Author: Benjamin

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Antony Roberts appoints new lettings manager for East Sheen office Giselle Geoghegan Richmon0d-based agency, Antony Roberts, has appointed Giselle Geoghegan (née Harper-Smith) as lettings manager in its East Sheen office, as part of its expansion of the lettings team. Geoghegan has over 25 years’ experience in the lettings market – including a number of years as a lettings manager dedicated to the East Sheen area – and has been working in the Antony Roberts’ property management team since early 2024. Amy Reynolds, head of sales at Antony Roberts, commented: “Giselle…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Panorama has gone undercover at one of the UK’s biggest estate agencies to investigate claims it is not acting in the best interests of customers. In tonight’s episode of the BBC of the investigative documentary series, to be aired at 8pm, reporter Lucy Vallance uncovers evidence the company favours buyers taking out mortgages brokered by the company itself, over the interests of other potential buyers. Vallance also speaks to a whistleblower who worked at another big estate agency, where staff were under pressure to sell add-on services…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Sandy Bastin This month’s dispute was presented as a seemingly straightforward claim which covered the power washing of a patio. The dispute  This is quite a common claim area as often this form of external cleaning is neglected or forgotten about by the tenant. However, the tenant had responded to this claim by unusually stating that the landlord was claiming for the removal of clean areas from the patio area. The evidence The patio area wasn’t particularly clean at the start of the tenancy, with a thin layer of algae and dirt present, not a great start for the landlord’s claim. At the end of the tenancy, it…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: New research carried out by Jackson-Stops has revealed that stamp duty relief for downsizers would almost certainly deliver an immediate boost to housing supply and wider economic activity.  The estate agency looked at the impact of the prohibitive property tax on older homeowners and found that over a fifth (22%) of over-55’s never plan to downsize. However, among those who do intend to move, 15% said they would do so within the next year if stamp duty were reduced or removed on their onward purchase – the equivalent of 505,000…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Paul Smith There’s been no shortage of hype about artificial intelligence lately – but cut through the noise and you’ll find AI has something incredibly practical to offer estate agents: the power to understand our customers better and faster than ever before. We know that first impressions count, so imagine walking into a potential seller’s home already knowing how best to build rapport, what kind of language to use, and what their motivations might be. This kind of technology is available right now, so why aren’t more agents using it?…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Danielle Phillips Hortons welcomes Danielle Phillips as a partner Hortons has announced a new partnership with Danielle Phillips, marking a significant step in the brand’s growth, as she leads the expansion into Essex. The self-employed brokerage model’s launch in Essex comes on the back of recent expansions into Sussex, Surrey, and London – as the company eyes growth nationwide. According to Hortons, more new partners are currently set to join the company, with further growth planned across London, Essex, and into the North. “We’re really excited to welcome Danielle as…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Mike day In the ever-shifting landscape of business, personal resilience isn’t just a desirable trait – it’s a strategic necessity. While technical skills, market knowledge, and innovative thinking are all critical, resilience is what allows leaders and professionals to adapt, persevere, and thrive when faced with uncertainty, rejection, or failure. Without resilience, individuals and businesses usually fail and the cost in terms of health and wealth can be significant. Why resilience matters in business + Navigating Uncertainty: Market conditions can change quickly – whether due to economic downturns, technological disruption, or policy…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: A new petition calling for flexible stamp duty payment options, allowing buyers to spread costs over two-five years rather than the existing 14-day deadline after completion has been launched. The petition addresses three critical issues affecting the housing market: the need for sustainable solutions over temporary measures, buyer affordability challenges, and barriers to housing market mobility. David Powell, CEO of Andrews Property Group, who created the petition, said: “We believe this flexible payment approach offers a sustainable, long-term solution that benefits buyers, maintains government revenue, and creates a more stable…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: GetAgent Exchange, a new platform enabling agents to monetise out-of-area applicant leads, has integrated with Alto. This latest partnership brings GetAgent Exchange to more than 6,000 agents using Alto as their CRM. The integration enables Alto customers to capitalise on their out-of-area leads in a smarter and automated way through GetAgent’s 7,500 strong agent referral network across the UK. By integrating with GetAgent Exchange, Alto agents can now access a number of benefits that are not available via traditional referral tools, including automatically identifying out-of-area applicant leads for Alto agents.…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Non-doms are leaving the UK but selling their London home, for some, is clearly a step too far, according to Knight Frank. It would appear that some foreign investors are thinking beyond the five-year lifetime of this Parliament. “Under the old rules, non-doms could live in the UK without paying tax on overseas wealth,” said Knight Frank’s Tom Bill. “New regulations are tighter and come with a four-year time limit, which means countries like Italy, which has an annual flat tax that ringfences overseas assets, have become more attractive. Knight…