Agency
Agents urged to back extension campaign for stamp duty holiday
Agents are being encouraged to write to their local MP asking them to make representation to the chancellor ahead of the Budget on 3 March 2020.
News
Charity
Connells Group forms new charity partnership with Mind
The formation of the partnership follows a colleague survey to choose a new charity.
Compliance
Have you got cyber liability insurance?
Estate and letting agents need to ensure that they have procedures in place to protect their systems against cyber-crime, according to Paul Offley at The Guild of Property Professionals.
Finance
Over 1.4 million businesses supported through Covid-19 lending schemes
Government-backed loans have protected jobs across all sectors, including property.
Politics
Stamp duty holiday set to save buyers £1.5bn before the March deadline
Homebuyers in London have unsurprisingly seen by far the most significant saving compared to other major UK cities.
Compliance
Anti-money laundering training webinar for agents takes place today
The event, which is entitled ‘Undertaking compliant and effective Customer Due Diligence’, is free to Rightmove agents.
Politics
Parliament to debate stamp duty holiday extension
The House of Commons has confirmed there will be a debate about a stamp duty extension until 30 September after a petition passed 100,000 signatures.
Law
Rishi Sunak urged to scrap stamp duty altogether
Estate agent turned MP Kevin Hollinrake is calling on the government to replace stamp duty and council tax with a proportional property tax (PPT).
Politics
Housing minister Kelly Tolhurst resigns after ‘devastating’ family news
Boris Johnson says he is ‘very sad’ to lose the ‘brilliant minister’.
Agency
Agency owners can focus on ‘protecting staff’ with video viewings
In recent days, scrutiny on whether agents should be allowed to continue in-person viewings has intensified.
Agency
LSL shares rise as firm predicts ‘significant’ increase in full-year profit
The estate agency businesses reports very strong trading with full year 2020 Group Underlying Operating Profit expected to be significantly ahead of 2019.
Finance
New buyers should generally ‘not be factoring in any stamp duty savings’
Rightmove’s latest analysis projects that around 100,000 purchasers will miss out on the current stamp duty holiday.
Finance
Agents will benefit from the Supreme Court’s decision on insurance claims
Policy holders should contact their insurance company or broker to check eligibility.
Lettings
HomeLet and Let Alliance significantly improve their rent guarantee product
HomeLet and Let Alliance expect to complete about 1m references this year on behalf of letting agents.
Compliance
Agencies in Wales will be required to carry out Covid risk assessments
First minister Mark Drakeford said: “Risk assessments must be reviewed and updated regularly.”
Finance
New ‘Right to Regenerate’ proposals aim to boost the supply of new homes
New Right to Regenerate will enable public to require councils and public sector to sell unused land and assets.
Finance
House prices set to fall sharply in Q1 2021
One of the earliest snapshots of the housing market outlook shows that house prices are set to drop by 6.2% in the first quarter of 2021.
Politics
Final push as stamp duty extension campaign approaches petition target
At 100,000 signatures, the petition to extend the stamp duty holiday will be considered for debate in Parliament.
Agency
Has UK housing market run out of steam? Momentum slows, data shows
“Viewings across our businesses are down around 70% compared to December”, says agent.
Agency
Petition calls for all estate agency branches to close during lockdown
Keeping estate agents open, which allows several households to mix during viewings, is going against guidelines and is neither safe or sensible - claim.