Reference Briefings
More London trophy homes frozen as Abramovich and other oligarchs targeted in another round of Russia sanctions
Alongside a significant portfolio of super-prime residences in London and the Home Counties, Chelsea Football Club - owned by Roman Abramovich - is also effectively frozen, with no new ticket or merchandise…
Knight Frank & Savills suspend Russian divisions
Global property consultancies suspend long-established business ties in Moscow, joining a growing corporate exodus from Russia as the Ukraine war continues.
‘People forget just how embedded Russian investment is in London’: Gary Hersham on how sanctions are affecting the luxury property market
"None of my Russian clients have asked me to sell their properties in London or the Home Counties," says super-prime estate agent Gary Hersham.
Economic Crime Bill fast-tracked through House of Commons today
The long-awaited Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill will be "expedited through all its Commons stages" today (7th March), four years after draft legislation was published.
Required Reading: Lifting the secrecy behind offshore companies
Julie Howard explains how the new rules around overseas entities will work in practice, and why the idea of hiding behind asset holding vehicles is becoming a thing of the past
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.
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…
A seller’s market snapshot: fail to prepare, prepare to fail
Lawyer Annabel Dean shares some practical tips for those looking to compete in this most challenging of markets…
Required Reading: The Autumn Budget 2021 for HNWIs & business owners
The Mishcon de Reya team talks us through the key policy changes and announcements for affluent folk and business sorts, as revealed in the details behind Rishi Sunak's "relatively benign" Budget speech.
Budget 2021: Property industry reactions
"This Budget could be regarded as a reprieve for the housing industry," says one commentator, while others bemoan an "underwhelming" speech...
Budget 2021: Property industry reactions
"This Budget could be regarded as a reprieve for the housing industry," says one commentator, while others bemoan an "underwhelming" speech...
Budget 2021: Sunak cuts Business Rates, but major house-builders face 4% cladding tax
Chancellor Sunak has promised to cut taxes, not raise them in the coming years. But the country's biggest house-builders will have profits taxed 4% to help pay for the cladding scandal.