The most important UK property news aggregated from leading twitter commentators

The Regulation Of Private Sector Letting And Managing Agents (England) - Commons Library Standard Note

http://www.parliament.uk

Published 1 week ago
Published 05 June 2013 | Standard notes SN06000 Authors: Wendy Wilson, Catherine Fairbairn Topic: Housing, Owner occupation, Private rented housing There is currently no overarching statutory regulation of private sector letting or managing agents in England nor any legal requirement for them to belong to a trade association, although many letting and managing agents submit to voluntary regulation.

Noticed by

BritProp @BritProp 1 week, 6 days ago

Useful HoC standard note explaining the current situation on regulation of #PRS letting and managing agents http://t.co/9yBNenHn4e

The foreigners buying London's high-rise, high-price homes

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Published 1 week ago

"Oh, I should think about 20 phone calls should do it, don't you?" comes the reply. Perhaps, for the highly desirable Shard. On the whole, however, marketing super-prime London properties to super-rich clients takes more than five minutes on the telephone. Take the St George's Wharf Tower, at Vauxhall.

Noticed by

secret agent @theagentsdiary 1 week, 1 day ago

Sky high homes and sky high prices tempt overseas buyers to fly in.. http://t.co/TIIPp90avg #ukhousing #estateagents #lettings

UK prime property prices set to grow by almost 30% by 2017, it is claimed

http://www.propertywire.com

Published 1 week ago

Prime property prices in the UK are set to accelerate nearly 30% over the next five years with growth of 5.5% expected in 2013. The latest mid year forecast from agents Chesterton Humber is upbeat although it points out that there will be regional differences.

Noticed by

Knight Knox @KnightKnox 1 week ago

UK prime property prices set to grow by almost 30% by 2017, it is claimed http://t.co/B82eNo6pEx

Universal Credit to be docked from tenants in arrears

http://www.landlordtoday.co.uk

Published 1 week ago
A mechanism to recover rent arrears is to be incorporated into the new Universal Credit system. Landlords who are owed rent by tenants receiving benefit will be able to request direct payment once a certain level of rent arrears - as yet undecided - is reached.

Noticed by

GH Didsbury @GHDidsbury 1 week, 1 day ago

Universal Credit to be docked from tenants in arrears http://t.co/QqV723OFwX via @landlord_today

We won't sell you a home unless you take our mortgage, estate agents tell buyers

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Published 1 week ago

Estate agents are pressuring house buyers into using their in-house mortgage advisers rather than allowing them to seek independent advice, according to a senior mortgage expert. Ray Boulger, senior technical manager at John Charcol, said: "The most common tactic seems to be that, when making an offer, buyers are told they must see the in-house mortgage adviser to make sure they can afford the mortgage.

Noticed by

secret agent @theagentsdiary 1 week ago

'Agents won't sell you a house unless you take a mortgage with them' - says mortgage advisor... http://t.co/WEg0JyTM6F #estateagents

Has the tide turned for commercial property?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Published 1 week, 1 day ago

Buy locally, Mr Lloyd advises. "Don't invest in Grimsby if you live in the Cotswolds. Small investors should look at their local area where they see things they understand and know are priced well. You need to fully understand the supply and demand dynamic as you are stepping into a market that may have a lot of competition."

Noticed by

Pygott & Crone @PygottandCrone 1 week, 1 day ago

“@williamdowning1: “@TeleProperty: Has the tide turned for commercial property? http://t.co/eZxSlQk45u””

High house prices empty the countryside of young families

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Published 1 week, 1 day ago

Some rural areas have seen almost one in four people in their 30s and early 40s move out in the past decade as over 65s come to dominate the population, research based on census findings shows. A study by the National Housing Federation lays out a dramatic demographic shift with and an increasingly sharp divide between the populations of town and countryside.

Noticed by

Julian O'Dell @agencytrainer 1 week, 1 day ago

High house prices empty the countryside of young families via @Telegraph http://t.co/4pPzq0WEBm

Never mind the critics, Help to Buy hits home with public - Rightmove Property Blog

http://www.rightmove.co.uk

Published 1 week, 1 day ago

Property news | New research of more than 9,000 potential buyers from Rightmove reveals that nearly three-quarters (72%) of those who expect to buy in the next 12 months have heard of the new Help to Buy scheme. Of these, 62% say that they understand the details of the scheme and whether it can help them buy.

