High-profile estate agency completes commuter town acquisition in expansion drive
The purchase will increase the estate agency's footprint to 65 branches
Marc da Silva
Women dominate entry-level agency jobs but face sharp drop in senior positions
Industry leaders call for action as new report shows there is still a good degree of male domination in the property sector
Comings & Goings
Snippets of industry news: Oliver Goodfellow joins Moveli; Savills adds new director to investment team; Mackrell.Solicitors appoints new head of residential property
Foxtons pledges to improve workplace culture as estate agency sees profits double
Head of Foxtons, Guy Gittins, points to recent changes, supporting the estate agency's transformation, including: a 25% increase in female managers over the last two years
Former Convey Law MD Lloyd Davies issues public apology following disqualification
The CLC issues fresh statement on the facts of the case as outlined in the published decision
The most affordable areas for first-time buyers to buy a home revealed
New analysis shows that a typical monthly mortgage payment on a first-time buyer property is £350 more than five years ago
Sellers reducing asking prices ahead of stamp duty changes
With April’s stamp duty changes now on the horizon, a higher proportion of sellers are also lowering their expectations at the key price points in the market
Supply-demand imbalance is pushing up rents, says minister
The government is being urged to address the shortage of homes for private rent as the only viable route for improving affordability in the sector
RICS launches public consultation on responsible use of AI
AI is increasingly being used sometimes unknowingly in professional decision-making
Fine & Country honours top performing agents
Fine & Country held its annual conference and awards in London
High-profile conveyancer disqualified and ordered to pay £175,000
Lloyd Davies admitted to an adjudication panel of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) that his actions had been dishonest, lacked integrity and were reckless
Comings & Goings
Snippets of industry news: Former international rugby captain lands major housing role; Estate agency strengthens with trio of new senior appointments; RICS recruits acting president
Landlord banned from letting property after failing to declare sex offence conviction
The landlord was jailed for four years in 2018 after being found guilty of indecent assault against a 15-year-old girl
Leaders Romans Group returns to Zoopla
More than 100 LRG branches will list their London properties on Zoopla
Council scraps private landlord licensing plans to protect housing supply
Local authority concluded that the proposed licence fee could see landlords pass higher costs onto tenants or flee the market by selling up
Gap between asking and sold prices narrows since Autumn Budget
Since Labour delivered its first big budget, the market gap has started to narrow between asking price expectations and the reality of what buyers are willing to pay
Rightmove’s hike in fees sparks another petition
Estate agents urged to take a stand and boycott Rightmove after another 'shocking increase in its subscription fees'
Number of HNWIs increases despite global instability
Despite geopolitical tensions, resilient global trade further contributed to growth
Leasehold flats ban beginning of the end for ‘feudal’ system, minster says
This announcement represents a significant shift towards a fairer and more transparent system of property ownership which is more consistent with the rest of the world, says NLC
Agencies ‘operating on tight margins’ seek exit plan
Joel Osbourne, Spicerhaart’s new acquisitions director, says many agencies are struggling as the Renters' Rights Bill looms