UK housing: Remove the mavericks and stabilise the property market October 13, 2015 The wave of financial services regulations introduced over the last five years has caused deep changes in the way we invest in various asset classes, from equities and fixed interest securities to cash – yet the property market seems to have escaped the regulation firing line. According to the Investment Property Databank (IPD), residential property has been [...]
Britain’s cities compared: How long does it take to sell your house? October 25, 2016 While London may be an extremely popular choice for Britons to live, for anyone looking to sell their property quick-sharp, it is one of the worst. On average London is the fourth slowest city to shift a property in the UK according to a survey by Post Office Money. Furthermore, it takes almost double the length of time [...]
Winning the battle for completely free trade post-Brexit will vastly increase UK prosperity February 16, 2017 Economists for Free Trade (of which I’m part) is launching today to make the case for the UK to run completely free trade once we leave the EU in 2019. Our aim is simple. We want Britain to lead the world on free trade. Our group has been formed to fight the battle which needs [...]
Generation Rent: London is home to nearly a fifth of the UK’s rental accommodation December 2, 2016 London is now home to almost a fifth of the rental properties in the UK, but it accounts for nearly half of the total value of these households. There are 1,048,000 houses in the private rented sector in London, almost a fifth of the 5.3m in Britain as a whole. But the value of this [...]
These are the key trends in retail in 2017 – and who will benefit from them January 16, 2017 The Christmas reporting season isn't over yet – the market is awaiting updates from Dixons Carphone and WH Smith – but the figures that have been reported so far have indicated some of the key retail trends investors should watch out for this year. Read more: Brexit vote boosts Hugo Boss The outlook for the UK consumer [...]
Theresa May vows to turn Britain into “a great global trading nation” January 17, 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May will today vow to make Britain “a great global trading nation” in an eagerly-awaited landmark speech on Brexit. Speaking at Lancaster House later today, May will set out 12 key negotiating objectives for the UK, underpinned by promises to provide certainty and clarity, and to create a stronger, fairer and more [...]
Houses priced below £100,000 are officially extinct in London October 17, 2016 Houses priced below £100,000 are now an extinct species in London. According to research by Jackson-Stops and Staff, all London homes worth less than £120,000 will disappear this year, with properties worth less than £150,000 set to vanish by 2020. Read more: This is how sterling's unstoppable slide will affect UK house prices Ninety-three per [...]
Politics dictates a quick-fire Brexit – but a compromise is more likely than you think January 26, 2017 Let's show some ambition and optimism! There really is a deal to be done with the EU27 that works in our mutual interest as we head for the exit. Not that this will be easy. I have been struck by the unity of purpose expressed at the highest level by our continental counterparties. Michel Barnier, [...]
Sterling’s slide spurs international buyers into looking for a London home November 18, 2016 The slide in sterling since the Brexit vote has encouraged foreign buyers into the London property market. The proportion of international buyers increased six per cent in the third quarter, as compared to the second, according to research from Fionnuala Earley, residential research director at Hamptons International. The proportion of international buyers now sits at 29 [...]
Theresa May wants a red, white and blue Brexit, but her opponents say that’s “jingoistic claptrap” December 6, 2016 Prime Minister Theresa May has vowed to deliver a "red, white and blue" Brexit for the UK, refusing to comment on whether that will include continued contributions to EU budgets, but her opponents say the comments are "jingoistic claptrap". Speaking from Bahrain, May was asked about comments from some of her ministers, which has suggested the [...]