Estate agent Countrywide’s share price tumbles as profits fall by more than half March 9, 2017 Shares in the UK's largest estate agent have tumbled after it admitted pre-tax profit plummeted by close to 60 per cent last year. Read more: Estate agents Savills warns current UK house price growth is unsustainable The figures Countrywide, the company behind high street estate agency brands including Bairstow Eves and Hamptons International, said today its [...]
Rents could rise 20 per cent in the next five years – as UK house prices rise 18 per cent March 9, 2017 Rents in the UK could rise by a fifth in the next five years as housing costs rise for the UK's lowest earners, one of the UK's most well-respected housing bodies has said. Research by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) showed rents for those on lower incomes could rise more than 20 per [...]
Nicola Sturgeon: Autumn 2018 is the “obvious” date for the next Scottish referendum March 9, 2017 The next Scottish independence referendum could take place as soon as autumn 2018, according to Scotland's first minister. In an interview with the BBC today, Nicola Sturgeon refused to rule out next autumn as a date for a new referendum. "Within the window of when… a deal becomes clear on the UK exiting the EU… [...]
Sandwich skills shortage? Pret a Manger boss Andrea Wareham is worried about filling jobs after Brexit March 9, 2017 Brexit may be putting your avocado habit under threat, after the HR boss of Pret a Manger admitted she will struggle to fill jobs if she is only allowed to hire British applicants. At a House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee hearing yesterday, Andrea Wareham said just one in 50 people applying for jobs at the [...]
Budget 2017: Here’s how the Budget will affect landlords and the buy-to-let sector March 8, 2017 With the housing crisis in full throes, the last few years have been difficult ones to be a landlord – indeed, many have felt punished by measures such as an end to mortgage tax relief and higher stamp duty on buy-to-let homes. The good news for landlords was that today's Budget didn't include any further [...]
Budget 2017: The full text of chancellor Philip Hammond’s speech March 8, 2017 Philip Hammond has delivered his first – and last – Spring Budget. Headline announcements included more cash for social care and punishing new rules for the self-employed – plus some vague comments on business rates. Read more: City A.M.'s TL;DR version of the Spring 2017 Budget Here's what he said: Mr Deputy Speaker, I report [...]
LIVE: Budget 2017 – reaction to chancellor Philip Hammond’s speech March 8, 2017 Live coverage of Philip Hammond's first (and last) Spring Budget, with measures expected on Stamp Duty, T-levels, business rates, national insurance and fuel duty.
Podcast: Dunnhumby founder Edwina Dunn on Tesco Clubcard, selling up – and International Women’s Day March 8, 2017 Edwina Dunn is one half of the husband-and-wife team which created the Tesco Clubcard and revolutionised loyalty schemes everywhere. After the pair made more than £100m through the sale of their marketing firm, Dunnhumby, to Tesco in 2010, Dunn is back with a new project: The Female Lead. On International Women's Day, she talks about what inspires [...]
Foxtons results: Another dive in profits thanks to London house prices March 8, 2017 Shares in struggling London estate agent Foxtons took a dive today after it admitted London's cooling market pushed down profits last year. The figures Revenues fell 11 per cent to £132.7m in the year to the end of December, Foxtons said today – while pre-tax profits fell more than half, from £41m in 2015 to £18.8m in 2016. Lettings revenue fell one per [...]
Mike Ashley wants you to know something about his Agent Provocateur takeover March 7, 2017 Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley's recent foray into frilly knickers may have raised eyebrows – but he wants you to know it wasn't just him who bought the lingerie retailer. In a statement today, Sports Direct clarified the £30m acquisition was made by Four Holdings, a company in which it owns a 25 per cent [...]
