An arid August looks set to lie ahead for agents, with the latest data – from a variety of sources – showing prices, transaction levels and mortgage lending all heading south.
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Bank of England governor Mervyn King believes it will be long time before the economic outlook will be considered “normal”. >> More
Which? believes Nationwide may be in breach of consumer regulations and its contractual terms over its plan to increase mortgage rates for some of its customers by 1.5 per cent.
Business tycoon, reality TV star and, not to mention, multi millionaire Lord Sugar has put three of his Mayfair properties on the market. >> More
A London born property tycoon, who bought the Great Britain island in Dubai’s controversial archipelago ‘The World’, has been jailed for seven years after signing a bounced cheque of £50 million to complete property deals. >> More
Base rate will remain at a record-low 0.5 per cent until the end of 2013, according to Ernst & Young. >> More
The latest Rightmove Consumer Confidence Survey finds that the proportion of people that expect prices to be higher one year from now has dropped from 50% to 41% since last quarter. >> More
Seventy-two per cent of small firms feel positive about their current trading conditions but business output is in decline. >> More
House prices fall as supply outstrips demand, according to the latest report from Hometrack. >> More
Business Secretary Vince Cable is set to unveil a number of proposals to boost lending to small businesses, including linking bank bonuses to lending. >> More
Repossession rates could hit 175,000 a year by 2012, according to a report commissioned under the Labour government which was kept secret and never published. >> More
A real estate recovery is still some way off across the Northern Emirates with apartment rentals flat, prices down by up to 8% and villa prices down on average by 12%, the latest figures show... >> More
Yorkshire and Clydesdale Bank are nearing completion of a mailing to approximately 18,000 variable rate mortgage customers apologising for an error in how their monthly payments were calculated, resulting in an underpayment occurring. >> More
Scottish lettings portal Citylets has reported that rent levels across the country are continuing to rise and flats are being let out up to a week quicker than last year, as more tenants shun the property sales market in favour of renting a home instead. >> More
Andrew Sentance, member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, has once again voted to raise interest rates. >> More
A housing market recovery may lead to an increase in the number of repossessions as lenders enforce suspended possession orders after previous leniency, according to the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS). >> More
Record demand saw 50,480 new tenants register for rental accommodation in the second quarter of the year. >> More
New sellers now outnumber new mortgage approvals by 5.2, Rightmove reported this morning, while the number of unsold number of properties sticking on agents’ books has jumped by almost 25% in the first six months of this year. >> More
Doomsters Capital Economics made big headlines at the weekend with their forecast that house prices will crash more than 20% over the next two years as a result of Government spending cuts, tax rises and a surge in unemployment. >> More
A housing market recovery may lead to an increase in the number of repossessions according to the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS). >> More
Rightmove House Price Index for July 2010 forecasts that sellers' average first half price gains of 7% will disappear by year-end >> More
A housing market recovery may lead to an increase in the number of repossessions as lenders enforce suspended possession orders after previous leniency, according to the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS). >> More
The dearth in available rental properties is worsening, according to research out today from the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA). >> More
Constraints in supply bolstered both rents and yields in June, according to the latest Buy-to-Let Index from LSL Property Services plc. >> More
Property demand rose in June as housing stock levels decreased for the first time in four months. >> More
Andrew Sentence has explained why he voted for an interest rate rise at the MPC meeting in June.. >> More
With the housing market still in a state of flux and predictions that house prices may fall further, many homeowners who are looking to move may consider renting their property out instead of selling. >> More
The number of house-hunters registered per branch increased on average from 265 in May to 279 in June, reveals National Association of Estate Agents housing market report June 2010 >> More
Cuts in public spending gives the UK a one in three chance of tipping back into recession, says Legal & General. >> More
Four out of ten landlords admit they would not be able to cover mortgage payments on their properties if interest rates increased by 2%. >> More
Capital Economics is forecasting a double dip in the housing market with prices expected to fall in the next three months. >> More
The London market has seen the most dramatic turnaround, with average house prices today at new highs and above the levels seen in November 2007, according to property website Zoopla.co.uk. . >> More
Consumer confidence fell for the second month running in June and now stands at 63 points – a similar level to 12 months ago, and 21 points below February's interim peak, reveals the latest Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index. >> More
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) chairman, Lord Turner, has said there needs to be a fundamental debate in this country. >> More
Asking prices across England and Wales were cut by just over £1.1bn last month. >> More
PricewaterhouseCoopers has warned there is an even chance that house prices will still not have recovered by 2020 and that bricks and mortar are no longer a solid investment.
The Financial Services Authority has released its consultation paper on responsible lending today, which puts an end to self-cert and fast-track mortgages by requiring lenders to verify borrowers’ income in all cases. >> More
CPI annual inflation – the Government's target measure – was 3.2 per cent in June, down from 3.4 per cent in May. >> More
In its responsible lending paper today the Financial Services Authority says it plans to consult on any rule changes to interest-only mortgages later in the year, but a valid repayment vehicle should not be house price inflation or downsizing to a smaller property.
York is the most affordable place to share a flat, according to Easyroommate.co.uk.
There are now 43% more houses on the market than at the start of the year – but asking prices are still not coming down. >> More
A lettings industry consultant has called for the existing law on tenancy deposit protection to be revoked, with totally new measures put in place. >> More
Transaction levels are still 22% lower than the peak of 2007, London agents Douglas & Gordon have reported. >> More
Auction House – a network of local auction houses run with local estate agents who take out licences – has published its results for the first six months of 2010, announcing total sales of over £42.7m. >> More
Sales volumes up – prices down: that appears to be the story for June.. >> More
Dr Peter Williams believes the outlook for the housing market is "challenging" with many negatives. >> More
The deadline is approaching for Brits who sold a property in Spain between 1997 and 2006 to reclaim Capital Gains Tax (CGT) that they were illegally charged by the Spanish government on the sale of their property. >> More
Monthly estimates of GDP from The National Institute of Economic and Social Research suggest that output grew by 0.7% in the three months ending in June after 0.9% in the three months ending in May. >> More
House prices have dropped 0.6% in June but are still 6.3% up on last year, according to the Halifax House Price Index. >> More
A lawsuit has been filed in the US claiming that Lloyds Banking Group convinced property tycoon Paul Kemsley, best known for appearing on television show The Apprentice as one of Sir Alan Sugar’s guest interrogators, into transferring control of his property empire to the bank in exchange for him being released from a £23.1 million personal loan. >> More
Manchester United and former England football star Gary Neville is making headlines again after announcing plans to sell a group of exclusive properties on his Harwood estate.
The figures reveal that there are currently 131,996 residential homes worth over £1 million in Britain, almost a five-fold increase on the 26,776 that existed in the year 2000. >> More
Commenting, Kelvin Davidson, property economist at Capital Economics, said: “With the economy in recession for much of 2009, the latest data from Strutt & Parker and IPD suggest that landlords fared reasonably well last year, retaining a high proportion of tenants and in many cases even raising rents at lease expiry. >> More
Like the Lettings market which is currently suffering from a shortage of stock, the mortgage market demand is exceeding supply but the lending market is moving again slowly and banks are beginning to make money from it, say waellis. >> More
According to the latest Principality Building Society Saving and Spending Survey, over two-fifths (44 per cent) of people living in Wales thought that interest rates were likely to rise this year. >> More
The abolition of HIPs and the improving supply of property on the market helped to boost activity in June with the number of residential property valuations conducted in June 20% higher than in May, according to Connells. >> More
Only four firms are currently authorised by the FSA to conduct sale and rent back (SRB) activities, BestAdvice.net can reveal. >> More
The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) and the National Union of Students (NUS) have warned new students about unscrupulous landlords. >> More
Housing minister Grant Shapps has made his most important speech to date, to social housing practitioners at the annual conference of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
The climate of low house sale transactions is continuing, the Land Registry has reported. Separately, this morning Nationwide reported an influx of properties on to the market as a result of the abolition of HIPs, and said that prices in June went up by just 0.1%, to reach an average of £170,111. >> More
The month of June presented a picture of broad stability for the housing market, say Nationwide. >> More
First-time buyers made up the lowest proportion of house purchase loans since September 2007, the latest data from the CML regulated mortgage survey showed. >> More
Ultra-low interest rates are causing dangerous side-effects that could endanger the economic recovery, the Bank of International Settlements has warned. >> More
Six former solicitors, a surveyor and a property developer have denied taking part in a commercial mortgage fraud worth a staggering £50 million. >> More
Since March supply has grown three times faster than demand, according to the latest Hometrack survey. >> More
Juliet has a real Cinderella story to tell. The breakdown of her marriage in 1999 saw her lose everything overnight. >> More
Demand from buyers is like the weather: drying up. >> More
The FSA has set out the rules to protect vulnerable customers in arrears on their mortgages or when entering sale and rent back (SRB) agreements. >> More
The Bank of England is today publishing its bi-annual Financial Stability Report. The Report is part of the delivery of the Bank's strategy for its financial stability work, as set out in the Bank's Annual Report 2010. >> More
Debt charity the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS), has seen a "dramatic" rise in calls from people in rented accommodation seeking help with eviction. >> More
A High Court judge has criticised the Prince of Wales for an "unexpected and unwelcome" intervention in a planned £1bn complex at Chelsea Barracks. >> More
FSA is demanding tough standards from firms dealing with arrears and sale and rent back customers. >> More
More than 25 MPs have so far signed an Early Day Motion calling for the private rented sector to be fully regulated. >> More
The number of landlords planning to buy residential property for investment purposes has nearly doubled, according to Paragon Mortgages.. >> More
Following the emergency budget today, the centre for economics and business research predicts that interest rates will remain stable at 0.5% until the end of 2012. >> More
The number of landlords looking to buy residential property for investment purposes has nearly doubled, according to buy-to-let lender Paragon Mortgages. >> More
The director of a property investment services company has agreed to abide by a company directors disqualification undertaking for a period of seven and a half years following an investigation by The Insolvency Service. >> More
The average rent in the UK rose by 0.5% to £667 per month in May, according to the latest Buy-to-Let Index from LSL Property Services plc. >> More
Bank of England governor Mervyn King has revealed that any withdrawal from the £200bn quantitative easing programme will only come after interest rate hikes. >> More
Poor underwriting skills and a “rush to lend” have been blamed for a series of mortgage frauds involving millions of pounds. >> More
For those painfully repaying their graduate loans and credit cards each month, wondering where exactly those thousands of pounds went – though one brief glance at their gut would probably give a good indicator – Sean O’Connor’s story may well make painful reading.
The coalition government has announced a consultation as it seems to end blanket Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) planning regulations in favour of a supposedly more targeted approach. >> More
Over-valuing of properties for sale appears to be widespread, with the number of homes on the market reduced in price last month at a high. >> More
Forty six per cent of mortgage holders said they would be worried about their finances if their mortgage repayments increased as a consequence of base rate rises. >> More
A rise in potential bankrupts trying to put their assets out of the reach of their creditors has led to a warning from The Insolvency Service. >> More
Here we go again: our old friend the monthly RICS report is out, plumbing such depths of mystification that it makes the off-side rule look simple. >> More
Lenders should take more responsibility in advising borrowers when selling buy-to-let mortgages. David Lawrenson explains why >> More
UK inflation fell faster than expected in May, helped by lower food prices and slower rises in petrol and alcohol. >> More
UK house prices were 10.1 per cent higher than in April 2009 and 0.4 per cent higher than in March 2010, according to the latest House Price Index from the Department of Communities and Local Government >> More
Leaders, a UK letting specialist, are confident that buy-to-let will remain a popular investment option, even if the rate of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rises. >> More
A new property website has launched called let4students.com. It focuses on student accommodation, and allows agents and landlords to list properties for free.>> More
The number of properties for sale in the UK has reached the highest level since January 2008. >> More
The proportion of buy-to-let remortgage business being handled by brokers fell to its lowest level for five years during the first quarter of 2010, research from Paragon Mortgages has revealed. >> More
Kensington research highlights growing importance of private rental property >> More
A quarterly survey of 500 private landlords has shown that rental arrears have reached their highest level since the research began in 2006. >> More
An increasing number of chartered surveyors are predicting a rise in distressed properties coming on to the market in the UK. >> More
The Revenue is scrutinising the income tax paid by landlords and owners of buy-to-let properties, according to Chris Maddock, head of private clients at Vantis. “Capital Gains Tax is not the only tax that all landlords need to be very wary of,” he said. “HM Revenue & Customs has been taking a very close look at landlords with buy-to-let properties and their payment of income tax. >> More
Ireland and the US are set to see the biggest rise in distressed sales, according to the latest RICS research published today... >> More
A lack of supply is pushing rents higher signalling a revival in the lettings market, says the latest RICS Lettings Survey published today. >> More
Paragon Mortgages’ Trends research shows that the average value of landlords’ portfolios rose by 6.1% during the first quarter of 2010 to £1.52 million. >> More
The Government is facing calls for official searches to be made compulsory in all home-buying transactions. >> More
The new chairman of The Dispute Service – which runs the Tenancy Deposit Scheme – is to call on the Government to change the rules under which the deposit schemes have to work. >> More
Six in ten tenants would like to buy, but cannot afford to, Rightmove reported this morning. The movement from the rental sector on to the housing ladder is at a virtual standstill.
