Surging mortgage rates ‘biting harder’ on fragile housing market Property Rising mortgage rates are starting to “bite harder” on the UK’s fragile housing market by forcing sellers to push down asking prices. The average two-year fixed mortgage rate has risen to 5.55 per cent, up from 5.29 per cent last month and 4.25 per cent since before the war in Iran, according to homes portal [...]
Newly agreed rents across Britain hit two-year high Property Newly agreed rental prices for fresh tenancies have risen at the fastest pace in almost two years, new research has found. According to estate agent Hamptons, the annual pace of rental price growth on newly let properties climbed for the 10th month in a row in September, while average rent for properties across Britain increased [...]
Second home stamp duty means 2m houses ‘missing’ from rental market Property More than 2m rental homes are missing from the market because of the second home tax imposed a decade ago, new research has found. Nearly ten per cent fewer homes are available to rent than was projected in 2016, when the stamp duty surcharge on second homes pushed millions of houses out of the reach [...]
Brits push down house prices to dodge mansion tax February 26, 2026 House sellers are already pushing sale values below £2m in a bid to avoid the coming “mansion tax” on expensive homes. The high-value council tax surcharge (HVCTS) is not due to be implemented until April 2028 but estate agents Hamptons have found Brits are already taking steps to avoid the levy. The “mansion tax” charge [...]
London homeowners most likely to make a loss upon selling their home January 12, 2026 London homeowners are most likely to make a loss upon selling their house as prices in the capital continue to drop. In 2025, nearly 15 per cent of Londoners sold their home for less than they bought it, the highest proportion in England and Wales, according to analysis from real estate agent Hamptons, well above [...]
Rent on newly-let homes falls for first time in five years after ‘relentless’ rise August 11, 2025 Average rents on newly-let homes have fallen for the first time in around five years, according to a property firm. Across Britain, the average rent on a newly-let property fell by 0.2 per cent year-on-year in July, marking the first annual decline since August 2020, during the height of the Covid pandemic, Hamptons said. Despite [...]
Renting remains cheaper than buying in UK as mortgage rates soar June 17, 2024 The financial burden is greatest in London, where buying a house costs an additional £775 per month, or £9,300 annually, compared to renting.
Nine in 10 landlords raise rents for existing tenants May 20, 2024 Tenants in Britain now face larger rent increases from renewing their existing contract instead of moving to a new property, new figures show, as landlords move closer towards open market rates.