City Moves for 25 February 2015 | Who’s switching jobs February 24, 2015 Knight Frank The property consultancy’s retail division has announced the appointment of Richard Petyt as a partner in its agency team. He joins from Asda Stores, and in his new role will work on food store and mixed use development projects, development funding and food store portfolio rationalisation. Cantor Fitzgerald Europe Caspar Shand Kydd has [...]
Scotland’s prime property market leaps as buyers race to avoid stamp duty increase February 23, 2015 The number of upmarket homes being sold in Scotland jumped 88 per cent between the second quarter and the fourth quarter of last year, and more than double the figure for the first three months of the year, as buyers raced to avoid a hike in transaction costs due to take place later this year. [...]
UK house prices expected to slow but will stay at elevated levels February 19, 2015 Expectations of house prices dropped to an 18-month low this month, new figures show today. The Future House Price Index produced by estate agents Knight Frank and Markit fell to a score of 68.2, down from January’s 69.5. Any figure over 50 indicates prices are rising, and the higher the figure, the steeper the increase. [...]
Return to Utopia: The desire to live where you work harks back to the industrial towns of yesteryear February 19, 2015 On frosty, damp mornings like the ones London has seen of late, the morning commute is worse than ever. Biting winds followed by packed, sweltering trains, followed by more wind – it’s as if the commute was specifically designed to make you as ill-prepared as possible for the day ahead. Yet it’s accepted by millions [...]
A room with a view: Why Brits are flocking back to Italy’s Lake Como February 19, 2015 It was the Romans who discovered Lake Como, and built their villas overlooking its stunning scenery. Today, the Mediterranean microclimate created by the lake’s waters is enjoyed as much as ever, though many now prefer an apartment in place of a villa. Aside from the views across the lake, and the uniquely benign climate it [...]
Estate agent wars: OnTheMarket hits one million mark for unique users three weeks after launch February 18, 2015 Newly launched online property portal OnTheMarket.com said it had its one millionth unique user this weekend, as it continues it battle against the "unfair duopoly" held over the online market by Rightmove and Zoopla. OnTheMarket.com, set up by Agents' Mutual, is backed by estate agents such as Savills and Knight Frank. The rule banning agents from listing properties [...]
Prime UK cities outperform as capital’s dwellers look west February 16, 2015 PRIME UK cities including Bath and Oxford enjoyed a surge in price growth last year as more Londoners tempted by the prospect of a bigger home, good schools and transport links moved out of the capital. Knight Frank data released yesterday showed prime prices in Bath increased by five per cent, in Oxford by 6.1 [...]
Magic Circle law firm looks north to counter soaring London rents February 9, 2015 FRESHFIELDS Bruckhaus Deringer could become the latest law firm to move its back office workers north to a Manchester service centre, in a push to cut its rent bill in London. Staff at the Fleet Street offices were told yesterday of the plan, which imitates other firms such as Berwin Leighton Paisner and Allen & [...]
“Magic Circle” firm looks north as London rents soar February 9, 2015 We all know that London rents can be eye-wateringly expensive. Just last week we revealed that rents in the capital have risen six times faster than other parts of the UK and of course we all remember the MP Mark Simmonds who had to quit because his six-figure package wasn't enough to keep up with [...]
Delancey puts Walbrook building up for sale for £500m February 2, 2015 The Walbrook building is being put up for sale by property investment firm Delancey. Estate agents Knight Frank and CBRE have been briefed on the sale, which is expected to raise around £500m, according to Property Week (£). Delancey bought the building from Minerva in August 2011 in a joint venture with Ares Management [...]