The Market
HMRC scuppers £135m SDLT avoidance scheme
A tax tribunal has ruled against a Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) avoidance scheme reportedly used in the purchase of Chelsea Barracks
Big first half of the year for house prices; Rightmove doubles annual forecasts to +4%
Average asking prices are 4.8% up on the same time last year, according to the latest from Rightmove, with prices rising for the seventh month in a row and posting the second successive national record
Street Wise: One viewing enough for new breed of savvy buyers
The hothouse property market in London appears to be cultivating a whole new type of buyer, according to one agency
RICS launches inquiry into surveyor drought
Despite last month's insistence that there definitely are enough valuers out there to meet market demand, RICS has announced an independent inquiry into "the issue of valuer shortages".
British homes gain £156bn in Q2
The total value of British homes now stands at £6.2 trillion, after rising by £156 billion over the last three months, according to Zoopla. That's an average gain of £1.7bn per day.
HS2 blight buys open up as rail route “safeguarded”
Owners of property along the the planned HS2 route between London and the West Midlands can, as of yesterday (9th July), ask the government to buy their property under statutory Blight procedures. S
New lettings management team for John D Wood
Tim Van der Schyff has joined venerable estate agency John D Wood & Co as Lettings Director, with Kate Ives joining in support as Area Manager.
June was the strongest month for house prices since Jan 2010 – RICS
The UK’s housing market continued to show signs of recovery during June, as both house prices and demand carried on up, according to the latest RICS Residential Market Survey.
Tax Returns: Mansion Tax battle royale brewing (again)
It may feel like we've already heard every argument possible for/against a mansion tax. But apparently not
Slim Pickings: Stock levels down 30% on this time last year – D&G
There's not a lot for buyers to choose from, but the smart money's in the sub £2m market, says Douglas & Gordon's Ed Mead, as the firm reports a robust June with far fewer fall-throughs than this time …
Cash flood surges through London’s West End
One West End agency has reported a massive increase in cash buyers this year, with 75% now choosing to stump up the readies for their purchases, compared to just 20% in 2012
Tracks Rate: HS2 loses popular support
Public support for the HS2 rail link has slipped into negative territory, according to a new survey from YouGov