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Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Housing Minister Grant Shapps today announced that with immediate effect, they are suspending the requirement for homeowners to provide a Home Information Pack when selling their homes. >> More
The buy-to-let (BTL) market has started its fight back with more products and higher LTVs. >> More
Landlord optimism is at its highest since 2007 but remains fragile, according to the NLA’s newly launched Landlords’ Optimism Index. >> More
A law firm is advising landlords to get the correct legal advice to avoid the pitfalls of unlawful eviction. >> More
The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously in favour of maintaining the bank rate at 0.5% and keeping so-called quantitative easing at £200 billion. >> More
Landlord optimism is at its highest since 2007 but remains fragile, according to the NLA Landlords’ Optimism Index, published for the first time today. >> More
In what is set to be a bitterly expensive lawsuit, prolific property developers, the Candy brothers, are taking the Qatari royal family to court this week over a failed multibillion-pound property deal, of which the Prince of Wales is said to be at the centre of. >> More
A copycat conman who defrauded Manchester landlords out of thousands of pounds has been jailed for three years and 11 months. >> More
The recovery in Scotland’s labour market continued in April, which saw appointments and wage inflation rise, according to the latest Bank of Scotland Report on Jobs. >> More
Total household wealth has increased more than five times in real terms in the past 50 years according to the Halifax. >> More
The number of homes sold in April has fallen as figures show that house prices have risen every month for the last year. >> More
Landlords are being urged to seek tax advice before making any decisions about selling their property portfolios after the Capital Gains Tax change was announced. >> More
The average rent in the UK rose by 0.6% to £663 per month in April, 2.2% higher than a year ago, according to the latest Buy-to-Let Index from LSL Property Services. >> More
The ConLib coalition has said it plans to raise capital gains tax in line with rates paid on income tax, meaning a potential headline rate of 40% or even 50%. >> More
Buy-to-let activity in the first quarter settled back to former levels, following a modest upturn in house purchase by investors at the end of last year triggered by the stamp duty holiday, the Council of Mortgage Lenders has stated. >> More
Today's news of dramatic increases to the rate of capital gains tax (CGT) sets the tone for the future according to Lisa Macpherson, national director of taxation at PKF Accountants & business advisers. >> More
The British Property Federation has called for target rollover relief from the doubling of capital gains tax and also for the formation of residential real estate investment trusts (Reits), which were introduced for commercial property in 2007. >> More
Data published today by the CML shows that buy-to-let activity in the first three months of this year settled back to former levels >> More
The number of mortgages in arrears and the number of repossessions both fell in the first quarter of 2010, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders. >> More
The Bank of England Governor has reported that he expects inflation to fall in the coming years, removing what little pressure there has been to increase interest rates. >> More
Mortgage lending could remain subdued for up to five years as lenders grapple with a £300bn funding gap, a Council of Mortgage Lenders adviser has warned. >> More
Potential investors in the buy-to-let market should regard the uncertainty caused by the hung parliament as a purchasing window. >> More
Gross buy-to-let lending will grow three-fold in the next four years to reach £25.6bn, according to market analyst Datamonitor. >> More
In the latest monthly survey carried out by the Worldwide Property Group a huge 88% of respondents named property as the best option for investment. >> More
Buy-to-let investors who are facing huge losses say a panel surveyor used by their Government-backed lenders over-valued their properties - in some cases by almost double. >> More
Figures for January through to March have shown that, by a fairly substantial amount, the Southern region have commanded the highest average rents so far in 2010 with £916.52 for London and the South East, ... >> More
Buy-to-let landlords need to ensure they are making the most of their allowable tax breaks, buy-to-let mortgage specialist Paragon Mortgages has warned. >> More
New figures from the National Landlords Association, supplied by research consultants BDRC Continental, show that void periods for rental property remain high but have stabilised. >> More
Additional taxes increases and spending cuts worth 1% of GDP each are needed to put the public finances on a better long-term footing according to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR). >> More
The growth in UK house sales stagnated in April as we approach the General Election, according to The latest Agency Express Property Activity Index. >> More
The commercial property upswing continued in to 2010 with Latin America and Asia leading the way, according to the RICS Global Property Survey.>> More
The chances of a rise in British interest rates have grown significantly for the first time in 2010. >> More
Annual house price inflation has reached 10.5 per cent, although prices still remain 10 per cent below their October 2007 peak, according to the latest index from Nationwide. >> More
New figures from the National Landlords Association, supplied by research consultants BDRC Continental, show that void periods for rental property remain high but have stabilised. >> More
Void periods for rental property remain high but have stabilised, according to new figures from the National Landlords Association. >> More
London had the most repossessions in the first three months of 2010, with 166% more than the second highest city, Birmingham. The capital has been worst hit by the after-effects of the recession and many homes continue to be repossessed as financially challenged home-owners are unable to keep up mortgage repayments. >> More
Lenders have pushed down rates from their peak last August with the average two-year fixed rate deal now at its lowest level for a year. >> More
28% of landlords polled by LSL Property Services (which owns the UK’s largest lettings agent network, including national chains Your Move and Reeds Rains) intended to expand their portfolio in the next year. Landlords with five or more properties, are more likely increase their involvement in the private rental sector ... >> More
This is according to the RICS UK Housing Market survey for March, published today.
According to new research, Number 10 Downing Street has plummeted in value since Gordon Brown moved in. >> More
This is according to RICS' latest UK Commercial Property Survey >> More
Although some members of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) raised concerns over rising inflation, they voted unanimously to maintain the interest rate at 0.5%, according to the minutes of the meeting held on April 7 and 8.>> More
The number of people unemployed in the UK has gone up by 43,000 between December and February to reach 2.5 million, data from the Office for National Statistics reveals.
Mortgage lending jumped to £11.5bn in March, a 24% rise from February the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said. >> More
The UK economy will remain stuck in the doldrums this year with growth of 1% or less predicted in 2010, a leading forecaster has warned. >> More
The number of people selling their homes rose in March to its highest level in six months, according to the National Association of Estate Agents. >> More
Total annual returns for residential property landlords hit a high of 13.3% in March, according to LSL Property Services. >> More
There is not enough rental property to meet consumer demand in the UK - and the situation is worsening, according to ARLA. >> More
This is according to the RICS UK Housing Market survey for March, published today.
A business that markets overseas homes has been slammed by MPs after scores of Britons have complained of being defrauded >> More
The property research website Mouseprice has unveiled the cheapest street in the UK, with the somewhat dubious accolade going to Fernhill in the Mid Glamorgan village of Mountain Ash. >> More
A property tycoon millionaire, known as the “neighbour from hell”, is fighting a battle to have her nationwide Asbo lifted. >> More
The Financial Services Authority has today fined David Baker, former deputy chief executive of Northern Rock Plc, £504,000 and Richard Barclay, former managing credit director at NR, £140,000. >> More
New research shows that 61% of UK landlords feel more confident about the buy-to-let sector for April 2010, compared to March. >> More
Next month’s General Election holds the key to future interest rate changes, according to John Charcol’s Ray Boulger. >> More
The average price of all residential property transactions completed in March was 1.1% higher than in February. >> More
The 32% increase in identity fraud recorded by members of CIFAS, the UK's Fraud Prevention Service, during 2009, contains an even more alarming increase in current address fraud. >> More
Despite low interest rates and signs of stability, 2010 will continue to pose some challenges for private landlords. >> More
The latest Lloyds TSB Scotland Business Monitor shows the tentative recovery from recession stalling in the Scottish economy. >> More
The Property Ombudsman, whose purpose is to rule on complaints which have not been satisfactorily dealt with by estate agents, has said that letting agents should be regulated to protect both tenants and landlords. >> More
The Government has now published the Statutory Instrument which will lift the rent threshold for Assured Shorthold Tenancies from £25,000 to £100,000 a year.
Rents have risen for the second consecutive month, while the supply of rental properties tumbled by 4.2%, says the latest FindaProperty lettings survey. >> More
House prices fell 0.3% in February, according to the Land Registry’s latest figures >> More
Tough times face the housing market with mortgage rationing set to continue, said Michael Coogan, director general of the Council of Mortgage Lenders. >> More
Britain’s most famous landlords are selling their gigantic property portfolio at the rate of about two homes a week, claiming that the sector is no longer viable. >> More
Wednesday’s Budget should be firmly focused on housing and changing the tax system to encourage further investment in private residential accommodation, according to the NLA.
FCC Paragon, part of the Paragon Advance group of companies, has launched an alternative to the government backed tenancy deposit protection schemes . >> More
The price paid by the typical first-time buyer in January was 8.9% higher than in January 2009, compared with a 5.2% rise for house owners who changed their home. >> More
Copies of contracts made between the Government and the tenancy deposit schemes are to be kept secret. . >> More
Government initiatives that saved UK banks and building societies from financial meltdown may well come back to haunt us and it will be interesting to see if Alistair Darling will have the balls to address the issue in his budget on March 24. >> More
The supply of new properties coming on to the rental market has fallen for the second consecutive quarter possibly signalling an end to the downward trend in rents since the autumn of 2008, according to the RICS Lettings Survey. >> More
Britain' house hunters continued to brace the bad weather conditions in search of a new home in February, according to estate agents. . >> More
An increase in buy-to-let investment casualties has seen increasing numbers of people looking for serious debt advice, warns debt solution comparison site IVA.com. >> More
Rents rose 0.3 per cent in February pushing the average rent in the UK to GBP 658 per month, 3.2 per cent higher than a year ago, according to LSL Property Services. >> More
House prices dropped month on month in March for the first time on record but opportunities still exist for buy-to-let investors according to LetAssured UK. >> More
Rents rose by 0.3% in February, according to the latest buy-to-let index from LSL Property Services plc. >> More
The National Landlords Association (NLA) claims that on 1 October 2010 the Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) threshold will rise to £100,000. It says it has been informed by government of the rise, which will apply retrospectively. >> More
A Financial Risk Outlook report published by the FSA has revealed that the post-crunch mortgage market is still rife with credit problems and potential risk. >> More
The latest Upad Rental Confidence Index shows that 61% of UK landlords feel more confident about the buy-to-let sector for March 2010, compared to February. >> More
Nearly 60 per cent of landlords favour proposals to regulate buy-to-let mortgage lending, believing it will provide additional protection for landlords looking for investment finance. >> More
Plans to make it illegal for rental properties that do not have loft and cavity insulation to come on the market have been dismissed as blatant electioneering. >> More
Lack of buy-to-let funding could strangle the private rented sector. >> More
A good turnout in the General Election, coupled with a Tory defeat, could devastate the property market, says one of the UK’s largest agents. >> More
Spicerhaart has teamed up with Tesco to launch iSold.com, an online estate agency that offers to market a property for just £999. >> More
The year of the Bank of England Base Rate being held at a record low of 0.5% has created both winners and losers, moneysupermarket.com claims. >> More
A hung Parliament or Labour win at the general election could add £65 to the cost of the average mortgage, a Citigroup economist has claimed. >> More
On the twentieth anniversary of mortgage rates hitting a record 15.4%, are rates on the way up? >> More
Buy-to-let investors looking for the best returns should look outside trendy hotspots, with many less fashionable areas delivering far better returns, a study shows. >> More
Government plans for the private rented sector have been shot down in flames by a lettings professional. >> More
Nationwide’s Consumer Confidence Index has risen for the second consecutive month, increasing by six points to 80 in February. This increase means that the Index now stands at its highest level since January 2008, and almost double the level recorded during the same period last year (41). >> More
The number of houses sold in February grew by 136.6%, more than double the sales achieved in January, and were the highest level of sales achieved for almost two years, since March 2008, according to Agency Express’s latest Property Activity Index. >> More
John Boyle, managing director of HomeLet, has welcomed the latest FindaProperty Rental Index revealing a rise in asking rents by 1.2% to £814 pcm. But he warned it may not be good news across the board. >> More
Government figures have confirmed the increasing importance of the private rented sector (PRS), with a growing proportion of households relying on the sector for their housing needs. >> More
House prices rose by 0.3% over February according to Hometrack’s latest house price survey. >> More
The US and Japan are set to see the biggest rise in distressed sales in the first quarter of 2010, according to RICS. >> More
The Communities and Local Government’s English Housing Report, published this week, shows that the number of households renting privately has risen by one million since 2001, from 2.1 million to 3.1 million in 2008-09. >> More
The run of nine consecutive monthly increases in house prices came to and end in February, as the price of a typical UK property fell by a seasonally adjusted 1.0% month-on-month. >> More
Data released this morning for house prices in January and February show conflicting results. However, the one positive factor that both agree on is that house prices have gone up annually. >> More
A husband and wife business team from Co Tyrone, who siphoned off nearly £4m through false accounting to avoid paying taxes, have been jailed for six years, and ordered to pay almost £4 million in a confiscation order. >> More
The latest England net supply of housing statistics produced by Communities and Local Government show that annual housing supply in England reached 166,570 net additional dwellings in 2008-09, a 20% decrease on the 207,370 net additional homes supplied in the previous year, and the lowest annual level of net housing supply since 2003-04. >> More
Spain will be the next economy to follow in the footsteps of disaster-stricken Greece, but is unlikely to receive a bailout, says Wolfgang Münchau, the director of Eurointelligence and associate editor of the Financial Times. >> More
The risks to the Monetary Policy Committee’s view of a gradual recovery in Britain’s output “remain to the downside” said Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, today at a treasury committee hearing. >> More
The OFT has secured a final high court order against Foxtons Ltd preventing it from using certain terms concerning sales and commissions in its letting agreements with consumer landlords. >> More
The Office of Fair Trading has secured a final High Court order against Foxtons preventing it from using certain terms concerning sales and commissions in its letting agreements with consumer landlords. >> More
There appears to be an increasing amount of coverage around buy-to-let at present, and one can’t help but hold the image of a sector slowly coming out of hibernation. This has been fuelled by recent improved lending figures from the CML for Q4 last year which seem to have surprised the wider community and, judging by some of the media comment, reminded many in the industry that buy-to-let continues to exist as a potential investment.
The Lib Dems have called for empty homes to be brought back into use to create more affordable housing. >> More
Just 201 properties were sold at auction last month, Essential Information Group has reported. >> More
In a legal battle very typical of the property market downturn, a property company has emerged victorious after a buyer tried to retrieve the deposit he put down on a luxury apartment. >> More
Mortgage lenders fear an increase in buy-to-let repossessions and this is holding back the buy-to-let finance market, according to repossessions research published by legal firm Moore Blatch. >> More
Inflation spiked up to a 14-month high of 3.5% in January, data showed today, as the VAT hike and other one-off factors kicked in. >> More
The UK inflation rate rose to 3.5% in January - the fastest annual pace for 14 months - from 2.9% the month before, official figures have shown.>> More
The FSA is set to challenge a property fund in court this week, according to a report in the Financial Times newspaper. >> More
Asking prices for houses new to the market have jumped by an astonishing 3.2% in the last month, Rightmove reported this morning. >> More
Despite this morning’s Rightmove report, Jones Lang LaSalle has said it believes house prices will stagnate this year, with the potential for falls of up to 3%. .>> More
Properties being sold at auction are setting low price trends, with a widening gap between the prices being achieved in the mainstream market. >> More
Mortgage lending last year fell by value below the level of 2008. All told, says the Council of Mortgage Lenders, total lending was £143.6bn, down 43% from the figure of £254.1bn in 2008, and down 60% from £362.6bn in 2007. >> More
Yields on residential property fell to 4.75% in January as rents slipped while property prices increased, according to the latest Buy-to-Let Index from LSL Property Services. >> More
Citizens Advice is warning people to be on the look when searching for rooms or property online for those asking them to ‘prove funds’ via money transfer prior to viewing. >> More
The buy-to-let market is more robust than originally thought, according to the National Landlords Association (NLA). >> More
A significant number of tenants are struggling with rental payments, according to ARLA.
