The Market
Scotland hikes LBTT for second homes in line with SDLT
John Swinney has followed George Osborne's lead, announcing a 3% increase in the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax rate for additional properties in Scotland, such as buy-to-let and second homes.
Britain now has 622,939 ‘property millionaires’
There are currently 622,939 "property millionaires" in Britain, according to Zoopla's latest estimate, 75,796 more than there were in January.
A 14% rise over the last year now means that 2.
‘Drastic changes’ needed ‘to fix Britain’s broken housing market’ – NAEA & ARLA
"The news is bleak" says the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) and National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) as it forecasts that home ownership will fall by 7% in the coming decade…
New-build French château becomes ‘the world’s most expensive home’
It's been reported that a monumental château outside Paris has just sold for $301m (about £200m), which would effectively smash the current world record.
Agency reports surge in landlords looking to incorporate
Benham & Reeves has reported a wave of landlords approaching the firm about putting their property portfolio into a limited company in the wake of double whammy changes to mortgage relief and stamp duty.
Infography: How house prices have changed since 1995
As you may have noticed, house prices have gone up a bit in the last 20 or so years.
‘Signs of recovery are looking good’ as applicant numbers surge – D&G
London's sales and lettings markets are beginning to look healthier, says Douglas & Gordon, as the firm reports that its sales applicant numbers are 50% up on last year's levels, and that it has seen…
Buy-to-let SDLT surcharge ‘equivalent to 11 months income’ for landlords
The new 3% stamp duty surcharge on second homes and buy-to-lets "would be the equivalent to 11 months income for the average mortgaged landlord" says Countrywide Plc.
Developer hit with record £700k planning fine
The biggest planning fine in history has reportedly been handed down to a private developer after a six-storey block of flats went up in Hoxton without permission.
Has this man just come up with a way to ease the housing crisis?
Despite sitting on a giant war chest of institutional investment, the Build to Rent sector is finding it practically impossible to acquire suitable sites at the moment.
‘30,000 new-build homes to flood the London market’ as foreign buyers head for the exit
The "large volume" of new-build stock currently flowing onto the off-plan sales market in London could turn into a flood next year, according to Cluttons.
Councils rally against Bishopsgate Goodsyard proposals
Tower Hamlets and Hackney have dealt Hammerson and Ballymore's controversial Bishopsgate Goodsyard scheme a hefty one-two by simultaneously rejecting the latest proposals.