Property firm exposes how Nine Elms agents and developers are delisting and relisting same homes April 22, 2016 Dozens of new flats on sale in Nine Elms have been listed, taken down and relisted by developers and agents in the area, sometimes as many as 15 times in six months. This practice, known as “portal juggling”, potentially creates the illusion that there are more properties on the market than there actually are and [...]
YouGov Poll: Twice as many people support buy-to-let tax hike than oppose it April 22, 2016 The recent hike in the stamp duty levy for buy-to-let landlords was met with fierce opposition from landlord groups when it came into force on 1 April. However, according to YouGov survey released today, more than twice the number of UK adults were in favour of the three per cent surcharge than those who opposed [...]
When Brent meets Chelsea: How buying property in all 32 London boroughs over the last 20 years would have made a savvy investment April 21, 2016 Judging which areas will generate the best returns over the next 20 years can be tricky even for the wisest property sage. Data from estate agent Knight Frank show that Hackney was the best performing borough during that time, with an annual price growth of 11.9 per cent, followed by Lambeth at 11.2 per cent. However [...]
Darty share price soars as bidding war breaks out between Steinhoff’s Conforama and Fnac April 21, 2016 A bidding war has broken out between retailers Fnac and Conforama after both companies raised their offers for the electricals group Darty today in a race to outbid eachother. The stakes were raised last night when Conforama, a French homeware retailer owned by South Africa's Steinhoff, increased its cash offer for shares in Darty to 138p per share. The group also revealed that it [...]
YouGov poll: Give us better transport links and we’ll move further out, commuters say April 21, 2016 More than half (55 per cent) of commuters would consider moving further away from their place of work if transport links were better according to a poll by YouGov. When asked about the most important factors for choosing where to live 38 per cent said quality of life, 19 per cent said proximity to family and [...]
Nearly 60,000 companies hit by National Living Wage already in “significant financial distress”, insolvency firm warns April 20, 2016 The National Living Wage (NLW) risks tipping thousands of vulnerable companies over the edge as they struggle to absorb higher staff costs, one of the UK’s leading insolvency firms has warned. More than 1.8m workers were given a pay rise on 1 April after a new minimum wage came into force, requiring employers to pay at least £7.20 per [...]
No way in for the Inns: Barristers rise up against Cycle Superhighway street closure, saying it would put revenues from Hollywood film companies at risk April 20, 2016 Another day another planning battle – this time between the City of London Corporation and the Inns of Court. The Inns' top barristers and residents are on a war path after the one of the Corporation's sub-committee voted to shut down one of the main roads leading into their buildings to traffic – a move they claim will "create a [...]
Coca-Cola share price falls as first quarter figures prove hard to swallow April 20, 2016 Coca-Cola saw the popularity of its namesake fizzy drinks slide in key markets globally during the first quarter, reflecting a mix of changing tastes, challenging economic conditions and a shifting business strategy. The world's biggest beverage maker said that sales volume for soft drinks like Diet Coke and Cherry Coke that bear its name declined in North America, [...]
New M&S boss Steve Rowe reshuffles womenswear team “to reflect way customers shop” April 20, 2016 Marks & Spencer's new chief executive Steve Rowe has reshuffled the retailer's womenswear teams after pledging to revive the fortunes of the troubled clothing division. The company confirmed it has made some alterations to the way the teams are set up across design, buying and merchandising, resulting in changes to around 200 people's roles. The change means that whereas before a [...]
Mount Anvil profits hit new record high as residential developer targets 1,000 new homes April 20, 2016 London property developer Mount Anvil posted a 25 per cent jump in pre-tax profits to reach a new record of £25m last year, after partnering with other developers to deliver nearly 500 new homes across the capital. The private company, which is redeveloping Keybridge tower in Vauxhall as well as Dollar Bay in the Isle of Dogs, said [...]
