Lockdown savings push UK house price growth boom December 8, 2021 The UK and US housing markets have surged past other economies’ thanks to buyers being able to amass savings in lockdown. Prices increased by 9.4 per cent on average across the 56 countries and territories tracked by the index, according to Knight Frank’s global house prices index. The majority (96 per cent) of the 56 [...]
End of an era: Taylor Wimpey CEO Pete Redfern stepping down after 14 years December 8, 2021 Taylor Wimpey said this morning that Pete Redfern will step down as CEO, after more than 14 years in the role. The company said he will leave the business once a successor has been appointed ” to ensure a smooth and orderly transition.” The board said it will consider both internal and external candidates. Pete [...]
Growth of property values hits 15-year high: House prices rise for fifth straight month amid 8.2 per cent annual jump December 7, 2021 Average UK property price hits a new record high of £272,992 last month, rising in November by 8.2 per cent compared to the same month a year earlier, according to Halifx, publishing its monthly index this morning. Prices increased by 1 per cent month-on-month in November while quarterly house price inflation is now at its [...]
West End landlord points to new signings as proof of post-lockdown recovery December 6, 2021 West End landlord Shaftesbury has signed over 60 new retail and leisure brands since October 2020, in a vote of confidence for central London’s post-lockdown recovery Bosses said this interest highlights the speed of the West End’s recovery following the lifting of pandemic restrictions. Some 33 retail brands including American Eagle and Aerie have set [...]
Prime central London price growth to surpass rest of UK as ‘US executives back in town’ December 6, 2021 Prime central London is forecast to surpass the rest of the country on price increases next year, as buyers look once more to Kensington and Chelsea. Property sales in lucrative parts of the city will rebound after being hit hard by the pandemic, as international buyers return, according to estate agent Winkworth. Winkworth chief executive [...]
South Bank flat owners to take on Tate in Supreme Court hearing December 6, 2021 Flat owners near the Tate Modern will take on the gallery at the Supreme Court this week, in a fresh endeavour to block an alleged privacy intrusion. Some residents of the Neo Bankside development are attempting to appeal previous legal rulings, in a bid to stop “hundreds of thousands of people” from peering into and [...]
Warnings housing market may ‘enter bubble territory’ if lending checks eased December 6, 2021 The Bank of England is readying itself to relax mortgage lending rules despite fears it will trigger a housing bubble, it has been reported. The Telegraph reported that policymakers are looking at relaxing affordability checks for borrowers. The rule changes are being mulled amid a review of market restrictions this will finish shortly. Officials are [...]
First time buyers ‘still getting raw deal’ with £449k average price for London home December 2, 2021 First time buyers paid an average price of £449,000 for a London home, fresh statistics outlined today. Third quarter average prices were down from £478,000 in the second quarter as the market cooled off from pandemic highs, according to the Office for National Statistics. The average advance in the last quarter was £309,339 while the [...]
Generation rent: Most Brits believe housing crisis will not be resolved in their lifetime December 2, 2021 Less than one in six UK adults believe the housing crisis will be resolved in their lifetime, with confidence in the Government equally low, while more than half of all Brits see the housing crisis as one of the country’s most pressing societal issues at present, according to new research that was exclusively shared with [...]
Government’s green homes grant dubbed ‘slam dunk fail’ December 1, 2021 The government’s green homes grant voucher scheme has been slammed as a failure after upgrading only 7.9 per cent of homes envisaged. The scheme, which offers to cover up to two-thirds of the cost of home improvements with a government contribution cap of £5,000, upgraded just 47,500 homes. It had envisioned upgrades to 600,000 homes. [...]