A right wing magazine once edited by Boris Johnson has called estate agents “spivs with tape measures” who conceal information from buyers. In an article about leasehold properties the veteran Spectator contributor Ross Clark accuses agents of not wanting to tell buyers the remaining duration of leases on leasehold properties.… Read More »Agents are ’spivs with tape measures’ says angry press article
The total Sales Agreed in 2020 so far has overtaken Sales Agreed up to this point in 2019, despite the Coronavirus crisis. Property consultancy Twenty EA also says New instructions this year is 92 per cent of those reached at this point in 2019, despite the market lockdown. On top… Read More »Market Boom: Sales agreed so far in 2020 surpass last year’s figure
A security company says it is “disappointing” the estate agency industry is only around 55 per cent through preparations to cope with Anti-Money Laundering regulations – even though the new rules came into force at the start of the year. LexisNexis Risk Solutions claims a majority of major players in… Read More »Agents told off for not being ready for Anti-Money Laundering regs
A former healthcare executive is the latest convert to become an online agent with easyProperty, the company has announced. Richard Ayres has purchased the licence for Grantham, Sleaford and Lincoln – he’s lived in the area for five years and has owned property there for over 13 years. Ayres most… Read More »Latest online agent has 30 years work experience – but not in agency
Stamp duty specialist consultancy Cornerstone Tax claims some 120,000 buyers in the UK may be owed SDLT refunds. It says that in 2017/18, over £12.9 billion in stamp duty was paid by homebuyers in the UK, while in 2016/17 alone over 6,800 additional property refunds totalling £80m were paid. Cornerstone says it… Read More »Stamp Duty may have been overpaid by 120,000 buyers – claim
A survey says many people under-estimate the costs of moving with conveyancing and mortgage fees often higher than expected. Some 54 per cent of those questioned in the Comparethemarket study found the process of moving home more expensive than they initially thought. The survey found that in total moving costs can now… Read More »Conveyancing and mortgage fees blamed for extra moving costs
The so-called ‘trade up gap’ for people buying for the second time has grown to a record £67,761 according to Rightmove. The study is based on the average asking prices of almost three million properties, and operates on the basis of second home buyers already owning a two bedroom home and… Read More »Rightmove says prices for ‘second-time-buyers’ at record high
“Accidental savers” who put money aside during the lockdowns are piling into the housing market and will drive up UK asking prices by four per cent in 2021. As many as 650,000 properties are due to change hands in the first quarter of next year while fresh buyers will try… Read More »Buyer surge to beat stamp duty holiday expected to continue in early 2021
