Policy
Reform or catch-up? Why the prime property market is already ahead of the Government’s plans
Ministers want to speed up homebuying and reduce failed sales, but many of the reforms being proposed have long been standard practice at the top end of the market, writes property lawyer Laura Conduit.
‘Change’: Charles Curran on what a Burnham premiership could mean for London’s prime property market
'We see Mr Burnham as a negative for the Prime Central London property market for second home owners, foreign owners and landlords,' writes estate agency boss.
Property Industry Reactions: Starmer resigns, opening the door for a Burnham premiership
UPDATED: It's a 'double whammy,' says Becky Fatemi - 'uncertainty over future policy, followed by concern about the policies themselves.
Industry Reactions: On early binding agreements & the government’s wider homebuying ‘shake-up’
Agents and conveyancers seem split on the latest proposals; there's a broad welcome for binding deals but some scepticism on sales packs.
Burnham’s rise revives the big property tax question
The former Manchester Mayor and Prime Ministerial hopeful has been a long-standing advocate of a Land Value Tax to replace Stamp Duty.
Tom Bill: Burnham victory sparks questions on fiscal discipline & property tax reform
Victory in Makerfield will reignite debate over government’s economic priorities and possibility of property tax reform, says Knight Frank's head of UK resi research.
Government confirms homebuying shake-up to ‘slash delays, cut costs & stop sales falling through’
Proposals include upfront 'sales packs', binding contracts and possible mandatory agent qualifications.
RICS warns of ‘stranding risk’ for property assets in new sustainability guidance
Sustainability is now a 'cross-cutting responsibility' for all surveyors, says the RICS, as it embeds climate risks into valuation advice.
One month on: How the Renters’ Rights Act is already reshaping Prime London
From landlords repricing above key thresholds to tenants adjusting budgets and buyers shying away from tenanted stock, Yasmin Ulhaq reports on the market's first responses to the new regime.
Ground rent cap timeline brought forward
The £250 cap is now expected to come into play in late 2027, a year sooner than previously planned.
Knight Frank warns of rental market ‘overcorrection’ as supply shrinks & rents rise
Agency says competition for available homes in Prime London has reached its highest level since September 2022.
Rupert Collingwood: The property ladder is freezing from the top down
If we want the market to function more efficiently again, we need to stop viewing the housing crisis purely through the lens of first-time buyers, says brokerage chief.