Format: News
Countrywide still on the prowl after buying four lettings businesses in Q1
Countrywide plc, the UK’s biggest integrated property services group, has been on a buying spree in the first few months of this year, acquiring another four lettings businesses in Q1 to "significantly…
Engel & Völkers to recruit 2,000 new agents
German behemoth Engel & Völkers has announced a plan to hire 2,000 new real estate agents in a giant global recruitment drive.
Green Party pledges to cut VAT on housing repairs
The Green Party has offered up one of the property industry's most-demanded policy changes: a cut to VAT on housing repairs and renovations.
Crown Estate creates new Head of Central London role
The Crown Estate has appointed a new Deputy Head of Urban & Head of Central London.
Final approval for Mount Pleasant scheme
One of the most controversial projects in the capital - the proposed transformation of a massive Royal Mail site in Clerkenwell - has bagged final approval.
Shopping Around: Waitrose’ 12% house price premium (and Aldi’s 3% discount)
A local Waitrose adds 12% to neighbouring house prices, claims Lloyds, while a handy Sainsbury's is worth an extra 10%. Lidl and Aldi, on the other hand, apparently push prices down by 2% and 3% respectively.
Chinese buyer splashes $70m in NYC’s biggest sale of 2015 so far
An unnamed Chinese buyer has shelled out $70m for an apartment at the Sherry Netherland building in New York. It's thought to be the highest price paid in the city so far this year.
Kiss & Sell: Why super-prime estate agents make ideal bits on the side
"There has been a sharp rise in estate agents bringing their mistresses to show houses, both for fantasy house shopping and bedroom rendezvous," reports a naughty website, flagging up one Bishops Avenue…
Prime country house price growth overtakes central London, but £5m+ values tumble
Prime country house prices increased by 0.9% between January and March, says Knight Frank, taking the rate of annual price growth down from December's +3.4% to a more modest +2.
New prime central London property search manager for LCP
London Central Portfolio has hired a new property search manager to track down "the best on and off-market properties" in prime central London.
Peer-to-peer mortgage lender backs developer-centric property portal
The world’s biggest peer-to-peer mortgage platform, LendInvest, has announced a "strategic alliance" Plentific.com, a property portal aimed at the renovation/investment/development market.
Loan Stars: West One hits £80m in Q1
Short term lender West One Loans has reported a pretty big start to the year.