The UK’s largest multi-brand property franchise business, TPFG, says a brace of acquisitions in the past six months have been “transformational”. Since...
Archive
![Agency redundancies as more buyers prefer online to branch visits](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/PropTech/AgentOnline-400x310.png)
A prominent south west estate agency trading for 50 years is making five redundancies as part of a restructuring. Local media report...
25 June 2024
From: Breaking News
![Real estate named ‘most distressed sector’](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/DamagedProperty-400x310.png)
The European real estate market is the most distressed sector across Europe, research suggest. The latest Weil European Distress Index suggests the...
15 April 2024
From: Breaking News
![Real estate dubbed most distressed sector - warning](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/HouseMarketConfusion-400x310.png)
The European property market is the most distressed sector, new research suggests. The latest Distress Index, from restructuring firm Weil, has warned...
06 February 2024
From: Breaking News
![Foxtons aims for £3m savings from branch closures as total revenue rises](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/Estate_Agents-400x310.png)
Foxtons is set to close and consolidate some Ludlow Thompson branches as part of plans to save £3m this year. A trading...
26 January 2024
From: Breaking News
![Doorsteps assets sold for just £3,000](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews3-400x310.png)
The intellectual property of collapsed online agency brand Doorsteps has sold for just £3,666. Begbies Traynor, the liquidator for Doorsteps, sought offers...
10 January 2024
From: Breaking News
![Owners and Landlords pay dearly for Sunak’s eco U-turn - claim](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Energy%20and%20Green%20Homes/EnergyEfficiencyPlanning-400x310.png)
The government should reverse some of its latest energy efficiency policies so owners, landlords and tenants can enjoy cheaper fuel bills The...
25 October 2023
From: Breaking News
![Strike staff escape cuts as Purplebricks employees face restructure](/upload/images/shutterstock_1965185752.jpg)
Purplebricks staff are facing job cuts just months after the takeover by Strike. A spokesperson for Purplebricks has confirmed rumours that it...
07 August 2023
From: Breaking News
![Mystery as Keller Williams’ London Bridge Market Centre closes](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews3-400x310.png)
Another Keller Williams UK (KWUK) market centre is set to close its doors but it is unclear who made the decision...
08 June 2023
From: Breaking News
![Buyer sought for Doorsteps’ intellectual property](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/PropTech/PropertySearch-400x310.png)
The liquidator for Doorsteps is seeking a buyer for the collapsed online agent’s intellectual property. Prospective buyers have been messaged by restructuring...
20 April 2023
From: Breaking News
![Video interview – how can agencies retain their staff?](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/HappyMillennialTeam-400x310.jpg)
A leading property recruitment agency says that flexible working, restructuring pay and offering better benefits and incentives can help agencies across...
03 August 2022
From: Breaking News
![PropTech Today - be ballroom brave!](/upload/images/Site%20logos/ProptechToday-1-400x310.png)
To be fair, there aren't a lot of things that scare me. That's not because I think I'm particularly brave, it's...
20 July 2022
From: Breaking News
![Foxtons CEO tightens grip on agency in top table shake-up](/upload/images/library/Foxtons-logo400x310.png)
Foxtons chief executive Nic Budden is to take up the work of the chief operating officer too. In a statement to shareholders...
01 April 2022
From: Breaking News
![Property Jobs Today - who’s moving where in our industry](/upload/images/Site%20logos/PropertyJobsToday-400x310.png)
Hello and welcome to a new week - and even as Christmas approaches there remains plenty to report about people moving...
15 November 2021
From: Breaking News
![Agents get freebie ski trip as firm shifts to work-from-home model](/upload/images/Locations/TheAlps-400x310.jpg)
Spicerhaart - which is radically reshaping its structure to encourage hybrid operations and working from home as part of a new...
19 October 2021
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter: talking the secret to good photography and working for Foxtons](/upload/images/Site%20logos/PropertyNatter-2019-400x310.png)
Good property marketing photos have arguably never been more important in an increasingly visual and tech-led world. We saw just the...
