The potential consequences of the Tenant Fee Ban June 13, 2019 Welcome to a new era, where unscrupulous letting agents are no longer allowed to demand that tenants pay hundreds of pounds in unjustified fees. The new law has been several years in the making, but at the start of this month, it finally became illegal for letting companies in England to charge tenants rip-off fees. [...]
Most Help to Buy beneficiaries ‘did not need scheme’ June 13, 2019 The government’s Help to Buy scheme has been accused of subsidising existing homeowners, after it emerged most people who have bought a house using the programme could have done so without it. A National Audit Office report today said three-fifths of buyers could have bought a property without the support of Help to Buy, “but [...]
Crest Nicholson reports profit slump on Brexit uncertainty June 11, 2019 Crest Nicholson reported a fall in profits this morning as Brexit uncertainty kept house prices flat across the south of England. The figures Revenue was £501.9m, up seven per cent on half-year 2018 while profit before tax fell 11 per cent to 64.4m. Read more: Intu appoints ex-Crest Nicholson exec as finance chief The company [...]
Bellway posts strong spring sales hours after devastating Barking fire June 11, 2019 Housebuilder Bellway has posted strong sales growth and said it was on track for an earnings boost just hours after a fire devastated one of its developments. The FTSE 250 firm reported a 4.7 per cent jump in reservations over the period from 1 February to 2 June – to 244 per week. Read more: [...]
Focus On Bermondsey: The London borough with the Shard in its back yard June 7, 2019 Seventy two households, all belonging to the Count Robert of Mortain, and collectively worth a grand total of 40 pence; this was the value of Bermondsey as recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. Things have changed somewhat since then (Bermondsey wasn’t even an official part of London at the time), but few areas have [...]
UK house prices grow at fastest rate for two years despite uncertainty June 7, 2019 UK house prices grew at their fastest rate for two years in May with an increase of 5.2 per cent year on year, according to new data released today. The value of the average UK home rose by 0.5 per cent from April to £237,837 last month, the Halifax House Price Index revealed, increasing by [...]
Eurozone construction growth slows to lowest level in four months June 6, 2019 Growth in the Eurozone construction industry slowed to a four month low in May as new orders declined for the first time since August last year. The IHS Markit Eurozone Construction PMI fell from 52.1 in April to 50.6 last month, however firms remained optimistic towards the business outlook. Read more: Eurozone’s modest growth relient [...]
Our pick of the new homes going on sale in London this weekend June 5, 2019 1 Green Street, Mayfair From £2.25mTwo show flats by London design studio TH2 are available to view in this period corner building development of four newly refurbished homes. Each flat has two bedrooms and is dual aspect, with corner bay windows offering views of St Marks Church. Contemporary kitchens and bathrooms include parquet flooring and [...]
Should people be allowed to dip into their pensions savings to get onto the housing ladder? June 5, 2019 James Brokenshire’s proposals risk undermining the progress that has been made through auto-enrolment
Axel Springer doubles stake in FTSE struggler Purplebricks June 3, 2019 A major backer of Purplebricks has doubled its stake in the online estate agency, as the group battles to shore up investor confidence following the departure of its chief executive last month. Read more: Purplebricks beaten black and blue as shares enter freefall Global media group Axel Springer upped its stake in the group from [...]