Mr Justice Tugendhat has today handed down judgement in the High Court in the case of Draycott v Hannells Lettings Ltd (Case No: IHQ/09/1118). >> More
Yields on residential property fell to their lowest levels since August 2008 as property prices powered ahead. >> More
Following the CML’s figures showing buy-to-let arrears and repossessions fell for the second quarter yesterday, a rental website said swift reactions from landlords saved the buy-to-let market last year. >> More
55% of members of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) have seen an increase in tenants struggling to meet their rental payments. >> More
Britain's house hunters braved freezing weather and blizzard conditions to bag themselves a bargain in January, according to estate agents. >> More
Proposals for a national register of property agents have attracted the support of over 5,000 firms. >> More
The launch of this unremarkable house (pictured) for sale in Fulham last week illustrates the extreme demand for property in London.>> More
Social housing tenants are to be offered a route into private accommodation offered by agents in Brighton and Hove. >> More
The speculation has started that Google could be about to transform the online property search market in the UK as it launches its own search tool to rival high-cost big hitters like heavywieght Rightmove. >> More
Two companies that mis-sold green belt land for investment to the public have been ordered into liquidation in the High Court following a Government investigation. >> More
67% of mortgage lenders and repossessions experts are predicting an increase in the number of repossessions in 2010, according to the annual Moore Blatch 2010 repossessions report. >> More
House prices are still rising but the number of new homebuyer enquiries has fallen for the first time in 14 months, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) report. >> More
Whilst house prices increased again in January buyer interest and new instructions to sell property fell as bad weather hit activity in the market, according to the latest RICS UK Housing Market survey. >> More
Despite the continued lack of financing for buy-to-let mortgages, HomeLet has reported that letting agents are more optimistic about the future of the market than they were almost a year ago. >> More
New enquiries for rental properties have increased by 94% in January 2010, according to Countrywide. >> More
Mega-rich footballers have huge sums in property, but while old school buy-to-let investor Robbie Fowler profited, new build buyers such as Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney have lost out. >> More
Alan Cleary, managing director of Exact Mortgage Experts, has called for interest rates to be held at 0.5% indefinitely. >> More
A survey conducted by Upad.co.uk reinforces the measures outlined by John Healey, MP, in ‘The Private Rented Sector’ consultation paper. >> More
The CBI expects a small rise in interest rates this summer. >> More
The Government has published a consultation document on the role the private rented sector should play in supporting the economic recovery and increasing supply in the housing market. >> More
This week, we ask our panel of money experts when they expect interest rates to start rising and where they expect Bank of England base rate, currently at a historic low of 0.5pc, to be by the end of 2011... >> More
Our friends at the Centre for Economics and Business Research are now forecasting that house prices will rise 20% by the end of 2013. >> More
A new rental portal has launched, padz.com which aims to list rental properties of every type, from flat shares to spare rooms and crash pads for travellers, and from family flats and houses to holiday rentals and corporate accommodation, both in the UK and worldwide. . >> More
Consumers have started the new year more confident in their future, according to the latest Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index. >> More
According to news reports, a property developer based in Philadelphia is taking out an $8 billion lawsuit against the Royal Bank of Scotland. >> More
Half of landlords who want to expand their portfolios are being frustrated by the lack of mortgage finance, according to a survey conducted by LSL Property Services, which owns the UK's largest lettings agent network >> More
The tenancy deposit protection regime is working despite current concerns about price increases, according to the National Landlords Association (NLA). >> More
Landlords ended 2009 on a high, according to Paragon Mortgages’ Private Rented Sector Trends report for the final quarter of 2009. >> More
Over 6,000 tenants in England and Wales have benefited from the downturn according to the latest research by easyroommate.co.uk. >> More
UK property investment experienced record growth last quarter in the clearest sign yet that the sector’s downturn is over. >> More
Demand for rented houses appears to be on the wane. The latest rental index from Findaproperty.com shows rents asked for by landlords fell 2.9% in January following a 2% decline in December. >> More
The general improvement in house price indices in the latter half of 2009 was reflected in landlords’ view of the value of their portfolios, Paragon has reported. >> More
Average UK House prices will grow by over 6% during 2010, and will be around 20% higher than today's levels by the end of 2013. >> More
The answer to a question asked in the House of Lords about tenancy deposit schemes has confirmed that all three approved schemes will run until the end of March 2012. >> More
House prices rose by 1.2% in January and are up 8.6% year-on-year according to the latest Nationwide house price index. >> More
Enquiries from distressed homeowners remained at a historic high in Q4 2009, but have jumped higher in January 2010 as homeowners in less affluent areas of London and the main Midlands and Northern cities deal with mortgage and credit card debt. >> More
The first Rightmove Consumer Confidence Survey of 2010 has reported a noticeable year-on-year shift in the expectations of the British public regarding house price trends. >> More
The RICS has refused to be drawn into the row over TDS charging, while staying silent on rumours that it underwrote TDS for £500,000. >> More
The new fees being charged by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme are continuing to be slated by leading agents. >> More
Why anyone should ever think of selling their house without an estate agent totally baffles us >> More
After years of treading softly, pretending to not want to legislate against landlords. Pretending to want to work with us to provide a better private rental sector they have finally shown their true colours. Just like every Labour administration since the war. >> More
A statement is expected shortly from NFoPP about the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. It follows a scheduled meeting yesterday where ARLA members were joined by NAEA agents and members of the NFoPP board. >> More
Furious agents hit by large subscription hikes are calling for The Dispute Service, the organisation responsible for the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, to explain its sums. >> More
The lettings sector faces huge growth, because the private rented sector is the only way to fill the UK’s huge housing needs. >> More
House prices rose by 105% during the past 10 years, with the UK average house price rising from £81,596 in 1999 quarter four to £167,020 in 2009 Q4. >> More
More than 100 law firms suspected of mortgage fraud were investigated last year by regulators the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which si estimated to have saved mortgage lenders over GBP 15m. >> More
A Leeds-based banker who held the position of head of fraud operations at First Direct, a division of HSBC, has been sentenced to three years and eight months in prison.. >> More
While average buy-to-let rents across the UK may have fallen or remained stable over the past year, one sector that appears to be holding strong is the student buy-to-let sector, according to the latest data from property investment specialist Assetz. >> More
The 18-month downturn is officially over with the ONS reporting that the UK economy grew by 0.1% in the final quarter of 2009. >> More
Doubts over the strength of the UK's economic recovery were justified today as the economy registered growth of just 0.1% in the last quarter of 2009. >> More
The National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS) has called on the Tenancy Deposit Scheme to issue urgent and unequivocal clarification on its new pricing structure. >> More
Concerns about tenancy deposit protection and the way the legislation is working could be raised in Parliament. >> More
A new report on the effectiveness of Home Information Packs is to be undertaken this year by the Government – but almost no other information is available, including how much it will cost the taxpayer. >> More
The UK housing market is experiencing a trend of ‘reluctant tenants', following a shift in supply and demand for properties, according to the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA). >> More
Thousands of homeowners will pay £1,500 extra a year for their mortgage after a leading building society was forced to increase its standard variable rate. >> More
Mydeposits.co.uk, the pay-as-you-go insurance-based tenancy deposit protection scheme, has proffered surprise at the decision by The Dispute Service (TDS) to raise its prices by 23%. >> More
Fears that a Private Member’s Bill being rushed through Parliament could backfire have been raised by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. >> More
The average UK house price has increased by 273 per cent since 1959, with prices rising the fastest on record over the last ten years at 62 per cent, according to a survey from the Halifax. >> More
BoE governor Mervyn King’s speech last night suggests the Monetary Policy Committee is keeping an open mind on rate rises despite the 2.9 per cent rise in inflation, said an economist. >> More
Bank of China is top of the leader board of international banks lending in the troubled commercial mortgage sector in the US. >> More
Mortgage finance looks set to remain a serious issue for residential property investors in 2010, with mortgage conditions worsening in the final quarter of 2009. >> More
Transaction levels look set to have been even lower last year than in 2008, according to housing analyst Henry Pryor. >> More
Paragon Mortgages’ Trends research reveals that 10% of landlords want to expand their portfolio in the first three months of 2010. Of those looking to purchase, terraced housing is by far the most popular choice of property. >> More
The UK housing market is continuing to hold up as it eases into recovery. Whilst December’s monthly house sales experienced the usual seasonal decrease, dropping 33.2% on November’s figure, overall sales are up 45.6% on December 2008. >> More
Connells Survey & Valuation has reported that valuation activity on residential properties in the second half of 2009 rose significantly on levels seen in 2008. >> More
The UK economy faces a decade of "painful readjustment" as it refocuses from debt-led consumer spending to increased exports, a study has warned. >> More
Business confidence slipped last month, but is still at a sharply higher level than at this time last year, according to a Lloyds TSB corporate survey. >> More
Global listed real estate markets rebounded sharply in 2009, due to a dramatic improvement in credit conditions, massive liquidity creation by the world’s central banks, and early signs of a return to economic growth. >> More
Landlords saw a 7.6 per cent annual return on their investments by the end of December 2009 according to an index from LSL Property Services, the owner of Your Move and Reeds Rains. >> More
Transaction levels look set to have been even lower last year than in 2008, according to housing analyst Henry Pryor. >> More
Martin & Co, the firm which first blew the whistle on the lax law which allows agents to misappropriate tenancy deposit money when covered by insurance schemes, is to make all its new franchisees hold the money in the custodial ‘banking’ scheme, the DPS. >> More
Over the past 12 months Landlord Action, a specialist in tenant eviction, has seen a 15 per cent increase in the number of overcrowding tenancy cases, partly due to the recession.
Consumer confidence in the economy took a knock in the last quarter of 2009, with one-in-three consumers expecting the economy to worsen in 2010 according to research published by the Aassociation of British Insurers. >> More
58% of landlords surveyed by Paragon Mortgages said that they were worried about the level of regulation required in relation to the running of their property business during 2010. >> More
The developing scandal of misappropriated tenants’ deposits has exposed landlords to millions of pounds of liability. >> More
Is it just us, or does anyone else find the RICS surveys couched in exceptionally tortuous language? >> More
More than one million people have borrowed on their credit cards to pay their mortgage or rent in the last 12 months. >> More
A second large lettings franchise chain has admitted to problems within its network over missing client money. >> More
Interest rate commentators have divided into two camps this week, between those expecting rates to stay low for years and city economists saying UK interest rates could rise in two months' time. >> More
81% of landlords surveyed by CHL Mortgages are positive about the future for buy-to-let with many suggesting the sector has now shed its former get-rich quick image and is once again a market of professional landlords. >> More
UK house prices were 1.1% higher in December than a year earlier - the first annual rise since March 2008, according to the Halifax. >> More
A group of Labour MPs have put pressure on the Government to extend the current stamp duty exemption for properties under the £175,000 threshold - issuing an Early Day Motion on the issue. >> More
There maybe trouble ahead for some professional landlords following the recent test case between Prestige Homes and a potential property landlord. >> More
The Halifax is expected to report this week that house prices rose by 0.5 per cent month-on-month in November for the fifth time in a row, easing from a gain of 1.2 per cent in October, said Global Insight's Howard Archer. >> More
The chancellor, Alistair Darling, is said to be putting together a line to crackdown on excessive bankers’ bonuses in his pre-Budget report this coming Wednesday, but it is not likely to be a windfall tax on bank profits. >> More
No change is expected to quantitative easing levels or rates, according to Global Insight following November's GBP 25 bilion extension to GBP 200 billion unless the economy suffers a serious relapse in 2010. >> More
Major differences have emerged in how the three tenancy deposit schemes are working.
The UK property market would change forever – and for the better – if Google get their proposition right, a property finder has said. >> More
Connells report that their survey and valuation arm did 40% more valuations in October and November this year than for October, November and December combined in 2008. >> More
Six suspects have been arrested during a search operation on 19 properties across England, with three suspects held in custody to appear before magistrates yesterday.
The new service will allow both estate agents and private sellers to put their property as an overlay on Google Maps. >> More
According to the latest Agency Express Property Activity Index, the UK housing market is displaying signs of real resilience with November’s house sales up 66% on November 2008. >> More
The Co-operative believes that repossessions will top the 50,000 mark in 2010. As a result, it has committed to doubling its support to Shelter this Christmas. >> More
A group of Labour MPs have put pressure on the Government to extend the current stamp duty exemption for properties under the £175,000 threshold - issuing an Early Day Motion on the issue. >> More
The latest Agency Express Property Activity Index shows that the UK housing market is displaying signs of real resilience with November's house sales up 66% on November 2008. >> More
Surveyors expect to see rent rises in the New Year, according to the latest RICS Lettings Survey for the third quarter of the year. >> More
New research from the FX team at Close Brothers Limited Close Treasury (‘Close Treasury’) reveals that British people who bought overseas properties in second home and investment hotspots without a foreign currency mortgage four years ago will, on the whole have made significant financial gains, despite the recent volatility in global property prices. >> More
Property price growth stayed steady in November at 0.5 per cent equalling the previous month's figures, said the UK's biggest mutual Nationwide. >> More
House prices rose by 0.5% in November, the same rate as in October, according to the latest house price index from the Nationwide. >> More
Lettings chain Martin & Co is consulting with all its franchisees in the next two weeks as to whether it should create its own client money protection insurance scheme, independent of any professional body. Its aim is to achieve certainty over tenancy deposit protection for lanadlords who have lost out in recent cases. >> More
The NAEA has warned the Chancellor of its fears of a double-dip recession. It has called on the Government to take immediate and decisive action to stave this off. >> More
House prices rose by 0.2% in November, according to estate agents questioned by Hometrack, but in 60% of the country stayed the same or fell. >> More
The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) has called upon Chancellor, Alistair Darling, to further aid the housing market recovery and avoid sending Britain into a ‘W' shaped recession. >> More
The rental sector is increasingly seen as key to future housing strategy as production of new homes is out of line with consumer demand. >> More
US shares have fallen on worries about Dubai's debt problems, with the Dow Jones ending down 154 points, or 1.5%, at 10,309.92, in a shorter trading day. >> More
Almost £5 million of deposits are still waiting to be claimed by tenants, according to the Deposit Protection Service. >> More
Rugby estate agent Craig Walford has taken over the lettings portfolio of Greenwoods after it went into voluntary liquidation, owing £382,000. The money includes tenants’ deposits.
