Policy
Housing Secretary eyes seizure of UK property owned by sanctioned Russians
“Freezing assets is not enough”, says a DLUHC insider, as Michael Gove reportedly considers steps to seize Putin-linked homes in the UK without compensation.
Wales puts the squeeze on second home owners
Council tax bills to soar by up to 300% under new rules coming in next April
‘There will be nowhere to hide’: Government fast-tracks Economic Crime Bill & register of overseas property owners
"Time is up for Putin's cronies hiding dirty money in the UK and this new legislation will help to crack down on economic crime, including removing key barriers to using Unexplained Wealth Orders," says…
What might new UK sanctions against Russia mean for London’s property market?
Economic sanctions against Russia "will have very little impact on the prime property market", suggest top luxury property brokers.
UK’s CGT bills leap 20% to hit record £12.9bn
The sharp rise was partly driven by buy-to-let property investors cashing in on the fast-rising housing market
How to nudge homeowners to make their own homes more energy efficient
"We need a new approach" to encourage homeowners to go green, says John Rowlatt of De Montfort University.
RBKC weighs up new clampdowns on amalgamations & Airbnbs
Residents are being invited to have their say on the borough’s 20-year planning and development blueprint
Tougher building safety laws ‘to make industry pay’ for the cladding scandal
"We cannot allow those who do not take building safety seriously to build homes in the future," says Housing Secretary Michael Gove, "and for those not willing to play their part they must face consequences.
Solving the Airbnb conundrum: Why more regulation is not the answer
As the Government weighs up new planning rules for short-term rentals, Charles Mieville and Victoria Du Croz look at the practicalities and outline the likely effects on the property market…
Most home-owners want higher SDLT surcharges targeted at overseas buyers & landlords
The majority of home-owners and buyers in England and Northern Ireland agree that Stamp Duty is "outdated" and in need of major reform, according to a survey by mortgage lender Butterfield.
Leasehold reform in motion: On the government’s plans to make home ownership fairer & more secure
As the first major piece of leasehold reform in a generation finally becomes legislation, buying agent Nina Harrison reflects on the long-requested need to transform leasehold agreements - and what impact…
Government outlines 12-point ‘levelling up’ plan, including PRS reforms
Johnson & Gove set out "the most comprehensive, ambitious plan of its kind that this country has ever seen."