Policy
Treasury “awaiting final decision” on foreign investor CGT
It may have already been dismissed by the Treasury as "pre-Autumn Statement speculation", but the spectre of a capital gains tax on foreign investors has been doing the rounds this morning.
CIL changes will exempt self-builders and allow developers to “pay in kind”
In an effort to make self-built "grand designs" more mainstream, the government has decided to exempt home-made new buildings over a certain size from the Community Infrastructure Levy.
House of the Rising Solar Panel: The dawn of the environmentally friendly country estate
HNWs are turning to renewable energy systems as a way of powering their country estates and their public profiles, says Oliver Crofton...
Energy seems to be the topic of the moment;
No More Surprises: Berkeley calls for complete review of property tax system
Keep meddling with the property taxation system and you'll put the kibosh on the housing recovery, a new report commissioned by the Berkeley Group warns the government.
Pickles weighs in on rogue landlords
Eric Pickles has come down hard on "rogue landlords", publishing the first draft of the Tenants' Charter and launching a package of proposals designed to give more rights to private tenants.
Cruising for a Bruising: Is the top end of the market heading for a fall?
Activity levels across London's prime and super-prime residential markets are plummeting, says Trevor Abrahmsohn... Is the top-end on the brink?
Westminster wages war on mega-basements
Westminster is the latest London council to wage war on mega-basements, which can reach "the depths of a nuclear submarine", according to Deputy Leader Robert Davis.
ATED avoiders must disclose schemes – or be fined up to £1m
In an effort to thwart tax avoidance, HMRC is demanding that all schemes designed to get around the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) be disclosed to them - or face a fine of up to £1 million.
Help to Buy: A property manager’s view
No matter which way you look at it, Help to Buy can only be positive, says Rupert Collingwood...
A new young lion for Housing Ministry?
Kris Hopkins' first job should be to rid the planning system of political influences, says Trevor Abrahmsohn...
Help to Buy: A buying agent’s view
The government should be addressing why housing is so expensive in the first place, rather than finding a way to fund it, says Camilla Dell...
What is an estate agent? OFT revises the definition
The Office of Fair Trading has revised its definition of what it is to be an estate agent.