Landlords have bombarded a housing minister with their objections to a mandatory landlords’ register. >> More
It may not be your idea of a property hotspot, but according to local estate agents, prices in some parts of the city have risen by 75% in the past year, bucking the global downturn.
Over eighty per cent of countries surveyed by RICS showed a rise in distressed sales in the last three months in the commercial property market, according to research. >> More
Three top London agents – all well-known names with good reputations for ethical practice – have strongly denied breaking the law. >> More
Two letting agents' offices and two homes have been raided in a probe into complaints about missing rent and deposit payments, the Oxford Mail has reported today. >> More
The Deposit Protection Service, the custodial scheme approved to physically take tenants' deposit money, is sitting on almost £5m worth of deposits, because over 8,000 repayments cannot be repaid. >> More
Agents are reminded to be on their guard when approached by publishers of items such as wall charts and calendars. >> More
The Stamp Duty holiday implemented in September 2008 and due to end on December 31, has helped only 115,447 UK home buyers – less than a quarter of the number predicted by the Government to benefit, according to property website Zoopla. >> More
Gross lending in the buy-to-let mortgage market grew in the third quarter for the first time in two years, according to data published today by the CML. At £2.1 billion, lending was 10% higher than in the previous three months. >> More
Those looking to rent homes are becoming increasingly energy savvy, according to new research from energy company E.ON. >> More
Bank of England rate-setters were split three ways about the decision taken earlier this month to pump £25bn more into the economy, meeting notes show. >> More
Over 43,400 new property millionaires have been created over the last 15 years, through the purchase of £1 million plus homes, whereas ’only’ 2,300 jackpot millionaires have been created in the 15 years since the start of the National Lottery in November 1994. >> More
93% of all buy-to-let products have disappeared over the last two years, according to research from Moneyfacts. However, there are small signs that things are improving.
A key measure of UK inflation has risen for the first time since February, official figures have shown. >> More
Rental supply has plunged by 20% in the last quarter, according to the UK’s largest lettings chain, as the lettings market undergoes a sharp correction in the balance of supply and demand. >> More
The number of buy-to-let mortgages available has increased from the all time low of 179 in September 2009 to 239 available today. >> More
The worst of the housing market downturn is now past with some areas of Scotland showing price increases, according to the latest Scottish House Price Monitor from Lloyds TSB Scotland. >> More
Lack of supply in the rental market over the last quarter has seen the number of new rental properties entering the market fall by 20%. >> More
ARLA believes that the buy-to-let market is getting back on its feet. >> More
In the last few weeks a number of lenders including Abbey, Halifax, Leeds BS, Nationwide BS, Northern Rock and Woolwich have made moves to cut mortgage rates, but rates are still a long way off the lows reached earlier in the year. >> More
Gross lending in the buy-to-let mortgage market grew in the third quarter for the first time in two years, according to data published by the CML. >> More
Lettings chain Martin & Co has delivered a £46,000 insurance claim on the National Approved Letting Scheme after closing down one of its franchises. It is understood the business has now gone into liquidation. >> More
Latest predictions: Rates were left unchanged again at 0.50% in November, the eighth month in a row. So when will rates be raised again? >> More
Northern Rock’s gross mortgage lending during the third quarter of 2009 rose to £1 billion, with mortgage lending for the nine month period to 30 September 2009 totalling £2.3 billion. >> More
The latest Agency Express Property Activity Index shows that sales activity in the UK rose sharply in October following three months of decreasing sales. >> More
Reita’s latest adviser research suggests that IFAs are more positive now about the outlook for property investment than they have been in over two years. >> More
Paragon Mortgages has reported that landlords expect the net value of their property portfolios to increase over the next 12 months. >> More
House prices went up 1.2% in October, Halifax reports today, the fourth consecutive monthly increase. >> More
House prices are now up 2% annually according to Nationwide, while the Halifax says property house bounced back 7% since the recent low in April. >> More
The RICS Valuation and Sale Price Report, published today, claims the accuracy of commercial property valuations increased in three of largest property investment markets in Europe, with the majority of valuations falling within 10% of sale prices. >> More
The Chancellor has signalled the likely break-up and sale of the bailed out banks. >> More
RICS says its latest Global Property Survey is noticeably more upbeat than the second quarter report both in terms of the lettings environment and investment activity.
Mydeposits.co.uk has revealed growing numbers of landlords and letting agents are using video footage as evidence in tenancy deposit dispute cases. >> More
According to the Nationwide House Price Index the average property cost £162,038 in October up 0.4% from £161,816 in September. >> More
The number of reluctant landlords has dropped for the third consecutive quarter, according to the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA). >> More
The latest RICS Global Property Survey published yesterday is noticeably more upbeat than the second quarter report both in terms of the lettings environment and investment activity. >> More
Buy-to-let landlords who have weathered the storm of the last eighteen months are now being rewarded with rising rents and a dramatic reduction in stock levels, new research has revealed. >> More
Eviction specialist Paul Shamplina, director and co-founder of Landlord Action, is due to appear on TV on Monday in the prime-time expose of a property investment firm. >> More
Two Swiss-based company directors who deceived UK investors into paying more than £5 million in a ‘land-banking’ scam have been disqualified as directors for 12 years, following a Government investigation. >> More
Mortgage applications rose by 13% last month with most for new purchases. But remortgage applications fell to record low levels as home-owners remained stuck with existing deals due to lack of equity in their properties. >> More
Eviction specialists are getting set to take more action against tenants, as arrears rise.
The European Union (EU) has approved plans for nationalised bank Northern Rock to be split in two - paving the way for a partial sale. >> More
Moneysupermarket.com has urged the Treasury Select Committee to improve transparency and fairness within the credit search industry in order to allow consumers to shop around for unsecured lending products without it impacting their credit score. >> More
Lodger numbers have increased by 23% since 2006 and are six times higher than official figures report, according to a new study. >> More
Buy-to-let conditions will remain difficult for landlords in 2010, says Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction service. >> More
As property prices have fallen, landlords have increased their property portfolios in the past year, according to research from the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA).
>> More
Landlords have increased their property portfolios in the past year to take advantage of the downturn in property prices, according to research from the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA). >> More
The NLA has said that the buy-to-let market should be a major focus for the Government.
Paragon Advance has released their latest statistics in relation to average rents by region for years 2007, 2008 and 2009. >> More
The mooted FSA regulation of buy-to-let has been met with concern from landlord and letting agent bodies. >> More
Distressed seller enquiries from homeowners in major cities in the Midlands and the North are up by over 60% on this time last year, according to Property Portfolio Rescue’s Distress Index for the third quarter of 2009. >> More
Asking prices for properties new to the market have shot up 2.8% from last month, Rightmove reported today, making it the largest October rise for six years.. >> More
Taxpayer-owned bank Lloyds had to hand over nearly £40m in cash and assets as a ‘sweetener’ to persuade LSL to take Halifax estate agents swiftly off its hands.
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The number of lots going to property auctions last month was 3,291 – 20% down on September 2008. >> More
House prices will fall 10% next year and a further 5% in 2011 as job losses climb, says Capital Economics. >> More
PropertyEarth.Net, the UK chain free property portal, says its latest figures suggest investors from all over the world are searching for bargains among the UK’s chain free and repossessed properties. >> More
A poll of over 3,000 consumers, conducted by smartnewhomes.com in September, has uncovered softening attitudes to newbuild in the current climate, as many people start to acknowledge the growing lack of supply across the country. >> More
Landlords pushed up rents for the fourth consecutive month in September, raising them 1.2% after August’s 1.4% increase, according to the latest Rental Index from LSL Property Services. >> More
The National Landlords Association (NLA) has welcomed a Housing Benefit Tribunal decision upholding an appeal that a tenant’s rental arrears begin as soon as the due date has passed. >> More
Knight Frank is the first out of the traps with forecasts for next year. The firm is essentially predicting more of the same. It does not believe the current recovery will continue.
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Four out of five home owners expect property values to rise over the next six months, according to the so-called Zoopla quarterly survey of housing market sentiment.
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Investor confidence in the UK and overseas property markets has risen significantly, according to research conducted by the Property Investor Show, with investors saying it has increased by 43% in the last three months. >> More
Simon Morris, the former Leeds United football club director whose property group collapsed last year with reported debts of more than £50m, has been declared bankrupt.
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The net balance of Chartered Surveyors reporting rises rather than falls in house prices reached a positive reading of 22 in September, up from 10% in August. This is the highest result since May 2007 when the net balance was 25%. >> More
79% of homeowners expect property values to rise over the next six months, according to the Zoopla.co.uk quarterly survey of housing market sentiment. >> More
Landlords expect the net value of their property portfolios to increase over the next 12 months. The latest quarterly survey by Paragon Mortgages shows that landlords expect, on average, a 0.8% increase in the value of their portfolios over the coming year. >> More
The rate of consumer price inflation fell further than expected in September as the UK economy struggled to emerge from recession. >> More
The proportion of property surveyors reporting house price rises is back up to the same level as the peak of the boom in 2007. >> More
Global stock markets soared to fresh one-year highs, on signals that interest rates will remain rock-bottom and that the government will continue to support the economy.
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A non-existent property development scheme has been shut down by the High Court.
A property portal with a genuine difference has launched. >> More
British police are to investigate scam advertising that appeared on the website Holiday Lettings, part of Rightmove. >> More
A rumour sweeping the industry that the Government is poised to make a major announcement on HIPs has been denied by Communities and Local Government.
>> More
A ratings organisation has predicted a new round of house price falls. >> More
Birmingham City Council is to investigate setting up a mortgage scheme in an effort to overcome its housing crisis. >> More
The former managing director of a firm who took more than £13,500 from tenants in rents and deposits has been sentenced to 150 hours of community work and ordered to pay compensation. He was also given a 40-week jail sentence, suspended for two years.
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Investors hit by the downturn who choose not to complete property deals can still be forced to buy after court orders, lawyers have warned. >> More
As expected the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee has voted to keep the base rate on hold at 0.5% where it has been since March. >> More
September proved to be a reassuring and important month for the housing market as it showed that the first indicators of recovery were strong enough to survive the seasonal decline in activity that July and August traditionally brings, according to the latest Housing Market Report from the National Association of Estate Agents. >> More
A new pet insurance policy has been launched for use in rental properties. >> More
The Bank of England has just released the latest mortgage lending figures for August, and any hope that the mini housing market recovery experienced over the last quarter might continue, appears to have been short-lived. The problem still remains one of availability – the buyers are there, the mortgage finance is not. >> More
Lenders and government ministers were aware of reckless lending as long ago as 2005 but each felt that the proble was the other's resposibility. >> More
Nationwide’s Consumer Confidence Index rose by six points last month, increasing to 71 from 65 in August. The Index is now 24 points higher than it was 12 months ago.
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Financial firms may be recovering, with business volumes growing for the first time in two years, a survey has shown. >> More
The price of a typical house increasing by 0.9% on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the Nationwide building society. >> More
Buy-to-let investors are no longer reviewing the mortgage market on a regular basis and intend to hold onto their assets for the long term. >> More
More than a quarter of adults in some British cities no longer have any desire to own their own home, according to new research commissioned by the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA). >> More
Adam Applegarth, the disgraced former chief executive of Northern Rock, has joined Apollo Management – best known for its acquisition of the UK's largest estate agent, Countrywide.
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House prices are back up to what they were this time a year ago, the Nationwide reported this morning. >> More
More arrests have been made in the North-East in relation to what detectives have said could turn out to be Britain’s biggest-ever property scam. >> More
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) announced that around half of all the 260,000 new homes being built this year and next year will be paid for by the Government. >> More
Compliancy Services has welcomed the FSA’s sales and marketing proposals for the sale and rent back market (SRB) imploring firms not to delay in embracing all the regulatory proposals outlined. >> More
Rents have shot up and tenants have fallen sharply behind with their payments. According to national chains Your Move and Reeds Rain, both part of LSL, rents rose sharply in August, up 1.4% as supply fell and tenant demand remained high. >> More
Landlords do not want to be licensed, a quarterly survey of landlords by specialist lender Paragon has found. >> More
Purchasers who paid £6.5m to the collapsed city centre property business Dylan Harvey Residential are not expected to get anything back. The company was an agent for properties in northern cities bought by off-plan investors, taking deposits for schemes. >> More
Controversial sale and rent-back operators will not be allowed to drop leaflets into letter boxes of homes where they suspect owners might be persuaded to hand over their homes in return for renting them. >> More
Despite apparent stabilisation, the consumer credit market is down by almost £11 billion on last year, according to new figures published today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA). >> More
Rents were up 1.4% in August, the third consecutive monthly increase and the fastest growth since July 2008. >> More
Paragon Mortgages’ Trends survey, a quarterly survey of landlords, found that 56% of landlords believe that the introduction of the Government’s proposed national landlord register will deter landlords from making further investments in the private rented sector.
