Smaller builders ‘will benefit from streamlined processes to speed up housing progress’
The Government is proposing reforms across land, regulation and finance that will create simpler rules and faster decision-making to benefit small and medium sized housebuilders, it has said. ‘Complex’ planning rules will be streamlined and ‘onerous’ regulatory burdens eased, the government said, in a bid to build thousands of homes faster on smaller sites across […]
A record 73,000 consumers asked The Property Ombudsman for help last year
The Property Ombudsman received a record number of contacts in 2024, with more than 73,000 consumers seeking support with property-related issues – 27% more than the previous year. Although the majority of enquiries came from renters, the ombudsman said there has been a growing demand for the service from leaseholders and a high level of […]
UK surveyor shortage: How technology can save the property market
The surveying industry currently faces a profound demographic challenge that threatens the smooth operation of the property market. Despite the introduction of the AssocRICS qualification, which has brought new blood into the industry, the workforce is ageing inexorably as the sector struggles to attract enough new talent to replace those approaching retirement. We are witnessing […]
Weddings fall out of favour as young couples prioritise saving for a home
Half of UK adults believe that saving for a home is much more important than paying for a wedding, according to research from property website Zoopla. Just under half (48%) of all adults were prioritising a deposit as the target for their savings, which rose to 59% of those in the Gen Z age group. […]
RICS annual review ‘showcases a year of significant progress’
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has released its 2024 Annual Review, which the organisation says ‘showcases a year of significant progress in modernising the profession, expanding membership, and leading on global sustainability standards’. In what it calls a landmark year, RICS membership in the UK surpassed 100,000 for the first time, with a […]