London house price growth remains below UK city average September 27, 2019 House prices in London edged up 0.2 per cent in August but inflation remained below the UK average growth rate for cities of 1.9 per cent. However, mortgages for home purchases in London have been increasing slowly following the lower numbers seen since late 2014, suggesting that the decline in London housing sales has bottomed [...]
A good property manager is crucial. Here’s what to look for when hiring one September 27, 2019 Whether you are a property investor, a house builder, resident management company, right to manage company or a residents’ association, property management has never been more important. As more and more people choose to rent or buy leasehold, their expectations of the service they receive are getting higher – and rightly so. There are plenty [...]
Focus on Wapping: First-time home buyers are taking advantage of City connections and ‘sensible’ prices September 27, 2019 Located on the north bank of the Thames just to the east of Tower Bridge, Wapping is one of the few remaining postcodes where you can snap up a flat within walking distance of the City without a completely eye-watering price tag. Formerly the domain of dock workers, large swathes of the area have been [...]
Property of the week: A colourful Cuban home for the well-heeled September 27, 2019 As the nights draw in, what better way to liven up those long, dark evenings than coming home to a place that is bursting with colour and warmth? That is exactly what you will get if you move into this maisonette at 212 Kensington Park Road in Notting Hill, which has just come on the [...]
Workspace hub Knotel thinks it’s solved Wework’s business model problems September 26, 2019 Wework’s ill-fated initial public offering (IPO) will have only a “limited” impact on the fortunes of flexible workspace rival Knotel, the firm’s boss has said. Tom Dugarin, Knotel’s UK general manager, played down concerns about Wework’s troubled listing, saying his company had a more sustainable business model. Read more: Wework rival Knotel expands London presence [...]
Foxtons chair steps down after turbulent year September 26, 2019 The chair of Foxtons said he would step down this morning after half a dozen years at the head of he board during which the share price has plummeted. Gary Watts will have stepped down by the time the real estate agent holds its annual general meeting in May next year. Read more: Foxtons sales [...]
Student housing provider IQ Student Accommodation appoints advisers for float or sale September 25, 2019 The owners of UK student housing provider IQ Student Accommodation (IQSA) have reportedly hired banks to advise on a float or a sale. IQSA has appointed Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and real estate adviser Eastdil Secured to oversee the sale or listing of is £3.5bn student housing portfolio, Sky News reported. Read more: Greene King [...]
West End landlord Shaftesbury ‘unaffected’ by retail restructurings September 25, 2019 West End landlord Shaftesbury said it has been “largely unaffected” by a recent string of retail and restaurant closures and restructurings. In a trading update this morning the real estate investment trust said it had “limited exposure” to occupier insolvencies. Read more: West End landlord Shaftesbury sued by tycoon shareholder Samuel Tak Lee Tenant insolvencies [...]
Mortgage approvals grow despite Brexit uncertainty September 25, 2019 The number of mortgages approved by banks grew last month despite the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Brexit. In total, 85,931 mortgages were approved by the main high street banks in August and mortgage approvals for home purchases were 3.2 per cent higher than the previous year as the 31 October Brexit deadline approaches. Read more: First-time [...]
Adventure capital: Young firms offer strong returns, so why aren’t pensions invested? September 25, 2019 Are you taking on enough risk? Because a common concern among money experts is that pension savers, particularly those who won’t reach retirement age for decades, are not. If you have opted for your pension provider’s default fund, it’s highly likely that you will be invested in companies that are well-established, but only give you [...]