Noticed by

GH Didsbury @GHDidsbury 1 week, 6 days ago

Never mind the critics, Help to Buy hits home with public http://t.co/4Qedmw4X5E via @rightmove

Home sales hit three-year high as housing revival continues

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Published 1 week, 1 day ago

Chartered surveyors polled by industry body Rics handled an average of 17.9 sales during the three months to May, the highest figure reported since January 2010. While still low by historical standards, the latest survey adds to the picture of rising activity.

Noticed by

Telegraph Property @TeleProperty 1 week, 1 day ago

Home sales hit three-year high as housing revival continues http://t.co/HZtKJs3Deu

Let us put homes in our pension plans, say nine in 10

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Published 1 week, 1 day ago

Currently, only commercial property is allowed in self-invested personal pensions ( Sipps) and other pension schemes. But the Chancellor announced in the Budget that he would consult about easing the rules to allow unused commercial property to be converted to residential use within a pension.

Noticed by

Telegraph Money @MoneyTelegraph 1 week, 1 day ago

Let us put homes in our pension plans, say nine in 10 http://t.co/RyNCzysqqB

Unusual birds moved in? Then prepare for a house price rise

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Published 1 week, 1 day ago

Birds are like people. At least, when it comes to choosing a congenial urban neighbourhood to live in, we share remarkably similar tastes. Ecologists have known for 50 years that many birds like a layered, semi-wooded landscape.

Noticed by

Thomas Morris @ThomasMorrisEA 1 week, 2 days ago

Unusual birds moved in? Then prepare for a house price rise via @Telegraph http://t.co/RdzjC4ZNLN

The world's first 3D-printed house

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Published 1 week, 1 day ago

Although a relatively new development, 3D-printing technology has already been used to successfully make objects ranging from a nylon gown for Dita Von Teese to, most controversially, a working gun. Testing the limits of this burgeoning production process further, a Dutch firm is currently attempting to build the world's first 3D-printed house.

Noticed by

JP Executive Letting @jplettings 1 week, 2 days ago

The world’s first 3D-printed house http://t.co/rwAJSjEFtf

Splashing out on your garden can add tens of thousands of pounds to your home's value, claim estate agents

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk

Published 1 week, 2 days ago

By Toby Walne, Financial Mail On Sunday PUBLISHED: 16:06 EST, 8 June 2013 | UPDATED: 03:05 EST, 9 June 2013 Further data emerged last week confirming the recovery in the housing market - and balmy weather is helping, especially where homes have attractive gardens, say estate agents.

Noticed by

propertini @propertini 1 week, 3 days ago

Splashing out on your garden can thousands to home's value, claim estate agents http://t.co/OHMdfb49LC @naea_uk @churchills8 @MailOnline

Mortgage rates to fall to 1.5pc for the first time

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Published 1 week, 2 days ago

"I'd suggest a further 0.1 to 0.2 point decline still feels quite possible," he said. The lowest rate on a two-year tracker mortgage is currently 1.69pc from Chelsea Building Society, so the falls Mr Gordon is talking about could take rates down to 1.49pc.

Noticed by

Allen Heritage @AllenHeritage 1 week, 2 days ago

Mortgage rates to fall to 1.5pc for the first time http://t.co/t4WxbUBIP2 #Beckenham

Inquiries from portals dwindle, says estate agent

http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk

Published 1 week, 2 days ago

Inquiries through property portals have gone down, a leading agent has said. The claim has come from Ed Mead of London agents Douglas & Gordon, which has 14 offices in the capital. He said: "Interestingly, inquiries through property portals were down in May as some buyers are losing confidence in them and are fed up with so many agents leaving sold stock online.

Noticed by

Thomas Morris @ThomasMorrisEA 1 week, 2 days ago

Inquiries from portals dwindle, says estate agent - Estate Agent Today - http://t.co/Ezzw9WWPEc via @Shareaholic

New Agents Mutual portal shapes up to promising start

http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk

Published 1 week, 2 days ago

Five hundred firms have expressed interest in the new property portal which would be run by agents for agents. Ian Springett, the former boss of PrimeLocation, has been brought in by top firms - Knight Frank, Douglas & Gordon, Strutt & Parker, Savills, Glentree Estates and Chesterton Humberts - to draw up a business plan.

Noticed by

Ian Watson @AgentMediaUK 1 week, 2 days ago

New Agents Mutual portal shapes up to promising start http://t.co/sWXHNgPJ8v