First-time buyers secured more mortgages in June than at any other point since August 2007 August 10, 2016 First-time buyers boosted mortgage lending in June as tax changes designed to deter buy to let landlords took effect. June mortgage lending was up by 29 per cent month-on-month, according to lending data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). Mortgage lending was up by 12 per cent compared to the same month last year. First-time [...]
Carrefour jumps on blockchain bandwagon in effort to track food supplies October 8, 2018 Europe’s biggest retailer is to roll out blockchain technology to trace the supply of goods such as chickens and eggs. Carrefour is planning to gradually deploy a blockchain ledger across its fresh product lines over the next several years, in a bid to bolster the security of its global supply chains. The French retailer is employing IBM, [...]
UK house prices: Property price growth has fallen for the third month in a row December 12, 2017 House price growth in the UK dropped again in October, according to official figures, the third month in the row it has fallen. Property prices rose 4.5 per cent in the year to October, down from 4.8 per cent in September and 5.1 per cent in August. On a monthly basis, prices fell 0.5 per [...]
Millennial mortgages are here: Automatic switching is go at proptech startup Trussle December 19, 2017 The era of millennial mortgages has arrived. A couple from London are the first homeowners to switch their mortgage automatically and entirely online, without the hassle of searching new deals and lengthy paperwork, thanks to an innovative property technology startup. Trussle's switching alert lets users know when they should remortgage to find a better deal. [...]
Autumn Budget 2017: Reactions to the chancellor’s statement from business groups and experts November 22, 2017 THE BUSINESS GROUP Carolyn Fairbairn, Confederation of British Industry (CBI) director-general “Against a sombre economic backdrop, the Chancellor today gripped the steering wheel on the UK economy. This is a budget that balances support for people on squeezed incomes with vital action to help grow the UK out of austerity. But delivery is everything.” She [...]
UK car production falls for third consecutive month in August September 27, 2018 UK car production declined for a third consecutive month in August by 13 per cent, due to model changes and maintenance shutdowns, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has said. Around 89,254 cars were produced last month. Domestic production fell by nearly 40 per cent while exports were down by 3.8 per cent to [...]
Focus On Deptford: We delve into the housing market in the Help to Buy capital of London January 26, 2018 Since Help to Buy, the government’s equity scheme to help first time buyers on to the property ladder, was announced in 2013, it’s created thousands of new home owners. And nowhere has benefited more from this than Deptford. This once run down part of south east London is now the Help to Buy capital of [...]
DEBATE: Should Philip Hammond remain chancellor of the exchequer? November 23, 2017 Should Philip Hammond remain chancellor of the exchequer? James Baker, who sits on the board of the Tory Reform Group, says YES. The chancellor’s vision of Britain will resonate with voters across the UK, from small business owners to first-time buyers, many of whom will now be better off as a result of his measures. [...]
Failure to act on green belt a “big disappointment”, say Tory think tank Bright Blue November 23, 2017 The “big disappointment” from yesterday’s Budget was a failure to shake up green belt restrictions, according to a former minister and a leading Conservative think tank. While backing Philip Hammond’s stamp duty proposal, Bright Blue senior research fellow Sam Hall said the team had hoped reforms had been blocked because “the Prime Minister and others” [...]
New Homes: Our pick of the new builds and conversions going on sale in London this weekend November 30, 2018 New developments on the market this week Fitzroy Gate, Old Isleworth From £1.4m Why shouldn’t Christmas shopping include browsing for a new home? There’s a festive-themed open day tomorrow from 10am to 4pm at this seven acre development in south west London. There are three show homes to peruse and 39 Victorian and neo-Georgian style [...]