How to get your children on the property ladder: Five of the best options for the Bank of Mum and Dad July 14, 2016 Buying a first home used to signal the start of a new era of independence, a turning point into adulthood. But the astronomical rise in London prices has put paid to that. Home ownership is at its lowest level for 25 years. Not only are people buying their first home later – the average age has [...]
Barratt shares fall despite assurances it’s confident in the face of Brexit July 13, 2016 That sad "wah, wah, waaah" trombone you heard this morning was coming from the general direction of housebuilder Barratt, which attempted to restore investor confidence with assurances over Brexit – only to have its shares drop anyway. In a statement this morning the company, whose shares have fallen almost 30 per cent since the result [...]
Property of the Week: Agent Lurot Brand is listing this house in Boyne Terrace Mews in Holland Park under two prices – with their services or without July 8, 2016 Boyne Terrace Mews, Holland Park, £3.75m/£5.75m A rare opportunity has come onto the market in Holland Park to custom build an ideal five bedroom house with the help of an agent who’s already done all the tricky paperwork. Getting planning permission to turn this mews house in a cul-de-sac in Landsdowne Road would have been tricky [...]
Tata Steel holds first board meeting since Brexit vote July 8, 2016 Tata Steel will hold its first board meeting since Britain voted to leave the European Union, with board members widely expected to discuss the future of its loss-making UK business. Business secretary Sajid Javid flew to India for talks with the company last night. It comes amid a report that Tata could "pause" the sale of its main [...]
Brexit threat: Property financiers must keep calm and carry on lending July 8, 2016 Before and since the result of the UK’s referendum on European Union membership, uncertainty has pervaded – not least in property markets. Weak construction PMI data, a spate of flagship property funds halting redemptions and downgrades from City analysts has further shaken confidence. Forecasts for companies in the sector have been reduced on the basis [...]
Pensions under threat from Brexit July 6, 2016 Savers have faced the biggest shake-up to the pensions system in a generation under the watch of chancellor George Osborne. Many of the changes are controversial, and others have been announced yet not formalised. But Brexit has put a spanner in the works – as negotiations over a deal with Europe under a new Conservative leader [...]
Former Labour leader Ed Miliband calls for rent-to-own industry to be better regulated July 4, 2016 Following an investigation, former Labour leader Ed Miliband has called on the rent-to-own industry to be better regulated. Having investigated some rent-to-own companies in his constituency of Doncaster, Miliband said "my constituents have told me they can end up paying three times as much, if they miss a payment or are late the costs spiral or worse, [...]
Opinion: A real estate legal specialist explains why using Brexit to get out of a property deal is a very bad idea June 30, 2016 Several days on from the result of the EU Referendum and, inevitably, many are wondering how leaving the EU will affect the London residential property market. First, it’s important to take a step back and look at what was happening before the referendum. The 15 per cent stamp duty and annual taxes for properties worth [...]
Planning permissions for new homes reached the highest level since 2008 in the first quarter June 30, 2016 There were signs housing supply could be on the up earlier this year as planning permissions for new homes are reached their highest level since 2008. Permissions for 66,102 homes were granted in the first quarter of this year in England, up four per cent on last year, according to research from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and [...]
More than 2,000 people have already cashed in their Help to Buy Isa just four months after launch – getting a bonus of just £421 June 30, 2016 Perplexing news from the Treasury, which has reported more than 2,000 people have so far cashed in their Help to Buy Isas – meaning they've made an average of just £421. The figures, published this morning, showed 1,490 properties were bought in the four months to the end of March through the scheme, which gives savers a £50 [...]