Policy
Boris and the BPF lobby to keep office-to-resi out of central London
"More high value residential property in central London could upset balance," argues Boris Johnson as the Mayor of London, the British Property Federation, Planning Officers Society London and London…
UK facing ‘chronic’ lack of purpose built retirement housing
The UK's policymakers and investors need to wake up to the reality of a rapidly ageing population or face a full-blown retirement housing crisis, Knight Frank has said this morning.
RBKC planning chief to retire
RBKC's Executive Director for Planning and Borough Development has announced his retirement.
‘Punitive’ Scottish property tax overhaul creates ‘window of opportunity’
It looks like Scotland will get a new progressive tax regime to replace the existing SDLT structure from April next year, and the changes have created a "six month window of opportunity" at the middle…
The Definitive House Price Index? Consultation opens into merging official indices into one
The Office of National Statistics is thinking about rolling four different national house price indices - including the Land Registry's and the ONS' own - into "a single definitive House Price Index,"…
PCL projects under threat as developers face ‘concerning’ construction shortages
The delivery challenge facing developers and investors in prime central London has never been greater, according to a new report by consultancy EC Harris, which predicts that some projects in the capital's…
Lib Dems abandon ‘crude’ mansion tax in favour of new Council Tax bands
Just a few days after Labour threw itself behind a Mansion Tax on £2m+ properties, The Liberal Democrat party has overhauled its Mansion Tax plans, proposing the introduction of new Council Tax bands…
BoJo sorts out green light for Mount Pleasant
One of the largest - and most controversial - schemes in central London has finally been given the thumbs up by Mayor Boris Johnson.
Vertical Horizon: Investing in the future of London’s skyline
An extraordinary profusion of new structures will dramatically alter the shape of London's horizon over the next few years, including the 64-storey 'The Pinnacle' and the Kohn Pedersen Fox-designed…
The Writing On The Wall: Mansion Tax Q&A with Trevor Abrahmsohn
He's ridden out four recessions over forty years, but veteran estate agency boss Trevor Abrahmsohn says he can see 'the writing on the wall' this time.
The Mansion Mismatch: 3/4 of London’s £2m+ homes are flats
Three-quarters of Greater London properties worth more than £2m - Labour and the Lib Dem's proposed Mansion Tax threshold for "ultra-high value homes" - are flats or terraced houses, notes Knight Frank.
Required Reading: Property tax briefing
HMRC has made a number of tax announcements recently which could have major implications for residential property owners.