There were 52,317 mortgages approved in August, as total net lending to individuals rose by £0.7 billion, according to latest data from the Bank of England. >> More
The number of new mortgages approved, but not yet lent, has fallen for the first time in 10 months, according to figures from the Bank of England. >> More
The rate of contraction of the UK economy in the three months from April to June has been reduced again. >> More
Japan's core consumer prices dropped 2.4% in August year-on-year, the fourth successive month of record falls. >> More
A letting agent has gone into liquidation owing nearly £200,000. >> More
House prices crept up by 0.2% in September, according to Hometrack. It means prices are now just 5.6% below what they were this time a year ago. >> More
The residential rental market is beginning to stabilise with property over-supply decreasing across the UK and the number of new tenancies increasing, says ARLA. >> More
Chinese immigrants set up a cannabis farm worth more than £300,000 in a cottage rented to them by a copper. >> More
The Building Societies Association (BSA) says there a strong case for converting failed banks into mutual organisations, following the publication of a new report. >> More
Landlords are increasingly positive about property prices but remain hampered by the mortgage market, according to Young Group's Young Index. >> More
The UK economy has begun to emerge from recession but growth next year will be fragile, a forecast by business group the CBI has warned. >> More
The number of mortgages approved by the major banks in August was up 81% from the same month a year ago when the housing market was in a slump. >> More
Borrowers with a 10% deposit have seen just a 0.12% drop in the average mortgage rate, despite the cost of funding to lenders falling 4.35%, reports Moneyfacts. >> More
New property investors have followed their more experienced counterparts in the second and third quarters of 2009, according to Assetz. >> More
UK house sales fell in August from July, the first drop this year, according to HM Revenue & Customs. >> More
Local councils are going to double their charges to personal search firms, from £11 to £22 per search, from January 1. >> More
Asking prices for properties newly listed on Rightmove have nudged up 0.6% on August, driven by shortages. >> More
54% of professional landlords have tried to secure a buy-to-let mortgage in the three months to the end of August for either remortgage or new purchase purposes. >> More
There were 40 property auctions in the UK during August, with a total of 664 lots offered. A huge drop in the number for sale last year, of these, 447 sold – a sales rate of 67%. This too was a fall. >> More
Bright news on the property market continues with the latest report from the RICS, which this week said that more of its member agents had reported a rise in values during August, rather than a fall. >> More
UK house prices will not reach their autumn 2007 peaks for at least another five years, according to the Ernst & Young ITEM Club. >> More
Moneysupermarket.com searches indicate that fixed rate mortgages are losing popularity at the expense of tracker and discounted rates. >> More
Mortgageforce has reported that the average deposit put down by first time buyers has fallen from 28.6% in June to 25.4% in July and 21.25% in August. >> More
A year after Lehman Brothers collapsed, a think tank has warned the lessons of the crisis have not been learned. >> More
A key measure of inflation has fallen to its lowest level since February 2005, official statistics show. >> More
The buy-to-let market is showing signs of stabilising after being hit hard by the credit crunch, according to Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction and rent collection service. >> More
The number of buy-to-let products available has dropped to an average of 80 or so since May, according to Mortgages For Business’s latest Buy-to-Let Product Index. >> More
A clampdown on buy-to-let borrowing has been announced by Lloyds Banking Group, which will now allow landlord investors to borrow on a maximum of nine properties across the entire group. >> More
Lending for house purchase showed its first material annual growth in July for the first time since early 2007. >> More
House prices in rural areas have fallen by less than in urban areas over the past year, according to the latest annual Halifax Rural Housing Review. >> More
Landlords are feeling the pressure in the current economic climate, with 30% worried about receiving payment from tenants, according to Direct Line for Business. The insurer says the worries have forced some landlords to take drastic action, with 16% changing their payment terms and 9% cancelling their insurance to save money. >> More
Despite yesterday’s positive news – no change in interest rates and a rise in house prices, according to the Halifax – estate agents reacted gloomily. >> More
House prices rose for the second month in a row in August according to the Halifax, which said a shortage of properties for sale was driving price hikes. >> More
Global housing markets showed signs of a tentative recovery in the second quarter of this year, with values increasing in almost half of all countries which report house prices.
Entrepreneur James Cann of BBC 2's Den believes now is the right time to move into the commercial property market. His private equity business Hamilton Bradshaw is planning the launch of a new UK commercial property fund in partnership with ING Real Estate Investment Management . >> More
Details of the National Landlords Association’s National Conference 2009 have been revealed. It will be held at the Holiday Inn Birmingham City on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 November. >> More
The Bank of England has held interest rates at the record low of 0.5% for the sixth consecutive month. >> More
House prices rose by 0.8% in August compared with July - the second monthly rise in a row, says the Halifax. >> More
John Charcol’s Ray Boulger believes interest rates will remain at 0.5% well into 2010.
An unqualified accountant has been banged up for eight years for a plot to steal £2.5m in a buy-to-let tax fraud. John Warman, a 70-year-old from Nottingham, was convicted of 29 charges of cheating the tax authorities and obtaining money by deception, following an investigation by HM Revenue & Customs. >> More
The Bank of England has today held interest rates at 0.5% for the sixth month in a row. The decision signals that rates could remain low for some months, says Simon Gammon, head of Knight Frank Finance. >> More
The National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB) has warned residential mortgage brokers to take great care when introducing their clients to a third party broker for commercial finance. >> More
The Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index recorded a two point increase in August, showing that consumers are more confident about both the present and the future. >> More
Bank of England base rate has been at 0.50% for six month now, but consumers have seen very little benefit. >> More
Confidence in the property market has increased as the proportion of consumers seeking mortgages to purchase a property now outweighs those looking for remortgage deals for their existing property. >> More
Fewer properties coming onto the rental market in the three months to July led to a slowing in the rate at which rents decrease, according to the latest RICS Lettings Survey published today. >> More
The UK’s economy will grow next year, according to the latest British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Economic Forecast. >> More
Mortgage lenders are increasingly imposing a percentage application fees on their fixed rate products, according to MoneyExpert.com. >> More
Autumn 2009 is set to be one of the best-ever times to buy a new-build, says David Bexon, managing director of SmartNewHomes.com... >> More
The British Chambers of Commerce has warned that despite the end of the recession in sight, but the risks of a relapse are high. In its third-quarter economic forecast the BCC predicts that this year’s 4.3% fall in gross domestic will be followed by growth of 1.1% next year and 1.9% in 2011. >> More
The Building Societies Association has criticised proposed new regulation which it says will make it difficult for them to compete with banks. The proposals from the Financial Services Authority include plans to limit riskier types of lending by building societies. >> More
The Conservatives have said that the Government led people who spent thousands of pounds training for new HIP-related careers ‘up the garden path’. >> More
A former Liverpool prison is to have a new sort of inmate. >> More
A tenant in private housing on benefit is not handing over his rent to his landlord – but sending it back home to Kosovo, to fund the building of a house. >> More
The ban on first-day marketing may continue, even if the Tories win the next election, because of plans to re-cast the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive on December 7.
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National estate agency group haart is warning that a forthcoming hike in Stamp Duty could hit the housing market in the New Year. >> More
Auction House, a national network of property auctioneers, is to stage its 100th auction this month – while a new national auctioneering network will launch days later. >> More
The practice of charging buyers’ premiums will come under the spotlight at an auctioneering forum this month. >> More
The National Association of Estate Agents Monthly Market Survey for August revealed that the expected summer ‘dip’ in activity was not as bad for the market as previously feared.
Moneysupermarket.com has warned of a widening gap between supply and demand for buy-to-let mortgages. Enquiries for buy-to-let mortgages increased by nearly 50% since August 2008, whilst available products have diminished by over 70% over the same period. >> More
Research from price comparison site moneysupermarket.com shows there's a widening gap between supply and demand for buy-to-let mortgages. >> More
The launch of an online database, which shows all members of the National Landlords Association (NLA), has been criticised by Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction and rent collection service. >> More
Birmingham agents have been put on warning that the city council is to have a second go at cracking down on Home Information Packs. >> More
The latest Land Registry figures on transactions show that in May this year, there were just 42,699 completed sales in England and Wales. >> More
Knight Frank says that house prices in central London rose by 1% in August – the fifth consecutive monthly rise. Prices are now 6.4% higher than they were in March. >> More
The Tories are expected to propose changes to EPCs on the back of what is expected to be a manifesto commitment to dump HIPs. >> More
Gross lending by building societies in July 2009 was £2.1 billion, the highest monthly figure this year, but 42% lower than the £3.6 billion lent in July 2008. >> More
Figures released today by the Bank of England (BofE) show that total net lending to individuals fell by £0.6 billion in July, showing a net repayment for the first time in the series since it began in 1993. >> More
New figures from Unbiased.co.uk, the professional advice website, reveal that after a lull in June, mortgage enquiries from first time buyers have once again increased to 43% of all consumer requests in July, making it the top most searched for advice criteria. >> More
The ‘reluctant landlord' has been a key symptom of the housing market downturn, as homeowners desperate to sell their property turned to the rental market to pay their mortgages. >> More
All regions in England and Wales recorded an increase in property prices, according to the latest Land Registry data. >> More
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reduced the rate of economic contraction for the second quarter of the year. >> More
Variable rates are more popular than fixed rates following the recent steep rise in the cost of fixed rate mortgages according to the latest John Charcol Index. >> More
Landlords celebrated a golden scenario of rising rents, rising prices, falling tenant arrears and lower void periods in July according to the latest research from LSL Property Services. >> More
All regions in England and Wales experienced a positive monthly change in their average property values, according to the latest figures from Land Registry. >> More
Consumers tell Rightmove: no more house price falls ... >> More
Despite the current rash of optimistic market reports, a mortgage expert has warned agents not to talk the market up too much. >> More
Properties in central London are now selling in half the time they did a year ago. >> More
With the UK rental market continuing to recover, a shortage of houses to rent may be starting to emerge, as both professionals and ‘accidental’ landlords decide to dispose of houses in a strengthening sales market rather than rent them out. >> More
The rate of contraction of the UK economy in the three months from April to June has been reduced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). >> More
Japan's jobless rate hit a record 5.7% in July and consumer prices fell at a record pace, figures released days before a general election have shown. >> More
The price of a typical house rose for the fourth consecutive month in August, increasing by 1.6% on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the Nationwide building society.
The time from entering the market to exchange of contracts for property in Central London is at an average of 4.7 months, compared to 8.6 months a year ago, according to data from Cluttons. >> More
The collapse of a Spanish developer which had offices in Britain is likely to affect hundreds of British buyers. >> More
House purchase loans made by banks ticked up slightly in July, going up from 35,564 loans in June to 38,141 – making it the highest monthly total for 17 months. >> More
Hamptons International has reported house price rises of 4.2% in the second quarter of this year compared with the first three months. >> More
Confidence among business professionals has surged, suggesting the recession is at an end, a survey has said. >> More
Savills says it has agreed 52% more sales than this time a year ago. >> More
Savills says it has agreed 52% more sales than this time a year ago. >> More
The Chelsea Building Society has reported that it lost £26 million in the six months to June, after it provided £53 million in the accounts for impairment, of which £41 million was the result of buy to let fraud. >> More
Commenting on a 26% increase in gross mortgage lending announced yesterday, Richard Mason, Managing Director of Moneyextra.com said. >> More
According to moneysupermarket.com, switching to capital repayments on existing terms could cost as little as £25 and save these borrowers around £40,000 over the life of their mortgage. >> More
Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction and rent collection company, has offered its support to Government proposals to offer greater protection for the rising number of vulnerable tenants who face eviction as a result of their landlord falling into mortgage arrears. >> More
The Generation Recession report recently commissioned by Friends Provident has indicated that the UK is in the grip of a 'Psychological Recession', an assertion supported by Datamonitor research. >> More
The Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, wanted to pump more money into the UK economy this month but was outvoted by fellow policymakers. >> More
The retail arms of the UK's High Street banks are likely to see losses in the second half of 2009, a survey suggests. >> More
Property sellers are being told to shop around for their HIPs by consumer group Which? and not necessarily buy through an estate agent. >> More
Tenants who trashed an apartment and then abandoned it owing three months of rent, have won their case against their landlord, even though the court accepted their actions were wrong. >> More
The new owners of Propertyfinder have served notice on Rightmove that they fully intend to move the site into second place in the portal stakes – and then overtake the all-dominant leader. >> More
Please read thru... >> More
A key measure of inflation in the UK has unexpectedly remained at 1.8%. >> More
Figures from the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) for the second quarter of 2009 show that the number of properties taken into possession by FLA second mortgage providers grew by 1.7% compared with the same period in 2008. >> More
The Liberal Democrats have claimed that a Government-run emergency loans fund is failing to keep up with the surge in demand from families in urgent need of help due to the recession. >> More
Japan has come out of recession after its economy grew by 0.9% in the April-to-June quarter. >> More
The average asking price for a house newly put up for sale in August is now £222,762, down from £227,864 in July, says Rightmove toda. In London, asking prices fell 3.8 per cent, from £402,761 to £387,265. >> More
An agent in the west midlands is to write to his MP about the plight of home sellers facing financial difficulties and who need to sell up – but who cannot afford HIPs. >> More
Repossessions fell in the second quarter of the year, while cases of arrears levelled off, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders. >> More
Properties with poor Energy Performance Certificate ratings should be banned from the property market, according to the Energy Saving Trust. >> More
The number of homes repossessed in the UK fell 10% in the second quarter of the year compared with the previous three months, lenders say. >> More
The buy-to-let market showed the first signs of stabilising in the second quarter as arrears improved significantly and the decline in new lending began to slow, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders. >> More
The number of mortgage possessions fell in the second quarter of the year, while cases of arrears levelled off, according to the CML. However, it warns that both are likely to rise in the second half of 2009. >> More
Deliberate under-valuing by mortgage lenders is causing strings of fall-throughs.
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The spate of positive reports about the housing market has continued, with the RICS saying that its members are seeing more new instructions, for the first time in two years.
Confusion reigns over landlord registers, according to the National Landlords Association, which is stepping up its opposition to compulsory registration. >> More
House buyers are having find larger and larger deposits, according to a mortgage business which chiefly works out of estate agency offices. >> More
Landlords are up in arms over Government proposals to let councils crack down on Houses in Multiple Occupation. >> More
The Council of Mortgage Lenders has reported that loans for house purchase climbed 23% from 36,500 in May to 45,000 in June. >> More
The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) has claimed that lenders are undervaluing residential properties, causing sales and remortgages to fall through.
Realpricecomparison.com has claimed there are only 71 lenders offering variable mortgages now compared with 96 a year ago. >> More
The Bank of England has warned that the UK economy still has some way to go before it recovers from the effects of the financial crisis. >> More
Bankers' pay deals are to be linked more closely with the long-term profitability of banks under new rules from the Financial Services Authority. >> More
Sentiment in the housing market continues to improve according to the latest RICS UK housing market survey published today. >> More
New data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders shows further signs of stabilisation in the mortgage market, but transactions are still weak on a historic basis. Lending for house purchase and remortgaging both increased in June, albeit from very low levels.
