Get in the Halloween spirit – five haunted homes for sale in the UK October 28, 2016 Halloween is fast approaching, but if you're not in the mood for a party, why not go house and ghost hunting instead? Home services marketplace Plentific.com has put together a list of five haunted houses – complete with details of the properties’ spooky past (or present). These buildings are a bargain for buyers who are willing [...]
Property Entrepreneurs: London-based tech start-up Virtual Walkthrough has gone global after buyout by US firm Matterport October 28, 2016 You know you’re onto something when the big guys start taking an interest. And for James Morris-Manuel of Virtual Walkthrough, the last few months have seen proof that his concept of walking people through building interiors has reached the big time. Morris-Manuel has just sold his business to larger US company Matterport. The move means [...]
Interiors: David Bowie’s art collection is due to go under the hammer at Sotheby’s next month October 28, 2016 In two weeks’ time a vintage 1966 record player is coming to auction at Sotheby’s, a radio-phonograph by Achille and Pier Giacomo Catiglioni. At face value, it's worth an unassuming £800-£1,200; however, it will no doubt fetch much much more as it belonged to the late great David Bowie. The excitement around the sale of [...]
The City of London’s newest skyscraper has just confirmed its first commercial tenant October 28, 2016 Times, they are a-changing: once, the Lloyd's Building was the City's tallest (and most recognisable) tower – now the Square Mile's skyline is rising faster than Donald Trump's legal bill. The latest addition to the City's skyscraper family is the Scalpel, aka 52 Lime Street. Although it isn't due to be completed until December next [...]
London’s property market will be the last to recover from Brexit, say estate agents October 28, 2016 Estate agents are predicting that London's property market will be the last to recover from the Brexit vote. According to haart estate agents, branches 100 miles from the capital had an average 75 per cent increase in activity month-on-month in September, compared to an average rise of just 37 per cent in outlets 45 miles from the [...]
Don’t rely on downsizing to make up for your insufficient pension October 27, 2016 After years of runaway house prices, few will be surprised that a sizeable proportion of the UK’s net wealth is tied up in property. The latest ONS statistics show that dwellings make up a massive 62 per cent, or £5.5 trillion, of the country’s £8.8 trillion total. So it is also unsurprising that many see [...]
Land of Beds: Running a family business isn’t always bed-lam October 27, 2016 With any family business, when fresh blood comes along, they need to make their mark,” says Mike Murray, managing director of Land of Beds. In 2008, that’s exactly what he did when he joined the family business, embarking on the process of taking the reins from his father, Michael Murray (Senior) – who 30 years [...]
Brexit worries over – Axa ploughs ahead with building the City’s tallest tower October 26, 2016 The construction of the City's tallest building is back on after developers halted progress before the EU referendum. Axa Investment Managers said today that it is committing to the construction of 22 Bishopsgate because London remains "one of the leading global centres for international business, notwithstanding the current uncertainties created by the EU referendum". 22 Bishopsgate will [...]
The economics of iceberg homes: Are mega-basements just a sunk cost? October 26, 2016 Even if you’re rich, London’s above-ground space limitations and conservation rules can put the kibosh on building your dream home. If you have a vision of putting a swimming pool, cinema or bowling alley in your Georgian terrace, you’ll probably have to think vertically to realise it. Over the last decade, iceberg basements have become [...]
How Theresa May can achieve a truly radical housebuilding revolution October 25, 2016 Today, so many leaders are judged on how much they achieve in their first 100 days in office, a concept first associated with US President Franklin D Roosevelt. But as this milestone passes for Theresa May, what can we expect from the government when it comes to its promise of a radical approach to housing? [...]