February 6, 2019

Rent control: it can work but can also backfire on tenants, says BBC

The BBC’s Reality Check service, respected for giving a more realistic assessment of many politicians’ promises, has looked at London mayor Sadiq Khan’s claim that the arguments for rent controls in the capital are “overwhelming.” While the Reality Check service… Read Full Article

February 4, 2019

Big fall in stamp duty ‘take’ shows reform backfiring on government

If former Chancellor George Osborne thought his 2014 stamp duty reform would produce more income for the government, it appears he was very much mistaken. New figures produced by HMRC and analysed by investment consultancy London Central Portfolio suggest that… Read Full Article

January 31, 2019

Industry chief says No Deal is worst outcome as London prices drop 20%

The British Property Federation has made an outspoken intervention into the Brexit debate, telling politicians that No Deal is the worst possible outcome. Via its Twitter account and at a seminar addressed by federation chief Melanie Leech, the BPF stated:… Read Full Article

January 30, 2019

Con-man agent jailed for swindling over £300,000 from company

An estate agent who stole per £300,000 from an estate agency spent the money on designer goods and expensive holidays – and even had some extravagant online purchases delivered to the branch office he was working from. Robert Parker, 28,… Read Full Article

January 29, 2019

It’s back – the 100% mortgage for first time buyers

The 100 per cent mortgage for first time buyers, which many people thought had disappeared for good, is now back in the form of a new product from Lloyds Bank. It’s offering customers the package so long as the borrower’s… Read Full Article

January 28, 2019

Trading Standards prosecutes over criminal activity at rental property

A Trading Standards team has prosecuted a landlord who allegedly ‘knew’ criminal activity was taking place in his buy to let property. Leonardo Viscomi, from Lincoln, was prosecuted at the city’s Crown Court for two offences of knowing or suspecting… Read Full Article

January 25, 2019

Lettings sector welcomes redress reform as landlords face £5,000 fines

There’s been broad support from the lettings sector for the wide-ranging reform of the redress system announced yesterday by housing secretary James Brokenshire. At the centre of the reforms is the creation of a Housing Complaints Resolution Service which –… Read Full Article

January 24, 2019

Outrage at Labour bid to introduce rent controls in London

There’s been an angry reaction to the suggestion that London’s Labour mayor, Sadiq Khan, is seeking to introduce rent controls in the capital. An article in The Guardian suggests that Khan wants to make such controls a central policy in… Read Full Article

January 24, 2019

Reservation Agreements set to become part of the buying process

Politicians and officials are studying a ‘model’ two page reservation agreement drawn up by a law firm as a possible way of slashing fall throughs and speeding up transactions. The news has been revealed by Matt Prior, the lead officer… Read Full Article

January 24, 2019

Land Registry testing Blockchain in bid to speed up house buying process

HM Land Registry’s ambitious digitisation plans continue apace with news that it is to consider Blockchain in a bid to speed up the house buying process. The Registry’s director of digital, data and technology – John Abbott – has told… Read Full Article

January 22, 2019

Beware: Tenant Fees ban may impact Section 21 notices

A warning has been issued to lettings agents to review tenancy agreements to see if they are fit for purpose when the fees ban takes effect in June – and in particular to minimise any impact on Section 21 notices.… Read Full Article

January 15, 2019

Anti-money laundering system to be beefed up by new government board

The National Association of Estate Agents has met with other members of a high-level government board to look at ways of tackling economic crime. The Economic Crime Strategic Board, chaired by the Home Secretary and Chancellor, aims to work with… Read Full Article

January 14, 2019

£7.29 TRILLION – amazing value of UK’s fast-growing housing stock

There may be a cloud over the economy right now but growth of 2.7 per cent in house prices last year have taken the value of the country’s housing stock to a remarkable £7.29 trillion according to new research from… Read Full Article

January 8, 2019

On the fiddle: Massive buy to let fraud exposed in court

The Daily Mail has reported on a massive buy to let fiddle which involved a £10.8m property empire, rents totalling £500,000 a year, and money laundering.The report details how corrupt conveyancing solicitor Ross McKay worked with buy to let criminal… Read Full Article

January 3, 2019

Rightmove wants to buy back its shares – is it priced too cheaply?

Rightmove has launched a share buy-back programme to run until late next month, February. Companies buy back their own shares to keep up or further boost the share price, by reducing the number of shares in circulation; this approach is… Read Full Article