Residential properties are being undervalued by mortgage lenders causing sales and remortgages to fall through, according to research conducted by the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA). >> More
The private rented sector grew by 17% between 2007 and 2008 and continues to expand. It’s vitally important that the Government is committed to ousting the rogue landlords and agents from the industry - something the Association of Letting Agents (ARLA) has long been calling for – and thereby improving standards for the consumer. >> More
The average LTV has fallen from 91% in August 2007, to 74% today. As a result the average deposit required on a £150,000 mortgage has increased from £13,500 to £39,000. >> More
UK house prices in June were 10.7% lower than one year ago, according to the latest UK house price index statistics from the department for Communities and Local Government. >> More
There were 45,000 house purchase loans, worth £5.9 billion, up 23% from 36,500 loans in May. >> More
8% more chartered surveyors expect prices to rise rather than fall over the next three months, the highest reading for this series since April 2007. >> More
House prices will fall by a further 3% this year before recovering slightly in 2010, a group of economists has said. >> More
The average LTV has fallen from 91% in August 2007 - when the credit crunch began - to 74% today, according to moneyfacts.co.uk. As a result the average deposit required on a £150,000 mortgage has increased from £13,500 to £39,000. >> More
About 500 buy-to-let investors who put down deposits of up to £20,000 each for off-plan apartments have been hit by the collapse of Dylan Harvey Residential, which has been placed into administration. >> More
The RICS believes house prices will finish this year higher than in January, echoing what Nationwide said last week. >> More
Following a considerable shift in sentiment in the housing market over the past few months (which has seen prices starting to pick-up in some areas), RICS no longer expects house prices to fall by 10% in 2009, as predicted at the start of the year. Instead, it now looks likely that the average house price in 2009 Q4 could be slightly higher than in 2008 Q4. >> More
Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index recorded a slight increase of one point in July with sentiment remaining stable. >> More
An undercover investigation by the BBC has shown letting agents apparently in breach of race relations law, by discriminating against migrant workers on behalf of landlords
Jon Hunt, the Foxtons founder who sold it for £370m at the height of the housing boom in the spring of 2007, says the property slump is close to the bottom. >> More
House prices will fall 12.2% this year, says the famously gloomy economic think tank Oxford Economics. >> More
In contrast to Oxford Economics, agents are expecting house prices to rise for the first time this year, according to an ‘agent confidence index’ from propertyfinder. >> More
Last Friday, conveyancing firm myhomemove completed on a transaction every 74 seconds through its Premier Property Lawyers practice – a tally of nearly 300 transactions. >> More
Residential landlords are leaving themselves at risk by failing to take out adequate insurance products for their property business, research from Redbrick Landlords Insurance has revealed. >> More
Research from Countrywide Mortgage Services shows that the most popular mortgage applications in June required a 15% deposit on average. >> More
Woolwich has announced half year lending of £84.4 billion, up substantially from £69.8 billion at the beginning of 2008. >> More
Twelve firms offering sale and rent back services have agreed to change their adverts or take down their websites completely after the OFT challenged some of their statements made to consumers. >> More
A petition on the Downing Street website calling for the suspension of Stamp Duty for three years has now received a response from the Government. >> More
The price of a typical house rose for the third consecutive month in July, increasing by 1.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the latest Nationwide house price index.
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FindaProperty.com’s latest Rental Index suggests that the UK rental market is beginning to return to normality, following the market being swamped by large numbers of properties put up for rent by ‘forced’ landlords who were unable to sell. >> More
The UK's largest building society believes there is a "reasonable chance" that house prices could end the year higher than they started 2009. >> More
Latest figures from the Land Registry show a small rise in house prices in England and Wales, with transaction levels down by nearly half in the course of a year. >> More
An online listing where landlords can name and shame rent dodgers has been launched.
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The average yield for landlords rose to 6.4% in the second quarter of this year, according to a report from Paragon Mortgages, ticking up from 6.2% in the first quarter. >> More
MDA SearchFlow is to cut the cost of its official searches by one-third from October.
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Signs of a further pick-up in the housing market during the summer have been revealed in the latest figures from the Bank of England. >> More
30% of landlords predict that tenant demand will rise over the next 12 months, according to Paragon Mortgages' Private Rented Sector Trends Q2 2009 report. >> More
June saw rents rise for the first time in three months and the property market continued to stabilise, according to the latest monthly research from LSL Property Services. >> More
House prices in England and Wales have risen month-on-month for the first time since January 2008, according to the Land Registry. >> More
Ben Bernanke, the boss of the US central bank, has defended the US bail-out plan citing his fears of a second Great Depression, during a public talk. >> More
Property consultants Cluttons has reported a 75% annual increase in buyer registrations
A Leicester estate agent was so incensed by the actions of an investment purchaser who reduced their purchase price by £15,000 at the last moment, resulting in three sales falling through, that he placed an advertisement in the local property guide, warning other clients and agents. >> More
Buyers are back in town, London agents are reporting. >> More
Landlords had good reason to be cheerier in June as rents rose for the first time in three months and the property market continued to stabilise, according to the latest monthly research from LSL Property Services. >> More
Paragon’s Private Rented Sector Trends Q2 2009 report shows that the average yield across landlords’ portfolios rose from 6.2% in Q1 to 6.4% in Q2. >> More
House prices continued to stagnate in July but a clear North-South divide is back, according to the latest report from property information specialist Hometrack. >> More
The Chancellor hit out at UK banks following a meeting with bank chiefs this afternoon, saying they need to do more to help small businesses weather the recession. >> More
Sales of new home in the US rose more than expected in June while the stock of unsold properties fell to an 11-year low. >> More
The tracker mortgage market has been decimated over the past year, according to latest figures from moneysupermarket.com. >> More
Rents across the UK are finally showing signs of stabilising, after prolonged falls because of saturated supply. >> More
Banks are stockpiling depositors cash, according to LSL Property Services. >> More
The UK economy contracted 0.8% between April and June, more than double the figure economists had expected. >> More
Speaking during a Treasuring Select Committee hearing recently Professor David Miles, who is best known as the youthful face of complex economics and recently joined the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, said expectations for the housing market were “a bit better now than a few months ago” and that he believed that we have “seen the most of the overall aggregate house price falls”. . >> More
The housing market is still in trouble but the depth of the slump is not as severe as originally feared, it has been revealed today. >> More
The average price of a new home fell by 0.5% in June 2009, following a sharp drop of 2.5% in May. >> More
Almost three quarters of tenants seeking property to rent on FindaProperty.com intend to negotiate a rent reduction from their prospective landlord, as they become more aware of their strong position in the current oversupplied market. >> More
Average UK rents rose for a second consecutive month in June according to Your Move.
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Figures released today by the British Bankers Association reveal that net mortgage lending was up by £2.6bn in June, giving an annual icrease of 5.1%, which follows on from a £2.4bn increase in May. >> More
Commenting on data released this morning from the British Bankers Association, which shows a further jump in the number of mortgage approvals for home purchase, RICS Chief Economist Simon Rubinsohn says: >> More
Retail sales rose by 1.2% in June, which was far better than the 0.3% that economists had predicted. >> More
Housing and economics experts have been brought together by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) to develop a series of long-term policy options aimed at ending the cycle of boom and bust in the housing market. >> More
The Conservative Party’s plan to reform the system of banking regulation have been criticised by Complinet, a provider of regulatory information and insight. >> More
Bearing in mind that what happens in the US tends to cross the Atlantic 18 months later, we thought you’d be interested in two new developments. >> More
A new online property portal has launched, specialising in properties for older and disabled people. >> More
Estate agents across the UK are reporting that home buyers who have been offered mortgages are then not given access to the money when they need it. >> More
Private landlords saw the collective value of their properties fall by £118.4bn between the first quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009. >> More
A leading think-tank is predicting it may take another five years for income per head to return to the level it was before the recession hit in early 2008. >> More
The UK economy is set to shrink by 4.5% in this year, the biggest fall in a single year since 1945, according to an influential think-tank.. >> More
Throughout the global financial crisis, many people have asked whether our children will make the same mistakes. >> More
The latest Bank of England "Trends in Lending" report shows very weak lending in May, although there are predictions of a recovery in the next quarter from lenders. >> More
The National Landlords Association (NLA), the leading representative body for private residential landlords in the UK, has reminded companies and landlords in the sale and rent back (SRB) market that only ten days remain for them to apply for FSA permission to keep operating. >> More
Today’s Rightmove figures on asking prices suggest a market which is unpredictable.
Two landlord organisations are warning their members that it could be difficult to claim back renewal fees. >> More
Research by the finance website moneysupermarket shows the average first-time buyer needs a deposit of £32,000. >> More
New advice has been issued by Communities and Local Government to all local Weights and Measures officers about the policing of Energy Performance Certificates. >> More
A new online auction room is launching, called BidProp.co.uk, saying it plans to works with estate agents. >> More
The Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) has produced a new leaflet, advising people who live in blocks of flats how they can deal with anti-social behaviour by their neighbours. >> More
The National Landlords Association (NLA) has issed advice for landlords following the High Court ruling about letting agent repeat renewal commission fees. >> More
Gross mortgage lending in June was an estimated £12.3 billion, a 17% increase from £10.5 billion in May and a 48% decline from £24.8 billion in June 2008, according to new data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders. >> More
Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), reacting to the Council of Mortgage Lender's lending figures for June, released earlier today, comments: >> More
According to the Rightmove House Price Index the average asking price for a property increased by 0.6% in July to £227,864, up from £226,436 in June. >> More
Over 160 cases of serious fraud with charges in excess of £100,000 came to UK courts in the first half of this year, according to KPMG Forensic – the highest number of cases in a six month period in the 21 year history of its Fraud Barometer. >> More
Tenant demand fell in the second quarter of 2009 although the pace of decline eased back markedly. . >> More
Many of you will be aware that the Sale And Rent Back (SARB) market is being regulated by the Financial Services Industry (FSA) from 1st August 2009 >> More
A couple who lived rent-free in houses for 18 months are not unusual, says Paul Shamplina of eviction service Landlord Action. >> More
The ongoing muddle in the aftermath of the OFT v Foxtons case over the fairness of renewal fees shows little sign of resolution and a further hearing over the issue appears inevitable.
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The Master Locksmiths Association is warning agents not to use non-member locksmiths and to check out the status of locksmiths they have used until now. >> More
Letting agents could be forced to hand over to the taxman the names and address of all landlords with whom they have had any dealings. >> More
Buying a home in the East Midlands is a far cheaper option than renting, research from The Nottingham has revealed. >> More
Paragon Mortgages says yields in the private rented sector have continued to improve as landlords experience growing levels of tenant demand. >> More
Bob Young, managing director of Capital Home Loans, could do without recent preaching over buy-to-let lending. >> More
Price expectations rose for the first time since May 2007, according to RICS' UK housing market survey published today. >> More
Crown Mortgage Management supports the FSA in defending specialist lenders and believes the return of non-confirming loans to the market is essential for a full market recovery. >> More
Despite tentative signs of recovery, house prices could still fall further next year, warn PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) economists. >> More
UK Financial Investments Limited (UKFI), the company set up to manage the Government’s investments in Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds, has published its strategy for managing the Government’s stakes in the banks. >> More
The rate of inflation fell back below the Bank of England's 2% target in June for the first time in two years, official figures revealed today. >> More
UK real GDP is projected to fall by just over 4% in 2009, but should start to pick up later this year and into next year according to PwC. >> More
A total of £1.5 million, representing 2,000 tenants’ deposits, was submitted to the Deposit Protection Service in just one day last Monday. >> More
Confusion is clouding the aftermath of Friday’s judgement in the case over renewal fees between the OFT and Foxtons. >> More
Speculation as to what could now happen in the wake of the OFT v Foxtons case was particularly rife in The Times. >> More
The court had heard that Foxtons charged 11% as a renewals fee. The judge made it clear that such a material charge should have been highlighted not just in the contract but also in Foxtons’ marketing literature. >> More
Activity in the housing market stabilised in June according to the latest data from The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA). >> More
New research has today revealed that those in the North West have been hardest hit by the recession in the UK. >> More
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) composite leading indicators (CLIs) for May 2009 point to tangible signs of improvement in the outlook of most OECD economies. >> More
The Conservatives’ promise to scrap HIPs immediately they get into power is to be in the party’s general election manifesto. >> More
Prices fell by 0.5% in June, with the average price of a property now standing at £157,713 – 15% down on this time a year ago. >> More
A new service for home buyers, which will give them free access to an agent to act on their behalf, is being launched later this month. >> More
London agents Cluttons are forecasting a steep rise in new instructions later this summer because of a wave of forced sellers. >> More
The Nationwide Building Society is offering 125% loan-to-value mortgages to it's existing customers who are in negative equity and need to move home. >> More
The Bank of England is expected to keep interest rates at their historic low of 0.5% on Thursday. >> More
New estimates from the Council of Mortgage Lenders suggest that a higher proportion of young first-time buyers than ever before are getting help from parents to enter the market. >> More
The UK government is set to announce its plans to reform the financial system to prevent future crises. >> More
House prices fell back in June, according to the latest property survey from the Halifax.
