Compliance
Foxtons facing pressure to hand back £4.4m of government furlough cash
A Foxtons spokesperson told EYE that the firm “didn’t just rely on government help”, but also made its own savings, “including pay reductions”.
News
Law
BTL landlord ordered to pay compensation to ex-tenant after eviction on bogus grounds
Letting agents must encourage landlord clients to always act truthfully, ruling suggests.
Agency
Spicerhaart to relaunch old business after eight-year absence
A familiar name returns to the scene.
Other News
Salisbury Novichok home where Russian spy Sergei Skripal was poisoned is sold
The Salisbury property has been purchased following 13,000 hours of cleaning.
Acquisitions
Alexander & Co acquires another estate agency
Alexander & Co continues expansion plans.
Agency
Media agency working with Boomin among those pitching for Purplebricks
Goodstuff Communications says it likes to work “with brands that challenge the status quo through innovation”.
People
Comings and Goings
Manning Stainton promotes Clare Frieze; Freehold appoints new board members; Paul Colam joins Whitehall Capital
Agency
Savills remains ‘resilient’ as group revenue drops 9%
Savills UK residential grew revenues by 10% as the market recovered strongly from the middle of the year.
Charity
Home learning computers fundraising appeal raises more than £61k
A number of agents and industry suppliers have contributed to this good cause launched by industry trainer Stephen Brown.
Agency
Which UK cities have the busiest estate agents?
Research indicates where homebuyers are likely to have the longest buying timelines.
Agency
One year on: Is there still a need for furlough in the estate agency sector?
Should agents still be taking advantage of the job retention scheme?
Law
Rogue tenant fined £9,000 for illegally sub-letting HMO
Brent council in north London has prosecuted a tenant who sub-let a property.
Compliance
Covid-19 fraud: HMRC taskforce ‘may go some way to recouping billions of pounds’
The last time HMRC put 1,000-plus staff into criminal enforcement was a decade ago and that generated a fivefold increase in prosecutions in under five years.
Finance
Homebuyers offered first 40-year fixed-rate mortgage
Borrowers are being offered the option of locking their mortgage repayments at the same level for up to 40 years with the launch of the longest fixed-rate deal on the market.
Lettings
BTL landlords are ‘becoming fed up with the lack of support coming their way’
Timothy Douglas at ARLA Propertymark: “With the furlough scheme extended until September, it is likely that we will see further changes in the months ahead.”
People
Comings and Goings
Sowerbys appoints new directors; Dacres recruits David Simm; Andrew Barnes joins Savills
Politics
How many additional homebuyers will benefit from the stamp duty extension saving?
The estimated total benefit of the complete stamp duty holiday period unveiled.
Finance
Investment in residential property exceeded £6bn in 2020
Andrew White, head of residential at Colliers: “UK residential property is a solid investment option in the UK.”
Lettings
Welsh government urged to get a grip of the rent debt crisis
The NRLA calls on the Welsh government to do more to improve financial support for landlords and tenants.