People
Nathan Emerson becomes interim CEO of Propertymark
The Board of Propertymark has asked Nathan Emerson to assume the role of interim CEO with immediate effect.
News
Finance
Stamp duty holiday to be extended – but will it create another cliff edge?
The chancellor will introduce a three-month extension, bringing the deadline into line with the easing of lockdown, to prevent thousands of property sales from falling through, the Times has reported.
Finance
Connells Group announces ‘resilient’ full year results
Estate agency and property services provider Connells Group today announces its results for the year ended 31 December 2020.
Law
A short stamp duty holiday extension will only ‘kick the can down the road’
A three-month stamp duty holiday extension may not be enough - Adrian Jaggard, of Taylor Rose MW, warns that the current volume of transactions has left the sector at breaking point.
Compliance
Hundreds of letting agents could face fines of up to £30,000
Almost 100 letting agents have so far been warned that they are failing to comply with client money protection (CMP) regulations, and many more firms will be contacted over the next few weeks.
Agency
Has estate agency rediscovered its mojo?
Joshua Rayner: “I have a deep belief in the resilience, drive and entrepreneurialism of the people who power the property sector.”
Events
Watch: Panel debate about property social media trolling?
On today's panel was Simon Whale of Kerfuffle, estate agents consultant Iain White, content writer Christopher Watkin, Vanessa Warwick of Property Tribes, and Russell Quirk of Properganda PR.
Compliance
Grants available to help estate agents reduce their carbon footprint
Businesses in Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, and Northamptonshire invited to apply for up to £5,000 funding to help reduce energy consumption.
Agency
Record website visitors feed fresh surge in vendor and buyer enquiries
Estate agent website visitor volumes are currently at an all-time high.
Finance
Surge in transactions as buyers rush to beat stamp duty holiday deadline
But there are signs that the market may be starting to cool ahead of the tax break ending.
Finance
Property Webmasters secure investment from Net Ventures
Property Webmasters works with a number of agents including Christies, Coldwell Banker, Sotheby’s and Century21.
Agency
Agents to be offered asymptomatic testing to stop spread of Covid-19
All local authorities are expected to go live with community testing by the end of February.
Agency
Propertymark is not fit for purpose, EYE poll finds
New polling finds majority of agents support reform of the professional body.
Other News
Opinion – ‘Foxdons’: A pig in a poke?
Russell Quirk: “It’s just my opinion of course but this acquisition looks like a sticking plaster for Foxtons’ woes designed to ‘look good’ when in fact it does nothing of the sort.”
Law
New Conveyancing Task Force launched to ‘reform’ property transfer process
The stamp duty holiday and working from home has put conveyancing and those who practice it under enormous strain, according to David Greene.
Agency
U-turn: Agency will now not be hosting an ‘open home event’
According to government guidelines, ‘open house’ viewings should not currently take place.
Acquisitions
David Davis continues expansion plans with acquisition
The company has set its sights on becoming one of the largest agencies in North West England.
Finance
Buyers plan to renegotiate purchase price if they miss stamp duty deadline
Some 35% of respondents said they would not pull out of a deal if it was not going to complete before the stamp duty holiday ends.
Acquisitions
Ascend Properties buys NW Estates
The company says that it has a rather ambitious acquisition strategy.
Finance
Buyers and sellers urged to ‘share the financial fallout’ of missing stamp duty deadline
Recent research by the Guild of Property Professionals indicates that up to a third of buyers will abandon their purchase if forced to pay more than expected for stamp duty.