Persimmon, the largest housebuilder by volume, has reported forward sales revenue into the second half of 2009 to be in the region of £700 million, compared to estimates of £458 million at 1 January 2009 and £650 million at the same time last year. >> More
Figures from moneysupermarket.com show the number of mortgage products available to consumers has slowly been decreasing, with only 2,282 products now available, compared to 5,040 this time last year, and an astonishing 27,962 in July 2007. >> More
Consumers are more confident the economy will be better than today in six months' time for the first time in over five years. >> More
The latest Young Index results from Young Group show that buy-to-let investors doubt they can get a better mortgage deal at the present time. >> More
35% of finance professionals would be tempted to invest a redundancy payout in a buy-to-let property, according to new research from PropertyEarth.net, the ‘chain free’ property portal. >> More
There has been an increase in tenants struggling to pay their rent, according to the Association of Residential Letting Agents. >> More
Julian Sampson, partner at Wright & Wright LLP, reflects on how quickly regulation of sale and rentback has come about, and its implications for equity release. >> More
The number of unique visitors to free portal service Globrix reached nearly a million in June, 18 months after launching. At over 990,000, it was the highest level of traffic the property search engine has reported. >> More
Proprietors are reminded that as another tax deadline approaches on July 31, there is a potential lifeline available should your business need it. >> More
Residential rents in central London have fallen for the fifth quarter running, with a decline of 1.9% in June, Knight Frank has reported. >> More
A shocking case has emerged in which an 81-year-old widow suffering from dementia was sued in court over a tenancy deposit. >> More
Sold signs have been sprouting across the country, increasing to their highest number since April 2008. >> More
Most ‘stakeholders’ in the residential property industry would regard it as a retrograde step if Energy Performance Certificates were no longer required from the first day that a property is marketed. >> More
Tenants who will be given seven weeks’ notice that their landlord might be repossessed could find themselves breaking a legally binding tenancy agreement. >> More
Today’s Credit Conditions survey from the Bank of England shows that the supply of mortgage finance appears to be slowly improving. >> More
The National Landlords Association (NLA), the leading representative body for private residential landlords in the UK, has marked the beginning of sale and rent back (SRB) regulation by warning landlords in this market they only have four weeks to apply for FSA permission to keep operating. >> More
Andrew Hagger of Moneynet.co.uk looks at the pricing policy currently operated by mortgage lenders and how this may impact on potential home movers and the housing market as a whole. >> More
Prime London properties rose 1.7% in value during June, Knight Frank has reported, while the most expensive houses – costing £10m or more – rose by 1.9%. >> More
Energy efficiency has become one of the most important attributes buyers want from a new home, according to a YouGov survey. >> More
Figures realeased today by the Nationwide show that in June the average price of a property rose by a seasonally adjusted 0.9% to £156,442, up from £154,016 in May. >> More
Monthly average figures taken from all the major house price indices clearly show that the market bottomed between April and May this year, according to Assetz. >> More
The National Landlords Association (NLA) has been called to appear before the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee today. >> More
New independent research by property developer Green Shoots reveals that 76% of people believe now is a good time for first time buyers to get on the property ladders, as prices bottom and interest rates remain low. >> More
The future of Propertyfinder, the UK’s oldest property portal, hangs in the balance after a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange. >> More
The property market continued to pick up in May, according to figures from the Bank of England. >> More
New instructions are likely to fall much further across London and the south, a leading agent has warned, and would-be vendors who are told they will need a HIP are sitting things out. >> More
House prices fell again in May, according to the Land Registry, while completions in March – the last month for which the data is available – added up to just over 33,000. >> More
Landlord Accreditation Wales, the principality’s private rental sector association, has announced that the Cardiff branch of the Northwood lettings group is the first NALS member to join its organisation. >> More
A man who let out the flat where he was a tenant has been sentenced to five months in prison. >> More
A ratings agency has warned that 15% of prime mortgage loans are in negative equity, and that the proportion will rise to 34% on the basis that further house price falls are on the way.
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The property drought means that new properties are three times as likely to sell than this time a year ago, says Hamptons. >> More
UK tenant arrears topped £250m in May, according to the country’s largest lettings agent.
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Upmarket acquisitions firm Prime Purchase says that, while prices are falling everywhere else, some of London’s best properties have sold this year at inflated prices. >> More
More surveyors are reporting a fall in rents than at any other time in the last ten years, says the RICS. >> More
Land prices have collapsed but cash-strapped developers are unable to take advantage of lower values, Savills has reported. >> More
Arrears have shot up, but the forecast number of repossessions has been cut – and the Government announced more free debt counselling for those faced with losing their homes. >> More
A bombshell is about to descend on the lettings world, with news that Assured Shorthold Tenancies will extend to include rentals of £100,000 a year. >> More
The number of tenants defaulting on rent is likely to soar following another rise in unemployment, a leading figure in the lettings industry has warned. >> More
Property prices are expected to rise by an average of 1.4% over the next year, according to the latest Building Societies Association tracker survey. >> More
The number of lots offered at auction last month declined almost 40% compared with May 2008, the Essential Information Group has reported. >> More
Average fixed rate rose 0.21% in one week, Moneyfacts.co.uk has reported. >> More
Sale and rent back provider Residential Property Solutions (RPS) has launched a charter to promote standards within the sector. >> More
The property industry is echoing calls for the government to double flood prevention spending. This follows news that one in six homes is at risk as rainfall across the country increases with many potentially facing the insurance nightmare of affordable insurance cover being withdrawn. >> More
Rents dropped across the residential lettings sector but rental expectations suggest the trend is set to moderate, says the RICS Lettings Survey published today >> More
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) forecasts for housing transactions and gross lending in 2009 remain unchanged, at 700,000 transactions and £145 billion of gross lending. >> More
Wright & Wright Solicitors has sounded an alarm over forthcoming sale and rent back regulation . >> More
Rents have fallen by an average of 6% over the past year, says Knight Frank, with landlords in London, Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds taking the biggest hits. >> More
Demand is outstripping supply across the UK housing market, with estate agents registering four house hunters to every available property according to the NAEA. >> More
Gross mortgage lending totalled an estimated £10.3 billion in May, a 2% decline from the £10.5 billion in April and down 58% from May 2008. >> More
Property prices will rise by an average of 1.4% over the next year according to the BSA's Property Tracker survey, as cautious optimism returns to the housing market. >> More
The Treasury Committee has decided to undertake a short inquiry into mortgage arrears and access to mortgage finance and is looking for help compiling evidence. >> More
The latest Lloyds TSB Scotland Business Monitor shows the Scottish economy experiencing a lessening of the effects of the recession. >> More
Many lenders are increasing their mortgage rates, with C&G and Abbey expected to raise their rates today. >> More
Things are moving in the housing market again, according to the John Charcol Index for May, which shows a sharp increase in purchase activity this year. >> More
Stabilising rental income and higher yields mean the bottom of the buy to let market is in sight, according to Smartlandord.co.uk’s May analysis of the buy-to-let market. >> More
Things are moving in the housing market again, according to the John Charcol Index for May, which shows a sharp increase in purchase activity this year. >> More
Asking prices in London went up for the fifth time in six months, according to Primelocation.com. >> More
A £20m home in London is said to be Britain’s most expensive-ever repossession. Hamptons and Sotheby’s have been appointed joint agents. >> More
Landlord Action, a company specialising in tenant eviction, had a record number of court hearings in one day when 16 cases were heard in 12 different courts around the country.
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Three in four letting agents claim to have seen a rise in the number of so-called ‘reluctant’ landlords over the past 12 months. >> More
More than 50 days have been shaved off the typical selling time of a property, a website has reported. >> More
An online estate agency which specialises in selling distressed properties quickly says it is beginning to sell houses at above their reduced asking price. >> More
The Bank of England has warned that more borrowers could be in negative equity now than in the1990s. >> More
Lettingsearch, a lettings-only portal, has re-launched its website and appointed 22 new licensees. >> More
First time buyers are still being disadvantaged by lenders' loan-to-value policies, according to moneysupermarket.com. >> More
New research from largemortgageloans.com shows that million pound property sales in Great Britain fell by 41% in 2008. Last year, 5,302 million pound properties were sold in Great Britain, down from the 9,003 sales in 2007. >> More
Mortgage broker John Charcol expects the cost of fixed rates to rise imminently. >> More
Commenting on the ONS data on new construction orders, RICS Chief economist Simon Rubinsohn said he believes the worst may be over. >> More
Sale and Rent Back firms have been warned that additional assistance may be required for completing the recently announced interim authorisation process. >> More
The number of loans handed out for house purchases in the UK rose by 16% in April compared with the previous month, according to lenders >> More
Take up of fixed-rate products increased further as the interest rate cycle has now reached its floor, according to new data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders. >> More
The CML are publishing new guidance to reinforce that lenders act fairly in dealing with cases of arrears on buy-to-let mortgages. Lenders recognise the need for fair treatment when customers fall behind with their payments, and look at the individual circumstances before deciding what action is appropriate. >> More
With the political landscape changing almost daily, no-one seems very sure when the next general election might now take place. Could there be a snap poll as early as the summer? Might it take place in the autumn? Or will the prime minister weather the current storm and delay an election until the last possible date next June? >> More
RICS' latest UK housing market survey has reported some support for property prices.
Lloyds Banking Group is to shut all of its Cheltenham & Gloucester branches, according to reports. >> More
As buy-to-let lending continues to decline, research from Unbiased.co.uk, the professional advice website, reveals that consumer confidence is declining with it, as nearly a third of Brits (28%) >> More
Despite market conditions Clayton Euro Risk has carried out due diligence on over £20 billion worth of mortgage assets over the last two years. >> More
A further increase in both new buyer enquiries and sales, as well as a reduction in the level of stocks on surveyors books has begun to provide some support for property prices, says RICS' UK housing market survey published today. >> More
The property industry is wearily preparing to do business with yet another new housing minister – the fourth in less than the last two years, and the ninth in 12 years. >> More
Lenders are threatening the recovery of the housing market by pulling mortgage products and not replacing them, whilst raising rates on new products. >> More
Tenants are in a strong position to negotiate on their rent but they are not in as good a position as they were six months ago when the sales market was at its worst, according to the UK’s largest lettings agent, Your Move. >> More
Residential Property Solutions (RPS) says the government should consider further accelerating its proposed regulation of the sale and rent back market. >> More
The emergence of an organisation, MTD Secure Ltd, which appears to present itself as running a bona fide authorised tenancy deposit scheme, has led to an urgent warning.
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House prices increased by 2.6% in May, according to the Halifax. This increase followed three successive monthly declines recorded by the lender of between 1.8% and 2.3%. >> More
The FSA is taking a two stage approach to regulating the sale and rent back market. An interim regime will be brought in as soon as any statutory changes come into force (expected on 1 July) in order to address the most immediate problems... >> More
A new index is showing apparently clear signs that the residential housing market is in recovery. >> More
A new political party that is campaigning in the European elections on an anti-corruption platform has been formed by British expatriates in Spain. >> More
Expats who own property in northern Cyprus are facing a potential legal challenge to their right of ownership. >> More
The Government has laid before Parliament secondary legislation to bring sale and rent back agreements within the scope of FSA regulation. >> More
Consumer confidence remains fragile, according to the Nationwide. >> More
The Land Registry’s figures for April released this week have drawn a mixed response.
One of the three approved tenancy deposit schemes, Mydeposits, has launched an online dispute service. >> More
The lack of new instructions continues to be the big story in the London housing market, with Winkworth the latest to underline the problem. >> More
Mortgage approvals went up in April to 43,000, up from 40,000 in March, but still significantly below the 55,000 approvals for the same month a year ago, and less than half what they were in April two years ago. >> More
ARLA has called for the Government to introduce tax incentives for landlords to modernise their properties. >> More
Demand for variable mortgage products has almost halved since the start of the year according to new research from Abbey Mortgages. >> More
The CBI believes that conditions are expected to stabilise for businesses in the months ahead. >> More
Gross mortgage lending by building societies was £1,551 million in April 2009, compared to £1,571 million in March, and £3,921 million in April 2008. >> More
Experts have called for further quantitative easing to be considered by the Bank of England’s MPC when they meet this week. >> More
A new incentive scheme is needed to help encourage landlords to modernise homes, according to the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA). >> More
Data released this morning by the Bank of England shows that the number of mortgages approved for house purchase rose again in May. >> More
Government proposals to license landlords will never work, says one of the landlord organisations. >> More
The lettings business of Grant Bovey’s collapsed buy-to-let business, Imagine Homes, has reportedly been transferred to a new organisation, Now Lettings. >> More
The national decline in rents has finally stablised, says the latest rental survey by FindaProperty. >> More
The prime central London market is moving into a post-credit crunch phase, suggests the latest report from Knight Frank covering May. >> More
One-fifth of borrowers with Bradford & Bingley are behind on their mortgages with the number of arrears on the rise. A year ago, 200 people at B & B were working in its arrears department – today, there are 400. >> More
Public confidence in the housing market is higher than at any point since September 2007 and the Northern Rock bail out. >> More
The average price of a new home rose by 0.4% in April 2009, reverting back to the positive monthly growth first recorded in February this year. >> More
The National Landlords Association (NLA) believes it is vital that any new legislation affecting the private rental sector will not just introduce burdensome regulations which will be of no benefit to landlords or tenants. >> More
Foreign exchange specialist Foremost Currency Group (FCG) has reported a close to 100% increase in the amount of people registering to ‘buy’ euros and dollars since the pound began its dramatic fightback against the leading currency pair in late May. With the vast majority of its customers making international payments in order to buy overseas property, the company is speculating if this could mark a gradual return of confidence to the overseas property buying markets. >> More
Propertyfinder, the first of the UK property portals and the third most visited, could face shock closure after an announcement yesterday to the Australian stock market. A management buy-out is also on the cards. >> More
Two estate agent firms have been expelled by the Property Ombudsman service – formerly the OEA – after failing to pay awards made against them. >> More
Tenants are to be told if their landlords fail to protect their deposit, in a new policy being introduced by the Deposit Protection Service ¬ – one of the three Government approved tenancy deposit protection schemes. >> More
Rogue lettings agencies are on the increase, says Paul Shamplina, the high-profile director of eviction and rent collection service Landlord Action. >> More
House prices rose by 1.2% in May, says the Nationwide report out today. It has brought the annual rate of decline down from 15% to 11.3%. >> More
Hundreds of agents and other property professionals have already taken part in the online survey launched last week about the industry’s attitude towards HIPs. >> More
A legal fight lasting nearly a year and which was effectively the subject of a media blackout has been revealed by the National Landlords Association. >> More
A group of London companies controlled by the now bankrupt Spencer Michael that promised to help investors become instant millionaires has been wound up in the High Court on grounds of public interest following an investigation by Companies Investigation Branch (CIB). >> More
The fragility of the housing market has been underlined by new evidence of lenders’ reluctance to do business. >> More
Just 133,710 new homes were completed in England in the year to the end of March. That is almost 90,000 short of the Government’s target of 220,000. >> More
A new online auction website is about to launch covering properties in the Greater London area. >> More
The Libor rate, used by banks as the interest rate charged when they lend money to each other, has fallen to a record low. >> More
MPC member Danny Blanchflower said the Monetary Policy Committee misread the recession and should have cut interest rates earlier . >> More
Just 133,710 new homes were completed in England in the year to the end of March, according to data released by the government. That is almost 90,000 less than the government’s own target of 220,000. >> More
Government ministers are to be urged to scrap Home Information Packs in an Early Day Motion tabled today by shadow housing minister Grant Shapps. >> More
The Bank of England considered further expanding its programme of quantitative easing by the maximum £75bn allowed by the government, minutes have shown. >> More
There were 129 auctions held during April, according to Essential Information Group, raising £170m. >> More
Increasing costs and rising red tape will deter new landlords from entering the buy-to-let market . >> More
Specialist buy-to-let lender Paragon has called on the Government to do more to stimulate new lending. >> More
The cost of the average fixed rate mortgage has risen in the last month according to Moneyfacts. >> More
Paragon's charge for impairment provisions was £38.7 million for the first half of 2009, compares with £28.8 million for the first half of 2008. >> More
The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) fell to 2.3% from 2.9% in March, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. >> More
Confidence in the housing market is at its highest level since December 2007 according to the latest survey from propertyfinder.com. >> More
The average estate agent sold 10 properties in April, up from eight in March and a low point of five in August 2008, according to the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA).