11 September 2021
From: Features
![Property Jobs Today - the movers, shakers and people in the news](/img/default/eat.png)
Welcome to the start of another week and as the housing market continues at full pelt, so does the movement of...
21 June 2021
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter - are virtual viewings now absolutely integral for agents?](/img/default/eat.png)
Pre-pandemic, virtual and video viewings were a nice little add-on for some agents, but they were far from universally used and...
27 February 2021
From: Features
![Pipeline surge not enough to stop Your Move/Reeds Rains revenue drop](/img/default/eat.png)
Revenues for LSL Property Services - owner of Your Move and Reeds Rains - dropped last year by 15 per cent. Although...
18 January 2021
From: Breaking News
![Branch closures and Covid lead to big LSL revenue slump](/img/default/eat.png)
Revenues have slumped by 18 per cent at LSL Property Services, the corporate which boasts Your Move and Reeds Rains and...
14 December 2020
From: Breaking News
![Redundancies and branch closures continue at Countrywide](/img/default/eat.png)
An extensive culling of branches and staff continues apace at Countrywide as it significantly reduces the size of both its office...
29 October 2020
From: Breaking News
![Countrywide branches close ahead of private equity investment bid](/img/default/eat.png)
At least two branches of a Countrywide agency have been closed, shortly before news broke of a proposal for a large...
23 October 2020
From: Breaking News
![What next for UK side of US agency as chief exec quits?](/img/default/eat.png)
Gary Keller is stepping down from his post as chief executive of the global Keller Williams estate agency empire. Although operating chiefly...
09 October 2020
From: Breaking News
![Redundancies, PropTech and furlough cash help Hunters recover](/img/default/eat.png)
Franchise network Hunters has recorded strong figures for the first half of 2020 but a trading statement reveals the measures it...
30 September 2020
From: Breaking News
![Tips for growing your management portfolio in uncertain times](/img/default/eat.png)
Despite the recent effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, there is still much opportunity in the market for letting agents to grow...
19 September 2020
From: Features
![Property Jobs Today - latest moves in and across our industry](/img/default/eat.png)
Hello and welcome to the latest edition of PJT, the industry’s summary of new movers. Of course many agencies are reassessing their...
24 August 2020
From: Breaking News
![Rightmove’s new finance chief joins on huge salary and bonus potential](/img/default/eat.png)
Rightmove’s new chief financial officer has a basic salary of £390,000 plus bonus options coming to a potential total of £1.75m. Alison Dolan has...
04 August 2020
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter – doing our bit to help the industry through this crisis](/img/default/eat.png)
We are still living in highly extraordinary times, perhaps evidenced best by the fact that the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, was...
11 April 2020
From: Features
![Poorly-treated agents will change firms after the virus - forecast](/img/default/eat.png)
A leading human resources expert predicts that agents who are poorly treated by their employers now will wreak revenge and move...
03 April 2020
From: Breaking News
![Property Jobs Today - this week's movers and shakers in the industry](/img/default/eat.png)
Hello and another Monday means PJT Day, your regular update on movers in the industry. You know the drill by now: if...
09 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![Property Jobs Today - new moves on the March...](/img/default/eat.png)
Hello and another Monday means PJT Day, your regular update on movers in the industry - and it’s March already. If there...
02 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![Countrywide and LSL planning £500m 'super-agency' merger - claim](/img/default/eat.png)
Sky News claims that Countrywide and LSL Property Services are discussing a merger to become a £500m super-agency. In an exclusive it...
23 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![460 jobs lost in 2019 Your Move/Reeds Rains branch closures](/img/default/eat.png)
It’s been revealed that the branch closure programme by Your Move and Reeds Rains last year resulted in 460 lost jobs...
20 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![“Aggressive acquisition strategy” revealed by London agency](/img/default/eat.png)
London-focussed high end agency Chestertons says it’s on the hunt for acquisitions after posting what it describes as a “record performance”...
30 January 2020
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks and Countrywide lead 2019 share price flops](/img/default/eat.png)
For the stock market generally, 2019 has been a positive year - but a few high profile agencies and associated companies...
