Yet another ‘housing policy’ designed mainly to frustrate housebuilding July 28, 2022 Pictured in an olive, recently waxed Barbour jacket in front of rolling green hills, Rishi Sunak looked every bit the country gentleman in pictures posted to his social media accounts yesterday. The reason? A commitment to protect the green belt. “We’ve seen too many examples of local councils circumventing the views of residents by taking [...]
‘Political headache’: House prices soar to nearly nine times the average income July 28, 2022 Property prices have soared to nearly nine time the average household disposable income in Britain, according to official figures. Affordability ratios in England are at their worst since records began in 1999, the Office for National Statistics revealed today. In London, an average-priced home will cost prospective buyers from low-income households an eyewatering 40 years’ [...]
Shopping centre owner Hammerson sees profits surge as footfall recovers pre-Covid levels July 28, 2022 Property developer Hammerson today said its adjusted earnings had more than doubled on last year, as higher rents as a result of the UK and Europe’s economic from Covid bolstered the shopping centre owner’s business. The London headquartered property investor said its adjusted earnings had increased 154 per cent year on year, after its like-for-like [...]
Lettings growth drives increase in revenue for London estate agent Foxtons July 28, 2022 Leading London estate agent Foxtons Group rode the wave of increasing lettings in the first six months of the year, despite a near 20 per cent drop in overall sales revenue. With the housing crisis continue to engulf much of the UK, Foxtons had a growth in revenue by three per cent. up from £63.4m [...]
Heritage campaigners and M&S roll up sleeves for public inquiry over Oxford St flagship store July 27, 2022 Heritage campaigners have started crowdfunding to battle Marks and Spencer’s plans to demolish its 1929 flagship Oxford St store this autumn. M&S hopes to demolish the Marble Arch building, which it says has “asbestos throughout,” to create a new 10-storey building, with office space and a gym. A two-week public inquiry in October will assess [...]
Homeowners on edge as inflation and interest rates rise: What is next for UK mortgage rates? July 26, 2022 Many people up and down the country will be feeling the financial strain of the cost-of-living crisis, and this’ll only add more pressure on the monthly budgets of millions of UK mortgage homeowners and of those currently looking to buy. With the Bank of England’s base rates having risen to 1.25 per cent in June [...]
Dexters snaps up sixth rival agency in 12-months in London property boom July 25, 2022 London estate agents Dexters yesterday snapped up its sixth competitor in the past year, as it looks to make significant headway in the capital’s booming property market. Dexters declined to comment on the price of the agreement, but industry sources believe the deal for Conran was a seven-figure sum. “London has bounced back from [...]
Business rates: Thousands of businesses go bust whilst waiting for rebates July 25, 2022 Thousands of business sites have foundered in while waiting for rebates over property taxes, according to new data. Research by real estate advisory firm Altus Group has showed that 3,165 business premises, including offices, factories, shops, pubs and restaurants, entered insolvency whilst they were awaiting the result of a business rates challenge. Business rates are [...]
Exclusive: Pensioners should get stamp duty break if they downsize home, house-buyers’ group says July 25, 2022 To ease the housing crisis, pensioners may be pushed into downsizing their homes and getting a tax break on stamp duty in return. The National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB) said the incentive would free up supply of housing and cool house prices, while also redoing the need for equity release. This comes after the [...]
Investment in London’s commercial property market drags as economic woes deepen July 25, 2022 London’s commercial property market took a hit in the second quarter of 2022 as investment declined amid a weakening economic outlook, according to data by BNP Paribas. Central London properties experienced an eight per cent investment drop at £4.5bn compared to Q2 last year, with the number of office deals transacting at less than half [...]