Propertywire

15/07/2024

Development firm: Time to return to Major Developed Sites system 🏗

The new Labour government needs to bring back land designated as Major Development Sites (MDS), according to planning and development consultancy Lichfields UK.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/development-firm-time-to-return-to-major-developed-sites-system/ 🔗

The new Labour government needs to bring back land designated as Major Development Sites (MDS), according to planning and development consultancy Lichfields. Before 2012 locations were marked as MDS, which meant green belt sites were developed for a range of uses, including leisure and tourism wi

15/07/2024

Businesses demand more people come to the office 🏢

Two in five (59%) of UK businesses’ senior decision-makers want to increase the number of times employees must attend their workspace, research from NCG has revealed.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/businesses-demand-more-people-come-to-the-office/ 🔗

Two in five (59%) of UK businesses' senior decision-makers want to increase the number of times employees must attend their workspace, research from NCG has revealed. The pandemic has acted as something of a catalyst for companies to make remote working more common, but not everyone is a fan of t

15/07/2024

Inflation expected to stay at around 2% 🔎

The inflation rate should remain at around 2% when the figures for June are released this week, raising the possibility of further rate cuts in the months ahead.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/inflation-expected-to-stay-at-around-2/ 🔗

The inflation rate should remain at around 2% when the figures for June are released this week, raising the possibility of further rate cuts in the months ahead. As it stands there’s a 50% chance of the base rate coming down in August, and if not it’s expected in September. Inflation reached t

15/07/2024

Energy efficiency spurring on buyers to purchase new builds 🍃

People are buying new builds due to the energy efficient nature of such properties, Knight Frank research shows.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/energy-efficiency-spurring-on-buyers-to-purchase-new-builds/ 🔗

People are buying new builds due to the energy efficient nature of such properties, Knight Frank research shows. As it stands one in five buyers favour a new build, with 60% citing energy efficiency as their number one reason. Anna Ward, associate in Knight Frank’s research team, said: "Energy

12/07/2024

New development coming to southwest Hampshire 🏗

Planning permission has been granted for the building of 164 homes on the edge of New Milton in southwest Hampshire.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/uk/new-development-coming-to-southwest-hampshire/ 🔗

Planning permission has been granted for the building of 164 homes on the edge of New Milton in southwest Hampshire. Danes Park will deliver a mix of houses, apartments and bungalows, 50% of which will be provided on an ‘affordable’ basis for locals. The housebuilder is Pennyfarthing Homes, wh

12/07/2024

Surveyors optimistic about the housing market after the election 🔎

Over the next three months a net +20 of surveyors anticipate a recovery in residential sales, highlighting the positive effects of Labour’s landslide election victory, the RICS UK Residential Survey has found.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/surveyors-optimistic-about-the-housing-market-after-the-election/ 🔗

Over the next three months a net +20 of surveyors anticipate a recovery in residential sales, highlighting the positive effects of Labour’s landslide election victory, the RICS UK Residential Survey has found. Optimism increased from last month, when just a net +10 expected a recovery. Looking

11/07/2024

Landlord and tenant groups clash on working from home rules 🗣

Generation Rent UK and Shelter have slammed the growing trend of landlords banning their tenants from working from home.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/uk/landlord-and-tenant-groups-clash-on-working-from-home-rules/ 🔗

Generation Rent and Shelter have slammed the growing trend of landlords banning their tenants from working from home. As reported by The Independent, there’s been a growing trend for SpareRoom adverts specifying that their renter mustn’t work from their property. Ben Twomey chief executive of

11/07/2024

London rents drop for two consecutive quarters 📉

Rents in London have dropped for the second consecutive quarter – fuelled by strong reductions in SW14 Mortlake (-9%), W8 Holland Park and NW5 Kentish Town (-7% respectively), analysis from SpareRoom shows.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/london-rents-drop-for-two-consecutive-quarters/ 🔗

Rents in London have dropped for the second consecutive quarter – fuelled by strong reductions in SW14 Mortlake (-9%), W8 Holland Park and NW5 Kentish Town (-7% respectively), analysis from SpareRoom shows. Despite these reductions London rents are still up year-on-year by 1%. Between Q2 2021

11/07/2024

Derbyshire home to the most affordable new builds 🏘

Erewash in Derbyshire has the lowest median price for newly built housing out of all local authorities in England and Wales, analysis from One Sure Insurance Limited shows.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/uk/derbyshire-home-to-the-most-affordable-new-builds/ 🔗

Erewash in Derbyshire has the lowest median price for newly built housing out of all local authorities in England and Wales, analysis from One Sure Insurance shows. New builds in the borough, which includes towns like Ilkeston and Long Eaton, average at just £122,750. Stoke-on-Trent in Staffor

11/07/2024

Build to Rent investment surges 📈

Investment into the UK’s build to rent (BTR) sector topped £1.3 billion in the second quarter of 2024, up 38% year-on-year, research from Knight Frank has revealed.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/build-to-rent-investment-surges/ 🔗

Investment into the UK’s build to rent (BTR) sector topped £1.3 billion in the second quarter of 2024, up 38% year-on-year, research from Knight Frank has revealed. This brings the total investment for the first half of 2024 to just over £2.6 billion, surpassing the previous half-year high of £...