30 December 2019
From: Breaking News
![Branch closures: Large number of offices quit the High Street](/img/default/eat.png)
A comprehensive report into the changing complexion of the High Street suggests that some 143 estate agents’ offices closed in the...
12 September 2019
From: Breaking News
![Not-So-Grand Designs: Kevin McCloud's investors face huge losses](/img/default/eat.png)
The Guardian has revealed that small investors lured into putting money into TV property guru Kevin McCloud’s eco-friendly housing projects -...
27 August 2019
From: Breaking News
![Countrywide veteran says he could float online agency on the stock market](/img/default/eat.png)
The former Countrywide chief executive Grenville Turner says it is an option for online estate agency Yopa to go to an...
23 August 2019
From: Breaking News
![Speculation grows about Yopa’s future as LSL chief quits board](/img/default/eat.png)
Speculation is growing about the future of online agency Yopa. This follows a key resignation from Yopa’s board and one expert’s analysis...
22 August 2019
From: Breaking News
![Branch closures boost profits at Your Move and Reeds Rains](/img/default/eat.png)
LSL Property Services, parent firm of Your Move and Reeds Rains, says the company’s branch closure programme was a success with profits...
30 July 2019
From: Breaking News
![Countrywide income falls again - but LSL restructuring 'showing results'](/img/default/eat.png)
Countrywide has this morning revealed that group income is down yet again - it blames continuing Brexit-related problems. It says: “The ongoing...
30 April 2019
From: Breaking News
![Major agency launches lifestyle service to bolster sales and lettings income](/img/default/eat.png)
Humberts, the agency which was one of the first to ditch High Street offices in favour of fewer larger hubs, has...
25 April 2019
From: Breaking News
![LSL writes down value of Yopa stake as it pins faith in High Street branches](/img/default/eat.png)
LSL Property Services, the parent company of Your Move and Reeds Rains, has substantially 'written down' its investment in online estate...
05 March 2019
From: Breaking News
![Property Jobs Today - your one-stop-shop for the industry's jobs news](/img/default/eat.png)
Hello and welcome to this week’s PJT, your regular catch-up on key appointments news in our industry. It’s been a difficult seven...
11 February 2019
From: Breaking News
![Your Move insists “No breach of data” after documents taken from branch](/img/default/eat.png)
The beleaguered Your Move estate agency insists there was no breach of customer privacy after an ex-employee reportedly took confidential data...
07 February 2019
From: Breaking News
![Consultations start on ‘500’ Your Move and Reeds Rains jobs at risk](/img/default/eat.png)
Formal consultations have started concerning the job losses and branch closures for Your Move and Reeds Rains, revealed yesterday by their...
06 February 2019
From: Breaking News
![Huge branch closures announced for YourMove and Reeds Rains](/img/default/eat.png)
A major restructuring of LSL Property Services has just been announced to shareholders, with substantial numbers of branch closures. The statement says...
05 February 2019
From: Breaking News
![London agency 'doubles profit' and is on the prowl for acquisitions](/img/default/eat.png)
Chestertons says its profitability in 2018 doubled compared to the previous year, but appears to have relied heavily on lettings for...
21 January 2019
From: Breaking News
![Property Jobs Today - a new agency and plenty of other key moves...](/img/default/eat.png)
Hello and welcome to a new working week, which means your chance to catch up on the key moves in our...
08 October 2018
From: Breaking News
![Countrywide puts 'restructuring and turnaround' expert on the board](/img/default/eat.png)
Countrywide has announced the appointment of a new board member with “substantial restructuring and turnaround expertise.” Mark Shuttleworth became a non-executive director...
04 October 2018
From: Breaking News
![Buckle Up - High Street agencies in for a tough autumn says KPMG](/img/default/eat.png)
Traditional estate agencies could be in for a stormy autumn and face being the next casualty of the high street shake-out...
20 August 2018
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter: a changing of the guard?](/img/default/eat.png)
The big story to break this week in the property world was the announcement by the new owner of Humberts that...
