Barratt Developments defies Brexit doomsayers with “confident” outlook September 7, 2016 The figures Barratt Developments' completions swelled by 5.3 per cent to 17,319 homes in the year ended 30 June, meaning it delivered completion volumes for eight years. This helped the housebuilder's pre-tax profit jump 20.7 per cent to a record £682.3m during this period, up from £565.5m a year earlier. The company also significantly strengthened its balance sheet, with Barratt's cash [...]
Rent growth continued to slow in August September 7, 2016 Rents kept on an upwards climb in August, but the pace of rent growth is slowing. In August, prices grew by 3.1 per cent year-on-year, according to HomeLet's rental index. Tenants signing new agreements paid an average £913 a month. Read more: Here's where private rents are increasing fastest (and it's not London) But this [...]
These are the university towns where house price growth could pay for tuition fees September 6, 2016 What with top-up fees and inflation, going to university has become considerably more expensive in the past few years – but what if you could kill two birds with one stone, and pay off your university fees with your accommodation? New research by HouseSimple.com has found the universities where house price growth in the local area [...]
Housebuilders’ share prices rise as the big-hitters brave the Brexit storm September 6, 2016 Housebuilders were some of the top risers this morning after big-hitter Berkeley Group said it would meet its £2bn profit target and Redrow posted record results. At time of writing, Berkeley Group was leading the FTSE 100 risers, as its share price was up 3.72 per cent. Redrow's share price was up 7.26 per cent. Taylor Wimpey and Barratt [...]
Redrow’s share price jumps as it announces record results September 6, 2016 Redrow's share price jumped five per cent in morning trading after the housebuilder announced a record set of results. The figures Redrow's revenue was up 20 per cent to £1.38bn, which the company said was down to a 17 per cent increase in completions and a seven per cent increase in the average selling price of units. For the year ending 30 June, the housebuilder made [...]
Berkeley Group’s home reservations hit by stamp duty and the Brexit vote September 6, 2016 Berkeley Group, the housebuilder recently relegated from the FTSE 100, has said in a statement today that reservations for its properties have fallen by 20 per cent as compared to last year. Stamp duty tax changes and the EU referendum had made trading more difficult, it said in its trading statement today, which covers the period from [...]
SocGen sells Tower Hill office to Hong Kong-listed property developer September 5, 2016 Societe Generale has sold its Tower Hill premises to a Hong Kong-listed property developer, SRE Group. The sale for around £84.5m in cash of the nine-storey office building and linked five-storey car park was formally agreed last Friday but was not reported until today. According to the fine print of the deal, the sale of the building will complete [...]
The tallest residential skyscraper in Western Europe is coming to London Docklands – this is what it will look like September 5, 2016 Londoners will soon get the chance to live in Western Europe's tallest residential skyscraper. The £800m tower, set for London Docklands, is being built by Chinese firm Greenland Group and will be 67 storeys tall, housing 861 apartments. But don't worry – getting to the top won't take long. There will be nine lifts travelling between floors at [...]
Estate agent Belvoir says Brexit vote and stamp duty “unsettled” the property market September 5, 2016 UK property franchise Belvoir Lettings said this morning the property market had been "unsettled" in the lead up to the Brexit vote. Chairman and chief executive Mike Goddard said demand for property remains strong, but added that tax changes for buy to let landlords, combined with the EU referendum, meant the market's growth in the first [...]
Parents are forking out more to buy homes near top schools September 5, 2016 Parents are increasingly prepared to pay a hefty premium to buy a home within the catchment area of Britain's best state schools. Lloyds Bank research released today showed they are willing to fork out an average of £53,000 more to live in an area close to a top performing state school — an increase of £13,000 (31 per cent) [...]