Truss mini budget chaos blamed for fall in mortgage lending, as value of new home loans dips and arrears rise March 14, 2023 A slump in mortgage lending during the last quarter of 2022 has been blamed on the aftermath of the Truss mini-budget, as the level of arrears crept up for the first time in nearly two years. Figures released by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) show the value of new mortgage commitments fell 33.5 per cent [...]
Square Mile embraces hybrid working and tourism as post pandemic planning applications soar 30 per cent March 14, 2023 The Square Mile experienced a 30 per cent spike in planning applications during the pandemic, as investor confidence return to the City of London. The Museum of London, and new HQs for the City’s police and law firm Hogan Lovells were among the 56 applications submitted between 2020 and 2022, it has been revealed. The [...]
CANNES-DO SPIRIT: London councils head to MIPIM to pitch for sustainable investment March 13, 2023 London councillors are jetting off to the French Riviera in the search of sustainable investors willing to pump eco-friendly funds into the capital. A flurry of prominent London property figures are set to attend MIPIM, the enormous property conference which takes place in Cannes this week, in a bid to entice major foreign investors to [...]
If you can’t afford your mortgage: What the FCA’s lender guidance means for borrowers March 10, 2023 Successive interest rate rises are increasing mortgage costs for millions of borrowers, according to both regulators, lenders and advisers. One of the main City watchdog shas estimated an extra 356,000 mortgage borrowers could face payment difficulties by the end of June 2024, in addition to those who are already behind. The Financial Conduct Authority has issued final [...]
Housebuilder Berkeley on track to post £600m profits despite Truss’ mini-budget shocks March 10, 2023 Housebuilder Berkeley said it was on track to post a boost in pre-tax profits for the full year despite demand failing to fully recover from the shocks which came in the wake of Liz Truss’s disastrous mini-budget. In a trading update this morning, the FTSE 100 firm said it expects to deliver a pretax profit [...]
High rents are driving young people out of London and depriving businesses of talent, industry warns March 7, 2023 Fears that young talent could be driven out of London due to soaring rents and a lack of affordable accommodation is “bad news” for London’s businesses and the economy, industry bodies warn. Paul Swinney, director of policy and research at Centre for Cities’, told City A.M the capital has already seen a “squeeze” on the [...]
Fall out from mini budget STILL being felt by Foxtons, as estate agent reduces sales pipeline March 7, 2023 Foxtons has said that it is still feeling the effects of the mini budget as the listed estate agent is forced to reduce its sales pipeline for the year. The London-listed group warned the effects will be felt for the “majority” of 2023, after October’s mini budget led to a sharp drop in house buying [...]
London house prices fall but still almost double national average according to Halifax property index March 7, 2023 London house prices have fallen by almost one per cent from January, but property in the capital still costs £240,000 more than the national average. Halifax’s latest house price index for February showed the rate of annual national growth slowed across the UK, with the average property now sitting at £285,476. In the capital however, [...]
Home REIT rent troubles deepen as two major tenants go bankrupt March 6, 2023 Beleaguered social housing investor Home REIT revealed that two of its tenants had gone into administration this morning, effectively shutting off another 18 per cent of its annual rent roll.
Exclusive: Home REIT and property vendor urged tenants to ‘corroborate’ sustainability claims as part of ESG ‘box ticking’ March 6, 2023 Home REIT and a property dealmaker urged the firm’s tenants to “corroborate” dubious sustainability claims as part of an environmental, social and governance (ESG) “box ticking exercise”, City A.M. can reveal. Gareth Jones, a partner at the beleaguered social housing firm’s former investment adviser Alvarium, told property vendor Christopher Downing in August to ensure that [...]