Lettings
PRS has doubled in size in 14 years, and returned 11.3% in 2013 – Knight Frank
The UK’s private rented sector (PRS) has more than doubled in size in the last 14 years, says Knight Frank as it turns its research heft to the lettings market, producing a new index that tracks that…
Hamptons launches Henley lettings operation
Hamptons has introduced a new lettings division to its Henley office after "strong local demand."
“Strong competition” for investment flats – W.A.Ellis
There's a fully-fledged bunfight for sub-£2m investment properties, according to the latest market report from W.A.
Average rents rise by 2%, but drop in the South East
Average rents across the country rose by 2% in 2013 in "a year of rebalancing as the economy recovers," according to Countrywide's annual lettings index.
Big annual rise in tenancies but void periods “creeping in” – W.A.Ellis
PCL agency W.A.Ellis has reported a beefy 50% leap in the number of tenancies it agreed last year (compared to 2012), although rents only increased by 2.8% overall (0.4% less than than in 2012).
Developing Market: 10% of Chelsea buyers are developers
International buyers accounted for 56.5% of Chelsea specialist Russell Simpson's sales last year, while nearly three quarters of new tenants were from overseas.
Strong finish for D&G as December activity spiked
December kicked right off in Douglas & Gordon's patch, with a 50% increase in the number of properties hitting the market, a 20% jump in new buyer registrations and a 40% hike in the number of offers received.
NAEA and ARLA to advertise for licensed agents
The National Association of Estate Agents and the Association of Residential Lettings Agents are launching TV advertising campaigns to promote the importance of choosing a licensed sales or lettings agent.
Sales values up an “astonishing” 17% in 2013 for D&G
2013 was "astonishing", says Douglas & Gordon's Chairman Michael Hodgson: sales values overshot forecasts by quite the margin, rising by 17% over the year, with transactions hitting their highest tally…
Capital’s capital growth doubles to 12.6% in 2013 – Cluttons
After capital value growth of +3% in 2013's final quarter, taking the annual rise to +12.6%, the average property in prime central London is now worth £1.
House prices to rise by 8% next year as new instructions “close to stagnating” – RICS
An "acute imbalance between burgeoning buyer demand and sluggish supply" will drive house prices up by 8% in 2014, according to the RICS, as new instructions to estate agents are "close to stagnating".
Aggressive expansion sees Countrywide buy two lettings businesses every month in 2013
This is buy-to-let on an industrial scale. Britain's biggest property services group, Countrywide plc, has acquired 28 lettings business throughout 2013, spending £23.