Prime Minister survives confidence vote; promises to stand down before the next General Election
Top estate agent bullishly predicts that “normal transmission will return to the residential property market in the New Year”
Home Office rethinks ‘golden visa’ clampdown
Government slammed for ‘trying to legislate by press release’ after backtracking on surprise suspension of Tier 1 investor visas
The time is right for commonhold – Law Commission
Little-known system offers a ‘once in a generation opportunity’ to rethink how property is owned in England and Wales and should be reinvigorated, says independent legal reform body
Westminster investigates Hyde Park mansion block with ‘over 100’ Airbnb flats
‘There are nearly as many rooms available to rent night-by-night in Edgware Road’s Park West building as there are in the Ritz’, says council as it cracks down on those flounting short-term letting rules
Housing is the ‘overwhelming priority’ for city leaders
A recent survey indicates that boosting the supply of housing is the number one priority for elected city leaders around the country
Government suspends ‘golden visa’ scheme
Corruption crackdown brings halt on all new applications for Tier 1 investor visas, which require assets of £2m or more
Government cuts security deposit cap for rentals under £50k pa
Rental properties charging less than £50,000 per year can now only claim five weeks’ rent as a security deposit
Government proposes new rules on biodiversity net gain
Consultation launched on mandating biodiversity net gain in resi development ‘to ensure habitats are protected and enhanced for the future’
Government bans combustible materials on high-rise homes – giving councils powers to strip private buildings
Local authorities to carry out “emergency remediation work” on residential buildings over 18 metres. “Private building owners must pay for this work now or they should expect to pay more later,” warns Housing Secretary
Raynsford Review: A 24-point plan to fix the ‘chaotic patchwork’ planning system
“Planning in England is less effective than at any time in the post-war era”, declares Nick Raynsford’s team in the first comprehensive review of the planning system for a generation
Stamp duty receipts up on Q2 but down on last year as Hammond ‘misses a trick’
Latest statistics from HMRC show overall SDLT receipts in Q3 were up by 14% on Q2, but down 9% on the same period last year…
Talking Heads: Could Westminster’s latest policy shift reshape the PCL landscape forever?
As Westminster Council moves to limit the size of new homes to 150 square metres – the latest in a series of policy changes designed to temper the super-prime sector – we asked some of the most experienced operators in the area for their views on how the new proposals could affect supply, demand, prices and prospects in the capital’s most exclusive neighbourhoods…