Here we go again – Help To Buy looks likely to be extended
Government leaks to mainstream and building trade media suggest the controversial Help To Buy scheme will be extended beyond its end-of-2020 deadline.
Faster conveyancing? Land Registry accepts electronic signatures
HM Land Registry is now accepting witnessed electronic signatures on documents for the transfer of ownership of property, the creation of leases, and on securing mortgages.
Is the housing market really storming ahead as some say?
Agents have almost unanimously been reporting a big surge in business since the reopening of the housing market, but new figures from HM Revenue & Customs suggest there is still some way to go before normal volumes are seen.
Portal says mortgage applications much faster with new software
The mortgage arm of a regional property portal has launched pre-approval software which it claims will significantly speed up the initial stages of the mortgage application process.
Government set to finally kill off the High Street
Today could be the final nail in the coffin for the High Street, which has been slowly withering away for the last 2/3 decades, firstly due to increasing losses to out of town shopping malls,…
Big day for Leasehold reform as Law Commission issues reports
It’s a big day for leasehold reform today with the Law Commission due to publish three residential leasehold and commonhold reports. They will be formally launched at an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Leasehold and Commonhold…
RICS figures confirm short-term bounce but supply is very low
There’s more confirmation this morning that the housing market is enjoying a short-term bounce – and that’s before the effect of yesterday’s stamp duty initiatives. The latest market snapshot from the Royal Institution of Chartered…
Stamp Duty dithering could kill the market, warn angry agents
Agents have spoken out angrily against any uncertainty in the market caused by government leaks about future stamp duty changes. In recent days many national newspapers have reported that Chancellor Rishi Sunak will tomorrow reveal…
Say No To Rightmove campaign chief signs up to new free-to-list portal
The estate agency group spearheading the Say No To Rightmove campaign has signed its 36 branches up to new portal Homesearch. The Acorn Group is ”a fully subscribed and paying” customer according to a statement…
Code of Practice for Estate Agents set to change industry forever
A new estate agency Code of Practice is to be written by a group set up by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and The Property Ombudsman. It will be led by a Labour peer and…