New letting agent rules come into force tomorrow
From tomorrow letting agents must check tenants, landlords, and other clients against the UK’s official sanctions list. If they find or suspect a match, they will be legally required to…
Mortgage rates declining – PropertyWire
The cost of the average 2-year fixed rate mortgage has fallen by its biggest margin in six months, the Moneyfacts UK Mortgage Trends Treasury Report has revealed. Average mortgage rates…
Leaders Romans Group buys estate agency group
Property group LRG (previously Leaders Romans Group) has acquired estate agency group Chancellors Group, its biggest ever acquisition. Chancellors operates in 50+ locations across West London, Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire,…
Buy-to-let investors heading north – PropertyWire
A record 39% of buy-to-lets purchased so far this year were in the Midlands or North England, indicating that investors are departing from the South in search of better returns.…
Ethnic minorities being locked out of the housing market
A report has raised concerns about ethnic minorities and Muslim households being locked out of the market. Ethnic minorities make up 18% of the UK population but just 10% of…
0.25% rate cut expected tomorrow
The majority of buy-to-let brokers reckon the Bank of England will opt for a 0.25% base rate cut tomorrow. Some 71% are predicting a cut, which would take the base…
Housebuilding construction gaining momentum – PropertyWire
Construction for residential housebuilding is rapidly improving, as starts surged by 24% quarter-on-quarter and 22% year-on-year. The research, from construction firm Glenigan, suggested that housebuilding is outperforming the rest of…
Scotland vows to bring in new tenant protections
The Scottish government has pledged to introduce stronger rights for tenants in the country in its ‘Programme for Government’. First Minister John Swinney said the programme includes: “More rights and…
Housing market experiences worrying April dip
Sales and demand both dropped in April after the stamp duty thresholds reverted back to previous levels, the RICS UK Residential Survey has revealed. Some -33% more surveyors saw a…
Blackpool the worst area for energy efficiency
Blackpool is the worst area of the UK for EPC ratings, where nearly three quarters (74.1%) of homes have an EPC rating between D and G. The town’s history as…