Government backs plans to digitise homebuying November 20, 2025 Labour has backed a new initiative to “revolutionise” homebuying by embracing technologies, with failed deals costing the economy nearly £1bn every year. The project will see the Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology (CFIT) work in coalition with multiple government departments, including the department for business and trade and the ministry for housing. The initiative [...]
Overseas investors return to London’s offices November 19, 2025 Real estate investment in London has risen for the second year in a row as appetite for the capital’s assets returns, according to a new report. Total investment is set to top £14bn in 2025, below the 10-year average of £18.1bn but significantly higher than in 2023 and 2024, according to a new report by [...]
Housebuilding around train stations to be given default green light November 18, 2025 Planning proposals for homes around train stations will be given an automatic green light in the latest Government drive to speed up housebuilding. Housebuilders will be encouraged to build more homes within a 15-minute walk of transport links, and councils in England will also now be required to tell the government when they intend to [...]
Councils face exodus of planners in threat to housebuilding goals November 18, 2025 One in five UK planners intends to leave the field or retire by 2028, in another significant threat to the government’s housebuilding target, according to new data. Nearly two-thirds of planners said their teams lacked the capacity to meet demand, according to the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). The RTPI has warned that the exodus [...]
UAE developer Arada secures majority stake in London housing development November 17, 2025 UAE-based developer Arada has bought an 80 per cent stake in Thameside West, a waterfront mixed-use development set to deliver 5,000 housing units in the capital. The £2.5bn deal is Arada’s second large-scale investment in the London residential market in the space of less than two months, following its purchase of local developer Regal in [...]
Government risks missing both housing and nature targets, MPs find November 16, 2025 The Government risks missing both its housing and nature targets under its proposed reforms, a cross-party group of MPs has warned in a new report. The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) found that the measures outlined in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which is currently passing through the final stages in Parliament, are not enough to [...]
Council tax revaluation on high-value homes to disproportionately hit London and South East November 15, 2025 Rachel Reeves is set to introduce a council tax surcharge on expensive homes in a move that will disproportionately impact London and the South East, according to reports. The Chancellor is currently finalizing plans to plug a £25bn black hole in the public finances, and last week ruled out a major rise to income taxes. [...]
Landlords have just under six months to prepare for the Renters’ Right Bill November 13, 2025 The government has set a date for the commencement of the Renters’ Rights Bill, with landlords given just under six months to prepare for the wide-ranging changes. The bill, which will remove so-called no-fault evictions, strengthen tenant protections and digitalise the sector, promises to shake up the market for both landlords and tenants – with [...]
Rightmove faces £1bn legal action over ‘unfair’ fees to estate agents November 13, 2025 A legal claim estimated at £1bn is in the works against property portal Rightmove, accusing the company of charging thousands of UK estate agents excessive and unfair prices to list properties. The legal action, led by former Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) panel member Jeremy Newman, along with a team of lawyers at Scott+Scott UK [...]
Persimmon makes progress despite Budget uncertainty November 13, 2025 London-listed housebuilder Persimmon has made steady progress this year, despite a variety of macroeconomic headwinds. Forward sales have risen 15 per cent since July 1 to £2.79bn, with three-quarters of forward sales being private. Just over four-fifths of Persimmon’s expected private house deliveries have already been exchanged or completed, it said. “Progress has been achieved [...]