David Cameron's vow to crack down on the purchase of UK properties via “anonymous shell companies” grabbed plenty of headlines yesterday.

Carter Jonas has urged potential buy-to-let investors not to let next month's stamp duty hike be the deciding factor in making a purchase.

Francois Hollande's government is again under fire for meddling in the housing market, after figures released yesterday revealed that the French construction market is at its lowest ebb for 15 years.