London house prices are being driven up by foreign criminals laundering money July 25, 2015 Foreign criminals who launder money through the purchase of high-end London properties are pushing up house prices, according to the National Crime Agency. "I believe the London property market has been skewed by laundered money," Donald Toon, the agency's director of economic crime command, told the Times. "Prices are being artificially driven up by overseas [...]
Which banks will offer the Help to Buy Isa? Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide, NatWest, Santander and Virgin Money July 25, 2015 Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide, Natwest, Santander and Virgin Money are among the banks and building societies which will offer the government's widely anticipated Help to Buy Isa. Help to Buy Isas, unveiled by chancellor George Osborne in his Spring budget, aim to give first-time buyers a much needed helping hand onto the property ladder. [...]
Bashing buy-to-let landlords will push up rents and hit the UK economy hard July 23, 2015 Buy-to-let landlords have a huge advantage in the market as they can offset their mortgage interest payments against their income, whereas homebuyers cannot.” That’s how the chancellor explained his decision in the Budget to require that landlords, unlike other businesses, effectively pay tax on their borrowings – their buy-to-let mortgage. But the chancellor has made [...]
British home transactions jump in June July 21, 2015 THE HOUSING market picked up pace in June as both buyers and sellers returned to the market after shaking off uncertainty from the General Election. There were 104,590 residential property transactions in June, according to figures released yesterday by HMRC. It marks a 16-month high as well as a 4.7 per cent jump on May. [...]
Highest London house prices dip: Kensington and Chelsea, Camden and Richmond fall as bottom end gets boost from first-time buyers July 19, 2015 Some of the capital’s most expensive residential areas saw house prices drop sharply this month, according to data released today, with high demand supporting the lower end of the market. In Kensington and Chelsea, London’s most expensive borough to buy in, prices dropped 7.2 per cent from June to July, according to Rightmove. [...]
Gaucho steak restaurant deal on the table amid flurry of sales in industry July 19, 2015 The Gaucho chain of steak restaurants, popular with hungry City workers, is up for sale. Bankers at Canaccord Genuity have been hired to work on the sale, with private equity firm ICG and Dutch entrepreneur Zeev Godik hoping to raise up to £150m. The industry has been ripe for deals in recent times, with brands [...]
Brewing up a storm: Pact Coffee’s Stephen Rapoport talks Brazil, bikes and changing the coffee industry July 19, 2015 There is one person at Pact Coffee who knows more about a cup of joe than anyone else in the company – and it’s not founder Stephen Rapoport: “I just can’t keep up with our head of coffee, Will. His knowledge is astonishing.” This is difficult for Rapoport, who is, by his own admission, “pretty [...]
London and UK house prices rise: First-time buyers face stiffest competition as average home in capital hits £615,115 July 16, 2015 London house prices climbed 7.8 per cent over the past 12 months, new figures show, with demand outstripping supply most heavily in the first-time buyer market. The average greater London house price is currently £615,115, according to data published today by Rightmove. Properties at the top end of the market have seen the biggest 12-month [...]
London rents climb higher as affordability falls across the UK July 14, 2015 London rents increased in the three months ending June, new figures show, as housing affordability continues to decline. Average London rents were 4.5 per cent higher over the period compared with the same period last year, according to figures released today from Rightmove. UK rents excluding London climbed 4.2 per cent. Rightmove’s head of lettings [...]
Maine Tower: More apartment hysteria as another residential skyscraper at Canary Wharf sells out in hours July 13, 2015 It turns out those working at Canary Wharf are really keen to kill their commute, after 208 homes at a newly-launched residential tower in the district sold out in four hours – a week after buyers queued around the block to snap up homes at another block. Read more: As first homes go on sale at [...]