Redrow appoints property veteran as new chairman as ex-CEO steps down after 20 years May 12, 2021 Redrow has appointed property industry veteran Richard Akers as its new chairman as former chief executive John Tutte prepares to step down after 20 years on the housebuilder’s board. Akers, a former director at commercial landlord Landsec, will join Redrow’s board as chair-designate on 1 June before taking on the role permanently from 15 September. [...]
London rents fall to most affordable level in a decade May 12, 2021 London rents have fallen to their most affordable level in a decade due to a drop off in demand during the pandemic. While demand has ticked up since lockdown restrictions have lifted – by seven per cent in inner London – affordability is running at a ten-year high. Rental prices in London are down 9.4 [...]
Queen’s Speech planning reforms to make building new housing developments easier May 11, 2021 The government’s planning reforms are expected to be unveiled today when the Queen delivers a speech opening a new session of parliament this morning. The speech will reportedly include legislation on reform of the planning system to allow more new homes to be built on undeveloped land. It comes as the Conservatives aim to expand [...]
Landlords vs retailers: What the New Look legal case means for future of CVAs May 10, 2021 New Look today defeated a legal challenge to its restructuring plan by a group of its landlords in a landmark case that experts say will clear the way for other retailers to use Company Voluntary Arrangements to combat the impact of the pandemic. The ruling is likely to deepen tensions between tenants and landlords, as [...]
Safestore ups earnings guidance and outlines London expansion May 10, 2021 Storage firm Safestore is expanding its London presence and has upped its full-year earnings guidance after boosting revenue in the pandemic. The FTSE 250 company will open two new London sites and expand two existing storage warehouses, it said. The sites will be in Lea Bridge, Morden, Bermondsey and a location in north east London. [...]
UK house prices hit new record high after growing at fastest rate in five years May 10, 2021 UK house prices grew at the fastest pace in five years last month as the stamp duty holiday continued to buoy the market. Average house prices in April reached a new record high of £258,204, an annual increase of 8.2 per cent and a monthly rise of 1.4 per cent. Almost £20,000 has been added [...]
London house prices could rise by a further £21,000 this year May 8, 2021 The house price boom caused by the introduction of the stamp duty holiday could see the average house price across England climb by another £23,000 before the end of the year, should current market trends continue. House prices are increasing at an average of 0.84 per cent a month across England, according to research by [...]
March was HSBC’s strongest mortgage completion month in more than 40 years May 6, 2021 HSBC handed out more mortgages in March than in any other month of more than 40 years offering home loans. In a sign of the recent boom in housing market activity, HSBC UK said March was its strongest ever month for mortgage completions, including deals for more than 3,000 first-time buyers. The bank declined to [...]
Return on property value: Is it time to sell if you live in this part of London? May 5, 2021 Recent ONS figures suggest that UK house sales have increased by 160 per cent since January, and show no sign of slowing down any time soon. Average house prices across the UK increased 8.6 per cent in the year to February, the highest house price growth recorded in the UK since October 2014. One of the trends that [...]
Mortgage lending rose to record £11.8bn in March after stamp duty extension May 4, 2021 UK mortgage lending saw the biggest net increase on record in March driven by extension of the stamp duty rax relief. Mortgage borrowing rose by a net £11.8bn in March, the strongest since the series began in April 1993, Bank of England figures show. The stamp duty holiday was originally due to end in March, [...]