UK housing market – busy but slowing Following two frenetic years, UK housing market activity remains strong, despite some signs of a slowdown beginning to emerge. In April 2022, sales agreed were 18% higher than the month’s pre-pandemic average, according to TwentyCi. Completions too remained 13% above the 2017-19 rate. First-time buyers (FTBs) continue to …
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Commercial Property Market Review – June 2022
Quality is key for London office space After its pandemic-induced hibernation, London’s office market has kicked back into life, with demand from Central London occupiers in Q1 2022 more than 34% above the five-year quarterly average, according to Savills. As confidence returns to the office market, more Central London occupiers are increasing their total space …
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Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance boosts efforts on climate change
With a pledge to reduce environmentally damaging emissions from portfolios by half by 2030 and to accelerate sustainable finance, the influential investor group Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance has ramped up its commitment to tackle climate change. The prominent investor group, comprising 70 large institutions, has pledged that member firms will aim to reduce emissions linked …
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2022’s buy-to-let hotspots
Bristol, Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester and Luton have been hailed the best top five cities for landlords to invest in this year, based on analysis of key indicators impacting buy-to-let desirability (including average total rent, the best short-term returns through yield and long-term return through house price growth).1 Investors have been eschewing London, which has slipped …
Inheritance Tax reporting – in the know
Back in the driving seat
Many people have used the last couple of years to make positive life changes. Three in five people have questioned what is important in life, while half feel their priorities have changed1. Two in five credit the pandemic with encouraging them to build more long-term savings. However, one in four now feel less comfortable about …
Investors tap into holiday let demand
Pandemic-related travel restrictions have unleashed huge demand for UK-based rentals among British holidaymakers – with buy-to-let investors scrambling to take advantage. According to figures1, holiday let mortgage availability has trebled since 2020, giving would-be investors ample opportunity to tap into this demand. There are now 231 buy-to let mortgages eligible for holiday lets on the …
Economic Review – May 2022
Bank warns of deteriorating outlook The Bank of England (BoE) has warned that the UK faces a “sharp economic slowdown” in the coming months as it continues to raise interest rates in a bid to dampen rapidly rising prices. Following its early-May meeting, the BoE’s nine-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a 6-3 majority …
Property Marketing Review – May 2022
Return to the office According to a recent business update, London’s office-leasing market is kicking back into life after its pandemic-induced slumber, with modern and energy-efficient space most in demand. Companies are willing to pay higher rents for leases than they were a year earlier, according to Derwent London, a FTSE 250 office landlord. The …
Residential Property Review – May 2022
Three key Queen’s Speech commitments Housing featured prominently in the Queen’s Speech on 10 May, with social housing, rental reform and leasehold reform all part of the government’s priorities in the coming twelve months. Of the 38 legislative announcements, there were three significant ones relating to housing: the Social Housing Regulation Bill, the Renters’ Reform …
