Author: Benjamin

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Hello Neighbour is urging the government to ban excessive letting agent fees, a practice that it claims costs landlords more than £2bn annually in London alone and contributes to rising rents for tenants. In letters addressed to deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and housing minister Matthew Pennycook, the company says that letting agents routinely charge landlords up to 20% of the annual rent, with fees that often escalate as rents increase. The PropTech firm claims that even more concerning is the widespread use of restrictive contracts by some of the…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: A growing number of first-time buyers are looking to move to cities, while demand from first-time buyers into coastal areas has stood still, new analysis from Rightmove shows. The study  looked between January and May 2025, compared with the same period in 2015, and measured enquiries for typical first-time buyer properties (measured by 0-2 bedroom homes). The study compared 50 of the largest cities across Great Britain (excluding London), with 50 of the largest and most popular coastal areas based on volume of buyer enquiries. Over the last ten years,…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Gurneet Walia (centre) with his team Reeds Rains has opened a new physical branch in Romford following a virtual launch in November 2024. Led by franchise director Gurneet Walia, Reeds Rains Romford, an LSL Estate Agency franchise, has increased its brand’s ongoing expansion across the Southeast. The Reeds Rains Romford’s official launch event was attended by local businesses, community members, customers, and friends and family. Guests who booked a property valuation were entered into a prize draw for the chance to have Reeds Rains Romford sell their home free of charge,…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Welcome to the 25th UK Property Market Stats Show of 2025, your go to weekly ‘TV show’ on the UK property market. This week, I am joined by Verona Frankish, boss lady of Yopa, as we delve into the key property market headlines for the week ending on the 29th June 2025.   ✅ Listings (New Properties on the Market) 36.7k new listings this week (last week 37.7k) YTD still 5% higher than Week 25 of 2024 YTD and 7.6% higher YTD compared to 2017/18/19. (9301k Listings YTD 2025 vs 889k YTD 2024)…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: With savers receiving poor returns from banks and building societies in recent years, thousands of people have continued to turn to residential property as a means of supplementing their income despite unfavourable tax and regulatory changes. Investment in buy-to-let, for instance, has long outperformed most major asset classes, supported by low mortgage borrowing rates, solid demand from tenants and stable yields. But new research from Rathbones, a well-established UK wealth and asset manager, suggests that investing in property as a means of building wealth is outdated with today’s investors generally…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: ONP solicitors processed more than 5,000 remortgage transactions yesterday, with 2,500 completed by 10am alone – the highest single-day total in the firm’s history. The milestone achieved by the specialist conveyancing firm marks a clear sign that the remortgage market is gaining pace. “This is more than a number – it’s a demonstration of what happens when operational planning, smart tech, and brilliant people align,” said Warren Martin, director of operations at ONP Solicitors. “Our teams have long prepared and supported significantly higher volumes, and this performance shows just how far…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: There has been a significant increase in rental prices across the country in recent weeks, according to the latest Goodlord Rental Index. As the market heads into its busiest season, month-on-month rents were up by over 3% in June, including a major spike in the South West. Rental price averages are now 3.2% higher year-on-year. Voids shortened in most regions, highlighting increased demand. The average cost of rent in England rose by 3.2% during June, the highest month-on-month increase recorded by the Index this year. This takes the average rental…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Timothy Douglas Propertymark is calling for greater clarity on key areas of the Renters Rights Bill, along with proposed legislation that would allow for an additional pet deposit now that the UK government has tabled amendments to remove pet insurance requirements. The trade body highlights that there remain long-standing concerns about the capacity and capability of the courts, with the time from claim to hearing continuing to rise. The Bill in its current form may lead to an increase in contested hearings, as landlords that would previously have used Section 21…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Tiger Estates has announced the acquisition of Broomheads Estate Agents, which also operates across the Fylde Coast. This strategic acquisition sees Broomheads’ existing tenancy agreements, records, and management services operate under the Tiger Property Estates & Management Ltd umbrella. Following the acquisition, Tiger now manages approximately 2,000 tenancies across Blackpool, Fleetwood, Lytham St. Annes, Thornton-Cleveleys, Poulton-le-Fylde, Over Wyre, Kirkham, Preston and the wider Lancashire region. Craig Webster, managing director of Tiger Estates, said: “This acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for Tiger Estates. By combining the strengths of both businesses,…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: My Lords, I support Amendment 1 in the names of the noble Lord, Lord Hacking, the noble Baroness, Lady Scott of Bybrook, and the noble Lord, Lord Jamieson. As mentioned previously, I have an interest as a landlord of over two decades, and as a former renter in the private rented sector for some 16 years, I have a combined experience in the PRS of 40 years. The amendment before your Lordships’ House would allow a tenant and landlord to mutually agree a fixed term, as we have just heard,…