Building bridges: the UK’s global tech opportunity April 25, 2025 Britain has the chance to become the world’s most globally connected tech ecosystem, says Russ Shaw As global economic turbulence intensifies – marked by escalating tariff wars, supply chain disruptions, and uncertain investment climates – the UK stands at a pivotal moment. The US – long the dominant force in international innovation – is becoming [...]
London house prices fall fuels sales surge April 24, 2025 Sales of prime central London housing jumped up during the first three months of 2025 as prices fell amid the ongoing global uncertainty. Residential sales activity in the first quarter rose 12 per cent compared to 2024, according to new research from global property advisor JLL. “There are clear signs of renewed confidence across prime [...]
Mark Kleinman: Fintech Growth Fund’s journey ends in Octopus’s tentacles April 24, 2025 Mark Kleinman is Sky News’ City Editor and the man who gets the Square Mile talking in his weekly City AM column Fintech Growth Fund’s journey ends in Octopus’s tentacles It could scarcely have augured more favourably. An investment fund whose creation was recommended by the City grandee Sir Ron Kalifa in his 2021 review of the UK [...]
Paypal to open major office in London landmark April 23, 2025 Electronic payments giant Paypal has signed up to become the first occupier of a redeveloped office building on London’s Southbank. Paypal has agreed a lease for 40,000 sqft on the top floor of the building, a newly revamped Grade II-listed structure next to the National Theatre. Overall, the building will provide another 300,000 sqft of [...]
Foxtons: Sales revenue booms on stamp duty completion rush April 23, 2025 Revenue at London’s largest estate agent Foxtons has risen by a quarter, driven by the large number of completions brought forward to benefit from stamp duty relief. The company said that overall revenue rose by 24 per cent in the three months ended March 31, with a 73 per cent rise in sales revenue. Foxtons [...]
Prime London house prices underperform wider property market under Labour April 23, 2025 The prime London housing market has risen by less than the wider housing market since last June, despite the sector’s usual strong performance under Labour. Since July of last year, the average London house price has fallen by 0.5 per cent, according to Benham and Reeves. House prices across Kensington and Chelsea, meanwhile, have plummeted [...]
Logistics leaders warn business rates reform could drive up high street prices April 22, 2025 A coalition of logistics professionals and long-term industrial investors has warned that changes to the business rates system risks damaging the British high street by pushing up costs. The group, which includes major investors Segro, Prologis and Tritax Big Box, said that the proposal to apply a higher business rates multiplier to more valuable properties [...]
Dexters: High rents boost profit of London’s largest private estate agent April 22, 2025 Independent estate agent Dexters has reported a double-digit profit boost due to growth in its letting arm. Revenue rose 23 per cent rise to £222m in 2024, from £181m in 2023, with underlying operating profit up 17 per cent to £47.2m, from £40.4m in the prior year. Dexters, which is London’s largest estate agency with [...]
Renters’ Rights Bill raises ‘significant questions’ for tenants, industry leaders warn April 21, 2025 Industry leaders have expressed concerns about the knock-on effects of the Renters’ Rights Bill, which entered the committee stage on 21 April. The bill, which aims to give renters greater security and stability, will abolish Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, as well as ban landlords accepting offers above the advertised rent and prohibit pre-tenancy rent payments. [...]
Mortgage completions surged 50 per cent in March amid race to swerve stamp duty April 21, 2025 Mortgage completions have risen to their highest level since September as buyers rushed to avoid higher property taxes. Completions in March jumped 70 per cent compared to February for first-time buyers, according to Barclays, ahead of a change to stamp duty rates in April. “We experienced a blockbuster month for completions in March, as buyers [...]