28 July 2018
From: Features
![Historic agency to abandon branches and move to 'Humberts Hubs'](/img/default/eat.png)
The new owner of Humberts is to ultimately close many of the traditional branches and move to what he is calling...
25 July 2018
From: Breaking News
![Significant financial distress felt by many more agencies](/img/default/eat.png)
A report out today shows a 19 per cent rise in the number of property businesses classified as being in “significant...
24 July 2018
From: Breaking News
![Countrywide ‘to seek new investment of £100m’](/img/default/eat.png)
It’s being reported this morning that Countrywide will seek new investment of over £100m, probably in the next few days. The Sunday...
22 July 2018
From: Breaking News
![Humberts pledges revolution as it concentrates on chocolate box towns](/img/default/eat.png)
Humberts’ new owner has issued a statement saying he is on “a personal mission to revolutionise the industry and become the...
17 July 2018
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter: what has 2018 brought so far?](/img/default/eat.png)
First things first, I have to mention the World Cup. The dream is over, football’s not quite coming home (not until...
14 July 2018
From: Features
![Humberts purchaser revealed as Natural Retreats](/img/default/eat.png)
It has today been announced that the Natural Retreats group has purchased Humberts. The entirety of Humberts has been included in the...
21 May 2018
From: Breaking News
![Countrywide not in a rush to get a new chief executive](/img/default/eat.png)
Countrywide is in no rush to appoint a new chief executive, following the experience of having Alison Platt in the post...
10 May 2018
From: Breaking News
![Humberts denies report of some branches already shut with staff unpaid](/img/default/eat.png)
Humberts has denied a local press report suggesting at least five of the firm’s 22 offices had already closed with some...
01 May 2018
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter: agents bucking the high street downturn](/img/default/eat.png)
Maplin, Toys R Us, Carpetright, Warren Evans – what do they have in common? All are well-known high street chains that...
21 April 2018
From: Features
![Revealed: how many brands, branches and staff remain with Countrywide](/img/default/eat.png)
Countrywide has revealed precisely how many brands, branches and staff it has following the extensive and multiple restructurings of recent years. In...
22 March 2018
From: Breaking News
![Countrywide reveals the costs of Alison Platt's 'retail revolution'](/img/default/eat.png)
Countrywide’s 132-page annual report, released today, has given details of the management and restructuring costs incurred by the company during its...
21 March 2018
From: Breaking News
![Countrywide reveals 'Back To Basics' plan for 2018 and scraps online service](/img/default/eat.png)
The troubled Countrywide group has this morning revealed its recovery plan to get - in its words - ‘back to basics’...
08 March 2018
From: Breaking News
![Platt's legacy - Countrywide's recent torrid years](/img/default/eat.png)
It is now an industry truism to say that Alison Platt has transformed Countrywide - but recent evidence, and now doubt...
23 January 2018
From: Breaking News
![Latest Countrywide restructure gives more work to chief executive](/img/default/eat.png)
Countrywide has announced another management restructure, this time with chief executive Alison Platt appearing to take on additional responsibilities. The announcement makes...
18 August 2017
From: Breaking News
![Newsflash - OnTheMarket to announce £50m stock exchange flotation](/img/default/eat.png)
Sky News is reporting that OnTheMarket is to demutualise and list on the Stock Exchange. The portal made much of its mutual...
03 August 2017
From: Breaking News
![What's in a name? RH & RW Clutton is very much alive and well](/img/default/eat.png)
The three-office RH & RW Clutton agency has issued a statement to say it’s alive and well - and unaffected by...
08 May 2017
From: Breaking News
![Countrywide says merger expands agency's London network by a third](/img/default/eat.png)
A new statement by Countrywide’s John D Wood & Co says its now-completed merger with Faron Sutaria has had the effect...
14 March 2017
From: Breaking News
![Countrywide reveals annual cost of restructuring](/img/default/eat.png)
Countrywide has revealed that in 2016 it spent over £8.1m on redundancies, some £7.4m on contract costs relating to closed premises,...
