Kensington and Chelsea leads fall in London house prices after boom peters out February 12, 2015 London house prices stalled in December, dipping 1.1 per cent on the month, LSL Property Services said today. The fall does not unwind all of the gains of the boom-period, as prices are still up 13.9 per cent on the year to stand at an average of £576,093. Kensington and Chelsea has the most expensive houses [...]
Mayfair now and then: 30 years ago this £4.25m apartment sold for £285,000 February 12, 2015 Remember 1985? The first UK mobile phone call was made – by Ernie Wise, of all people – the Brixton riots took place, and Rick Astley spent five weeks at the top of the charts. It was also, according to research by upmarket estate agent Peter Wetherell, possible to buy a Mayfair apartment for as [...]
Westminster Council rejects government proposals to legalise Airbnb lets in London for up to 90 days February 10, 2015 Government plans to allow Londoners to legally rent out their homes through websites such as Airbnb for up to 90 days has been rejected by a rebel council, claiming short-term lets can be a nightmare for neighbours. Yesterday housing minister Brandon Lewis outlined details of a reform of a law dating back to 1973 that [...]
Goodbye Jammersmith, hello to Wombling free? Mayor Boris Johnson outlines radical plans to solve capital’s congestion headaches February 9, 2015 London mayor Boris Johnson has unveiled plans to reduce congestion and open up more land for housing developments and public space across some of London's busiest hubs. Five of the capital's biggest traffic pinchpoints – including the A4 in Hammersmith – are going under the knife as part of the plans, which will see [...]
“Magic Circle” firm looks north as London rents soar February 9, 2015 We all know that London rents can be eye-wateringly expensive. Just last week we revealed that rents in the capital have risen six times faster than other parts of the UK and of course we all remember the MP Mark Simmonds who had to quit because his six-figure package wasn't enough to keep up with [...]
How London is leading the charge on a radical employee rent scheme February 5, 2015 Two years ago, Vodafone became one of the first big businesses to issue a warning over Britain’s housing costs. It said that the sheer cost of renting was making it harder for firms to attract talent. Within weeks, its concerns were echoed by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and KPMG’s London Business Survey. London’s [...]
London rents increasing six times faster than North England and Wales February 5, 2015 London's private rent prices have risen more than any other region in the UK over the last four years. The private housing rental prices index, published by the Office for National Statistics, reveals just how quickly rent is increasing in the capital compared to other areas of the country. Since January 2011, rent has increased [...]
Focus on Beckenham: Rising London house prices make this a south east hotspot January 29, 2015 Moving out to the sticks to start a family is hardly a new phenomenon, but the rapid rise of inner city house prices means more people are re-evaluating where the sticks start and the rat race begins. As a result, areas like Beckenham, once the preserve of the affluent suburban family, are starting to appeal [...]
Mortgage lending drops again – but BBA sees light at the end of the tunnel January 27, 2015 Mortgage lending in the UK fell in December for the six month in a row, with gross borrowing levels 12 per cent lower than they were a year ago. Figures published by the British Bankers Association this morning show that the total figure for mortgages stood at £10bn last month. House purchase approvals dropped [...]
Foxtons share price falls as revenues drop 12 per cent January 27, 2015 The figures Not a good day for Foxtons shareholders. Shares fell 2.4 per cent in early trading as the upmarket estate agent – known for its trendy Minis and even trendier, bar-like offices – has posted fourth quarter results showing revenues fell 12 per cent in the three months to the end of December. That was [...]