11/07/2024

Generation Rent UK bemused by ‘safer renting’ scheme anxiety 🏘

Campaign group Generation Rent has defended ‘safer renting’ schemes from councils, saying their purpose is to raise standards without fining landlords – rather than being a backdoor way of catching them out.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/generation-rent-bemused-by-safer-renting-scheme-anxiety/ 🔗

Campaign group Generation Rent has defended ‘safer renting’ schemes from councils, saying their purpose is to raise standards without fining landlords – rather than being a backdoor way of catching them out. This came after Phil Turtle of Landlord Licensing & Defence warned landlords that the

10/07/2024

The future of Islamic finance in the UK 🔎

After launching Islamic buy-to-let products into the market, PropertyWire speaks to Sultan Choudhury OBE, executive chairman at Offa, about the future direction of the company, the role of Islamic finance in the UK, and dealing with prejudice. Choudhury was previously CEO of Al Rayan Bank.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/interviews/the-future-of-islamic-finance-in-the-uk/ 🔗

After launching Islamic buy-to-let products into the market, PropertyWire speaks to Sultan Choudhury OBE, executive chairman at Offa, about the future direction of the company, the role of Islamic finance in the UK, and dealing with prejudice. Choudhury was previously CEO of Al Rayan Bank. -What pr

10/07/2024

Majority of landlords plan to raise rents 📈

Nearly 85% of buy-to-let landlords plan to raise rents in the coming 12 months as they look to cope with higher mortgage interest rates and operating costs, Landbay’s survey has revealed.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/buy-to-let/majority-of-landlords-plan-to-raise-rents/ 🔗

Nearly 85% of buy-to-let landlords plan to raise rents in the coming 12 months as they look to cope with higher mortgage interest rates and operating costs, Landbay’s survey has revealed. A third (36%) plan to raise rents by up to 5%, 37% intend to increase rents between 6 and 10%, while one in 1

10/07/2024

Islamic buy-to-let offering comes to market 🏘

Sharia-compliance fintech firm Offa has launched into buy-to-let finance, in a bid to improve what it deemed the “old-fashioned and cumbersome” world of Islamic finance.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/buy-to-let/islamic-buy-to-let-offering-comes-to-market/ 🔗

Sharia-compliance fintech firm Offa has launched into buy-to-let finance, in a bid to improve what it deemed the “old-fashioned and cumbersome” world of Islamic finance. The Birmingham-based mortgage provider said it can make fast and easy decisions due to a modern end-to-end digital process.

10/07/2024

Oxford the most expensive place to rent alone 🏡

Solo renters in Oxford have to fork out £1,050 for a one-bedroom home, ranking it as the most expensive area to rent in the UK outside of London, analysis from Hiatt Hardware (UK) shows.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/oxford-the-most-expensive-place-to-rent-alone/ 🔗

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Solo renters in Oxford have to fork out £1,050 for a one-bedroom home, ranking it as the most expensive area to rent in the UK outside of London, analysis from Hiatt Hardware shows. The city is home to one of the UK’s most prestigious universities and has direct transport links to London, both of

10/07/2024

infinitSpace launches flexible workspace in Amsterdam 🚀

Flexible workspace provider infinitSpace has launched a third Dutch location, ‘beyond Gouden Bocht’, in Amsterdam.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/europe/infinitspace-launches-flexible-workspace-in-amsterdam/ 🔗

10/07/2024

Landlord returns have dropped by 45% since 2020 📉

A property investor taking out the average buy-to-let mortgage is earning £4,000 less a year per property compared to 2020, analysis from personal finance site Finder has found.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/buy-to-let/landlord-returns-have-dropped-by-45-since-2020/ 🔗

A property investor taking out the average buy-to-let mortgage is earning £4,000 less a year per property compared to 2020, analysis from personal finance site Finder has found. This is largely due to high interest rates and house prices. If a landlord had taken out a 2-year fixed-rate buy-to-

09/07/2024

Developer looks to buy “dirty land” to ramp up housebuilding 🏗

Wavensmere Homes is seeking brownfield sites at least three acres within city centres and towns across the Midlands as it looks to kickstart new housebuilding projects.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/developer-looks-to-buy-dirty-land-to-ramp-up-housebuilding/ 🔗

Wavensmere Homes is seeking brownfield sites at least three acres within city centres and towns across the Midlands as it looks to kickstart new housebuilding projects. The builder has an aim of delivering 1,000 homes per year, as its managing director James Dickens declared that “complex, dirty

09/07/2024

‘Safer renting’ schemes could punish bad landlords – warning 🗣

Landlords have been warned that ‘safer renting’ schemes could be a trap by having them disclose information that could be used against them – if they’re not following the rules.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/uk/safer-renting-schemes-could-punish-bad-landlords/ 🔗

Landlords have been warned that ‘safer renting’ schemes could be a trap by having them disclose information that could be used against them – if they’re not following the rules. The schemes are run by councils and ask landlords to declare compliance with various regulations, as well as infor...

