Homeowner demand up 4.2% on same time last year – Report
A quarterly ‘Hotspot Index’ by estate agent comparison site, GetAgent.co.uk, suggests an overall increase in demand for home buying over the course of 2024. GetAgent’s Hotspots Demand Index monitors homebuyer demand across England on a quarterly basis. Current demand is based on the proportion of stock listed as already sold (sold subject to contract or […]
Justin Sullivan becomes RICS President for 2025
On January 1st, 2025, Justin Sullivan FRICS became the 143rd President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Justin is the founder and CEO of Adair, which has provided construction consultancy services globally for over thirty years. As consistently demonstrated in the RICS Construction market survey, and highlighted by our professionals and Government, the […]
Strong finish to 2024 with transactions up 13% year on year
November housing transactions demonstrated an element of seasonality with a strong end to 2024 on the cards. Despite a slow start to the year, the non-seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK residential transactions in November 2024 is 104,440, 19% higher than November 2023 and 6% lower than October 2024. “With more competitive interest […]
Interview: Janine Wellington takes the reins at Convey Law
Janine Wellington has been appointed as Managing Director of Newport-based Convey Law, taking the reins from outgoing MD and founder Lloyd Davies. No stranger to a challenge, having worked as a specialist residential and commercial Conveyancer for over 25 years, Janine has sizeable shoes to fill in Davies who recently oversaw the firm’s 20th birthday […]
Property portal Zoopla adds crime rates, flood and planning information to listings
Property portal Zoopla, part of home moving technology business Houseful, has announced additions to its property listings pages enabling home movers to view information regarding crime rates, flood risk, and planning applications in the locale of the property. The portal says the feature is available through ‘connections with third-party data providers and local council authorities’ […]
ABS fined more than £25,000 for AML failings
A Birmingham law firm has been fined more than the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) stated £25,000 for ‘traditional’ firms for anti-money laundering (AML) failures because of it’s status as an alternative business structure (ABS). Tyndallwoods Solicitors, has been fined £27,813 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for failing to implement proper anti-money laundering (AML) measures […]
Land Registry workers will not cover for colleagues during industrial action starting 21st January 2025
HM Land Registry (HMLR) staff who voted to take industrial action in response to the Government’s directive to return to working in the office for 60% of their working time have said they will not cover for colleagues or take on extra work out of their job description or pay grade from 21st January 2025. […]
CILEx Regulation sets out its priorities for delivering ‘forward thinking evidenced-based legal regulation’ in 2025
In its 2025 Corporate Plan, launched last week, CILEx Regulation Limited (CRL) says it has set out a ‘bold programme of action’ to strengthen the regulation of legal executives and improve information to consumers. The key priorities deliver the first year of its 2025-2027 Corporate Strategy which was published in November 2024 and reflect widespread […]
Portals and agents ‘failing consumers’ with lack of property information
Estate agents and property portals are failing to highlight issues to home movers which could have an impact on their decision to withdraw from a property purchase. Against a backdrop of fall through rates around one in three properties, property advice website HomeOwners Alliance reviewed 150 leasehold property listings on Rightmove, Zoopla, and OnTheMarket in […]
December 2024 mortgage market activity
Twenty7tec, an leading adviser tech provider, has announced mortgage market statistics for December 2024 as follows: In December 2024, compared to November 2024: Purchase mortgage searches were down 37.7% Remortgage searches were down 32.9% Buy To Let purchase mortgage searches were down 35.0% Buy To Let remortgage searches were down 35.5% Residential purchase mortgage searches […]
Bell Lamb & Joynson celebrate success in 2024
Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors, who say they are one of the UK’s longest-established law firms, say they are thrilled to announce a “stellar year of growth, innovation and recognition”. With “record-breaking financial results and significant accomplishments across all practice areas, the firm continues to solidify its position as a leader in legal services”. The […]
PEXA appoints new UK Chief Technology Officer to support rollout in 2025
PEXA has announced the appointment of Nitesh Thadani to the role of UK Chief Technology Officer to drive the ongoing development and rollout of its technology platform in 2025. Thadani, ‘a long-time advocate of a digitised property transaction process’, brings more than 20 years of experience in his field. He combines an expertise in fintech […]
Energy Efficiency on the Rise: 60% of Homes Sold, Let, or Built in the Past Year Achieved EPC Rating of C or Above
Research from epIMS, the energy performance and compliance platform tailored for landlords, reveals a growing emphasis on energy efficiency in the property market. Over the past year, 60.2% of all homes sold, let, or constructed in England and Wales achieved an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C or above, reflecting a +1.6% increase compared […]
Stamp Duty changes set to motivate first-time buyers amid rising property prices, says Halifax
Upcoming changes to stamp duty are expected to drive first-time buyers to act quickly to secure properties, according to Halifax. As the average UK home price edges closer to the £300,000 mark, prospective buyers face both new challenges and opportunities in navigating the housing market. Halifax reported that the average UK home ended 2024 priced […]
Progress with leasehold reform promised as Angela Rayner questioned by HCLG
Today, the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee questioned Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner on on the Government’s housing and planning policy ambitions. The evidence session was the first HCLG Committee session with the Secretary of State in this Parliament. The Deputy Prime Minister promised forward movement with leasehold reform after concerns last year […]
Property market in 2025: ‘Buyers market’
With house prices projected to rise and mortgage rates expected to remain elevated in the short term, navigating the property market in 2025 presents both opportunities and challenges for buyers, sellers, and homeowners alike. Whether you’re considering a first-time purchase, planning to move, or debating a renovation, making an informed decision is crucial in this […]
Property market likely to ‘prove busy’ in first few months of 2025
Estate agency membership body Propertymark are one of the first to release their property market report for the new year, boldly asserting the first few months of 2025 are likely to ‘prove busy for the sales market, with stock coming to the market and consumers showing they are keen to stay ahead of Stamp Duty […]
Government accused of “Victorian” attitude as HMLR vote to strike
The government’s attitude to working conditions has been likened to Victorian bosses in a statement from the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union as HM Land Registry (HMLR) workers vote to strike following a ballot in December. PCS balloted members at HMLR and other government departments in response to the introduction of mandatory office attendance […]
Gross mortgage lending rises in November, but approvals decline – Bank of England
Gross mortgage lending edged up in November to £20.7 billion, a modest increase from October’s £20.3 billion, according to the Bank of England’s latest Money and Credit report. However, this rise in lending was accompanied by a dip in mortgage approvals, suggesting potential turbulence in the housing market. Mortgage approvals for house purchases dropped by […]
Solicitor Struck Off for Requesting Backdated Property Sale Document
A former partner at Essex-based law firm Cunningtons LLP has been struck off after asking another firm to backdate a property sale document to help his client avoid a £6,000 stamp duty charge. Aymer Hutton approached the other firm involved in the conveyancing transaction after the completion of the sale missed the stamp duty holiday […]