13 March 2017
From: Breaking News
![Countrywide: £38m share placing may allow it to rival Purplebricks](/img/default/eat.png)
Countrywide has successfully placed 21.6m shares to institutional investors at the competitive price of 175p per share - allowing it to...
10 March 2017
From: Breaking News
![Budget 2017 wishlist: Expectations from the property sector](/img/default/eat.png)
Looking ahead to the Spring Budget this week, the Chancellor Philip Hammond will be obliged to face up to the implications...
04 March 2017
From: Features
![Ability to cut staffing is critical to Foxtons future, says analyst](/img/default/eat.png)
The flexibility of Foxtons’ business model - especially its ability to control headcount, including the number of agents it employs -...
12 January 2017
From: Breaking News
![Regional agency firm restructures to concentrate on core activities](/img/default/eat.png)
Cheffins, the six-office Cambridgeshire-based firm, says it is creating ”a new corporate framework” to intensify its focus on estate agency, rural...
04 January 2017
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter: Q & A with Russell Quirk](/img/default/eat.png)
In recent weeks I have been carrying out question and answer sessions with some of the key figures in the property...
14 October 2016
From: Features
![Bank says online agents are growing, but warns on Purplebricks value](/img/default/eat.png)
Swiss bank UBS has given an upbeat assessment of online estate agencies in the changing housing market - but it warns...
14 July 2016
From: Breaking News
![Countrywide: 2016 is make or break year, warn analysts](/img/default/eat.png)
Financial analysts at City consultancy Jefferies - which helped Countrywide float on the stock market - say 2016 is a key...
26 February 2016
From: Breaking News
![No change of course says Countrywide chief after 37% profits slump](/img/default/eat.png)
The chief executive of Countrywide says there’s “no change of course” after a 37 per cent slump in operating profits were...
25 February 2016
From: Breaking News
![Countrywide wins plaudits in 'Best Employer' survey](/img/default/eat.png)
Despite a controversial reorganisation taking some months and still underway, Countrywide has been recognised as one of Britain’s best employers in...
20 January 2016
From: Breaking News
![Yet another senior management figure departs from Countrywide](/img/default/eat.png)
Estate Agent Today understands that Countrywide's Chief Information Officer is the latest high-profile manager to leave the organisation. Oliver Skagerlind joined Countrywide,...
18 January 2016
From: Breaking News
![Countrywide says London market stagnation not caused by stamp duty](/img/default/eat.png)
Countrywide says the current malaise in the central London housing market is not, as many agents and commentators suggest, simply down...
01 December 2015
From: Breaking News
![Countrywide confirms latest three senior management departures](/img/default/eat.png)
Countrywide has confirmed that another three senior management figures have left the group as its restructuring continues apace. Estate Agent Today revealed...
25 November 2015
From: Breaking News
![Exclusive: Countrywide loses three more top managers in latest restructure](/img/default/eat.png)
Another three senior management figures have left Countrywide as the restructuring of Britain’s largest estate and letting agency continues apace. The latest...
24 November 2015
From: Breaking News
![Video round up 23.10.15 - Watch the weekly news from Estate Agent Today](/img/default/eat.png)
Watch the latest weekly video round-up of news from Estate Agent Today and Letting Agent Today, featuring stories on Countrywide's on-going...
23 October 2015
From: Video Articles
![Video round up 23.10.15 - Watch the weekly news from Estate Agent Today](/img/default/eat.png)
Watch the latest weekly video round-up of news from Estate Agent Today and Letting Agent Today, featuring stories on Countrywide's on-going...
23 October 2015
From: Breaking News
![Countrywide upheaval goes on - company says it will double in five years](/img/default/eat.png)
Countrywide’s management restructuring continues apace with new changes aimed at “leveraging our combined sales and lettings offering through one cohesive retail team”...
22 October 2015
From: Breaking News
![Has Corbyn Labour-proofed lettings?](/img/default/eat.png)
The party's over. It's probably the best double entendre in the world of politics right now. For centre or right-leaning Labour...