The Market

Official data suggests property values have increased by an average of 2.7% in the last year - but transaction volumes are dramatically lower than in previous years.

A third fewer sales were agreed across London's prime postcodes last week compared to the same period last year, but more homes went under offer, and a relative flurry of new instructions hit the market.

Growth in bridging loans 'seems to be fuelled by the urgent need to prevent chain breaks in property transactions,' say lenders.

'Our latest figures demonstrate the devastating impact that adverse weather can have on people and their homes,' says the Association of British Insurers.

Featuring insight from Hamptons, DDRE Global, Property Vision, Haringtons, Black Brick, Middleton Advisors, Harrods Estates, Sotheby's International Realty, Forsters & more...

DDRE Global says 40% of large apartments sold in St John's Wood in the last year have been snapped up by buyers of Indian origin, who now account for half of all active HNW buyers in the area.

'We will reform the outdated compulsory purchase process to remove inflated values of land and ensure compensation paid to landowners is fair but not excessive,' says the MCHLG.

Real estate lawyers have seen their caseloads fall by a fifth in last year, according to Search Acumen.

Just as the prospect of tax rises in the Budget is causing uncertainty in the sales market, Labour’s revival of the Renters Reform Bill is doing the same thing in the lettings market, says Knight Frank.

Buyers in the prime postcodes were more focussed on their summer holidays than moving house in June and July, reports Knight Frank.

PCL house prices have not been tearing up the record books of late, but they are now at far less risk of a sharp recalibration and deleveraging than other markets, explains top buying agent.

Catch up on all the latest movements and commentary in less than five minutes, featuring data and analysis from the RICS, TwentyCi, Knight Frank, Prime Purchase, Savills, Hamptons, Halifax & more...