09/07/2024

Labour meets with developer Berkeley Group 🏗

Berkeley Group Plc has met with Labour’s new Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/labour-meets-with-developer-berkeley-group/ 🔗

Berkeley Group has met with Labour’s new Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner. The pair visited the group’s Oval Village brownfield development soon after winning the General Election - in a clear sign that the pair are keen to work with developers to rapidly increase hou...

09/07/2024

Matthew Pennycook is new housing minister 🏡

The Labour Party has made Matthew Pennycook, the MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, its housing minister.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/uk/matthew-pennycook-is-new-housing-minister/ 🔗

The Labour Party has made Matthew Pennycook, the MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, its housing minister. Pennycook has been shadow housing minister since 2021, while he previously championed housing developments coming with associated infrastructure like schools and shops. He was notable as the M

09/07/2024

Housing targets reinstated 🏘

The Labour Party has reintroduced housing targets, as it targets the construction of 1.5 million homes in England over the course of the next parliament.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/uk/housing-targets-reinstated/ 🔗

The Labour Party has reintroduced housing targets, as it targets the construction of 1.5 million homes in England over the course of the next parliament. The party is looking to encourage investment from the private sector. Rachel Reeves, Chancellor said: “We need the private sector to build h

09/07/2024

Labour lifts ban on onshore windfarms 🍃

The Labour Party has dropped the effective ban on onshore windfarms.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/uk/labour-lifts-ban-on-onshore-windfarms/ 🔗

The Labour Party has dropped the effective ban on onshore windfarms. Previously two footnotes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the rules which govern the building of homes and infrastructure, required strong proof that there was no local opposition to building turbines, which mea

09/07/2024

Property industry optimistic about new Labour government 🏘

People from across the property industry seem largely optimistic after Labour secured a landslide victory at the General Election.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/government-and-policy/property-industry-optimistic-about-new-labour-government/ 🔗

People from across the property industry seem largely optimistic after Labour secured a landslide victory at the General Election. While landlord groups are worried about the proposed abolition of Section 21 evictions, many are keen to see how and whether Labour’s housebuilding plans come to frui

09/07/2024

Housing market could see post-election boost 📈

Labour winning by a landslide could be good news for the property market, especially as the result went as expected.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/government-and-policy/housing-market-could-see-post-election-boost/ 🔗

Labour winning by a landslide could be good news for the property market, especially as the result went as expected. That’s according to Paresh Raja, chief executive of specialist lender Market Financial Solutions, who commented that this election was unusual, given there was little uncertainty o

05/07/2024

Real estate has a mental health issue 💬

People working in the real estate industry have the highest occurrence of mental health issues of any industry, research from mental health support app Wysa has revealed.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/uk/real-estate-has-a-mental-health-issue/ 🔗

People working in the real estate industry have the highest occurrence of mental health issues of any industry, research from mental health support app Wysa has revealed. Two thirds (61%) of people working in the sector have been bothered by thoughts of self-harm or suicidal ideation, highlightin

05/07/2024

Property firms should brace themselves for calls about Stamp Duty if Labour wins 🏡

Agents should expect a spike in calls after the election is called, as stamp duty thresholds are called into question.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/property-firms-should-brace-themselves-for-calls-about-stamp-duty-if-labour-wins/ 🔗

Agents should expect a spike in calls after the election is called, as stamp duty thresholds are called into question. Labour has confirmed that the stamp duty threshold for first-time buyers will fall back to £300,000 in April 2025. As it stands the minimum threshold is £425,000, as it was te

05/07/2024

First-time buyers surprisingly unaware of Help to Buy 🏘

Some 88% of first-time buyers are unaware of Help to Buy according to Barratt Homes, suggesting the next government needs to drive up awareness.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/buy-to-let/first-time-buyers-surprisingly-unaware-of-help-to-buy/ 🔗

Some 88% of first-time buyers are unaware of Help to Buy according to Barratt Homes, suggesting the next government needs to drive up awareness. Labour plans to introduce Freedom to Buy, which would effectively replace the Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee scheme, which is set to run until June 2025

04/07/2024

Conservatives vs Labour: Housing plans and proposals 🏘

Who should you vote for in today’s election between Labour and the Conservatives? Lettings platform Goodlord compares the housing polices of the two major parties.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/news/conservatives-vs-labour-housing-plans-and-proposals/ 🔗

Who should you vote for in today's election between Labour and the Conservatives? Lettings platform Goodlord compares the housing polices of the two major parties. Housing is a key policy focus for any political party. With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, energy efficiency upgrades in demand,

04/07/2024

2 million UK renters don’t have a smoke alarm 🚨

Just over 2 million people in rented accommodation don’t have a fitted smoke alarm, amounting to a huge 17% of the UK’s renters.

➡ https://www.propertywire.com/buy-to-let/2-million-uk-renters-dont-have-a-smoke-alarm/ 🔗

Just over 2 million people in rented accommodation don’t have a fitted smoke alarm, amounting to a huge 17% of the UK's renters. People living in Greater London are most affected, where nearly 24% of households don’t have one installed, followed by 22% in Northern Ireland. The survey comes fro