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Scottish house prices have continued to fall, according to Lloyds TSB Scotland data.
The Asset Management Group (AMG) believes that the CML statement that repossession figures have been pessimistic is correct, and based on current repossession levels, the real figure is likely to be between 50,000 and 60,000 by the end of 2009. >> More
More than 100,000 new properties were advertised in April as sellers returned to the market. >> More
A government scheme to help first-time buyers has run out of money, leading to estate agents reporting the sudden collapse of property chains. >> More
Almost 13,000 properties were repossessed in the first quarter of this year, up 50% on a year ago. >> More
House prices will have fallen 12% in 2009 by the end of this year, Cluttons have predicted.
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New buy-to-let lending fell in the first three months of 2009, the sixth consecutive quarter in which there was a drop. >> More
New buy-to-let lending fell for the sixth consecutive quarter in the first three months of 2009, reflecting the continuation of extremely challenging funding conditions as well as general housing market weakness, >> More
There were 12,800 repossessions by first-charge mortgage lenders (including buy-to-let) in the first quarter of this year, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders. This compares with 10,400 in the fourth quarter of last year, and 8,500 in the first quarter of 2008. >> More
The increasing costs of becoming a landlord may deter people from entering the buy-to-let market, says Landlord Assist, the nationwide tenant eviction and rent collection company. >> More
Paragon Group has cautiously welcomed government proposals for the private rented sector, but says more needs to be done to help landlords that form the backbone of the sector to access finance to help grow their businesses and expand the stock of private rented property to meet rising tenant demand. >> More
Ian Potter, operations manager of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), says the Government’s response to the Rugg Review into the private rented sector today represents a “historic shift in thinking”. >> More
The Bank of England says that the UK economic recovery is likely to be slow and protracted. >> More
The National Landlords Association (NLA), the leading representative body for private residential landlords, has labelled the latest Government recommendations on the proposed database of rental properties as “well-meaning but flawed.” >> More
Asking prices in most of England and Wales went up 1.1% during April. >> More
New research by Fathom Financial Consulting and property website Zoopla says that prices of residential properties sold at auction in recent weeks were 25% lower than could have been achieved through an estate agent. >> More
Sales in April edged up a little further, albeit from historically low levels, while the net balance of surveyors reporting a rise in new buyer enquires climbed to the highest figure for almost a decade, says RICS' UK housing market survey for April published today. >> More
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) report "The Madness of Mortgage Lenders: Housing Finance and the Financial Crisis" by Professor Chris Hamnett of Kings College, London has concluded that: >> More
Chartered surveyors saw sales in April increasing slightly, while the net balance of surveyors reporting a rise in new buyer enquires climbed to the highest figure for almost a decade. >> More
The number of people in Northern Ireland getting into trouble with their mortgage and faced with repossession action in the courts rocketed by 35% in the first three >> More
The number of claims on rent guarantee policies has increased by a fifth, according to specialist insurance provider for the lettings industry, HomeLet. >> More
Lloyds Bank, Britain’s biggest lender, has revised its predictions for house price deflation. >> More
Central London agents whose new property instructions have dried up to a trickle are reporting an upward pressure on prices. >> More
Letting and managing agents in the north-east could be interested in a conference being held in Newcastle this Friday, May 15. >> More
A leading think tank has called for an end to self-cert mortgages and a maximum LTV of 95%. >> More
50% of developers are predicting that house prices will stabilise by the end of the year, according to a national survey of 4,500 UK homebuilders, >> More
The National HMO Network Conference is to be held at St James Park in Newcastle on Friday 15 May.. >> More
John Charcol’s Ray Boulger believes that the market will stabilise by the third quarter of this year and house prices will show a net fall of only 5% in 2009. >> More
The number of new mortgages requiring a minimum of 40% deposit has increased by 61% in the past six months, whilst the number of mortgages requiring a 10% deposit has decreased by two thirds in the last six months. >> More
The number of buy-to-let mortgage products has fallen by 95% in two years, down from 4,384 in 2007 to just 213, it has been revealed. >> More
Evicting tenants who fall behind with their rent is taking longer. >> More
Property markets continue to crash right around the world. >> More
Buy-to-let landlords could be forced to join a national registration scheme under new Government proposals. >> More
UK house prices are continuing to fall sharply, according to the latest survey from the Halifax. >> More
The UK recession could be the worst since the early 1930s, a leading economic research body has predicted. >> More
Licensing of the private rental sector took two major steps yesterday. The launch of ARLA’s scheme for its members coincided with revelations that mandatory licensing of both letting agents and private landlords is firmly on the political agenda. >> More
There are growing concerns about the role of valuation surveyors in the downturn. >> More
Accountancy and insolvency firm Moore Blatch has forecast that repossessions and distressed sales could be far worse than those in the crash of the 1990s. >> More
Evidence is mounting that changes to the way in which housing benefit is now paid is exposing landlords to an increased risk of rent arrears. >> More
House prices may only have around 8% left to fall, according to the notoriously gloomy think tank, the Centre for Economics and Business Research. >> More
Research from price comparison website moneysupermarket.com shows that in just two years, the number of buy to let mortgages available has fallen from 4,384 to just 213 - a reduction of 95%. >> More
The Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index rose by eight points to 50 in April, the largest single monthly rise for nearly two years. >> More
The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) is introducing a licensing scheme for its UK members and a code of practice for letting agents. >> More
Home affordability for potential first-time buyers (FTBs) has improved substantially since mid 2007, according to the latest Halifax FTB Affordability Review. >> More
The latest findings from Hamptons International reveal that Q1 presented some positive signs of recovery for the UK sales market. >> More
New guidelines are being brought in aimed at protecting tenants and homeowners who use letting agencies. >> More
The growth in mortgage lending is likely to continue, according to figures from the Bank of England. >> More
RICS believes that house prices will stabilise in the latter part of 2009. >> More
The latest figures from the Bank of England show that mortgage approvals grew by 4 per cent in March. >> More
New findings from the National Landlords Association (NLA) indicate that women in property are positive about the future. >> More
Market conditions were the dominant theme at the recent Land Data ‘great housing market debate’ hosted by the Wriglesworth Consultancy. >> More
In our response to the recent Budget, we said that the most important measure in the long term could be the new asset-backed securities (ABS) scheme. Potentially, it offers an opportunity to re-start capital >> More
Keshav Thukaram, managing director of smartlandlord.co.uk, commented on the UK rental market: >> More
A drastic shortage of stock in Central London is driving quick sales and even some stabilisation of prices, reports Cluttons, giving sellers an opportunity to make a confident return to the market. >> More
A year ago moneysupermarket.com launched the weekly credit crunch monitor to track changes in financial products ranges during the credit crunch. >> More
American auction house REDC, which held a five-day sale of repossessed properties in five different venues in England just before Easter, has not got its results included in the ‘bible’ of auction sales. >> More
Mortgage lending by banks in March was down on February, says the British Bankers’ Association. >> More
The crucial test case between the Office of Fair Trading and Foxtons is currently being heard in the High Court. >> More
Mortgage lending by the UK's major banks fell for the first time in four months in March, striking a blow to talk of a housing market recovery. >> More
The people believe house prices will be higher in 12 months time than at any time since December 2007 according to propertyfinder.com’s April survey of confidence in the housing market. >> More
The UK manufacturing sector and exports in particular could help to drive the recovery in the UK economy, according to consultancy group Deloitte . >> More
Gross mortgage lending was an estimated £11.5bn in March. This represents a 16% rise from £9.9bn in February, but a 52% decline from £24.2bn in March last year, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders . >> More
Fewer people are telephoning estate agents and mortgage brokers, reports the 118118 directory inquiries service. >> More
Estate agents expect further price falls over the next three months, a survey of 364 practitioners has revealed. >> More
PropertyIndex, the pay-per-lead portal thought to have done a deal to list agents’ properties with eBay, has rushed to defend the role of estate agents. >> More
Moneysupermarket.com has revealed that mortgage declines have increased by nearly 400% in the past two years . >> More
First direct has claimed that £20.2 billion of savings are ready to be used by UK homeowners to trade up in property, when the time is right . >> More
The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) has put pressure on Chancellor Alistair Darling to take radical action in his April 22 budget >> More
Buyer enthusiasm continued to grow in March with interest in London picking up particularly sharply, according to RICS' UK housing market survey published today. >> More
An increase in mature students is helping landlords in university towns, reports Paragon Mortgages.. >> More
The auction site eBay has started to list properties after testing the new category over several weeks. A full launch is expected later this year but yesterday, browsers could already search for over 77,000 properties in the UK >> More
The managing director of personal search company OneSearch Direct has laid into the Tories after the party confirmed it would drop Home Information Packs.. >> More
House prices up, lending up, now 90% LTVs… the first stutterings of a recovery?>> More
Colleys, Halifax’s valuation and surveying arm, has put its 400 chartered surveyors into a consultation exercise with the aim of chopping numbers by a quarter. A further 34 staff at a call centre in Birmingham are also being consulted,. >> More
Movewithus has warned that lenders could face litigation from borrowers whose homes they have repossessed, after selling them at one of the REDC auctions. >> More
Interest from home-buyers is starting to gain "real momentum", although sales remain low, UK surveyors say. >> More
The number of mortgages handed out by lenders rose slightly in February but activity in the market remains weak, according to a lenders' group. >> More
Prime Central London rents fell by 7.4% during the first quarter of the year – the second largest fall on record, according to Knight Frank’s latest figures. >> More
The UK economy could decline for another year and take a further two years to recover, according to a respected think tank. >> More
Recent media coverage has highlighted the difficulties faced by some tenants whose landlords default on their mortgage. >> More
A National Association of Estate Agents survey has found that Home Information Packs are stopping people from putting their property up for sale. >> More
The National Landlords Association is claiming that major changes to the way housing benefit is paid to tenants wastes millions of pounds and will result in increased homelessness. >> More
Home Information Packs are stopping people from putting their property up for sale, a survey of property professionals has revealed. >> More
New changes will leave Home Information Packs (HIPs) bigger and better than ever, the Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) said today. >> More
Commenting on the changes to the home buying and selling process, Gillian Charlesworth, RICS director of external affairs said: "RICS maintains that trying to engineer the home buying and selling process through the HIP is of limited use >> More
Major changes to the way housing benefit is paid to tenants wastes millions of pounds and will result in increased homelessness, according to a piece of research just published by the National Landlords Association (NLA). >> More
UK house prices fell by 1.9% in March compared with the previous month, according to the Halifax. >> More
Commenting on the Nationwide house price data, Simon Rubinsohn, RICS chief economist said: "Further signs that the housing market may be stabilising after a torrid twelve months emerged with the release today of the March Nationwide >> More
Nick Hopkinson, Director of Property Portfolio Rescue, comments on the Nationwide House Price Index. >> More
Stuart Law, Chief Executive of Assetz, responds to the latest Nationwide House Price Index: "The 'price bounce' recorded by Nationwide in March is another example of the erratic fluctuations we are currently seeing across many of the UK's >> More
There has been a mixed response to the news that house prices rose last month. >> More
House prices in Britain have nowhere near bottomed out even after a 20% dive, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development warned yesterday. >> More
According to the Nationwide House Price Index published this morning, the price of an average house now stands at £150,946 up from £147,746 in February, giving a seasonally adjusted increase of 0.9% for the month. >> More
At the approach of the second anniversary of mandatory tenancy deposit protection next week (on April 6), one of the schemes has reported that it is responsible for over £800m worth of tenants’ deposits while a second >> More
Estate agents have been warned against destroying the London property market by overpricing properties. ...More
The average price of a new home rose by 2.8% in February 2009, the first monthly increase since May 2008, according to SmartNewHomes.com. . ...More
Whilst yesterday’s Bank of England mortgage approval data, showing an upturn in mortgage approvals in February, was welcome, more needs to be done according to both RICS and the CML. ...More
The private rented sector is a likely beneficiary of the reduction in the Bank of England's Base Rate as cash rich investors look for alternatives to poor returning savings accounts, says Paragon Mortgages' managing director John Heron. ...More
The Bank of England (BofE) lending to individuals data for February showed an increase in net lending of £1.3bn which was higher than the January increase but below the six month average. ...More
Net receipts into building societies were £1,595 million in February 2009, representing the highest February net receipt on record and an increase of 18% over February 2008. ...More
The National Landlords Association (NLA), the leading representative body for private-residential landlords in the UK, has published research revealing 37 per cent of landlords currently have tenants in arrears. ...More
Landlords are buying more properties than they are selling for the first time in two years, says the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA). . ...More
The private rented sector (PRS) is a likely beneficiary of the reduction in the Bank of England’s Base Rate as cash rich investors look for alternatives to poor returning savings accounts, says Paragon Mortgages’ managing director John Heron. . ...More
The Nationwide is to buy the Dunfermline Building Society's branches, good loans and deposits, it has been confirmed. . ...More
Spain's decision to rescue a regional savings bank has sent financial stocks in the country lower. ...More
Debt-laden Countrywide has won court approval for meetings of shareholders to vote on the raising of extra money for the estate agency group ...More
The UK economy shrank even more than expected in the last three months of 2008, revised official figures show. ...More
Lettings agents have been accused of cheating the private rented sector out of £3bn a year.
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Property and tax consultants Mazars is calling on the Government to reintroduce MIRAS and abolish Stamp Duty on properties worth under £1m. ...More
A new campaign is being launched today by a consortium of housing charities and advice lines, aimed at stepping up protection for private tenants living in properties being repossessed by lenders....More
Mortgage lending by banks to homebuyers rose for the third consecutive month in February, new figures from the British Bankers Association show. ...More
Monthly house prices in England and Wales fell by 2 per cent in February, according to the latest figures from Land Registry.. ...More
Four leading housing charities have today launched a joint campaign to win better protection for tenants who face sudden homelessness because their landlord is repossessed. ...More
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