Author: Benjamin

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: The Inheritance tax receipts hit £800m last month, according to fresh data released by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). This is £97m higher than in April of the previous tax year, and continues an upward trend over the last two decades. With such a strong start to the new tax year, predictions that inheritance tax receipts will top the £8.2bn raised in 2024/25 tax year are looking increasingly realistic. The OBR estimates suggest almost 10% of estates will pay death duties by 2030 due to increasing house prices, changes to…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), has released its 2024 Annual Review, showcasing a year of significant progress in modernising the profession, expanding membership, and leading on global sustainability standards. In a landmark year, RICS membership in the UK surpassed 100,000 for the first time, with over 7,600 new global enrolments, the highest since 2017. To add to this, 76% of industry professionals showed confidence in the professionalism and expertise of RICS members. Member satisfaction also rose in terms of RICS leadership in sustainability, with 70% of members reporting…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Zoopla has announced the next phase of the ‘Property Pitch’, a series of market-focused roadshows held across the country at iconic cricket grounds. The next event will be taking place with various industry figures at London’s Kia Oval in June, as the property portal continues to capitalise on its position as the official property partner of England Cricket. Attendees can expect to hear more about Zoopla’s Vision for 2025 from chief operating officer Rich Hayes, while Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, will explore market trends This will be followed…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Adam Day Estate agents across most major UK cities have seen an increase in the level of buyer activity so far this year when compared to the same period in 2024 – with Newport Leicester and Liverpool seeing the largest surge in market activity. New research by eXp UK, the platform for personal estate agents and estate agency businesses, has revealed that across the UK as a whole, buyer demand is up, with the average monthly level of buyer demand seen over the first four months of this year sitting…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of Barratt Redrow in a major legal case that could clear the way for developers to sue their consultants and engineers for contributions to building safety remediation costs. The ruling deemed that structural engineers owe “a duty of care” to developers for economic losses arising from negligent building safety design, even after the properties are sold. The case related to structural design defects that BDW Trading, the legal entity that operates under the trading names of Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, found…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: The Property Lawyers Alliance (PLA) has launched a campaign designed to speed up property transactions by cutting the mountain of red tape ‘suffocating’ conveyancing. The PLA says it understands the necessity for the government to tackle money laundering. However, the vast panoply of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) guidance notes, laws, regulations, and sanctions in conveyancing and their enforcement now represents a serious impediment to the efficient working of the UK property market and a significant drag on the economy. PLA estimates AML laws and official regulatory guidance notes, now exceed 1,500…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Dutch & Dutch in West Hampstead is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, marking over a century of dedicated service to the property industry in North West London. Established in 1900, the estate agency is well-respected in the local area and continues to attract plenty of business across both residential and commercial property sectors. From its Victorian origins when a typical three-bedroom London terraced house would have cost £250 to today’s modern property market, Dutch & Dutch has remained a constant presence in North West London. Much of that legacy…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: UK rental services provider Housing Hand will host a webinar tomorrow designed to deliver deep insights on renters to landlords and other accommodation providers. Taking place on Friday at 11am tomorrow, the webinar – Inside the voice of the tenant: Exclusive survey findings – follows the launch of the insight-packed Understanding Renters in 2025 report last month. Graham Hayward, managing director, Housing Hand, said: “Our recent survey of over 1,700 renters provided deep insights into the current state of the rental sector, which we are keen to share with accommodation providers…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: The true scale of mortgage fraud in the UK may be far greater than official enforcement figures suggest, warns Thirdfort. A Freedom of Information request made by the client due diligence platform to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has revealed that there have been only 17 enforcement investigations into mortgage fraud since 2018. According to the data, the number of investigations peaked in 2019 (5 cases), with activity continuing across 2022–2024 (averaging 3-4 cases annually). The data also shows two dormant years (2020–2021), possibly linked to pandemic-related disruption in financial…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: It has been announced this week that two UK lenders – April Mortgages and Gable Mortgages- have now launched products for first-time buyers that do not require the borrower to pay any deposit. While this may be welcome news to many struggling to save enough to step onto the property ladder or unable to rely on the ‘bank of Mum and Dad’, Joseph Lane, founder and director of Mortgage Lane warns of the potential financial risks of opting for one of these rarely offered deals. He commented: “There’s no denying the appeal of a 100%…