Hammond has taken the first tentative steps towards fixing the housing crisis October 31, 2018 How do you solve the housing crisis in a single Budget? You can’t, of course – not with Brexit looming and a Prime Minister demanding that you both signal the end of austerity and reduce the UK’s national debt at the same time. But housing policy is the one single issue that personally and radically [...]
City Moves for 30 October – who’s switching jobs at Target Fund Managers, Argentex and White & Case October 30, 2018 Here’s who’s switching jobs today. Target Fund Managers Target Fund Managers, the external manager to Target Healthcare REIT (THRL), the UK-listed specialist investor in purpose-built care homes, is pleased to announce three appointments to support it in its strategy to manage and grow THRL. Maria Gaurino joins as healthcare director and brings over 18 years [...]
Help to Buy extended to 2023 for first time buyers: Industry reacts October 29, 2018 The fate of the government’s Help to Buy scheme was cleared up this afternoon after the chancellor said that he would be extending a revised version of the policy until 2023, but for first-time buyers only. From April 2021 the scope of Downing Street's flagship housing policy will be narrowed down, with only first-time buyers [...]
Property in the Budget: First-time buyers to benefit from shared ownership stamp duty relief as Help to Buy extended October 29, 2018 The Chancellor unveiled a raft of new property measures today, including a further £500m for the housing infrastructure fund and stamp duty relief for first-time buyers that is extended to shared ownership homes worth up to £500,000. The government will also extend a revised version of its Help to Buy scheme until 2023, but for first-time [...]
World’s most expensive houses suffer growth slowdown as London slump persists October 29, 2018 Prices for the world’s most luxurious houses have slipped to their lowest annual levels in nearly six years, as stricter regulations and growing political uncertainty deter wealthy buyers in a number of cities. Prime property prices across the globe climbed 2.7 per cent in the last 12 months, marking the slowest rate of annual growth in [...]
Don’t let national security fears risk closing Britain for business October 26, 2018 The UK government’s National Security and Investment consultation, which closed last week, has an aim that is not just laudable, but essential. The government is seeking to protect vital national assets, whether emerging technology or critical infrastructure, from falling into the wrong hands – from organised crime groups to rogue states to certain major powers. [...]
No-deal Brexit would hit house prices – but not as hard as the financial crisis, says Moody’s October 24, 2018 UK house prices could tumble in the event of a no-deal Brexit, but would not fall as far they did during the financial crisis a decade ago, rating agency Moody’s said. There would be “outright declines in house prices nationally” if Britain crashes out of the European Union without a deal next March, analysts said. [...]
Mortgage approvals fall to six-month low in September as experts warn of ‘fragile’ housing market October 24, 2018 Mortgage approvals fell to their lowest value in half a year in September, according to the latest data from UK Finance, meaning every month of 2018 so far has dropped against 2017 approval numbers. Lending amounted to £21.5bn for the month, the lowest since the £20.6bn recorded in April and a drop of 1.2 per [...]
The power of choice: Why May must back flexible right to buy October 23, 2018 He may not be well-known now, but former MP Noel Skelton probably had one of the most profound impacts on the guiding philosophy of the Conservative party. His series of pamphlets in the aftermath of the First World War explained clearly how the expansion of education and political rights, without the same expansion of economic [...]
Europe ramps up property investment in central London October 22, 2018 London's appeal as a major hub for overseas investors was underlined by fresh figures today, which showed that the proportion of foreign money being injected into the capital’s commercial property market has hit an all-time high. A resurgence in demand from European buyers has helped drive central London’s booming office space market in the last [...]