking their...
16 November 2017
From: Breaking News

Nicky Morgan, a former Cabinet minister and now chair of the highly respected Commons' Treasury Select Committee, is the most senior...
15 November 2017
From: Breaking News

Former National Association of Estate Agents president Simon Gerrard is renewing his campaign for the government to adopt two innovative reforms...
13 November 2017
From: Breaking News

HMRC has refunded £185m to some 15,000 house buyers since the introduction of the stamp duty surcharge in April of last...
10 November 2017
From: Breaking News

Labour MP Justin Madders is working on a Private Members' Bill creating leasehold reform in a bid to help leaseholders who, he...
10 November 2017
From: Breaking News

The largest mutual life pension and insurance company in the UK has added its voice to growing calls for stamp duty...
08 November 2017
From: Breaking News

The head of a major Oxford estate and lettings agency has written an open letter to Chancellor Phillip Hammond urging him...
07 November 2017
From: Breaking News

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

Central London’s housing market is showing a recovery from price falls which followed stamp duty changes in 2014 and 2016 according...
01 November 2017
From: Breaking News

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

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

Pressure is continuing to build on the government to reform stamp duty in next month’s Budget. Firstly a group of senior financial...
20 October 2017
From: Breaking News

Stamp duty reform lies at the heart of the submission by the National Association of Estate Agents ahead of next month’s...
10 October 2017
From: Breaking News

A senior figure in Countrywide’s management team is to explain the troubled group’s benefits policy to a conference of other employers. Neil...
09 October 2017
From: Breaking News

If the government slashed stamp duty for the country’s most expensive properties the entire housing market would benefit, an estate agency...
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

I’ve written before about the impact of headlines on the property industry. Interest rate speculation. Market booms and busts. Demand...
16 September 2017
From: Features

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

With party conference season around the corner and the next Budget just a couple of months away, more industry players are...
07 September 2017
From: Breaking News

Whenever any research is released, part of me can’t help thinking of that old adage, ‘lies, damn lies and statistics’ especially...
02 September 2017
From: Features

Jackson-Stops & Staff, a critic of the stamp duty system since its reform in 2014, now says the government should slash...
31 August 2017
From: Breaking News

Stamp duty has become the latest weapon in the ongoing war of words between different wings of the Conservative party, as...
14 August 2017
From: Breaking News

The ‘lower priced’ 80 per cent of homes in prime central London are seeing price rises again, giving hope they have...
09 August 2017
From: Breaking News

You’ll see a lot of 10th anniversary stories in the property industry and consumer media in the coming days: early August...
28 July 2017
From: Features

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

For the second time in two weeks, experts are warning that new data protection laws could seriously disrupt the agency industry...
18 July 2017
From: Breaking News

Being a leading world-class city comes at a price – they are the most expensive for occupiers and the most lucrative...
14 July 2017
From: Features

Gently rising house values in the mainstream market and problems facing the prime market in the capital mean that over half...
12 July 2017
From: Breaking News

Another senior industry analyst says the time is fast approaching for Rightmove to either shift its focus to take account of...
03 July 2017
From: Breaking News

When it comes to provoking anger in property professionals, taxation takes some beating. Press releases are still arriving berating the December...
01 July 2017
From: Features

The political ebb and flow continues - seemingly with all the subtlety of a Boris Johnson rugby tackle on a 10-year...
01 July 2017
From: Features

Prime London house prices are now 5.3 per cent lower than at the time of the EU referendum admits Savills, following...
29 June 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

The detailed paperwork accompanying the Queen’s Speech includes the Conservative party manifesto pledge to streamline house buying - but gives no...
22 June 2017
From: Breaking News

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

“Housing policy should be in independent hands.” That was the conclusion of a panel debate that Andrews held, not recently, but two...
17 June 2017
From: Features

Just 27% of property valuations in May were requested by prospective home sellers, according to the latest data from Connells Survey...
16 June 2017
From: Breaking News

As we approach Thursday's General Election, more property professionals have criticised stamp duty and called for the Government to make changes...
06 June 2017
From: Breaking News

Theresa May’s call for a snap general election on June 8 took many by surprise. But estate agents have been broadly...
03 June 2017
From: Features

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

The Conservative and Labour party manifestos do not go far enough to tackle problems with the leasehold system. That’s the view of...
30 May 2017
From: Breaking News

The banning of letting fees levied on tenants has dominated the industry headlines in recent months but this election campaign suggests...
27 May 2017
From: Features

Conveyancers have backed a call by the Conservatives for reform of the house buying process - and says more up-front information...
26 May 2017
From: Breaking News

A conveyancing expert is calling for sellers to complete and return their property information questionnaire to their conveyancer before there have...
25 May 2017
From: Breaking News

The Conservative Party says it wants greater competition and more digitisation to cut the costs and reduce the amount of time...
22 May 2017
From: Breaking News

The Conservatives now say they are not resuscitating Home Information Packs, despite a suggestion by a prominent former minister that they "had...
19 May 2017
From: Breaking News

A ‘disrupter’ estate agent says the English housing market operates in a way that is far less efficient than Scotland’s -...
19 May 2017
From: Breaking News

The Conservatives have this morning announced a reform of the house buying process in the party’s manifesto for the June 8...
18 May 2017
From: Breaking News

The boss of the UK's largest independent agency has called on the government to be 'radical' and consider a range of...
16 May 2017
From: Breaking News

The average cost of moving home in the UK was £9,472 in 2016 according to a survey by the Centre for...
03 May 2017
From: Breaking News

Trevor Abrahmsohn, one of London’s best known estate agents and a founder of OnTheMarket, says stamp duty should be split between...
03 May 2017
From: Breaking News

Not only did Theresa May stun everyone with her decision to call a ‘snap election’ but with the campaign now underway...
29 April 2017
From: Features

The snap General Election on June 8 adds to uncertainty but does not significantly worsen the market for prime properties in...
25 April 2017
From: Breaking News

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

My apologies if this causes you to break your Easter egg with a little too much aggression, but I reckon the...