London house prices finally show ‘signs of life’ in one per cent October rise November 27, 2019 London house prices started to show “signs of life” last month due to renewed buyer demand and a shortage of property coming to the market. House prices in the capital grew one per cent year on year in October following a period of year-on-year price falls. In October 2018 London house prices dropped 1.1 per [...]
Bovis Homes faces shareholder backlash over executive pay November 26, 2019 Housebuilder Bovis Homes is facing investor backlash over executive pay proposals as it prepares to approve a £1.1bn takeover of Galliford Try’s residential development arm. A number of institutional investors are preparing to vote against Bovis Homes’ long-term incentive plan (LTIP) and remuneration policy at a shareholder meeting next week, Sky News reported. Read more: [...]
Covent Garden JV writedown hurts Shaftesbury profit November 26, 2019 West End landlord Shaftesbury suffered a sharp drop in profit this year after taking a writedown on the value of a retail joint venture in Covent Garden. The figure Profit after tax fell from £175.5m to £26m due to the revaluation of the portfolio, which dipped 0.6 per cent to £4bn overall. However, the company’s [...]
UK mortgage lending dips as buyers hesitate due to Brexit uncertainty November 26, 2019 UK mortgage lending dipped in October as buyers hesitated due to economic and political uncertainty caused by Brexit and the upcoming General Election. Gross mortgage lending across the residential market last month was £25.5bn, a dip of 0.9 per cent compared to October 2018. Read more: New rules announced to help UK mortgage prisoners Mortgage [...]
Intu sells retail park to New River REIT for £40m November 25, 2019 Retail landlord Intu has sold a Northern Ireland retail park to property investment trust New River REIT for £40m. The sale of Sprucefield Retail Park in Lisburn brings Intu’s year-to-date disposals total to £268m, as the shopping centre operator aims to fix its balance sheet. Read more: New River REIT swings to a loss on [...]
Investment in London offices slows as demand outpaces supply November 25, 2019 Investment in London’s office market is falling despite growing demand from British and overseas investors, as a lack of available stock continues to hamper the sector. Total turnover for office investments in the capital in 2019 is set to drop well below the figure for the previous year, according to new data from Knight Frank, [...]
Concerns mount over councils buying struggling retail properties November 24, 2019 The Treasury has attempted to guide local authorities away from a strategy of buying struggling retail properties over fears that the investments could force councils into bankruptcy. The rate at which local councils are able to borrow to invest was raised by one percentage point last week, as concerns mount over borrowing levels. Read more: [...]
Wework names four new executives and outlines six-point plan for profitability by 2023 November 23, 2019 Wework has named four men to take on executive roles at the firm and outlined a six-point path to profitability. The office-space operator said it will not be cash flow positive until 2023. Read more: New York State attorney general reportedly investigating Wework Executive chairman Marcelo Claure, told Business Insider the company’s attributes are in real [...]
General Election 2019: Labour pledges 20 per cent property tax for foreign buyers November 23, 2019 Labour has pledged to put an extra 20 per cent levy on foreign companies buying property in the UK. The party has said it would charge firms and trusts from abroad looking to buy properties an additional 20 per cent on top of existing stamp duties and surcharges. Read more: General Election 2019: Jeremy Corbyn [...]
Shazam’s ex-CEO Andrew Fisher joins Rightmove as chairman November 22, 2019 The old boss of music recognition app Shazam has been appointed Rightmove’s new chairman. Andrew Fisher will replace Scott Forbes when he retires from the board at the end of December after 14 years at the helm. Read more: UK house prices won’t catch sluggish inflation rate until 2021 Fisher, who was behind Shazam’s international [...]