Mortgage approvals hit seven-month high but caution lingers as year-on-year growth dips October 1, 2018 The number of mortgages being approved hit a seven-month high in August, suggesting a modest pick-up in buyers after the traditional summer slowdown. According to the latest Bank of England (BoE) statistics out today, mortgage approvals climbed to 66,440 last month, marking the highest level since January 2018. However, housing experts remained cautious on the [...]
May’s stamp duty tax on foreign buyers forces down FTSE developers’ share prices October 1, 2018 More than half a billion pounds was wiped off the value of some of the UK’s largest housebuilders today, as the City digested news of Theresa May’s planned property tax on foreign buyers. Shares in Berkeley Group, Barratt Developments and Taylor Wimpey all slid in the wake of the Prime Minister’s weekend announcement to slap [...]
Ranked: The cheapest and most expensive countries to buy a second home September 29, 2018 For many, the thought of packing in the day job and moving to a place in the sun is a distant dream. But new analysis has revealed the cheapest countries in the world to buy a house for those wanting to pack up and move out of the UK. FairFX analysis found that Bulgaria is the [...]
The guardians of the art industry: How a former trader is giving old buildings a new lease of life September 28, 2018 Scott Franklin is like the popular kid at school. When the former City trader shows me around the renovated Victorian warehouse in Clerkenwell, everyone we pass seems pleased to see him – which strikes me as unusual for someone whose role resembles that of a landlord. Franklin, who is the founder of Property Guardian [...]
Interiors: Robert Brain is saving London’s trees from the chipper and turning them into beautiful furniture September 28, 2018 When trees in London are felled, they often meet their end in a chipper. But what a waste of beautiful wood – oak, beech, ash and even London plane. As a carpenter, the aptly named Robert Brain put his mind to the task of how it could be reused. After two years working on his [...]
Opinion: High net worth millennials are passing on the fixer-upper villa in Tuscany in favour of modern towers in global cities September 28, 2018 The millennial generation have different tastes and attitudes to their now middle-aged Generation X forebears. As they move into their thirties, they are playing an increasingly important role in the international property markets and many have significant buying power, either through inheritance or their own entrepreneurial flair. Previous generations favoured a stand-alone villa they could [...]
Focus On Harrow: Why this west London suburb is popular with families and first time buyers September 28, 2018 With inner city London gradually dividing itself into a series of ‘villages’, mimicking the community, farmers markets and independent high streets of semi-rural life, what’s the point of suburbs anymore? Places like Harrow have traditionally been quite pedestrian places, attracting families to its healthy stock of semi-detached houses and good quality schools. The ultimate – [...]
Legal Q&A: What is a Section 20 notice of repairs and what can I do if I think the cost is excessive? September 28, 2018 I have just received a section 20 notice relating to some repair works to our block. What does the notice mean and what can we do if we think the cost of the works is excessive? In the circumstances you describe, you will have been served with a Section 20 Notice because your landlord [...]
Property of the Week: The Old Vicarage in Fulham features a baptismal font as a sink in the downstairs bathroom September 28, 2018 If you’re looking for a sacred space to return to after a hard day at work, this quiet – yet large – family home in Fulham is a rare find. The gothic-style detached mansion was built in 1864 as a vicarage, but now it’s a one-of-a-kind home. Old St James Vicarage, Fulham, £10,500 a week [...]
New homes: Our pick of the new builds and conversions going on sale in London this weekend September 28, 2018 New developments on the market this week Lime Quarter, Bromley-by-Bow From £300,000 Help to Buy homes are going on sale next to Devons Road DLR. The first 10 homes launched last night with one and two bedroom apartments available to purchase through the government’s equity loan scheme. Overall, there will be 130 homes, including three [...]