Foxtons upbeat about second half after pre-election jitters slowed property sales July 29, 2015 Blood on the residential street? Revenues at London estate agent Foxtons have dropped in the first half, as property sales slide. The figures: Group revenue at the agency fell 2.3 per cent to £71.1m for the six months to 30 June, while property sales fell 10.9 per cent against 2014, when the market was operating [...]
Architects of the future: How young designers are taking on space constraints, the cost of living and technology April 30, 2015 As property prices continue to rise and land available for development dwindles, architects and designers are tasked with devising ways to recommission and re-purpose spaces to make them suitable for modern life. Five architects and designers under 40 explain how they are taking inspiration from these challenges, and how they see their industry changing in [...]
This £45m mansion could have just netted the government £5.3m in stamp duty December 18, 2014 A 19-bedroom Mayfair mansion that's just been sold with an asking price of £45m may have just made the government £5.3m. Seven Balfour Place from the outside The 13,000 sq ft mansion, on Balfour Place, also comes with seven reception rooms, six kitchens, 17 bathrooms and a roof terrace. The company in charge of selling [...]
Night Tube series: Top seven places to buy a house in London along the Jubilee Line September 4, 2015 With the Night Tube delayed for the time being, now is the best time to consider buying in an area that’s set to benefit from it. Research shows that when new transport links come in, house prices only rise once the trains start running so it’s worth taking a punt before the asking prices shoot [...]
Property firms Barratt Developments and Taylor Wimpey line up to join FTSE 100 as IMI and Petrofac drop out December 1, 2014 Two companies are on track to be promoted to the FTSE 100 this week as the UK’s main stock indices undergo a reshuffle. Residential property development companies Barratt Developments and Taylor Wimpey are both in line to be moved on to the FTSE 100 index from their current position on the FTSE 250. The FTSE 100 [...]
July Budget 2015 – changes to mortgage tax relief: Here’s what to do now if you’re a buy-to-let landlord July 8, 2015 A major shake-up of the buy-to-let housing market could be about to take place, after chancellor George Osborne announced plans to change mortgage tax relief for landlords. In his Budget speech today, the chancellor said the relief will be cut to 20 per cent, from 40 to 45 per cent, in an effort to "level [...]
As new pension rules take hold, these seven cities are worth a look if you’re planning on investing in global property June 12, 2015 UK pensioners and investors could cash in by buying property in cities such as Miami and Berlin, according to research from IP Global. The company identified seven cities a being ripe for investment, including far-flung locations such as Miami and Melbourne. The government’s pension reforms have freed up savings, and many pensioners have already used [...]
City Moves for 19 December 2014 | Who’s switching jobs December 18, 2014 FTI Consulting Clare Hartnell has been appointed senior managing director in the business advisory firm’s European tax advisory practice, focusing on real estate tax. She was most recently global leader of Grant Thornton’s real estate and construction practice, and has also worked at BDO. EY Monica Dimitracopoulos has been appointed principal and global knowledge transformation [...]
Government hires Lazard and Savills as multi-million pound sale of 36.5 per cent stake in King’s Cross Central kicks off August 17, 2015 The government has kicked off the sale of its 67-acre site around London's King's Cross station. Investment group Lazard and high end estate agent Savills are handling the deal. Interested parties have been urged to contact Lazard by 7 September. The decision to sell the government’s 36.5 per cent stake in King’s Cross [...]
The ultimate connection: Hyperoptic’s Dana Tobak on recalcitrant councils and politics in taxis October 18, 2015 The thing some have been slow to come to terms with is that BT is not the only solution," says Dana Tobak, when I ask her what the UK is doing wrong when it comes to internet provision. Tobak co-founded fibre-based internet service provider Hyperoptic in 2011. She and business partner Boris Ivanovic, who she [...]