Autumn Budget 2017: Treasury understood not to be planning “radical” Budget October 16, 2017 Chancellor Philip Hammond might be coming under pressure to unveil a “radical” – and vote-winning – Budget, but anyone expecting “big, bold” announcements could yet be disappointed. Hammond, who has in the past said “fiscal” is the best word to describe him, is currently canvassing the opinion of hundreds of MPs and other groups, sifting through thousands of submissions [...]
The 19 UK towns most at risk of a house price bubble: Cleveland, Blackburn and Blackpool come top October 12, 2017 UK house prices may still be rising, but with the Bank of England on the brink of hiking interest rates, the market may be about to change trajectory. Now, by comparing lending levels with house price rises, new research has listed the UK towns and cities most at risk if lending conditions change. Mortgage broker [...]
UK M&A deals tail off as post-Brexit vote reality causes sentiment to weaken according to EY October 9, 2017 After a post-Brexit spike, the number of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the UK has begun to tail off as deal sentiment weakens. According to EY, the volume of M&A deals completed in the first nine months of this year slipped by 11 per cent compared to 2016 to 2,316. On the flip side, the [...]
UK house prices: Country property prices are much higher than those in the city September 30, 2017 Rural house prices are a fifth more expensive those in cities outside London, according to the Halifax. The average country house price is £263,050, compared with the average urban price of £218,596. The biggest difference is in the West Midlands, where prices are almost 50 per cent more. “Homeowners looking to escape to the country [...]
UK mortgage lending is (almost) at its highest level since April 2008 September 26, 2017 Mortgage lending rose to its second highest level since April 2008 in August, new figures have shown. The figures, by UK Finance, showed total gross lending rose to £24.2bn in August, up 6.4 per cent from last month. The figure is the highest since March 2016, when an impending hike to stamp duty on buy [...]
A life off-grid with no energy bills is closer than you think. Here’s what the future has in store for sustainable homes September 26, 2017 "Right," says eco-developer Sam Budhdeo, rubbing his hands together. “We think we have the solution to climate change.” As openers go, it’s a bold one, but not quite as outlandish as it sounds. The housebuilder who successfully cracks the code to building sustainably – and affordably – would be solving a large part of the [...]
Personality clashes and the poisoned client: The inside story of Bell Pottinger’s collapse September 25, 2017 From the outside, the demise of iconic public relations firm Bell Pottinger appeared to unfold at a dramatic and surprising pace. On Monday 4 September, the company published the findings of a report by lawyers Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) concluding that the firm’s campaign for the Gupta family’s Oakbay Capital in South Africa “was potentially [...]
Fifth consecutive monthly house price fall in August as more signs emerge of London market dragging September 20, 2017 London house prices recorded the biggest average fall of any region in England and Wales in August, according to new data, as the squeeze at the top end of the British property market continues. Prices in the capital grew by only 0.7 per cent in the year to August, as the average price dropped by [...]
What needs to change about housing policy by UK property professionals ahead of party conference season September 15, 2017 Katherine McCullough, development director at Merchant Land “During the political party season, I would like to see some attention given to reviewing what Osborne’s stamp duty reforms have achieved and ideally, to have them reversed in order to help stimulate the housing market at the top end. It would also be encouraging to hear discussion [...]
London house prices: Here’s how far London house prices have fallen due to stamp duty September 7, 2017 Stamp duty has stagnated London’s housing market and pushed down prices, according to research released today. London sales volumes have fallen by seven per cent, and prices in some parts of the capital have fallen by as much as seven per cent, a report by estate agent Aston Chase has found. Read more: Jacob Rees-Mogg [...]